COVID-19 Information

As we begin moving from the epidemic to the endemic status of COVID-19, the changes below will go into effect on Monday, February 14. Cabinet will meet on Tuesday and Friday of next week to discuss if addition mitigations should be eased.

1. Faculty, staff, and students are no longer discouraged from attending in-person community events but are encouraged to keep personal safety in mind when attending such events.
2. External groups may schedule community meetings on campus by working through Judy Astalos. Members of these groups do not have to show proof of COVID vaccination or negative COVID test upon entering campus, but they must wear masks while on campus.
3. Community members may attend in-building athletic events. They do not have to show proof of COVID vaccination or negative COVID test upon entering campus, but they must wear masks while on campus.
4. Masks remain required to be worn on campus, but these masks are not required to be paper.
5. Faculty and staff may remove their masks in their own offices and may have others in their office do the same if everyone agrees.

The following changes will take effect Tuesday, September 7.

• Access to the campus for all faculty, staff, students, and guests will be limited to the north doors of the Dillon Mall and the West Mall. 
  • The West Mall entrance will be open from 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM Monday – Thursday and 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM on Friday.
  • The Dillon Mall entrance will be open from 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday – Thursday and 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM on Friday.
  • Persons vaccinated are encouraged to use the Dillon Mall entrance.
  • Faculty and staff requiring access to the campus before or after these hours must have supervisor approval to use Door 21 on the far west end of campus near the loading dock.
• All faculty, staff, students, and guests will be screened for vaccination status upon entering the campus. Everyone not vaccinated will be required to take the SHIELD test upon entering the campus and weekly thereafter. 
  • Beginning Tuesday, September 7, SHIELD testing will be available at its current location in the West Mall from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM Monday – Thursday and 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM on Friday.
  • While everyone is encouraged to create a SHIELD account, persons not vaccinated need to create a SHIELD account. This link has step-by-step instructions.
• Faculty, staff, and students should have received a one-time email from Eric Epps with a QR code (Subject line: Important QR Code for Campus Access). You will need to scan that code (either on your phone or a printout) at the entry to verify your vaccination or testing status prior to entering the building. If you did not receive this email, please email eric.epps@svcc.edu.

The safety of everyone at Sauk is of paramount importance! Thus, I encourage everyone to get vaccinated. As a reminder, the FDA has recently given full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. Click here to learn more about the stringent FDA approval process and the vaccine's efficacy. The Moderna and J&J vaccines have emergency authorization from the FDA and have been proven to be effective in preventing the most serious symptoms of COVID-19 and hospitalization.

Please contact your local health department or doctor if you have any questions or concerns about vaccine safety or efficacy.

SVCC announces a plan for a measured approach to returning to on-campus activities and services. 

2021 Return to Campus Plan (pdf)

SVCC Moves Forward with Fall Semester

Sauk Valley Community College will resume classes in various formats for the Fall 2020 semester. Classes will be offered in formats ranging from livestreaming instruction, online, and face to face. These formats were developed to ensure that all students feel comfortable and safe within their preferred learning environments. Additionally, tutoring, technical support, and student services will once again be available to all Skyhawks, free of charge. 

SVCC will be adding innovative livestreaming instruction, that will be held in a virtual classroom, where students can interact with their professors and classmates in real time. These interactive virtual lectures will take place during their normally scheduled time, but from the comfort of one’s home. 

Times are uncertain, but one thing remains the same - SVCC’s commitment to our students and community. Students are SVCC's main priority and have been for 55 years. SVCC will continue to look out for the wellbeing of our students and be the ‘safe’ choice this fall with the addition of live streaming instruction facilitated by nationally renowned faculty. 

“In light of COVID-19 and ensuring safety for all, Sauk has created several teaching and learning opportunities, as well as access to Student Services, to fit their preference,” said Dr. Jon Mandrell, Vice President of Academics and Student Service. “This will allow Sauk to fulfill its mission of being dedicated to lifelong learning, public service, and economic development.”

Explore an online course at svcc.edu/test-drive. Registration is now open, please visit svcc.edu/registration for more information. Additionally, inquire about new financial aid opportunities by calling 815-835-6339. Stay home, stay safe, stay Sauk.

Sauk Valley Community College will host a virtual commencement with a live stream on the college’s social media channels on May 29 at 7:00 p.m. The ceremony will include messages from Dr. David Hellmich, college President, and Bob Thompson, Board of Trustee Chair. 

Due to the current stay-at-home order issued by Governor Pritzker, SVCC will not be able to hold a physical commencement on campus. We know this is the highlight of the college experience for students and their families. It is a celebration of our students’ accomplishments and a sense of pride for the college. But, we must be responsible in the face of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and take into consideration the health and well-being of our students and the Sauk community.

To allow for our students the opportunity to participate in this monumental step in their lives, the college has decided to host a virtual commencement in which students can celebrate their achievements from the safety of their homes. Students participating in 2020 Commencement will be invited to walk in the 2021 Commencement on campus. SVCC students should check their student email for more information to participate virtually.

The virtual commencement live stream can be found on the college’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

At this time, it is still undecided as to how and when the SVCC Health Professions Pinning Ceremony will take place. More details will be released as they become available.

For more information, please visit svcc.edu/commencement or contact EmmaLea Bittner, emmalea.m.bittner@svcc.edu.

SVCC Goes Cyber March 21 

Sauk Valley Community College courses and services have transitioned to 100% cyber which will enable SVCC to continue serving students and our community.

With the recent instructions from Governor Pritzker, SVCC has implemented the following steps to promote the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and community:

Cyber Sauk: 100% Cyber, 100% Serving You!

• Classes will continue with flexible, online delivery
• SVCC services (Academic Advising, Student Services, etc.) will be available online
• SVCC’s campus will be closed to all visitors, students, and employees
• With many classes going online, it is vital that students with questions contact their professors and frequently check their SVCC email. Labs and other career/tech programs that were previously scheduled on campus are being postponed.

SVCC still has not been notified of any positive cases of COVID-19 in relation to students, faculty, or staff on campus. We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as they become available at svcc.edu/covid19.

For questions, please contact Eric Epps, 815-835-6322, eric.epps@svcc.edu.

Sauk Soars Safely - Services Resume March 23

Sauk Valley Community College will provide virtual classes and services effective Monday, March 23. Classes will resume in flexible, online formats.

These are the current steps SVCC is taking to promote the health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and community:

• All courses and services will resume with virtual delivery beginning March 23.
• Only those few instructional labs for which virtual delivery is impossible or very limiting will be available on campus, by invitation only, with no more than five persons in one place and with social distancing and disinfecting protocols being used.
• Students without access to virtual delivery of courses and services will be allowed to make appointments to use a computer lab (tables will be set up in the West Mall) with no more than four students and one proctor at a time and with social distancing and disinfecting protocols being used.
• Sauk’s campus will have limited operations and can be accessed by faculty and staff only via the West Mall from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
• Everyone coming on campus will have a health screen, which includes having one’s temperature taken. Persons with a fever or who answer “yes” to one or more of the following questions should not come on campus:
  1. Have you had contact with anyone that has been around a person diagnosed with Covid 19 in the last 14 days?
  2. Have you traveled in a geographic area of infection within the last 14 days?
  3. Have you had a cough, cold or fever in the last 14 days?
• Persons granted access to campus will be advised of the social distancing and disinfecting protocols. SVCC facilities crew has begun a thorough cleaning of the campus and will continue to do so until further notice.
• Many areas and restrooms will be closed to undergo comprehensive cleaning. Some locations will remain closed so custodial efforts can concentrate on areas being used.

With many classes switching formats, it is vital that students with questions contact their professors and frequently check their SVCC email.

SVCC still has not been notified of any positive cases of COVID-19 in relation to students, faculty, or staff on campus. We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as they become available at svcc.edu/covid19.

For questions, please contact Eric Epps, 815-835-6322, eric.epps@svcc.edu

SVCC Postpones May Commencement and Pinning Ceremony

Sauk Valley Community College has postponed Commencement and Pinning Ceremony, previously scheduled for May 15, 2020. The college is exploring options for holding commencement and health professions pinning ceremony at a later date, but no decision has been made. 

It is with great disappointment that SVCC announces the postponing of the May commencement and pinning ceremony. We know this is the highlight of the college experience for students and their families. It is a celebration of our students’ accomplishments and a sense of pride for the college. But, we must be responsible in the face of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and take into consideration the health and well-being of our students and the Sauk community.

Please visit svcc.edu/covid19 to stay up-to-date. For questions, please contact Pamela Medema at 815-835-6378 or admissions@svcc.edu

Sauk Valley Community College Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Monday, March 23 has been cancelled, out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our community.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the SVCC Riverview Conference Room.

For more information, please contact EmmaLea Bittner, emmalea.m.bittner@svcc.edu, 815-835-6303 or visit https://www.svcc.edu/about/board-of-trustees/meetings.html.

The College will restrict access to campus offices and services the week of Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20 and is implementing a telecommunication work schedule.  Please email or call offices and services through contact information on the SVCC website. If you must come on campus, access to the campus will be restricted to the West Mall entrance.

Due to the rapid global spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our Sauk students, faculty, staff, and community, SVCC campus will transition to a telecommunication campus Monday March 16 – Friday March 20, 2020. Access to the campus will be restricted to the West Mall entrance.

To date, we have not identified any cases of infected Sauk Valley Community College students, faculty, or staff. However, it is the responsibility of college leadership to be take precautionary measures. SVCC continues to closely monitor the spread of coronavirus and is addressing the pandemic in a coordinated campus-wide manner with local and state partners. Keep up-to-date with SVCC’s handling of coronavirus by visiting svcc.edu/covid19

If you experience any symptoms of coronavirus, seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel history and your symptoms. For questions, please contact Eric Epps, eric.epps@svcc.edu, 815-835- 6322.

SVCC Extends Spring Break through March 22.

Sauk Valley Community College will extend spring break through March 22. SVCC will migrate course materials online as much as possible during this time.

Due to the rapid global spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), spring break will be extended through March 22. To date, we have not identified any cases of infected Sauk Valley Community College students, faculty or staff. However, it is the responsibility of each individual to be informed and remain vigilant of this public health situation.

Out of an abundance of caution, SVCC is taking the following immediate actions:

• SVCC will extend spring break through March 22. During this additional time, SVCC will migrate course materials online as much as possible. Campus leadership will strategize how to best continue courses on campus, while limiting person-to-person contact.
• Students are expected to regularly check their SVCC email as more details may be released in the coming days. Please take this simple step to support our community at SVCC.
• Campus will remain open for students, faculty, and staff who need to access to internet or student services. Providing continuity of services for our students, faculty, staff, and community is important to SVCC. Staff will continue their regular work schedules during the extended Spring Break period to accommodate students.

SVCC continues to closely monitor the spread of coronavirus, and is addressing the pandemic in a coordinated campus-wide manner with local and state partners. Keep up-to-date with SVCC’s handling of coronavirus by visiting svcc.edu/covid19

If you experience any symptoms of coronavirus, seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel history and your symptoms.

For questions, please contact Eric Epps, eric.epps@svcc.edu, 815-835-6322.

Travel Restrictions

Out of district travel is restricted to mission-critical travel only and must be approved by your President's Cabinet member.

International

Following the guidance of the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SVCC is suspending all college-sponsored international travel. Should international travel be necessary, individuals will be quarantined for two weeks following their arrival to the United States. We encourage anyone considering international travel to closely follow the latest travel advisories and alerts.

I want to encourage everyone to do her or his part in preventing the spread of germs on campus. 

While there is no indication of any COVID-19 cases in the Sauk Valley area, Sauk is actively monitoring the spread of the coronavirus and preparing for the possibility of an outbreak nearby. The Emergency Preparedness Committee began in December to improve our plans for dealing with infectious diseases. We are also working with the Lee County Health Department and other district health departments, and we are receiving regular updates from the Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Disease Control, and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Given the global concerns about coronavirus, I am sharing information the IDPH has published for colleges and universities throughout the state. The good news is that currently the health risk to the general public from coronavirus remains low, not just in Illinois but throughout the United States. 

The IDPH recommends colleges and universities hold classes and events as usual and follow their routine cleaning and disinfecting procedures; no special measures are necessary. It also says that the best way to protect against coronavirus is by taking the same everyday precautions against getting sick in general. These precautions include the following:

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; 
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
• Staying home when you are sick;
• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash; and
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

 The full list of IDPH recommendations can be found here. Please be accommodating with students who are out sick during this time.