COVID-19 Information

January 14, 2020

On Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, SIUE will shift to Expanded Mode PLUS Restore Illinois Tier 3 Mitigations. SIUE’s operations will largely continue to look like they have during the week of January 11, with the addition of Spring 2021 course delivery. Spring 2021 courses will be held in varied formats in order to maintain the health and safety of the SIUE community, while ensuring excellent learning opportunities for students.  

Directors and supervisors will continue to develop student-centered staffing plans to meet our evolving operations.   

Our positive cases and campus positivity rates during the first week of re-entry testing have remained low. We will continue to monitor our leading dashboard indicators, additional metrics and regional area metrics. 

Below is a summary of how the Tier 3 mitigations impact SIUE and expectations for the campus. 

• Campus Operations: Serving on-ground and on-line students will continue to be our top priority during the semester.  
• University Housing and Dining: Visit the University Housing website for the most current information about University Housing Spring Semester move-in, including pre-arrival COVID testing requirements. Dining operations have been modified for the Spring semester. Please refer to the Dining Services websitefor hours of operation.
• Meetings and Gatherings: Restore Illinois’ Tier 3 mitigations restrict meetings and gatherings, and will only be permitted in a virtual format. Campus operations like textbook pick-up, University Housing move-in, COVID testing, and distribution of materials related to University operations are permitted.
• Workforce: Employees who can effectively work remotely should be permitted to do so. Employees and supervisors should follow the remote work guidelines,including completion or revision of the remote work agreement, if applicable. 
• Additional considerations: Please visit the websites of other operations impacted by Tier 3 mitigations including Textbook Services, Cougar Store and Student Fitness Center/Campus Recreation

In order for a region to return to Tier 2 mitigations, a region must experience less than 12 percent test positivity rate for three consecutive days, AND greater than 20 percent available intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital bed availability, AND declining COVID hospitalizations in 7 out of the last 10 days. At this time, Region 4 meets none of these metrics.    

Please be careful and practice good behaviors.  We want you to be safe and well in spite of current circumstances in our region.