COVID-19 Communications Archive

Sent April 5, 2022

Updated Mask Policies

Dear RFU Community:

In our continued efforts to prioritize health and safety during the ongoing spread of COVID-19 while also promoting the social and emotional well-being of everyone on campus, we are adjusting mask policies to reflect current conditions in our region.

Specifically, as of this week, the wearing of surgical or N95, KN95 or KF94 masks will be encouraged but not required on campus in areas such as hallways and in communal spaces like the Boxer Library and DNA Café.

Masks will still be required in the following settings:

• In classrooms, educational labs and simulation spaces, with faculty still allowed to use face shields in lieu of masks while lecturing.
• In university health settings, including the Health Clinics and Student Health. 
• On university shuttle buses.

Outside of those settings, persons with “authority in a space” can determine a masking policy. For example, faculty, staff and researchers can require masks in their work spaces; event planners can designate certain events as "masks required”; and students in student housing may require that masks are worn in their apartments.

In all settings, individuals who are not vaccinated and boosted with a single booster dose are responsible for wearing masks. We encourage students, faculty and staff to wear masks in any setting if it makes them more comfortable. RFU is committed to respecting and supporting one another's choices.

These updated mask policies are consistent with current guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with those of state and local authorities. With COVID still circulating both regionally and nationally, masks remain an effective tool to ensure continued access to education as we approach the end of the academic year.

Faculty and staff with questions pertaining to masking requirements when scheduling educational activities or creating safety plans for events can direct questions to the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs. Faculty and staff with questions about the mask policy or concerns to share can contact Human Resources at hr@rosalindfranklin.edu, and students can contact Student Affairs at student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent March 7, 2022

Guidance for Ongoing Mask Policies on Campus

Dear RFU Community,

Everyone dedicated to the RFU mission can take pride in how conscientiously we’ve taken care of one another over the past two years. We’ve supported the physical and mental well-being of our fellow students and colleagues; remained vigilant about the safety of those around us, both on and off campus; and followed prevailing public-health practices to mitigate the spread of a dangerous and uncompromising virus — dedication that resulted in more than 99% of our faculty, students and staff being fully vaccinated and boosted.

While both the state of Illinois and the CDC have relaxed their masking requirements in recent days, it’s critical to note that in both cases, the revised policies acknowledge that the pandemic is ongoing. One particular statement by the CDC bears particular weight: “Some people and communities, such as our oldest citizens, people who are immunocompromised, and people with disabilities, are at higher risk for serious illness and face challenging decisions navigating a world with COVID-19.”

We respect and understand the desire to shed the masks that have been part of our lives since 2020. But the practice of wearing masks in congregate settings remains an effective defense against the spread of an insidious virus that remains in our community. Specific to our campus experience, there are other factors we’ve considered in maintaining our policy requiring masks:

• Access to education must be ensured while keeping students, faculty and staff safe as we proceed toward the end of the academic year and commencement.
• The need for mitigation practices is heightened by students and faculty rotating between campus and clinical environments.
• RFU witnessed a slight increase in positive cases after the recent quarterly break, when many students, faculty and staff returned from travel to locations outside of our region.
• As referenced by the CDC, we must protect the health and safety of people around us with compromised medical situations or immune systems.
• Though we have seen an encouraging level of vaccinated and boosted members among the campus community, there are individuals who remain unvaccinated with approved exemptions.

For now, we will continue to require surgical or N95, KN95 or KF94 masks in all locations on campus, including the Health Clinics and Huntley Simulation Center. As mentioned in a March 1 email to the campus community, exceptions are allowed for faculty/speakers actively engaged in lecturing — provided the faculty member/speaker is fully vaccinated, able to maintain at least six feet of physical distance from a seated audience, and wearing a face shield, which can be obtained for free by requesting the face shield in person at the main office of Human Resources When the faculty member/speaker is not actively lecturing, such as when an exam is being administered, they should be masked.

Please remain patient and vigilant as we continue to manage the pandemic’s evolving nature.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent March 1, 2022

COVID Update for Employees

Dear RFU faculty and staff:

The recent decline in COVID-19 case numbers — regionally, nationally and on campus — combined with the university’s increasing compliance with vaccine/booster requirements allows us to review the protocols that helped us navigate the Omicron variant.

As we start the Spring Quarter, we are amending mitigation policies to reduce some of the limitations on day-to-day campus activities. While we will continue to monitor critical factors such as community transmission and will always prioritize health and safety, the goal is for our COVID mitigation policies to reflect current conditions.

We recognize changing mask recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state, and also recognize that masks can continue to protect against COVID-19. Therefore, we are affirming the existing mask policy, and we will continue to require surgical or N95, KN95 or KF94 masks in all locations on campus, including the Health Clinics and Huntley Simulation Center. However, effective immediately, we will now allow exceptions for mask wearing for faculty/speakers actively engaged in lecturing provided the faculty member/speaker is fully vaccinated, wearing a face shield and able to maintain at least six feet of physical distance from a seated audience. When the faculty member/speaker is not actively lecturing, such as when an exam is being administered, they should be masked.

Additionally, the RFU Travel Policy has been adjusted. Approved university-sponsored (using university funds or university time) domestic travel is now permitted, while university-sponsored international travel remains prohibited with exceptions allowed under the Protocol for Exceptions to the RFU Travel Policy. International travel, regardless of whether it is personal or university-sponsored, must be reported to Human Resources through the Travel Registry form. Testing protocols are still in place for international destinations at this time and must be followed.

RFU’s visitor policies remain in place but larger events with registered visitors will be permitted. All visitors must provide proof of vaccination or a negative, lab-based COVID test taken within 72 hours prior to their arrival on campus. Guidelines to assist event managers in planning for events with 50 or more on-campus attendees – a total that would include those from within the RFU community and visitors - can be found on the COVID-19 website.

As these modifications take place, the status and details of Flexible Work Arrangements should be reviewed and updated by supervisors in light of the emerging needs of the campus community. It is important to note that the university is not mandating a return to the workplace for anyone at this time; however, authority over this decision remains at the supervisory level.

Going forward and provided COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline, increased levels of on-campus engagement are encouraged with safety protocols followed. In-person, on-campus educational activities will continue to be determined by individual programs, with updates on activities provided by the programs. Additionally, in-person, on-campus co-curricular activities may be increased, with levels of interaction to be determined by individual programs and in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion.

Faculty and staff questions regarding existing policies should be directed to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu.

We recognize that the scope of the pandemic has changed, but we also must keep in mind that COVID-19 will remain a part of our lives for at least the immediate future. Please be patient as we explore and enact policies that will promote higher levels of engagement on campus, continue to keep everyone safe and move the RFU mission forward.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent January 31, 2022

Entry Protocol & Mask Updates/Booster Reminder

Dear RFU Community:

As more people return to campus following our enhanced post-winter break safety protocols, entry requirements for students, faculty and staff are being amended to ensure a smooth process. Effective immediately, it will no longer be necessary to display a CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker result to enter campus.

Arrivals will be asked by Campus Safety to confirm that they are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and we again remind everyone to make prudent decisions based on not only any symptoms they might be feeling but also on any close contact they’ve had with someone testing positive or a suspected case. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and stay home.

Once on campus, everyone must wear a mask at all times in shared spaces, and we are following CDC guidance that recommends the most protective mask you can wear that fits well and can be worn consistently. With this in mind, we are revising our previously stated requirement that limited options to medical grade masks. Effective immediately, RFU will permit the use of disposable procedure masks, also referred to as surgical masks or medical procedure masks. Cloth masks remain restricted from use. For those who wish to use N95 respirator masks, they have been made available free of charge by the CDC as of last week through local retailers and pharmacies, including Walgreens and CVS.

All students, faculty and staff — including students in clinical rotations — are reminded that they are required to receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine when eligible, unless a previous exemption has been granted. This requirement includes documentation of the COVID-19 booster vaccination to ADP (faculty/staff) and to Castlebranch or MedProctor (students) within two weeks of receiving the dose.

As always, questions can be directed to student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu (students) or to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu (faculty/staff). Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our campus community safe.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent January 11, 2022

Updated Mask Requirements & Other Covid Mitigation Measures

Dear RFU Community,

As we continue to make adjustments in response to the omicron variant of COVID-19 and its presence regionally and locally, we remain focused on protecting the RFU community while continuing the work of the university. Therefore, effective immediately, we are requiring that all individuals on campus wear medical grade masks, which at a minimum are surgical masks and may also include higher grade respirator masks (N95, KN95, or KF94). Previously, cloth masks were permitted to meet the masking requirement, but they are no longer considered sufficient to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus, particularly the omicron variant.

Students, faculty and staff members must immediately complete and submit the appropriate COVID-19 illness form (student or faculty/staff version) when experiencing symptoms of COVID, being exposed to an individual diagnosed with the virus or receiving a positive test result. Delays in these reports can contribute to the spread of the virus in our community.

We have updated our COVID-19 response protocols in accordance with CDC guidelines. This means individuals may be asked to quarantine or isolate for 5 or 10 days depending on their specific circumstances, including, but not limited to, symptoms of illness, vaccination and booster status, housing environment and type of exposure. Please note that these guidelines are designed to be managed within the context of each individual circumstance.

As previously communicated, the university is requiring all on-campus students, including students in clinical rotations, all faculty and all staff to receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine when eligible, unless a previous exemption has been granted. Documentation of the COVID-19 booster vaccination must be uploaded to ADP (faculty/staff) and to Castlebranch or MedProctor (students). Those with future eligibility based on the date of their initial COVID vaccination must submit appropriate documentation within two weeks of their booster.

As other policies and protocols are reviewed and modified as needed, updates will be communicated via email to students, faculty and staff. As a reminder, a communications archive is available on the COVID-19 webpages of the RFU website and it serves as a repository of all prior communications. Questions regarding the university’s requirements should be directed to student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu (students) or to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu (faculty/staff).

We appreciate your ongoing cooperation with our current testing requirements and other mitigation measures.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent January 7, 2022

Updated COVID-19 Mitigation Measures

Dear RFU Community,

We recognize the current challenges associated with testing within 48 hours of returning to campus for the first time between now and Jan. 24. Effective immediately, the university will accept test results that are obtained within 72 hours prior to an initial return to campus. As before, individuals are required to obtain a laboratory-based negative COVID test such as a PCR or rapid antigen test, and at-home tests will not be accepted. A printed copy of test results should be presented to Campus Security upon entry.

Additionally, the Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics (RFUHC) is available to help meet current testing needs, with priority given to students, faculty and staff who must be on campus for essential activities. Please contact the North Chicago facility directly at (847) 473-4357 to make an appointment to be tested. The clinic anticipates a 72-hour or less turnaround time for testing results.

All existing COVID safety measures remain in place for the return to campus, including weekly testing for those remaining unvaccinated due to an approved exemption; wearing masks in all communal spaces; maintaining appropriate physical distancing; washing hands frequently; and staying home and completing a COVID-19 Illness form (student or faculty-staff version) if experiencing COVID symptoms, learning of a possible exposure or receiving a positive test result. All RFU community members are encouraged to use caution in your interactions and maintain these safety measures during all interactions. The increased cases of COVID-19 in community and university populations warrant special consideration even among vaccinated individuals.

Finally, as a reminder, the university is requiring all on-campus students (including students in clinical rotations), faculty and staff to receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine when eligible, unless a previous exemption has been granted. Documentation of receiving a COVID-19 booster vaccination for those eligible must be uploaded to ADP (faculty/staff) and to Castlebranch or MedProctor (students). Those with future eligibility based on the date of their initial COVID vaccination must submit appropriate documentation within two weeks of their booster.

Questions regarding the university’s requirements should be directed to student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu (students) or to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu (faculty/staff). We appreciate your ongoing cooperation with our current testing requirements and other mitigation measures.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent January 1, 2022

January 2022 Mitigation Strategies

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Due to the rapid rise in COVID cases, both nationally and locally, RFU will reopen on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 for essential academic and support activities only through January 17, 2022.

Essential research activities and experiments may continue, but with increased social distancing. Those experiments that, at the discretion of the PIs, can be deferred until after January 17 should be delayed. If there are questions regarding this guidance, please contact the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research.

Supervisors and academic leaders will determine which employees are essential to support on-campus academic activities. All other employees will work from home.

The requirement for COVID testing within 48 hours prior to someone’s returning to campus for the first time remains in effect and now extends between Jan. 4–24.

Individuals who test positive must complete the faculty and staff illness reporting form and remain off campus until cleared through the contact tracer. Additionally, symptomatic individuals must also report their illness using the form and remain off campus.

These changes are an important part of protecting our campus community and we thank you in advance for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Ron Kaplan, PhD
Executive Vice President for Research

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent December 15, 2021

Dear RFU Students, Faculty and Staff:

In preparation for returning to campus following Winter Break on Jan. 4, 2022, the following expectations and procedures will be in effect to ensure the health and safety of our university community:

Booster Requirement: As previously communicated, all on-campus students (including students in clinical rotations), faculty and staff are required to receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine when eligible, unless a previous exemption has been granted. Documentation of receiving a COVID-19 booster vaccination for those eligible must be uploaded to ADP (faculty/staff) and to Castlebranch or MedProctor (students) by Jan. 4. Those with future eligibility based on the date of their initial COVID vaccination must submit appropriate documentation within two weeks of their booster.

Return-to-Campus Testing: Beginning Jan. 4 2022, all students, faculty, staff and visitors who will be on campus for any reason through Jan. 17 will be required to obtain a laboratory-based negative COVID test within 48 hours prior to their initial return to campus. At-home test results will not be accepted. A copy of the printed negative test result will be required to gain entry to campus, please allow extra time to enter in anticipation of processing lines. Between Jan. 4 through 17, please enter campus through the Main Entrance, IRP Main Entrance, Morningstar Entrance or the South IPEC door; all other entrances will be closed during this period.

Winter Break Travel: Anyone planning to travel outside of their home state, including international travel, must follow the university's COVID-19 Travel Guidelines, which include filling out a travel registration form.

Ongoing protocols: All existing COVID safety measures will remain in place for the return to campus, including weekly testing for those remaining unvaccinated due to an approved exemption; wearing masks in all communal spaces; maintaining appropriate physical distancing; washing hands frequently; and staying home and completing a COVID-19 Illness form (student or faculty/staff version) if experiencing COVID symptoms, learning of a possible exposure or receiving a positive test result.

These booster and testing requirements are necessary to prevent potential spread of COVID following a period when many of us will be traveling out of the region and visiting with friends and family outside of our normal routines. Increased case numbers and test positivity rates nationally and regionally are also cause for added vigilance. Your cooperation will help us safeguard everyone's health and well-being as we resume all scheduled educational activities.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent December 9, 2021

Vaccine Booster Requirement for RFU Community

Dear RFU Students, Faculty and Staff:

The recent increase in COVID-19 infections across our region serves as a reminder that we must continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our campus community and the people we encounter. With this in mind, we are expanding our previously announced policy regarding vaccine status to require that all on-campus students, faculty and staff receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine when eligible, unless a previous exemption has been granted.

A free booster clinic is scheduled for this coming Monday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the RFU Health Clinic’s North Chicago facility. For more information on appointments, call 847-473-4357. The RFUHC Patient Portal is not available for scheduling this event.

As announced during the Fall Quarter, the current policy requires everyone without an approved medical or religious exemption to have received either two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommended in late November 2021 that everyone aged 18 and older should get a booster shot at least six months after their primary vaccination series for those receiving either a Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, and at least two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The CDC allows for mix-and-match dosing for those who choose a different vaccine for a booster.

We concur with the CDC and other public health officials that COVID-19 vaccine boosters provide additional protection against the spread of infection and serious medical complications. We also know the importance of connecting with people in our lives, and we want everyone to safeguard their health as they do so this holiday season. Please continue to use best practices toward that goal, including the wearing of masks, staying home when feeling ill and testing for COVID-19 when appropriate.

Documentation of a booster must be uploaded to ADP for faculty and staff and to a CastleBranch or MedProctor account for students by January 4, 2022, for those eligible to receive a booster immediately. For those not yet eligible, documentation must be uploaded within two weeks of your date of eligibility. If you have questions about this process, please contact Human Resources at hr@rosalindfranklin.edu or Student Affairs at student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent November 23, 2021

Winter Quarter COVID Updates

Dear RFU Faculty and Staff:

With the Winter Quarter now underway, I’m pleased to inform you that we’re making some changes to our community standards enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a community, we have demonstrated the willingness and ability to make great choices to remain a safe environment to learn and work.

Throughout the pandemic, restrictions on space usage and personal safety requirements proved successful, and though breakthrough cases of COVID do exist in our vaccinated campus community, those cases have been few. The spread has been managed effectively through persistent reporting and contact tracing, as well as other safety mitigations.

