COVID-19 Information

March 19, 2020

Hello Everyone,

Let me begin by noting the spring 2020 commencement ceremony postponement. This decision is disappointing, but necessary. We must ensure the safety of our graduates and those who would be attending exercises. We understand the impact upon everyone who would have attended the traditional SIUE ceremonies, as well as the School of Dental Medicine and the East St. Louis Charter High School exercises on our campus. Nevertheless, we are in the process of reviewing alternative activities to recognize student achievement through virtual online celebrations, individual activities or the possibility of a special August commencement. Students, who are eligible to graduate in May, will be contacted for input as to how we can best recognize their achievements in reimagined formats during these unique and trying circumstances.

I want to thank all of you at SIUE – our students, faculty and staff - for the amazing adjustments you are making in these unprecedented times. I hope all of you are healthy and safe. That has been our top priority during the COVID-19 crisis—to ensure your safety. It is also the core reason why we have asked you to make so many adjustments to our regular routines since the beginning of spring break.

I have been incredibly impressed with faculty members’ quick alteration of instructional goals and pedagogies, students’ patience as living arrangements and instructional support have been changed, and staff members’ creativity and flexibility in finding new ways to support the SIUE community. Your sacrifices and contributions during this difficult situation have been extraordinary, and have reaffirmed the dedicated, mission-oriented focus that our campus community shares. In particular, I want to commend everyone for helping each other these past few weeks, whether it was sharing information about online formatting, reimagining nutritious meal delivery to comply with social distance paradigms, or even forwarding a humorous musical spoof to remind us “we will survive!” (By the way, if you haven’t seen that video yet, it’s worth taking a look.)

As you know, this situation changes daily—sometimes every hour. I encourage you to read the important Coronavirus updates posted on siue.edu/coronavirus. We are consistently updating information using multiple sources, including federal recommendations, Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) input, best practices at other Illinois higher education complexes and SIU System direction through President Daniel Mahony.

I would also like to use this opportunity to thank our leadership teams. The Pandemic Planning Team, as well as members of Chancellor’s and Extended Chancellor’s Council, have gone above and beyond expectations since early March to provide you with information, as we have moved from our normal procedures to becoming a largely digital institution in just a two-week period. These leaders have also tried to ensure support mechanisms for those still on campus, including our international students, students with special needs and students involved in clinical environments.

In spite of these efforts, I know that SIUE students, faculty, and staff are still dealing with challenges, both personal and professional, on a daily basis. On behalf of our leadership team, I thank you for letting us know as you encounter areas of uncertainty. We will do our utmost to address these issues. Thank you for your patience as we deal with questions that take us into uncharted territory.

Finally, rest assured that we will prevail. There will be a return to normalcy in the future, and I am confident that we will look back at spring 2020 knowing that we did what was needed in order for our students to succeed. With sincere appreciation, I thank you for your incredible efforts.

Stay safe and stay well,

Randy Pembrook

Chancellor