“As a public land-grant university, it is our obligation to provide accessible and equitable research, creative expression and educational experiences for people from across the state and around the globe. We come together here to challenge and debate the known, confront and conquer the unknown, advance the frontier of knowledge and improve the human condition. Our success hinges upon the vibrant learning communities that constitute the bedrock of residential universities like ours. All of us, together, share in all the good that our university makes possible,” Chancellor Robert Jones.

The Mass Mail said that with the successful transition of the Central Region into Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, the University will also be able to provide adequate COVID-19 testing for the entire community of faculty, staff and students. Everyone will also be expected to practice social distancing, wearing face coverings (for those who are able), checking symptoms and adequate hygiene such as frequent handwashing and using hand sanitizer.

The University will also release a comprehensive plan that looks after the vulnerable and aims at mitigating and containing any outbreaks in the weeks ahead. 

“We cannot overstate that our own personal behavior will determine in a large part our access to all the good that our campus offers. It is up to each of us to take care of one another. In the weeks ahead, as we prepare to resume on-campus operations in the fall, we count on the unfaltering vigilance of everyone in our community. We still have a lot of work to do to get ready,” Jones wrote. 

The post University of Illinois announces Fall 2020 plans first appeared on SJO Daily.

Parkland’s plan is contingent upon the Central District in the Restore Illinois plan being in Phase 4, where groups of 50 are allowed. At this time, the Central Region is on pace to meet the requirements to enter into Phase 4.

Instruction will include both online and on-campus options, with on-campus courses delivered as hybrid courses. Students with campus-based courses will attend some meetings on the campus and complete some coursework online.

On-campus social distancing and safety guidelines will be enacted. The press release said that students may be divided into small small groups for on-campus meetings; courses with larger enrollment may require staggered scheduling for on-campus meetings.

To minimize the number of on-campus meetings after the Thanksgiving break, many of Parkland College’s transfer classes will end their on-campus instructional component by Nov. 20, with the online component continuing through the end of the semester. Career classes that require in-person labs may continue on-campus meetings through the semester’s end.

Parkland said that it believes communication between staff and student will be key. Students will be contacted prior to the beginning of the semester with instruction on what days they should attend.

Registration for Parkland College fall courses is underway; students can review step-by-step directions on how to register.

The University of Illinois is expected to make a final announcement on courses by mid-June.

The post Parkland Colleges announces plans for Fall 2020 first appeared on SJO Daily.

A University of Illinois’ COVID-19 task force has proposed that fall semester begins as scheduled on August 24 with face-to-face instruction and begin online instruction beginning at Fall Break on November 21. 

The committee was formed in April by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Andreas C. Cangellaris to consider strategies for Fall 2020 instruction in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The committee’s draft report does not mean it will be the University’s final decision. 

According to a Mass Mail sent by Cangellaris on June 3, the task force focused much of its effort on evaluating the feasibility of a modified approach to on-campus instruction, including a combination of in-person and online classes. 

But, it is only possible if the University of Illinois meets all of the guidelines in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, has adequate testing and tracing protocols and meets cleaning guidelines. 

“This includes testing all campus community members as they return to campus in August, along with a robust continuous testing strategy,” Cangellaris wrote.

Students, faculty and staff will also be required to wear face covers as able and, when necessary, social distance both on and off campus. 

“The health and safety of the community must be the most important consideration in any decision about Fall 2020 instruction. ‘Normal operations’ (i.e., full face-to-face instruction) are highly unlikely to be a viable option for the fall given the current understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the guidance provided to us from our state’s officials about the anticipated state of the pandemic in Illinois in the fall,” Cangellaris wrote. 

In order to achieve these measures, the University of Illinois would need to host most classes at off-peak times, including evenings, while also utilizing non-academic spaces for classrooms. Passing time between classes will likely have to be lengthened and protocols for entering and exiting classrooms developed.

The report also suggested that new and continuing students who do not return to campus for any reason must have access to courses and opportunity to make progress toward their degree. Instructional faculty who are unable to return to campus for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic should still have opportunities to teach and engage students remotely, also.

The campus community will be able to share feedback on the report until June 10. A final announcement is expected to be made in mid-June. 

If Illinois has not moved to Phase 4 by the beginning of the academic year, the University “will have to adopt a fully online format,” Cangellaris wrote.

The post University of Illinois task force makes recommendations for fall 2020 first appeared on SJO Daily.

Dear faculty, staff and students:

We write today to share new policies for the University of Illinois System and its universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield, all designed to protect the health and welfare of our students, faculty and staff amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The proactive policies are focused squarely on doing our part to help curb the virus. Fortunately, there have been no confirmed cases among our faculty, staff and students. But such cases have been increasing in Illinois and our experts say early intervention is the best option to limit the spread.

Our policies will adopt best practices endorsed by state and national health officials by minimizing face-to-face exposure in classrooms and other types of large gatherings, and by limiting international and domestic travel. They were developed with guidance from the leading-edge healthcare experts across our universities, who have been consulting daily with a leadership team composed of the president, the chancellors and the provosts from all three universities. We will continue to monitor the outbreak and stay in constant contact with the Governor’s Office, the Illinois Department of Public Health, local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other universities around the state and the nation.

