A: Chicago State University is fully open for in-person instruction, classes, activities, and events aligned with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for the 2021-2022 academic year.

To learn more about the safety measures, please review the policies and operating plan on the COVID-19 Cougar Wellness page.

A: CSU has taken a series of actions to ensure the health and safety of all, which includes:

1. Masks: Optional.
2. Vaccines: Only required for Residence Hall and participation in student athletics.
3. Contact Tracing: CSU is running contact tracing, tracking on-campus cases and notifying individuals who had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
4. Personal Protective Equipment: CSU has made several upgrades to adhere to public health best practices, including updating the ventilation system, installing hand sanitizer stations, and installing protective partitions.

CSU will continue to review and evaluate all available information on a consistent basis in order to maintain safe operations that align to best practices.

A: Masks are optional.

A: Yes, campus events will take place on campus. Students, staff, and community partners must secure approval from the university by contacting ddeener@csu.edu. Please note that all events will adhere to the latest public health guidance.

A: Contact coronavirus@csu.edu.

First - Confirm if it was an exposure. According to the CDC, a COVID-19 exposure is being in close contact (within 6 feet) of someone who has tested positive for the virus for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

Second - follow the CDC recommended actions, based on exposed individuals’ vaccination status:

Non-vaccinated individuals:

• Stay home for 14 days after your last close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
• If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your local public health authority or healthcare provider.

Vaccinated individuals: 

• If you are fully vaccinated, you do NOT need to quarantine after close contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless you have symptoms.
• You should get tested 3-5 days after close contact exposure, even if you don’t have symptoms.
• You must wear a mask indoors on campus property at all times and in public for 14 days following close contact exposure or until your test result is negative.

Protocol if Exposed: Describe the exposure to the COVID Response Team Director through an email sent to <asweis@csu.edu>. The Director will determine with you the appropriate course of action.

A: As with any illness, students and employees who are ill should stay home and, if warranted, seek medical attention. Students and employees should follow normal call-in procedures and protocols for their courses or their department and report time away from work in web time entry, in accordance with University policy.

A: No, fully vaccinated individuals do not need to test unless they are symptomatic. If fully vaccinated employees are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, they should contact their healthcare provider for guidance.

$50 Incentive for Proof of Vaccine: All students who show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination to the university will each receive a $50 payment incentive, which they may choose to receive in a refund or have applied directly to their account balance. To receive this credit, scan or take a picture of your COVID vaccination card and email it to the Wellness Center at wellness@csu.edu.

Students Living in the Residence Hall & Student-Athletes:These students are REQUIRED to provide proof of being fully vaccinated before the academic year starts or moving into the residence hall.

A: All students who show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination to the university will each receive a $50 payment incentive, which they may choose to receive in a refund or have applied directly to their account balance. To receive this credit, scan or take a picture of your COVID vaccination card and email it to the Wellness Center at wellness@csu.edu.

A: CSU is accepting the vaccines authorized by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). As of August 13, 2021, those vaccines are:

• FDA approved: Pfizer (2-dose vaccine), Moderna (2-dose vaccine), and Janssen or Johnson and Johnson (1-dose vaccine)
• WHO approved: AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Sinovac-CoronaVac are approved by the WHO, as are the three vaccines approved by the U.S. FDA.

A: Get vaccinated: Vaccine appointments are readily available through personal physicians, neighborhood pharmacies, and other health care settings, You can find vaccine appointments here. As a service to our campus community, CSU is also offering on-campus vaccine clinics in August and September (schedule available here). Receive the vaccine for FREE and quickly by stopping by during the vaccine clinics!

Participate in surveillance testing and other safety guidelines: Students who are not fully vaccinated must do the following until they provide campus proof of vaccination.

1. Get tested twice a week in CSU’s on-campus surveillance testing.
2. Follow CSU’s other safety measures including wearing a mask on campus if around others or in public spaces.

A: CSU is requiring students living in the residence hall and student athletes to be fully vaccinated before the Fall 2021 Semester begins on August 23. The CDC considers individuals fully vaccinated two-weeks after the second dose of two-dose vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) and two weeks after one dose of the Johnson and Johnson shot.

A: CSU is issuing this health guidance based on the following factors:

1. CDC Guidance: The latest CDC guidance emphasizes that vaccination is the leading prevention strategy to protect individuals from COVID-19 disease and to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Wide Vaccine Eligibility and Availability: All individuals ages 12 and up are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and the COVID-19 vaccine is now widely available nationally, including throughout Illinois and the City of Chicago.

A: For the fall 2021 semester beginning Aug. 23, 2021, CSU is fully open for in-person instruction and classes aligned with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for the 2021-2022 academic year. Most classes will take place  in-person. Please review the course scheduling page determine whether the course is in-person, e-learning or hybrid.

To learn more about the safety measures, please review the policies and operating plan on the COVID-19 Cougar Wellness page.

A: Enrollment services, advising, and placement exams are open and available to assist you with the application process and registration for the fall semester. Don’t forget to make an appointment!

• Advisors can assist with selecting courses or registering for classes (contact information here).
• Financial aid can assist with your financial aid plan. Make an appointment by emailing csu-finaid@csu.edu. 
• The Bursar can help you with textbook vouchers. Make an appointment by emailing bursar@csu.edu.
• Bookstore is now virtual.  
• IDs are available in the library by appointment (email idservices@csu.edu). 

A: CSU is here to support our students who are in hybrid classes or are e-learning. Visit our Keep Learning page for more information.

A: The university library and all library resources are available virtually, and Gwendolyn Brooks Library is open for students. Students can contact the IT Help Desk at helpdesk@csu.edu for assistance accessing equipment, the internet, and/or using e-learning methods. Additionally, below are internet resources you can use for connectivity assistance.

• Internet Service Resources
• Comcast Tool Kit
• Drive-up WIFI Map tool

A: We are accepting applications in alignment with federal guidelines. Please email at khaan@csu.edu if you are a current or prospective international student.

A: The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is an option for full-time civil service and administrative employees. Employees can call (773)995-2040 for questions or email hr@csu.edu.

A: No.

A: Please understand that Human Resources will be available to all CSU employees as a resource during this period. However, HR is not accepting walk-in or face-to-face appointments. We are ready to help, and we ask that you email or call for support. Please email hr@csu.edu. or call (773)995-2040.

A: Employees can verify their vaccination status with the Office of Human Resources. Several dates have been announced; however, if you have not had an opportunity to participate in this process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at hr@csu.edu to schedule a time to verify your vaccine status.

A: According to theCDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated (i) 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or (ii) 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's.

A: The paid leave related to quarantine, created by the federal government, expired on June 30, 2021.  Any employee who needs to quarantine must use available accrued and unused time off.

A: You do not have to test for 90 days past a positive diagnosis. (Following the CDC advice for those who test positive to refrain from retesting for 90  days to avoid false-positive tests.)  After 90 days, you will have to test until fully vaccinated.

A: A positive case within the department does not necessarily mean that all employees in the department should stay home. CSU will follow contact tracing protocol and notify employees who had close contact (as defined by the CDC) with someone who tested positive and direct to quarantine if appropriate. Based on each specific situation, building services will determine the extent of additional cleaning necessary in the area, in accordance with CDC guidelines, to ensure employee safety.

A: You can remind other employees or students that masks are required on campus and provide a mask to the individual, as most offices should have a supply of masks available. If this does not resolve your concern, please contact the Office of Human Resources at hr@csu.edu.