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.

All testing sites are walk-in only. The last person is accepted 15 minutes prior to closing.

Main campus saliva-based COVID-19 testing sites are located at:

• Student Center West, 828 S. Wolcott Ave., Thompson Room, 2nd floor
• Student Center East, 750 S Halsted St., Fort Dearborn Room, 3rd floor

Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Upcoming special hours:
Sunday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Student Center East only)

Effective Monday, Jan. 24, hours will expand at Student Center East and Student Center West to:
Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Refrain from eating, drinking, tooth brushing, mouth washing, gum chewing, use of an inhaler and tobacco use for 30 minutes before submitting a saliva sample.
• Be aware of the symptoms of COVID-19. If you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 please contact your medical provider to seek care and determine if diagnostic testing is recommended (individuals with COVID-19 symptoms are not eligible for saliva testing).
• Bring a valid i-card to the testing site. It will need to be shown to be tested.
• 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 allowed in the testing site.
• 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.edu or 312-996-0512 at least two days prior to the testing date.
• 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 process only takes 3-5 minutes and is painless.
• You will receive your test results via MyChart within 24-48 hours.
• 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 symptoms of COVID-19.
• 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.)
• If you have had a saliva test in the previous 48 hours.

You may take the saliva test for COVID-19 after being exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 on day 7 or later from last exposure.

Saliva testing is for individuals who are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

Results will be housed in MyChart, the patient portal used by UI Health.

All current UIC faculty, staff, and students receive a MyChart activation message in their UIC email account.

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.

If you have questions, contact the UI Health MyChart Help Desk at 844-90-MYCHART (844-906-9844) for assistance Monday- Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

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 Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner has issued a Travel Advisory to anyone entering or returning to Chicago from designated states with a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19.

If you are arriving from a state listed in the City of Chicago Travel Advisory or from another country, contact housinghealth@uic.edu to determine quarantine options.

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.