5.10.22

Dear UIS Students, Faculty and Staff —

For two years and counting, we have been United in Safety at UIS. I am so proud of the efforts we each have contributed to stay united and weather the COVID-19 pandemic together, all with the shared purpose of providing the best educational experience possible with safety as a top priority.

As the 2021-22 academic year nears completion and we turn our focus toward summer and fall, the UIS COVID-19 response team has recommended, and I have approved, the following changes to our COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS

Effective May 16, UIS will base COVID-19 mitigations on the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s community level for Sangamon County. According to the CDC, levels can be low, medium or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Sangamon County is currently listed at medium due to recently increased case numbers.

This chart outlines mitigation requirements for UIS students, faculty and staff based on community levels. This plan is subject to change based on the nature and prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic and/or evolving CDC or IDPH guidance. For the Fall 2022 semester, the University will review and confirm its approach at least three weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Notable changes:

• Removal of the mask requirement for all indoor settings except where required by local/state/federal law while in “low” or “medium” community levels. This is regardless of vaccine status.
• Removal of social-distancing requirements for all, regardless of vaccination status.
• Removal of testing requirements for anyone with the initial vaccination series. Exempt/unvaccinated individuals must continue to test once per week until COVID-19 Executive Order 2021-22, Section 4, is lifted and the university confirms permission to end the testing requirement for this sub-group.

VACCINE REQUIREMENTS

The COVID-19 vaccine (initial series) will continue to be required of all new students, faculty and staff entering for the Summer 2022 and Fall 2022 terms unless they have an approved medical or religious exemption. A COVID-19 booster, at this time, is not required for Summer or Fall 2022.

QUARANTINE/ISOLATION REQUIREMENTS

UIS will follow CDC guidance for isolation and quarantine. Effective May 16, taking a COVID-19 test to return to campus following the recommended isolation or quarantine period will no longer be required, but please remember to wear a mask when in any public setting for the full 10 days following the start of your illness. Recommendations differ based on vaccination status and date of prior infections (if applicable). Please refer to this chart for specific directives based on your situation.

I am pleased with this progress and thank everyone for doing their part to be United in Safety. This hasn’t been easy, but we have done a wonderful job—together—and are now able to enjoy a more normal university experience because of our teamwork.

As always, please send any questions to our COVID-19 response team at covid19@uis.edu.

United in Safety,

Karen

Karen M. Whitney, PhD
Interim Chancellor
University of Illinois Springfield