NIU to Start Spring Semester Online

Jan. 7, 2022

 

Dear Huskies,

 

NIU continues to closely monitor available COVID data and take appropriate actions to help protect the health of our community during the surge of the Omicron variant.

 

To best support a successful transition into the new semester during this challenging time, NIU is modifying plans and will begin the first week of all undergraduate and graduate classes (Jan. 18 – 21) online. NIU Law School classes, as well as classes taught outside of DeKalb, will also be online for the week of Jan. 18. Please note the following details:

• All residence halls will open as scheduled. Residential students will be required to take a COVID-19 test at the Holmes Student Center before they will be permitted to move into their residence halls. Students will then quarantine in their rooms until they receive their results.
  
  
• Students who are scheduled to participate in student-teaching, practicum or clinical experiences should plan for those to be in person unless communicated otherwise by their program coordinator.
  
  
• The online week applies to in-person classes. Campus services, research spaces and university offices will continue to be open and operational. Supervisors should continue to be flexible with all employees.
  
  
• Surveillance testing will take place as scheduled for those required to test during the week of Jan. 18. The week’s aggregate results will be posted to the NIU COVID-19 Dashboard by 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23 and used to determine the on-campus surveillance positivity rate. As outlined in a message from the start of the Fall 2021 semester, if the on-campus surveillance positivity rate is 8% or higher, NIU faculty will determine and communicate if their individual classes will meet in person or online for the week of Jan. 24, as well as any subsequent week where the on-campus surveillance positivity rate is 8% or higher. If the number falls below 8%, the university will proceed with in-person classes.

We encourage our community to do its part to prepare for a successful semester by:

• Getting a booster as soon as possible if you are eligible: six months or more since your last dose of Moderna, five months since Pfizer or two months since you received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Visit vaccines.gov to find a free booster clinic near you.
  
  
• Monitoring closely for symptoms. If you begin to feel ill, experience any cold or flu-like symptoms, headaches and/or change in taste or smell, regardless of your vaccination status, you must immediately stay or return home, self-isolate, seek a COVID-19 test and complete the self-reporting checklist. Do not attend in-person activities if you are not feeling well.
  
  
• Continuing effective masking and other practices to help reduce the spread of COVID.

The measures we are taking now are intended to help protect our community and reduce disruptions to our learning, living and working environments at this time. As Huskies have done throughout the nearly two years that COVID has impacted our lives, we must continue to respect and care for one another and take seriously our responsibilities to support the health and well-being of our community.

 

We deeply appreciate your continued patience and flexibility and look forward to being able to resume the traditional activities and experiences we all look forward to each spring.

 

Sincerely,

Beth Ingram
Executive Vice President and Provost
Northern Illinois University