Coronavirus (COVID-19) Campus Housing FAQ’s
UIC's Response to COVID-19
Campus Housing Options During COVID-19 Response
Development and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic are continuous. Please read further for updates and FAQs related to the impact of COVID-19 on Campus Housing communities and operations.
UIC has developed a hybrid plan to include online and in-person instruction for undergraduate and graduate students. Plans have been developed to shift to in-person instruction to online should circumstances require it.
Campus Housing has continued to operations, remaining open to students who utilize Campus Housing as both their home and the environment best suited to their academic success. Additionally, Campus Housing welcomes new students that would like to live on campus to apply today for the current Fall semester, Spring 2021, or next academic year beginning in Fall 2021. Applications are available online here.
UIC Campus Housing is monitoring regular updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), city of Chicago and state of Illinois, and our partners with UI Health in developing plans to address the unique needs of our hall communities. For general campus information, visit the UIC COVID-19 web page.
Please check back often as this page is updated frequently.
COVID-19 Saliva Based Testing Compliance Process
UIC has implemented a mandatory saliva-based COVID-19 testing program for specific groups of students and employees, including students and staff in Campus Housing, who are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19.
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How do I sign up for a testing appointment?
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.
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Before the test (what to know)
- 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.
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Taking the test
- 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.
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Test Results
The campus has launched a new process for receiving on-campus saliva-based testing results. Results will be housed in MyChart, the patient portal used by UI Health, as test results will no longer be available in the McKinley Health Center Patient Portal.
All current UIC faculty, staff, and students received a MyChart activation message in their UIC email account the week of December 21st. Individuals who do not activate MyChart prior to their testing appointment will be asked to sign up at the testing site. It is recommended that individuals use a NetID when setting up a login and password. If you already have a MyChart account through UI Health or another healthcare provider, the results will be sent to the email you already have established within MyChart.
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Saliva Based Testing FAQ's
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 to see if space allows you to test 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 housinghealth@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?
Campus Housing residents must schedule an appointment in order for tracking purposes to ensure compliance with testing weekly testing requirements.
Resident Responsibilities During COVID-19 Response
As part of our efforts to provide a safe and secure environment conducive to your success, we are mindful of the communal effort needed to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Residents will be required to participate in social distancing and other prevention measures based on guidelines provided by U of I Hospitals, the State of Illinois, and the CDC. We have taken the recommendations and expertise of these bodies and applied them to the Campus Housing environment. Please see some of these adapted guidelines below.
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Resident Responsibilities During COVID-19 Response
- 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.
- 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.
- To limit the exposure in the residence halls, our guest policy has been altered.
- Beginning Monday, February 15, Campus Housing residents will be allowed one resident guest at a time.
- Guests must be checked-in by their host at their residence hall’s front desk.
- Resident guests will only be eligible for check-in if they are a Campus Housing resident who has been compliant with mandatory weekly saliva-based testing.
- Resident guests will only be eligible for check-in if they and their host have an i-Card. Verbal UIN’s will not be accepted in the guest check-in process.
- Residents will only be allowed one resident guest within a rolling 7-day period from the time of check-in.
- Ex: if a resident checks in a guest on a Friday, they will not be able to check in a different guest until the following Friday.
- Residents and guests must be present in person to check-out at the front desk.
- Improper check-outs will result in a temporary suspension of guest priveleges. Improper guest check-outs include:
- Forgetting to check-out a guest.
- Guests not being present for check-out.
- Improper check-outs will result in a temporary suspension of guest priveleges. Improper guest check-outs include:
- Residents found to be responsible for policy violation, especially COVID-19 policy and testing compliance, will have guest priveleges restricted for an amount of time determined by the Conduct Officer.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Students agree to measures determined necessary 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- Front Desk hours are subject to change on short notice.
- 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.
City of Chicago Emergency Travel Order
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Residents coming from states the City of Chicago has directed to quarantine for 14-days upon arrival.
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.
FAQ's
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Is the Housing office open?
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.
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Are new UIC students required to live on campus?
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.
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How does Campus Housing plan to protect residents?
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.