You may have received an email from the university where you are located regarding COVID-19 testing requirements for the Fall 2020 semester. We would like to answer some questions on how these requirements affect you, as a System Offices employee.
Am I required to participate in COVID-19 testing?
System Offices employees who are returning to regular on-site work on the Urbana campus must participate in on-campus testing twice per week. View more information about testing and current testing locations in Urbana here.
System Offices employees who are returning to regular on-site work on the Springfield campus must participate in on-campus testing once per week. View testing information for Springfield here.
If you are returning to regular on-site work on the Chicago campus, you are strongly encouraged to test before returning to your workplace. Testing requirements may be changed at a later date. Employees working on-site on the Chicago campus must complete the Daily Monitoring Survey to receive a Daily Admit Pass for access to university facilities.
System Offices employees who continue to work remotely and do not visit their office or other university facilities do not have to test.
Do I need to complete the survey from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign regarding testing?
The survey is not required, but will be used to assign testing days if completed. If you do not complete the survey, you will be assigned specific days/times. If you choose to complete the survey there is an option to select "you are not coming to campus" and then you will not be assigned specific testing days/times.
Do I have to test if I am returning to the office occasionally, or if I will be coming in outside of regular work hours?
Yes. If your office is on the Urbana or Springfield campus, you must go to an on-campus testing site and have test results dated no more than four days prior to entering any university facility. Off-campus testing may not be substituted for access to university facilities.
My office is in a rented, off-campus space. Am I required to test twice per week?
Yes. If your job is based on the Urbana or Springfield campuses, you must go to an on-campus testing site and have test results dated no more than four days prior to entering any rented university facility.
Is the required testing considered work time?
Yes, the time you spend at an on-campus testing site to fulfill your testing requirements is considered regular work time and should be completed during your regular work day. Commuting time to and from your workplace in order to fulfill your testing requirements is not considered work time.
Do I need to renew my i-card to access an on-campus testing site?
i-card with expiration dates from March through October have been extended until November 2020. If your i-card is currently expired, or will be expiring during this time, you should renew your card before November. However, expired i-cards will be accepted at testing sites. If you have an older i-card that does not have an expiration date, your card will continue to work for on-campus COVID-19 testing.
You may also use the Illinois app to show your electronic i-card (Illini ID) if your i-card is not available.
Note: From Tuesday, August 11 – Friday, August 28, 2020, the Urbana i-card Center will be located in the Illini Union Room A.
How can I prove I have fulfilled my testing requirements for entry to university facilities?
Fastest and preferred method:
- Download the Safer Illinois app to your phone to display your testing status to gain entry into university facilities. The app can help you find the nearest testing center as well as provide the current COVID-19 guidelines for your county. Using the app is highly encouraged to help protect our university community, however it is not required. You may use you i-card as in the alternative methods below.
Alternative methods:
- Use the i-card Programs’ Boarding Pass site to login and show your entry flag in real-time on your mobile phone at the door
- Use the i-card Programs’ Boarding Pass site to login and print off your entry flag each morning to show at the door
- Arrive at the door and ask the Classroom Wellness Support Associate (CWSA) to radio to a Zone Manager who will look you up via NetID (or UIN) and radio back your entry flag to the CWSA. You’ll need a form of identification to present to the CWSA before the Zone Manager will look up your status.
Note: Starting August 24, buildings with classrooms will be monitored by CWSAs. Staff should avoid arriving at the same time as students arriving for classes in the building.
I am uncomfortable coming to campus for testing or returning to my regular workplace before a COVID-19 vaccine is available. What should I do?
Please refer to the System Offices Flexible Work Arrangements document for guidance, or contact System HR.
I received a phone call from the CU Public Health Contact Tracing Unit. What should I do?
If you are located on the Urbana campus, you may receive a phone call from the CU Public Health Contact Tracing Unit (312-777-1999) if you test positive or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive. Please be sure to answer the call or respond as quickly as possible. The speed at which we help them is critical. They will give you your isolation instructions and may need information from you regarding any individuals they need to talk to about potential exposure.
Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility during this challenging time. Find the most current COVID-19 information, including any changes to testing requirements, on the System HR COVID-19 Resources page. Additional questions regarding COVID-19 or returning to the workplace plans may be directed to System Human Resource Services at SystemHRServices@uillinois.edu or 217-333-2600.
