Coronavirus (COVID-19) Campus Housing FAQ’s

Yes. All students who plan to be on campus for the 2021-2022 academic year will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they are able to do so.

We acknowledge that some individuals may have medical or religious reasons why they cannot be vaccinated. Students who obtain a COVID-19 vaccination exemption will be required to participate in the COVID-19 saliva testing program, UIC Healthcheck, and continue to wear a face covering on campus to participate in on campus activities, including classes.

You can find COVID-19 vaccination appointments or walk-in hours at a location near you by visiting vaccines.gov.

You can also take advantage of free, convenient vaccination appointments that are available on campus. For more information about COVID-19 vaccination at UIC/UI Health or to make an appointment, visit vaccine.uihealth.care. If you have any questions about making a vaccine appointment, please email covidvaccine@uic.edu.

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, the university has established isolation and quarantine procedures for all members of the UIC community who have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19.

Isolation is used to keep someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 away from people who are not sick.

Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease such as COVID-19. It is used to help reduce the potential risk of transmission of contagious disease. Quarantine is different than isolation.

Learn more about UIC’s Isolation and Quarantine protocol here.

Effective May 9, UIC will offer the SHIELD Illinois saliva-based test at Student Center East, Student Center West and the Behavioral Sciences Building, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Saliva testing is available at the regional campuses in Rockford and Peoria and at the Law School.

• Bring a valid i-card to the testing site.
• Faculty, staff and students will be able to pick up a sample collection kit that can be used at your convenience and dropped off where it was picked up. Samples should be dropped off within 4 hours of collection.
• You should NOT eat, drink or put anything in your mouth one hour before taking the salvia-based test. This includes smoking, tobacco/vape, chewing gum, using mouth wash, etc.
• If you are under the age of 18, you must provide a signed consent form from your parent/guardian before testing.
• Learn more about the SHIELD Illinois saliva test.
• Should a student be unable to independently conduct the saliva testing due to mobility, ambulatory, or other disability, it is advised that the student contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@uic.edu or 312-996-8332 at least two days prior to the testing date.
• Should an employee be unable to independently conduct the saliva testing due to mobility, ambulatory, or other disability, it is advised that the employee contact the Office for Access and Equity at oaeada@uic.eduor 312-996-0512 at least two days prior to the testing date.

• Individuals will provide a saliva sample. The process only takes a few minutes and is painless.
• If you test positive, you will be provided with follow-up isolation instructions and will be contacted by UIC contact tracing. Participating in contact tracing is part of UIC’s strategy to keep the campus safe.

Do NOT take the saliva test:

• If you have had a positive COVID-19 test within the past 90 days. (Testing positive another time within 90 days of a prior positive test does not mean that you are infectious to others.)

Test results will be available using SHIELD Illinois’ “Point and Click” system within 48 hours. You must create an account (using Agency Code flames22) to view your results. Test results will no longer be available in UI Health MyChart.

If you have questions about your test, contact the SHIELD Illinois patient hotline at 217-265-6059.

Policies posted below will go into effect at the beginning of the Fall 2021 semester.

1. To limit the exposure in the residence halls, our guest policy has been altered.
   1. Vaccinated residents will be allowed three guests allowed to be checked in.
   2. Guests must be checked-in by their host at their residence hall’s front desk.
   3. Guests will only be eligible for check-in if they have an i-Card or govt./state-issued photo ID. The host must have their i-Card present at the time of check-in. Verbal UIN’s will not be accepted in the guest check-in process. 
   4. Residents and guests must be present in person to check-out at the front desk.
      1. Improper check-outs will result in a temporary suspension of guest privileges. Improper guest check-outs include:
         1. Forgetting to check-out a guest.
         2. Guests not being present for check-out.
   5. Residents found to be responsible for policy violations, especially COVID-19 policy and testing compliance, will have guest privileges restricted for an amount of time determined by the Conduct Officer.
2. Under university policy, gatherings are reopened. All residents who use any public space within the residence halls must wear their mask and stay socially distant.
3. Residence hall lounges have been modified for residential use. Residents must adhere to all signage and seating placement while in the lounge. Additionally residents must wear masks and maintain a distance of 6 feet or more from other residents.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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).
8. 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.
9. Front Desk hours are subject to change on short notice.
10. 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Community Levels are a tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be Low, Medium, or High and are determined by looking at COVID-19 hospital beds being used by COVID-19 patients, new COVID-19 hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.

The CDC’s website allows users to search for counties to identify the current risk level. ALL travelers, regardless of vaccination status, should check the map so you know whether the areas you are traveling to are Low, Medium, or High risk for COVID-19.

Housing’s Central physical office location 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.

Having said that, we feel that Campus Housing does have many benefits students should consider not only for their academic success, but also to make the most of their university experience. Learn more about why Housing is the Right Place For You.

The health and safety of our residents is our top priority. Campus 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.
• A residence hall building will be reserved for isolation and quarantine purposes.
• Hall gatherings and programs will be planned in accordance with the Restore Illinois plan guidelines.
• 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.