This week’s message includes information about important surveys for students, faculty, and staff; the pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; on-campus vaccination clinics; clinic details; second-dose clinics; and COVID testing hours.
Visit Illinois State University’s Coronavirus website for the most up-to-date information and guidance. Questions can be emailed to coronavirus@ilstu.edu.
Important Surveys
Please take a moment to participate in one or more of the surveys listed below. Your feedback helps to improve and enhance the Illinois State University experience.
- Students, faculty, and staff: The University is asking for your assistance in preparing for the fall semester. This anonymous survey seeks information about your COVID-19 vaccination plans and should take less than 2 minutes to complete. Take the COVID Vaccination Survey by Friday, April 23.
- Students: You received an email from the University regarding the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which measures the amount of time and effort students put into their studies and other educationally purposeful activities and identifies how institutions deploy their resources and organize learning opportunities. One of the modules focuses on students’ experiences with online learning. If you haven’t already, please consider participating in this survey before Friday, April 30.
Pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
As communicated to the campus community in an email on Tuesday, April 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, beginning April 13. At this time, no additional J&J vaccination clinics have been scheduled on campus. For more information about the pause in the use of the J&J vaccine, read the news release.
On-campus vaccination clinics for ISU students, faculty, and staff
The registration link for on-campus vaccination clinics will be available at approximately 3 p.m. on Thursdays for the following week (i.e., the link for April 22 will become available at approximately 3 p.m. on April 15).
REGISTER for a vaccination appointment.
Although the University will make every effort to have the registration link available at approximately 3 p.m., the release time is dependent on the McLean County Health Department (MCHD) and may be subject to change. Individuals are encouraged to periodically check the registration site to see if additional appointments have been added to a clinic.
A “Standby List” registration link will also be added for each clinic. In the event that appointment times become available at the end of a clinic (e.g., cancellations, no shows), individuals on the list will be contacted near the end of the clinic to quickly arrive at the clinic site so that all remaining vaccine doses can be administered. Add your name to available standby lists on the University’s COVID-19 vaccine webpage.
Students and employees are encouraged to seek additional opportunities for vaccination as on-campus clinics are limited based on vaccine availability. In addition to clinics held on-campus, learn more about MCHD and statewide vaccination sites, as well as review a listing of all vaccination sites in Illinois, which includes local pharmacies. There is no requirement that students and employees be vaccinated on campus.
On-campus vaccination clinic details
Going forward, it is anticipated that there will be one clinic per week (currently on Thursdays). The number of clinics offered may change based on vaccine availability. Clinics will continue to be located in the Bone Student Center. Individuals must show their Redbird ID Card upon arrival to the clinic and be an eligible Illinois State University student or employee to receive a vaccine at an on-campus location.
While participation is not required, all students and employees are strongly encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Illinois State University remains in constant contact with the MCHD regarding vaccine availability for the campus community. MCHD determines when and how much vaccine the University receives based on the distribution of vaccines from the state and need at the University which is based on guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and on-campus vaccination clinics by reading the FAQs on the Coronavirus website.
Second-dose vaccination clinics
Individuals who participate in on-campus clinics that are staffed by the Illinois National Guard will make their second dose appointment at the clinic. Student Health Services will have very limited involvement in clinics staffed by the Illinois National Guard and should not be contacted regarding questions about Illinois National Guard clinics.
COVID-19 testing hours
Antigen testing for asymptomatic students and employees will be available Monday-Friday at the following times and locations:
- 9 a.m.-Noon, Former fire station at 604 N. Adelaide St., Normal
- 1-4 p.m., Temporary building in the parking lot between Watterson Towers and Stevenson Hall
Students and employees are encouraged to participate in bi-weekly COVID-19 testing. Only individuals being tested should enter a testing center.
Students experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms or who believe that they were exposed to a person with COVID-19 should contact Student Health Services at (309) 438-7676 for direction regarding quarantine and/or to schedule an initial screening and make an appointment to be tested. Symptomatic employees should contact their healthcare provider for testing or to make an appointment.
PCR COVID-19 testing remains available for students, faculty, and staff at the Interstate Center testing site, which has reduced days of operation due to changes in public demand. Students testing at this site should share positive test results with Student Health Services by uploading them to the Secure Patient Health Portal. Sharing test results will ensure students have proper documentation for classes, housing, and/or employment.
Visit the Student Health Services website for the most up-to-date information about testing.
