COVID-19 Information

October 23, 2020

Dear Campus Friends, 

I hope you have all had a week of good health, productivity and purpose. Below is information to keep you up-to-date on campus activities:

• The Health Service staff performed 68 screening tests and had a positivity rate of 0.00% for the week. This week’s confirmed positive cases for those self-reporting or those identified through SIUE testing were 8 for students and 4 for faculty/staff. The number of current 14-day new positive tests stands at 21 students and 6 faculty/staff. For a more in-depth look at SIUE’s COVID numbers, you may connect to the COVID Dashboard by clicking here.  

It should be noted that while we are reporting positive cases, our positivity rate is 0.0%.  To clarify, the methodology of the positivity rate follows what IDPH utilizes for its county metrics. At SIUE, we have adapted that to our campus Screening Test strategy.

The percentage of positive test results from all screening tests administered by SIUE. It is based upon the date results are reported to SIUE. It excludes testing data that are reported for tests conducted off-campus.   

{Weekly test positivity= [SIUE Screening Test positive tests for 7 days] / [SIUE Screening total tests for same 7 days] x 100} 

With the reported increase in cases in Illinois and in St. Louis, it is important to obtain a screening test as another precaution. Screening appointments may be scheduled here.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

• Recently, the committee exploring the advantages and disadvantages of remaining in our current Carnegie Classification or moving to a Doctoral-Research status administered a survey to collect feedback regarding our options. In preparing the questionnaire, the committee members were attempting to frame choices or trade-offs that were noted in the literature regarding universities’ transitions to R2 status. Unfortunately, in some instances, the questions conveyed unintended messages about diversity. For example, one question presented a false dichotomy and, in doing so, linked selectivity with problematic assumptions about diversity. These pairings were meant to communicate that there are choices that universities make that may have consequences, whether intended or not. When the Provost communicated with the chair of the committee, the chair conveyed that a revision to which the committee had agreed did not occur. Furthermore, the survey administration period was ending, thus any revisions were impossible. The final report will note these problems and provide greater context for interpreting the results.   

We sincerely appreciate the work of this committee as we recognize that we still have careful work to do to ensure that we uphold our commitments to becoming an equity-minded community committed to diversity and inclusion in all of our actions. Most importantly, the Provost and I want to convey that whatever path we choose as a University regarding our Carnegie Classification, our intention must be rooted in our commitment to equity, diversity, anti-racism and true inclusion. While we should learn from the choices and actions of other universities, whether we remain Doctoral-Professional or decide to move to R2, we will retain and grow our commitment to inclusive excellence, and do so with intentionality.  

• Please be sure to complete the annual, mandated state ethics training. It must be submitted by Oct. 31 to avoid penalties and will require approximately 30-40 minutes of your time.

• The CDC has revised its definition of “close contact:” Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting from 2 days before illness onset. For more information, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.                                                                               
• Please plan to attend this year’s virtual Chancellor’s Address. The date has changed to Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. and the event may be accessed at https://siue.zoom.us/s/94757380830. I hope you’ll join me!
• A working group of 25 campus individuals, representing a broad base of constituency involvement, has met on three separate occasions to discuss the future of the Discuss listserv on campus. A fourth meeting of the committee will occur within the next two weeks and will include final updates to the current listserv policy along with parameters for its use, so that it will operate as a vehicle for collaboration, support and information-sharing. Upon receiving their recommendation, more information will be shared in an upcoming campus message.  
• Also, remember if you are feeling ill, don’t come to campus. If you are under quarantine or isolation, do not leave it early.

Please continue to practice grace with one another and with yourselves. I’m proud to serve with you.

Best wishes for the weekend,

Randy Pembrook, Chancellor