Spring '22 Mask Guidelines Timeline
Posted February 24, 2022
February 24, 2022
Dear Campus Community,
Thank you for your commitment to our COVID mitigation guidelines as we work together to ensure the health and safety of our campus community. Because of your diligence, early testing results this week indicate that SIUE positivity rates remain low (.72% as of this morning), and our vaccination rates across our Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville campuses continue to rise. Please find the University’s current campus wide data points on the COVID-19 Dashboard.
Earlier this month, Governor Pritzker announced a plan to lift the statewide indoor mask requirement on Monday, February 28. Effective Monday, Feb. 28, masks will continue to be required in the following:
- Instructional spaces during in-person classes and laboratory spaces
- Healthcare settings: SIUE Health Service, Counseling Services, We Care Clinic, Dental Clinics, Speech-Language-Hearing Center, etc.
- Childcare settings: Early Childhood Center, SIUE Head Start/Early Head Start locations, and other settings following applicable guidance from regulatory agencies
- Youth education and programming settings: East St. Louis Charter High School, East St. Louis Center Trio Upward Bound, etc.
- COVID testing and vaccination locations
- Cougar Shuttle as required by Madison County Transit
- Some university events as dictated by contracts for speakers, performers, etc.
Masks will be optional in most indoor campus spaces like the Morris University Center, Student Fitness Center, University Housing and common areas of the Lovejoy Library. Individuals should have a face covering available and are expected to wear one in a private office or living space when requested by the occupant.
These mask guidelines will remain in effect through at least Monday, March 28 (two weeks after Spring Break), while we assess campus, regional, and statewide conditions.
SIUE continues to have surgical, N95 and KN95 masks available in the following locations: campus classrooms, Morris University Center Welcome Desk, Lovejoy Library Circulation Desk, Student Fitness Center, East St. Louis Center Director’s Office, and School of Dental Medicine Dean’s Office.
As we have experienced since its onset, COVID-19 is unpredictable and continues to require our close attention. As spring draws near, we will move forward with cautious optimism for the continued decline in positivity rates both on and off campus. We will keep you informed of our progress and any changes that conditions may require.
Sincerely,
Randy Pembrook, Chancellor Denise Cobb, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jessica Harris, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and InclusionRachel Stack, Vice Chancellor for Advancement Morris Taylor, Vice Chancellor for Administration Jeffrey Waple, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
