Staff member talking with a student

We are very excited to welcome you back to campus for the Spring 2023 semester!

NEIU is dedicated to helping you succeed at helping our students succeed, and that includes prioritizing the health and safety of our campus community. Each day, take a moment to check in with yourself and be mindful of your physical and emotional health. Take proper precautions and seek care if you are ill. Don't forget to consider your emotional well-being.

HEALTH

  • Masks are strongly suggested to be worn indoors in all common public spaces, including classrooms, regardless of vaccination status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises individuals to consider wearing a face mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with others who are not fully vaccinated.
    • Individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a high quality face mask, such as a three-layer surgical mask, KN95 or N95 respirator mask to protect against the omicron variant. 
    • Surgical, KN95, and/or N95 masks are available for students and employees at the Welcome Desks at all locations.
  • It is recommended that all members of the Northeastern Illinois University community get vaccinated against COVID-19 and get a booster shot as soon as they are eligible per the CDC Booster Shot guidelines.
  • Employees are required to report positive COVID-19 test results to Human Resources at (773) 442-5200 or benefits@neiu.edu.
    • If symptoms occur while on campus, please notify your supervisor via email and return home immediately.
    • If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the employee should stay home for five days. Employees should talk with their supervisors about the possibility of remote work during this time.The employee may return to work after the five-day isolation period is complete. 
    • Per the new CDC guidelines, employees may return to work after five days if they are feeling better. Employees who return to work after five days are required wear a mask around others for a full 10 days. No further testing is required.
    • Employees are required to report positive and presumptive student COVID-19 cases and exposures to Student Health Services.
    • Contact tracing will be conducted as necessary.
  • Employees should wash their hands, as needed, with soap and water for 20 seconds. Alternatively, hand sanitizer stations will be located throughout all University locations. 

sick leave

Illinois House Bill 1167, which provided sick leave protections for vaccinated school staff, expired on Aug. 12, 2022. However, employees who are sick should not come to work and should not be working. The University encourages all employees to take the necessary time off to recover and heal. 

isolation period and return to work

The first day of symptoms or first positive test result date, whichever comes first, is counted as day zero of the five days. 

Example: If the onset of symptoms begins on a Friday, the clock begins on Saturday and five days ends on Wednesday. Therefore, an employee would be able to return to work on Thursday. 

Quarantine is no longer required for any exposures to COVID-19.

Current NEIU practice requires a doctor’s note to return to work after three days of absence. For COVID-19, the CDC indicates five days of isolation are required.

  • A doctor’s note is not required to return to work after the five-day isolation period following a positive test result.
  • A doctor’s note is required to return to work if the absence from work due to COVID-19 exceeds 10 days.

GATHERING 

  • Events: Events may be held on campus, following current CDC, IDPH and CDPH guidelines. When possible, events will be held outdoors.
  • Meetings: Virtual or hybrid meetings are strongly encouraged. 

TRAVEL

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment is available upon request at the following places at all three locations:

  • Main Campus—Welcome Desk
  • CCICS—Administrative Office
  • El Centro—Administrative Office

Plexiglas or space assessment requests should be emailed to Facilities Management at facility-mgmt@neiu.edu.