Campus News

A COVID-19 update email was sent on August 3, 2022 to the Rockford University community and on August 11 the CDC updated guidance for quarantine.  Please see below for the new information based on the new CDC guidance.

The executive order requiring vaccination and weekly testing has been rescinded for colleges and universities.  Students, faculty and staff are no longer required to test weekly regardless of their vaccination status.

Students are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Students should upload proof of vaccination to Lang Wellness Center here: https://rockford.jotform.com/211034954494053.

• Students showing symptoms of Covid-19 should stay home and notify Lang Wellness Center at healthcenter@rockford.edu. 
• Students who are identified as close contacts to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 are no longer required to quarantine. 
• Students who are close contacts will need to wear a mask for 10 days following the exposure when around other people indoors.
• Residential students who have to isolate are asked to return home if they live within 100 miles of the university.  

Classroom Policy:

• If a student tests positive in a classroom, all students will be contacted.
• While short term accommodations will be put into place for students who test positive for COVID- 19, as is often done with other illnesses that require a longer absence, such accommodations are not required to include teleparticipation (Zoom). Rather, accommodations could include sharing slides or notes with the student, extending deadlines, and other possibilities deemed appropriate by instructor.
• Students participating in clinical experiences will follow any additional guidelines set forth by the clinical placement. 

Employees are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.  Employees should send their proof of vaccination for COVID-19 to Human Resources.

• Employees showing symptoms of Covid-19 should stay home and notify HR.
• Employees who are identified as close contacts to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 are no longer required to quarantine. 
• Employees who are close contacts will need to wear a mask for 10 days following the exposure when around other people indoors.

As always, anyone is free to wear a mask at any point.  Should you have any questions, students should contact Lang Wellness Center at HealthCenter@rockford.edu or at 815-226-4083, employees should contact HR at mdiventi@rockford.edu. or at 815-226-4376.  Thank you all very much. 

The executive order requiring vaccination and weekly testing has been rescinded for colleges and universities in July 2022.  Students, faculty, and staff are no longer required to test weekly regardless of their vaccination status.

Students are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Students should upload proof of vaccination to Lang Wellness Center here: https://rockford.jotform.com/211034954494053.

• Students who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations (including a booster) will NOT have to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive.
• If a student has been vaccinated and is identified as a close contact, but has not provided proof to Lang, the student will be required to quarantine until documentation of vaccination has been received.
• Residential students who have to quarantine or isolate are asked to return home if they live within 100 miles of the university.  
• Students who tested positive for COVID-19 over the summer should submit the positive results to Lang here: COVID-19 (jotform.com).  Anyone who has been positive for COVID-19 will not be subject to quarantine protocols for 90 days after the positive result.

Classroom Policy:

• If a student tests positive in a classroom, all students will be contacted. Students who are up to date with vaccination (including a booster) will not have to quarantine. Students who are identified as close contacts who have chosen to remain unvaccinated or not up to date with a booster will be subject to quarantine.
• Students who are in quarantine as a result of close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be subject to the attendance policy stated in the syllabus of each of their
• While short-term accommodations will be put into place for students who test positive for COVID- 19, as is often done with other illnesses that require a longer absence, such accommodations are not required to include teleparticipation (Zoom). Rather, accommodations could include sharing slides or notes with the student, extending deadlines, and other possibilities deemed appropriate by the instructor.
• Students participating in clinical experiences will follow any additional guidelines set forth by the clinical placement. 

Employees are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

• Employees should send their proof of vaccination for COVID-19 to Human Resources.
• Employees who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations (including a booster) will not have to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive.

As always, anyone is free to wear a mask at any point.  Should you have any questions, students should contact Lang Wellness Center at HealthCenter@rockford.edu or at 815-226-2840, employees should contact HR at mdiventi@rockford.edu. or at 815-226-4376. 

Governor Pritzker’s executive order requiring that all higher education faculty, staff, and students receive the COVID-19 vaccine is still in place. Please be advised of the following policies:

All employees will be required to:

• Provide proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to Human Resources

OR

• Employees (including adjunct faculty and part-time and contract staff) who have not documented being fully vaccinated with Human Resources, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. 

Those required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test must provide it to HR each Thursday by       5pm. 

• This requirement will continue until employees either submit proof of full vaccination or until the lifting of the executive order.
• The test must have been conducted in the past week and cannot be an over-the-counter home-administered test.

 All students (traditional undergraduates, BSMS, ESL, and graduate students) both full and part-time will be required to:

• Provide proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to the Lang Wellness Center. Submit via Jotform at: COVID-19 (jotform.com)

OR

• Those required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test must provide it to the Lang Wellness Center each Thursday by 5 pm.
• Commuter students who have not documented being fully vaccinated with the Lang Wellness Center, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. 
• • This requirement will continue until the student either submits proof of full vaccination or until the lifting of the executive order.
  • The test must have been conducted in the past week and cannot be an over-the-counter home-administered test.

