COVID Weekly Update
Posted August 6, 2021
August 6, 2021
Dear Students and Campus Community,
Throughout the next few weeks, SIUE will again welcome students to the start of another fall semester. We are ready for the energy and excitement experienced by students, faculty and staff at the start of another school year. This fall will bring us the chance, as a community, to connect with new people and reconnect with those we have been missing.
As a community, it is critical that we maintain our commitment to keeping ourselves and our fellow Cougars healthy and safe. Below you will find reminders about our COVID-related guidelines and resources, COVID testing requirements and the student vaccination incentive program.
Important COVID-Related Safety Guidelines and Resources
- Face Masks and Distancing Guidelines
- University-related and Employee Travel Guidelines
- Event Safety Guidelines
- Student Study Spaces
Weekly Mandatory Testing
Required weekly COVID-19 testing begins Monday, Aug. 9. All faculty and staff will be required to complete weekly COVID-19 testing by Friday of the first week coming to any SIUE campus (Alton, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, or clinical sites) and each week thereafter. Schedule your appointment online.
Employees who are fully vaccinated, or who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, can request an exemption from required weekly COVID-19 testing
Student Vaccination Incentive Program
Last week, we launched a Student Vaccination Incentive Program. Students who complete a testing exemption form confirming they are fully vaccinated will automatically receive $5 in Cougar Bucks. Plus, they will be entered for a chance to win other exciting incentives!
Campus Testing Data
As a reminder, surveillance testing continues on all three campuses. You can track daily updates of campus testing results and trends via the COVID-19 Dashboard. This week, 150 were tested, resulting in 1 positive test and a positivity rate of .68%.
For a snapshot of what’s to come this fall semester, please review the Our Cougar Commitment message that was distributed last week. Find it here.
We remain committed to providing leadership that protects our campus community, so we may move forward in our shared goal of empowering individuals to achieve their full potential.
We wish each of you a smooth transition to the start of a new semester.
Respectfully,
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