UIC classroom public health guidance for students
Student responsibilities for reporting symptoms, testing and exposures
I’m a student and I am experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
You should stay home. Most students experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are not required to report symptoms to Contact Tracing. The UIC COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Epidemiology Program will remain available as a resource for students who have questions related to campus guidance or require assistance navigating isolation or the post-exposure period. If you decide to voluntarily report symptoms via the UIC COVID-19 Reporting Decision Tool, the contact tracing team will call you to provide guidance on testing and when you can come back to campus.
- All students who also work for the university are required to inform University Health Services (UHS) by phone or email when they test positive for COVID-19. In addition, civil service employees are required to receive clearance from UHS when their COVID-19 absence exceeds three days. To receive clearance, employees have two options:
- Call (312) 996-7420 or email uhsclinic@uic.edu to schedule a virtual office visit with a nurse practitioner or go to the UHS clinic at 835 S. Wolcott St., Suite 144.
- Virtual and in-person appointments are offered between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The last patient will be registered at 3:45 p.m. The office is closed on holidays.
I’m a student and I tested positive for COVID-19.
You should stay home. Students who tested positive for COVID-19 are not required to report their positive test to Contact Tracing (unless living in campus housing, see below). The UIC COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Epidemiology Program will remain available as a resource for students who have questions related to campus guidance or require assistance navigating isolation or the post-exposure period. If you decide to voluntarily report your positive test via the Reporting Decision Tool, we ask that you monitor your inbox closely as you will receive communications from UIC Contact Tracing (312-355-2555 or uic_contact_tracing@uic.edu). Contact Tracing will send you an email with a link to a survey which is designed to collect important public health information and provide instructions on when you are eligible to return to participation.
- UIC’s current policy is that all individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or are likely positive for COVID-19 isolate until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication AND until their symptoms have improved for a minimum of 24 hours. Upon returning to campus the individual must adhere to strict masking in all settings on UIC’s campus for five additional days.
- If you are a student living in campus housing, you must report your positive test via the UIC COVID-19 Reporting Decision Tool and to UIC Campus Housing at housinghealth@uic.edu.
- All students who also work for the university are required to to inform University Health Services by phone or email when they test positive for COVID-19. In addition, civil service employees are required to receive clearance from University Health Services (UHS) when their COVID-19 absence exceeds three days. To receive clearance, employees have two options:
- Call (312) 996-7420 or email uhsclinic@uic.edu to schedule a virtual office visit with a nurse practitioner or go to the UHS clinic at 835 S. Wolcott St., Suite 144.
- Virtual and in-person appointments are offered between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The last patient will be registered at 3:45 p.m. The office is closed on holidays.
I have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Students who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 are not required to report the exposure to Contact Tracing. The UIC COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Epidemiology Program will remain available as a resource for students who have questions related to campus guidance or require assistance navigating isolation or the post-exposure period. If you decide to voluntarily report the exposure via the Reporting Decision Tool, you can expect to receive an email communication to your UIC inbox from uic_contact_tracing@uic.edu with instructions to complete a brief survey. Please be sure to complete the survey as quickly as possible so you can receive tailored guidance for testing and symptom monitoring. UIC Contact Tracing will then send you an additional 1-2 surveys for further follow-up and will closely monitor all surveys for indications of symptoms or a positive test.
- Please note, quarantine is not recommended at this time for any individual regardless of exposure type or vaccination status.
- All individuals should seek testing five days following their last exposure to a COPVID-positive individual.
- All individuals must mask in all spaces on UIC’s campus through day 10 from their last exposure and monitor for symptoms.
Student concerns and questions for Contact Tracing
I reported a positive COVID-19 test, when should I receive communication from Contact Tracing?
If you reported a positive COVID-19 test, you should expect to receive initial communication from CCTEP by email (uic_contact_tracing@uic.edu). This email will include a link to a survey which will collect public health information and provide you with detailed guidance and return to class/work procedures. If you submitted a survey, it will be sent automatically to the Contact Tracing database; you do not have to submit another survey for the same test.
I need to stay home from class due to symptoms or a positive test. Will my instructor be notified?
Contact Tracing does not provide verification that students need to be absent from class. You are responsible for communicating with the instructor regarding your need to stay home, the date you anticipate returning to class, and make up any assignments that may be necessary. See item 3 below regarding accommodations that will allow you to succeed in your courses during isolation.
Will I be penalized for staying home due to symptoms or a positive test?
Instructors have received guidance to accommodate students who need to isolate due to COVID-19 concerns. However, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate accommodation needs to the instructor in order to avoid attendance or assignment penalties. Contact Tracing does not provide verification that students need to be absent from class.Contact Tracing does not provide verification that students need to be absent from class.
I’d like to know more about the risk of COVID-19 transmission in UIC classrooms.
During fall 2021 semester, Contact Tracing assessed classroom safety on a weekly basis and disseminated findings to campus leadership. Among the 241 classroom-based case investigations Contact Tracing completed during fall 2021, they observed one possible transmission event involving an unvaccinated person exposed during a classroom meeting. Overall, our data shows that classrooms remain very safe thanks to our excellent vaccination rates on campus, ventilation upgrades in our classrooms, and intense monitoring by the contact tracing program.
Compliance and other concerns
What happens if I don’t comply with UIC COVID-19 policies, for example, by showing up in class after being told to isolate or refusing to report a positive test result?
Students who do not comply with UIC COVID-19 policies may be reported to the Dean of Students and may be subject to disciplinary action.
I have concerns about classroom safety, for example, poor ventilation.
Please contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office or report an anonymous safety concern online.