Mitigation Framework

Introduction

As part of SIUE’s commitment to the health of our community, we will provide accurate, timely, and transparent updates on the presence of COVID-19 within our community. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is focused on preserving the health and safety of our community, while serving our students with excellence. We have maintained a mode of university operation consistent with guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the phases of the Restore Illinois Plan, to develop Return to SIUE Plans centered in a science-based approach.

	Spring 2022*	Fall 2021*	2020	2019
Overall Student Enrollment - Edwardsville	12,080	13,010	12,860	13,061
% at least one on-ground enrollment - Edwardsville	80%	74%	58%	88%
# at least one on-ground enrollment - Edwardsville	9,607	9,620	7,444	11,493
%enrolled exclusively online	18%	26%	42%	12%
# enrolled exclusively online	2,201	3,360	5,416	1,567
University Housing Residents	2,587	2,539	1,960	2,573
Total on-ground SIUE Employees	2,471**	2,491	2,480

*Beginning Fall 2021, student population data reflects student enrollment at the semester’s 10th day census. Until 10th day census data is available, the previous semester’s threshold’s will be utilized.

**Beginning Spring 2022, total on-ground SIUE employees data excludes those with long-term full-remote work agreements.

For Spring 2022, we anticipate that we will have greater numbers of students and employees on campus for classes, engagement activities, and work. As we make this return, we do so with the knowledge all three campuses have robust vaccination rates combined with low positivity rates and multiple mitigation strategies. Nevertheless, our community must remain vigilant in continuing our behaviors that have helped keep transmission and positivity rates low.

Revisions to the Return to SIUE plan have been made regularly based upon the health of Illinois and the region, and when CDC and IDPH guidelines have been modified. SIUE regularly receives and reviews guidance from federal, state and local agencies. We closely monitor new guidance, campus and community conditions, and we will continue to be pro-active in keeping our University safe.

The framework below provides SIUE the ability to rapidly respond to conditions by reducing or expanding in-person university activities as needed. School of Dental Medicine and East Saint Louis Center programs, services, and instruction may be modified from those listed below due to the unique nature of their operations. Modifications will be communicated directly to the School of Dental Medicine from the Dean’s Office; to East Saint Louis Center programs and services by the Executive Director; to SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School staff by the Principal (in coordination with the Dean of the School of Education, Health and Human Behavior.)

Indicators and Mitigation Strategies

These metrics will help SIUE determine when to implement additional mitigation strategies. The Chancellor’s Council and the COVID CORE Team review these data on an ongoing basis for awareness of conditions in the surrounding area and those areas impacting our local communities.

Leading dashboard indicators are metrics that are posted on the SIUE COVID Dashboard. The SIUE COVID-19 Testing website provides the most up to date information about campus testing and links to local testing sites. Due to the unique nature of the three campuses, appropriate leading dashboard indicators for each of the Alton, East Saint Louis, and Edwardsville campuses have been developed.

Additional monitored SIUE metrics are reviewed on an ongoing basis by the responsible departments, the Chancellor’s Council and the COVID CORE Team. These metrics provide direction to departments/units, COVID CORE Team and the Chancellor and Chancellor’s Council to determine if and when additional mitigation strategies are needed in specific areas.

Vaccination data are reviewed on an ongoing basis. These data provide important context in our decision-making around potential mitigation strategies.

Regional and area monitored metrics are those reported by The State of Illinois and Illinois Department of Public Health, or the appropriate local health department. The Edwardsville and Alton campuses are located in Madison County. The East Saint Louis Center campus is located in St. Clair County.

School of Dental Medicine and East Saint Louis Center metrics will be monitored for prevalence and spread as part of the Additional Monitored University Metrics found below. Please refer to that table for more specific information for those campuses, programs, and services as well as their mitigation strategies.

Leading Dashboard Indicators-Edwardsville Campus

Data reflecting a favorable (fourteen-day) or unfavorable (seven-day) trend for a key indicator will inform a decision to move to a corresponding alert level. Government mandates and guidance by federal, state, or local officials likewise influence our approach and inform density on our campuses.

