UIS continue to monitor community levels for COVID-19 and are in regular consultation with UI System experts regarding current and anticipated infection rates in our area. An uptick in COVID-19 cases is expected this fall, so please follow these guidelines to help prioritize everyone’s health and safety:

1.5.23

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff —

Following President Killeen’s announcement regarding the system’s Spring 2023 COVID-19 approach, I want to clarify what this means for our university.

8.3.22

Dear UIS Students, Faculty and Staff —

I am writing to confirm our COVID-19 requirements for Fall 2022. For the past two years, UIS has been United in Safety as we’ve responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are most grateful to be out of the emergency phase of the pandemic—thanks to vaccines, rapid testing and therapeutics—and are excited to be ushering in a new academic year later this month.

Our approach this fall will include the following requirements:

COVID-19 VACCINES

6.17.22

Dear UIS Students, Faculty and Staff —

I am writing to update you that UIS will not be offering on-site Shield COVID-19 testing after June 29. This includes testing for both the public and the university community. 

Good morning,

The number of COVID-19 cases in our state, including the Sangamon County area, is on the rise. Sangamon County remains at “medium” level, per the CDC’s tracking system. UIS leadership is evaluating what, if any, additional mitigations may be put in place if our county enters “high.”  Please watch your email for further communication should this change in status occur.

In the meantime, though no new requirements are in place at this time, members of the CRRT and UIS administration strongly support the following:

Good afternoon:

Sangamon County has been categorized in the “high” COVID-19 community level due to increased case rates and hospital admissions. In response to this, the following changes are in effect at UIS beginning Monday, June 6:

Face coverings

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.

Beginning next week (April 11), the following changes will take effect regarding COVID-19 testing on the UIS campus.

TESTING FREQUENCY

Faculty, staff, students and long-term guests who are not up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines (not fully vaccinated, or eligible for the booster but have not received it) may transition from testing twice per week to once per week. Compliance will continue to be closely monitored. Individuals who are up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines continue to have the option to test but are not required.

With Spring Break next week (March 14-18), we want to start off the second half of the spring semester with health and safety in mind. Therefore, all students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to visit the COVID-19 testing site at least once during the week of March 21, especially if they have recently traveled or participated in large gatherings. Hours of operation for the Shield testing site in the PAC are on the United in Safety testing website.

Dear UIS Students, Faculty and Staff —

On Monday, Feb. 28, the statewide mask mandate will be lifted, making mask-wearing optional in most public indoor spaces unless otherwise required by federal, local or organizational/business laws or policies. Over the past two weeks, members of the UIS leadership team have had numerous conversations with students, faculty and staff about possible next steps regarding our mask-wearing requirements.