Free testing locations in Winnebago county.    

All students (traditional undergraduates, BSMS, ESL, and graduate students) both full- and part-time will be required to:

• Provide proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to the Lang Wellness Center by September 5^th.  Submit via Jotform at: COVID-19 (jotform.com)

OR

• After September 5^th, commuter students who have not documented being fully vaccinated with the Lang Wellness Center, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. 

Those required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test must provide it to the Lang Wellness Center each Thursday by 5 pm. 

1. This requirement will continue until the student either submits proof of full vaccination or until the lifting of the executive order.
2. The test must have been conducted in the past week and cannot be an over-the-counter home-administered test.

  Free testing locations in Winnebago county.    

Residential students who have not documented being fully vaccinated with the Lang Wellness Center will be required to participate weekly in the RU residential testing program.

• Residential students will receive directions and guidance about this program from the Lang Wellness Center. 

Failure on the part of employees or students to comply with the requirements of the executive order will result in the individual not being allowed to work or participate in classes, programs, events, and activities of Rockford University (until such time as the individual comes into compliance).

Students, faculty, and staff who are due for a covid-19 booster and have not yet received one will be subject to quarantine protocols if identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.  If you have received a booster, students should upload their proof of booster here:

COVID-19 (jotform.com).  Faculty and staff can send their proof of booster to HR.

1. Employees: please contact the HR office of Rockford University at 815-394-4376 or mdiventi@rockford.edu.
2. Students: please contact the Lang Wellness Center at 815-226-4083 or healthcenter@rockford.edu.

Please note that the policies above are subject to change as additional guidance emerges. 

Rockford University will continue to monitor guidance from the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Winnebago County Health Department and adjust practices on campus as needed based on the level of community transmission. Based on the latest guidance, all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask indoors where social distancing cannot be maintained.  Social distancing is defined as being able to be at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people at all times.

Please note: An individual faculty or staff member may, within their classroom or office, request that others wear a mask regardless of vaccination status or ability to maintain social distancing.

Rockford University will monitor our community transmission level daily and will update the campus community per guidance from Winnebago County Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health, and the CDC.  You can review the community transmission levels here:  https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

In our COVID-19 policy update that you received earlier in the week, we note the following:  Rockford University will continue to monitor guidance from the CDC, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Winnebago County Health Department and adjust practices on campus as needed based on the level of community transmission.  While our general policy remains in place, requiring only those who are unvaccinated to wear a mask indoors, we are implementing a temporary addendum based on updated guidance from federal, state, and local health officials.

Starting Monday, August 2 and until Winnebago County’s level of community transmission falls to a moderate or low level. All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask indoors where social distancing cannot be maintained.  Social distancing is defined as being able to be at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people at all times.

We will monitor our community transmission level daily and will update the campus community once Winnebago County’s level falls and/or the guidance from our health official’s changes.  You can review the community transmission levels here:  https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

Guidelines for Employees:

• Employees are very strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Employees should send proof of vaccination to Monique DiVenti by scanning and sending a copy of their vaccination record to mdiventi@rockford.edu. Human Resources will be sending employees an email if we have not received a copy of your vaccination record. If we do not receive a copy of your vaccination card, it will be assumed you have not been vaccinated.
• Human Resources will continue to require all employees who are sick, test positive for COVID-19, or are close contact with someone with symptoms of, or positive for, COVID-19 to call 815-394-4376 immediately. 
• Human Resources will continue to do contact tracing and will use the same process as before in order to determine if quarantine is necessary. Proof of vaccination will keep employees who are identified as close contacts from needing to
• If an employee has been vaccinated and is identified as close contact, but has not provided proof of vaccination to Human Resources, the employee will be required to quarantine until documentation of vaccination has been.

Guidelines for Students:

• Rockford University strongly recommends that students be vaccinated.
• Vaccinated students who are “close contacts” will not be subject to quarantine and isolation protocols.
• Vaccinated students are asked to submit proof of vaccination to Rockford University at:  https://rockford.jotform.com/211034954494053.
• Vaccinated students who have not submitted proof of vaccination will be subject to the same requirements/protocols as those who are unvaccinated.
• Unvaccinated students will be subject to all appropriate quarantine and isolation protocols should they become a “close contact.”
• Unvaccinated student-athletes will be subject to surveillance testing up to three times per week.
• Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Lang Wellness Center at (815) 226-4083

All Rockford University community members should continue to mitigate the spread of germs by:

• Monitoring for any signs of illness and staying home if feeling If sick, employees should contact Human Resources at 815-394-4376.
• Washing hands frequently for 20
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces with cleaning products provided in classrooms and community

As you prepare for your return to Rockford University, please take the time to read and review the COVID-19 update for the fall 2021 semester.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Lang Wellness Center at 815-226-4083. 

