Coronavirus (COVID-19) Campus Housing FAQ’s

Please use the following link to register yourself for a testing time and location for the current week:

https://apps.housing.uic.edu/dock/app/events/resident/

You must bring confirmation of your testing appointment registration to the testing location (either on your phone or printed). Walk-ins are accepted if capacity allows.

Each week on Friday afternoon at 5PM, the following week’s testing times will become available for sign up at the same link posted above. We recommend setting a recurring calendar appointment or alarm to help remind you to sign up for your weekly saliva based testing appointment.

• Testing is free to all students and staff.
• These saliva-based tests are for those not displaying symptoms of COVID-19.
• Be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, remove yourself from work or class and seek care from your medical provider or Student Health Services at (312)-996-2901.
• Bring a valid i-Card to the testing site. It will need to be shown to be tested.
• Refrain from eating, drinking, tooth brushing, mouth washing, gum chewing, and tobacco use for 30 minutes before submitting a saliva sample.
• Wear a face covering and practice social distancing of six feet while in line at the testing location.
• Wellness screening and temperature monitoring will be conducted at the entrance.
• If you are under the age of 18, you must provide a signed consent form from your parent/guardian before testing.
• No food or drink is allowed in the testing site.
• Everyone entering the testing station is asked to provide contact information should we need to alert you of important information about further testing or contact tracing. Students can update contact information:
  • In Self-Service, select “University of Illinois Chicago”.
  • Log in using your NetID and Password.
  • In the Main Menu, select “Personal Information”.
  • In the Personal Information menu, select “Addresses & Phones”.
• Should a student be unable to independently conduct the saliva testing due to mobility, ambulatory, or other disability, it is advised that the the student contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@uic.edu or (312)-996-8332 at least two days prior to the testing date.

• Individuals will be asked to provide a saliva sample. The sample collection only takes 3-5 minutes and is painless.
• You will receive your test results via email within 24-48 hours.
• If you test positive, you will be provided with follow-up isolation instructions.

Students, faculty and staff will be emailed test results within 24-48 hours. You will receive an email to your university email account containing a link to your University of Illinois Patient Health Portal (found at MyMcKinley.illinois.edu). McKinley Health Center, the health care provider serving students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will also serve as the portal for UIC COVID-19 saliva test results. The email will be addressed:

From: no-reply@mckinley.illinois.edu

Subject: MyMckinley: New Message

Click the link to see your test results. If you don’t see an email visit the McKinley Health Center website, click the My McKinley tab and log in to view your results at their online portal.

If you have not used the McKinley Health Center Patient Portal before, you can check for results by logging in with your University NetID and password and clicking on the Messages icon. You will need to use 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) to log in. Support information for getting 2FA set up is available online. If your test results are available, you will see a secure message for your Saliva COVID test results.

How often do I need to do the saliva-based testing on campus?

Campus Housing residents and staff are required to be retested on a weekly basis.

What do I do if I am unable to make my appointment time?

You can either show up the same day as your scheduled appointment even if it is past your time (as a walk-in) or you can sign up online for another time that same week within the 6-day period (Monday-Saturday).

What do I do if I’ve lost my i-card?

New i-cards can be obtained by contacting the ID Center. Make sure to report lost or stolen i-cards promptly. When you report a loss or theft, your card is deactivated forever so that no one can misuse it. If your missing i‑card is linked to your PNC Bank account, unlink your i-card too.

Your i-card is needed for identification purposes at the time of your saliva based testing appointment.

What should I do if I plan to be away from campus for a week?

When you know that you will be off campus for an entire week, email housing@uic.edu and communicate that you will not be on campus so we are aware for compliance tracking purposes.

Can I test at an off-campus location instead of the on-campus saliva based testing location?

No – on campus saliva based testing is required for all students and staff in Campus Housing. We do not have the ability to receive documentation of off-campus testing efficiently.

What happens if I don’t get tested?

Students that do not comply with the required weekly testing will be documented and subject to the conduct process for being non-compliant with university and Housing directives and policy. Sanctions related to non-compliance with COVID-19 weekly testing may include but are not limited to:

• Restricted access to Campus Housing
• Formal disciplinary action
• Removal from Campus Housing

Are “walk-ins” allowed at testing locations if I’ve missed my scheduled appointment or have not yet made an appointment?

A walk-in lane is open and available to students daily for as long as capacity allows. There is no guarantee that the walk-in lane will be open, and so we encourage sign up in advance.

