Pre-Arrival Communication - Fall 2021
International Student & Scholar Services
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Fall 2021 COVID - 19 Information and Guidance
Greetings!

We are excited to welcome you for the Fall 2021 semester just weeks from now!  Please carefully read the important information below about COVID-19 and travel, vaccines, quarantine, and testing requirements.
 
All students are required to wear a mask on campus, regardless of vaccination status. Please see SIUE’s COVID-19 website for more information about face mask/distancing guidelines.
COVID - 19 Arrival to Campus, Vaccines and Quarantine
All students are encouraged to be fully vaccinated before they arrive to campus. You are considered vaccinated if you have completed a vaccine series with any vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and at least two weeks have passed since your last dose. If you have completed the vaccine series and are not two weeks post-vaccine, have only received one dose of the vaccine series, or are not vaccinated when you arrive to campus, you will not be considered fully vaccinated. Students are expected to follow the latest CDC guidelines. See the below CDC chart for travel instructions and quarantine.
·        All students must get tested 3-5 days after international travel, regardless of vaccination status. Free tests are available on campus.
·        Fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine after arrival
·        Students who are not fully vaccinated are required to quarantine 7 days after arrival to the U.S., even with a negative COVID-19 test.

Be sure to check with your airline for additional screening and requirements. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
 
If upon arrival, you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms, please stay home and contact SIUE Health Service at 618-650-2842 or cougarcare@siue.edu. 
 
On-Campus Housing
Unvaccinated students who are arriving to campus after international travel who plan to live in on-campus housing should email their arrival dates to housing@siue.edu so they can provide a space for you to quarantine. Please visit the University Housing website for more information.
Beginning August 9, 2021, all students will be required to complete COVID-19 testing by Friday of the first week coming to any SIUE campus (Alton, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, or clinical sites) and each week thereafter unless you have received approval for an exemption.
Individuals who are not able to be vaccinated and/or who do not submit vaccination records will be required to participate in the COVID-19 weekly on-campus testing program and wear a face covering.
You can request an exemption from required screening testing for the following reasons: 
·        If you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (2 weeks from date of last vaccination dose) 
·        If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days 
 
To request an exemption, go to https://forms.office.com/r/6nt3nDPcUL.  Please have your vaccination record with dates or positive test result documentation available for upload (screenshots are fine). Your submission will be reviewed and approved by Health Service staff. 
 
If you are taking a fully online class schedule as identified in Cougar Net, and do not plan to work on campus, utilize any on campus services, or attend any on campus activities, 
you are not required to test. BUT, if you plan to be on campus at any time (i.e., working, picking up textbooks, using the Student Fitness Center, etc.) you must participate in testing. Note that all international students in the U.S. in their first semester of study at SIUE must enroll in at least one face-to-face course and will therefore be required to test weekly if unvaccinated.
All students are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine and submit vaccination information so we have a better idea of our campus vaccination rates.
Visit https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/vaccine-faq for information about the vaccine and where to get one. Students who are not fully vaccinated can connect with SIUE Health Service to complete their series or begin the vaccination process.
More information about testing, including how to schedule tests, will be sent to you later this summer. Please visit the SIUE COVID-19 information to see the most recent guidance.
Please email covidtesting@siue.edu with any questions. Thank you for helping us keep the SIUE community safe and healthy this fall!
Feel free to reach out with any questions. We look forward to welcoming you to SIUE! 

Regards,

Office of International Affairs
International Student and Scholar Services
Student Success Center 0300 (lower level)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1616
(618) 650-3785