• Students are very strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Students should upload proof of vaccination to Lang Wellness Center here: https://rockford.jotform.com/211034954494053.
  • Proof of vaccination will keep students who are identified as close contacts from needing to quarantine.
  • If a student has been vaccinated and is identified as close contact, but has not provided proof to Lang, the student will be required to quarantine until documentation of vaccination has been received.

• Students who ARE fully vaccinated will no longer have to:
  • Wear masks.
    • Please note: by not wearing a mask indoors, you are certifying that you have been fully vaccinated.
  • Practice social distancing.
  • Quarantine after exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual.

• Students who ARE NOT fully vaccinated must comply with the following expectations:
  • Wear a mask while indoors (except when actively eating or drinking or within your assigned living space).
  • Practice social distancing (including wearing a mask outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained).
  • Quarantine if identified as close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19.

• Classroom Policy
  •  If a student tests positive in a classroom, all students will be contacted. Students who provide proof (or have already provided) proof of vaccination will not be subjected to quarantine. Those who have chosen to remain unvaccinated will be subject to quarantine protocol.
  • Students who are in quarantine as a result of close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be subject to the attendance policy stated in the syllabus of each of their classes.
  • While short-term accommodations will be put into place for students who test positive for COVID-19, as is often done with other illnesses that require a longer absence, such accommodations are not required to include tele-participation (Zoom). Rather, accommodations could include sharing slides or notes with the student, extending deadlines, and other possibilities deemed appropriate by the instructor.
  • Students who ARE NOT vaccinated should wear masks in class and observe social distancing.

• Student-athletes should be aware of the following:
  • Student-athletes who ARE vaccinated will NOT have to participate in surveillance testing.
  • Student-athletes who ARE vaccinated and are identified as close contacts will NOT have to quarantine.
  • Student-athletes who ARE NOT vaccinated will be required to participate in surveillance testing up to 3 times per week.
  • Student-athletes who ARE NOT vaccinated will be required to quarantine should they be identified as close contact.

All Rockford University community members should continue to mitigate the spread of germs by:

1. Monitoring for any signs of illness and staying home if feeling sick. If sick, students should contact Lang Wellness Center at 815-226-4083.
2. Washing hands frequently for 20 seconds.
3. Cleaning frequently touched surfaces with cleaning products provided in classrooms and community spaces.

We are continuing to monitor the evolving situation around COVID-19 and will provide updated guidelines as needed.

As communicated on Friday, June 11, 2021, Illinois has moved to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan, which has lifted many of the previous Covid-19 restrictions. As such, effective today, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, Rockford University will be moving to the following guidelines: 

• If you are vaccinated, you will no longer be required to wear a mask or practice social distancing while inside or outside of our campus buildings. By not wearing a mask, you are certifying that you are fully vaccinated.
• If you are not vaccinated, you must continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing inside our campus buildings. Outside, you do not need to wear a mask unless you are unable to social distance.
• Normal capacity will resume for events held inside and outside of campus buildings.

We will be reviewing and updating these restrictions again in mid-July prior to the start of the academic year. In the meantime, we encourage all members of the Rockford University community to get vaccinated. We do ask that students who are fully vaccinated email healthcenter@rockford.edu to find out the best way to add a copy of your vaccine card to your medical chart at Lang Wellness Center. Employees should email mdiventi@rockford.edu. This information will be kept in your confidential file and will only be used for contact tracing purposes. 

If you are sick, test positive for Covid-19, or are a close contact of someone with symptoms of or positive for Covid-19, email healthcenter@rockford.edu (students) or mdiventi@rockford.edu (employees). Any questions can also be directed to these email addresses. 

Thank you,

Rockford University Covid-19 Committee Chairs

Michael Perry, Ph.D.                           Dr. Randy Worden                                    Monique DiVenti
Provost & Vice President for             Vice President for Student Life               Assistant Vice President of
Academic Affairs                                  Title IX Coordinator                                 Human Resources
Associate Professor of English

Updated March 18, 2021 to reflect the CDC Options to Reduce Quarantine recently adopted by the Winnebago County Health Department.

Please read through this for some clarification to the process that Lang is taking for Covid-19.

Teleparticipation – Lang will email the faculty of a student that is in need of teleparticipation.  Lang will not share that a specific person has tested positive.  Covid positive, presumed positive and close contact students all require the same teleparticipation need.  Lang is able to keep some confidentiality with this standard.  If a student is sick to the point of not being able to teleparticipate, faculty will be notified of that, as Lang has always done when a student presents to the Wellness Center too ill to attend class. 

