COVID-19 Information

August 20, 2021 

Dear Campus Community,  

With students moving in these past few days, we all can feel the energy and excitement of a new academic year! 

Particularly for our new students, faculty and staff, there is a wealth of COVID-19 information available to you as we detail below. Established members of our community should reacquaint themselves with this information. It is critical that we maintain our community commitment to keeping ourselves and our fellow Cougars healthy and safe.  

Important COVID-Related Safety Guidelines and Resources

• COVID Training Video 
• Face Masks and Distancing Guidelines  
• University-related and Employee Travel Guidelines  
• Event Safety Guidelines  
• Travel Guidelines 
• People-Focused Health and Safety Policy 
• COVID Status Self-Disclosure Report 
• Find a campus COVID vaccine clinic (Sept. 2 and Sept. 9) 
• COVID Dashboard 

Student Study Spaces

In addition to study spaces that may be available in the residence halls, Student Success Center, Lovejoy Library and the University’s computer labs, the University has recently designated a number of classrooms in each of the academic buildings for use as student study spaces. These could be particularly useful for students with back to back synchronous and face-to-face courses. 

Weekly Mandatory Testing

All faculty, staff, and students are required to complete weekly COVID-19 testing by Thursday of the first week coming to any SIUE campus, except East St. Louis who will have testing on Friday’s (Alton, East St. Louis, Edwardsville or clinical sites) and each week thereafter. Schedule your appointment online.   

Students and 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. 

The following is a video tutorial for uploading your COVID-19 Testing request for exemption: https://siue.techsmithrelay.com/KLi1 

Reporting Your COVID-19 Status 

Students, faculty and staff are expected to submit a COVID Status Self-Reporting Form to report a COVID-related concern (positive test result, presumed positive by a healthcare provider or identified as a close contact). The self-report allows SIUE to initiate contact tracing and determine what support services might be needed.   

To self-report, visit: siue.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cMWXxmIn3ob8HU9 

Students, faculty and staff may submit a Third-Party Reporting Form if they are aware of another member of the SIUE community with a COVID-related illness or concern who has not or is unable to complete a self-report form. If the individual has already reported their illness to the University, it is not necessary to complete this form.   

To file a Third-Party Reporting Form, visit: siue.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cNLArM7P7KTyxmZ 

Student Vaccination Incentive Program

The Student Vaccination Incentive Program is underway. 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 and Dashboard

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. The dashboard is updated daily, Tuesday-Saturday at midnight when the University is in session. Surveillance testing and isolation/quarantine space usage are updated weekly at midnight on Saturday. 

This week, 771 were tested, resulting in 11 positive tests and a positivity rate of 1.45%.  

We wish you a smooth and successful start to the fall semester. Go Cougars! 

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