Spring semester policies
Jan. 24, 2022
To protect against the spread of COVID-19 when students return, Augustana is adopting the following policies for returning to campus.
Students will fall into one of three groups:
1. Your vaccinations are up-to-date. You have had the initial vaccinations and a booster. You don't need to test before returning, as long as all your vaccinations have been registered with the college.
2. You have had the initial vaccinations but not a booster. You will need to test before returning to classes.
3. You are not vaccinated. You must test before returning to classes.
Students in group 2 and 3 may be subject to surveillance testing throughout the semester, longer quarantine and isolation periods, and fees associated with quarantine and isolation.
Exception: If you are not yet eligible for a booster, you will need to test until you can get a one. But you will not be subject to longer quarantine and isolation and fees.
As soon as you get a booster vaccination, register that information with the college. This will exempt you from surveillance testing.
Free tests will be available at the PepsiCo Center starting at 1 p.m. Feb. 1.
Other precautions
→ Keep your pod small. When you keep your social group small you lessen your chances of contracting COVID, and you lessen your odds of spreading it.
→ Order your free tests provided by the federal government.
→ Wear a good mask that fits well.
New requirements for booster vaccinations, quarantine and isolation
Effective Jan. 28, 2022, students, staff and faculty (who are eligible) need a booster shot to be considered up-to-date with COVID vaccinations.
When spring semester classes begin Feb. 2, those who have not had a booster vaccination may be required to have a weekly COVID-19 test.
If you have had a booster vaccination, notify the college through Augustana’s vaccination registry. If you are boosted, but do not notify the college, you will not be considered up-to-date.
The CDC recommends that people age 16 and older get a booster five months after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Vaccinations and boosters are available at the Augustana Convenient Care, many local pharmacies and the Rock Island County Health Department. The on-campus clinic is only offering Pfizer boosters at this time.
Isolation and quarantine
Effective Jan. 14, if you test positive for COVID, you will be required to isolate for five days. Additional isolation time will be required if you continue to have a fever, or other symptoms are not improving.
Those who are determined to be close contacts who are not up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations, including all eligible boosters, will be required to quarantine for 5 days.
If you are a close contact and you are up-to-date on COVID vaccinations, you do not have to quarantine.
Close contact means people are within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes over a 24-hour period.
Housing
Students who are not up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations will be responsible for their own quarantine and isolation expenses. If they are not able to return home for isolation or quarantine, the college will help them find discounted lodging at local hotels, at their own expense.
Students who are up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations, including all eligible boosters, will be provided food and lodging by the college to meet isolation requirements and will not be charged for this service.
Updated quarantine and isolation policy
Jan. 14, 2022
As our knowledge of COVID improves, along with available vaccines, treatments and therapies, public health guidance and the college’s disease mitigation procedures will be modified to reflect our broader understanding. This does not mean that case counts will always go down. We expect, and have already seen, that certain variants will cause surges in cases, and the Augustana College community will not be immune to these fluctuations.
As a result of our careful monitoring of COVID-19, and after consideration of updated public health guidance in certain areas, we are providing several updates to our COVID-19 policies and procedures.
Effective Jan. 14, 2022, Augustana is updating isolation requirements for students, faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19. In accordance with federal, state and local public health guidance for schools, isolation requirements are now 5 full days from the start of symptoms or a positive test for those who are asymptomatic, as long as the individual has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication and other symptoms are improving.
More information about the isolation requirements, which include requirements such as wearing a tight-fitting mask on days 6-10, is available from the Centers for Disease Control.
Augustana will implement new quarantine requirements on Jan. 28, 2022, the beginning of the spring semester. The quarantine requirements for the spring semester will require students, faculty and staff who are determined to be close contacts to quarantine for a 5-day period, unless the individual falls in one of the two following categories:
• They are up to date on COVID vaccinations, including boosters as defined by the CDC, or
• They have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
Individuals who are considered close contacts, whether or not they have to quarantine, have other requirements as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control, which include wearing a tight-fitting mask for 10 days.
On Jan. 28, 2022, we also will change our policies regarding providing lodging and food to students who must isolate or quarantine. Students who are up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations, including all eligible boosters, will be provided food and lodging by the college to meet isolation requirements and will not be charged for this service.
Students who are not up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations will be required to isolate or quarantine off campus at their own expense. Students may choose to take advantage of a special rate negotiated by the college with the Holiday Inn in Rock Island, but also may choose to arrange for isolation and quarantine lodging and food at another hotel or location, including returning home to isolate or quarantine where feasible.
Students with a documented medical condition that prevents them from receiving the COVID vaccination or booster will be exempted from the requirement to pay for quarantine or isolation housing.
Students residing in TLAs or private housing who are able to meet isolation or quarantine requirements within their housing arrangement may do so.
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The college is operating under the COVID-19 mitigation plans of the Augustana Strong Task Force.
The college will operate under one of four alert levels:
Level 1 Low Alert/New Normal
Level 2 Moderate Alert
Level 3 High Alert
Level 4 Very High Alert
Movement between these alert levels will be guided by the a number of factors, including the positivity rate on campus and in Rock Island County. Currently, the college is operating at Level 2. (See Augustana College COVID Alert Levels)
Augustana's COVID-19 Testing Dashboard will be updated every week when classes are in session.
Make a virtual appointment
Virtual appointments now are available at many campus offices when classes are in session. When possible, students and families should use this service instead of going into offices in person.
Information for visitors
Campus is open to visitors and welcomes organizations interested in using Augustana’s campus to host an event.
Masking is required in all indoor public areas for all visitors, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings must be worn correctly, with both mouth and nose fully covered (chin to bridge of nose).
Admissions group tours and visit days have resumed. Visitors now have access to all facilities, including indoor tours, the dining hall and residence halls.
Camps, conferences and meetings resumed at full capacity as of July 1, 2021. For scheduling, contact Rita Gustafson, campus scheduling coordinator, 309-794-7322.
Notification
The college will not automatically send a campus notice if a student or employee is diagnosed with COVID-19.
Augustana will provide information as required by legal and health authorities, and will work closely with the Rock Island County Health Department.