Lang Process:  When a student presents to Lang with symptoms of Covid-19 the following will occur:

1. Instruct the student to stay home
2. Conduct interview for contact tracing (to identify brief and close contacts) and cleaning purposes
3. Educate the student on the next steps: isolation, testing needs, transportation needs to get tested, notifying faculty, notifying employer, etc. depending on the student’s situation
4. Contact close contacts to inform them of need to stay home
5. Conduct interviews of close contacts for contact tracing and cleaning purposes
6. Educate the close contacts on the next steps: quarantine, testing needs, transportation needs to get tested, notifying faculty, notifying employer, etc. depending on the student’s situation
7. Notify Residence Life, Facilities, and Dining Services of appropriate needs
8. Notify faculty of student need to teleparticipate
9. Notify Academic Affairs if classes need to receive a brief contact letter

Please be aware that the interview process can take a long time and hopefully the student has done as instructed and contacted the faculty.  Students may contact faculty before Lang is able to.

Some students will not notify Lang of any issues, but will start with their professor, coach, or supervisor.  Please let us know when you hear from a student if you have not heard from Lang. 

Some students have chronic health issues that have symptoms that are similar to COVID-19. These students are advised to stay home that day, assessed to determine if their symptoms are consistent with their chronic health issue and then are re-assessed the following day for resolution of symptoms. If symptoms do not follow the normal pattern the student would be referred for testing and the process above would be initiated. If the symptoms have resolved and have followed the normal pattern, the student is cleared to return to class.

Return to Class:

1. Lang will be communicating with the student throughout isolation/quarantine for updates. The isolation timeframe for Covid-19 is 10 days. The quarantine timeframe is currently 7-10 days.  There may be situations that are longer or shorter.
2. Once cleared to return to in-person classes, an email will be sent to faculty indicating this.

Some students are not able to return to campus immediately upon being cleared.  If we know the student has a planned return to residence hall date, we will communicate that.

Contact Tracing – A form is used to walk the person through areas of campus and group affiliations to identify contacts.

Brief Contact Letters– If a person tests positive, a brief contact letter will be sent to the in-person classes and other individuals that have been identified by the positive person as brief contacts.  The letter we are sending out was provided to us by the Winnebago County Health Department and we have tailored it to fit our needs.  The nature of a brief contact is such that providing the day and time of exposure is not necessary.  The letter simply indicates that a person should pay attention to symptoms.  We are already expecting everyone at RU to be doing this.

Close Contact Phone Calls – We will call individuals who are identified as close contacts. 

When a symptomatic or positive person is unsure if someone would be a close or brief contact, we call the contact to discuss the nature of the contact.  

Quarantine is for people who are not sick, but may have been exposed to a sick person.

Isolation is for people who are already sick.

People may have to quarantine due to being a close contact of someone with symptoms.  If the symptomatic person’s test is negative for Covid, then the quarantine is ended for the contacts as it ended up not being necessary.  If the symptomatic person’s test comes back positive, the close contacts have to quarantine for 7-10 days from their exposure.  We will be in contact with the close contacts to give instructions on what steps they need to take.

Campus Clear App – Faculty and staff are encouraged to also use the Campus Clear app to monitor symptoms daily.  This is a free app that guides you through a symptom checklist for COVID-19. As part of the Rockford University Community Expectations, every member of Rockford University is to check for symptoms before leaving home for class or work. 

Here are the links to download the app:

• Apple AppStore: https://apps.apple.com/app/campusclear/id1516163872
• Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.campusclear
• Web app: https://web.ivy.ai/app/campusclear

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Thank you for your help in navigating COVID-19 through the fall semester.  We are pleased with the teamwork of everyone that kept campus open the entire semester as planned. 

If you do contract COVID-19 over break, notify Lang Wellness Center at healthcenter@rockford.edu  if you are a student.  Faculty and Staff should contact Human Resources at 815-394-4376 (during business hours) or mdiventi@rockford.edu (when the campus is closed).  We will continue to track positive cases so that we can better instruct you on how to proceed with potential quarantine, isolation, or testing needs during the spring semester.

Over break, please continue to:

• Wear a Mask
• Wash Your Hands
• Social Distance

When should you get tested?

• Test for COVID-19 if you have symptoms.  It is best to test as soon as symptoms appear or within the first few days of illness.  
• Test for COVID-19 if you are in close contact with a person who tested positive on day 5, 6, or 7 after the exposure date. 

Questions? 

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for guidance. 

The best way to reach us over break is:

• Students
  • healthcenter@rockford.edu
• Faculty and Staff
  • 815-394-4376 (during business hours) or mdiventi@rockford.edu (when the campus is closed).

Enjoy your Holidays!

Kristen Clarke                                                  Monique DiVenti

Director of Lang Wellness Center                Assistant Vice President of Human Resources