1. It is the University’s intention that students will remain in their assigned room/unit during any stay-at-home or sheltering order issued by either the city of Chicago, state of Illinois, federal government, or the university. In the event it becomes necessary to relocate students for health and safety purposes, students will be expected to do so quickly and on short notice under direction from the University.
2. Students found in violation of Student Code of Conduct or Residence Life Community Living Guide policies will be subject to the Student Conduct process and will likely be asked to find alternative housing accommodations for the remainder of the semester.
3. To limit the exposure on campus, students are not allowed guests including those with a university i-card. In the event that our staff become aware that you are hosting a guest, you will be asked to immediately to escort them out. If you have an approved LOA on file for a Personal Assistant, contact Campus Housing directly regarding arrangements.
4. Gatherings within residence halls have been temporarily suspended while under CDC guidelines for social distancing or state of Illinois direction. All students should refrain from social gatherings, are encouraged to stay in their own room/unit, and should practice social distancing of 6 feet or more. All CDC guidelines and/or state of Illinois directions regarding social distancing are expected to be followed by students.
5. Kitchen areas and laundry facilities will be limited in use. Students will need to sanitize all cookware and remove personal belongings from commons paces immediately after use. Students are required to practice social distancing guidelines at all times. Lounges and Learning Resource Centers are closed.
6. Students may enter the building only by swiping their valid UIC ID at the desk. Residents are expected to keep track of their keys at all times and keep both their keys and i-Card on them to minimize lock-out assistance needed. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that non-residents do not follow inside.
7. Students agree to measures determined neccesary to protect the health and safety of our resident students upon entry to the building including temperature checks and other measures that may be determined by the CDC, Illinois Department of Health, and/or University officials.
8. Face masks or covering must be worn at all times outside of the residence hall room/unit. Additionally, residents must also wear a face mask if a UIC employee must enter their assigned room or unit for any reason (ex: Facilities Services employees, Campus Housing staff).
9. In the event that students start experiencing symptoms of the COVID-19 virus and/or it becomes necessary for a student to self-isolate, the University requires that the student immediately report symptoms to Student Health Services (312-996-2901). Students are not permitted to visit public spaces in the residence halls, go to work, or leave their housing assignment if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
10. Front Desk hours are subject to change on short notice.
11. Preferred communication between residents and staff are phone calls and emails in an effort to limit person-to-person exposure. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a working cell phone number that Housing staff can use to reach you. Please reach out to your Resident Director via email to set up an appointment if you require non-emergency assistance.

The Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner has issued an Emergency Travel Order directing travelers entering or returning to Chicago from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state.

If you are arriving from a state listed in the Emergency Travel Order, contact housinghealth@uic.edu to determine 14-day quarantine options.

For your convenience and safety, we do not recommend travel to a state listed in the Emergency Travel Order. For Housing information and options during breaks (ex: Thanksgiving, Winter Break, etc.), please visit our Housing During Breaks page.

Housing’s Central office is currently closed with staff working remotely. Residence Life live-in professional staff, front desk operations, and Facilities Services staff are all on-site, continuing operations and service to residents.

To contact Campus Housing, you may reach us via email at housing@uic.edu or by calling Monday – Friday between 8:30AM – 5PM at (312)-355-6300.

Area desk locations, including residence hall front desks are open and available to assist residents, as well.

With our extensive health and safety measures in place, new UIC students are encouraged to live on campus in Campus Housing. However, UIC has no residency requirement for its students – meaning students are not required to live on campus at any time during their academic career. Campus Housing is an optional service that students can choose to use and benefit from.

The health and safety of our residents is our top priority. This fall, University Housing will implement the following safety guidelines and procedures in all of our residence halls and dining locations.

Campus Housing Residence Halls:

• Roommates will be considered household units.
• Face coverings and masks that cover the nose and mouth will be required in all interior public spaces and outside when social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Campus Housing Facilities will continue rigorous sanitation processes to clean and sanitize public spaces and other high traffic touchpoints.
• Hand sanitizer will be available at high traffic touchpoints.
• To reduce occupancy density in residence hall communities, a hybrid of double and single rooms will be offered.
• A residence hall building will be reserved for isolation and quarantine purposes.
• Room Change Requests will be suspended until further notice.
• Hall gatherings and programs will be planned in accordance with the Restore Illinois plan guidelines.
• Guests will not be allowed in the residence halls. This includes both day visitors and overnight visitors. This policy will be revisited as public health considerations allow.
• Residents will be required to participate in social distancing and other prevention measures based on guidelines provided by U of I Health, the State of Illinois, and the CDC. These Resident Responsibilities During COVID-19 Response can be found above on this same page.