Because of these successes in maintaining a safe environment, you will see the following changes in our space management that allow for more access on campus:

• The faculty lounge will be open for lunches as well as Faculty R&R with protocols in place to ensure safety. More information on exact requirements will be communicated separately.
• The Fitness Center will return to 24-hour operation with continued capacity limits imposed.
• All classrooms will be available to students for studying when not reserved.
• Group study spaces in the Learning Resource Center will no longer have capacity limits.

We are asking that you continue to employ personal judgement with the following guidelines as you engage in these as well as all RFU spaces:

• Masks are required while on campus unless alone in a single-use space and eating or drinking. All employees should feel free to encourage mask use in cases where masks are not being worn. Any concerns about a lack of masks being used can be directed to your supervisor or Human Resources.
• When you are eating or drinking and have your mask down, you should be distanced. No exceptions — not in DNA Café or any other places on campus.
• Spatial distance is encouraged when at all possible. Use good judgment in group situations regarding what constitutes too many people in a space. If the space does not allow you to spread out and keep your distance, then move or split up to cut down the size of your group.
• Always know who you are near in group scenarios. Contact tracing when someone gets sick is facilitated by your awareness and keeps us all safer.
• Continue to report symptoms, exposures and positive test results.

Thank you for all you are doing to allow us to continue re-engaging as a campus community. Each of us maintains responsibility in keeping each other safe. As always, wash your hands, wear your masks, remain spatially distanced and, above all, continue to exercise good judgement.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Sally J. Madden, MBA, SPHR
Associate Vice President - Human Resources

Sent August 23, 2021

Revised COVID Vaccination Mandate

Dear Faculty, Students and Staff:

Today the FDA fully approved the Pfizer COVID vaccine and RFU is amending the university’s COVID vaccination mandate effective immediately. The university has previously allowed an exemption based on the vaccine’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) status. That exemption category is being removed from the list of options on the request form, and the only possible exemptions will be for documented religious or medical reasons. Therefore, anyone who is currently under the EUA exemption should begin their vaccination regimen as soon as possible. Everyone without an approved medical or religious exemption is required to have received either two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Oct. 1, 2021.

If you currently have an exemption based on EUA status, you will not be in compliance with the university’s vaccine mandate until you are fully vaccinated, which would mean when you receive the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson and Johnson, and you have submitted appropriate documentation two weeks after the final dose of the vaccine. Free COVID-19 vaccines are available at the RFU Health Clinics. Please call 847-473-4357 to schedule an appointment with a provider.

If you had prior approval for an EUA exemption, you will be able to engage in on-campus activities by being tested for COVID on a weekly basis. The testing schedule will remain in place until you are in full compliance with university protocols as described above.

As a reminder, the university announced in late May that all on-campus students, faculty and staff had to be fully vaccinated as of the start of the Fall Quarter unless an exemption was requested and granted. If you have questions about this process, please contact Human Resources at hr@rosalindfranklin.edu or Student Affairs at student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent August 20, 2021

Updated Guidelines for Visitors to Campus

Dear Faculty, Students and Staff:

In order to safeguard the health of our campus community, we are only permitting visitors on campus who are here for critical educational or business activities (e.g.- guest lecturers, equipment repair technicians). Please note that this restriction does not apply to student housing.

Additional examples of educational and business interests for which visitors are allowed include:

• Prospective student visits managed through the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management
• Employee (faculty and staff) interviews
• Alumni and philanthropic visits managed through Institutional Advancement
• Advisory board members as managed by colleges and departments
• Research collaborators and industry partners as managed by IRP and research leadership

Regardless of their purpose on campus, visitors must provide their hosts with documentation of COVID vaccination or a negative result of a COVID test taken within 72 hours prior to their arrival, and documentation of this test must be presented to security upon arrival. In addition, the following guidelines apply:

• Visitors related to an educational or business need of RFU must:
  • Be connected to a RFU community member who notifies Campus Safety in advance that the visitor is expected.
  • Enter the facility through the main entrance (RWCLC circle drive doors) only.
  • Successfully complete the RFU screening process for symptoms and temperature.
  • Register/sign in with Campus Safety at the front desk and obtain a visitor badge.
  • Be escorted throughout the building by the RFU community member.
  • Display the visitor badge at all times while on campus.
  • Comply with mask-wearing, physical distancing and other protocols in place at the time of the visit.
  • Sign out with Campus Safety at the conclusion of the visit.
• Personal guests of RFU community members without an identified educational or business interest are not permitted inside the campus buildings.
• No minors (under age 17) are permitted inside the campus buildings.

Sincerely,

Nancy Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent August 20, 2021

Clarification of COVID-19 Testing Requirements

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Weekly COVID-19 testing is required for all employees with an approved exemption on file with Human Resources. This applies to all employees assigned to the Main Campus, Huntley Simulation Center, and the Health Clinics, regardless of whether you have a Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) in place which allows you to work remotely.

Human Resources is managing the compliance aspect of testing. Test results must be emailed to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu every week in order to be in compliance. As a reminder, if you choose to have your weekly test completed at Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics, you can make an appointment by calling the Clinic Office as 847-473-4357.

On a weekly basis, Human Resources will be communicating any instances of noncompliance to the respective Dean, VP, or in the case of the health clinics the Medical Director, for the area in which the employee works. Employees not in compliance with the testing policy may not report to campus, and the respective Dean, VPs or Medical Director will work with departmental supervisors to send staff home that are not in compliance with the policy.

Any faculty or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 is excused from testing for 90 days, after which time, the individual will be required to re-engage in testing or follow the protocol in place at the time.

Those who choose not to comply with the testing requirements and do not email the results to HR on a weekly basis will be subject to disciplinary action.

Sally J. Madden, MBA, SPHR
Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Sent August 19, 2021

Revised Mask Guidance

Dear students, faculty and staff:

The RFU community has done an excellent job in adapting to the challenges of COVID-19 since the earliest days of the pandemic. We are grateful for your efforts, which contribute to maintaining a safe environment for learning and working at RFUMS.

In the last four weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of confirmed cases in Lake County as a result of the highly contagious Delta variant, a fact that reminds us of the need to guard our health. We remain committed to continuously enhancing the effectiveness of our safety measures. That is why we encourage you to upgrade your mask to a surgical mask or similar high-quality mask as we start the 2021-2022 academic year.

Evidence shows not only that masks mitigate the spread of the virus through its particulate matter, but that medical-grade masks are more effective both in general and against the Delta variant. If you are relying on cloth masks, we urge you to instead use a layered surgical mask as an added means of protection.

Please remember that the university requires that everyone wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status, unless you are eating or drinking, or - if vaccinated - when alone in your private office. As a community, we all bear responsibility for ensuring the safety of our campus, so if you encounter someone who is not wearing a mask or is not wearing it properly, please respectfully remind them of the need to mask up.

Thank you for your continued vigilance.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Gavin Farry, MBA, CPA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent August 5, 2021

COVID-19 Safety Measures for Start of Fall Quarter

Dear faculty and staff members,

The pending arrival of a new academic quarter will bring unique operational challenges in 2021, and the RFU COVID-19 Oversight Committee has been reviewing the latest guidance from federal, state and local health professionals in crafting policies that will allow us to return to campus while keeping our community safe.

While we continue to monitor guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Lake County Health Department that might impact regulations, the committee has compiled a set of directives for campus operations and activities that include the following:

Testing: Weekly testing for COVID infection will be required for unvaccinated individuals with approved exemptions. For unvaccinated individuals who are expected to be on campus beginning with the Fall Quarter, weekly testing is required starting the week of Aug. 9. Individuals reporting to campus at a later date should plan to begin weekly testing at least one week prior to their return. Test results need to be sent to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu to ensure proper clearance to report to campus.

Masking on campus: Due to increasing infection rates in Lake County and northeastern Illinois, masks will be required in all locations on campus. We are evaluating policy to ensure appropriate safety practices when eating on campus and additional guidance in this regard will follow once finalized.

Physical distancing: While individual safety protocols developed for academic spaces will be followed, while on campus it will no longer be necessary in general for individuals to maintain six feet of distance. Staircases and hallways will be open for all directions of foot traffic, with directional signage remaining in certain locations to encourage physical distancing when feasible.

Screenings for COVID symptoms: Self-screenings will be required before arriving on campus for faculty and staff using guidelines posted by the CDC. Symptoms to check will also be posted at all entrances. On-site screening, including temperature checks, will only be required for visitors, who must use the main entrance.

Enhanced cleaning: Schedules to clean spaces that include lecture halls, the Boxer Library, the DNA Cafe and student housing will follow guidelines established by the CDC. It is anticipated that the library and cafe will be open during cleaning that occurs during regular hours of operation.

Vaccines: As a reminder, all faculty and staff who plan to be on campus at the start of the Fall Quarter are required to be fully vaccinated by Aug. 16. Faculty and staff may request an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccination by submitting an Exemption Form on or before Aug. 10.

COVID tests and vaccines are available through primary care physicians and local pharmacies. At the RFU Health Clinics, vaccine and COVID test appointments can be arranged by calling 847-473-4357.

Questions regarding these expectations should be referred to the Human Resources Department at hr@rosalindfranklin.edu. We will continue to monitor local, state and federal guidance and do our best to update everyone on any changes that might arise as we continue to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19 and its variants. Patience and cooperation will help the campus community get the Fall Quarter off and running toward a successful academic year.

Sincerely,

Gavin Farry
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent June 23, 2021

Vaccination and Exemption Requirements

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As announced last month, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science will require all faculty, staff and students to be fully vaccinated prior to the start of the fall term. This means that you must be vaccinated by August 3 to ensure full effectiveness of the vaccine for when you return to campus on August 17. Vaccination documentation should be uploaded to ADP by August 10.

To upload your vaccine documentation in ADP, follow these procedures:

1. From the HOME screen, select Myself-Employment-My Documents
2. On the right side of the screen, select "UPLOAD"
3. Click to select or drag your document onto the screen.
4. Change the display name to Vaccine Document and select the subcategory "Confidential-Medical Folder,” then COVID Vaccine in the drop down menu.
5. Do not include any effective or expiration dates and select SAVE. Your document will be saved in a confidential folder with HR access only.
6. Contact HR if you have any issues or questions on this process hr@rosalindfranklin.edu

Faculty and Staff may request an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccination by submitting the Exemption Form and selecting one of the reasons below for exemption. Exemption requests should also be submitted by August 10.

Allowed Exemptions:

• Medical Exemption
• Religious Exemption
• Emergency Use Authorization Exemption

Further explanation of the above exemptions is provided on the form.

After your exemption request is submitted, it will be reviewed by Human Resources. If further documentation is needed, you will be contacted. Please note, any faculty or staff member receiving an exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination must adhere to additional safety requirements including testing for COVID-19 and use of required PPE as appropriate for each educational or administrative activity and environment.

Should you wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from the RFU Health Clinic, please call 847-473-4357 to schedule an appointment with a provider.

Stay well,

Sally J. Madden, MBA, SPHR
Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Sent May 28, 2021

Required COVID-19 Vaccinations & Continued Safety Measures

Dear RFU Community,

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the university has focused on preserving the safety of the RFU campus while fully supporting the timely academic progression of all students. With those priorities in mind, the Coronavirus Oversight Committee, with the recommendation and support of all the deans across the university, will implement a requirement for all on-campus students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated as of the start of the fall quarter on August 17, 2021.

For individuals not vaccinated, exemptions may be obtained based on medical and religious reasons, as well as for strongly held concerns related to the vaccine’s emergency use authorization (EUA) status. RFU will require everyone to provide documentation of their vaccination status no later than August 10. Additional information regarding requests for exemptions, and the process for reporting one’s vaccination status, will be forthcoming.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its guidance on masks and physical distancing for fully vaccinated individuals. The State of Illinois has made some modifications to its guidelines and mask mandate as well; however, the Illinois Department of Public Health has not modified its guidance for higher education. Therefore, our current safety measures of mask-wearing and physical distancing remain unchanged for now. For fall academic planning purposes, we are assuming there will be no capacity and physical distancing limitations.

We appreciate your cooperation in meeting these measures as we prepare for the fall and a return to more on-campus interactions.

Sincerely,

Gavin Farry, MBA, CPA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
Chief Financial Officer

Sent March 2, 2021

Announcement of Plans for Summer and Fall Quarters

Dear RFU Community,

While we are encouraged by ongoing efforts to administer the growing supply of COVID-19 vaccines across the country, we recognize the need to continue our current mitigation efforts until sufficient levels of immunity are achieved. With this in mind, for the upcoming Summer and Fall quarters, we will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our campus community, while also meeting the academic needs of our programs and students.

We are not currently anticipating a full return to pre-COVID levels of activity on-campus in the near future, but we are planning for higher levels of on-campus, in-person learning and other forms of engagement. Academic programs will design, as appropriate, blended learning in courses with a focus on crucial on-campus, in-person learning experiences that support the achievement of key learning outcomes. Additionally, crucial community events that support a strong start for entering students, as well as those that sustain existing relationships and continued progression for returning students, will be offered. Students, faculty and staff will engage in on-campus experiences that will vary by program, but the restrictions for essential learning activities only that existed last summer will not be in effect.

To guide academic planning for the summer and fall, new Academic Continuity Planning Guidelines have been developed by the Rosalind Franklin University Learning Experiences Task Force and have been approved by the university’s Coronavirus Oversight Committee. These new guidelines will steer our efforts as we continue to engage with current students, as well as welcome new students, some of whom will start in May with others starting in August. The guidelines, which are intended to create a safe, sustaining and responsive learning environment, will be reviewed and updated in response to changing guidance from the State of Illinois and the Centers for Disease Control. The new guidelines can be found on the COVID-19 webpage at https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/covid19/campus.php and on the Academic Affairs page on InSite at: https://insite.rosalindfranklin.edu/OurUniversity/Provost/AcadAffairs/Pages/Academic-Affairs.aspx.

In the coming days and weeks, the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion, as well as the academic programs, will communicate with students to assist them in planning for the new academic year while the Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs will continue to assist with academic planning efforts.

Additionally, the lessons learned and experiences shared throughout the pandemic will help inform our planning for learning and working beyond the fall. Dr. Moreen Carvan, interim vice president for academic and faculty affairs, has been asked to lead a task force that will focus on academic planning for the future. In the coming months, you will learn more about the work of the task force.

We appreciate your cooperation and support in planning for the upcoming academic year and recognize the vital role each of you plays in the life of the university.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Sent February 16, 2021

Vaccination Procedures for Faculty and Staff

This communication will serve to familiarize our staff and faculty for the procedures to follow if they wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on campus.

Signing up to receive the vaccine:

Any employee interested in receiving the vaccine must complete an online form to be put into the registry. The data that is inputted on this form is used to categorize the applicant into Phase 1A, 1B, 1C and Phase 2 candidates. This form is housed on the University and Clinics websites and can be accessed here: Vaccine Registry Form.

Upon submission of the form, you will receive an email confirmation with your responses. We will offer vaccines in the priority classes as stipulated by the state. Once an appointment is available to you, you will receive an invitation via email with a link to select a time slot for your appointment.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE HEALTH CLINICS TO TRY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. The phone lines are busy with community (non - RFUMS) patients who are also making appointments for vaccinations, but do not have this ease of access.

If you have questions regarding your registration, you may call the Clinics COVID hotline number: 224-570-7575 to inquire as to your registration status and be able to proceed with completing the task.

Appointment location and times

• Employees will be offered on-campus vaccination in room L.811 in the IPEC building.
• Vaccination times will be offered between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Thursdays only, commencing Thursday, February 18 2021.
• Insurance information is required to be submitted as part of the process for receiving the vaccination and will be ascertained once you are contacted for the initial appointment.
• You will need to have 2 appointments in order to complete the vaccine process – the 2^nd appointment will be made at the time that you are scheduled for the first.
• Post – vaccination monitoring will take place in the East Pod, or other clearly marked recovery area, and all seating will be appropriately socially distanced.

Vaccination process

• RFUHC will be providing both the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines. We will primarily be using Pfizer because that is what we have in the greatest supply.
• Prior to receiving the vaccine, you will be screened to ensure that you are safe to receive the product. A consent will need to be signed in order to receive the vaccine.
• Following administration of the vaccine, you will be required to be monitored for between 15 -30 minutes, depending upon your medical history, response to the pre-vaccine questionnaire, and the professional judgment of the monitors who will be overseeing your post-vaccination recovery. This is for your own protection and safety.

PLEASE FACTOR THIS MONITORING PERIOD INTO YOUR TOTAL APPOINTMENT TIME – YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE UNTIL THE MONITOR HAS CLEARED YOU.

Finally, we hope that your vaccination experience will be a pleasant one. Your safety and well - being is our paramount concern during this time. All of our vaccination staff have been trained in immediate first aid measures in the event that an adverse reaction to the vaccine is experienced and there are emergency kits maintained at each vaccination station containing all equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

For other questions regarding COVID-19 vaccinations, please consult with your health care provider, or the Centers for Disease Control website here.

Martin Yorath, DPM
Medical Director,
Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics

Katherine Blake, DO
Associate Medical Director,
Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics

Sent February 5, 2021

Please Read - COVID Testing Updates

Faculty and Staff Testing Procedures:

COVID Tests for non-symptomatic employees (currently exhibiting no symptoms of COVID)

Employees are encouraged to have testing done through the RFU Health Clinics. Insurance information is required to be submitted as part of the testing process. If you choose to test at another testing facility, you are required to submit expenses through your insurance company. Costs not covered by insurance will be paid by the University upon receipt of an invoice showing a balance due from the provider.

Instructions on how to schedule your COVID-19 test can be found on the RFU Health Clinics website. New patients will need to follow instructions to set up a portal account prior to being allowed to schedule an appointment. Existing patients should log in to the portal with their previously selected log in information. Testing appointments through the RFU clinic should be scheduled via the online portal using the Student/Staff/Faculty testing option.

• Cancellations cannot be made by the portal and must be made at least 24 hours in advance of the appointment by calling the main Health Clinics reception desk: 847-473-4357.
• Testing will be available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week.
• Testing will be administered on-campus in IPEC L.811 for non-symptomatic employees.
• Results will be communicated directly to the employee.
• Upon receipt of a positive COVID test, the employee is required to complete the Faculty and Staff COVID-19 Illness report and communicate the results to their supervisor. Completion of the illness report ensures information is shared with Human Resources.
• If an employee tests positive, they will be contacted by the RFUHC Contact Tracer who will provide the employee with guidance on the protocols required.
• The requirement for every other week testing remains in effect for the foreseeable future.
• Additional questions can be directed to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu.

COVID Tests for symptomatic employees

Faculty and staff who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID will continue to be tested at the RFU Health Clinics location on Green Bay Road. Please call the Clinics main number: 847-473-4357 to schedule an appointment.

Travel Restrictions:

Travel restrictions and quarantine requirements remain in effect. RFUMS strongly discourages travel at this time. If you MUST travel, please fill out the Travel Registration Form and adhere to the quarantine instructions provided by Human Resources. RFU is following the CDC guidelines for travel which are updated frequently. If you plan to travel, please review the CDC travel site here.

Information on campus guidelines, student protocols, illness reporting forms, and other resources are available on the COVID-19 webpages.

We continue to stress the importance of wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing hands, among other decisions we can all make to keep ourselves and those around us safe. If you do not need to go out, please stay home and do not put yourself or others at risk.

What if I have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, or am in the process of receiving it?

At this time, there is no different screening protocol for vaccinated individuals recommended by the CDC. People who are vaccinated can still get COVID, but generally have mild or no symptoms. It is thought that they can still pass the illness to others. The vaccine is only protecting the vaccinated person, not people around them. For now, everyone should follow the same screening/masking/distancing guidelines indicated above.

We appreciate everyone working together to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. If you have further questions, please reach out to either one of us.

Martin Yorath, DPM
Medical Director
Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics

Sally J. Madden, MBA, SPHR
Associate Vice President Human Resources
Rosalind Franklin University

Sent February 3, 2021

Update: Student Testing for Covid-19

Dear Students,

Effective on February 8th, the COVID-19 test requirement will be reduced to every other week. This requirement applies to all students engaged in educational activities on campus.

Exception: Students scheduled for activity on campus with more than 2 weeks in between activities should schedule a test the week PRIOR to their activity to be cleared for engagement by activity rather than routine bi-weekly testing.

Scheduling Routine COVID Tests:

Schools and Colleges have been separated into testing Group A and Group B and testing schedules are coordinated based on those groups.

Group A: CMS and Scholl

Test needed the weeks of February 8, 22, March 8, 22, April 5, 19, May 3, 17

Group B: CHP, COP, and SGPS

Test needed the weeks of February 15, March 1, 15, 29, April 12, April 26, May 10

(ALL students on campus are expected to test this week- the week of February 1)

RFUHC Testing Procedures:

• Testing appointments should be scheduled and canceled via your online portal.
• Testing will be available Monday through Wednesday each week.
• Testing will remain on-campus in IPEC L.811
• Results will be communicated directly to the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion from the RFU Clinic for clearance for educational activity
• Instructions on how to schedule your COVID-19 test can be found on the RFU Health Clinics website.

The requirement for every other week testing remains in effect during the intersession break. Students may still submit testing results from external providers and should plan accordingly during this time. Please send external test results to covid.tests@rosalindfranklin.edu.

COVID Tests for Symptomatic Students

Symptomatic students will still be tested at the RFU clinics on Green Bay Road. Please call the main Clinics number: 847-473-4357 to schedule an appointment and instructions will be given on how to present themselves for that test.

Travel Restrictions:

Travel restrictions and quarantine requirements remain in effect. RFUMS strongly discourages travel at this time. If you MUST travel, please fill out the student travel form and adhere to the quarantine instruction provided at that time.

Information on campus guidelines, student protocols, illness reporting forms, and other resources are available on the COVID-19 webpages.

We continue to stress the importance of wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing hands, among other decisions we can all make to keep ourselves and those around us safe. If you do not need to go out, please stay home and do not put yourself or others at risk.

Your safety and that of our community remains our first concern. Your diligence through these months has continued to ensure RFU remains a safe place for your education. Thank you!

Best,

Rebecca L. Durkin
She/her/hers
Vice President, Student Success and Inclusion

Sent February 1, 2021

COVID Tests Switching to Every Other Week

Dear RFU Community:

Back in September, RFU began requiring weekly COVID-19 testing for all faculty, staff and students engaged in close contact or hands-on (direct contact) educational activities. We also mentioned that these measures would be revisited and revised as events warrant. Effective on February 8, we will start requiring these tests every other week. This schedule will apply to all students, faculty and staff, whether they are engaged in educational or administrative activities on campus. The revised testing frequency also applies to researchers engaged in on-site activities. If you are planning on being on campus, you must be tested.

In the meantime, current requirements remain in place. Instructions on how to schedule your COVID-19 test can be found on the RFU Health Clinics website. Information on campus guidelines, student protocols, illness reporting forms, and other resources are available on the COVID-19 webpages.

We continue to stress the importance of wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing hands, among other decisions we can all make to keep ourselves and those around us safe. If you do not need to go out, please stay home and do not put yourself or others at risk.

We’ll keep you posted as RFU adapts to the pandemic and its evolving nature.

Sincerely,

Gavin Farry, MBA, CPA
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent January 27, 2021

Campus COVID Screening for Vaccinated Individuals

Dear RFU Community:

A year has passed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we have all witnessed, there is much yet to be learned about this virus and its mutations. Among the questions we still seek to answer is whether or not a vaccination prevents a recipient from spreading the virus, and how long vaccine induced or naturally acquired immunity lasts.

Until we get definitive information on post-vaccine contagion, we must continue to observe safety precautions and follow guidance from the CDC. The university will continue to enforce the established protocols for anyone entering the RFU campus — everyone, even those who have been vaccinated, must wear a mask, pass a temperature test at the entrance, and complete a successful assessment for symptoms through the CDC/Apple COVID-19 Screening Tool, which can be accessed online or via the app on your smartphone. A vaccination card, even those proving that an individual has received both doses, will not exempt anyone from these safety measures.

Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do as we enter what we hope are the final stages of the pandemic.

Sincerely,

Gavin Farry
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration

Sent January 20, 2021

Access to Regional COVID Vaccine Portals

Dear RFU Community:

You might have seen the news over the weekend about the Lake County Health Department setting up a COVID-19 vaccination site at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. This centralized location is open to all eligible residents and workers by appointment through the health department’s AllVax registration portal, which I’ve highlighted in recent emails to you.

Vaccination registries and mass-vaccination sites are among the most critical tools that will guide us out of the pandemic, and with this in mind, I want to make sure everyone is aware of these resources as they’re made available to communities across our region. Starting this week, RFU’s COVID-19 information page will compile links to vaccine registries or news-update sites launched by counties and cities in northeastern Illinois and southeast Wisconsin, including Chicago’s COVID Coach, Cook County’s COVID-19 Vaccination Information page and Kenosha County’s COVID-19 Hub.

As a member of the RFU community, you should fill out the AllVax registration form, and you can also sign up for the one nearest to your residence. This will allow you to “get in line” as soon as possible for a vaccine. While we all wait for our name to be called, continue to wear masks, respect social distancing and utilize safe practices.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent January 15, 2021

Update on COVID-19 Vaccine

Dear RFU Community:

As COVID-19 vaccination programs continue to take shape across Illinois and the nation, I wanted to keep everyone informed about the university’s efforts to assist in the process.

First and foremost, our Health Clinics staff continues to operate drive-thru COVID testing, and our labs recently surpassed 10,000 tests performed dating back to April. Also, our Community Care Coach has been in the field conducting hundreds of COVID tests at schools and social agencies around Lake County. I’m proud of all our staff members who have provided this critical service to our community during the pandemic.

These are the very same providers who will be ready to administer vaccines if we were to receive doses from the Lake County Health Department, since the RFU Health Clinics has been approved to be a vaccination site by the Illinois Department of Public Health. While we wait for local distribution to accelerate, we’re hopeful that vaccines will soon be available to RFU staff serving as frontline workers.

We’re thankful that some of our students have already received vaccines at their clinical rotation sites as part of the state’s current 1A vaccinate distribution phase, which is focused on at-risk groups that include frontline healthcare workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. Some RFU faculty also have received vaccinations from clinical sites. Approximately 200 volunteers from across our university have already been out in the field helping at COVID vaccination sites while being given a dose themselves.

At some point in the near future, each one of us will be eligible to receive a vaccine as the Lake County Health Department coordinates regional distribution. I again encourage everyone who lives and works in the county to sign up with the health department’s AllVax registry to assure your notification when a vaccine is available to your priority group. Additionally, for those who live in Cook County, an online survey has been launched to gauge future demand for vaccinations.

As I reported last month, RFU is prepared to store COVID vaccines. I can report that our state-of-the-art cold-storage facilities have been registered as a potential repository through the Illinois Department of Public Health. At this time, we have not been identified as a recipient of any vaccines, but as always, RFU is prepared to serve the greater good when called to help.

I’ll keep you posted as vaccine distribution evolves in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent December 18, 2020

Student Testing for COVID-19 After Winter Break

Dear Students,

As we return from the holidays and resume educational in-person training, there will be a need to modify our testing process in order to accommodate all of the needs for student testing on a weekly basis. Routine COVID-19 testing will continue to occur through saliva testing. (No eating, drinking, or smoking for 30 minutes prior to the saliva test). Illness-based PCR testing via nasal swab will be at the clinic.

Any student not testing with RFUHC should plan for weekly testing elsewhere and ensure that their test results will be available within 48 hours and will be communicated in writing. External test results should continue to be submitted to covid.tests@rosalindfranklin.edu

LOCATION:

Student testing will now be performed in the IPEC space in the HSB Building Room L .811. Students should access the test site through the IPEC Lounge area next to the windows.

Clinic staff will be there, with your collection kits, from 10:00am – 2:20pm daily. Appointments will still be required. NO Walk-up collections can be performed in the IPEC site. We hope this change will accommodate students with tight schedules. Collections will take less than 1 minute. By following your appointment times, you will minimize wait times and queues for entry. Collections MUST end by 2:20 to make sure the lab can process them in the same day.

STUDENTS WHO DEVELOP COVID SYMPTOMS

Should, at any time, you develop what you think are COVID symptoms, please fill out your COVID-19 illness and exposure report and you will be given instructions for making a testing appointment at the clinic building.

STUDENTS PREVIOUSLY TESTED AT THE CLINIC

All students who have either had testing performed at the RFU clinic SHOULD make their own appointments through the Clinic Patient Portal (How-to Screenshots). Please plan ahead and make your appointments for both of your required weeks of quarantine testing now.

We have created a new appointment title for student testing only. Please use:

Student COVID19 SALIVA @RFU Campus to make the appointments for the weekly testing to be done in the HSB. The previous title for appointments will remain for the drive through facility. See a screenshot below showing the Athena Scheduling Options. AGAIN, CHOOSE Student COVID19 Saliva@RFU Campus.

Make every effort to not miss your time slot or day of appointment. The Clinic is expecting to perform 1,000 COVID-19 tests per week and delayed or missed appointments cause stress on everyone. If you need to change your appointment, please call the Clinics front desk staff at 847-473-4357. This will help free up appointments for others who may need to have that appointment time. Please note that appointments scheduled through the Patient Portal cannot be canceled though that mechanism.

SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS

Same day appointments cannot be made through the Patient Portal. If you are experiencing COVID symptoms, please fill out your COVID-19 illness and exposure report and you will be given instructions for making a testing appointment at the clinic building.

If you are trying to secure an appointment and have no symptoms, please contact the front desk at 847-473-4357 to see if there are any appointment slots available. Same day appointments will only be available at the drive through facility at the Clinic, not in the HSB Site, and there may not be any appointment times available.

STUDENTS NOT COVID TESTED BUT PREVIOUS CLINIC PATIENTS

Some students may have required a visit to the Clinic for other health reasons and as of yet not needed to be tested for COVID-19 testing. Similar to above, you are registered in the patient portal and should use that for your COVID-19 testing appointment scheduling.

STUDENTS WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN A CLINIC PATIENT

Students who are new to the Clinic should send an email to alex.warda@rosalindfranklin.edu and copy maria.zatz@rosalindfranklin.edu with the following information:

• Full name
• Address
• Date of Birth
• Rosalind Franklin Email Address
• Local or cell Telephone number
• Insurance Information

The Clinic will add you to the patient database, notify you of being added, and then you may utilize the portal to make your appointments.

All appointments for new and existing patients, especially for the first 2 weeks after the new year, should be made as soon as possible after receiving this information to ensure you can schedule your post-new year appointments in a time slot to meet your needs.

We are trying to minimize the use of the COVID-19 testing appointment phone for student appointment scheduling, as the community need for COVID-19 testing appointments is causing large delays in answering the phones.

Early appointment scheduling for you is extremely important. RFU students and faculty always get top priority for appointment slots for the COVID-19 tests.

Your cooperation with this process should ensure as smooth a process as possible for the large demand we will face in the new year.

Warmest regards and best wishes for safe and happy winter break.

Rebecca L. Durkin
She/her/hers
Vice President, Student Success and Inclusion

Sent December 17, 2020

Lake County Vaccine Registry Open to all Local Workers

Dear RFU Community:

As COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues to take shape this week, officials at the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center have clarified that registration in the AllVax Portal — which is creating a virtual line for inoculations according to priority — is open to both local residents and everyone who works in the county.

This makes the vaccine registry available to all of our faculty, staff, students and clinic personnel, regardless of where they live. As I mentioned in last week’s email, logistics about the availability of the vaccine and plans for distribution are evolving, but RFU is preparing to be at the front lines in any way possible, from storage of vaccines to actively participating in distribution if needed.

With all of this in mind, registration is absolutely essential and can be completed by visiting AllVax.lakecohealth.org or calling 847-377-8130. Registrants will receive an email telling them when it is their turn for a vaccine.

We have reached the point in the pandemic when everyone is not only being asked to observe safety protocols but to join the final battle. Please sign up for the AllVax registry, and continue to keep yourself, your colleagues and your families safe.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault
President and CEO

Sent November 20, 2020

Reminder to take COVID Precautions over the Holidays

Dear RFU Students:

Your safety and well-being is our highest priority, whether you are on campus or off. That’s especially true as we approach the holiday season while continuing to navigate worsening rates of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.

If you choose to visit family and friends or travel over the holidays, we ask that you be mindful of the risks involved and the precautions you can take to mitigate those risks: Get tested. Limit interactions. Isolate, when recommended. Social distance. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Keep gatherings small.

Please follow your state and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations on how to responsibly celebrate the holidays, while reducing risk of exposure. Also please visit RFU’s COVID-19 page, which includes important updates, information and links, including on testing through our health clinics, reporting of student illness and rising case numbers.

Your short-term sacrifice and vigilance around public health guidelines can help protect your loved ones and the most vulnerable in your families and communities — including our campus community — from the dangerous and unpredictable coronavirus.

Thanks in advance for doing the right thing.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Sent October 30, 2020

Health Clinic Covid Testing Information

Dear Faculty and Staff:

As the demand for COVID testing has increased over the last few weeks, the Clinical Immunology Lab has validated the efficacy of using a saliva test for most COVID-19 tests, replacing the nasal swab for most of the mandatory weekly specimen collections. The use of the saliva test will begin on Monday, November 2, 2020. Please note that nasal swab collections may still be required based on symptoms and patient history.

The collection methods for these two types of tests are clearly different, and there are some PRE-COLLECTION protocols that you, the patient, need to follow to ensure an accurate result when taking the saliva test:

Saliva Sample Collection for COVID-19 Testing

Saliva will be collected with the assistance of the RFU Health Clinics staff.

Instructions for patient:

• The saliva sample for the testing should be normal saliva that naturally pools into the mouth. No coughing or sniffing prior to sample collection is required.
• Water should be avoided 10 minutes prior to collection. Other drinks, foods, and nasal sprays should be avoided for 30 minutes prior to collection. Avoid smoking for 60 minutes prior to collection.
• Saliva production can be stimulated by thinking about food (favorite foods, upcoming meals, etc) or about the saliva collection itself.

It is vitally important that these instructions are closely adhered to. As with nasal swab testing, the saliva test results will be made available within 24 to 48 hours after collection.

Until further notice, the collection site will remain the drive-thru (walk thru) tent in the RFU Health Clinics parking lot.

OTHER INFORMATION:

There are many rumors and false information concerning testing and results. Here are some clarifications:

Rising number of confirmed positives: There is no campus-wide outbreak of COVID cases. We are seeing an increased number of individual positive cases that were contracted in other settings. Contact tracing from these cases has necessitated ever larger numbers of students and staff to quarantine per CDC and Lake County Health Department guidelines due to close exposure. We are moving to weekly testing to try to stay ahead of the virus and to continue to prevent a campus-wide impact through appropriate quarantining and timely notifications.

Appointments: If you already have access to the Patient Portal, you can schedule appointments for the COVID test through the portal. If you do not, please call the COVID phone line at the Clinics (224-570-7575) to make an appointment. Testing hours are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is due to the pre-work required to allow for a quick (less than 1 minute) test process, and the need to get the samples to the lab at the end of collection to ensure results in 24 hours. The Health Clinics can accommodate more than 1,000 appointment slots during this time period, and because we are currently averaging about 100 to 125 tests per day, we are confident that we can accommodate any increased demand within the hours of operation. If needed, additional staff or extended hours will be added.

Results (specific to faculty and staff): Test results are placed in the Patient Portal. HIPAA laws ensure that only the Health Clinics and the patient have access to the results, and the results are shared with no one else. However, if a patient is COVID positive, federal law mandates that we inform the Lake County Health Department with the positive result and the patient information. All COVID positive faculty and staff are instructed to follow the University's reporting protocols in place. The Clinic does not report any results to the University.

Billing: Insurance is billed for these tests. However, some HMO's do not cover a COVID test unless the patient is displaying symptoms. Since these tests are required by the university, there will be no out-of-pocket expense to employees in these instances. It is important to identify yourself as an RFU employee or RFU student when making an appointment so the billers can adjust this appropriately.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to address the health needs of our community during this pandemic.

Sincerely,

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent October 29, 2020

Covid - Rising Case Numbers

Dear RFU Community,

The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is here, and it is directly impacting the RFU community and the Chicagoland region. The number of individuals within the university community required to quarantine are increasing daily and at rates of rising concern. These individuals have either tested positive or have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive. In addition, we are noticing a significant increase in asymptomatic positive cases that are being identified through routine testing.

Currently, more than 100 students are in quarantine, which creates challenges for personal health, our campus’ overall resilience, and academic progression. Students across programs are being impacted by quarantine requirements to varying degrees. Five separate class cohorts across three programs have anywhere from at least 6% to more than 20% of the class in quarantine. As a result, we also have faculty and staff positives and exposures. We must work together to reduce the number of individuals becoming ill with COVID-19 and minimize exposures to keep our campus environment as safe as possible. As a reminder, a necessary step in doing so includes immediate reporting of any and all illnesses, symptoms and exposures.

Managing the spread of COVID-19 within our campus community requires individuals to reconsider how they engage in small group interactions outside of the educational environment. Those interactions are presenting the biggest challenge to our health and safety efforts. The precautions are in place to protect the RFU campus and anyone engaging in close contact and in-person educational activities on campus. It is critical for all members of the RFU community to recognize that their off-campus behaviors can create risk for continuing essential educational and research activities.

We must remain united in creating a safe campus environment so that essential activities continue. Please do your part. Do not gather in groups before or after on-campus activities. Refrain from engaging in social gatherings and interactions with individuals outside of your established support network. Wear your masks, maintain physical distance at all times, and wash your hands frequently. Continue to follow all campus safety guidelines. Strictly adhere to instructions when participating in required educational activities.

Beginning next week, weekly testing for faculty, staff and students involved in all on-campus educational activities will occur and individuals should check with their respective academic program for more details. This more frequent testing is intended as another measure to protect our community. As the pandemic evolves, we will continue to adjust our requirements with your health and well-being remaining a priority. Your cooperation and contributions to maintaining the safety of the RFU campus are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Sent October 23, 2020

Covid Fatigue

All,

As this pandemic continues to carry on, and unfortunately is now increasing at a very accelerated rate, we must be more vigilant than ever in protecting ourselves and our friends, family, and colleagues.

While compliance with using the screening app and infra-red temperature and mask wearing when entering the facility remains at 100% (thank you), we have noticed some "slippage" recently, especially in the library and lobby areas, where individuals have not been wearing their masks 100% of the time. Often we are told "it is ok, we live together". Unfortunately, other people will be walking by, or near, often without the non-masked individuals being aware.

Given the increased frequency we are seeing, Campus Safety will be strictly enforcing the wearing of masks at all times when in our campus buildings in public areas.

So, as we see the rising cases in Lake County and within our own community, remember to WEAR YOUR MASKS IN ALL PUBLIC SETTINGS, EVEN IF ALONE. While we can enforce this on campus, it is highly recommended you do this everywhere you go. Avoid large (more than 10) gatherings, avoid enclosed spaces (restaurants, bars), try and stay more than 6 feet apart, wash your hands frequently, and remember that this disease is mainly transmitted through the air, no matter where you are.

Stay Safe and Stay Vigilant.

Thank you

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent October 20, 2020

Required Timely Reporting of Covid Symptoms, Illnesses, Exposures

Dear RFU Community,

As expected, the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is upon us and is getting worse. Like our local community, RFU is experiencing rising rates of positive reports, as well as exposure reports from faculty, staff and students. Many reports are not being completed in a timely fashion, which increases the risk to our campus community.

Every member of the RFU community must do their part to assist in limiting new cases and new exposures. The ongoing adherence to RFU’s policies and procedures is critical, whether on the RFU campus or not. RFU’s policies require the timely and accurate reporting of any and all symptoms, illnesses and exposures. Students must report through a form posted to Student Affairs, and faculty and staff must report through Human Resources.

As case numbers continue to rise, this is a reminder that timely reporting must occur and is essential to ongoing efforts to maintain the health and well-being of the RFU community.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Sent October 2, 2020

Return to Campus Update

Dear RFU Faculty, Students and Staff,

As we enter into the fall season and our third month of returning to campus, I would like to convey the following observations and thoughts:

Adherence to the COVID safety protocols has been extraordinary. We have had very few instances of lack of physical distancing or needing to remind individuals to keep masks on in public settings. Utilization of the screening tools prior to entry has universally been observed. This in large part has led to our success, so far, in limiting the spread of the virus throughout the campus community.

Thank you, all.

That being said, we still must still remain extra vigilant in our response to this virus.

Many areas in our community where we live and work (southern Wisconsin, sections of Lake County) are experiencing significant increases in the number of positive cases, resulting in significantly higher hospitalization rates and deaths than just four weeks ago. It is vitally important to be aware of this for self-protection when out in public, especially as the fall and winter approach and indoor activities increase.

As always, our focus remains on academic progression and safety of our students, faculty and staff. With this in mind, PLEASE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW OUR EXISTING GUIDELINES:

• Our expectation is that only essential personnel are on campus. Please leave as soon as possible after your activity is completed. Stay home unless you fall into an essential category (includes students/faculty/scientists/staff participating in educational and research activities).
• Do not come onto the campus if you are sick or are experiencing COVID, flu-like or cold symptoms.
• If you have been directly exposed to a positive COVID individual, report it and quarantine. Do not come to campus until cleared to do so.
• Keep in mind that off-campus activities can and will affect your health. Wear your masks, avoid crowds (outside but especially indoors), stay at least six feet apart even if all are wearing masks, and wash your hands with soap or use sanitizer as often as possible. What you do off-campus can and will affect on campus safety in regard to this virus.

Again, please use this as a reminder given the severe uptick in positive cases in our area.

We have done a great job of managing this so far and, with your continued cooperation, we will continue to do so.

Thank you,

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent September 14, 2020

Return To Campus Questions (and Answers)

All,

Over the last 3 weeks we have received multiple questions regarding our campus protocols. Below please find those most frequently asked questions posed by all of you and our responses.

Why is there only screening from 7am to 5pm and not after hours or on weekends at the Campus entrances?
The purpose of the screening is to try and ensure, when there is a greater volume of students, faculty, and staff present in the building simultaneously, that all who enter the building are free from symptoms at that time. Since the opportunity for infection via aerosol transmission is greater as more people are sharing the same space (classrooms, hallways, washrooms, etc) we feel we need to screen upon entry.

During off hours the volume for people in the building and passing in the hallways is greatly reduced, limiting the chance of aerosol infection. If we see an increase in volume during these times we will revisit the need for increased screening hours.

If I do come in after hours should I use the screening tool and temperature camera?
Absolutely. We are relying on your professionalism to not enter campus buildings if you have any symptoms. If you are told by the camera that you exceed the temperature threshold or the screening tool suggests you need a covid test, please leave immediately and do not enter any further for both you and your colleagues safety and to prevent infection spread.

Are classrooms and conference rooms available for study space?
No. We cannot clean the surfaces of all of those rooms frequent enough to ensure a virus free environment. The Library, now using the "tent" system signifying when a study table has been used, has allowed us to identify "soiled" study tables and eliminated our need to restrict access hours to the library for cleaning. If a table has a tent on it, do not use it. Cleaning staff will come through and clean those tables multiple times during the day and over the weekend. At this time the Library and the small study space in the Scholl Gallery have been more than enough space to satisfy the study space needs.

Is the Library available 24 hours including weekends?
Other than for the daily cleaning at 7:00pm the Library space is available for study 24/7. Please use the tents upon entering to signify to others that the table you were at is now not to be used until sanitized.

Are the Reception areas free to utilize for study and socializing?
The common areas at the main entrances continue to have some furniture present. We would prefer if you did not congregate or use these spaces as they are not identified as soiled after anyone uses them. While they are routinely cleaned, the entire concept of mitigating viral transmission is to avoid as much as possible areas where multiple people congregate.

Thank you for your continued cooperation in making the RFU environment the safest we can.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent September 9, 2020

COVID Testing Requirements for Certain Educational Activities

Dear Faculty, Students and Staff:

Our commitment to delivering education while deploying best practices to keep our RFU community safe will be strengthened later this month with modified testing requirements from the Coronavirus Oversight Committee for certain educational activities — specifically, those that involve physical contact or activities where six feet of physical distance will not be met and maintained.

Effective Sept. 21, students, faculty and staff involved in those types of activities — referred to as close contact or hands-on (direct contact) activities — on the RFU campus or at our simulation center in Huntley will be expected to be in compliance with the following testing plan:

If you are participating in regular close or hands-on/direct contact activities (multiple interactions over the course of a month), you must be tested at two-week intervals; or, if you are scheduled for one close or hands-on/direct contact activity — or multiple activities that take place with a month or more between activities — you must be tested within two weeks of the scheduled activity.

Please note that this change does not impact existing research and clinical guidelines, which remain in effect as communicated previously.

We expect that everyone at RFU will continue to respect physical distancing, wear masks, avoid congregate settings, limit interactions outside of their social "bubble" and take all other practical precautions to avoid COVID exposure in their daily lives. We appreciate the focus you’ve devoted to these pragmatic actions since coronavirus first became a part of our reality.

The new testing measures may be revisited and revised as events warrant. We continue to recognize that there is variability in opinions and evidence related to testing, and while there is no perfect plan, we believe a strong COVID testing program is an essential component in fighting the pandemic and safeguarding the health of our greater community. Thank you in advance for cooperating with this program and ensuring its success.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Sent August 14, 2020

Support for Returning to Campus

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As we continue to work through the challenges that COVID throws at us, it is important that we keep perspective about what is important. For many of you, you are now being asked to support e-learning for your children. Others are immunocompromised or living with individuals who are immunocompromised. We know that returning to campus is stressful, scary, and presents some uncertainties. Each of you may be facing a very unique situation that must be dealt with.

As Dr. Parsley’s recent email communicated, we encourage you to work with your manager to come up with solutions for work that benefit everyone. Maybe your work hours need to be adjusted, maybe you need to come in to the office part-time to complete your on-campus essential responsibilities, maybe you need to cross-train with others in your department so that you can back each other up. It’s not about the face time in the office, it is about getting the required components of the job done. There may be creative solutions to these issues, and we encourage you to bring those to the table when you are discussing these challenges with your manager.

As for management, we want you to practice empathy and compassion for the current situation. These are not normal times, and work is not going back to “normal.” Please exercise as much flexibility and understanding as you can to ensure a balance between our commitments to our students, our employees, and other business needs. As noted in previous communications, employees should remain working remotely as much as possible.

We are hopeful that these individual situations will be remedied through discussions with management in the departments and schools. However, Human Resources is available to facilitate should a reasonable solution not be found through these efforts.

Stay safe everyone!

Sally J. Madden, MBA, SPHR
Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Sent August 12, 2020

Academic Updates for Faculty and Staff

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great anticipation and excitement that we prepare to launch RFU’s Fall Quarter. As always, the safety and well-being of our community remains our priority as we begin the new term. We join together in welcoming our fall start students, who begin orientation this week, and in reconnecting with our returning students. As of Monday, August 17, our academic programs across the university that are typically delivered in person will be fully engaged in both remote and in-person learning activities for the academic year as faculty and staff work together to ensure timely academic progression for all of our students. Our distance learning programs will continue with online activities only.

As the COVID pandemic continues, the ever-present need for flexibility and creativity in delivering high quality educational experiences, along with the critical support our students deserve and need, continues. To that end, there are a variety of updates in several areas to keep in mind as we begin the new term.

Faculty and Staff Presence on Campus

Since supervisors are best positioned to understand the needs of the academic programs and functional areas of support, decisions regarding the on-campus presence of each individual faculty and staff member reside at the level of the supervisor and will be communicated by that individual. Any questions regarding work schedules and location should be directed to your supervisor.

Testing Requirements

The Coronavirus Oversight Committee determined late last week that testing will be required for all students, faculty and staff engaged in hands-on educational learning activities on campus. The first round of testing will occur in advance of an individual’s scheduled activity and will be coordinated through the academic program with the Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics (RFUHC). Subsequent testing requirements are under discussion.

Academic Planning

The RFU Guidelines for Continuity of Academic Teaching and Learning AY 20-21, as well as RFU’s Clinical Guidelines, both of which were released earlier this summer, remain in effect. The Learning Experiences Taskforce (LET), which consists of faculty representatives from across the university, remains active and will continue to contribute invaluable advice and leadership as we move through the upcoming year.

Each program has in effect an academic plan for the Fall Quarter, along with a specific safety plan for on-campus activities. Each program has also developed academic contingency plans and will be prepared to implement those plans should the region revert to earlier phases of the Restore Illinois plan.

Academic planning for both Winter and Spring terms is underway, and the Office of Academic Affairs and the Registrar are working collaboratively to assist programs in planning for the Winter and Spring Quarters.

Clinical Training

Through the tireless efforts of the Directors of Clinical Education (DCEs), students have returned to clinical sites for patient care experiences. According to RFU’s existing Clinical Guidelines, program faculty are authorized to appropriately work with affiliates to establish the rules and guidelines that safeguard student safety and continued progress and to determine that these are sufficient prior to approving the placement. As university policy requires, if a known COVID positive exposure occurs at a clinical site, students must report their exposure to RFU (https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/covid19/protocols-students.php) but follow the guidelines of the clinical site.

Our on-campus academic activities throughout the coming year will continue to focus on students’ academic progression while also prioritizing the health and well-being of the RFU community. We appreciate your cooperation and support in launching the new academic year and recognize the vital role each of you plays in our endeavors.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost
Vice President for Academic Affairs

Update Aug. 21, 2020: Revised guidance on reporting of possible COVID exposures.

Sent August 11, 2020

Return to Campus Plan

All,

As we prepare for the limited return to campus we have prepared a Return to Campus document for your review which, I hope, will answer many of your questions.

Please read the attached document and be aware of the new practices and protocols.

A few highlights:

• Mandatory masks when in public settings (hallways, classrooms, library, cafeteria)
• Mandatory Temperature and Symptom Screening upon entering building
• Limited entry points to BSB, HSB, IPEC and IRP buildings
• Limited hours of building access
• Social Distancing at all times
• NO CASH - Cafeteria, Mail room, Spirit Store will be credit card or electronic payment ONLY

Also, for faculty and staff, If you have not completed the COVID-19 Infection Control Training available on the RFU covid website, please complete it and send the signed acknowledgement of risk form to HR.

Thank you

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent August 5, 2020

Exception to COVID Quarantine for Wisconsin Residents

Dear RFU Community:

On July 7, the university announced a policy that requires a 14-day period of self-quarantine for any students, faculty or staff who return to the RFU campus from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases. As you might have seen last week, Wisconsin was added to the list of surging states by the Chicago Department of Public Health, which is one of the agencies we use for guidance on this issue.

The RFU administration would like to clarify that Wisconsin is exempted from our policy, so the self-quarantine requirement does not apply to students, faculty or staff who live in that state.

The university still urges our campus community members to exercise good judgment in their day-to-day activities no matter where they travel to or reside. Wearing masks when out in public, washing hands frequently and avoiding congregate settings are among the best practices that will help keep everyone healthy and safe.

For more information on RFU’s policies during the pandemic, such as the list of states that require self-quarantine, please visit our COVID-19 resource page. As always, we will keep you posted as events proceed.

Thank you for your continued support and adherence to the RFU policies and practices during this pandemic.

Sincerely,

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent July 22, 2020

Recent Reports of Social Gatherings

Dear RFU students, faculty and staff:

The vast majority of our campus community has responded admirably to measures enacted this spring and summer toward mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, despite the state of Illinois’ ongoing limitations on congregate settings, we have received word that recent social gatherings and other interactions among the RFU community have resulted in possible COVID exposures.

These reports come to us as we hear similar accounts from around the country about a spike in COVID cases among younger individuals. Our neighboring states of Indiana and Wisconsin are seeing increases in confirmed cases and seven-day positivity rates, and the state of Illinois announced new contingency plans last week to help manage a serious increase in COVID cases, with options that include renewed restrictions. We know that the largest share of confirmed COVID cases in Illinois has been among those aged 20 to 29. In light of the campus population that falls in this category, we must take the situation seriously.

We play an important role in this public health crisis. As members of a health sciences university, we must model the behavior that is expected of our community. Let’s lead by example and maintain social distance. If we decide that it is safe to gather, we must commit to wearing our masks and maintaining physical distance.

We are members of the university community even when we are not on campus. We also have an obligation to our families, our colleagues, our patients, and our community members at large to protect their health by protecting our own. No one wants to be responsible for risking someone’s life or livelihood.

As students, it is critical to avoid anything that might jeopardize your academic progression or that would expose you to this virus and risk passing it on to others, especially your patients. Each of us bears responsibility to keep COVID from spreading within our university community — a scenario that would impact education, our scientific progress, our frontline staff, our students and our faculty.

Our collective efforts have put us in a position to re-open our campus to academic activities, with proper and necessary precautions, in August. The decisions we make as individuals impact everyone. We are relying on one another’s good judgment, so let’s protect those around us. Let’s look after our vulnerable family members and friends, our patients, our neighbors, our students and our colleagues.

We need to stay focused on keeping COVID out of our lives and away from our campus. The end of this pandemic is many months away, so we must redouble our efforts to get us to that goal. Please make safe and healthy choices until that time comes.

Sincerely,

Wendy L. Rheault, President and CEO
Marc Abel, Dean, College of Pharmacy
Jim Carlson, Vice President for Interprofessional Education and Simulation
Archana Chatterjee, Dean, Chicago Medical School and Vice President for Medical Affairs
Lee Concha, Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President for University Enhancement
Joe DiMario, Dean, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Rebecca Durkin, Vice President for Student Success and Inclusion
Ron Kaplan, Executive Vice President for Research
Sandra Larson, Vice President of Partnerships
Rick Loesch, Chief Information Officer
John Nylen, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
Nancy L. Parsley, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Andrew Romero, Executive Student Council President
Chad B. Ruback, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Judith Stoecker, Vice President for Faculty Affairs
John Vitale, Dean, College of Health Professions
Carl White, Faculty Senate President
Stephanie Wu, Dean, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

Sent July 7, 2020

RFU Requirements for Self-Quarantine Following Travel to Certain States

Dear RFU Community:

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing into the midsummer travel season, we will be instituting a policy directed at our shared responsibility of keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Starting this week, RFU will require a 14-day period of self-quarantine for any students, faculty or staff who are returning to the RFU campus from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases. This standard reflects guidelines of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and travel restrictions by many state and local agencies, including the City of Chicago.

This requirement extends to anyone who spent more than 24 hours in states reported to have a recent high incidence of positive cases. At this time, we will use the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) standard for designating those states, which is “a case rate greater than 15 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 resident population, per day, over a 7-day rolling average.”

States currently meeting that description include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. This list, which is posted at the CDPH website, will be subject to review, and locations can be added or subtracted each week as necessary.

Our self-quarantine policy requires you to stay in a single dwelling, avoid contact with others and check yourself for COVID-19 symptoms. You can visit our COVID-19 resource page or connect with your healthcare provider for more information on monitoring your status.

A few other critical points to understand:

• Students, faculty and staff who live in the Chicago municipal limits are advised that the city began enforcing a self-quarantine policy on Monday, July 6, for anyone who returned from a minimum 24-hour visit to one of the 15 states.

• While the city of Chicago’s order allows exceptions for essential workers, students who have traveled from one of the listed states and live outside of Chicago but regularly commute to the city for their clinical rotations should check in with their sites for more information.

• For any students who must travel out of state for clinical rotations, it is the university’s expectation that they will comply with policies enacted by the host state or agency. For example, New York is requiring a similar 14-day quarantine period for anyone traveling there from states that include those listed on the city of Chicago’s order. If you travel to New York from spending more than 24 hours in California, you would be subject to the self-quarantine regulations.

• Also, to reiterate a university policy that has been in place since the pandemic began to spread into the country, all RFU community members who plan domestic or international travel must complete a notification form. Please visit RFU’s COVID-19 information page and click on the Student, Faculty and Staff Travel Registration Form to complete this requirement.

As the details of self-quarantine policies continue to evolve, we will keep you updated. The university plans to keep this policy in effect until further notice, with any changes being based on applicable public health guidance. Students can direct questions to student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu, and faculty and staff can consult Sally Madden (sally.madden@rosalindfranklin.edu) in Human Resources. For your safety and well-being — as well as the safety and well-being of our community and clinical partners — we encourage everyone to use caution and minimize non-essential travel.

By following these practical, precautionary steps, we can remain committed to forward-thinking solutions that address the pandemic. Please keep supporting and caring for one another as we do what needs to be done to emerge from this challenge.

Sincerely,

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent June 10, 2020

Academic Plans for Fall Term - RFU Students

Dear RFU Students,

Your safety and well-being continue to be our highest priority as we steer our way through the COVID-19 pandemic while also ensuring that your academic needs are addressed. As we proceed through Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois reopening plan, which limits gatherings to 10 persons or fewer, we cannot fully know what to expect as summer turns to fall.

However, in anticipation of proceeding into Phase 4, which will allow gatherings of up to 50 people and permit institutions of higher education to reopen with guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health, we are excited to share that we are actively planning for a return to campus for the fall term.

We plan to utilize a hybrid approach to education, with remote learning continuing for lecture-based courses. At the same time, we will prioritize for on-campus engagement those activities that are hands-on and skills-based, or involve other small group learning experiences that most benefit student learning. Our paramount mission will be to ensure academic progression as we train healthcare providers so direly needed at this time.

To prepare for the next phases of learning, the university created the Learning Experiences Taskforce. The Taskforce is developing a comprehensive set of Academic and Teaching Guidelines that will contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of high quality educational experiences.

We know and understand that you and all students have many questions about returning to campus, and what learning will look like in Fall 2020. Guidelines are being released to address a range of topics, including facility modifications and procedures, such as reduced entrance points to university buildings, the wearing of masks in shared spaces, and revised capacity in classrooms and other educational spaces; academic and teaching changes, including prioritizing the use of educational spaces for assessment activities and hands-on learning experiences; student health, including appropriate instruction on infectious disease precautions; and so much more.

As details of RFU’s plans to return to campus for the fall term are further developed, they will be shared with the RFU community. We are committed to delivering high-quality educational experiences in each of our programs while also preserving the health and well-being of our community. Your patience and cooperation as we continue to navigate to a new normal for the foreseeable future are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Nancy L. Parsley, DPM, MHPE
Provost

Sent June 10, 2020

COVID-19 Infection Control Training

All,

Attached is a powerpoint which goes through the best practices to be utilized by all students,faculty, and staff to minimize the spread of COVID-19 within the University.

Please read through each slide.

At the end of the slides there is an Acknowledgment of Risk and Personal Responsibility form which is to be signed and forwarded to HR. If more convenient, you may send an email to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu in which you acknowledge completion of this training and the acknowledgment of risk and personal responsibility.

Also, within the training is information regarding the daily health screening tool we are requiring all to complete before coming onto campus. It is either available either as an app on your smart device or accessible via the internet. The app is: Apple COVID-19, the internet address is: www.apple.com/covid-19.

No personal identifiable information is required to be entered, and the screening tool is free to use. It was developed by Apple in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC).

Thank you for your cooperation and patience as we journey on our road back from this pandemic.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent June 9, 2020

Return to Campus Plan

All,

As we start our return to campus over the next few months for work and study, we have instituted some changes within the facility for the safety and welfare of all students, faculty, and staff.

The attached document explains the changes, guidelines, and policies, as of now, that we are implementing.

Some of these changes will take a few weeks to implement, so as we ramp up please be patient.

Thank you.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

As we plan to return to campus, we will be instituting multiple protocols to provide a safe environment for our students, faculty, and staff. It is the responsibility of each of us to follow these protocols; not only to protect our own health, but also to protect the health of others with whom we may come in contact.

These protocols are the result of discussions and guidance from public health authorities (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Lake County Health Department) and RFU senior administration discussions specific to our environment. Information about COVID-19 continues to be discovered and, as that information becomes available, public health authorities may modify their guidelines and recommendations. When that occurs, these protocols will be modified to comply with the updated guidelines and recommendations.

We have engaged Hygiengineering, an environmental health and safety engineering firm, and Harvard maintenance, our campus facilities cleaning firm, in developing an on-going plan for a clean, safe facility.

Guiding Principles to Keep in Mind

The more an individual interacts with others, the longer that interaction, and the smaller the size of the space they occupy, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. With that in mind, the following protocols are established for all upon entering the University's teaching facilities.

Promoting Behaviors that Reduce Spread

• Stay home if you are sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
• Stay home if you have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
• Wash hands regularly for at lest 20 seconds. If soap and water are not accessible use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Face coverings MUST be worn at all times when in public areas of the University (hallways, classrooms, washrooms. etc.). RFU will be providing washable cloth face masks to all students, faculty, and staff. Disposable masks will be available at University entrances.
• If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, follow the RFU established protocols for returning to class or work.
• Clean your workspaces. Remove pictures or other personal effects, paperwork, etc from surfaces to allow the cleaning staff to thoroughly clean your personal space.

Maintaining Healthy Operations

Limit your time on campus. If you can work or study from home, continue to do so. Remote learning, where feasible, will continue.

• RFU will be limiting the number of entrances into the building. These will be communicated when determined.
• Temperatures will be taken using touchless thermometers of everyone at each entrance. Anyone with a fever over 100.5 degrees will be denied entrance and encouraged to self-isolate and contact their healthcare provider.
• RFU will require daily health screenings. We are exploring smart phone-based apps for ease of use. Proof of daily completion of the screening tool will be required for entrance into the buildings.
• Social distancing will be practiced at all times. Classrooms will have maximum capacity limits to promote social distancing. Under Phase 3, the maximum limit is 10 per room, for Phase 4 it is 50.
• Classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized after each change of class. Change of class is defined as a new cohort of students entering a single classroom. If students stay for a second class and just the instructor leaves, this does not constitute change of classroom.
• All meetings should continue to be through the use of video / audio conferencing technology (e.g. Zoom or Google Meet). Conference rooms are to be used only for emergent situations, and social distancing rules will apply.
• Hallways and stairwells will be designated one-way where feasible. Please adhere to those directions.
• Elevators are to be utilized only when the use of stairs would not be reasonably feasible. One person at a time in the elevators.
• Washrooms will have restricted capacity limits. All washrooms will be cleaned on a regular interval throughout the day.
• Study areas will have restricted capacity limits, will be vacated and cleaned mid-day, and will not be available 24/7. Times and duration are still being discussed.
• When we re-open the cafeteria, there will be offerings and limited, social distancing seating. No group seating will be available. Faculty and staff are requested to eat at your desks.
• Water fountains will not be operational.
• Office based water coolers should be sanitized before and after each use, mainly the touch points.
• The workout facility will remain closed until further notice.
• Campus hours for common areas (including library and study areas) will be limited. Open and closing times to be determined.
• All campus visitors and vendors will be subject to temperature taking, screening questions, and mandatory mask wearing

RFU Preparations

• Since the University has been effectively shut down for 2 months, Hygiengineering is performing water and air quality checks to ensure the water system is free from legionella and the HVAC is free of mold and mildew.
• Harvard Maintenance has been performing a deep cleaning of the facility during this closure. Ongoing cleaning will continue, using cleaning/disinfecting chemicals that are EPA approved and meet or exceed the current CDC recommendations.
• Harvard plans to clean/disinfect using a combination of electrostatic misting, surface wiping, and microfiber wipes (plan to launder after use).
• There will be a daytime and an evening crew on site to complete routine cleaning/disinfecting.
• Routine cleaning tasks cover:
  • High-touch areas (door handles, sink handles, grab bars, hand railings, etc.) (every 1-2 hours)
  • Bathrooms
  • Classrooms (after each class)
  • Cafeteria (each table after each use)
  • Outside handrails
• The HVAC system utilizes MERV-14 filters. This exceeds CDC guidelines and is hospital level filtering.
• Air flow will utilize outside air to the highest capacity feasible. All inside air will be vented to the outside. No air flow will be re-circulated.
• Protective screens have been installed at each high-contact area (reception, mail room, LRC, Clinic Reception).
• Touchless faucets have been installed where practical.
• Doors will be propped open where feasible to limit touch surfaces.

Additional CDC Guidelines

• The CDC highly recommends avoiding public transportation for the near future. At this time RFU will not provide shuttle service from the train station.
• Avoid all unnecessary travel, especially air travel. RFU continues to have a moratorium on all business travel. Continue to report personal travel through the RFU COVID-19 reporting system.
• Limit any nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as possible – especially with individuals who are not from the local geographic area.

Additional RFU Guidelines

• Continue to reference the RFU COVID-19 information on the RFU website for the most current information and documentation related to COVID-19 and the RFU Campus
• Reporting of a positive COVID-19 result to HR or Student Affairs (for students) is expected and required
• It is expected that faculty and staff will communicate and coordinate with supervisors their planned time on campus
• COVID-19 testing MAY be required depending on circumstances (e.g. case increases in a particular unit or department)
• Completion of infectious disease precautions training and awareness of risk form submitted to HR (faculty/staff) and through Student Affairs (students).

Sent May 1, 2020

COVID-19 Testing at RFU Health Clinics

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students:

Since April 17, the RFU Health Clinics have offered COVID-19 tests to our existing patients and members of our university community. Effective May 1, the health clinics will expand testing to the general public, a decision that reflects our commitment to the health and wellness of our region, and to containing the spread of the coronavirus. Testing for all is by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays at the RFUHC North Chicago location, just south of campus on the other side of The Woodlands apartments.

Anyone who is interested in a test must first call the RFUHC COVID hotline at 224-570-7575 to set up an appointment. During the initial phone screening, clinic workers will ask about existing COVID symptoms (fever, cough and/or shortness of breath) or direct exposure to someone with a confirmed case, with the goal of prioritizing incoming patients for appointments. Upon arrival, those seeking a test will be asked to stay inside their car. A phone number and instructions will be posted in the parking lot, and arrivals will check in with a patient service representative over the phone before the test can be performed.

A doctor's order is not required to receive this test. The cost of the test is covered by health insurance, with no copay required. The self-pay cost is $51.37, which is equivalent to the Medicare reimbursement rate.

The clinic will contact patients with test results, which can take up to two to three days. More information is available at www.rfuclinics.com.

Stay healthy and stay safe.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent April 28, 2020

CARES Act

Dear University Community:

RFU continues to prioritize the health and well-being of our entire community in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, with special attention to and empathy for our students who have shouldered unexpected disruptions in these months. We are tapping into all available resources, including legislative assistance and the generosity of our community, to support our students with housing, travel and academic challenges. Our efforts are reinforced by two initiatives designated to provide financial relief directly to our students.

The university has secured funding through the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, to provide direct support to our students due to loss of income, interruption of services, health care or other COVID-19 related challenges.

RFU has also established an Emergency Student Related Expenses Fund through the generosity of our alumni, staff, faculty, friends and advocates. We are grateful for our community’s commitment to students who need assistance during this unprecedented crisis.

Students will be informed separately regarding the process for accessing our different sources of assistance by Rebecca Durkin, our Vice President for Student Success and Inclusion. We encourage all members of our university family to check in with students in their circles to make sure they are aware of these relief efforts, especially those who may need additional support at this time.

Thank you for helping us take care of our university family. Wishing all of you good health.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent April 28, 2020

Summer Quarter

Dear RFU Community:

The sacrifices we are making to keep both our campus community and our neighbors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic are helping to flatten the curve, save lives and keep our hospitals and emergency departments from becoming overwhelmed.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has announced that Illinois’ stay-at-home order will continue through at least May 30. In response, RFU will continue to strike a balance between protecting our health and wellness and moving forward with our academic and research missions. We will continue with remote teaching, learning and work-from-home operations through Aug. 7, with limited exceptions for essential task training and assessment activities for our students. These exceptions will allow students to progress and to be prepared for clinical site rotations.

Making these decisions now will give students and faculty the ability to continue developing appropriate academic plans. Programs will communicate directly with their students in the coming weeks to offer additional details. We will continue to work closely with our clinical partners and program accreditors toward the resumption of any affected rotations and other clinical experiences, with the goal of safeguarding the health and safety of our students.

We are also consulting with local and state officials and our research leadership in re-evaluating the suspension of our in-laboratory research activities, with the goal of resumption as soon as it is safe to do so. Additional guidance will be developed and communicated by Executive Vice President for Research Ronald Kaplan, PhD.

We recognize that this extension comes on top of a series of adjustments we have asked of you during these weeks of uncertainty. We will revisit the work-from-home extension as new information becomes available and provide timely updates.

I ask you to stay the course and do your part to help control the outbreak and prevent a second wave of infections. We’re all looking forward to the day when we can return to campus. Thank you for your continued commitment to our collective health.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent April 17, 2020

New Protocol for Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis and Other HR News

Dear RFU Community,

To ensure the safety of all University employees, new protocols have been put in place for those diagnosed with COVID-19. In order to return to work, the following criteria must be met:

• The employee must be fever free for 7 consecutive days, AND
• the employee must be symptom free of other COVID-19 symptoms for 7 consecutive days, AND
• it must be a minimum of 14 days since the first onset of symptoms.

If the employee meets the above criteria, then they need to make an appointment with the RFU Health Clinics where an RFU provider will perform an exam and administer a COVID-19 test. Once a negative result for COVID-19 is received, the results need to be communicated by the Clinic provider to Human Resources at hr@rosalindfranklin.edu. Upon receipt of notification, HR will clear the employee to return to work. No employee should return to work without prior clearance from HR.

In other news, I am pleased to announce that an Employee Resources tab has been added to the RFU Community Connections page. This tab, found at the bottom of the page, includes many articles relating to coping with stress and anxiety, tips for families, eating healthy, fun things to do, and other resources including our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) information and telehealth procedures. All of us are experiencing feelings of loss and anxiety during this time, and we hope you find the resources helpful. Access the page here.

We are also still seeking contributions - photos of your workstations, new co-workers (pets/family members), or even pictures of beautiful spring scenery! Thanks to Danielle Tonin for inspiring this theme of Spring which will be featured next week!

The Kudos section is also looking for your contributions to recognize your team member or another coworker who has gone out of their way to make you smile or keep you sane during this time! Please submit your photos and kudos to hr@rosalindfranklin.edu.

Be well,

Sally J. Madden, MBA, SPHR
Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Sent April 8, 2020

Second Confirmed COVID-19 Case at RFU

Dear University Community,

The Lake County Health Department has confirmed that a member of the university’s essential staff tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member was on campus last week as part of their essential job duties and they were following strict social distancing guidelines. We are happy to share that the staff member is doing well.

We continue to work closely with the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD) in monitoring the situation to ensure the well-being of the staff member and the RFU community. At this time, it has been determined that no member of the university community has been in close contact with this staff member to warrant further isolation or monitoring. If you had been identified as someone who might have come in contact with this person or had been in close proximity to them, the health department would have contacted you.

As we approach three weeks since RFU shifted to online teaching and learning and stay-at-home operations, future communication about confirmed COVID-19 cases involving members of our campus community will be available online. In addition, you can find important information on the COVID-19 information webpage, including preventive health measures and symptoms to monitor. The page also includes a set of forms for students or staff and faculty to report any COVID-19 related illness or exposures, which the university will continue to track with the assistance of the health department.

Please know that our services remain available to our university community through this difficult time. Employees can reach out for support through our confidential Employee Assistance Program by calling 800-316-2796. Students may seek help through our Student Counseling Service, which is free to all currently enrolled students and can be reached by calling 847-578-8723, and the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion.

Please join me in wishing our staff member a speedy recovery. Your continuing support of our efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 will see us through to the other side of this crisis.

Very Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM

President and CEO

Additional Information from the Lake County Health Department:

It is critically important that the community follow prescribed preventive measures such as social distancing and the three C’s to avoid getting sick:

• Clean hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol;
• Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your elbow; and
• Contain illness by staying home if you are sick.

Social Distancing

• Stay home as much as possible.
• Maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others.
• Call to check on family, neighbors, and older adults instead of visiting.
• Check with your healthcare provider about telehealth options.

What to do if you are sick

If you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, stay home and call your doctor. Distance yourself from others in the household and if possible, stay in your own bedroom and use your own bathroom. Contact your doctor if your illness is worsening (for example, you have difficulty breathing).

Do not walk into a healthcare facility, urgent care clinic, or hospital before calling. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. If your doctor believes that you need to be tested for COVID-19, they should refer you to a COVID-19 testing site. The Lake County Health Department should only be contacted by your doctor to facilitate testing through the state lab for patients who are hospitalized or those who live or work in congregate settings (e.g., schools, long term care facilities, and group homes).

Residents who do not have a primary care provider can contact the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center at 847-377-8800 to schedule an appointment.

For general state and national information, please call the Illinois State Hotline at 800-899-3931, or visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website at dph.illinois.gov, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at coronavirus.gov.

Sent April 6, 2020

Impact Fund: Support our Students and Campus Community

Rosalind Franklin University is meeting the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic with a determination rooted in our trust in science, belief in humanity and unwavering commitment to the advancement of our mission and the health and well-being of our community.

We continue to make difficult but necessary decisions as part of the massive public health effort to contain the spread of the virus and flatten the curve. In a matter of days, we transformed how we deliver our mission promise — we moved all faculty, students and staff to virtual learning and online working environments, while preserving the most essential of our research functions and university operations.

Many of our alumni, faculty and friends are putting the health of others before their own as they serve on the front lines of care. We are inspired by their strength, compassion and professionalism. We are also grateful for the generosity of so many donors and advocates. Their support has empowered us as we adapt to major changes to academic and operational systems, but more importantly as we work to support our students and faculty during these extraordinary and stressful times.

As the crisis has ramped up, many have asked how they can help our students, faculty and campus community. Our answer is, in so many immediate and meaningful ways. Our most pressing needs can be met through gifts to:

Emergency Student Related Expense Fund — Your generosity will help students in need of assistance for a wide range of necessities, including housing and food insecurities, travel, and technology costs related to online learning.

Community Impact Fund — As RFU works with state and county agencies to support the healthcare community’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, our Health Clinics in northern Lake County remain open, and our providers and staff are committed to maintaining continuity of care and helping patients meet their healthcare needs. We need to ensure that operations can continue, and also that our outreach programs can accommodate potential increased volume of patients from the community for general needs when social distancing is relaxed.

Greatest Strategic Priority — This fund will help the university navigate critical operational needs that include adapting our educational and work environment, and extending the utilization of online and simulation in support of essential clinical and team-based training. It will also fuel exploration of research opportunities to support endeavors like COVID-19 immunology testing.

If you want to help ensure that Rosalind Franklin University has resources to adapt to these continuing challenges, you can choose to support RFU.

Thank you for any and all assistance you can provide. With your support, we will get through this together. I wish you good health as we continue to work in shared responsibility to protect our community.

Very Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent April 6, 2020

COVID-19 Protocol Update

Dear Faculty, Students and Staff:

Over the last two weeks there has been, and will continue to be, evolving information regarding how to deal with the COVID-19 virus. Here is the latest guidance from the CDC, IDPH, and LCHD which the university requests you follow if you must leave your home for essential work or services:

Use of Masks/Face Coverings: While not mandated, we recommend that you utilize some type of covering of your mouth and nose when in public. These coverings should not be N95 respirators or surgical masks, which remain in short supply for our healthcare providers, but can be homemade cloth coverings.

Gloves: The use of gloves for routine shopping is unclear at this time. The latest studies indicate that the virus stays viable on gloves longer than hands, and wearing gloves typically does not stop you from touching your face, which is the major concern for contact transmissions. The use of sanitizers and proper hand washing are much more effective than routine wearing of gloves. Washing your hands frequently remains the best solution to fighting any virus.

Call First: If you feel you are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19, please call your healthcare provider before arriving at their offices or the emergency room. There is a defined protocol that is followed and the phone screening will provide you with the appropriate steps that you should take. This applies to the RFU Health Clinics as well. Please call first.

COVID-19 Testing: At this time, you must get a physician's recommendation to get tested. There are multiple scams that involve drive-through testing centers that charge you on the spot and never send your tests to a verified lab. These are occurring throughout the Chicagoland area. Legitimate testing resources are being focused on those who are the most ill, first responders, and/or healthcare workers on the front lines. Testing is improving and this shortage should be changing in the next few weeks.

Social Distancing: Stay at home as much as possible. When you are in public, maintain at least 6 feet of distance between individuals, and never congregate in groups greater than 10. If you happen to pass by someone less than 6 feet apart, such as a grocery aisle, this shouldn't be a reason for concern.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Stay home, stay healthy.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent April 5, 2020

Sent April 1, 2020

Confirmed COVID-19 Case at RFU

Dear University Community,

I write to you today to inform you that a faculty member in the College of Health Professions has tested positive for COVID-19. We continue to work closely with the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD) in monitoring the situation and have been informed that the faculty member did not become symptomatic until after our university community implemented our social distancing efforts and began operating remotely.

We remain committed to the privacy of the individual involved but do want to ensure that you know that they are under the care of their physician.

If you have been identified as someone who may have come in contact with this person, or have been in close proximity to them, you would have already received notification from the health department.

You can find important information on our COVID-19 information webpage, including preventive health measures, symptoms to watch for, and details on university processes for reporting illness. Our priority is to support the patient through this health crisis and to ensure the safety of everyone on our campus.

While we are doing everything we can to manage this public health issue, we recognize the stress and anxiety you may be feeling. If you are struggling to cope, we encourage you to seek help through our Student Counseling Service, which is free to all currently enrolled students and can be reached by calling 847-578-8723, and the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion. University employees can reach out for support through our confidential Employee Assistance Program by calling 800-316-2796.

As we continue to navigate the complex and rapidly shifting situation posed by COVID-19 at home and abroad, we can find strength and support within our university community and beyond, among our caring colleagues, friends and neighbors, whether we are serving on the front lines or quarantining at home. We will get through this together.

Very Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Additional Information from the Lake County Health Department:

It is critically important that the community follow prescribed preventative measures such as social distancing and the three C's to avoid getting sick:

• Clean hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol;
• Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your elbow; and
• Contain illness by staying home if you are sick.

Social Distancing

• Stay home as much as possible.
• Maintain a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others.
• Call to check on family, neighbors, and older adults instead of visiting.
• Check with your healthcare provider about telehealth options.

What to do if you are sick

If you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or shortness of breath, stay home and call your doctor. Distance yourself from others in the household and if possible, stay in your own bedroom and use your own bathroom. Contact your doctor if your illness is worsening (for example, you have difficulty breathing).

Do not walk into a healthcare facility, urgent care clinic, or hospital before calling. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor. If your doctor believes that you need to be tested for COVID-19, they should refer you to a COVID-19 testing site. The Lake County Health Department should only be contacted by your doctor to facilitate testing through the state lab for patients who are hospitalized or those who live or work in congregate settings (e.g., schools, long term care facilities, and group homes).

Residents who do not have a primary care provider can contact the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center at (847) 377-8800 to schedule an appointment.

For general state and national information, please call the Illinois State Hotline at 1-800-899-3931, or visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website at dph.illinois.gov, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at coronavirus.gov.

Sent April 1, 2020

Extension of Stay-at-home

Dear RFU Community:

I am truly grateful for the resilience and understanding you have displayed as we work together to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate the risk to our university community. Now, I must ask for an even greater commitment.

As the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Illinois continues to rise and put pressure on healthcare facilities across the region, we have decided that RFU must continue to practice social distancing through May 15. All classroom activities and business functions will continue to operate remotely, and the campus will remain closed to all but essential functions.

This revised course of action will take us through the end of the spring academic quarter. We recognize that this prolongs the adjustments and sacrifices everyone has been called on to make in response to our containment efforts. Hopefully, the stay-at-home measures taken by RFU, the state of Illinois and communities across our nation and the world will generate positive results in the days and weeks to come. When those improvements become evident, we will know that our efforts have been for the best.

We all look forward to a day in the not-too-distant future when we can return to campus, classrooms, labs, and rotations. Working together, we will make it through, stronger than ever.

Very sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent March 31, 2020

Commencement

Dear RFU Community:

We have made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel our awards and commencement ceremonies, previously scheduled for May 28 and 29 in Chicago. Please know that I and all of our university leadership share in your disappointment, and that we are looking to find alternative ways to celebrate the Class of 2020 at a more appropriate time.

Nothing short of a global health crisis, like COVID-19, could have forced this decision. Commencement is a cherished RFU tradition. It always includes a powerful reading of the Oath of Geneva, in which we solemnly pledge as our first consideration the health and well-being of our patients, and to attend to our own health and well-being in order to provide care of the highest standing. Members of our Class of 2020 are already practicing these pledges, as they absorb the disruptions and share in the sacrifices demanded by our national efforts to contain the coronavirus and keep our people healthy.

Be assured that degrees will still be awarded to allow our graduating students to begin their residencies and enter the healthcare field at this critical time. Our decision to avoid congregating in a mass setting for commencement is focused solely on prioritizing the health and safety of the RFU community and the wider community of healthcare professionals.

In the coming weeks, we will explore options for a virtual celebration that allows us to recognize the achievements of our graduates and the support of their loved ones throughout their academic journey. We will be sure to share those plans with you as they take shape.

In the meantime, we will continue to take strength in each other and our professions as we deal with the current reality. We thank you for the sacrifices you have made during these times.

Very sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Nancy L. Parsley, MHPE, DPM
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Sent March 20, 2020

Illinois Stay-at-Home Order

Dear RFU Community:

As you have no doubt heard, on Friday, March 20, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that the ongoing response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic will include a stay-at-home order for Illinois residents, which will require everyone to remain in their residences and non-essential businesses to close from Saturday, March 20, at 5 p.m through April 7.

It is important to point out that the order does not apply to anyone heading out for essentials like groceries, gasoline, pharmaceuticals, medical visits and exercise. It is also notable that the exceptions listed in the governor’s Executive Order include traveling “to care for another family member, friend or pet in another household.” This speaks to the core values we all share to take care of each other as we navigate through this uncertain and developing challenge.

We encourage everyone in our campus community to comply with this order and continue to make sound individual choices to protect one another’s health and safety. Staying in our homes will be a shared sacrifice that will limit exposure to affected residents, keep emergency rooms and hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, and ultimately save lives.

Please be advised that during the stay-at-home period, key university resources will remain available even with the campus closed to most functions. The Health Clinics will remain open, and offices such as Student Affairs, Student Financial Services, Human Resources and the Learning Resource Center will continue to provide staff members for online inquiries.

At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at our university. Please continue to monitor your health and report any concerns through forms located at our dedicated COVID-19 resource page, which includes updates on university operations and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for help in recognizing symptoms of infection.

We also encourage you to visit the State of Illinois Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response page for more information.

This weekend and throughout the days and weeks to come, reach out to your loved ones and friends, especially those who might be feeling vulnerable, to stay connected with them and to keep tabs on their well-being. We look forward to the day we’ll be able to leave our homes without concern and share the world — and our campus — with each other again. Please stay safe and healthy.