Leading Dashboard Indicators	Threshold 1	Potential Mitigation	Threshold 2	Potential Mitigation
Active On-Ground Student Positive Cases*	2.5% on-ground student population	Reduce capacity in non-instructional spaces Implement event capacity limitations	8% on-ground student population	Restrict students, faculty, staff to “essential” activities for a specific time period Adjust dining operations Limit seating capacities in non-instructional spaces Event capacity limitations Increase campus physical distancing requirements, where possible Unless prohibited by licensure, accreditation, or other curricular standard, faculty may request a temporary modification to course modality. Office of the Provost will communicate request process.
Active On-Ground Employee Positive Cases*	2.5% on-ground employees	Reduce capacity in non-instructional spaces Event capacity limitations	8% on-ground employees	Additional University-sponsored travel restrictions Increase campus physical distancing requirements, where possible Reduce office density
Isolation and Quarantine Availability	50% isolation/ quarantine space usage	Identify and repurpose additional available residential spaces Increase isolation meal preparation, confirm food supply chain access, etc.	75% isolation/ quarantine space usage	Identify and repurpose additional available residential spaces Partner with local hotels, etc. Increase isolation meal preparation, confirm food supply chain access, etc.
Positivity Rate of SIUE SHIELD Screening Testing Participants	6% positivity rate	Reduce capacity in non-instructional spaces Implement event capacity limitations	8% positivity rate	Restrict students, faculty, staff to “essential” activities for a specific time period Adjust dining operations Limit seating capacities in non-instructional spaces Event capacity limitations Further limit exceptions to mask wearing Increase campus physical distancing requirements, where possible

* Positive cases reported include those who may have been present on campus during the time of their infection AND have reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 through the COVID Self-Disclosure Reporting Form or identified through the SIUE testing process. Based upon CDC guidelines, this includes individuals who may have been on campus 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

**Programs with accreditation and licensure requirements may need to make centralized decisions to ensure student progress. Individual choice may not be the sole guiding factor. These constraints may be particularly acute for programs such as Nursing, Pharmacy, Teacher Education, Dental Medicine, and others.

Additional Monitored University Metrics

The following additional metrics are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Chancellor’s Council and the COVID CORE Team. These metrics provide direction to departments/units, COVID CORE Team and the Chancellor and Chancellor’s Council to determine if additional mitigation strategies are needed in specific areas.

All Campuses
Additional Considerations	Potential Mitigation Approaches
Spread and prevalence of infection across a single section of the university (e.g. classroom, residence hall wing, office suite, campus building, off-campus housing) *School of Dental Medicine and East Saint Louis Center will be monitored for spread and prevalence as unique single sections of operation and will be monitored accordingly.	Temporary or permanent modality change of the affected course Short-term shift to “essential” activity for affected section of campus Reduction in number of in-person participants at in-person activities, events and gatherings Further limit exceptions to mask wearing Increase campus physical distancing requirements; when possible Expanded COVID testing requirement
Faculty and Staff Absenteeism	Overload or overtime authorization as approved Assign temporary coverage of instruction, per the CBA or unit policy or procedures Assign alternative instructional activities Hiring of temporary staff and/or third-party vendor to provide essential services Reassignment of work duties pursuant to Civil Service regulations and collective bargaining agreements
Number and severity of cases of non-compliance with People-focused Health and Safety Policy or other non-compliant activities referred to the Dean of Students Office	Additional messaging, education, training, and/or signage Suspension of in-person events for specific student organization or all student organizations Suspension of student organizations Administrative withdrawal from on-ground courses and/or termination of residency Suspension for serious or repeated non-compliance
Supply level of COVID tests (5-day supply)	Daily inventory of supplies Consistent ordering of supplies Weekly conversations with suppliers to ensure no current or future issues in supply chain
Ability to support residential student isolation/quarantine cases being housed on campus	Adjust all Dining Kits to 3-day kits to allow for more distribution on a given day Re-assign staff to support Dining Kit delivery and packaging (Maximum 300 in I/Q) Re-assign staff to support cleaning efforts of I/Q spaces after waiting period Add additional I/Q inventory by repurposing space Short-term (14-day) shift to “essential” activity for residents
Infant, Toddler, and Pre-K to 12 Educational Programs	Programs in this area follow guidelines from: Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE) Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Office of Head Start- Administration for Children and Families Brooklyn School District 188 Cahokia School District 187 Collinsville School District 10 East St. Louis School District 189 Belleville School District 118 U.S. Department of Education (USDE)
ESTL Center Adult Services and Programs	SIUE- Edwardsville Campus Guidelines
ESTL Center Tenant Management	SIUE Edwardsville Guidelines (Facilities) Southwest Illinois College (SWIC) Operations/Program Guidelines Lewis & Clark Operations/Program Guidelines University of Missouri- St. Louis Operations/ Program Guidelines State of Illinois Operations/Employee Guidelines.

Area Monitored Metrics

Chancellor’s Council and the COVID CORE Team review these data on an ongoing basis for awareness of conditions in the surrounding area and those areas impacting our local communities, and these data will inform actions as appropriate.

Regional and Area Metrics

IL Region 4
Madison County Positivity Rate
St. Clair County Positivity Rate
St. Louis City Positivity Rate
St. Louis County Positivity Rate

Conclusion

The list of potential mitigation strategies is not intended to be an exhaustive list. It is intended to provide examples of strategies that could be implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19 at SIUE. Campus leadership will continue to review testing and tracing trends, isolation and quarantine trends, and guidelines provided by federal, state, and local authorities to determine the need to implement additional mitigation strategies.

COVID-19 Information

University Plans & Campus Operations