COVID-19 Information

January 22, 2020

Dear Campus Community, 

We appreciate everyone’s efforts in making the first week of the spring semester run as smoothly as possible.

In regard to campus operations, SIUE remains in Expanded Mode PLUS Restore Illinois Tier 2 Mitigations as announced today by IDPH.  Additional information about how Tier 2 mitigations impact campus is forthcoming.  Directors and supervisors continue to implement student-centered staffing plans to meet our evolving operations.

Please note that the University’s COVID-19 website has been updated to provide easier navigation and access to up-to-date information. Please check individual department websites for the most current information.  

Current Testing and Dashboard
Thank you to the 7,377 faculty, staff and employees that tested the past three weeks as part of the re-entry testing process. To date we have received 6,577 results from the lab. SIUE is sitting at less than .49% positivity rate with 32 individuals, from 3 campuses, that have been identified as positive. It truly shows our Cougar Commitment.  More information is provided on the dashboard.

Surveillance Testing Begins Next Week
On-going surveillance testing begins next week on all three campuses.  The continuing surveillance screening tests will be on a voluntary basis.  However, to encourage participation, employees and students will be selected through a random sample and invited to be tested.  Those invited will be provided with the following incentives to participate: 

The first random selected pool was sent emails yesterday for next week’s testing.  One does not need to be invited to be tested, however they will not be eligible for the incentives listed above.

Here are a few tips to get you in and out as efficiently as possible:

• Appointments should be obtained on the AURA app or at https://app.auratracker.org/
• Be sure that you are hydrated before your appointment by eating or drinking up to 30 minutes prior to your arrival at the testing site​. Do not eat or drink in the 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Arrive at your appointment time, so that we may maintain small groups in the testing area.

Per CDC/IDPH guidelines, if you are experiencing symptoms or believe you are a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, do not participate in this surveillance testing. Employees and students who tested positive within the last 90 days should not test.

SIU Conversation of Understanding
The next Southern Illinois University System “Conversation of Understanding” is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. The topic is “Racism, COVID-19 and the SIU System.” Panelists will include SIUE’s Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the School of Pharmacy (SOP), and clinical professor of pharmacy practice in the SOP, and Director of Health Service Riane Greenwalt, and SIU School of Medicine Dean Dr. Jerry Kruse. Panelists will discuss the pandemic, its racial implications and impact on the SIU Community. Testing and treatment for the virus will be discussed, as well as related directions for students, faculty and staff for spring semester 2021. To participate, visit https://bit.ly/SIUConversation.

Open Forums: Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Search Committee for the Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion position invites you to attend the virtual open forums and listen to candidates’ presentations. The search committee welcomes your feedback on the finalists. A Qualtrics survey will be distributed closer to the Open Forum dates.   

Dr. Jessica Harris
Monday, Jan. 25, Noon- 1 p.m.
Zoom link: https://siue.zoom.us/j/99145481049 / Passcode: 467356 

Dr. Lakesha Butler
Thursday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m.-Noon
Zoom link: https://siue.zoom.us/j/94078298988 / Passcode: 951908

Annual MLK Celebration
SIUE’s traditional Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon will not be held in 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, SIUE will virtually recognize faculty/staff and community members who demonstrate the humanitarian qualities and philosophy of nonviolent social change, as enunciated and demonstrated by Dr. King, at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29.

Discuss Listserv
Thanks to the Ad Hoc Working Group that reviewed the SIUE discuss listserv policies and procedures in 2020. The group made recommendations for a change of the policy which has been reviewed and approved by the Policy Council. There are two important changes from that process: 1) The discuss listserv will use an opt-in process, so that those desiring to be part of the conversations can enroll; 2) A five-member monitoring group has been established to assure that the discuss listserv is adhering to the goals it was established to accomplish.  

We want to thank members from the Black Faculty Staff Association (Maracus Scott), Diversity Council (Gertrude Pannirselvam), NTT (Diane Hayes), Faculty Senate (Mary Macharia) and Staff Senate (Anne Cavanaugh) for serving in that capacity. 

We expect to have the opt-in invitation and additional details about the discuss listserv to faculty and staff next week. Thank you for your patience as we worked through this important campus discussion.   

Event Guidelines and Event Safety Plans
As a reminder, information regarding Event Guidelines are available on the SIUE Coronavirus website. 

• For all events, the organizers must develop an Event Safety Plan and submit it for review
• When preparing an Event Safety Plan for an activity related to indoor and outdoor recreation and athletic events, please also consider their additional mitigationrequirements
• An Event Safety Plan is not required for gatherings such as study groups or other meetings directly related to academic coursework, athletic practices, or academic group tutoring

The Restore Illinois Plan outlines specific guidelines and mitigations for non-academic meetings, gatherings and events.

• As we transition to Tier 2 mitigations, gatherings and events will be restricted to no larger than 10 guests in both indoor and outdoor gatherings. 
• A side-by- side comparison of the mitigation tiers  is available on the IDPH website. 

Finally, 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. We are proud to serve with you.

Take care this holiday weekend,

Randy Pembrook, Chancellor  
Denise Cobb, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs    
Rachel Stack, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement    
Morris Taylor, Vice Chancellor for Administration    
Jeffrey Waple, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs