Eastern Illinois University President David Glassman announced a number of new actions the university is taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glassman said the university intensely urges every student who can return home for the remainder of the semester to do so.
He said students residing in student housing will receive an email from the Housing and Dining Office on Friday which will include information on the checkout process and a link to a sign-up form to reserve your checkout time.
This incudes residence halls, Greek Court, University Court and University Apartments.
Available checkout times will start on Sunday, March 22nd at 1 p.m. and continue until Saturday, March 28th.
Leaders ask students to quickly pack belongings, check out, and return to their permanent residences.
They said students are not allowed to reside on campus overnight, and all belongings will need to be removed by Saturday, March 28th.
Students needing additional time to remove belongings should contact EIU’s Housing and Dining Office.
Glassman said EIU will provide prorated credits to accounts or prorated refunds to students leaving EIU residences for the remaining portion of the semester.
He says dining dollars remaining on student accounts will roll over for use in the Fall semester.
More information concerning the credits and/or refunds will be sent to students from the EIU Housing and Dining Office.
Glassman said the university will make accommodations for students that need to stay in student housing, including international students, students with no online learning access at home, and other extraordinary situations.
Students needing this accommodation are asked not return to campus until March 29th, and they will need to notify the Housing and Dining Office of their intention and reason for their return as soon as possible.
Glassman said students who remain in EIU residences may be moved to different locations on campus to ensure appropriate health-related social distancing as guided by CDC recommendations, as well as safety and staffing considerations.
All graduate assistants and student workers are asked not to return to campus until March 29th unless told otherwise by their supervisors.
As for dining services, Glassman said Taylor Dining Center will remain open with reduced hours of operation, but food will only be available on a grab-and-go basis.
Glassman announced the following facilities and events are closed or cancelled for the duration of the Spring 2020 semester at Eastern Illinois Unversity:
- Student Recreation Center
- University Pool
- Bowling Alley and Billiards Center
- E-Sports Arena
- Multicultural Center
- Panther Shuttle Service
- Doudna Fine Arts Center Events
- Tarble Arts Center Events
- Intramural Sports Events
- All student campus events, including Greek Week, UB events, the Spring Concert, and others
- All in-person meetings with more than 10 participants
Glassman said Booth Library will remain open at reduced hours for EIU students, staff and faculty for the duration of the semester, and will operate under strict CDC distancing guidelines.
The library is closed to the general public.
Glassman also announced the decision to cancel spring commencement ceremonies and to allow those graduates to participate in the December 2020 ceremony.
He said all eligible May 2020 graduates will receive their EIU diplomas, diploma covers, and graduation programs in the mail at the end of the semester.
Glassman encourages all students to continue checking their EIU emails and the EIU website for latest information as these circumstances, and the university's resulting actions, continue to evolve rapidly.
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