Chancellor Friday Campus Update
Posted November 6, 2020
October 30, 2020
Dear Campus Community,
It has been a challenging week. I want to thank all of our faculty, staff and students for your efforts, and for being a part of quality educational moments despite uncertainties at the national level and the anxiety created by such events. You help make SIUE an exceptional institution.
Below is information to keep you up-to-date on campus activities:
- Know Before You Go! SIUE Health Service continues to provide on campus COVID screenings 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday in the Health Service Annex. Consider getting tested before you travel home. This is a gentle nasal swab as a screening test. So, please consider testing well before you start home for the holidays (results may take 3-4 days)! Walk-ins are welcome or make an appointment by clicking here.
- Madison County Health Department will also host 3 COVID testing dates on campus. Testing is available as follows:
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- Tuesday, Nov. 10: 9 a.m.-noon at Korte Stadium parking lot
- Friday, Nov. 13: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Korte Stadium parking lot
- Saturday, Nov. 14: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Lot B parking lot
- Holiday safety tips have been published by Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC. Click the agency to review their tips.
- Health Service staff performed 99 screening tests and had a positivity rate of 0.8% for the week. This week’s confirmed positive cases for those self-reporting or those identified through SIUE testing were 11 for students and 3 for faculty/staff. The number of current 14-day new positive tests stands at 19 students and 4 faculty/staff. For a more in-depth look at SIUE’s COVID numbers, you may connect to the COVID Dashboard by clicking here.
- Spring and Summer Events: Beginning on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, external groups may schedule events held in the following outside facilities only:
External groups must be able to provide liability insurance and must follow DCEO Guidance https://dceocovid19resources.com/restore-illinois/restore-illinois-phase-4/ as outlined in the Restore Illinois Plan. These events are subject to modification or cancellation depending on the health of the region.
SIUE will schedule indoor and outdoor camps, conferences and events May 10-August 14, 2021. SIUE will continue to follow the Restore Illinois, IDPH, DCEO and CDC guidance. Those hosting camps, conferences, and events will be expected to follow the same guidance. These events are subject to modification or cancellation depending on the health of the region.
- Yesterday, the Academic Continuity Task Force 2.0 offered an update to the campus via a virtual Town Hall. Led by Drs. Josie DeGroot, Eric Ruckh and Huaibo Xin and by Miriam Roccia of Student Affairs, the Task Force has spent a significant amount of time and energy in considering best practices for Fall 2021. The guiding principles of the group include safety, curricular excellence, equity and a holistic student approach. These have yielded a continuum of optimistic, moderate and pessimistic scenarios within the following four key areas: calendar and scheduling; logistics and coordination; modalities of course delivery; and student success and persistence.
- Now that we have recommendations from the Antiracism Task Force subcommittees, Drs. Jessica Harris and J.T. Snipes, along with Dewitt Campbell from NCCJ St. Louis, are guiding those designated as recommendation leaders through an exercise to organize the 78 recommendations into key categories. They will also then be tied to the SIUE Strategic Plan, as well as the SIUE Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. Generally, this time will be used to establish an overall framework and vision for our efforts. We will end with a focus on assessment and the importance of cultivating a culture of accountability around this work.
- 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