The new policies were carefully crafted to safeguard our students, faculty and staff without compromising the world-class education and the groundbreaking research discovery that are synonymous with the U of I System. They are:

Instruction

• Courses at each of our three universities will immediately begin migrating to online or alternative delivery mechanisms to provide the social distancing that helps limit transmission of the virus, with a goal of completion by March 23. Classes will be held at their currently scheduled times.
• Online and other alternative learning methods will continue until further notice, but our expectation is that it will be temporary and students will be updated regularly via email and updates on system and university websites.
• Students have the option of studying remotely from home or from their campus residence after spring break.
• Our campuses will remain open and ready to serve students, including residence and dining halls.
• Each university will provide specific guidance for their students regarding both academic and housing arrangements.
• Faculty and staff will continue their work on campus, including research, and human resources offices will provide guidance for work conditions that foster safety and for employees who suspect exposure or infection and must self-quarantine.

Events

• Events with more than 50 attendees that are university-sponsored or hosted by registered student organizations will be suspended indefinitely, effective Friday, March 13.
• Events may occur via livestream or other telecommunications, or be postponed to a future date.
• Please check with each university for specific guidance.

Travel

• All university-sponsored international travel is prohibited, along with non-essential domestic travel until further notice.
• Personal international travel is strongly discouraged, and we urge caution and the exercise of good judgment for personal domestic travel.

Leaders of our three universities will share further information for how these policies will be implemented to address the specific educational and safety needs of their campus communities. UI Hospital and clinics will provide additional protocols to address the unique needs in providing care for their patients.

We recognize the many challenges this will create for our students, faculty and staff. We pledge to do everything in our power to support you during this temporary move to safeguard your health and the health of people in the communities we call home.

Our policies are rooted in our expert scientific knowledge base and exhibit an abundance of caution to take care of each other until the COVID-19 outbreak eases. We are all in this together, and appreciate your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

Tim Killeen, President, University of Illinois System
Barbara J. Wilson, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Illinois System
Robert J. Jones, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Michael D. Amiridis, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Susan J. Koch, Chancellor, University of Illinois at Springfield

The post University of Illinois to move courses online, suspends events with over 50 attendees first appeared on SJO Daily.

While many libraries and museums throughout the state are also closed, those in East Central Illinois that do stay open oftentimes have programming for families to learn more about King.

Festivities kick-off on Feb. 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Vineyard Church Urbana Campus, located at 1500 N. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana.

The Countywide Celebration, hosted by the cities of Champaign and Urbana, alongside Champaign County, the Village of Rantoul, Parkland College and the University of Illinois, will include Keynote Speaker Dr. Sampson Davis, who grew up in Newark, NJ and founded The Three Doctors Foundation. Davis is also the youngest African American to receive The Scroll of Merit, the National Medical Associations highest honor.

The Nfinite Soul Band will also provide entertainment.

The Krannert Center for Performing Arts will hold its 35th Annual Dr. MLK, Jr. Service of Celebration on Jan. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Foellinger Great Hall.

Since 1988, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee has awarded more than 200 scholarships to local students attending colleges such as Parkland College, University of Illinois, and historically Black colleges and universities.

This year, they honor the memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a keynote address and music from the community choir.

The Vineyard Church, Mahomet Hub will celebrate King’s birthday with the 35th Annual Unity Breakfast at the Urbana Campus from 8:30 to noon on Jan. 20.

From 1 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 20, the Champaign County Forest Preserve will host School’s Out: Martin Luther King Celebration at the Museum of the Grand Prairie.

Guests will have opportunities to explore the rich cultural heritage of the African American community in Champaign County. Activities, that include crafts, songs and videos, will help guests learn more about the  life of Dr. King, celebrate his legacy and how everyone can keep that mission alive in the present time.

The Danville Public Library will provide crafts and a documentary, “10 Things You May Not Know About Martin Luther King, Jr.” for children ages 5-12 on Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Danville will kick-off MLK Day at 10:30 a.m. with a parade that will begin at the corner of Main St. and Logan Ave. and end with a ceremony at St. James United Methodist Church where Reverend Daniel J. Garrett, pastor of Spirit Redeemed Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago will speak.

St. James United Methodist Church will also host “Pursuing Peace Together” on Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. at the Days Hotel at 77 N. Gilbert St., Danville.

When Shepards Worship (WSW), a gospel group from Chicago, Illinois will perform.

The fun doesn’t have to stop there, though. Other organizations provide other activities during the late afternoon and evening hours.

The Middle Fork River Preserve will host School’s Out: Owl Prowl from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 20.

The great horned howls begin nesting in January, providing owl-watchers will a great change to see or hear a live owl during the month of January. The CCFPD staff will begin with a presentation about native Illinois owls and dissecting owl pellets indoors. The group will then head outside to look for owls before the sun sets. Space is limited and there is a $5 per person fee.

Those looking for an adventure can grab an Illinois Heartland Library System Library Crawl card from their home library, then venture out to meet new people and discover new libraries during their time off school or work.

The St. Joseph Township- Swearingen Memorial Library, which is participating in the Library Crawl, is hosting their Winter Book Sale until Jan. 30. Books and other library material is available with a donation.

From 6:30 to 7 p.m. the St. Joseph library will also be telling stories to children during their regularly scheduled storytime.

The post Martin Luther King Jr. ceremonies and celebrations in East Central Illinois first appeared on SJO Daily.