Very sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent March 20, 2020

Stay At Home Order and RFU Operations

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

Given the Governor's Stay At Home Order, the following changes in Operations will take effect beginning Monday, March 23:

BUILDING ACCESS
No Changes, though Security will be monitoring to ensure only essential staff are entering the building. Only the Main Entrance, IRP Entrance, and Morningstar entrances will allow for keycard entry.

FOOD SERVICE
The Cafeteria will be closed beginning Monday.

SECURITY
Security will still be on site 24/7. No changes.

We will discontinue Bus runs to/from Metra. Metra has significantly reduced service, and there have been no RFU passengers the last 2 days.

The Wednesday bus run for Student Housing for groceries will continue at 4:00. Additional runs will be determined based on need and driver availability.

FACILITIES
Building facilities will continue to have a skeleton crew present to support building needs.

FINANCE
All requests for Finance must now be handled through email. There will be no Finance staff present.

HUMAN RESOURCES
All HR needs must be handled through email. There will be no HR staff present.

MAIL ROOM
The mail room will remain staffed daily, though it may close earlier in the day, depending on mail and package delivery schedules.

HEALTH CLINICS
The Health Clinics will remain open. The North Chicago Clinic will reduce hours to 9:00am to 2:00pm for primary care and podiatry patients.

STUDENT COUNSELING
No change in availability. Use of telemedicine whenever possible

All of these processes and hours are subject to change at any time as the situation evolves.

As always, thank you for your support, patience, and understanding as we navigate these challenging times.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent March 20, 2020

Updated Travel Guidance

RFUMS is reminding you of our existing policies and also providing some updates to continue being pro-active in our COVID-19 prevention measures for our community. All travel needs to be reported prior to travel on the travel form.

In order to protect yourself, and those around you, we recommend that for the foreseeable future you do not travel.

If you do travel, before returning to campus:

• All faculty, staff and students returning from international travel to Level 3 must self-isolate for 14 days.
• All faculty, staff and students returning to campus from the continental U.S. are asked to monitor domestic locations you may be considering as detailed on the CDC’s website.
• If you're returning from a state with a high rate of incidence, according to the CDC website, please consider whether you need to self-isolate based on your health status, cities traveled to, and anticipated interaction with high-risk populations.
• According to the CDC, in the event of a discrepancy between CDC cases and cases reported by state and local public health officials, data reported by states should be considered the most up to date.

We anticipate as this situation evolves, there may be additional screening and self-isolation requirements mandated by government entities.

If your travel plans change (altered or cancelled) and you have already reported your potential travel:

• Students please email: student.covid@rosalindfranklin.edu
• Faculty and staff please email: hr@rosalindfranklin.edu

Rebecca L. Durkin
She/her/hers
Vice President, Student Success and Inclusion

Sent March 17, 2020

RFU Operational Changes

All,

The following operational changes will be in effect during our commitment to on-line study and social distancing to address the COVID-19 spread.

Since many individuals may be in and out of the office at irregular times without consistent access to voice mail, should you need to contact anyone PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL. This will ensure your question or request is addressed.

BUILDING ACCESS

In order to monitor and staff appropriately, only the following 3 entries will be open to keycard access: Main Entrance, the Morningstar Entrance, and the IRP Entrance. All other doors will be closed and locked for entrance into the main campus buildings.

COMMON AREAS

After further review on the progressing need for social distancing additional restrictions are being enforced. All common areas, including all lobbies, study rooms, library, classrooms, meeting/conference rooms, student lounges and the DNA cafeteria seating area are not to be used. If on campus maintain as much as possible a 6 foot distance between you and any other person.

CAMPUS SAFETY

Campus Safety will operate as normal, 24/7. Should there be any issues please do not hesitate to visit or contact the Campus Safety Office at 3288.

The Campus bus will continue at this time, however the number of runs may decrease once usage is determined.

Gordon Blanchard will provide more information regarding this and other Safety Developments as they occur.

HR

At least one person will be available in the HR department daily. All others will be available by email from their home connections. Further details regarding Health Insurance and other HR related topics will be sent by Sally Madden shortly.

FACILITIES

Building engineers and maintenance will be present daily. All areas will have coverage. Office staff will be on-campus at various times throughout the week, work from home the other times. Please note: all current maintenance projects are suspended during this time period.

PURCHASING

The purchasing department will operate remotely. The Spirit Store will not be open, neither on campus nor on-line.

Print Production will not be available.

The Mail Center will operate during normal business hours, however with limited staff.

Vince Butera has already sent a more detailed description of services.

FINANCE

The Finance department will have a manager on duty daily during the hours of 10-2. All other finance staff will be working remotely, periodically coming in to attend to on-site required duties.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

We expect a large volume of support requests for the ITS department as we transition to remote operations. Please be patient as we address these requests. There will be IT support personnel on-campus during normal business hours, however with limited staff. Walk-in support may be significantly reduced or unavailable during this challenging time. All other ITS staff will be working remotely. Rick Loesch will be providing more details and tips for support and working remotely shortly. You can contact ITS at helpdesk@rosalindfranklin.edu or (847) 578-8800.

LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER

The LRC will be closed at this time. Normal access to all electronic resources will continue, and Boxer Library staff are fully accessible for remote support during normal business hours. You can contact them at: eresources@rosalindfranklin.edu or (847) 578-8808 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.

FOOD SERVICES

The DNA cafeteria will remain open, however there will be a change in the operating hours, which will now be 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. There will also be limited service available (all salads grab & go, Grill and sandwich lines). All food is to be taken to your office and eaten there, not in the DNA seating area.

The Grab & Go Cafe in the IRP will not be open during this time.

HEALTH CLINICS

The Clinics will remain open with normal operating hours at this time. We will be utilizing tele-medicine wherever possible. All non-essential appointments are being re-scheduled for a month from now. Only the main entrance is open for entry to non-clinic staff. Keycard entry for other RFU students, faculty, and staff is now unavailable.

Student Counseling will still operate during normal business hours. Utilization of tele-medicine is also being implemented where appropriate.

Business Operations of the Clinic (Billing Services, Student Occupational Health (Immunization record keeping) will continue but with limited availability. If you need either of these services call or email before arriving at the Clinic.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Update - Work from Home

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

We continue to closely monitor the rapid evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, with particular focus on the health and safety of our university community. As a reminder, we have been taking action in accordance with state and federal guidelines, instructing all employees, with the exception of those designated as essential to campus operations, to transition to work from home, effective at the close of business on Wednesday, March 18. If supervisors are ready, they can move to remote workstations as soon as they are prepared to do so.

While we have no confirmed cases among our university community, as of Monday afternoon, there are 105 reported cases in Illinois and six in Lake County.

Our move to remote teaching, learning, and work underscores our support for Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who continues to call for social distancing as a primary strategy in limiting exposure to the coronavirus. All elementary and high schools will be closed from Tuesday, March 17, through March 30; all restaurants and bars will close to the public today through March 30, with limited takeout and curbside service. We ask each member of the RFU community to do their part in adopting social distancing by conducting their activities, including working and studying, remotely to the greatest extent possible.

Essential RFU staff have either already been designated or will be designated by their supervisors. In addition, supervisors will discuss work-from-home expectations with staff. Faculty and staff will continue to be paid as normal. Work study will be addressed separately. Look for more information via email from John Nylen, executive vice president of finance and administration.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide regular updates. We don’t know how long these preventive measures will be necessary, but we do know that they are necessary. The science shows that social distancing can help slow community transmission of the novel virus and we must do our part in fighting this pandemic.

Please continue to check your university email for updates, and thank you for your support as we continue to work in shared responsibility to protect our collective health.

Very sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent March 15, 2020

Resources for Teaching Remotely

Dear Colleagues,

Many of you are quickly transitioning to an online environment for teaching and learning during this time of disruption in on-campus classes. OLID, IT, the Boxer Library, and the Office of Faculty Development are working to support you in a way that will help you continue to deliver high quality teaching and learning to your students through online technologies.

The Educational Continuity website has been established to provide resources on how to prepare and deliver courses online. There is a variety of information about instructional strategies, available technologies, and valuable resources about teaching online. In addition to the website, the departments that support your teaching will remain available for assistance by a dedicated email address and phone number - 847-578-3333 (starting Monday, 3/16/2020).

The professional development series on Educational Continuity scheduled for this week on-campus will continue, and also be recorded and posted on the Educational Continuity website. These sessions include cover the following topics:

Session 1 – Faculty Services and Support for Teaching Online
Teaching off campus requires the use of several software applications. This session provides contact information for the support needed to be successful teaching online as well as tips to prepare your remote work environment.

Session 2 – Preparing for Teaching Online
Accessing courses in Brightspace is the first step to teach online. In this session we will present ways to add learning materials to your online course for students to access.

Session 3 – Staying Engaged with Your Students Online
Teaching online requires instructor engagement with students to promote learning. We will present the communication media available to stay connected with your students online.

Session 4 – Delivering your Lectures Online
Presenting a lecture online can be done live or pre-recorded. We will present the ways it can be done without special technical experience.

Session 5 – Assessing Student Learning Online
Assessing student learning can be done online using tools available in Brightspace. We will discuss the techniques for assessing student learning through written assignments and quizzes.

We are committed to supporting you during this stressful time, and appreciate your patience as we work with you to provide educational continuity for our students.

Sincerely,

Bruce E. Sowers PhD, EdS
Associate Vice President for Online Learning & Instructional Design

Sent March 14, 2020

Education and Support Services

Dear Students,

As our University transitions to remote education and operations, our concern for your wellbeing, both mental and physical, as well as our commitment to supporting you through these unusual times, are the focus of our decision-making processes.

The summary below outlines the services and support available to you through this transition. Our education and support services are largely provided remotely and remain in place for you. We have also outlined our required reporting, an important measure in keeping our community healthy.

As the circumstances in our local community, region and campus evolve, we will address on-going services and support accordingly.

All students are encouraged to let us know if you have questions, concerns or needs that are not defined in the below message. Each of us experiences our own unique challenges at times like these and we remain here to support you in any way that we can.

Please see the attached list of contact numbers/emails for quick reference for direct services.

General Contact Information

The Student Affairs main phone line 847-578-8354 will remain operational and monitored Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (excluding holidays) In addition, students can utilize the central email address of student.development@rosalindfranklin.edu with any general questions and concerns.

Illness or Exposure Risk Reporting

Students experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID‑19 should seek medical care. Students who are ill with suspected COVID‑19 or have a suspected close contact or exposure to an individuals with COVID‑19 should notify the university using the COVID‑19 Illness Report

Travel Restrictions and Reporting

Students are asked to continue documenting their travel, for the sake of necessary internal reviews and to fulfill requests from clinical partners and health departments. Please remember that all University travel is suspended (except travel necessary for clinical placements) and that all non-essential personal travel is discouraged. With that said, please continue to document ALL (including clinical placements) of your travel on the Student Travel Registration Form.

Student Housing

Students are asked to leave Student Housing and we strongly encourage students living in the Woodlands apartments who can coordinate leaving for the period of Remote Campus to do so. Student Housing staff will be available for students by contacting student.housing@rosalindfranklin.edu or 847-578-8354. The office will remain open between 8:30-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding holidays). Common space usage will be restricted including study rooms, study lounges, and the Clubhouse and Fitness Center at Woodlands on Green Bay as a safety precaution.

During the Remote Campus time period, no community programming will occur within the On-Campus Student Housing buildings and the housing buildings are closed to visitors. As always, Campus Safety is available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to address any emergencies that arise on campus.

Fitness and Recreation Spaces

To ensure the health and safety of our entire University Community, effective Monday, March 16 the Fitness Center will be closed and not accessible to anyone to help prevent the transfer of germs during the Remote Campus period. This includes the group fitness room and fitness classes. In the coming weeks passive educational programming will be available to guide students for at home independent work outs and wellness routines during the Remote Campus period.

Closures will also include the Game Room, TV Lounge, Nap Nook, Reflection Room, and Music Room for the duration of the Remote Campus Period.

International Students

As we transfer to remote education, the Department of State has determined that international students may maintain their F1 Visa’s with continued full time enrollment while learning in the online environment. This is an exception to standard protocol and we will notify International Students as this circumstance progresses.

Veteran’s Benefits

Veteran’s benefits remain unchanged for this time-being. Should this circumstance change, we will update the student’s impacted.

Student Counseling and Health Services

Student Counseling and Health Services remain open with standard hours of operation. We are currently assessing the ability to offer extended tele-health alternatives.

Student Financial Aid

Emergency aid will be made on a case by case basis for students requiring assistance during this trying time. Financial Aid will remain available via phone and email for consultation and management of student concerns. 847-578-3217

IT/Technical Support

IT remains available to students for technical support on an as needed basis. Their operation is unchanged.

Learning Resource Center

The Learning Resource Center remains available to students on an as needed basis. Its operation is unchanged.

Academic Support

The Office of Academic Support will maintain operations to support students academically. Academic support concerns or questions should be directed to academic.support@rosalindfranklin.edu and a member of the Academic Support staff will respond to you.

Peer Tutoring

Our peer tutoring program will continue to operate both large and small group sessions with modifications. All tutoring will be conducted in a non face-to-face format including Google Hangout, Camtasia, and Zoom. Large group sessions will be hosted through online and available to all students enrolled in the correlating course. Small group sessions will also be continued utilizing Google Hangout only, no in-person sessions will be allowed. Academic Support will be in contact with you if you have an assigned Small Group tutor and that assignment needs to change due to remote campus status.

Academic Accommodations

Our Services for Students with Disabilities will continue to operate and will work with accommodated students to update accommodations where necessary due to remote campus status. Please contact ada.coordinator@rosalindfranklin.edu for any new or updated requests for academic accommodations.

Academic Support Counseling

Academic Support will continue to provide students support in the areas of time management, student skills, test taking skills, and board preparation planning however all counseling will take place remotely over the phone or via google hangout. To schedule an appointment please email academic.support@rosalindfranklin.edu or call 847-578-8354 during normal business hours.

Student Life

The Student Life staff will be in contact with all student leaders who have future Student Organization Activities planned. All in-person related student activities will be cancelled and the student life staff will work directly with you on this cancellation. Upcoming class officer elections will still continue and will be coordinated electronically for each class. Please watch for additional information on the nomination and election procedures and timeline. Should organizations need to conduct any student organization activities in a remote manner, they should contact student.life@my.rfums.org or 847-578-8354 to consult on the need of activity. Engage will still be utilized as the primary Student Organization and event platform. No student organized events are allowed without the direct permission of the Office of Student Life.

Best,
Rebecca L. Durkin
She/her/hers
Vice President, Student Success and Inclusion

Sent March 14, 2020

Updates regarding RFU housing and remote learning

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

In yesterday’s email to you I mentioned how quickly things are evolving with the coronavirus concerns locally and nationally. Illinois Governor Pritzker announced 32 additional confirmed cases in Illinois in the last 24 hours, including one confirmed case in Lake County. We’re adapting our response to this health crisis as quickly as possible to protect your health, and you can expect that we’ll continue to adapt and communicate as more details emerge.

Social distancing is a critical measure and we can redouble our existing efforts by asking our students to disperse from student housing on or before Monday, March 23. This does not impact the Woodlands. However, we are encouraging residents there to disperse as well. We will work with students and support them through this transition, and we will consider exceptions on an individual basis to make sure that no one is displaced. Residents in housing will receive additional details via email from our housing administrators. All students will receive additional details regarding student support and services via email from Rebecca Durkin, vice president for student success and inclusion, following this message.

We realize this decision will be disruptive to many, but our national health calls for swift action. Additionally, to allow everyone an opportunity to normalize to a new environment for teaching and learning, we have decided to continue remote learning through at least April 20, with a planned review of that decision no later than April 13. We will update our faculty, staff, and students at that time. It’s our sincere hope that this public health crisis will have improved by then.

We do not have any confirmed cases on our campus, yet we understand that this could change at a moment’s notice which means that these proactive measures are key to combating the spread of this virus.

I wish all of you good health.

Very Sincerely

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent March 13, 2020

Important university update related to COVID-19

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

I want to share the latest actions we are taking to help contain the outbreak of COVID-19 and ensure your health and safety. While we have no reported cases of the virus among our community on or off campus, the virus, which has now infected 32 people in Illinois, is attacking in other ways. It is causing uncertainty and anxiety, but we must meet these times with facts and compassion. It is our shared responsibility to safeguard the health and well-being of our communities.

The steps outlined below are based on state and federal guidelines that call for social distancing to help slow the spread of the virus and prevent overload of our healthcare infrastructure.

Our latest protective measures, made in collaboration with our Coronavirus Oversight Committee, include:

• Transition to online delivery of all coursework, by end of day on Wednesday, March 18. Experiential learning at clinical rotation sites will continue. Graduate student work within our research labs will continue with agreement from the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and advisors on an as-needed basis.

• Funded research will continue on-site with careful monitoring and discussion among team members and directors. Additional guidance will be provided by Dr. Ron Kaplan, executive vice president for research.

• Transition of faculty and staff to remote/work off-site, by end of day on Wednesday, March 18. The university is not closing. We remain open and operational and some services will still be available on campus, with limitations. Faculty and staff will continue to be paid as normal. Work study will be addressed separately.

• Supervisors must meet with their staffs by March 18 to discuss duties that can be fulfilled offsite. Supervisors will also discuss with their teams essential functions that require work on site, such as materials management or payroll. All work situations will be determined by unit supervisors. Planning should include activation and use of the Duo Mobile app via cell phone, which will ensure login authentication and security. It should also include discussion of use of Google Docs, and the uploading of documents needed for work to Google Drive. Numerous tutorials are available on Google and YouTube.

• All university-related domestic travel is suspended. Cancellation fees will be reimbursed by the university. As a reminder, all university international travel is suspended and prohibited as previously announced.

• All domestic travel of a personal nature must be registered in advance through our travel registry. This allows us to know if members of our community are traveling to hotspots and what additional precautionary measures should be considered, if any.

• The RFU Health Clinics will continue to operate on a normal schedule. All patient care services will continue, though we will be utilizing telemedicine whenever practical. Access to the North Chicago clinic is now limited to the main entrance. The student-organized ICC will suspend operations until further notice. We will re-evaluate this action as more information regarding this situation is known.

• Adherence to illness reporting procedure: If faculty, staff or their family members experience symptoms suspected to be related to COVID-19, or if they test positive for the virus, they should seek appropriate medical care, refrain from patient care and work activities, and complete the Faculty/Staff COVID-19 Reporting Form. The university will assist with care, planning and follow-up. Students experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should seek medical care. Students who are ill with suspected COVID-19 or have suspected exposure to the virus, should notify the university using the COVID-19 Illness Report. We ask that members of our community who are immunocompromised – meaning those with health conditions that cause a weakened immune system and who may have a reduced ability to fight the coronavirus, share that information. Employees contact hr@rosalindfranklin.edu and students contact ada.coordinator@rosalindfranklin.edu. We recognize the sensitive and confidential nature of this information and will work with you directly in an effort to better ensure your health and safety.

• Attendance at any university-related, in-person meeting, conference or events of more than 25 people is suspended, starting March 19. These gatherings or meetings must be transitioned to conference calls and Google Hangouts.

• Students will receive an additional email from Rebecca Durkin, vice president for student success and inclusion, with specific instructions and information pertaining to student housing, student activities and all support services.

• Food service will be limited but will continue under normal operating hours. The grill, pizza and sandwich bars will remain open. Pre-made salads will be available. Demand will be monitored and adjustments will be made accordingly.

We will revisit these decisions as new information becomes available and we will provide an update to our university community no later than March 30.

We know that these actions will disrupt routines and pose challenges and disappointments for some. They certainly call for short-term sacrifice. But they will help ensure our health and safety and protect the most vulnerable among us by limiting exposure to the virus.

We strongly encourage students who are struggling to cope to seek support through our student counseling services and the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusion. Staff can reach out for support through our Employee Assistance Program.

Please visit our dedicated COVID-19 information webpage, where you can access university updates, forms, and sign up for emergency text alerts. We will continue to stay in close communication and inform you of any additional measures.

We thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. We are hopeful that these measures will keep our community healthy and enable us to return to our routines as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent March 12, 2020

Teaching Remotely During a Campus Disruption

Dear Colleagues:

In the event of a disruption in campus classes, it is important for faculty to understand the basics for teaching remotely in an online environment. The following professional development series are designed to help provide faculty and staff with the tools needed to successfully continue to teach during times of disruption at the University campus.

Please plan on attending so you can be prepared in the event of a disruption in campus operations. Recording of these sessions will be made available online for access by those who cannot attend the sessions.

Educational Continuity

Professional Development Series:

Keep Teaching During a Campus Disruption

Session 1 – Faculty Services and Support for Teaching Online
Monday, March 16, 2020 – 2:00-3:00 pm – Centennial Room, RWCLC 2.068

Teaching off campus requires the use of several software applications. This session provides contact information for the support needed to be successful teaching online as well as tips to prepare your remote work environment. Add this session to your calendar.

Session 2 – Preparing for Teaching Online
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 – 9:30-10:30 am – Centennial Room, RWCLC 2.068

Accessing courses in Brightspace is the first step to teach online. In this session we will present ways to add learning materials to your online course for students to access. Add this session to your calendar.

Session 3 – Staying Engaged with Your Students Online
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 – 10:00-11:00 am – HSB Room 1.629A

Teaching online requires instructor engagement with students to promote learning. We will present the communication media available to stay connected with your students online. Add this session to your calendar.

Session 4 – Delivering your Lectures Online
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 – 2:00-3:00 pm – HSB Room 1.629A

Presenting a lecture online can be done live or pre-recorded. We will present the ways it can be done without special technical experience. Add this session to your calendar.

Session 5 – Assessing Student Learning Online
Thursday, March 19, 2020 – 10:00-11:00 am – Centennial Room, RWCLC 2.068

Assessing student learning can be done online using tools available in Brightspace. We will discuss the techniques for assessing student learning through written assignments and quizzes. Add this session to your calendar.

In addition to these sessions, Online Learning and Instructional Design (OLID) will continue to offer assist during Walk-In Wednesday 10:30 am training sessions. Information Technology will be offering technical walk-in training on Fridays at 11:00 am. This is in addition to the 11:00 am Technical Tuesday walk-in training sessions regularly offered by IT.

The Office of Faculty Development, in cooperation with OLID, IT, and the Boxer Library, are also providing the Educational Continuity website to provide teaching support for faculty during campus disruption.

It is our goal to help you be prepared should the University experience a disruption in educational continuity.

Cordially,

Faculty Development

View the current faculty development activities.

Sent March 11, 2020

Launch of RFU coronavirus website

Dear RFU Community:

We continue to monitor the fast evolving COVID-19 outbreak and we are strengthening our preparedness with the help of so many members of our community and trusted partners. Each of us has a role to play in safeguarding our individual and collective health and well-being.

While there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus on our campus or among our university family, I want to assure you that we are taking actions to prevent and limit potential transmission.

We are prioritizing proactive, accurate and effective communication. We have developed a dedicated COVID-19 information webpage, where you can access university updates, forms, and sign up for emergency text alerts. You can also find any communications you may have missed, including: information on preparations for remote teaching; a travel advisory announcing the suspension of all RFU-related international travel; and specific guidance on classroom and clinical learning to help our students navigate this difficult time.

Our Coronavirus Oversight Committee continues to lead the development of contingency plans so that we can continue our mission of teaching, learning and research if additional on-campus and residential restrictions become necessary. We are assessing our ability to deliver education online, looking at alternative methods for clinical skills development and also ensuring that critical business operations can continue to function if our faculty or staff must work remotely.

We are in daily contact with our local health department and receiving guidance from federal and state agencies that oversee education and health care. Strong collaboration, sharing of information, and vigilant assessment of our plans will help us protect our community and minimize disruption.

We thank all of you for your support and understanding of our precautionary measures. I deeply appreciate the hard work and expertise of our faculty, staff and students as we work together to navigate this uncertain and challenging time.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rheault, PT, PhD, FASAHP, FNAP, DipACLM
President and CEO

Sent March 9, 2020

Information for Students - COVID-19

Dear RFU Students,

RFU, through its Coronavirus Oversight Committee, continues to actively monitor the COVID-19 situation and we are following the recommendations of the Lake County Health Department (LCHD), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

At present, the following RFU decisions and policies have a direct impact on you as students:

Student Learning

-Clinical sites: Effective immediately, students in clinical settings are not to participate in direct patient care of known or suspected cases of COVID-19 infection. Clerkship and elective directors are also being advised of this restriction. Other than that limitation, students should continue their role as part of the healthcare team.

-Classroom and simulation settings: Students in classroom and simulation settings are presently unaffected. The RFU faculty is preparing contingency plans for continuation of learning activities should teaching become restricted. If the need arises to activate these plans, your specific program will provide direction to you and will remain in communication with you.

Student Travel

-As previously communicated, all university-related international travel is suspended and prohibited until September 1, 2020. RFU will absorb the costs for travel-related penalties for university-related international travel. Students should submit their Travel, Entertainment & Miscellaneous Expense Report requests to the Office of Student Life for approval and processing. Please enter “CANCELLED TRAVEL PENALTY” in the department name field when completing the form so Finance can process the requests appropriately.

-If you are traveling internationally for personal reasons, please follow CDC recommendations and federal travel bans and notify RFU using the Student Travel Registration Form, available on InSite.

-If you are traveling within the United States on behalf of the university, travel is not restricted. If you have specific questions regarding requirements, rescheduling or otherwise impacted plans, please email student.affairs@rosalindfranklin.edu.

Student Illness

-If you, or a family member living with you, experience symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, shortness of breath), seek appropriate medical advice and care. Do not attend class or participate in patient care activities. If your illness is suspected to be related to COVID-19, please notify the university using the COVID-19 Illness report by completing the information requested so that the university may assist you with planning and follow-up.

-If you, or a family member living with you, test positive for COVID-19, follow all CDC guidelines and instructions. Please also notify the Office of Student Life immediately using the COVID-19 Illness report by completing the information requested so that the university may assist you with care, planning and follow-up.

The university is developing a website page that will be available to all students, faculty and staff this week. RFU will provide updates on policies and procedures, guidance from the CDC and public health officials, and other information via that page. Additional communication regarding that page will be sent this week.

RFU remains committed to your well-being and safety. This is a constantly evolving situation and we will continue to keep you informed.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nancy Parsley
Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Sent March 5, 2020

RFU Travel Advisory

Dear University Community,

As we monitor coronavirus developments and reported cases around the world, the university's Coronavirus Oversight Committee has decided to take the following steps in regards to international travel:

Starting immediately and in effect until September 1, 2020, all university-related international travel is suspended and prohibited. This applies to all RFU students, staff, and faculty. This includes attendance at all international events, such as conferences, speaking engagements, research activities, global health activities, etc.

If you have already purchased airline, hotel, and/or conference registrations that fall within the March 5-September 1 timeframe, please cancel your reservations. Most airlines and hotels are waiving cancellation fees, but if your airline or hotel imposes a penalty, RFU will absorb the costs. Any penalties applied to reservations made with personal funds will be reimbursed by the university with appropriate documentation. Requests for this type of cancellation penalty reimbursement must be submitted to the Finance Department, along with your documentation and a completed Travel, Entertainment & Miscellaneous Expense Report.

Faculty and staff should submit completed forms to the Finance Department directly. Students should submit their requests to the Office of Student Life for approval and processing. Please enter “CANCELLED TRAVEL PENALTY” in the department name field when completing the form so Finance can process the requests appropriately.

If your international travel is scheduled to take place after September 1, 2020, you do not need to change anything at this time. The oversight committee will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and may extend travel restrictions beyond September 1 as new information becomes available or new guidance is issued by the CDC.

As a reminder, if you are travelling internationally for personal reasons, please notify RFU via the Student Travel Registration Form which is on InSite. This applies to all students, staff, and faculty. It allows RFU to provide the most up-to-date information to you regarding your area of travel.

RFU is preparing a webpage specific to COVID-19 as a way of keeping you informed of the most current situation, guidance from public health officials, information from the university on travel policies and procedures, etc. Please watch for communication regarding that webpage in the next few days.

Thank you for your support and understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent March 2, 2020

Preparing to Teach Remotely

Dear Faculty and Staff,

In recognition of recent updates on the coronavirus, COVID-19, and recent recommendations by the Illinois Department of Public Health asking institutions to assess their readiness and put contingency plans in place, we must be prepared to continue teaching activities for our students. While we hope we will not need to make adjustments due to public safety concerns, we want to ensure that we are prepared for any unanticipated disruptions.

The primary tool available for use during such a disruption will be our learning management system, D2L Brightspace. In the event of a campus closure, faculty will need to be prepared to provide instruction primarily using an asynchronous model. Options may include use of pre-recorded lectures from prior terms, use of short videos, or other assignments using available e-books and electronic journals. Additionally, D2L tools such as Discussions, Dropbox, and Quizzes are already available to facilitate student-to-instructor and student-to-student interactions. D2L Brightspace has integrated chat functions that can facilitate real-time discussions and Google Meet may be used for individual or small group conferences.

Students participating at clinical sites should be advised that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted Information for Healthcare Professionals at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html.

Faculty and staff should also ensure that all necessary electronic files to conduct routine operations are accessible for remote work. According to RFU’s Information Technology Services (ITS), use of Google Drive is the best option to ensure access to needed files.

Advance assistance in preparing to use the university’s electronic resources can be provided by ITS, Online Learning and Instructional Design (OLID), or the Boxer Library teams.

Your ongoing efforts to educate students across the university are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nancy Parsley
Provost, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Sent February 28, 2020

RFU Preparedness for Coronavirus

All,

While there are currently no reported cases of the coronavirus in Lake County, RFU is actively engaged in scenario planning should the virus impact our campus.

We are following the recommendations of the Lake County Health Department (LCHD), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We are monitoring the information updates provided by IDPH and the CDC daily, and are in direct communication with our partners at the LCHD.

While there are no known cases of coronavirus in Lake County at this time, Influenza A and B remain highly active and contagious within Lake County and require the same adherence to medical safety protocols as the coronavirus.

RFU has added additional hand sanitizer stations throughout our facilities. We have coordinated with our janitorial service and we can report that we exceed the IDPH recommendations for facility cleaning and sanitizing.

At this time, RFU requests that all students, staff, and faculty follow these procedures:

If you, or a family member living with you, are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms (such as fever, sinus congestion, cough, etc):

1: STAY HOME - Please do not come to work.

2: Seek medical care from your primary care provider, an immediate care facility, or the RFU Health Clinics.

3: Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

4: Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

5: Do not return to work until you have been fever free, without any fever reducing medication, for a minimum of 24 hours and are cleared for work by your healthcare provider.

If you are healthy, please follow these healthcare protocols:

1: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

2: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

3: Clean and sanitize keyboards and computer mice or other surfaces you touch on a regular basis.

4: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

5: If you have not had a flu vaccination we highly recommend getting one as soon as possible.

What NOT to do:

1: Do not wear a mask or gloves if healthy.

2: At this time it is not necessary to avoid crowds.

Further information specific to coronavirus is available at the IDPH website at: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus

TRAVEL NOTIFICATION

In January, the university had requested that employees report their travels to China to HR as a precautionary measure. Those of you who did report this, thank you. It has been helpful.

The CDC has now created a list of countries identifying 3 different levels of coronavirus outbreaks:

Level 3 - Avoid all nonessential travel to these areas.

Level 2 - Areas experiencing sustained community transmission of the disease. Older adults and those with compromised immune systems should avoid all nonessential travel.

Level 1 - No restriction, however utilize usual healthcare precautions.

Given that this list is in constant flux, RFU requests that all faculty and staff who are planning any travel outside of the continental United States, utilize the Student Travel Registration Form available on InSite. Your information will be forwarded to HR, and if there are any current CDC notices regarding the areas you are planning to visit, HR will notify you of the CDC's concerns and discuss processes for your return to campus, which could include a 14-day quarantine period, as necessary or required, once you have returned to the U.S.

This is a constantly evolving situation, and as more detailed information and recommendations come forward from the IDPH and CDC, we will keep you informed.

Thank you for your support and compliance with the processes as outlined above.

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics

Sent January 30, 2020

RFU Travel Restriction

Dear Faculty, Students and Staff:

We’ve been monitoring the coronavirus outbreak and following the available guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States State Department. The CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Warning, the most restrictive type of warning, which impacts mainland China and Hong Kong. The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to these regions.

RFU is following the advice of the CDC and the State Department and has cancelled all university-sponsored travel to China and Hong Kong by our faculty, students and staff until further notice. This includes global health experiences, symposia, conferences, seminars, etc. While this restriction does not pertain to your personal plans, we highly discourage you from travelling to these regions at this time, given the health and safety risks that are associated with it.

If you, or anyone in your household, have been to China or Hong Kong in recent months (starting December 2019), or if you intend to travel for personal reasons while the RFU restricted travel policy is in effect, we ask that faculty and staff notify Sally Madden, associate vice president for human resources, and students notify Shelly Brzycki, associate vice president for student affairs, so we are aware of your plans and your itinerary. You can reach Sally at sally.madden@rosalindfranklin.edu or 847-578-3266 and Shelly at Shelly.Brzycki@rosalindfranklin.edu or 847-578-8355.

We will continue to monitor this situation and adhere to the CDC’s recommendations. As new guidance is available, we will revisit the restricted travel and notify you of changes.

Thank you,

John H. Nylen
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, President of RFU Health Clinics