Updated: February 28, 2022
Dear Millikin Campus Community:
As many of you are aware, Governor Pritzker lifted the statewide mask mandate on February 28, 2022. That announcement, coupled with the new mask guidance issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last Friday and the data that shows almost 87% of our student body is now vaccinated, allows us to modify our campus policy towards mask wearing. NEW MASK GUIDANCE As of Tuesday, March 1st, Millikin will no longer require masks to be worn on campus. Keep in mind, those individuals who prefer to wear a mask, who experience symptoms, who come into direct contact with individuals who have tested positive, or who are immunocompromised are encouraged to continue masking. Masks still will be provided at centralized locations throughout campus.
Updated: January 19, 2022
Dear Millikin Students:
As the pandemic continues to shift, and as we know more about how the Omicron variant behaves differently than previous variants of COVID-19, we have made a few key changes to the campus guidance released on January 7, 2022. The following guidance goes into effect today, January 19, 2022.
In line with IDPH and CDC isolation guidelines, the isolation period following a positive test will be reduced if appropriate:
- Millikin University community members who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. Individuals can now be released from isolation after 5 days AS LONG AS symptoms are resolving, and the individual is fever-free for at least 24 hours.
- Masks must continue to be work 100% of the time for an additional 5 days when around others.
- If you still feel sick, continue to isolate.
- No re-test at day 5 is necessary.
- If you are currently in isolation, you may wish to contact your University Contact Tracer for guidance.
Updated: January 7, 2022
Dear Millikin Students,
I hope that the winter break offered you the time to practice needed self-care and reflection, and that you were able to spend time with your loved ones. We are excited to begin the spring semester and to see you on campus. I know many of you might have questions about what we are doing in the wake of the continuously changing pandemic. Please read this email completely as it offers explanation of how we plan to begin the spring 2022 semester.
First and foremost, Millikin University will be open and operational for the Spring 2022 semester. Please know that we have continued to monitor the pandemic environment, and we have made important changes to our COVID-19 protocols. Most importantly, all students are required to test upon arrival to campus, all residential students are required to be on campus no later than January 24, and all classes will be online for the first week of the semester. Please read the updated instructions below and follow the guidelines described to help mitigate spread of the virus. You should also be prepared for changes and revisions to our plan as the pandemic continues to shift.
Updated: August 27, 2021 – 9:30 a.m. CST
Dear Millikin Students, Staff, and Faculty:
Yesterday afternoon (August 26, 2021), Governor Pritzker announced a vaccination mandate and indoor mask mandate for all employees and students of Illinois colleges and universities. Both public and private institutions are included as part of the mandate. Those who are unwilling or unable to get the vaccine are required to test a minimum of once a week.
Millikin University has strongly encouraged vaccination of its students and employees since the vaccines became widely available this spring. We have also had an indoor mask mandate since August 2nd. Our campus policy asks all unvaccinated individuals, whether students or employees, to be tested at our on-campus testing site once a week. Thus, Millikin has already put into place the necessary elements for public health and safety as now mandated by Governor Pritzker. To ensure Millikin’s compliance with the state mandate, Millikin now requires all individuals – students and employees – to submit proof of vaccination or an exemption form to the University.
Updated: August 20, 2021 – 12:15 p.m. CST
Millikin University Travel Policy
We have discussed various scenarios and CDC recommendations to clarify our guidelines and appreciate the input that was provided by many of you.
Vaccinated individuals have no travel restrictions. They do not have to quarantine or test upon return from their travel.
The travel restrictions remain in effect for unvaccinated individuals.
Updated: July 29, 2021 – 9:44 a.m. CST
Changes in Mask-Wearing Guidance at Millikin
The CDC recently announced changes to its guidance regarding mask requirements and issued a mask mandate. In turn, Millikin's requirements for mask-wearing are also changing.
Beginning Monday, August 2, any person on Millikin's campus — vaccinated or non-vaccinated — will be required to wear a mask while indoors. Masks will not be required outdoors. Millikin will follow this new guidance until further notice.
Updated: July 12, 2021 - 4:50 p.m. CST
Fall 2021 Campus Update: Back to the Blue
In just over a month, we will welcome you back to campus for the 2021 fall semester! Faculty and staff are diligently planning for our return to in-person learning, and we expect to have a full schedule of co-curricular and athletic events. We are excited about having you all back!
Updated: May 19, 2021 - 3:45 p.m. CST
Update to Travel and Testing Requirements
The CDC recently updated their guidance for those who have been fully vaccinated as it relates to mask wearing and social–distancing. We understand there may be some confusion and want to reiterate Millikin’s expectations, as well as travel and testing requirements for campus at this time.
Updated: April 29, 2021 - 12:45 p.m. CST
Vaccination Incentive Program
THE CHALLENGE:
Millikin University acknowledges that the vaccination against the COVID-19 virus of its students, faculty and staff is essential to returning to normal operations on campus. We also acknowledge that some members of our campus community may have strong and sincere personal, religious, and/or medical objection to vaccination.
While we realize it will not be possible to vaccinate 100% of the individuals who work and study at Millikin, achieving population immunity through a large percentage of vaccinated individuals should be our goal.
Updated: November 18, 2020 - 5:00 p.m. CST
COVID-19 Update: Tier 3 Mitigations for Illinois
On November 17, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that all of Illinois is moving to Tier 3 mitigations effective Friday, November 20 at 12:01 a.m. Millikin University will remain open. For the health and safety of our University, temporary guidelines are being implemented for many employees to work remotely, beginning Monday, November 23, 2020. Employees will continue to be paid their regular salary during this period. Employees who are designated “essential” in nature and who are needed on campus will be notified by their supervisors.
Updated: August 24, 2020 - 10:45 a.m. CST
Per Clery Act and Department of Education requirements, the following Millikin University communication was shared with members of the Millikin campus community providing notification of a confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus.
To all members of the Millikin campus community,
On Sunday, August 23, Millikin University learned that an individual living on campus has tested positive for COVID-19. This case was due to an off-campus work-related exposure, and the individual is currently isolating off-campus at their home. Privacy rights prevent Millikin from providing more specific information. The Macon County Health Department (MCHD) and Millikin University staff, in a supplemental contact-tracing process, have completed tracing the activities of the individual prior to isolation and have contacted any students, employees or community members who may have been in close proximity to the individual. Those individuals have been asked to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health agencies. These guidelines include self-quarantining, monitoring their health for the next 14 days and seeking medical attention should symptoms develop. Students who are subject to quarantine will receive remote learning accommodations and should not attend face-to-face classes.
Updated: August 21, 2020 - 4:45 p.m. CST
Dear Student,
Just a few short days until the start of classes! We urge you to practice social and physical distancing, conduct frequent hand-washing and continue the proper use of face coverings (covering both the nose and mouth) whenever others are present. As a reminder, upon returning to Millikin, all on-campus residential students will be asked to “stay in place” as much as possible for the first 14 days to help ensure safe conditions and reduce the spread of COVID-19. A strict “no visitor” policy has been established for our residential facilities, and an evening curfew will be implemented. Following the completion of this 14-day period, students will be expected to abide at all times by the standards and protocols put forth in the Campus Safety Plan for Students.
Updated: August 4, 2020 - 4:30 p.m. CST
This email is to inform you about Millikin University's COVID-19 testing options.
- Millikin is partnering with CVS Health as an accessible option for testing Millikin students.
- Students may also choose to test at their preferred provider.
Updated: July 31, 2020 - 12:45 p.m. CST
Dear Student,
Millikin University hopes you are looking forward to beginning the fall semester as much as we are. We want you to know we hear you. Many of you have expressed excitement and/or questions about returning to campus this fall. To that end, below are some important updates and requests for you to read and respond to in the coming days before the semester begins.
Important Updates for the Fall 2020 Semester
As previously announced, Millikin’s campus will be fully open and operational this fall 2020 semester. Classes are set to begin August 24, 2020, in accordance with the revised academic calendar. Classes will be delivered using a variety of methods including in-person, online-only and hybrid formats. Methods of delivery will appear on student schedules, which are anticipated to be finalized and viewable by mid-August. Updates and changes to course schedules are being made daily. Once courses have been finalized, students will be notified.
Updated: July 24, 2020 - 12:40 p.m. CST
Dear Student,
You may now access your housing assignment on your myMillikin page using the icon titled “Housing Information” under the Academics tab. Your residence hall assignment designates your residence hall and roommate information for the 2020-2021 academic year. Please note that this information is subject to change, and changing student information may affect your placement.
Updated: July 21, 2020 - 12:30 p.m. CST
Dear Student,
We are eager to reunite with you and the entire Big Blue family!
We want you to know that both the protection of your health and our mission of teaching and learning are important to us. In anticipation of your return to campus, Millikin University has developed a Return to Campus Safety Plan for Students: a guide to best practices outlining what will be required of you to ensure the health and well-being of our entire Millikin community. Please read the Return to Campus Safety Plan at millikin.edu/health/coronavirus-and-covid-19/current-students.
Updated: June 12, 2020 - 10:00 a.m. CST
Updated: May 13, 2020 - 10:40 a.m. CST
Updated: April 29, 2020 - 10:45 a.m. CST
Updated: April 24, 2020 - 5:00 p.m. CST
Dear students, parents and families:
Updated: April 9, 2020 - 3:05 p.m. CST
Dear students, parents and families:
Updated: April 3, 2020 - 5:30 p.m. CST
Updated: April 2, 2020 - 10:00 a.m. CST
Updated: March 31, 2020 - 2:30 p.m. CST
Updated: March 20, 2020 - 5:30 p.m. CST
Updated: March 19, 2020 - 5:33 p.m. CST
Updated: March 15, 2020 - 5:00 p.m. CST
- Return to campus on or after Monday, March 16, 2020 and reside on campus for the remainder of the semester.
- Remain in their home communities for their choice length of time, leaving their belongings in their residential unit and returning to campus at a later time.
- Voluntarily move out of their residence during business hours Monday, March 16 -Friday, March 20, 2020.
Updated: March 12, 2020 - 6:56 p.m. CST
Dear Millikin Community:
Yesterday, I sent you a message regarding our plans to resume classes at Millikin University as scheduled on Monday, March 16, 2020. We made plans to accommodate students who were unable or unwilling to return to campus for the rest of the semester. I sent that message knowing that we might have to make adjustments in this incredibly fast changing environment.
As you probably have discerned yourself, the situation with the COVID-19 virus and the reaction to it is changing even more rapidly than we imagined. As President Trump announced last night, flights from Europe will be suspended for 30 days starting Friday night. The NBA has ended its season, and other professional sport teams are postponing or eliminating games. Today, the NCAA has abruptly terminated all championships in all divisions. New York Governor Cuomo has in effect shut down Broadway theatres for the next month by banning gatherings of more than 250 persons. All day I have been in consultation with colleague presidents in the CCIW and with my Cabinet, the senior leadership of Millikin. As we considered the evolving story of the COVID virus and the complexity of the issues before us, I decided on the following change of plans:
Updated: March 11, 2020 - 7:53 p.m. CST
Dear Millikin Community:
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the rapidly spreading COVID-19 virus a pandemic. While this signals that the virus will likely spread to all countries and areas across the globe, there are currently no cases of COVID-19 in our county or city, and we have no knowledge of staff, faculty, or students who have traveled to areas of heightened risk. With this in mind, Millikin University is making the carefully considered decision to continue campus operations at this time. Therefore, classes will resume after Spring Break, as scheduled, on Monday, March 16, 2020. We do this in realization that the work of Performance Learning is vitally important to our students and faculty and cannot always be adequately accomplished through remote means. Millikin University has developed a website for updates regarding our COVID-19 planning and prevention. You may access information at millikin.edu/covid19. We will work together to keep our students, staff, and faculty safe and healthy. Primarily this includes imposing social distancing where appropriate, limiting non-essential travel both domestically and internationally, and generally elevating preventive hygiene practices across the campus. If you are currently experiencing flu-like symptoms, please refrain from returning to campus.
Last Updated: March 3, 2020 - 10:26 a.m. CST
Millikin University has been monitoring information related to COVID19, also known as “coronavirus” for several weeks. At this time, we are not aware of any COVID19 cases in our county, and only four cases have tested positive in Illinois. Of these cases, all have recovered after a brief illness. At the current time the risk posed by COVID19 remains low, especially in individuals with normal immune capabilities.
Thankfully the preventative measures for COVID19 are the same as most viruses, including seasonal influenza. In January, the Millikin University facilities team began implementing extra treatments of “high touch” areas to help prevent the spread of all viruses. This extra attention continues and staff is being reminded to remain focused on preventative measures. Our campus community is reminded of the following simple precautions to help prevent the spread of all viruses: