COVID-19 Information

June 25, 2021

Dear Campus Community, 

With yesterday’s announcement from SIU System President Dan Mahony regarding Fall 2021 Semester Student Vacinnation Policy, we are preparing for the June 30 COVID Town Hall.

As a reminder, SIUE remains in its summer session guidelines for face masks/social distancing prior to the fall semester. To review, visitsiue.edu/about/announcements/coronavirus/safetyguidelines-support.

COVID Town Hall

The next COVID Town Hall live webinar is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 30.

Registration is required for the webinar.  The webinar will share COVID-related updates pertaining to the summer and fall semesters including: 

• SIU System Fall 2021 Guidance 
• Fall 2021 re-entry and surveillance testing 
• Vaccination Clinic updates 
• Illinois All Sports Guidance Updates 

There will be time for Q&A. Questions may be submitted in advance to chancellor@siue.edu.  

Once you’ve registered, you will receive a confirmation email with your unique webinar link. 

Please do not forward or share the link that you receive. If you need assistance accessing the webinar, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 618-650-5500.  

COVID Town Halls are made available on the SIUE COVID Campus Updates site a few business days after the session. 

Testing

During summer, testing is being conducted on the Edwardsville campus Monday-Wednesday, School of Dental Medicine on Monday and at The East St. Louis campus on Tuesday.

Individuals who would like to participate in COVID testing are required to register with SHIELD Illinois to make an appointment.

Visit https://forms.office.com/r/QvChjQs6tb, to create an account and obtain an appointment. No insurance is required, and testing is free. The surveillance screening tests are on a voluntary basis. If you have already been vaccinated or are in the process of completing your vaccine, testing is permitted.

Surveillance testing continues on all three campuses with 120 tested this week. With 0 positive tests, we had a positivity rate of 0%. More information can be found on the dashboard. Surveillance screening tests are on a voluntary basis. However, to encourage participation, employees and students are selected through a random sample and invited to be tested. Those invited next week will be provided with the following incentives to participate: 

• Students
  • $5 in Cougar Bucks
  • Monthly raffle for parking hangtag FY22 
• Faculty/Staff 
  • One beverage or bakery item (not to exceed $5) at the MUC Starbucks 
  • Monthly raffle for parking hangtag FY22 

Individuals do not need to be invited to be tested. However, they will not be eligible for the incentives listed above.

Here are a few tips to get you in and out as efficiently as possible:

• Appointments should be obtained at https://forms.office.com/r/QvChjQs6tb
• Be sure that you are hydrated before your appointment by eating or drinking up to 60 minutes prior to your arrival at the testing site​. Do not eat or drink in the 60 minutes prior to testing. 
• Arrive at your appointment time, so that we may maintain small groups in the testing area.

Per CDC/IDPH guidelines, if you are experiencing symptoms or believe you are a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, do not participate in this surveillance testing. Employees and students who tested positive within the last 90 days should not test. 

Finally, remember if you are feeling ill, don’t come to campus. If you are under quarantine or isolation, do not leave it early.

As always, we are proud to serve alongside you. Have an enjoyable weekend.

Be safe and be well.  

Randy Pembrook, Chancellor    
Denise Cobb, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs    
Jessica Harris, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 
Rachel Stack, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement    
Morris Taylor, Vice Chancellor for Administration    
Jeffrey Waple, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs