Campus Communications

Most Recent University Communication (January 6, 2022)

Dear Fellow Community Members,

Welcome to a new semester. We look forward to all that we will accomplish in 2022 and want to extend our best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. Illinois Tech is a growing, dynamic, and thriving university, leading the way in expanding opportunity and inclusive innovation. Despite the challenges we may face in our day-to-day lives, we can all have great optimism for the year ahead.

We believe in our future because we are so inspired by our university’s legacy as an opportunity engine for all. As this new year begins, each of us can build on Illinois Tech’s founding mission, helping to make sure that students of all backgrounds can learn and grow to be impactful leaders and globally minded citizens of the world. Thank you for all that you do to support and strengthen our very special university and community.

Return to Campus on January 24
As we begin the semester, we want to share these critical booster and testing updates and reminders for returning to campus later this month.

As always, the university will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 metrics in Chicago and will continue to follow all relevant city, state, and federal guidance. If that guidance changes, we will update university policy as appropriate. 
As announced prior to the break, the university will operate all courses remotely until Monday, January 24, at which point the university will return to full in-person instruction. 

The university is resolutely committed to meeting its academic mission, and we are always working diligently to ensure that our students are able to pursue as well as other important on-campus activities, while mitigating the spread of COVID-19 to our community. Experiential education is a hallmark of an Illinois Tech education, and it is important that we continue to provide those opportunities to our students. 

This semester, we hope that you take great pride in the strength of our Illinois Tech community and support it by doing everything you can to help limit the spread of COVID-19 on our campus and throughout our neighborhood. As this virus transitions from a pandemic to an endemic, each of us has a role and responsibility to protect one another as we return to campus and throughout this semester. It is clear the COVID-19 virus will be with us for some time, and it is up to each of us to help reduce the risk to our fellow students, faculty, and staff.

Staff Return to Campus Starting January 24
Starting January 24, staff will return to work schedules as established under the flexible Remote Work Guidelines issued last fall. Under this policy, staff may request to work remotely up to an average of 40 percent of work days per month.  

Booster Requirement 
As previously announced, consistent with current university vaccination requirements and applicable exemptions, the university will require all eligible students, faculty, and staff to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster. In light of the move to virtual instruction at the start of the semester, the date by which to obtain such a booster and submit documentation is January 24, 2022, and for others, as soon thereafter as they are eligible. 
●      Students must submit booster documentation here
●      Faculty and staff must submit booster documentation here

If you are having trouble scheduling a vaccination appointment, a vaccine finder is available at Vaccines.gov. The City of Chicago have also assembled resources that you can use to secure a vaccination appointment.

Testing Requirement
Before returning to campus on January 24, students, faculty, and staff must provide proof of a negative PCR or antigen test (including over-the-counter tests such as BinaxNOW), taken within 72 hours of a return to campus.
●      Students must submit testing documentation here
●      Faculty and staff must submit testing documentation here

Detailed resources on how to find COVID-19 testing are available at the City of Chicago website here.

Updated Quarantine/Isolation Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released updated COVID-19 guidance reducing the isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19 from 10 days to five. The CDC also updated guidance on quarantine for close-contact exposures based on vaccination status. The university has updated its COVID-19 guidelines to align with the CDC’s recommendations, and you can find the university’s policy here. You can also find detailed information on the CDC’s updated isolation and quarantine guidelines on its website.

Food Service Updates
In order to further limit the opportunities for community spread during the current spike, the university has closed The Bog and Kaplan Institute dining facilities until in-person classes resume on January 24. The university will also offer carry-out-only dining in the Commons and at Conviser Law Center until January 24. 

Thank you for all you do to continue to support the health and safety of your fellow Illinois Tech community members.

Sincerely,

Raj Echambadi
President, Illinois Institute of Technology

Peter Kilpatrick
Provost, Illinois Institute of Technology