COVID-19 Information

July 16, 2021 

Dear Campus Community,

During the past 18 months, SIUE has remained safe and open during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the commitment of our students, faculty and staff. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to protect each other and the campus community. As we prepare for the fall 2021 semester, it is concerning that our area has seen an increase in positive cases from approximately 1% to 8% due to the Delta variant. As we continue to monitor surrounding conditions, we will maintain our current Face Masks/Distancing Guidelines for the summer to ensure safety for our faculty, staff and students.

Fall Testing 

As announced in an email communication dated July 8th,SIUE will begin required weekly COVID-19 testing on Monday, Aug. 9. 

Students, faculty and staff may request a testing exemption if they are fully vaccinated or had a positive COVID-19 diagnosis within 90 days. An online exemption form must be completed and approved in order for an individual to be exempt from weekly testing. Please note, vaccinated individuals must submit their vaccination records via the online form in order to be exempt from this requirement.

Individuals who do not request an exemption will be required to complete weekly COVID-19 testing by Friday of their first week coming to any SIUE campus (Alton, East St. Louis, Edwardsville or clinical sites) and each week thereafter.    

Read that announcement in full here. Submit your exemption request here.   

Summer Testing 

During summer, volunteer testing with incentives continues 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.  

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 encouraged. Surveillance testing continues on all three campuses with 92 tested this week. With 2 positive tests, we had a positivity rate of 2.17%. More information can be found on the dashboard. 

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  
• Faculty/Staff
  • One beverage or bakery item (not to exceed $5) at the MUC Starbucks 

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. 

Thanks again for all you do and enjoy your weekend!

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 Advancement
Morris Taylor, Vice Chancellor for Administration

Jeffrey Waple, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs