Dear SAIC Community,

Last week, the city of Chicago expanded availability of the COVID-19 vaccines. All Chicagoans aged 16 and older now qualify to receive a vaccine. Vaccines will play a crucial role in allowing us to all be on campus together, and in order to protect yourself, your family, and our community, we strongly encourage you to receive a vaccine. Additionally, if you are fully vaccinated and are in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you may not need to quarantine.

COVID-19 Case Investigator Younsoo Kim Flynn put together the video below to help answer some questions you may have about scheduling an appointment to receive a vaccine. Additionally, below you’ll find answers to common questions.

Though millions of Americans are getting vaccinated every day, we have seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases across the nation and in Chicago, and it’s more important than ever to follow our shared responsibilities. Even after you’ve been vaccinated, please continue to wear a mask, maintain social distance, and monitor your health.

As always, if you have any questions please reach out to saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations
 
I’m low-risk for severe COVID-19 illness; why should I get the vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are several benefits to getting your COVID-19 vaccine:

• All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the US have been shown to be safe and effective at preventing COVID-19.
• COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. Experts believe that getting a vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
• Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• After you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, you may be able to start doing some things that you stopped doing because of the pandemic. For example, the Chicago Emergency Travel Order does not require fully vaccinated persons who have traveled domestically to quarantine if they are asymptomatic. A person is considered fully vaccinated when they are two weeks or more beyond the receipt of their second dose in a two-dose vaccine or two weeks or more beyond the receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine.

Why isn’t SAIC offering the vaccine?
Because vaccine availability has increased significantly, anyone who qualifies for the vaccine is able to secure an appointment at various locations throughout the city, including locations near our campus.

How can I sign up to get a vaccine?
While SAIC does not endorse any of these sites, we have heard that many community members have been able to schedule vaccine appointments by accessing vaccine sites at different times of the day:

• Zocdoc
• Chicago Department of Public Health Vaccine Finder
• VaccineFinder.org

If I’m a student who does not have an ID listing an address in Chicago or Illinois, will I still be able to get a vaccine?
Different vaccine providers may have different practices, and these practices may change over time. Currently, we are not aware of any providers requiring proof of residency, though we encourage students who do not have IDs showing a residence in Chicago to bring a piece of mail with their name and Chicago mailing address.

Which vaccine should I get?
SAIC’s public health expert Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, advised that once you are able to receive a vaccination, please do so; don’t wait for a particular vaccine to become available. The maker of the vaccine should not factor into your decision to get vaccinated, but your first and second dose should be by the same maker.

My appointment falls during my work hours or class time. Can I take time away from work or class to get a vaccine?
While we encourage you to choose a date and time that does not impact your work or academic responsibilities, we know that might not be possible. If your vaccine appointment conflicts with your work or academic responsibilities, you may be excused from work or class, but please speak with your supervisor or faculty member to make arrangements in advance of your appointment.

If you are an employee or a student worker and your appointment takes place during work hours, you will still be paid. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave for your appointment. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual.

Can I participate in work or class activities immediately after my vaccine appointment?
If you feel you can still perform your work or academic responsibilities, you can immediately participate in work or class activities, no matter if they take place on or off campus. After receiving the vaccine, some people may experience side effects such as tiredness, nausea, muscle pain, and fever. During your appointment, you will receive a handout detailing possible side effects and what to do if you experience them, as well as information specific to the vaccine. Make sure to read and follow any directions detailed in this handout.

• If you have any side effects following vaccination and the handout or vaccine administrator recommends you contact your doctor, please also inform SAIC’s Case Management Team. Students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288. Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu.
• If you have any side effects following vaccination that are considered normal as described on the handout, you should stay home until you feel better, and you do not need to contact SAIC’s Case Management Team.

If I am a staff member, faculty member, or student worker and I have to take time off of work because I’m experiencing side effects from the vaccine, will I be compensated?
If you are ill after receiving the vaccine and cannot perform your work duties, you will still be compensated. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual, but you will not be expected to work if you are ill.

Will SAIC require a COVID-19 vaccine?
At this time, SAIC is not requiring students, faculty, or staff to be vaccinated in order to access campus. We will continue to assess the city and state’s vaccination plan and progress, and keep you informed of any changes.

Does SAIC keep records of community members who have been vaccinated?
For the current academic year, we are not keeping records of those who have been vaccinated. In certain circumstances, you may be asked if you have been vaccinated, for instance for contact tracing purposes or, if you’re a student, during a consultation with Health Services. In these limited instances, sharing this information is voluntary. However, in some situations, if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated, you may not need to quarantine.

Dear SAIC Community,

As we near the end of our spring semester, I want to update the community on plans for the fall 2021 semester. Every week, SAIC’s Case Management Team meets with public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC. Though she remains optimistic about the progress of the vaccine roll-out, she recommends that SAIC, like many other educational institutions, continue its health and safety protocols through the fall semester. Because much could change with regard to the pandemic and visa availability between now and the beginning of the fall semester, we must take additional time to plan the details of a full return to campus. As a result, we will offer as many fall courses in person as possible, as well as a robust selection of online classes, so that students can choose the course mode that best suits their needs, interests, and comfort level. Building on our learning and successes of the current academic year, our faculty will continue to teach in both modalities, offering the innovative, engaging classes that are a hallmark of SAIC.

Advance registration for the fall began earlier this week. Students can find our wide array of classes in Self-Service. Unlike fall 2020, we do not plan to move online after Thanksgiving Break, and will continue to monitor the pandemic in case changes to teaching become necessary. As always, we will share updates via email and on saic.edu/makeready.

The continuation of our current course modalities both prioritizes the health and safety of our community and gives students maximum flexibility to choose the courses that are best for them. On behalf of our staff and faculty, we look forward to welcoming more of you back to the SAIC all of us know so well, bustling with creativity and connection.

Sincerely,

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As you may know, this week the University of Chicago has moved their classes fully online after a severe COVID-19 outbreak on campus. If you have had any recent contact with a University of Chicago community member, we recommend that you get tested for COVID-19. Though we have emailed students with a similar update, we would appreciate your support in reinforcing this message to any students you’re in contact with. 

As a reminder, if you show signs or symptoms or have been notified by the Chicago Department of Public Health or SAIC’s Case Management Team that you are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19, community members should do the following:

• Students: Contact SAIC’s Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288, and you will be directed to the nearest clinic for additional instructions.
• Faculty and staff: Notify Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu and your primary care provider.

Though millions of Americans are getting vaccinated every day, we have seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases not just on the University of Chicago’s campus, but across Chicago. Especially given this recent news, it’s more important than ever to follow our shared responsibilities. Even after you’ve been vaccinated, please continue to wear a mask, maintain social distance, and monitor your health. This diligence is essential to keeping our campus open.

In regards to vaccines, this week, Mayor Lightfoot shared that in accordance with President Biden’s deadline, Chicago will open vaccines to all residents age 16 and older on Monday, April 19. This is earlier than the previously announced date of May 1. Though this is good news, Mayor Lightfoot shared that there will likely be delays in making appointments, as the city needs an increase in its vaccine supply to meet public demand. 

We encourage everyone to get a vaccine when they are able. As vaccines become more accessible to members of our community, we again want to encourage managers, supervisors, and faculty members to be flexible with their students, faculty, and staff. Below you’ll find answers to questions around vaccine distribution. 

Thank you for all that you do to mitigate risk for yourself and our larger SAIC community. While we celebrate the pace at which our city and country are being vaccinated, situations like that at the University of Chicago remind us how essential it is to remain vigilant. If you have any questions, as always, please reach out to saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations
 
Do I qualify for a vaccine and, if not, when will I be able to get the vaccine?
Chicago’s vaccination program is now in phase 1C. Vaccine doses are now available for the following individuals:

• Chicagoans age 65 and older
• Chicagoans age 16–64 with underlying medical conditions
• Essential workers (including higher ed staff and faculty)
• Healthcare workers
• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Workers at non-healthcare residential settings (homeless shelters, women’s shelters, correctional settings, etc.)

On Tuesday, April 6, Mayor Lightfoot announced that the city would open vaccines to all residents age 16 and older by April 19. Here you’ll find more details on Chicago’s vaccination planning and schedule.

How can I get notified when I qualify for the vaccine?
There are several ways to receive updates on Chicago’s vaccination progress and receive a notification on when you qualify for the vaccine:

• Chi COVID Coach
• Cook County Department of Public Health
• Zocdoc
• Vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov
  • In a recent press conference, CDPH suggested going to Indiana where appointments are more readily available. 

Where can I schedule a vaccination appointment?
While SAIC does not endorse any of these sites, we have heard that many community members have been able to schedule vaccine appointments by accessing vaccine sites at different times of the day. We recommend you regularly check sites such as CVS, Walgreens, Jewel Osco, Marianos, and Zocdoc. You can also consider sites outside of Chicago: visit Statewide Vaccination Locations or call 833.621.1284.

• Cook County Health (or call 833.308.1988)
• ILVaccine.org
• COVID-19 Vaccine Spotter
• Illinois Vaccine Alert (Twitter)

Do I need to show proof that I qualify for a vaccine?
Different vaccine providers may have different practices, and you may be asked to provide documentation to prove you qualify. If you qualify as a faculty or staff member and you do not have an ARTICard or if your ARTICard is expired, please make an appointment with the ARTICard office to pick up a new card. There is no fee for replacing an expired ARTICard when you turn it in at the time of replacement, and the fee for replacing a lost or stolen card will be waived. Faculty, staff, or student employees may also bring your SAIC pay stub to your vaccine appointment.

If I’m a student who does not have an ID listing an address in Chicago or Illinois, will I still be able to get a vaccine?
Different vaccine providers may have different practices, and these practices may change over time. Currently, we are not aware of any providers requiring proof of residency, though we encourage students who do not have IDs showing a residence in Chicago to bring a piece of mail with their name and Chicago mailing address.

Which vaccine should I get?
SAIC’s public health expert Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, advised that once you are able to receive a vaccination, please do so; don’t wait for a particular vaccine to become available. The maker of the vaccine should not factor into your decision to get vaccinated, but your first and second dose should be by the same maker.

Where do I get a vaccine?
At this time, SAIC is not able to provide vaccinations on campus. CDPH recommends that your first contact for a vaccine should be your healthcare provider, including your primary care provider, health clinic, or hospital where you have received medical care in the past. Additionally, vaccines are available at locations across Chicago, including pharmacies at Walgreens, Mariano's, Walmart, and Jewel Osco. Here you can find vaccination sites near you.

My appointment falls during my work hours or class time. Can I take time away from work or class to get a vaccine?
While we encourage you to choose a date and time that does not impact your work or academic responsibilities, we know vaccine supply still trails demand, and that is not always possible. If your vaccine appointment conflicts with your work or academic responsibilities, you may be excused from work or class, but please speak with your supervisor or faculty member to make arrangements in advance of your appointment.

If you are an employee or a student worker and your appointment takes place during work hours, you will still be paid. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave for your appointment. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual.

Can I participate in work or class activities immediately after my vaccine appointment?
If you feel you can still perform your work or academic responsibilities, you can immediately participate in work or class activities, no matter if they take place on or off campus.

After receiving the vaccine, some people may experience side effects such as tiredness, nausea, muscle pain, and fever. During your appointment, you will receive a handout detailing possible side effects and what to do if you experience them, as well as information specific to the vaccine. Make sure to read and follow any directions detailed in this handout.

• If you have any side effects following vaccination and the handout or vaccine administrator recommends you contact your doctor, please also inform SAIC’s Case Management Team. Students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288 . Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu.
• If you have any side effects following vaccination that are considered normal as described on the handout, you should stay home until you feel better, and you do not need to contact SAIC’s Case Management Team.

If I am a staff member, faculty member, or student worker and I have to take time off of work because I’m experiencing side effects from the vaccine, will I be compensated?
If you are ill after receiving the vaccine and cannot perform your work duties, you will still be compensated. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual, but you will not be expected to work if you are ill.

Will SAIC require a COVID-19 vaccine?
SAIC will not require you to be vaccinated; however, once you are able to receive a vaccination, we strongly encourage you to do so.

Does SAIC keep records of community members who have been vaccinated?
No, we do not keep records of those who have been vaccinated. In certain circumstances, you may be asked if you have been vaccinated, for instance for contact tracing purposes or, if you’re a student, during a consultation with Health Services. In these limited instances, sharing this information is voluntary. However, in some situations, if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated, you may not need to quarantine.

Do I need to continue wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing once I’m vaccinated?
Definitely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for those who have been vaccinated; however, it is important to remember that even after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine, you must continue to be diligent in mitigating the spread of the disease on our campus by:

• Avoiding social gatherings;
• Limiting interaction time with community members;
• Maintaining physical distance;
• Wearing a mask on campus; and
• Practicing good hygiene.

I read that the CDC updated its guidance around social distancing. How does this impact SAIC?
Last week, the CDC updated its guidance around social distancing only for elementary schools. The new guidance allows for three feet of distance in K–12 classrooms if everyone is wearing a mask. However, this guidance is only applicable to elementary schools, and does not impact SAIC at this time. We’ll continue to follow CDC guidelines and will make any necessary operational adjustments. Any changes to our operations or Make Ready guidance will be communicated via email with our community.

Dear SAIC Community,

The City of Chicago has expanded qualifications for the COVID-19 vaccine, and beginning today, all School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) faculty, staff, student workers, and teaching assistants qualify to receive a vaccine. This phase, 1C, also includes any Chicagoan age 16 or older with underlying medical conditions. Visit Chicago’s site to see all groups that are now eligible.

Chicago is expected to expand eligibility to all residents age 16 and older in May.

As vaccines become more accessible to members of our community, we again want to encourage managers, supervisors, and faculty members to be flexible with their students, faculty, and staff. When making an appointment for a vaccine, we encourage you to choose a date and time that does not impact your work or academic responsibilities; however, we know the vaccine supply still trails demand, and that is not always possible. If your vaccine appointment conflicts with your work or academic responsibilities, you may be excused from work or class, but please speak with your supervisor or faculty member to make arrangements in advance of your appointment.

We encourage everyone to get a vaccine when they are able. Below you’ll find answers to questions around vaccine distribution. If you have any questions, as always, please reach out to saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations
 
Do I qualify for a vaccine and, if not, when will I be able to get the vaccine?
Chicago’s vaccination program is now in phase 1C, which begins today, March 29. Vaccine doses are now available for the following individuals:

• Chicagoans age 65 and older
• Chicagoans age 16–64 with underlying medical conditions
• Essential workers (including higher ed staff and faculty)
• Healthcare workers
• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Workers at non-healthcare residential settings (homeless shelters, women’s shelters, correctional settings, etc.)

Here you’ll find more details on Chicago’s vaccination planning and schedule.

How can I get notified when I qualify for the vaccine?
There are several ways to receive updates on Chicago’s vaccination progress and receive a notification on when you qualify for the vaccine:

• Chi COVID Coach
• Cook County Department of Public Health
• Zocdoc

Do I need to show proof that I qualify for a vaccine?
Different vaccine providers may have different practices, and you may be asked to provide documentation to prove you qualify. If you qualify as a faculty or staff member and you do not have an ARTICard or if your ARTICard is expired, please make an appointment with the ARTICard office to pick up a new card. There is no fee for replacing an expired ARTICard when you turn it in at the time of replacement, and the fee for replacing a lost or stolen card will be waived. Faculty, staff, or student employees may also bring your SAIC pay stub to your vaccine appointment.

If I’m a student who does not have an ID listing an address in Chicago or Illinois, will I still be able to get a vaccine?
Different vaccine providers may have different practices, and these practices may change over time. Currently, we are not aware of any providers requiring proof of residency, though we encourage students who do not have IDs showing a residence in Chicago to bring a piece of mail with their name and Chicago mailing address.

Which vaccine should I get?
SAIC’s public health expert Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, advised that once you are able to receive a vaccination, please do so; don’t wait for a particular vaccine to become available. The maker of the vaccine should not factor into your decision to get vaccinated, but your first and second dose should be by the same maker.

Where do I get a vaccine?
At this time, SAIC is not able to provide vaccinations on campus. CDPH recommends that your first contact for a vaccine should be your healthcare provider, including your primary care provider, health clinic, or hospital where you have received medical care in the past. Additionally, vaccines are available at locations across Chicago, including pharmacies at Walgreens, Mariano's, Walmart, and Jewel Osco. Here you can find vaccination sites near you.

My appointment falls during my work hours or class time. Can I take time away from work or class to get a vaccine?
While we encourage you to choose a date and time that does not impact your work or academic responsibilities, we know vaccine supply still trails demand, and that is not always possible. If your vaccine appointment conflicts with your work or academic responsibilities, you may be excused from work or class, but please speak with your supervisor or faculty member to make arrangements in advance of your appointment.

If you are an employee or a student worker and your appointment takes place during work hours, you will still be paid. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave for your appointment. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual.

Can I participate in work or class activities immediately after my vaccine appointment?
If you feel you can still perform your work or academic responsibilities, you can immediately participate in work or class activities, no matter if they take place on or off campus.

After receiving the vaccine, some people may experience side effects such as tiredness, nausea, muscle pain, and fever. During your appointment, you will receive a handout detailing possible side effects and what to do if you experience them, as well as information specific to the vaccine. Make sure to read and follow any directions detailed in this handout.

• If you have any side effects following vaccination and the handout or vaccine administrator recommends you contact your doctor, please also inform SAIC’s Case Management Team. Students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288. Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu.
• If you have any side effects following vaccination that are considered normal as described on the handout, you should stay home until you feel better, and you do not need to contact SAIC’s Case Management Team.

If I am a staff member, faculty member, or student worker and I have to take time off of work because I’m experiencing side effects from the vaccine, will I be compensated?
If you are ill after receiving the vaccine and cannot perform your work duties, you will still be compensated. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual, but you will not be expected to work if you are ill.

Will SAIC require a COVID-19 vaccine?
SAIC will not require you to be vaccinated; however, once you are able to receive a vaccination, we strongly encourage you to do so.

Does SAIC keep records of community members who have been vaccinated?
No, we do not keep records of those who have been vaccinated. In certain circumstances, you may be asked if you have been vaccinated, for instance for contact tracing purposes or, if you’re a student, during a consultation with Health Services. In these limited instances, sharing this information is voluntary. However, in some situations, if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated, you may not need to quarantine.

Do I need to continue wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing once I’m vaccinated?
Definitely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for those who have been vaccinated; however, it is important to remember that even after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine, you must continue to be diligent in mitigating the spread of the disease on our campus by:

• Avoiding social gatherings;
• Limiting interaction time with community members;
• Maintaining physical distance;
• Wearing a mask on campus; and
• Practicing good hygiene.

I read that the CDC updated its guidance around social distancing. How does this impact SAIC?
Last week, the CDC updated its guidance around social distancing only for elementary schools. The new guidance allows for three feet of distance in K–12 classrooms if everyone is wearing a mask. However, this guidance is only applicable to elementary schools, and does not impact SAIC at this time. We’ll continue to follow CDC guidelines and will make any necessary operational adjustments. Any changes to our operations or Make Ready guidance will be communicated via email with our community.

Dear SAIC Community,

As vaccine availability continues to expand, we want to share some updates on eligibility and clarify the recent announcement from Governor J.B. Pritzker. Last week, Governor Pritzker announced a revised reopening plan, which outlines a gradual resumption of business activity and expands eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines to Illinois residents (excluding Chicago) age 16 and older by April 12. As Chicago has its own metrics, vaccine supply, and eligibility requirements, those living in Chicago are not included in Governor Pritzker’s plan; however, Chicago is expected to expand eligibility to all residents age 16 and older by May 1.

Currently, Chicago is in Phase 1B of the Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) vaccine distribution plan. SAIC faculty, staff, and student workers will be included in Phase 1C of the plan, which is expected to begin on Monday, March 29. Additionally, any Chicagoan age 16 or older with underlying medical conditions will be included in this group. 

As vaccines become more accessible to members of our community, we want to encourage managers, supervisors, and faculty members to be flexible with their students, faculty, and staff. When making an appointment for a vaccine, we encourage you to choose a date and time that does not impact your work or academic responsibilities; however, we know the vaccine supply still trails demand, and that is not always possible. If your vaccine appointment conflicts with your work or academic responsibilities, you may be excused from work or class, but please speak with your supervisor or faculty member to make arrangements in advance of your appointment.

We encourage everyone to get a vaccine when they are able. Below you’ll find answers to questions around vaccine distribution. If you have any questions, as always, please reach out to saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations
 

Do I qualify for a vaccine and, if not, when will I be able to get vaccinated?
Chicago’s vaccination program is currently in phase 1B, which began on January 25. Vaccine doses are now available for the following individuals:

• Healthcare workers
• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Chicagoans age 65 and older
• Frontline essential workers (teachers, principals, student support, and student aides at pre-K–12 schools; day care staff; first responders; grocery store workers; public transit workers; etc.)
• Workers at non-healthcare residential settings (homeless shelters, women’s shelters, correctional settings, etc.)

Phase 1B does not include higher education, though if students, faculty, and staff meet the categories listed above, they may still qualify for a vaccine.

The next phase, 1C, is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 29, and will include higher education faculty, staff, and student workers. Phase 1C will also include any Chicagoan age 16 or older with underlying medical conditions.

Here you’ll find more details on Chicago’s vaccination planning and schedule.

How can I get notified when I qualify for the vaccine?
There are several ways to receive updates on Chicago’s vaccination progress and receive a notification on when you qualify for the vaccine:

• Chi COVID Coach
• Cook County Department of Public Health
• Zocdoc

Do I need to show proof that I qualify for a vaccine?
Different vaccine providers may have different practices, and you may be asked to provide documentation to prove you qualify. If you qualify as a faculty or staff member and you do not have an ARTICard or if your ARTICard is expired, please make an appointment with the ARTICard office to pick up a new card. There is no fee for replacing an expired ARTICard when you turn it in at the time of replacement, and the fee for replacing a lost or stolen card will be waived. Faculty, staff, or student employees may also bring your SAIC pay stub to your vaccine appointment.

If I’m a student who does not have an ID listing an address in Chicago or Illinois, will I still be able to get a vaccine?
Different vaccine providers may have different practices, and these practices may change over time. Currently, we are not aware of any providers requiring proof of residency, though we encourage students who do not have IDs showing a residence in Chicago to bring a piece of mail with their name and Chicago mailing address.

Which vaccine should I get?
SAIC’s public health expert Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, advised that once you are able to receive a vaccination, please do so; don’t wait for a particular vaccine to become available. The maker of the vaccine should not factor into your decision to get vaccinated, but your first and second dose should be by the same maker.

Where do I get a vaccine?
At this time, SAIC is not able to provide vaccinations on campus. CDPH recommends that your first contact for a vaccine should be your healthcare provider, including your primary care provider, health clinic, or hospital where you have received medical care in the past. Additionally, vaccines are available at locations across Chicago, including pharmacies at Walgreens, Mariano's, Walmart, and Jewel Osco. Here you can find vaccination sites near you.

My appointment falls during my work hours or class time. Can I take time away from work or class to get a vaccine?
While we encourage you to choose a date and time that does not impact your work or academic responsibilities, we know vaccine supply still trails demand, and that is not always possible. If your vaccine appointment conflicts with your work or academic responsibilities, you may be excused from work or class, but please speak with your supervisor or faculty member to make arrangements in advance of your appointment.

If you are an employee or a student worker and your appointment takes place during work hours, you will still be paid. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave for your appointment. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual.

Can I participate in work or class activities immediately after my vaccine appointment?
If you feel you can still perform your work or academic responsibilities, you can immediately participate in work or class activities, no matter if they take place on or off campus.

After receiving the vaccine, some people may experience side effects such as tiredness, nausea, muscle pain, and fever. During your appointment, you will receive a handout detailing possible side effects and what to do if you experience them, as well as information specific to the vaccine. Make sure to read and follow any directions detailed in this handout.

• If you have any side effects following vaccination and the handout or vaccine administrator recommends you contact your doctor, please also inform SAIC’s Case Management Team. Students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288. Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu.
• If you have any side effects following vaccination that are considered normal as described on the handout, you should stay home until you feel better, and you do not need to contact SAIC’s Case Management Team.

If I am a staff member, faculty member, or student worker and I have to take time off of work because I’m experiencing side effects from the vaccine, will I be compensated?
If you are ill after receiving the vaccine and cannot perform your work duties, you will still be compensated. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual, but you will not be expected to work if you are ill.

Will SAIC require a COVID-19 vaccine?
SAIC will not require you to be vaccinated; however, once you are able to receive a vaccination, we strongly encourage you to do so.

Does SAIC keep records of community members who have been vaccinated?
No, we do not keep records of those who have been vaccinated. In certain circumstances, you may be asked if you have been vaccinated, for instance for contact tracing purposes or, if you’re a student, during a consultation with Health Services. In these limited instances, sharing this information is voluntary. However, in some situations, if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated, you may not need to quarantine.

Do I need to continue wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing once I’m vaccinated?
Definitely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for those who have been vaccinated; however, it is important to remember that even after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine, you must continue to be diligent in mitigating the spread of the disease on our campus by:

• Avoiding social gatherings;
• Limiting interaction time with community members;
• Maintaining physical distance;
• Wearing a mask on campus; and
• Practicing good hygiene.

I read that the CDC updated its guidance around social distancing. How does this impact SAIC?
Last week, the CDC updated its guidance around social distancing only for elementary schools. The new guidance allows for three feet of distance in K–12 classrooms if everyone is wearing a mask. However, this guidance is only applicable to elementary schools, and does not impact SAIC at this time. We’ll continue to follow CDC guidelines and will make any necessary operational adjustments. Any changes to our operations or Make Ready guidance will be communicated via email with our community.

Dear SAIC Community,

As the city of Chicago continues to increase its supply of vaccines, I’m writing to you today to share some updates and answer questions we’ve received from members of our community.

I want to commend you for your continued commitment to following our shared responsibilities. Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for those who have been vaccinated; however, it is important to remember that even after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine, you must continue to be diligent in mitigating the spread of the disease on our campus by:

• Avoiding social gatherings;
• Limiting interaction time with community members;
• Maintaining physical distance;
• Wearing a mask on campus; and
• Practicing good hygiene.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) defines a close contact as someone who was within six feet of a positive case for 15 or more cumulative minutes over the course of a day starting from two days before the person began feeling sick or tested positive until the time they were isolated.

Below you’ll find answers to questions we’ve received. We will continue to update you as we receive new information. As always, if you have questions please email saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations
 
Do I qualify for a vaccine and, if not, when will I be able to get vaccinated?
Chicago’s vaccination program is currently in phase 1B, which began on January 25. Vaccine doses are now available for the following individuals:

• Healthcare workers
• Long-term care facility residents and staff
• Chicagoans age 65 and older
• Frontline essential workers (teachers, principals, student support, and student aides at pre-K–12 schools; day care staff; first responders; grocery store workers; public transit workers; etc.)
• Workers at non-healthcare residential settings (homeless shelters, women’s shelters, correctional settings, etc.)

Phase 1B does not include higher education, though if students, faculty, and staff meet the categories listed above, they may still qualify for a vaccine.

The next phase, 1C, is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 29, and is expected to include higher education faculty and staff, as well as Chicagoans age 16–64 with underlying medical conditions.

Phase 2 is estimated to begin May 31, and is expected to include all Chicagoans age 16 and older. Here you’ll find more details on Chicago’s vaccination planning and schedule.

How can I get notified when I qualify for the vaccine?
There are several ways to receive updates on Chicago’s vaccination progress and receive a notification on when you qualify for the vaccine:

• Chi COVID Coach
• Cook County Department of Public Health
• Zocdoc

Is the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine safe and effective?
According to the CDC and the CDPH, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only a single dose, is safe and effective, especially in preventing severe illness and death. That vaccine is now available in limited quantities in Illinois.

SAIC’s public health expert Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, advised that once you are able to receive a vaccination, please do so; don’t wait for a particular vaccine to become available. The maker of the vaccine should not factor into your decision to get vaccinated, but your first and second dose should be by the same maker.

Will SAIC require a COVID-19 vaccine?
SAIC will not require you to be vaccinated; however, once you are able to receive a vaccination, we strongly encourage you to do so.

Will SAIC administer the vaccine? If not, where can I receive a vaccine?
At this time, SAIC is not able to provide vaccinations on campus. The CDPH recommends that your first contact for a vaccine should be your healthcare provider, including your primary care provider, health clinic, or hospital where you have received medical care in the past. Vaccines are available at locations across Chicago, including pharmacies at Walgreens, Mariano's, Walmart, and Jewel Osco. Here you can find vaccination sites near you.

Does SAIC keep records of community members who have been vaccinated?
No, we do not keep records of those who have been vaccinated. In certain circumstances, you may be asked if you have been vaccinated, for instance for contact tracing purposes or, if you’re a student, during a consultation with Health Services. In these limited instances, sharing this information is voluntary. However, in some situations, if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and you are fully vaccinated, you may not need to quarantine.

If I am a staff member, faculty member, or student worker and I have to take time off of work because I’m experiencing side effects from the vaccine, will I be compensated? Will I need to get tested in order to return to work?
If you are ill after receiving the vaccine and cannot perform your work duties, you will still be compensated. If you’re a faculty or staff member, you will not be required to use your PTO or Paid Sick Leave. If you are a student worker, you will record your hours as usual, but you will not be expected to work if you are ill.

If you are feeling ill, SAIC’s Case Management Team can help determine if testing will be needed. Students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288. Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu.

How does my choice to get vaccinated (or not get vaccinated) impact my work, academic responsibilities, or ability to participate in School-sponsored activities, whether I’m on or off campus?
Your choice to receive or not receive a COVID-19 vaccine is a personal decision. The decision you make will have no impact on your work, academic responsibilities, or ability to participate in School-sponsored activities; however, we strongly encourage those who qualify to receive a vaccine as soon as they are able. Even after you receive a vaccine, you must continue to adhere to our shared responsibilities.

Dear SAIC Community,
With the spring semester underway, we want to thank you for your continued commitment to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on our campus and provide updates on recent guidance.

Recently, we shared information on quarantine requirements when traveling and vaccine distribution and guidance related to the new variants of COVID-19. Guidance from health authorities continues to evolve, and below you’ll find updated information on vaccine availability, masks, traveling, and a reminder to always adhere to our shared responsibilities.

We will continue to update you as we receive new information. As always, if you have questions please email saicinfo@saic.edu. 

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations
 
Our Shared Responsibilities
It is critically important that we remember our School’s shared responsibilities when we’re on and off campus. With strict adherence to maintaining social distance, proper mask wearing, and good hygiene, we experienced very low community transmission of COVID-19 this fall, and we’re aiming to see the same success over the course of the spring semester and beyond. Please continue following these shared responsibilities by: 

• Avoiding social gatherings;
• Limiting interaction time with community members;
• Maintaining physical distance; 
• Wearing a mask on campus; and 
• Practicing good hygiene.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) defines a close contact as someone who was within six feet of a positive case for 15 or more cumulative minutes over the course of a day starting from two days before the person began feeling sick or tested positive until the time they were isolated. 

Vaccine Distribution

Qualifying for a Vaccine
Governor Pritzker announced this week that the state of Illinois will expand who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations to include people with underlying conditions; however, this change does not apply to Chicago’s vaccination program as it is separate from the state’s program. Vaccination in Chicago began in December with phase 1A and entered phase 1B on January 25. Vaccine doses are now available for the following individuals:

• Healthcare workers 
• Long-term care facility residents and staff 
• Chicagoans age 65 and older
• Frontline essential workers (teachers, principals, student support, and student aides at pre-K–12 schools; day care staff; first responders; grocery store workers; public transit workers; etc.) 
• Workers at non-healthcare residential settings (homeless shelters, women’s shelters, correctional settings, etc.)

Phase 1B does not include higher education, though if students, faculty, and staff meet the categories listed above, they may still qualify for a vaccine. The next phase, 1C, is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 29, and it is our hope that all higher education students, faculty, and staff will be included in this group.

Please note that when a community member receives the vaccine, they will still be required to follow our shared responsibilities.

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated quarantine recommendations for those who have been vaccinated. We are still assessing these recommendations to determine the impact–if any–on our operations. We will share updates as they become available.

Vaccine Availability
SAIC’s public health expert Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC advised that once you are able to receive a vaccination, please do so; don’t wait for a particular vaccine to become available. The maker of the vaccine should not factor into your decision to get vaccinated, but your first and second dose should be by the same maker. 

At this time, SAIC is not able to provide vaccinations on campus, though CDPH recommends that your first contact for a vaccine should be your healthcare provider, including your primary care provider, health clinic, or hospital where you have received medical care in the past. Additionally, vaccines are available at locations across Chicago, including pharmacies at Walgreens, Mariano's, Walmart, and Jewel Osco. Here you can find vaccination sites near you.

Masks
Wear a mask that:

• Has two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric
• Completely covers your nose and mouth
• Fits snugly against the sides of your face and doesn’t have gaps
• Has a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask

Here you’ll find more information on choosing and wearing masks. Surgical masks are available at any security desk on campus if you forget yours or would like to wear a mask under your fabric mask. Additionally, wellness kits, which include three fabric masks, a thermometer, and a daily symptom card, are available at any security desk around campus.

Earlier this week, the CDC shared new findings that wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask offers more protection against COVID-19, as does tying knots on the ear loops of surgical masks. Please note, it is not advised to wear two surgical masks or a surgical mask with an N95 mask at the same time. 
 
As of February 2, masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.

Avoid Unnecessary Travel
If you choose to travel, you must comply with Chicago Emergency Travel Order guidelines for domestic travel (which currently require either a 10-day quarantine or a negative test result) and the CDC guidelines for international travel (which currently require proof of a negative COVID-19 test being provided to the airline before you board). These guidelines may change, so if you choose to travel, please review the CDPH and CDC websites before and during your trip. Students living in SAIC’s residence halls who travel out of the state of Illinois must notify Residence Life before they leave to make arrangements for quarantine upon their return.

Dear SAIC Community,
We hope you had a healthy, restful Winter Break. Thanks to your collective efforts, we were very successful in following our shared responsibilities and mitigating the risk of COVID-19 during the fall semester. With new developments over the past several weeks, we've consulted with public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, and we are reaffirming our commitment to our shared responsibilities, such as wearing masks, monitoring our health, and keeping social distance.  

As a reminder, here is how we’ve adjusted our operations; these changes will continue this spring in order to mitigate the risk to our campus community. As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve, below you’ll find updates on vaccine distribution, quarantine requirements, training, and the new variants of the coronavirus. Additionally, we encourage you to watch this webinar featuring Dr. Rebmann and Director of Health Services Megan Skarr answering questions from the Make Ready Advisory Group. 

Thank you again for all the work you’ve done to mitigate risk on our campus. We will continue to update our COVID-19 Dashboard and send emails with any news or changes to campus operations. If you have any additional questions, please email us at saicinfo@saic.edu. 

Best,

Tom Buechele
Vice President, Campus Operations
 
 
Vaccine Distribution
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is adhering to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines in shaping the COVID-19 vaccination process and protocols. Vaccine distribution in Chicago began in mid-December with phase 1A—distribution to healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents and staff. As of Monday, January 25, the city of Chicago entered into phase 1B of vaccine distribution, and vaccine doses are now available for the following individuals:

• Healthcare workers 
• Long-term care facility residents and staff 
• Chicagoans age 65 and older
• Frontline essential workers (teachers, principals, student support, and student aides at pre-K–12 schools; day care staff; first responders; grocery store workers; public transit workers; etc.) 
• Non-healthcare residential settings (homeless shelters, women’s shelters, correctional settings, etc.)

Phase 1B frontline essential workers includes daycare, pre-K–12, and early education workers, though it does not include higher education. However, students, faculty, and staff who meet other categories as listed above may still qualify for a vaccine. The next phase, 1C, is tentatively scheduled to begin on March 29, and is expected to include all other essential workers and Chicagoans age 16–64 with underlying medical conditions. Our hope is that all higher education faculty and staff will be included in this group as well. 

We do not yet know when the vaccine will be made available to other segments of the population beyond those announced for phases 1A, 1B, and 1C, but we highly recommend all members of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) community receive the vaccine as soon as they are able.

At this time, SAIC is not able to provide vaccinations on campus, though CDPH recommends that your first contact for a vaccine should be your healthcare provider, including your primary care provider, health clinic, or hospital where you have received medical care in the past. Additionally, the City of Chicago has provided vaccines to pharmacies across Chicago, including pharmacies at Walgreens, Mariano's, Walmart, and Jewel Osco. Michigan Avenue Immediate Care has been allotted a small supply of the Moderna vaccine as well. If you meet the requirements, you may schedule an appointment with Michigan Avenue Immediate Care by calling 312.201.1234. If you live outside of Chicago, check with your county to register for the vaccine.

When a community member receives the vaccine, they will still be required to follow our shared responsibilities. If there are any updates on vaccine distribution that impact campus operations, we will reach out to the SAIC community. To receive updates from the CDPH on Chicago’s vaccination progress, sign up for Chi COVID Coach.

Quarantine
On January 13, we shared an update on the changes to the Chicago Emergency Travel Order and the CDC's new guidance for international travelers. 

If you are traveling back to Chicago from a domestic location outside of the State of Illinois, you must:

• Quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Chicago; or
• Receive a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result, with the test being taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago.

Beginning on Tuesday, January 26, all travelers coming from an international location will need to provide a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result, with the test having been taken no more than 72 hours prior to travel, to the airline in order to board a plane for the United States. The CDC also provides guidance for what to do upon arrival in the US:

• Quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Chicago; or
• Quarantine for seven days and receive a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test with the test being administered three to five days after you arrive in Chicago.

Please review the email in full to ensure you’re following the proper protocol before you return to campus.

Training
If you’re already completed your Make Ready training, you will not have to retake it. New students will find the course on their Canvas Dashboard or at this link. Students who are unable to access the course should email saic-envsafety@saic.edu. New staff and faculty will be emailed a link from Bridge. Please complete the training before you arrive on campus.

Variants of COVID-19
In recent weeks, new variants of COVID-19 have been detected in certain states, including Illinois. Dr. Rebmann shared that the best protection against these new variants is to follow our existing shared responsibilities: wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain physical distance.

Dear SAIC Community,

We are looking forward to coming back together, both virtually and in person, in just a few weeks for the spring term. As outlined in Make Ready: SAIC’s Framework for Returning to Campus, we are committed to adhering to guidance from national and local public health agencies, and today we're emailing you with updates to travel guidance and requirements. Our community was exceptionally responsive to our shared responsibilities this past fall, which allowed us to have a successful semester on campus. In order for us to have similar success this spring, we all must remain vigilant to public health protocols.

On January 12, both the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their travel guidance and requirements. These requirements are in place for all community members if they have traveled out of state. See below for an overview.

Traveling from a Domestic Location
The Chicago Emergency Travel Order has been changed from a three-tier (yellow, orange, and red) to a two-tier system (yellow and orange). All individuals who travel to Chicago from outside of the State of Illinois are required to follow this guidance. The order goes into effect on Friday, January 15, at 12:01 a.m. CT. All states and territories except Hawaii are currently designated as “orange.” If you are traveling from one of these locations you must:

1. Quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Chicago; or
2. Receive a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result, with the test being taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago.

If you arrived in Chicago prior to January 15, at 12:01 a.m. CT, you will need to follow the guidance from the previous travel order. Meaning, if you came from a state designated as “red,” you will need to complete your 10-day quarantine requirement.

Traveling from an International Location
Beginning on January 26, all travelers coming from an international location will need to provide a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test result, with the test having been taken no more than 72 hours prior to travel, to the airline in order to board a plane for the United States. The CDC also provides guidance for what to do upon arrival in the US. Travelers must:

1. Quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Chicago; or
2. Quarantine for seven days and receive a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test with the test being administered three to five days after you arrive in Chicago.

If you are an international student arriving on or after January 26 and have concerns about securing a test, please contact stulife@saic.edu.

Residence Hall Considerations
All community members should adhere to the travel guidelines required by CDC and CDPH. Students in the residence halls are expected to provide proof of testing or should plan to quarantine for the required period. Students can submit their test result(s) to Residence Life and change their arrival date (if necessary) by completing this form. Until January 26, students coming from an international location should also submit their pre-arrival test result to Residence Life; after January 26, this will no longer be necessary as airlines will require it. For more information about the order or how it affects students in the residence halls, download our handout here (note that this handout is currently being updated with the new tiers).

Thank you for your cooperation with these important health and safety protocols. We will reach out if there are any additional changes that impact our community. If you have any questions about how they apply to your unique situation, please contact saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Debbie Martin
Dean of Student Life

Dear SAIC Students,

We know this has been a challenging year, and as you prepare to wrap up the fall semester, we hope you are able to find rest and relaxation during the break. As you plan for the semester ahead, we want to share that the School's Board has approved our recommendation to not increase tuition for the 2021–22 academic year, which begins in the fall of 2021. The technology fee will also remain flat. 

If you have any questions about your tuition package and/or financial support and resources that may be available, please contact Student Financial Services at saic.sfs@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Elissa Tenny
President

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dear SAIC Students,
 
Thank you for your help making the fall semester a success! As we look ahead to the spring, we will host a webinar on Thursday, December 17, at 6:30 p.m. CT, devoted to helping you manage the requirements of Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order. 

The travel order should be reviewed by individuals who travel outside of the State of Illinois, including those traveling internationally, and applies to students who live both on and off campus. In this webinar we will discuss the mandatory 14-day quarantine and explain in what limited circumstances students might be able to take a COVID-19 test to reduce or eliminate the quarantine period.

We will have a short presentation and will also be taking questions both ahead of the webinar and during the event. Please email stulife@saic.edu by Wednesday, December 16, at 12:00 p.m. CT to submit your question ahead of time.  
When it's time to attend the meeting:
 
Please Click Here to Participate

You can also call in if you are unable to join by video:
Dial 312.626.6799 or 646.876.9923. Webinar ID: 868 0758 5265

International numbers are available here

We recommend joining the meeting five minutes prior to the start to ensure you are connecting properly. Having trouble connecting? Please try following these preparatory tips:

• The Chrome browser works well with Zoom. You can download the latest version here.
• Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom. If you're on a computer, check the updates for macOS and Windows. If you're on your phone, check the updates for iOS and Android. For tech questions, click here.
• The interface will allow you to pose questions in writing during the meeting.

Thank you,

Debbie Martin
Dean of Student Life

Dear SAIC Community,

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise across the country, yesterday Governor Pritzker announced further actions to curtail the spread in Illinois. Effective at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 20, Illinois will move into Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations, which lowers capacity limits and increases restrictions on restaurants, retail, health centers, hotels, and other settings so that they can remain open (see graphic below). It is important to note that with these new mitigations, Illinois will remain in phase four of the Restore Illinois plan, which allows institutions of higher education to remain open.

Because of the School’s existing health and safety protocols, which include de-densification, enhanced cleaning, and changes to our physical spaces, and the commitment you’ve shown to upholding our shared responsibilities, there are no additional changes to our campus operations at this time. We anticipate completing the semester as planned, ensuring faculty and students can complete their on-campus teaching and learning, and we will move to fully online learning after Thanksgiving Break (November 25–29). We will continue to monitor the situation and reach out if we anticipate any changes to the remaining weeks of the fall semester.

All School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) departments and offices will assess their own on-campus staffing levels to ensure there is no interruption to student support. Faculty seeking to make adjustments to their modified in-person classes should contact Interim Dean of Faculty Shawn Michelle Smith at ssmith8@saic.edu. Vice presidents are evaluating the possibility of further staff de-densification, and supervisors will contact affected staff if work adjustments are needed.

SAIC Galleries will closely follow the reduced capacity requirements and remain open by appointment only until Tuesday, November 24, as planned. The new Illinois mitigation measures will require museums, such as the Art Institute of Chicago, to close temporarily, so please note that students, faculty, and staff no longer have access. We do not yet know when the museum will reopen.

As a reminder, on Wednesday, November 25, all buildings, except residence halls, will close at 7:00 p.m. for Thanksgiving Break and will reopen at 7:00 a.m on Friday, November 27. All in-person instruction will conclude by the Thanksgiving holiday and will resume online for the remainder of the semester. If you are traveling outside of Chicago for Thanksgiving Break, we discourage you from returning to campus.

Beginning Monday, November 30, and continuing to the end of the fall term on Monday, December 21, academic buildings will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. Overnight access will be available to students between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Please review this message from October 6 regarding limited access to facilities after Thanksgiving Break.

We know that the level of spread throughout the US is concerning, and we are grateful for all that you’ve done to take care of one another and reduce the risk to our campus. No matter how you’re spending your Thanksgiving Break, please continue to be diligent in your health practices to keep yourself safe and promote the safety of those around you. 

Sincerely,

Shawn Michelle Smith
Interim Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Tom Buechele
Vice President, Campus Operations

Source: Restore Illinois, Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigations

Dear SAIC Community,

Recently, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued new state recommendations and Protect Chicago measures to ensure businesses and schools can remain open while reducing the COVID-19 positivity rate. We reviewed these recommendations and consulted with public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC. Given the health and safety measures the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has already implemented, including campus de-densification and making sure those who are on campus are adhering to our shared responsibilities, our Make Ready protocols already meet the new city and state recommendations, and there will be no additional changes to operations at this time.

During this critical moment for our city and state, please keep practicing our shared responsibilities and continue to be vigilant. Earlier this week, we shared guidance with our community on how to mitigate risk during Thanksgiving Break. If you haven’t already, please review this message and take the necessary steps to ensure you’re celebrating the holiday safely.

We will continue to monitor the situation and reach out if we anticipate any changes to the remaining weeks of the fall semester. If you have additional questions, staff are encouraged to contact their supervisors, and community members should send questions to saicinfo@saic.edu.

Thank you for everything you are doing to take care of one another during these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President, Campus Operations 

Dear SAIC Community,

With just over two weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, we want to share guidance we received from the American College Health Association to help you celebrate the break safely. This guidance has been reviewed and endorsed by public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC.

Students who are traveling outside of Chicago for break are discouraged from returning to campus for the remaining three weeks of the semester.

If you are traveling outside of Chicago, please note that Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order was recently updated. Under the new system, states are placed in three categories—red, orange, and yellow—based on the status of their outbreak. Those traveling to red states will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Chicago, and those traveling to orange states will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Chicago or quarantine for a 14-day period. This list changes frequently, so you are encouraged to check it often. If your travel destination is made red or orange while you are traveling, you will need to follow the necessary requirements. 

Below please find strategies to minimize the risk of infection.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President, Campus Operations 
 
At Least Two Weeks Before Departure

• Get a flu vaccination.
  • Students: You can obtain a flu shot at no cost through the Wellness Center. For those off campus, flu shots are covered for students with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)-sponsored health insurance plan at all in-network pharmacies, including Walgreens, Osco, Walmart, and Meijer. Read more for details.
  • Faculty and staff: All employees who have insurance through SAIC’s provider Blue Cross Blue Shield are able to get their flu shot fully covered. Non-benefits-eligible employees may receive a voucher for a free flu shot at Walgreens. Read more for details.
• Review the regulations governing travel to your destination. Some states require the completion of a traveler's form prior to arrival, along with specific restrictions and testing requirements after arrival. Understand requirements under Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order for when you return, and as mentioned above, if your travel destination is made red or orange while you are traveling, you will need to follow the necessary instructions. 
• Minimize risk of exposure and infection during the weeks leading to departure from campus. Any exposure could disrupt plans to go home. If you become infected, or if you are exposed to a person who is confirmed to be infected, you will need to isolate or quarantine before traveling. Travelers who are ill, infected, or have recently been exposed to the virus will not be allowed to board airplanes and trains.
• Reduce the number of people with whom you have close contact prior to the trip. Any close interaction with persons outside your immediate household or residence hall room will present an opportunity for infection.

Day of Travel Advice

• Reduce the number of stops on the trip. Take a direct flight if possible, and if driving, pack food/snacks for the car trip home.
• Delay travel if sick or exposed. Anyone feeling ill, recently diagnosed with COVID-19 (within 10 days), or exposed to someone with COVID-19 (within 14 days) should self-isolate and delay travel.
• Take safety precautions during travel, especially if using public transportation. Wear a face covering at all times and consider also wearing a face shield. Stay at least six feet away from other people; if that’s not possible on public transportation, sit as far away from other passengers as possible. Carry and use hand sanitizer (with at least 60 percent alcohol) frequently.
• Use a disinfecting/sanitizing wipe to clean any touchable surfaces in the vehicle in which you are traveling. This includes planes, trains, and other forms of transportation.
• Re-check for any requirements or restrictions at your travel destination.
• The least risky option is private transportation by yourself or with your family members. If you’re in a car with others outside of the household, wear a mask and sit in the back seat if someone else is driving. If weather conditions permit, open the windows.

Arrival Advice

• The most cautious approach upon arrival to your destination is to quarantine for the first 14 days. This is especially important if you are staying with vulnerable, higher risk individuals and/or there is high prevalence in the local community surrounding the campus.
  • Quarantining includes eating meals in a private space or outdoors with others at least six feet apart.
  • Use separate serving ware, utensils, glasses, and plates.
  • Use a separate bathroom from others. If that’s not possible, disinfect the bathroom after each use.
  • Avoid physical contact including hugging, kissing, and shaking hands.
  • Wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet when in the presence of others.
  • Restrict movement within and outside the place you are staying.
• If quarantine is not possible, stay physically distant from others, wear a face covering, and avoid close contact, including hugging and shaking hands, for the first 14 days.
• Consider placing HEPA filter units in the place you are staying and opening windows to increase air circulation.

Health Resources

• Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. If you show signs or symptoms or are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19:
  • Students: Contact your primary care provider or SAIC’s Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288, and you will be directed to the nearest clinic for additional instructions.
  • Faculty and staff: Notify Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu and your primary care provider.
• If you are a non-benefits-eligible employee, you may be able to receive a reimbursement for COVID-19 services, including tests, and telehealth support. Read more for details.

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As we head into the final weeks of in-person teaching and learning this fall, I want to recognize your outstanding work in ensuring our safe return to on-campus operations. Your commitment to our shared responsibilities made in-person instruction possible, and I want to thank you for your efforts.

I also want to share with you an update on Spring Break, an important change to Study Abroad, and a reminder about Thanksgiving Break. Earlier today, we shared this message with students containing key dates for the remainder of the fall semester and updates to our spring semester. There are three important points I want to draw to your attention:

An Update to Spring Break
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (SAIC) Spring Break typically takes place over a Thursday through Sunday in March. Because our spring calendar has shifted slightly from previous years, and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 due to possible travel during this time, we will not take a break in March, and the staff holiday that coincides with our typical Spring Break will now take place on Monday, January 4, extending your winter break.

Additionally, the semester will end a few days early: the last day of classes for spring 2021 will be Wednesday, May 12.

Study Abroad Suspended for the Time Being
After careful consideration this summer of the dangers posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the health and wellness of our students and faculty, SAIC made the difficult decision to suspend all Study Abroad exchange programs and study trips until further notice. At that time, we communicated with affected faculty and students about the summer and fall semesters.

This suspension of Study Abroad now includes programs for the winter, spring, and summer 2021 terms. Given that this decision may impact some students’ plans for completing their degrees, we are working with the Dean’s Office and Academic Advising to address the concerns of individual students. We share in the disappointment of our students and faculty and are committed to working with students as we look for ways to safely resume our programs. At this point SAIC does not expect to resume Study Abroad before 2022.

A Reminder about Thanksgiving Break
As we’ve previously shared, all in-person instruction will conclude by November 24 and move online for the remainder of the semester.

As stated in our October 6 message, if you are traveling outside of Chicago for Thanksgiving Break, please note that Chicago’s Emergency Travel Order requires individuals coming from 32 states and territories experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Chicago. This list changes frequently, so you are encouraged to check it often. If your travel destination is added to the required quarantine list while you are traveling, you will need to quarantine for 14 days upon your return. In the coming days, we’ll be sharing more information with you on mitigating the risk over Thanksgiving Break, particularly if you plan to travel.

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs 

Dear SAIC Community,
 
Next Thursday, September 10, from 12:00 p.m. CT to 1:00 p.m. CT, we're hosting a new Make Ready forum on wellness, community building, and support. Given the importance of taking care of ourselves and one another as we transition into the fall term, we want to host a special space for students, faculty, and staff.
When it's time to attend the meeting:
 
Please Click Here to Participate
Password: SAIC910

You can also call in if you are unable to join by video:
Dial 312.626.6799 or 646.876.9923. Webinar ID: 936 3585 8505
International numbers are available here

We recommend joining the meeting five minutes prior to the start to ensure you are connecting properly. Having trouble connecting? Please try following these preparatory tips:
The Chrome browser works well with Zoom. You can download the latest version here.

Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom. If you're on a computer, check the updates for macOS and Windows. If you're on your phone, check the updates for iOS and Android. For tech questions, click here.
The interface will allow you to pose questions in writing during the meeting.
Thank you,

Make Ready Advisory Group

Dear SAIC Community,
 
As we return to teaching and learning today, I want to share an update on shared spaces and reserving rooms on campus.

Shared Spaces and Reserving Rooms
All School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) lounge spaces and dining facilities have social distancing measures in place and are open to all students, faculty, and staff. The SAIC Ballroom has been temporarily converted to a dining space, and room 120 of the 280 South Columbus Drive building has been temporarily converted to a lounge space.

There are also a number of spaces available across campus that students and/or faculty can reserve when they are in need of a quiet place to study, work, or engage in an online class. These spaces must be requested via the EMS Space Reservation System (SRS). A comprehensive list of these spaces can be found here. Please note, there are separate tabs on the document for student, faculty, and staff spaces. For help navigating the SRS, please see the user guide. SAIC conference rooms located in the Sharp Building, Sullivan Center, MacLean Building, and Lakeview Building can be reserved via Google Calendar.

As a reminder, in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all student group/organization events and meetings must occur virtually.

As always, for the latest updates, please review saic.edu/makeready, and if you have questions, please email saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sending all best wishes for a good semester,

Shawn Michelle Smith
Interim Dean of Faculty

Dear SAIC Community,
 
We are writing to inform you of a positive case of COVID-19 among our community. A parent who tested positive was on campus in Jones Hall on Saturday, August 29. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Case Management Team has conducted contact tracing to establish the individual’s close contacts (defined below), and we've contacted all close contacts. If you have not received a call from SAIC’s Case Management Team, you were not identified as a close contact, and you are not considered to have been exposed.

A close contact is defined by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) as someone who was within six feet of the infected person for 15 minutes or more cumulatively in a single day starting from two days before the person began feeling sick or tested positive until the time they were isolated. Examples of close contacts may include:

• Someone who was within six feet of an infected person for 15 minutes or more cumulatively in a single day
• Someone who provided care at home to an infected person
• Someone who had direct physical contact with the infected person (hugged or kissed them)
• Someone who shared eating or drinking utensils
• Someone who has been sneezed on, coughed on, or somehow got respiratory droplets on them from an infected person
• A roommate of an infected person

So, who is not a close contact? Anyone who has had incidental contact to a positive case is generally low risk and not deemed a close contact. Examples of scenarios that would likely not lead to being a close contact include:

• Passing a positive case in the hallway
• Working in the same building as a positive case
• Riding in the same elevator as a positive case
• Being in a classroom with a positive case, as long as that classroom is applying good physical distancing practices and everyone is wearing face coverings

SAIC’s Case Management Team treats information sensitively and consistent with applicable Illinois State, HIPAA, and FERPA laws. Due to the privacy of our community members, we are unable to share further details about the individual affected. 

Below you’ll find more information on public health guidance and SAIC’s response. As a reminder, please visit saic.edu/makeready for the latest updates.

Thank you,

SAIC’s Case Management Team
 
Public Health Guidance
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. If you show signs or symptoms or are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19:

• Students: Contact SAIC’s Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288, and you will be directed to the nearest clinic for additional instructions.
• Faculty and staff: Notify Human Resources at saic.covid.report@saic.edu and your primary care provider.

SAIC’s Response to Positive Cases
All of us should operate under the assumption that there are positive cases in Chicago and on campus; therefore, it is critical that members of our community who test positive or may have been exposed notify SAIC immediately so we can identify others who may have been exposed.

Upon notification of a positive case, we will:

• Conduct contact tracing to identify close contacts (defined by the CDPH as someone who was within six feet of the positive case for 15 or more minutes cumulatively starting from two days before the person began feeling sick or tested positive until the time they were isolated).
• Inform students, faculty, and staff via email of a positive case on campus. We will send an email notification to our community for infected individuals who have been on our campus in the last 14 days. For instance, if a community member is teaching, learning, or working remotely and has not been on campus in the last 14 days, we will not send a notification because there is no risk of transmission by that person to other community members. 
• Provide deep cleaning to affected spaces before anyone is allowed to return to the space.
• Update the COVID-19 Case Tracker. The tracker will be updated every Wednesday by 6:00 p.m. CT with confirmed cases among the community.

More details can be found here.

Dear SAIC Community,

Below, please find updates on building and facilities access and resources and services available to students, faculty, and staff.

All rooms with electronic locks will remain locked 24/7, and auto-unlock schedules will be removed from all doors. The "double tap" functionality to place a door in an unlocked state will be removed. Faculty and students will have access to their specific classrooms via their ARTICard. For questions regarding door access, email articard@saic.edu.

Additionally, as you prepare to return to campus, we want to make you aware of an update to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) protocol around face coverings: washable cloth face coverings or disposable single-use masks continue to be recommended for our community. Bandanas and neck gaiters are less effective than other coverings and will be prohibited. Masks with a relief valve will continue to be prohibited. Please review information on face coverings here. As always, if you have any questions, please email saicinfo@saic.edu.

Building Hours and Access
Beginning Monday, August 31, at 7:00 a.m., SAIC's academic buildings will be open to current students, faculty, and staff.

• On August 31 and September 1, buildings will close at 11:00 p.m. and overnight access will not be available.
• Beginning September 2, building security desks will be staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and building entrances will be locked from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; however, overnight access is available, including to those who have a studio in 33 East Washington. Anyone wishing to use campus facilities after hours must obtain an overnight pass here.
• The new SAIC Galleries, located at 33 East Washington, will open this fall for in-person and virtual exhibitions. More information about exhibitions and accessing the gallery will be shared soon.

You can reach campus security any time by calling 312.899.1230 or using the “Emergency” button on any campus telephone. During overnight hours, Campus Security will monitor all facilities from our on-campus command center using security cameras installed across campus. Security staff will patrol the academic buildings and respond to requests for service.

Academic Advising
Academic Advisors are available to meet with students remotely. You can schedule a phone or virtual appointment directly with an advisor online through the Navigate Student app. If you have questions, email studenthelp@saic.edu or call 312.629.6800.

Advanced Output Center
Beginning September 2, staff will be available for online consultations via Zoom. Beginning September 17, laser cutting and other services will be available Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Click here for more information.

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX)
CAPX is offering remote career advising and programming. Students can schedule virtual career advising appointments, register for networking events, search for internships and jobs, and attend the Fall Virtual Internship and Job Expo on Handshake. Click here for more information.

Computer Resources and Information Technologies (CRIT) Computer Labs and Help Desk
The CRIT General Access Lab will be open with reduced capacity, but the CRIT Help Desk will maintain a virtual presence Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and staff are able to assist with technology needs and related questions. Any repairs, questions, and consultations will be initiated virtually. Contact CRIT via square.saic.edu, by emailing crithelpdesk@saic.edu, or by calling 312.345.3535. More information can be found at the CRIT website.

Events
There will be several artist talks, exhibitions, and other programming available to the SAIC community this fall. Check the This Week at SAIC newsletter, sent every Monday morning to students, faculty, and staff, for the latest events and details. Virtual and in-person events featured in the newsletter will be open to all members of SAIC’s campus community. For an event to be considered for inclusion in this weekly newsletter, please email communications@saic.edu by 9:00 a.m. on Friday with the name, time, and a link to learn more and/or register.

Food Service
On-campus dining is available to all students, faculty, and staff in the Neiman Center Café, Columbus Drive Café, and MacLean Café, now located in the SAIC Ballroom. Download the Transact Mobile Ordering app from the Google Play or App Store to place an order ahead of time. Click here for more information.

Instructional Fabrication Facilities and Shops
Instructional Fabrication facilities and shops, including the Columbus Metal Shop, Columbus Wood Shop, and the Columbus Digital Fabrication Studio, will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., beginning September 2. Departmental production facilities may have adjusted hours and modified service provisions. Virtual project consultations, shop time and equipment reservations, low-contact pickup options, and expanded online and digitized alternatives to in-person visits will be available. Click here for more information.

John M. Flaxman Library and Special Collections
The John M. Flaxman Library, Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection, Fashion Resource Center, Roger Brown Study Collection, and Video Data Bank spaces are open by appointment only.

• John M. Flaxman Library
  • Visits: Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
  • Material pick-up: Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
  • Accessing the John M. Flaxman Library remotely
  • More information
• Fashion Resource Center
  • Accessing the Fashion Resource Center remotely
  • More information
• Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection
  • Accessing the Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection remotely
  • More information
• Roger Brown Study Collection
  • Accessing the Roger Brown Study Collection remotely
  • More information
• Video Data Bank
  • Accessing the Video Data Bank remotely
  • Email info@vdb.org for more information

Material Source
Material Source in the Sharp Building and Columbus Drive Building will be open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., beginning September 2. Low contact transactions will be available. Click here for more information.

Media Centers
The Media Centers in the MacLean Center and Columbus Drive Building will be open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., beginning September 2. A reservation is required to check out resources, and equipment certification and training workshops are available online. Click here for more information.

On-Campus Printing and Service Bureau
Self-Service printing is offered for color and black-and-white printing, copying, and scanning, as well as large-format printing, in every campus building and the residence halls. Print Services is now providing simplified printing from a web portal or mobile device via SAIC's new pay-for-print software, PaperCut. Click here for more information or email saicprint@saic.edu. The Service Bureau counter will be closed for the fall semester; however, staff are available for remote consultations for all faculty, staff, and students. Click here for more information or email servicebureau@saic.edu.

SafeRide
SAIC’s on-demand ride-sharing service, SafeRide, will resume service on Saturday, August 29, at 9:00 p.m. The service will operate daily from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. To promote social distancing, capacity has been reduced to three riders at a time. All members of our community must wear a face covering or mask over their nose and mouth at all times while utilizing the SafeRide service. Click here for more information, including instructions on downloading the SafeRide app.

Wellness Center
Wellness Center staff are providing counseling, health, and disability support services remotely whenever possible and in-person care when necessary. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Wellness Center services at the following emails and phone numbers:

• Counseling Services: counselingservices@saic.edu, 312.499.4271
• Health Services: healthservices@saic.edu, 312.499.4288
• Disability and Learning Resource Center: dlrc@saic.edu, 312.499.4278

Writing Center
Writing Center tutors are available virtually to help currently enrolled students with their brainstorming, drafting, and editing. Tutors can assist with essays, artist statements, application materials, presentation texts, theses, proposals, and creative projects. Students can sign up for an online appointment here. Once the appointment is set, students will receive a confirmation with a Zoom link to meet with a tutor at the scheduled time. Students should prepare a Google document with any material they hope to review with a tutor. Please email wcenter@saic.edu with questions.

Dear SAIC Community,
 
As our campus buildings begin to open for the fall semester, we would like to highlight some of the changes that have been made to on-campus dining to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

We know you'll need to take off your face covering while eating, so please try to limit eating to 15 minutes or less. While the weather is nice, we strongly encourage you to go to the park or other outside areas to eat. If you live on campus, consider taking your food back to your room. Seating in the cafés will be limited, and much of the seating has been removed. Community members should refrain from eating in their classroom. It is also important to handle your face covering appropriately before and after eating. 

Below you’ll find more details on mobile ordering and changes to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) cafés.

Mobile Ordering
We encourage all community members to take advantage of mobile ordering, where you can place your order ahead of time and pick it up at a location outside of the café service and payment lines. In order to do this, download the Transact Mobile Ordering app from Google Play or the App Store. Once you download the app, select "SAIC Mobile Ordering" and sign in with your SAIC email address. The app takes both ARTICard payment (e.g., your meal plan) and credit cards. We encourage everyone to use the mobile ordering option whenever possible. Here you’ll find more information on the hours of operation and menus for each café. 

Neiman Center Café and Columbus Drive Café
Both of these cafés will continue to offer in-person ordering. The traffic flow of each café has changed to allow for physical distancing. Café staff will be serving food and drinks in the areas that were previously self-service. Cash will not be accepted as a form of payment in either café.

MacLean Café
The MacLean Café has been relocated to the SAIC Ballroom for the fall term. Barista drinks may be ordered in person and all food must be ordered though the Transact Mobile Ordering app. Since this café will be operating out of the ballroom kitchen, it will have greatly expanded offerings from previous years and will be able to handle an increased number of students, staff, and faculty.  

As a result of these changes, as well as the need to maintain distance while waiting for elevators on the first floor of the Sharp Building, neither the Neiman Center nor the SAIC Ballroom may be used for events this fall. As the term continues, we will re-evaluate options for the spring.

Safety of Food Service Employees
The following measures have been put in place to help mitigate the risk to Food for Thought employees: 

• Only food production team members are allowed in production areas;
• Suppliers are required to wear face coverings and gloves for any delivery;
• Food for Thought staff must properly wear protective face coverings and gloves, and change them throughout the day; and
• Food for Thought staff are regularly wiping down surfaces in the kitchen, cafés, and seating areas.

To do your part, please continue to use your face covering and maintain physical distance while in the cafés, just as you would in other areas of campus.

For the latest updates, please visit saic.edu/makeready.

Sincerely,

Office of Student Affairs

Dear SAIC Community,
 
We're writing to share an important update on student workers for the fall semester. If budgets allow, departments may hire students who are physically present in the US to work over the fall term, beginning September 2 and ending December 21. Students may work from anywhere in the US or in-person based on the job responsibilities and will be paid at standard rates. These positions are open to either international or domestic students living anywhere in the US.

However, due to significant legal and tax implications, we are unable to employ domestic or international students who are abroad this semester, even if they are US citizens or international students with a valid visa. After thorough research, we found that employing students who reside abroad subjects the School and museum to new income and social tax reporting and payment requirements. Given the tax complexities of each individual country, we are unable to manage these requirements.

While we are unable to employ these students, we are committed to providing a tuition offset to international students living abroad who have already been offered TA positions as part of their admission package equal to the value of their TA job. We will also pay to fill these TA positions with students residing in the US for the fall semester. In addition, we will also provide tuition offsets to any other international undergraduate or graduate student living abroad who has already accepted student employment, as of August 21, for the 2020–21 academic year. New offers to students living abroad may not be extended.

We know this is a challenging time, and we are committed to supporting our students as best as we can this fall. Please email Student Payroll at studentpayroll@saic.edu if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Student Payroll

Dear SAIC Community,
 
We are writing to inform you of a positive case of COVID-19 among our community. The staff member was on campus in the 33 East Washington building yesterday, August 20. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Case Management Team has conducted contact tracing to establish the individual’s close contacts, defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as those who were within six feet of the infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from two days before the person began feeling sick or tested positive until the time they were isolated. If you have not received a call from SAIC’s Case Management Team, you were not identified as a close contact, and your risk to exposure is considered low.

SAIC’s Case Management Team treats information sensitively and consistent with applicable Illinois State, HIPAA, and FERPA laws. Due to the privacy of our community members, we are unable to share further details about the individual affected. As a reminder, please visit saic.edu/makeready for information about contact tracing, shared responsibilities, health guidance, and FAQs.

Thank you,

SAIC’s Case Management Team

Dear SAIC Community,
 
In less than two weeks, we’ll officially begin our fall term and continue to welcome many of our students, staff, and faculty back to campus. While we’ve taken a number of measures to prepare the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) campus, it is up to all of us to uphold our shared responsibilities. By September 2, all SAIC community members will be required to complete a mandatory virtual training. This is required even if you don't plan to be on campus this fall.

Next week, students will be emailed a link from Canvas, and staff and faculty will be emailed a link from Bridge to take this training course. At the end of the training, you will complete your Community Commitment. If you don’t receive an invitation, please reach out to saic-envsafety@saic.edu.

You will only need to take the training and make your Community Commitment once, but there are several things you should do daily before heading to campus. Read more about the expectations here.

Thank you for doing your part to help us mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Best,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations

Dear SAIC Community,
 
We invite you to join us for next week's Make Ready Forum:
 
Getting Ready to Teach
Thursday, August 20, 12:00 p.m. CT
Topics include: instructional and academic resources; online teaching support; and access to resources, including shops, the museum, and libraries
Please submit your questions by 5:00 p.m. CT on Monday, August 17, to saicinfo@saic.edu. We will also set aside time to answer any questions that you may have during the forum itself.

Submit Your Question

When it's time to attend the meeting:
 
Please Click Here to Participate
Password: SAIC820

You can also call in if you are unable to join by video:
Dial 312.626.6799 or 646.876.9923. Webinar ID: 968 0474 9989
International numbers are available here

We recommend joining the meeting five minutes prior to the start to ensure you are connecting properly. Having trouble connecting? Please try following these preparatory tips:

• The Chrome browser works well with Zoom. You can download the latest version here.
• Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom. If you're on a computer, check the updates for macOS and Windows. If you're on your phone, check the updates for iOS and Android. For tech questions, click here.
• The interface will allow you to pose questions in writing during the meeting.

Thank you,

Tom Buechele
Vice President
Campus Operations

Dear SAIC Community,

The global pandemic has caused a seismic shift in our routines and plans, and there is no doubt that when we return to School for the fall semester, learning, teaching, working, and living on campus will be different. Since most of us left campus in March, teams of faculty, staff, and students have been diligently working to prepare for our return while mitigating the risk of transmission through new processes, protocols, and physical changes to our classrooms, offices, and shops. 

We remain committed to preparing for a return to campus that pays careful attention to the health and safety of all members of our community. We are now in step two of our three-step return-to-campus plan, which has us developing and implementing department-specific protocols. We’ve contracted public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, to review the School’s plans and provide recommendations and guidance that inform every aspect of our policy decision-making process. We are committed to implementing all of Dr. Rebmann’s recommended changes.

This email provides more details on:

• Expectations before you return to campus
• Personal safety kits
• What to expect when you arrive on campus
• Traveling to campus

While things will look a bit different on SAIC’s campus, what will remain the same is the dedication of our faculty and staff in providing a world-class learning environment, including the support and resources needed, to help our students achieve their creative and academic goals. We look forward to seeing you in September.
 
Sincerely,
Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Before You Return to Campus

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has taken a number of measures to mitigate the risk of infection, but it is critical that members of our community partner with us to uphold our shared responsibilities to protect the health of everyone in the community. Before you come to campus, you will be required to:

• Make a community commitment to demonstrate respect for our community members by following all guidance provided. All students, faculty, staff, and visitors must follow the community commitment, which will be shared with you this week.
• Monitor your health through a daily symptom checklist and daily temperature checks before you come to campus.
• Observe social distancing while on campus, paying close attention to restrictions around capacity limits and following directions for queuing for elevators and cafés.
• Participate in mandatory training to understand your role in mitigating the spread of the disease on our campus.

What You Can Expect

Health and Safety Measures In Place

• SAIC is following all guidelines from the Chicago Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other local and national health authorities
• Reduced density of students, faculty, and staff on campus
• Face coverings required upon entry to all SAIC buildings and in public areas and shared spaces
• All students, faculty, and staff will receive a starter pack of face masks
• All students, faculty, and staff will receive thermometers to check their temperatures daily before coming to campus
• All students, faculty, and staff will receive a COVID-19 symptom checklist to review daily before coming to campus
• Plexiglass partitions have been installed at all points of entry, open offices, and labs where six feet of physical distance cannot be consistently maintained
• Posted health, safety, and physical distancing signage in all classrooms, studios, instructional support spaces, and common areas
• Created detailed plans for all lobbies to allow for distancing; wayfinding signage and stanchions in place for traffic flow
• Drafted new floor plans for classrooms, lounge spaces, the Neiman Center, and SAIC Ballroom to allow for distancing
• Number of people allowed in an elevator will be capped at four with floor markers directing riders
• Created additional study spaces on campus to promote physical distancing
• Added tents outside of the Columbus Drive building to be used for outdoor classes and meeting spaces
• Increased housekeeping and sanitation in high-usage rooms and high-traffic spaces, and for frequently touched objects
• Increased housekeeping and sanitation in spaces like restrooms, lobbies, elevators, and cafés throughout the day
• During overnight hours all classrooms, studios, and common areas will be cleaned
• Installed campus sanitation kits in all classrooms, common areas, and office cores
• Cleaning protocols have been developed for each department
• Upgraded HVAC filtration to filter out biological contaminants in buildings where we don’t already have either carbon or UV filtration systems
• Increased the percentage of outside air brought into a building from 40 to 60 percent, where environmental conditions permit
• All restrooms have direct ventilation to the outdoors, providing consistent fresh air and removal of contaminants
• All spaces on campus have an air exchange of three to four times per hour. Air removed from campus spaces is filtered and mixed with outside air before being brought back into the building

Flexibility in Teaching, Learning, and Working

• Two options for taking courses: modified in-person and all-online
• Advisors will work with students to finalize a schedule that fits their needs
• Remote working accommodations made for staff and faculty
• Flexibility in remote teaching, learning, and working if you or a member of your household contracts the virus

New Policies to Mitigate the Risk on Our Campus

• All nonessential travel sponsored by SAIC will continue to be suspended for all faculty, staff, and students
• For now, all visitors, with the exception of essential personnel doing business on campus, will be unable to be on SAIC’s campus
• Policies being developed to address staff paid time off
• Policies being developed to outline protocol for positive cases on campus

Traveling to Campus

While we’re financially unable to support the parking or other travel fees for those who will be on campus, we want to make you aware that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) recently launched its Ridership Information Dashboard. This tool is intended to help those taking CTA buses or trains better plan and avoid heavy ridership.

Dear SAIC Faculty,
 
As you’re preparing for the fall semester, please be sure to join us for Canvas workshops every weekday, 2:00–3:00 p.m., beginning today.
 
Every Monday through Friday
2:00–3:00 p.m. CT
Click here to join

Whether you're teaching a modified in-person or all-online course (or both), using the Canvas LMS platform will be an important component of your teaching this term. These workshops are intended to offer all faculty more information on critical tools to help you deliver curriculum through uncertainty or disruption and remain flexible in any teaching scenario you may encounter in the semester ahead.

In the first 30 minutes, we will cover topics that have been frequent requests from faculty teaching in the spring and summer terms. The rest of the time will be guided by the needs and questions from participants.

Topics will include:

• Importing content from a previous course
• Using Modules to organize course content
• Uploading and recording video using Panopto
• Canvas Zoom integration
• Creating graded Discussions for students to share images and presentations
• Scheduling student appointments
• Making PDFs accessible and using Ally in Canvas
• Taking attendance

Download the Zoom client in advance of your workshop.
 
Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom. If you're on a computer, check the updates for macOS and Windows. If you're on your phone, check the updates for iOS and Android. For tech questions, click here.

Thank you,

Todd Chilton
Director of Educational Technology Advancement and Instructional Design
Computer Resources and Information Technologies

Jill Lanza
Assistant Director of Educational Technology Advancement and Training
Computer Resources and Information Technologies

Dear SAIC Students,

As a result of discussions with Student Government and the Graduate Senate, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has decided to revise its audit policy for currently enrolled students whose spring 2020 semesters were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning in the spring 2021 semester, undergraduate students entering their second, third, or fourth years this fall and second-year graduate students may audit six credits worth of courses either during their enrollment or within two years of graduation.

There will be no charge for these audited courses, and eligible students will be allowed to audit both studio and academic courses. Additional details are shared below:

• The ability to audit a given course is contingent on seat availability.
• International students may audit courses after graduation while they are on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
• Students do not get credit for audited courses, which means they do not fulfill graduation requirements.

The current audit policy will remain in place for the fall. If you have any questions about this shift, undergraduate students should reach out to their academic advisor and graduate students should contact their department’s graduate coordinator.

Best,

Dawn Gavin
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Arnold J. Kemp
Dean of Graduate Studies

Dear SAIC Community,

We are looking forward to coming together, both in person and virtually, this fall semester. As outlined in Make Ready: SAIC’s Framework for Returning to Campus, one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 is for all community members to commit to monitoring our health and reducing our exposure. In order for us to have a successful fall semester, we must all take an active role in these efforts, of which quarantine is an essential component.

I am writing today to provide information about the quarantine expectations for all students returning to campus this fall. These guidelines fall into two categories: 1. Expectations for students who live in areas that are mandated by federal and local health agencies to quarantine upon arrival in Chicago; and 2. Expectations for all other students who are strongly recommended, prior to coming to Chicago, to quarantine at home or in their off-campus apartment.

Regardless of where you will be living, all students enrolled in classes for the fall semester are required to inform the School of their quarantine plans by completing this form.

Quarantine Expectations Mandated by Federal and Local Health Agencies
Current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) requires students traveling from abroad or from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Chicago. We recommend all students coming from these areas arrive in Chicago two weeks prior to their first class or by August 18. If a student is unable to arrive by this date and misses in-person class activity as a result, faculty will be prepared to work with them while they complete this required quarantine. This order applies to students who live both on- and off-campus. Individuals in quarantine should not leave their room/apartment for the entire 14-day quarantine period unless they need medical care. We recommend you review the guidance in the Chicago Emergency Travel Order so that you can best understand these requirements.

SAIC-Recommended Quarantine for All Other Students
We recommend that, prior to coming to Chicago, all students who are not coming from abroad or states that are included in the Chicago Emergency Travel Order quarantine at home or in their off-campus apartment. While this is not required by state and federal guidelines, this is one of the best ways for all of us to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Traveling Outside of Illinois During the Thanksgiving Break
All classes will be delivered online after the Thanksgiving break. However, campus facilities such as studios, shops, and residence halls will remain open until the end of the semester. Students who do not travel for the Thanksgiving holiday will have access to these facilities. Students who do travel outside of Illinois must quarantine for 14 days after arriving back in Chicago before they are allowed back on campus (students who live on campus can quarantine in their residence hall room).

Frequently Asked Questions
Please see below for a few of the most frequently asked questions. We will also have more FAQs on our website next week.

Webinar: Quarantine Questions
On Sunday, August 9, at 6:30 p.m. CT, SAIC will host a webinar devoted to quarantine requirements and resources. This will be especially useful for students who live on campus, as we will detail our procedures for the residence halls. We encourage you to submit questions ahead of time to stulife@saic.edu with the subject line Forum on Quarantine.

Click here to join the webinar.
Password: SAIC809
You can also call in if you're unable to join by video: Dial 312.626.6799 or 646.876.9923.
Webinar ID: 973 0624 5434
International numbers are available here.

Sincerely,

Debbie Martin
Dean of Student Life
 
What is a quarantine?
Quarantine separates people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 from others to prevent the transmission that occurs either before someone knows they are sick or if they are infected but do not have any symptoms.

Who is required to quarantine?
Students who are traveling from an international location or from a state that is experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Chicago. We recommend all students coming from these areas arrive in Chicago two weeks prior to their first class or by August 18. If a student is unable to arrive by this date and misses in-person class activity as a result, faculty will be prepared to work with them while they complete this required quarantine. This order applies to students who live both on- and off-campus.

We also recommend that, prior to coming to Chicago, all students who are not coming from abroad or states that are included in the Chicago Emergency Travel Order quarantine at home or in their off-campus apartment. While this is not required by state and federal guidelines, this is one of the best ways for all of us to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19.

What type of documentation of my quarantine will SAIC require?
All students enrolled in classes for the fall semester are required to inform the School of their quarantine plans by completing this form.

What if my state is added after I show up in Chicago?
The Chicago Emergency Travel Order is updated every Tuesday and goes into effect the following Friday. We are recommending that all students quarantine at their home prior to arriving in Chicago, even if they do not have to fulfill the required quarantine. If your state is added to the list after you arrive, you will not be required to quarantine.

I am a parent/family member. If I am from a state that requires quarantine, do I need to stay for 14 days after I drop off my student?
We encourage you to review the Chicago Emergency Travel Order. If you are dropping off your student, you are allowed to do so but should otherwise quarantine in your hotel or other residence while in Chicago. You should not go out to eat, visit stores, etc. You do not have to stay in Chicago for 14 days; you just need to make sure to quarantine for the entire time you are in Chicago if that is less than 14 days.

Can I quarantine with my family?
On-campus students can quarantine off-campus with a family member. Guests will not be allowed in any SAIC-provided quarantine spaces.

If I live on campus, will I quarantine in my residence hall room?
Residents will be able to quarantine in a residence hall room space at no additional cost. This could include your assigned residence hall room or a different residence hall room on campus. Students who live in double rooms will be assigned a single for the quarantine period. Because the Buckingham has private bedrooms, students who live in the Buckingham will quarantine in their own apartment.

Can I leave my room/apartment during quarantine?
If you are asked to quarantine, you should stay in your room or apartment—avoiding common areas of your building, including the hallway, elevators, and lounge spaces—until your quarantine period ends. If you live with others:

• Stay in a separate room as much as possible;
• Wear a face covering when in shared spaces;
• Use separate materials to prepare food and eat;
• Avoid spending too much time within close proximity (within six feet) of others in the space; and
• Take extra care to practice good sanitation by wiping down surfaces, particularly in shared spaces like bathrooms and kitchens.

What if I need food or personal care items?
We recommend utilizing a grocery delivery service such as Amazon Fresh, Shipt, or Instacart. Many grocery stores or pharmacies will let you order directly from them for delivery as well. In the residence halls, we recommend ordering directly from Mariano’s (333 E. Benton Place) via Instacart, Target (1 S. State St.) via Shipt, or Jewel-Osco (550 N. State St.) direct from the store. Details for delivery windows for residence hall students will be available.

On-campus students also have the option to order lunch and/or dinner from SAIC’s cafes. More details will be provided at move-in.

How can I get to know other students during quarantine?
New Student Orientation will occur from August 10-31. We strongly encourage students to participate in all Orientation activities. The Office of Students Affairs has also planned a number of virtual programs which students will be notified about in the coming weeks.

You are receiving this message because you will have 90 or more credits completed by the start of the fall 2020 semester. This is the cutoff for senior status, and this message is being sent to all senior students to inform you of an important adjustment to your graduation requirements. We anticipate this change will make it easier for some of you to complete your remaining credits.

Waiving Off-Campus Requirement for Current Seniors 
As a result of the disruption to off-campus course options due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) will automatically waive any remaining off-campus credit requirements for all enrolled seniors (any student receiving this message). You do not need to take any further action to have this waiver applied to your degree audit. If you have already completed six credits in off-campus settings, this adjustment will have no direct impact.

Please note: All SAIC students are still required to complete 126 credits to complete a bachelor’s degree. All seniors benefiting from this waiver still need to complete all 126 credits in coursework as required by your degree (BFA, BAAH, BAVS, BFAAE, BFAW).

If you have questions about your degree progress or remaining requirements, please contact the Academic Advising office to arrange an appointment to speak with an academic advisor at studenthelp@saic.edu or 312.629.6800.

Sincerely,

Paul Jackson
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Dear Faculty,

As you prepare your courses for the fall semester, we wanted to share resources that will help in that planning. It is our intention to provide you with guidance, training, and ongoing support to ensure that you have both agency and assistance in delivering your course content in both modified in-person and fully online formats. The Fall 2020 Teaching Guide on Canvas has been developed by the Schedule and Curriculum Support (SCS) Team and its various subgroups to support you as you plan your curriculum for the new context of fall 2020. Additionally, throughout the month of August we will be hosting a series of faculty workshops and conversations on teaching and learning for the fall semester.

The first of these workshops will focus on Modular Course Structure, and will be held on Thursday, August 6, from 1:00–2:00 p.m. CT and again from 3:00–4:00 p.m. CT. Organizing your course content in Canvas with a modular structure promotes curricular flexibility as individual modules can interrelate and can be interchangeable in sequence. Both modified in-person and fully online courses can utilize a modular structure to enable flexibility in the mode of delivery, allowing for student absences due to illness, an unforeseen change, or the rapid transition of an in-person course to a fully online delivery if circumstances warrant.

The following week there will be two workshops on Accessibility and Accommodations on Thursday, August 13, from 12:30–1:30 p.m. CT and again from 4:00–5:00 p.m. CT. The Zoom links for these workshops can be found below and also in the Fall 2020 Teaching Guide. 

Here are some additional links to online training videos focusing on our Canvas learning management system. We encourage you to utilize Canvas extensively as you prepare to teach in the fall and if you are not already familiar with the platform, the following links are a great place to start: 

Intro to Canvas for Faculty
Advanced Canvas Training
Additional Canvas Resources
Additional workshops and conversations will focus on building community in an online course, principles of online teaching, conducting critiques online, assignment scheduling and workload considerations, evaluation of student engagement and learning, and strategies for asynchronous teaching, amongst other topics. Please review the Fall 2020 Teaching Guide for the most up-to-date information on these opportunities.

Faculty Workshop: Modular Course Structure
Thursday, August 6, 1:00–2:00 p.m. CT
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 913 2557 2887
Passcode: 299987

Faculty Workshop: Modular Course Structure
Thursday, August 6, 3:00–4:00 p.m. CT
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID:  951 1186 6399
Passcode: 29998

Faculty Workshop: Accessibility and Accommodations
Thursday, August 13, 12:30–1:30 p.m. CT
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 388 394 5785
Passcode: SAIC2020

Faculty Workshop: Accessibility and Accommodations
Thursday, August 13, 4:00–5:00 p.m. CT
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 388 394 5785
Passcode: SAIC2020
 
Sincerely,

Delinda Collier
Interim Dean of Graduate Studies

Dawn Gavin
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Dwayne Moser
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies 

Workshops for Teaching and Learning Subgroup 

Dear SAIC Community,

We invite you to join us for next week's Make Ready Forum:

Our International Community, Travel, and Student Recruitment
Thursday, August 6, 12:00 p.m. CT
Topics will include obtaining visas for international students, recruiting students during the pandemic, and more

Please submit your questions by 5:00 p.m. CT on Monday, August 3, to saicinfo@saic.edu. We will also set aside time to answer any questions that you may have during the forum itself.
Submit Your Question Here.

When it's time to attend the meeting:
 Please Click Here to Participate
Password: SAIC806

You can also call in if you are unable to join by video:
Dial 312.626.6799 or 646.876.9923. Webinar ID: 937 4234 1520
International numbers are available here

We recommend joining the meeting five minutes prior to the start to ensure you are connecting properly. Having trouble connecting? Please try following these preparatory tips:

• The Chrome browser works well with Zoom. You can download the latest version here.
• Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom. If you're on a computer, check the updates for macOS and Windows. If you're on your phone, check the updates for iOS and Android. For tech questions, click here.
• The interface will allow you to pose questions in writing during the meeting.

Thank you,

Tom Buechele
Vice President
Campus Operations

Dear SAIC Community,

Last Tuesday, we shared a video presentation from public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, detailing the current state of the pandemic and mitigation efforts to help stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. On Sunday afternoon, we were made aware of an issue with a slide intended to show contact spread. While the slide included six images of how the virus is spread via contact, two of those images–one of a person of Asian descent sneezing and then one of a white person becoming infected by touching their face–reinforce a dangerous stereotype of the cause and spread of the disease. 

Once we were made aware, we immediately removed the presentation from our website and informed Dr. Rebmann. She replaced the slide in her presentation and asked that we extend her deepest apologies to our community. The new presentation is now available here.

I am sharing these details with you because I want to take this opportunity to clearly state that this virus is no one’s fault. While this depiction on the slide was unintentional, it is critical that we reject stereotyping given the concerning rhetoric being used by some government officials. Please know that we remain committed to fostering a campus community free from discrimination, and have updated this presentation as part of this commitment. 

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations

Dear SAIC Students,
As shared in last Wednesday’s fall semester update, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) will deliver each of our fall courses in one of two ways—courses will be held in a modified in-person format or fully online. Over the past few months, individual departments and faculty have been diligently working to create an engaging academic experience this fall, regardless of modality and with strong consideration for the needs of our students. Today, thanks to the collective effort of hundreds of faculty and staff, we are pleased to share with you that updated course schedules are now available. PeopleSoft Self-Service and the course information on saic.edu now provide information on how each course will be delivered.

You can review your updated academic schedule; weigh it against your needs, preferences, and circumstances; and make any necessary adjustments. You can also now search for courses specifically based on how they will be delivered: “Modified In-Person” or “All-Online.” Academic advisors will have extended hours this weekend to help undergraduate students finalize their schedule. See below for details. Graduate students can reach out to their graduate coordinator, program director, or administrative director to make any needed schedule adjustments. 

One set of schedule changes is still to come: we will slightly stagger class start and end times to support necessary physical distancing in our elevators, campus cafés, and other transitional spaces. We are finalizing the details of the staggered times and determining how they will be distributed across courses. We will make sure these changes act in harmony with each other, and as a result, do not create conflicts within a student’s existing course schedule.

While we will do everything possible to limit changes to the schedule from here on, we are still managing typical late-summer adjustments. For example, if SAIC is notified that an instructor can no longer teach a course as scheduled, we will do our best to identify a new faculty member and avoid having to cancel a fully enrolled course. Enrolled students will be notified of any such changes as quickly as possible, so they can review and update their own plans accordingly.

We have prepared this frequently asked questions document to help you review the updates to your courses and the schedule as a whole. Below, you’ll find further information to assist you in identifying the fall semester courses that best meet your needs and additional resources to help you finalize your plans. 

There is much to look forward to in the fall semester at SAIC, and we are all excited to see the intensive planning of this summer give way to teaching, learning, making, and studying together when classes begin on September 2.

Sincerely,

Shawn Michelle Smith
Interim Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Arnold J. Kemp
Dean of Graduate Studies

Dawn Gavin
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Dear SAIC Community,

On Thursday, July 23, from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT, the Make Ready Advisory Group will host a forum with public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC, addressing some of the most pressing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rebmann will answer questions from the community and the Make Ready Advisory Group. Closed captioning will be available. If you are unable to attend, a link to the recording will be posted on saic.edu/makeready. 

Prior to the town hall, please review Dr. Rebmann’s video presentation for an overview of the current state of the pandemic and mitigation efforts.

When it's time to attend the meeting:
 
Please Click Here to Participate
Password: SAIC723

You can also call in if you are unable to join by video:
Dial 312.626.6799 or 646.876.9923. Webinar ID: 937 8707 5476
International numbers are available here
 
Please submit your questions by 12:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, July 22. We will also set aside time to answer any questions that you may have during the forum itself.

Submit your question here.

We recommend joining the meeting five minutes prior to the start to ensure you are connecting properly. Having trouble connecting? Please try following these preparatory tips:

• The Chrome browser works well with Zoom. You can download the latest version here.
• Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom. If you're on a computer, check the updates for macOS and Windows. If you're on your phone, check the updates for iOS and Android. For tech questions, click here.
• The interface will allow you to pose questions in writing during the meeting; however, you are also encouraged to send questions in advance by writing to saicinfo@saic.edu. 

Thank you,

Tom Buechele
Vice President
Campus Operations

Dear Students,

As Provost Martin Berger and Vice President of Finance Brian Esker announced on July 10, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) received notification from the Department of Education that our Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant application was approved for funding. We want to share details on the application and distribution process.

The CARES Act established the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide grants to eligible students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to COVID-19. Students must be eligible for federal funding (must have filed a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to qualify for CARES Act grants.

The CARES Act identifies eligible expenses as those for food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, or childcare. Receipts or other documentation of expenses incurred are not required to complete the application.

The School plans to award CARES Act grants through the existing application for the Student Emergency Relief Fund.

Funding decisions will prioritize students with the greatest need. Students not eligible for CARES funding, and who have not previously received emergency support from the School, remain eligible to apply to the School’s Student Emergency Relief Fund.

CARES Act Funds Application
Students applying for CARES Act funds must submit their applications by Friday, August 7. Eligible students who apply in July will receive a CARES distribution in the amount of $300 soon after their application is submitted. We will endeavor to distribute these funds as quickly as possible.

Once the application due date passes, and we get a clear sense of both the total number of applications submitted and overall student need, we will make additional distributions. Those students who receive the initial $300 will remain eligible for additional funding, contingent on their level of need.

By mid-August, we will make final distributions to students who submitted applications closer to the August 7 due date, and who have yet to receive any funding. In the event funds remain, students who received an initial $300 and have a greater need may receive additional funds. Our second round of funding will ensure that we distribute the entire allotment received from the federal government for student support to eligible applicants. All distributions will be processed through eRefund.

Best,

Student Financial Services

Dear SAIC Community,

On June 22, we shared our Make Ready framework, which outlined our guidelines and responsibilities for returning to campus this fall. More than 100 School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) faculty, staff, and students continue to work on finalizing plans for our return. While we’ve made a lot of progress, there remain questions to be answered, so we promise you additional updates in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we are writing today to share the September start date and other important updates regarding the fall semester, including:

• Classes
• Academic Calendar
• Modified Class Meeting Times
• Student Financial Resources
• Campus Facilities
• On-Campus Housing and Dining
• Remote Working for Staff

On September 2, SAIC will return to on-campus teaching and learning with modified in-person classes—those that may take place both in-person and online—as well as fully online classes. The new academic calendar, which includes staggered class start times to reduce on-campus density, will go through Thanksgiving Break, after which point classes will resume for the remainder of the semester online.

Details for all existing fall courses will be updated in PeopleSoft and on the web by July 24. These updates will include detailed information on how each course will proceed, whether modified in-person or fully online. That same day, students will also receive instructions for looking up how the courses for which they are enrolled will run and how to search for courses on the basis of their delivery format. Academic advisors will be available to assist as you review your classes and make any necessary adjustments, and the Academic Advising office will offer extended hours and weekend appointment options over the weekend of July 25–26.

All decisions will continue to be rooted in the commitments that we made to our community, including planning for a return to campus that pays careful attention to the health and safety of all our members. We have engaged an outside public health expert, Dr. Terri Rebmann, to help us in our planning. Working alongside faculty and staff, Dr. Rebmann will advise on contact tracing, testing, reporting protocols for positive cases, and more, and will assist the School in following best practices that meet or exceed guidance from the city, state, and federal health authorities. As we collaborate with Dr. Rebmann and finalize details of our return-to-campus plans, we will make any needed adjustments, formalize new processes, and clearly communicate details to our community.

While this update provides a great deal of information about some of your more pressing concerns, SAIC will continue to implement new measures and guidance in the weeks ahead. We will keep you updated with details as they are confirmed, so continue to watch for regular emails. As always, if you have questions or suggestions, please send them to saicinfo@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Shawn Michelle Smith
Interim Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Arnold J. Kemp
Dean of Graduate Studies

Dawn Gavin
Dean of Undergraduate Studies
 
Classes
Whether modified in-person or online, we have options to ensure that all students—including those who are unable to be on campus for any reason—can participate in courses and make progress toward their academic goals. All fall 2020 courses will proceed in one of two formats, and course information in PeopleSoft and on the web will be updated by July 24 to reflect which format they will use: 
 
Modified In-Person Courses
These courses will include in-person activity and reflect SAIC’s commitment to on-campus instruction while adjusting class experiences to promote the health and well-being of our community. Many modified in-person courses will be “hybrid” courses, requiring in-person, on-campus elements, as well as online elements. Modified in-person courses will:

• Focus time spent on campus toward giving students opportunities to use SAIC's tools, shops, and other campus-based physical resources
• Schedule students to rotate when they work on campus or remotely to help de-densify campus
• Include synchronous and asynchronous online activities to augment in-person instruction, such as lectures, demonstrations, critiques, and assignments
• May have slightly modified start and end times to allow for social distancing, reduced elevator capacities, and traffic
• Have an online curriculum prepared in advance for students in the event of illness, quarantine, or campus closure
• Require regular access to a computer and a high-speed internet connection

Modified in-person courses will make up the majority of courses SAIC offers in the fall 2020 semester.

Fully Online Courses
These all-online courses will not include any in-person activity on our campus or elsewhere and will draw on SAIC’s versatile curriculum, faculty expertise, and technology resources to put forward digital learning experiences that take full advantage of the online format. All-online courses ensure that all students, whether they are on campus or not, have the opportunity to continue making, learning, and progressing toward their degree. These courses are also available to any student interested in taking some online courses to complement others they’ll take in-person. All-online courses will:

• Allow students to take a course from anywhere, provided the student can engage in the asynchronous and synchronous requirements of the course
• Likely include synchronous participation via video conferencing during the scheduled hours of the course
• Emphasize direct interaction between students and faculty online. Students should expect to connect with their instructor weekly throughout the course
• Seek to use materials that students are more likely to have at home or are more easily acquired
• Focus on making that is more suited to home and non-campus environments
• Require regular access to a computer and a high-speed internet connection

More flexible attendance policies are being finalized and will be shared at a later date.

Academic Calendar
The 2020–21 fall semester begins on Wednesday, September 2, and ends on Monday, December 21. All in-person instruction will conclude by the Thanksgiving holiday (November 25–29) and will resume online for the remainder of the semester. We will allow students to remain on campus, where facilities and resources will be available, through the end of the fall term only if they choose not to travel out of state for the holiday.

Current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires students coming from abroad to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the US. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has ordered that individuals coming from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Chicago. Please note, travel restrictions may be updated, so as you’re planning your return to campus, please check the CDC and CDPH websites for guidance. If you are coming from areas from which you will be required to quarantine, we recommend you arrive in Chicago two weeks prior to your first class or by August 18. If a student is unable to arrive by this date and misses in-person class activity as a result, faculty will be prepared to work flexibly with them while they complete this required quarantine.

Below is the academic calendar for fall 2020.

• September 2: Fall semester begins
• September 7: Labor Day (no classes)
• November 3: Last day to withdraw from a fall semester class
• November 24: Last day of in-person course activity
• November 25–29: Thanksgiving Break (no classes)
• November 30: All courses resume online
• December 21: Fall semester ends

Modified Class Meeting Times
To facilitate social distancing and de-densify our campus, in addition to running some courses all-online and others in a modified in-person format, students will attend classes with staggered start times. Classes may begin and end earlier or later than originally planned, by as much as a half hour. We are making these adjustments based on a detailed assessment of course enrollments and room and elevator capacities, and we are taking care to avoid creating conflicts in students’ existing schedules.

Student Financial Resources
Through the Student Emergency Relief Fund, SAIC is able to provide financial assistance for students affected by the COVID-19 health crisis and/or recent protests and governmental response. Additionally, on July 7, SAIC received notification from the Department of Education that our Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant application was approved for funding, and we will begin awarding these grants immediately. Please find more details here.

While SAIC is not in a financial position to completely offset the planned tuition increase for the 2020–21 academic year, the School will award a grant—i.e., an automatic, no-strings-attached adjustment to each student’s bill that does not need to be repaid—for all students eligible for Pell Grants, the federal program for students who display exceptional financial need. This will eliminate the tuition increase for 22 percent of the student body.

For more than 154 years, we have provided a world-class learning environment on the strength of the deep experience, knowledge, and innovative approach of our faculty. This year will be no different. We are committed to providing the robust art and design education you’ve come to expect from SAIC, regardless of modality, and we will not offer tuition refunds.

Campus Facilities
SAIC has made significant strides in preparing our campus for your return, including through measures that promote physical distancing, modifying housekeeping efforts to provide increased attention to high-traffic areas, and improving air quality in campus buildings by upgrading HVAC filtration.

During this unprecedented time, we must be conscious of how our actions impact one another. It is critical that all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to campus uphold the shared responsibilities outlined in Make Ready: A Framework for Returning to SAIC’s Campus to protect their health and the health of others.

Illinois moved into phase four of Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan, but with states across the US experiencing new surges in COVID-19 cases, we know this is a fluid situation. As our teams develop the many details required for our return to campus, they will keep in mind the need for flexibility, knowing that the global pandemic presents ever-evolving challenges that will necessitate ongoing adjustments, which may include closing campus for in-person teaching and learning. We will continue to closely follow the guidance of public health authorities and provide frequent updates to the campus community.

On-Campus Housing and Dining
Living in our residence halls is an important way for students to build community at the School. We have made many changes to reduce the risk of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19):

• De-densifying residence halls to allow for social distance. We will continue to offer single and double rooms in Jones Hall and the 162 North State Street Residences and private bedrooms in shared apartments in the Buckingham, but we have eliminated triple rooms in the 162 North State Street Residences and shared bedrooms in the Buckingham. All common areas will have reduced occupancy in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and some common areas may also remain closed.
• Enhancing cleaning. Housekeeping staff will prioritize sanitizing high-traffic areas, such as elevators, common areas, and public restrooms to clean throughout the day.
• Reimagining dining. A number of changes will be implemented in our cafes, including removing self-service items (such as buffet items) and increasing grab-and-go options; introducing online/remote ordering with separate pickup locations; limiting seating; and changing traffic flow to accommodate social distancing.
• Creating spaces for students requiring self-isolation and quarantine. We have designated rooms on campus to use if a residential student needs to self-isolate or quarantine. If a student becomes ill, SAIC will work with the CDPH to support their contact tracing efforts, the details of which will be communicated prior to the start of the semester. Students will be expected to comply with all self-isolation or quarantine guidelines.
• Following public health guidance during move-in and throughout the semester. We will follow the guidance of public health experts to determine testing and quarantine requirements upon arrival and throughout the school year. Current guidance from the CDC requires students coming from abroad to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the US. The CDPH has also ordered that individuals coming from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival to Chicago.
• Limiting guests. Like most colleges and universities, SAIC will limit guests and visitors in the residence halls throughout the fall semester.
• Requiring face coverings. Students, faculty, and staff will be required to wear face coverings upon entry to all SAIC buildings, public areas, and shared spaces, including in classrooms and all common areas of our residence halls. Students do not have to wear face coverings in their individual rooms unless someone who does not live in that room is present.

More details will be shared with students and can be found here.

Remote Working for Staff
With the changes outlined above, SAIC will significantly de-densify campus. However, all departments that offer services to students, faculty, and staff will have a limited number of staff members on-site to support those who are on campus. Human Resources will work with individual departments to identify on-site staffing needs and has developed a process staff may follow to request workplace accommodations or modified work arrangements specific to their individual needs. Human Resources shared more details on this process in this email.

Dear SAIC Community,

After an extensive search, I am pleased to share that the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has hired public health expert Dr. Terri Rebmann, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC to help guide the School’s plans to resume in-person teaching, learning, and residential life this fall. Working alongside faculty and staff, Dr. Rebmann will advise on contact tracing, testing, reporting protocols for positive cases, and more, and will assist the School in following best practices that meet or exceed guidance from the Chicago Department of Public Health and other local and national health authorities. Board-certified in infection control and epidemiology, Dr. Rebmann will review plans and provide guidance and scientific expertise in support of the School’s efforts to reduce the risk of spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), on our campus.

Dr. Rebmann is the director of the Institute for Biosecurity at the Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice and a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She is a nurse researcher with an emphasis in infectious disease emergency preparedness. Her past work experience includes research and clinical practice with HIV/AIDS patients, hospital infection prevention, and epidemiology, and research areas of focus include the long-term use of respiratory protection and addressing barriers to vaccine uptake. Dr. Rebmann publishes and lectures on pandemic planning, emerging infectious diseases, and infection prevention practices. To date, she has contributed to more than 90 publications and presented at more than 100 conferences.

Dr. Rebmann will begin meeting with members of the School’s Campus Emergency Operations Plan team this week and will join future town halls. We are grateful for her expertise and will be sharing additional updates on the School’s operations in the weeks to come.

Best,

Thomas Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations​

Dear SAIC Community,

As we plan for a return to in-person teaching, learning, and residential life this fall, we are pleased to share more details on the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Make Ready Advisory Group, a team of students, faculty, and staff appointed by President Tenny to advise on return-to-campus plans. SAIC has made a number of changes to campus already, including through the development of policies for daily operations, physical modifications to allow for social distancing, HVAC system upgrades, the availability of sanitation equipment in all common spaces and classrooms, and hygiene requirements. The Make Ready Advisory Group will play a key role in advising on all further aspects of our return to campus, including consulting with a public health expert, contact tracing, testing, and the process of maintaining the most up-to-date information regarding the ongoing development of COVID-19. This will be an ongoing process, but we strive to adapt to the challenging times.

Serving as a sounding board for plans and ideas for working, teaching, learning, and residence life, the Make Ready Advisory Group will meet weekly with the Campus Emergency Operations Plan leadership team, representatives from the return-to-campus support teams, and SAIC leadership as needed. Feedback from the greater SAIC community is crucial. As always, if you have questions about Make Ready: A Framework for Returning to SAIC's Campus or the return-to-campus process in general, please email saicinfo@saic.edu.

The Make Ready Advisory Group consists of:

• Jada Jeni Bennett, Undergraduate Student, Student Government Representative
• Anita Bhardwaj, Assistant Director, International Admissions
• Anavi Bhushan Nugyal, Undergraduate Student, Student Government Representative
• Celeste Collins, Senior Administrative Director, Academic Operations
• Robin Deacon, Professor, Faculty Senate Chair
• Richard Deutsch, Associate Professor, Adj.
• Eric Fuertes, Instructional Facility Manager
• Eala O'Sé, Material Source Assistant Manager
• Seth Sexton, Graduate Student, Graduate Senate Representative
• Lawrence Rodriguez, Director of International Affairs
• Amy Vogel, Associate Professor and Director of Contemporary Practices
• Lisa Wainwright, Professor

The Make Ready Advisory Group will host community forums in the coming weeks to share updates and hear from you. We’ll share more information on these advisory group forums by July 16.

Thanks,

Thomas Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations

Dear Colleagues,

With the spring semester complete, we want to follow up on our May 1 message with further information on the planning and preparations of our Campus Emergency Operations Plan (CEOP) working groups.

On May 5, Governor Pritzker announced the state's reopening plan, Restore Illinois: A Public Health Approach to Safely Reopen Our State. This statewide strategy outlines five phases with guidelines that all Illinois residents and businesses will need to follow. Each of these phases—including the fourth phase, during which schools can resume onsite operations—are indefinite in duration and require some safety precautions, like limiting gathering size and wearing face coverings. The safety protocols we follow on campus will meet or exceed the state’s mandates and will comport with all governmental requirements and health guidelines. 

The president’s cabinet and faculty and staff serving on CEOP working groups—including safety, facilities operations, instructional support spaces, employee considerations, and policy—are currently reviewing an initial draft of our campus’s safety plan. In early June, all faculty and staff will be invited to review the in-process draft of the plan, attend a meeting where we will present the plan, and participate in a week-long period for community feedback. Shortly after incorporating feedback, the final iteration of the safety plan will be distributed along with resources so that all members of the campus community can prepare for their return, know what to expect when they do so, and learn what resources are available to help them prepare.

Additionally, vice presidents and deans are already working with Instructional Resources and Facilities Management staff to identify necessary modifications to workspaces in alignment with Restore Illinois guidance and the emergent guidelines of our safety plan. The exact date of your return to campus will depend on the nature of your role and ensuing safe and effective campus operation. Given that the State of Illinois is currently in Phase 2, we do not expect all staff to return on June 1 or whenever Governor Pritzker announces a move to Phase 3, but some staff members' return to campus will be essential in order to prepare for our eventual reopening. In the coming weeks, supervisors will be in touch with their staff to identify when they ought to return to work and will make necessary accommodations, where needed. Please anticipate that, in some cases, staff may need to return to campus this summer to help prepare for the fall, yet return to a remote work schedule once classes begin again in earnest. For others it is possible that you might continue to work remotely into the fall semester or work a modified in-person schedule to help maintain social distancing campus-wide.

The exact date of students’ return is contingent, too, on how we can best make campus as safe as possible. While we await a final decision on courses for the second half of summer, we are also considering a number of strategies for an on-campus fall. In June, we will also be sharing more information about these potential scenarios, when you may anticipate knowing which strategy we will employ, and how those strategies relate to the safety plan.

While the ever-evolving nature of the pandemic requires us to continually plan for a number of outcomes, we understand that this uncertainty can be difficult to manage. We hope sharing this information with you, even in its developmental stages, will help us build towards a shared vision, broadly understood protocols, and a sense of uncertainty that is managed, if not resolved. Throughout this global health crisis, the staff and faculty of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago have worked together to take care of one another and our students, and we will continue to do so.

We will be in touch again in early June to share the drafted safety plan with you. In the interim, please reach out to us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President, Campus Operations
tbuechele@saic.edu

John Pack
Executive Director, Campus Security
jpack@saic.edu​

Dear Graduate and Post Bacc Students,

We received a few questions about your studios since the email from Instructional Resources and Facilities Management (IRFM) regarding studio move-out was sent the other week, and we want to provide a bit more clarity. Please continue reading for more information.

Thanks again for your patience and understanding and hats off to everyone for powering through these challenging times. See you soon!

Persons needing accessibility assistance should contact the Disability and Learning Resource Center at 312.499.4278 or dlrc@saic.edu to make arrangements.

Sincerely,

Ann Marie Martens

Assistant Director of Facilities for Graduate and Post Bacc Studios

Returning Items and Moving Out of Lockers, Classrooms, Labs, Fabrication Facilities, Galleries or Installation Spaces, May 18–June 7 Move Out

• If you have any items in the following locations, you can schedule an appointment in a one to two hour time block. Please fill out the Item Move-Out/Return Form to schedule an appointment. If you are unable to bring these items home with you, you may store them in your studio.
• Lockers, Classrooms, Labs, Fabrication Facilities, Galleries, or Installation Spaces
• There are different time allotments for picking up artwork from galleries or installation spaces (Sullivan Gallery, Columbus SITE, Sharp SITE). For more details and appointment scheduling, please fill out the Installed Artwork Move-Out Form.
• If you have any equipment or resources to return from the following locations, you can schedule an appointment in a one to two hour time block. Please fill out the Item Move-Out/Return Form to schedule an appointment.
• Media Centers, Fabrication Facilities, John M. Flaxman Library and Special Collections, and individual department labs or checkout centers. 
• Please limit your appointments to one appointment per building to allow everyone the opportunity to safely retrieve their belongings. Options to return and pick up from the same building are available in the form (second page).
• Anyone unable to remove and/or return items during the dates above may request alternative arrangements by filling this form.

Moving Out of Your Studio

All graduating MFA students, all post-bacc students, and all MFA Writing and MA students with studios must move out between May 18–July 31. 

• If you would like to move out between May 18–June 26, please fill out the Studio Move-Out Form to make an appointment.
• Appointments are nine hours in length; you will need to arrive at 9:00 a.m. (even if you do not need the full nine hours) and leave by 6:00 p.m. 
• Appointments made between May 18–June 7 can be made every day of the week, except May 25 (Memorial Day). 
• Appointments between June 8–26 can be made on weekdays only, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• You may only bring one person to assist your move in order to help us maintain social distancing guidelines and ensure the safety of others. Please follow the “Community Health Guidelines for Campus Visits” as outlined in this email. 
• Please do not leave any unwanted items or trash in your studios. There will be designated areas for surplus materials and trash.
• You may not use these appointments to work in your studio. Staff will be making rounds to ensure that people are only packing and moving.
• If the campus remains closed after June 26, more appointment times will be added in July.
• For MFA Writing and MA students who are not yet graduating, we encourage you to apply for a studio for the fall semester. More information regarding this process will be provided in the fall term.

If you are unable to move-out during the dates above, you may request alternative arrangements by filling this form.

Continuing MFA Students and Lotteries

You do not need to move out of your studio. Your items may stay in your current studio until we have determined the timeframe for you to switch to your new studio space. We are currently ironing out the details for a remote lottery platform, and we will provide more information soon. Thanks in advance for your patience. 

33 East Washington Move

We are still planning to move into our new studio and exhibition space at 33 East Washington in August. We will provide details about this move in the coming months. Should anything change this timeline we will let you know.

Access to Work in the Studios

While we don’t yet know when students will be able to return to campus, SAIC will continue to follow all city, state, and national health and safety guidelines to ensure our community stays safe. We will communicate with you when we have information on when it will be safe to return to campus and your studios.

Graduating MFA Students 

As was shared in an email from Arnold Kemp, dean of graduate studies, Trevor Martin, executive director of exhibitions, and on April 24, the Remote Events Task Force is continuing to develop a robust website to serve as a hub for engagement around the creative practices of graduating MFA in Studio, MArch, and MDes students. Though participation is optional, students are encouraged to share their creative output and critical thinking with each other and the broader public. In order to give graduating students time to complete their studies, the deadline to submit content is Friday, June 12. Information about the kinds of content submissions that will be supported can be found here.​

Dear Supervisors of Student Employees,

As you know, our student employees are being paid for their time worked through the end of the spring 2020 semester. Teaching assistants needed to assist with spring semester grading can continue to work until the date grades are due on Sunday, May 24, without completing a new work authorization.

Students who are deemed essential (and for whom departmental budget is available) can be hired to work over the summer term. The work would begin remotely at the end of the spring semester starting Monday, May 11. When we are able to return to campus, the work could be either remote or in-person based on the job responsibilities and the need to adhere to social distancing requirements. Students working remotely will be paid at standard rates: $14 per hour for most students and $15 per hour for teaching assistants, advanced instructional assistants, and specialists.

TAs working through May 24 and students deemed essential for summer work should continue to report hours using the Student Employee Hours Google form here. Please complete the form by 5:00 p.m. CT on the Monday following the end of each pay period.

Criteria for Approval of Summer 2020 Student Employment

1. Hiring managers should consult with their vice president or dean to determine if the work is essential. The work must be in direct support of your department’s institutional mission. While we want to provide gainful employment for our students, we should not invent “busy” work at this time.
2. Hiring managers should consult with their vice president or dean to determine if the budget is available for your department to support summer student work. Proposed student hiring must not exceed the budgeted amount.
3. Each student employee must work no more than 20 hours per week. Employment for more than 20 hours per week will not be acceptable for any individual student during the current fiscal year and may continue at this limit pending a reevaluation of departmental budgets.

If you have questions, please email Student Payroll at studentpayroll@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Student Payroll
Student Financial Services​

Dear Faculty,

The spring 2020 semester ends Monday, May 10. In preparing for the end of the academic term, the Dean’s Office and Office of Registration and Records would like to provide you with updates and recommendations on a number of grading-related topics.

Below, you will find information on:

• WCV: The Spring 2020 Semester Non-Credit Notation
• Reminder: Grading Period Extended for Faculty
• Utilize the Incomplete Grade Option as Necessary
• Grading During a Semester Like No Other
• Entering Your Grades

We also want to acknowledge the enormous effort it has taken all of our faculty to reach this point. What you have accomplished—making an unanticipated transition to remote instruction under these circumstances—is remarkable. This was not the semester anyone imagined, but as the world changed, you found new ways to think, work, and communicate. As we near the conclusion of this challenging semester, we hope you will take pride in the tremendous efforts you have made to keep teaching and keep our students learning.

On behalf of the entire School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) community, thank you again for your tireless support of our students as they continue their studies and reach a successful conclusion to the spring 2020 semester. Do not hesitate to reach out to any of us as needed.

Sincerely,

Jefferson Pinder, Interim Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Arnold J. Kemp, Dean of Graduate Studies
Dwayne Moser, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
Dawn Gavin, Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Paul Jackson, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Christy Miceli, Director of Registration and Records
 
WCV: The Spring 2020 Semester Non-Credit Notation

As noted in an earlier message sent on April 9, this semester, SAIC will not record No Credit (NCR) grades for any student. We have since finalized the alternative notation. If a student does not earn Credit (CR) for a course or courses this semester, SAIC will automatically issue a notation of WCV next to that course.

WCV stands for Withdraw (COVID), and this specific code was chosen as it is consistent with what schools across the country are utilizing as they take similar action.

In effect, WCVs will be similar to student-initiated Withdraw (W) grades: they will not factor into students’ academic standing, and will not be factored into students’ ongoing eligibility for SAIC institutional merit financial aid. Unlike W grades, WCV grades will count as normal enrollment for the purposes of our international students maintaining required full-time status.

By law, SAIC is required to use all non-completed courses in determining eligibility for other types of federal financial aid, but we will be ready to follow up with any impacted student to assist them in taking the necessary steps to maintain their access to financial aid.

When entering spring 2020 grades, faculty should issue Credit (CR) to all students who have successfully completed their course, as usual. If a student cannot earn Credit, faculty should issue No Credit (NCR). Issuing NCR for a spring 2020 course will result in that student automatically being issued a WCV notation for that course.
 
Reminder: Grading Period Extended for Faculty

To support faculty in their ability to be flexible with students in this extraordinary semester, SAIC has pushed back the deadline for submitting spring 2020 grades. This semester, faculty will have until Sunday, May 24, to submit their grades. Faculty are strongly encouraged to use this extended grading period to offer students more time to submit any final assignments or work that puts them in a better position to ultimately earn Credit for a course.

As a reminder, this extension of the grading period is not an extension of the teaching period. The semester will conclude on Sunday, May 10. Faculty should not build curriculum which requires students to engage in new course activity beyond this date, giving them up to three weeks of additional time to complete all outstanding work.
 
Utilize the Incomplete Grade Option as Necessary

Faculty should continue to enter placeholder grades of Incomplete (INC) for students who require additional time (beyond May 24) to complete outstanding coursework, when (in the judgement of the faculty) there is a viable plan for them to do so.

Incomplete grades have always represented a way for faculty to provide flexibility to students who can successfully complete course requirements but need more time than is left in the course. Incompletes signal that there is agreement between the faculty and student on a plan for the student to continue working towards Credit (CR). They are ideally student-requested but if a faculty feels an Incomplete arrangement is the most feasible way for a student to finish the course successfully, we strongly encourage faculty to broach this subject and propose a suitable plan.

As usual, faculty must notify the Registrar's Office at saic.registrar@saic.edu to have an Incomplete grade changed to Credit (once the student has completed the required work). For this cycle, any INC grades remaining at the end of the fall 2020 semester add/drop period will automatically be changed to WCV notations.
 
Grading During a Semester Like No Other

The Dean’s Office appreciates that both students and faculty are experiencing significant levels of stress and anxiety generally and around grade outcomes specifically. In making your final determinations on how your students have performed and what grade they should receive, we ask that faculty take into account the tremendous difficulties students have faced in their lives and studies over the course of the semester.

We’d also like to reiterate several suggestions that may help you operationalize this recommendation and evaluate individual students:

• Do not be reluctant to adjust your expectations from when you began the semester. As all students’ ability to attend to their studies has become greatly challenged by external circumstances, the successes they do achieve in courses should be recognized as more significant accomplishments.
• Consider both the on-campus and online components of the course as parts of a whole, but if a student is stronger in one component of the course, give that performance greater weight.
• Give significant weight to a student’s engagement with the course and their relative growth or improvement since the course began as factors which complement objective performance markers (assignment grades, test scores, etc.), and do not hesitate to let these considerations be determinative if they favor the student.

These are suggestions only, based on the number of students we know to be in situations that make it extremely difficult to maintain the connection, concentration, and capacity they would otherwise bring to their classes.
 
Entering Your Grades

As usual, grades should be submitted online through SAIC Self-Service. Once logged in, please make sure you are using the Faculty Self-Service platform, and not the Employee Self-Service or Student Self-Service versions.

After logging in, your spring 2020 teaching schedule should appear. To the left of each class are several icons; one of the icons will bring up your current grading roster for that class. Once on the grade roster, assign grades to all students and change the approval status to “Approved.” Make sure to then click “Save” and your information will be submitted. Please note: if you have more than 20 students on your roster, you will need to scroll to the next page(s) to assign grades for all students.

If you have any questions regarding submitting your spring 2020 grades, please do not hesitate to contact Christy Miceli, director of registration and records, at cmiceli@saic.edu.​

Dear SAIC Faculty, Staff, and Central Administration Staff,

As the spring semester winds down, we’ve shifted our emergency operations planning to focus on summer and fall, and we want to provide you with an update on the planning and implementation processes for the months ahead.

As President Tenny and Provost Berger shared at previous all faculty and staff meetings, during emergency situations, such as the one precipitated by the global pandemic, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) utilizes a Campus Emergency Operations Plan (CEOP), which is a crisis management strategy that Illinois colleges are state-mandated to follow. The CEOP outlines actions and response procedures required for situations in which normal operations are impacted, providing the management structure, key responsibilities, assignments, and procedures to follow during such emergencies.

The CEOP guides our decision-making through the formation of different working groups to address complex problems. These working groups are shaped by the current needs of the institution in the phases outlined below:

• The first phase of the plan focused on moving to a remote learning environment and closing the campus. The working groups consist of 92 members of our faculty and staff, with significant faculty and academic representation among the Remote Learning Group, Academic Concerns, and Remote Events Group. These three groups will remain unchanged and will play a vital role as we transition to the next phase of the plan.
• The second phase is focused on summer operations, which will help provide a roadmap and test run for our fall semester. The working groups, composed of faculty and staff, will help prepare for a return to campus, focusing on areas that include academics and instructional support spaces, campus housing and food service, and facilities operations. Additionally, the Safety Group will play a critical role in preparing us for our fall operations, by determining strategies to mitigate the risk of the pandemic, overseeing campus sanitation, leading training to ensure a healthy campus, and communicating efforts around campus safety. This group is made up of members of our faculty, staff, and Central Administration staff.

A latter phase of the CEOP will focus on operations over the fall semester. The working groups for this phase of planning are not yet finalized, but as our summer reentry brings our needs for fall into better focus, we will continue to work with Interim Dean of Faculty Jefferson Pinder to identify faculty to serve on any new working groups.

Thank you to the nearly 100 faculty and staff members who have played a critical role in transitioning our academics and operations during this unprecedented time, and to the many, many more who have supported these efforts. We will continue to provide you with updates as planning for summer and fall move forward. In the meantime, please contact us directly if you have questions.

Sincerely,

Tom Buechele
Vice President, Campus Operations
tbuechele@saic.edu

John Pack
Executive Director, Campus Security
jpack@saic.edu

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear Students,

As the spring semester comes to a close on May 10, we are reaching out to you with information on moving your personal belongings from your residence hall.

All items must be removed from the 162 North State Street Residences and Jones Hall by June 7, and below you’ll find options to facilitate this process. The health of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) community during this process is our number one priority. The following options offer you the opportunity to retrieve your items while following recommended health guidance, including limiting the amount of people on campus. SAIC coordinated with the Chicago Police Department on plans for moving out of the residence halls, and students who are moving out, even with the State of Illinois’ Stay-at-Home order, will still be able to do so.

If you also have items that you need to retrieve from another campus building, please review this information.

Persons needing accessibility assistance should contact the Disability and Learning Resource Center at 312.499.4278 or dlrc@saic.edu to make arrangements.

Please note, move out information for the Buckingham was previously shared with Buckingham residents. If you believe you received this message in error or have questions about your options for retrieving items, please contact stulife@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Abigail Holcomb
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
 
1. You may return to campus between May 18–June 7 to pack and move out.

You may sign up to move out between May 18–June 7. During your move out time, you may pack your items and load them out of the building. You may only be in the building during your four-hour window to complete this task, and you are allowed to bring one guest to assist.

During move out, you and your guest must follow national and local health guidelines, including wearing a mask, keeping six feet away from other people, and not sharing elevators with people beyond your guest. Read the community health guidelines for campus visits below.

You and your guest are only allowed in the building during your four-hour move out time; you may not stay overnight in the building or sign up for multiple move-out times. SAIC will provide free packing boxes and tape to help facilitate a smooth move out.

Schedule Your Move

2. You may enlist Collegeboxes to pack, store, and/or ship belongings.

If you are unable to return to campus, you may have your items packed, stored, and/or shipped through Collegeboxes. Collegeboxes will charge a flat fee of $295 per student to pack all items in their room. Please visit collegeboxes.com to contract directly with the company and to see rates for shipping and storage, and click here for more information. If you utilize Collegeboxes and also have items in the academic buildings, please complete this form to identify alternate methods for retrieving these items.

If you plan to use Collegeboxes, please let us know here.

3. You may return to campus between May 18–June 7 to pack and enlist Collegeboxes to store and/or ship belongings.

You may sign up to move out between May 18–June 7. During your move out time, you may pack your items. You may only be in the building during your four-hour window to complete this task, and you are allowed to bring one guest to assist.

During move out, you and your guest must follow national and local health guidelines, including wearing a mask, keeping six feet away from other people, and not sharing elevators with people beyond your guest. Read the community health guidelines for campus visits below.

You and your guest are only allowed in the building during your four-hour move out time; you may not stay overnight in the building or sign up for multiple move-out times. SAIC will provide free packing boxes and tape to help facilitate a smooth move out. When you complete your scheduling, please indicate that you will use Collegeboxes and be sure to go to collegeboxes.com to contract for services.

Schedule Your Move

Financial Support for Move-Out Process
We understand that some students may have financial hardships. If you need financial assistance with the move-out process, support from the Student Emergency Relief Campaign may be available. Students seeking support from either the Student Emergency Relief Campaign and/or the Butler Loan–an interest-free, SAIC-sponsored loan–should submit their request here. Each request will be considered in relation to all requests, with priority consideration given to students with the greatest need.

Community Health Guidelines for Campus Visits
Please be aware that SAIC is complying with Chicago Department of Public Health, state, and national health and social distancing guidelines. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the SAIC community by keeping contact to a minimum and reducing the number of people who come to campus. When visiting campus, students and their guests should follow the guidelines below:

• Only those with a reserved move-out time should come to campus. As usual, you will need to show your student ID to enter campus buildings.
• Do not come to campus if you are ill (fever, cough, etc.). We need your help to keep everyone healthy.
• You may be asked to participate in a health screening, which could include taking your temperature, answering a few questions, and providing information on COVID-19 symptoms.
• You will be asked to wear a face mask while you are on campus. If you don’t have one, we will provide you with a standard surgical mask.
• Please follow all social distancing protocols, which will be reviewed with you at the start of your visit.
• You may bring only one person to assist your move. We are unable to accommodate more than one guest per student without compromising social distance distancing guidelines and the safety of others.

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear Students,

As classes continue remotely for the remainder of the semester, we are reaching out to you with information on moving your personal belongings out of the Buckingham. Please note the following information applies only to the Buckingham as this is not an SAIC-owned building and therefore has a different move-out process. Move-out information for Jones Hall and the 162 North State Street Residences will be sent at a later date to those residents.

All items must be removed from the Buckingham by May 18, and below you’ll find options to facilitate this process. The health of the SAIC community during this process is our number one priority. The following options offer you the opportunity to retrieve your items while maintaining recommended health guidance, including limiting the amount of people on campus. SAIC coordinated with the Chicago Police Department on plans for moving out of the residence halls, and students who are moving out, even if the State of Illinois’ Stay-at-Home order is extended, will still be able to do so.

Persons needing accessibility assistance should contact the Disability and Learning Resource Center at 312.499.4278 or dlrc@saic.edu to make arrangements. If you also have items that you need to retrieve from another campus building, please fill out this form to coordinate access.

If you believe you received this message in error or have questions about your options for retrieving items, please contact stulife@saic.edu.

Sincerely,

Abigail Holcomb
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
 
Options for Moving Out of the Buckingham
 
1. You may return to campus between May 1–18 to pack and move out.

You may sign up to move out between May 1–18. During your move out time, you may pack your items and load them out of the building. You may only be in the building during your four-hour window to complete this task, and you are allowed to bring one guest to assist.

During move out, you and your guest must follow national and local health guidelines, including wearing a mask, keeping six feet away from other people, and not sharing elevators with people beyond your guest. More specific details will be outlined in a separate email.

You and your guest are only allowed in the building during your four-hour move out time; you may not stay overnight in the Buckingham or sign up for multiple move-out times. SAIC will provide free packing boxes and tape to help facilitate a smooth move out.

2. You may enlist Collegeboxes to pack, store, and/or ship belongings.

If you are unable to return to campus, you may have your items packed, stored, and/or shipped through Collegeboxes. Collegeboxes will charge a flat fee of $295 per student to pack all items in their room. Please visit collegeboxes.com to contract directly with the company and to see rates for shipping and storage, and click here for more information.

3. You may enlist Collegeboxes to pack and you can return to campus between May 18–June 7 to pick up items.

You may enlist Collegeboxes to pack your items, and you can return to campus between May 18–June 7 to pick up your belongings. Please note, Collegeboxes will charge you a fee based on the number of items to be packed. To contract this service, please email kristen@collegeboxes.com, and include your name, building and room number, and requested packing service.

You will register for a specific date and time to return to campus to pick up your items. You are allowed to bring one guest to assist, and during move out, you and your guest must follow national and local health guidelines, including wearing a mask, keeping six feet away from other people, and not sharing elevators with other people beyond your guest. More specific details will be outlined in a separate email.

We understand that some students may have financial hardships. If you need financial assistance with the move-out process, support from the Student Emergency Relief Campaign may be available. Students seeking support from either the Student Emergency Relief Campaign and/or the Butler Loan, an interest-free, SAIC-sponsored loan, should submit their request here. Each request will be considered in relation to all requests, with priority consideration given to students of greatest need.

Tell Us Your Plans for Moving Out

By Thursday, May 1, at 12:00 p.m., complete this form to notify us of your choice for retrieving your personal belongings from the Buckingham.

 While we are committed to nurturing your creative development, the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to continue to be diligent in considering your safety, the health of our campus community, and the well-being of our shared society. With this in mind, we will be canceling the following Adult Continuing Education (ACE) sessions:

• Weekend Workshops: May 16–17
• 1-Week Session: May 18–22
• 5-Week Session: May 26–June 29
• 10-Week Session: May 26–August 9

We hope that we will be able to welcome you to campus later in the summer, and have been working to provide you the following options in light of these cancellations:

• You can shift your enrollment now into courses taking place on campus later in the summer. In addition to those already scheduled beginning in July and August, we will be shifting our weekend workshops to August, as well as offering new sections of popular courses such as: Design Matters, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Digital Drawing: Interior Design, Introduction to Drawing, and Introduction to Digital Photography. Alternative course dates and details can be found at saic.edu/continuing-studies/ace/online.
• We are excited to have expanded our online classes to include Drawn from Life: Illustrating the Personal Narrative, taking place May 17–July 25; Game Environments, taking place May 31–August 8; and Digital Design: Adobe Illustrator, taking place June 21–August 29, all available for you to swap into now. More online offerings will be available throughout the summer.
• You can choose to drop your course(s) and receive a full refund (the process will take between 4–6 weeks).

Please contact us at 312.629.6170 or cs@saic.edu and we’ll work with you to make your desired adjustments. If we don’t hear from you by May 4, we will drop you from course(s) taking place during these sessions and process a full refund for you.

We are disappointed that we can’t have you on campus sooner, but very much hope to work with you later this summer. We are carefully monitoring this challenging situation and will notify you by June 1 if conditions require us to cancel the remainder of our summer sessions.

We appreciate your understanding, and encourage you to reach out to us at cs@saic.edu or 312.629.6170 with any questions you may have.

With my sincere wishes for your safety and that of your loved ones,

Paul Coffey
Vice Provost and Dean of Community Engagement

Dear Adult Continuing Education Faculty,

Per the State of Illinois’ Stay-at-Home order, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is closed and, with many uncertainties related to the global pandemic, we do not yet know when we’ll be able to have our students and faculty back on campus. The disruption from the virus has also impacted Continuing Studies classes, and we’re only able to offer a limited selection of classes right now. When the global health emergency subsides, we’ll look for ways to offer additional classes. 

Adult Continuing Education courses beginning in May and June have been canceled. If space and enrollment permits–and if the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Chicago Department of Public Health allow–some courses will be moved to take place later this summer. If yours falls into this category, I will reach out to you directly. 

The health and safety of our community are of utmost importance, so please be aware that conditions may necessitate further changes to the schedule. We plan to share updated information regarding the status of courses running in the second half of the summer term on June 1. If your course will take place later this summer, we’ll also share contract information at this time as well. 

Thank you for your continued flexibility and understanding during this unprecedented time.

Sincerely, 

Kristina Wyatt
Associate Dean of Continuing Studies

Hello, 

We hope this message finds you healthy and safe. International Affairs staff are committed to providing support to you, wherever you may be. Advisors have been meeting with students remotely to provide immigration guidance and assist in Optional Practical Training (OPT) applications. We have responded to more than 1,000 emails over these past few weeks, and we are here to answer any questions you have via email, phone, or video appointment.

We want to address some questions and concerns that you shared with our office, and below you will find information, guidance, and resources surrounding the recent move to online learning and maintaining your immigration status.

Please note that we continue to monitor the government agencies that provide oversight to international students in the U.S., and we will notify you of any changes that may impact how you manage and maintain your status. If you have additional questions, please email intaff@saic.edu and an advisor will reach out to you as soon as they are able.

Kind regards,

Lawrence Rodriguez
Director, International Affairs

International Student Services
Jessica Wolfe, Assistant Director of International Student Services
Jennifer Dentel, International Student Advisor
Victoria McAllister, International Student Advisor and SEVIS Analyst
Leslie Wong Rutt, International Student Advisor and SEVIS Analyst

Study Abroad
Norman Miller, Assistant Director of Study Abroad
Alicia Ortiz, Study Abroad Advisor
 
Immigration Status
Your immigration status will not be impacted by the academic changes made this term. International students who remain enrolled full-time and complete their spring term coursework online will continue to maintain their F-1 student immigration status.

I-20 Travel Signatures
An online process was launched last month, allowing students to request travel signatures. Students should look on page 2 of their I-20 in the “Travel Endorsement” box and identify the date of their last travel signature. Travel signatures are valid for reentry up to 12 months after the signature date for current degree-seeking students. Travel signatures for students on OPT are valid for six months. If your planned reentry to the US will be greater than the validity identified, please click here to request a new travel signature. A new I-20 with a valid travel signature will be sent to you via courier.

Full-time Enrollment
The federal government’s Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has advised that students must remain enrolled full-time to maintain their F-1 status. Students completing the spring 2020 semester outside of the US must also remain enrolled full-time to maintain their status.

Withdrawal Deadline and Reduced Course Load (RCL) Authorizations
SAIC has extended the withdrawal deadline to April 30. International students may request a withdrawal from a course through April 30 but are required to remain enrolled full-time.

A Reduced Course Load (RCL) authorization can be requested through International Affairs by a student who has a recommendation from a medical or mental health professional to enroll less than full-time. Students must obtain approval and authorization before withdrawing from any course that would result in going below full-time. Please contact an advisor with any questions at intaff@saic.edu.

Reentry to the US After an Absence of More Than Five Months
Students who complete the spring 2020 term and maintain their F-1 status outside of the US are eligible to reenter the US. On March 23, SEVP released the following guidance:
 
Under current conditions, if an active F student leaves the United States to complete the spring term online, their SEVIS record should remain in Active status and not be terminated. While the temporary measures related to COVID-19 are in place, students deemed to be maintaining status if they are making normal progress in their course of study. For that reason, the five-month temporary absence provision addressed in 8 C.F.R. 214.2(f)(4) will not apply for students who remain in Active status.

If you were enrolled at SAIC during the spring 2020 term and departed the US to complete the spring 2020 term outside the US, have remained outside the US for a period of time of more than five months, and plan to return to the US to resume classes for the fall 2020 term, please download and print this Arrival Support Letter and hand-carry it with your immigration documents.

Program Extensions
Students should review their program end date located in the “Program of Study” section on page 1 of their most recent I-20.

If your I-20 reflects a program end date of May 2020 and you will not complete all degree courses this spring, you must request a Program Extension. Please email intaff@saic.edu with the subject line “I-20 Program Extension” and an image of page 1 of your I-20 to request a program extension.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Authorization
Students who wish to engage in an off-campus internship through the Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) office should contact CAPX to review options for summer internships. Any internship or work off-campus must be approved for CPT prior to your start date. CAPX will work with International Affairs to complete any necessary paperwork for CPT work authorization and issue a new I-20 form.

Career and Professional Experience (CAPX)
All Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) services and resources are available to you virtually! CAPX career advisors are available to meet with you by phone or on Google Hangouts to discuss your career options, offer advice on resumes, cover letters, portfolios, websites, and your internship and job search in the US and abroad. Career advisors can help you explore postgraduate opportunities including residencies, grants and fellowships, and graduate school. Schedule virtual career advising appointments with CAPX advisors on Handshake. In addition to meeting with a career advisor, the Handshake resource page contains valuable career advice and is accessible 24/7. Go to the CAPX website for more information and for FAQs.

OPT Authorization
Students who will complete their degree program in May or summer 2020, and who were enrolled in fall 2019 courses, may be eligible to apply for OPT. Students must complete an OPT workshop that reviews the details of OPT and the application process before making an appointment with an international student advisor. An OPT workshop is available through Canvas and students can request enrollment by emailing intaff@saic.edu. If you are unsure if you are eligible or have questions about applying for OPT, please email us.

Students Who Have Applied for OPT
Please note that OPT applications are processed by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and not by International Affairs. USCIS has not announced any extensions to application deadlines or start dates. Any changes announced will be communicated to students as the information becomes available.

Students who have applied for OPT cannot request a change to their original OPT application start date once it is received by USCIS. Students who wish to change their start date must submit a notification to withdraw the original application to USCIS and subsequently submit a separate application and $410 fee. This process will delay overall processing time and students may be subject to later approval dates and the loss of days of OPT. Currently, the latest start date a student can request is 60 days after their program end date (for May graduates, this is July 9).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
International Affairs continues to update a list of frequently asked questions on our website. Announcements and emails addressing the entire SAIC community related to the impact of COVID-19 can be found at saic.edu/alerts.

Tax Deadline Extended to July 15
All international students and recent graduates on OPT who were physically present in the United States in 2019 are required to complete tax paperwork. This deadline has been extended to July 15. International Affairs has sent two emails this semester to all international students with access to Sprintax tax preparation software. If you need access to these instructions, please email intaff@saic.edu.

Dear Early College Program Students and Parents, 

While we are committed to nurturing the creative development of emerging artists, designers, and scholars, the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to be diligent in considering their safety, the health of our campus community, and the well-being of our shared society. With this in mind, we will be canceling Continuing Studies Early College Program courses taking place in our June 8–19 and June 22–26 sessions.

We hope that we will be able to welcome you to campus later in the summer, and we are providing the following options in light of these cancelations:

• You can shift your enrollment now into a course(s) taking place later in the summer. Alternative course dates and details can be found at continuingstudies.saic.edu.
• You may choose to let us know by June 1 if you would like to shift into a later summer offering. Alternative course dates and details can be found at continuingstudies.saic.edu.
• You can drop your course(s) and receive a full refund (the process will take between 4–6 weeks).

Please contact us at 312.629.6170 or cs@saic.edu, and we’ll work with you to make your desired adjustments.

While we can’t be with you in person during the next few months, we will be reaching out to you via email with ideas to spark creative thinking and playing. We will also be sharing activities developed by our museum, the Art Institute of Chicago. It is our firm belief that in addition to building problem solving skills and critical thinking, engaging in art and design activities helps us process our experiences and emotions.

We are disappointed that we can’t have you on campus sooner, but very much hope to host young artists later this summer. We will continue to monitor recommendations from local and national health authorities and will provide you with any updates or changes to July or August offerings by June 1.

We appreciate your understanding, and encourage you to reach out to us at cs@saic.edu or 312.629.6170 with any questions you may have.

With my sincere wishes for your safety and that of your loved ones,

Paul Coffey
Vice Provost and Dean of Community Engagement

Dear Undergraduate Students and Faculty,

We are writing today to provide you with an update on a number of initiatives focused on end-of-year events for our graduating senior students. While so much has changed in less than a month, our commitment to providing optional opportunities for our seniors to exhibit their work has not. A dedicated group of SAIC staff and faculty have been working together as a Remote Events Task Force, as part of the Campus Emergency Operations Plan, tasked with reimagining our existing senior-related events in response to the challenges posed by the public health crisis. While many details are still being finalized, we want to share our plans with the community now, so that seniors can begin to consider their capacity to participate in these events, and the rest of our community can look forward to experiencing and celebrating their work.

In our discussions of how to proceed against a backdrop of an unfolding pandemic, we felt it was important to commit fully to the value of these end-of-year events in helping launch SAIC’s graduating seniors into the next phase of their creative lives. The Undergraduate Exhibition, Senior Exhibition, and numerous other related performances, screenings, readings, and symposia are opportunities to appreciate where each person’s creative practice and process have led them through this culminating moment in their studies.

Below you will find information about the following:

• Spring Undergraduate Exhibition: Phase 2
• Senior Expo 2020
• Alternatives for Other Impacted Events

We all recognize that this is not the spring semester that any of us had envisioned. However, in such a semester, celebration and recognition of student accomplishment becomes more important than ever. These events are manifestations of our community’s values, resilience, and determination. They are opportunities for us to be together, even while we are at home.

In this spirit, SAIC looks forward to sharing our seniors’ work with you and the public in the weeks and months to come.

Sincerely,

Dawn Gavin
Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Trevor Martin
Executive Director of Exhibitions
 
Spring Undergraduate Exhibition: Phase 2
Earlier this semester, 316 seniors participated in the Spring Undergraduate Exhibition, which opened in the Sullivan Galleries on Friday, March 13. The exhibition had been scheduled to run between March 13 and March 27, but due to the campus closure that began on Monday, March 16, opportunities to review this exhibition were significantly curtailed. Unfortunately, the exhibition will not reopen for public viewing.

Thanks to the efforts of our Exhibitions and Admissions teams, many of the works in the exhibition were documented by a professional photographer. Others were documented by the Exhibitions staff themselves, who sought to capture as much student work as possible before any of it was taken down and before the campus closed. We are creating an Undergraduate Exhibition website to bring this work to a broader audience.

Students who participated in the Spring Undergraduate Exhibition can expect to receive an email from the Department of Exhibitions in the coming weeks. Students will be able to view their personal artist’s page on the new site and provide approval, prior to the site going public. Students who do not wish for their work to be made public via the site will have the option to opt out.

Curated Senior Capstone 4900 course exhibitions within the larger show, as well as group exhibits, will have dedicated pages that link to individual artist pages.

We are cautiously optimistic that we can have this work completed before the end of the spring 2020 semester. As the plan moves forward, we will be able to share more specific information about the site’s intended launch date.
 
Senior Expo 2020
In addition to plans for the Spring Undergraduate Exhibition, the Remote Events Task Force has recommended a dedicated online venue for Senior Expo, now in its third year celebrating Senior Capstone work. All students participating in Senior Capstone courses this spring will work with their individual faculty members to develop work to be linked through the main Senior Expo site. More details about this site will also be forthcoming.
 
Alternatives for Other Impacted Events
The Remote Events task force is also working to address options for students who were planning to participate in the annual IMPACT Performance Festival and Exhibition or the screenings hosted at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Should conditions permit, we hope to showcase the work of these students during the upcoming fall semester. Additional details will be shared as they are worked out.

Coming Soon: Updated Calendar of Events
Information about all spring events will continue to be shared via SAIC’s COVID-19 Event Cancellations and Updates webpage and community emails.

Dear Graduate Students, Post-Baccalaureate Students, Faculty, and Staff, 

Spring 2020 Critique Week will be April 20–24, and the schedule is now posted. You may access the schedules and find your panel information in the link below or you can locate the link on the student, faculty, and staff dashboards. 
 
Spring 2020 Critique Week Schedule

Please review your assigned panel(s) carefully. This listing is final and you will be expected to be present remotely at your computer or other device at the time listed.

Please note the following:

• Critique times are listed in North America’s Central Standard Time, so please plan accordingly if you are in a different time zone.
• Students will need to upload the files they want their panel to critique to a Google folder provided by the Graduate Division office no later than Saturday, April 18. If you need to share a link, create a Word file or pdf with the link and upload that to your folder.
• Video conference critiques will use Google Hangouts or Zoom. Please take the time to test these platforms on your preferred computer/device to ensure that your mic and camera are functioning properly, and use your SAIC Gmail account for Google Hangouts. SAIC has created this Canvas Page for more information about Zoom. If you are experiencing technical issues, please reach out to the CRIT Help Desk at 312.345.3535 or crithelpdesk@saic.edu.
• The Graduate Division office will be scheduling all video conference critiques and invites, so please accept their Google Calendar invite. This is really important for video conference critiques as it will contain the link for the video conference.
• Text-based critiques will take place in a Google doc set up by the Graduate Division office in the designated student folder. If you do not have access to Google, please let us know well in advance of a text-based critique.
• If you have been selected as a moderator for a panel, please contact each of your panelists in advance to see if they have any questions about the format or critique procedures. I will be sharing the panel survey with you this week.
• Faculty should contact their moderator directly with any questions they have about their schedule for the day. If your panel is assigned with a graduate student from the Writing program, writing materials may be emailed to you by Wednesday, April 15. You are expected to read and prepare comments on this work in advance of the critique.
• If you are a graduate student from the Writing or Visual and Critical Studies departments and you want your panel to critique your written work, you must have writing materials emailed to them by Wednesday, April 15.

Best,

Ann Marie Martens
Assistant Director of Facilities: Graduate and Post-Bac Studios
critiques@saic.edu

Dear Faculty,

As online instruction gets underway this week, the Dean’s Office is aware that many faculty members have sought guidance on how to evaluate student performance in this unprecedented semester. Today, we write to share updates that we hope will inform your approach to evaluation as you re-engage with your students and their work:

• Spring 2020 Withdrawal Deadline Pushed Back to April 30
• A Reimagined Class Progress Report System
• How SAIC Will Address Grading in Spring 2020
• Recommendations for Evaluating Student Performance
• An Extension of the Spring 2020 Grading Period for Faculty to May 24
• A Reminder Regarding Incomplete (INC) Grades

The Dean’s Office, your department chairs, administrative directors, and staff across the School will support you fully in helping students emerge from this difficult semester with new knowledge, increased confidence in their capabilities, and fresh momentum to propel their studies forward in the semesters and years to come. On behalf of the entire SAIC community, we thank you again for your continued flexibility and empathetic engagement with your students. Do not hesitate to reach out to any of us as needed.

Sincerely,

Jefferson Pinder, Interim Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Arnold J. Kemp, Dean of Graduate Studies
Dwayne Moser, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
Dawn Gavin, Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Paul Jackson, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
 
Spring 2020 Withdrawal Deadline Pushed Back to April 30

Because of the extended Spring Break, the withdrawal deadline was moved to Thursday, April 30, giving all students ample time to return to their now-online studies and fully assess their ability to succeed in them.

As usual, when a student withdraws from a course or multiple courses, a system-generated message will be sent to each faculty member, and until you receive such a message, do not assume a student has formally withdrawn.

You can find more general information about withdrawal grades here.

As a reminder, if a student in your class has not been participating and has not responded to your outreach, please contact SAIC’s dean on call at doncall@saic.edu. Include in your email the name of the student, course, and issue you are experiencing. Staff from the Office of Student Affairs will respond as soon as possible.

If you have reason to believe that there is an emergency involving a student, as always, the dean on call is available via phone 24/7 at 312.768.8485.
 
A Reimagined Class Progress Report System

The Class Progress Report early alert system has been significantly reworked over the extended break. Now called “Instructor Check-Ins,” this PeopleSoft-generated communication has additional flexibility in terms of the messages it can convey. Notably, we have added two checkbox options that provide students with positive feedback and throughout emphasized the message’s function as an initiation of further dialogue between the student, faculty, and academic advising support. We encourage all faculty to make use of the tool’s expanded ability to formally provide affirming feedback for students who are either doing well or in the process of improving their class performance.

Your comments in any given situation remain the most important information an Instructor Check-In message will contain, and we continue to encourage all faculty who submit one to include comments that provide students with detailed guidance or instruction.

Instructor Check-In messages are primarily a communication between the faculty and student, but academic advising/advisors will continue to review these messages, and advisors will reach out appropriately to undergraduate advisees when a message or combination of messages indicates concern.

The process for submitting an Instructor Check-In via PeopleSoft Faculty Center has not changed. Academic Advising has updated the Guide for Submitting an Instructor Check-In. This guide can be found on the faculty dashboard in the “Policies: Student Interactions” section on the left hand side.
 
How SAIC Will Address Grading in Spring 2020

First, let us affirm what will be the same: As usual, students will earn Credit (CR) based on satisfactory completion of course requirements. Individual faculty must determine who should earn Credit in the course(s) they teach, based on the merits of each individual’s performance, and only faculty will be able to award students Credit.

What will be different this semester: When students are not able to successfully complete a course or courses, SAIC will not issue No Credit (NCR) grades, or subject students to the typical consequences that accompany NCR grades.

The reason we will set aside NCRs this semester: truly extenuating circumstances surround every one of our students. As such, when a student is not able to successfully complete a course, SAIC will highlight the circumstances, not their individual performance. To do this, we will apply a one-time special notation in lieu of placing an NCR grade.

The technical particulars of what exact notation to use are still being worked out, but the final product will be functionally different from a No Credit in both nomenclature and in that as a result of receiving this notation:

• Students’ academic standing will not change one way or the other.
• There will be no impact on a student’s eligibility to receive institutional merit aid.

Note: SAIC is required to include non-completed courses in determining a students’ ongoing eligibility to receive federal, state, and institutional financial aid. SAIC will take all necessary steps to assist any student whose financial aid is impacted by their spring 2020 performance.

However, students receiving this spring 2020 notation for a course will not receive the benefits associated with earning Credit. Specifically, such courses will not:

• Provide any credit hours toward degree requirements or satisfy any prerequisite requirements for future courses.
• Satisfy any specific degree requirement. If received in a degree-required course, the student must retake the course in a future semester and earn Credit.

When faculty submit their spring 2020 semester grades, they should follow the usual process, issuing either a grade of CR, NCR, or INC (Incomplete, see below) to each student on their roster. This semester, faculty should understand that issuing a NCR grade on the grading roster will automatically result in the placement of the spring 2020 special notation in its place.
 
Recommendations for Evaluating Student Performance

The Dean’s Office has previously offered some observations on the challenges many of our students face right now, and these need not be repeated here, particularly as many are challenges all of us, faculty, students, and staff, confront both individually and collectively. We understand, however, how important these considerations are for faculty as you evaluate student performance in the midst of so many concerns.

When determining if a student should receive Credit, SAIC will continue to rely on faculty to apply their professional judgement and consider a student’s performance against both the course requirements (online and remote) and the circumstances surrounding their performance. As always, SAIC will support faculty judgement in making these determinations, and in this unique semester we will utilize the new, one-time spring 2020 notation (see above) to specifically mitigate some of the negative consequences in the event that students simply cannot earn Credit.

With that said, we offer some additional recommendations for faculty to consider in making the most challenging decisions—how to proceed when students are almost, but not quite, performing up to course standards:

• Expect all students to participate (to the best of their ability) through the duration of the course as a minimum expectation for issuing Credit. We have asked all faculty to redevelop curriculum which they will share throughout the remainder of the spring semester, and students should be expected to continue to regularly engage with the class curriculum as it deploys. However, if a student has been doing well and then shares that they are no longer able to participate, consider whether independent assignments are a suitable alternative, and offer these where appropriate.
• Do not be reluctant to adjust your expectations from when you began the semester. As all students’ ability to attend to their studies has become greatly challenged by external circumstances, the successes they do achieve in courses should be recognized as more significant accomplishments.
• If you are willing to exercise flexibility, make this clear as soon as possible, and let students know exactly how to secure flexibility (if it will not automatically be granted).
• Consider both the on-campus and online components of the course as parts of a whole, but if a student is stronger in one component of the course, give that performance greater weight.
• Emphasize what it will take to earn Credit in your discussions with students, so they have clear markers to aim for, but be prepared to adjust these in students’ favor when you feel circumstances warrant.
• Consider a student’s engagement with the course and their relative growth or improvement since the course began as factors which complement objective performance markers (assignment grades, test scores, etc.), and do not hesitate to let these considerations be determinative if they favor the student.
• Reach out proactively if a student is not on track to earn Credit, and be willing to suggest options without being asked.
• Suggest students take the time they need after the semester ends to complete viable work-in-progress (see below).
• Do not hesitate to propose an Incomplete when even more time is needed, without waiting for the student to do so (see below).

If you would like to consult on a specific case or situation, please do not hesitate to contact your department chair, or the deans or associate deans in the Undergraduate or Graduate Divisions, respectively.
 
An Extension of the Spring 2020 Grading Period for Faculty

To support faculty in their ability to be flexible with students this semester, SAIC will push back the deadline for submitting spring 2020 grades. Typically, this deadline is set a week after the last day of the semester, which would have been Sunday, May 17. With this change, faculty will have until Sunday, May 24 to submit spring 2020 grades. We encourage all faculty to use this extended grading period to offer students greater flexibility in submitting any final assignments or work that puts them in a better position to ultimately earn Credit for a course.

Please note: An extension of the grading period is not an extension of the teaching period. As planned, the semester will conclude on Sunday, May 10. Faculty should not build curriculum which requires students to engage in new course activity beyond this date, and in practice, the last round of class activities/assignments should be shared with students by Sunday, May 3, giving them up to three weeks of additional time to complete all outstanding work.
 
A Reminder Regarding Incomplete (INC) Grades

Faculty should continue to enter placeholder grades of Incomplete (INC) for students who require additional time (beyond May 24) to complete outstanding coursework, when (in the judgement of the faculty) the student has presented a viable plan to do so.

INC grades have always represented a way for faculty to provide flexibility to students who can successfully complete course requirements but need more time than is left in the course. Incomplete grades should always represent an active agreement between the faculty and student on a plan of action. They are ideally student-requested but if a faculty feels an Incomplete arrangement is the most feasible way for a student to finish the course successfully, we encourage faculty to broach this subject and propose a suitable plan.

As usual, faculty must notify the Registrar's Office at saic.registrar@saic.edu to have an INC grade changed to Credit (once the student has completed the required work). Also as usual, any INC grades remaining at the end of the fall 2020 semester add/drop period will automatically be changed, but this semester they will be changed to the unique spring notation, rather than being changed to No Credit.

Dear Class of 2020,

I’m writing today to tell you something I wish could be different. The global health crisis has asked so much of you already, and now it demands more.

To ensure the health and safety of you, your classmates and faculty, and your families and friends, we are unable to host the Commencement ceremony in-person as scheduled on Monday, May 11. With Governor Pritzker’s extension of Illinois’s stay-at-home order until at least April 30, and the grim reminder from McCormick Place’s conversion into a field hospital just one-half mile from the Wintrust Arena, our Commencement venue, continuing to plan for an in-person ceremony is no longer feasible. However, we have devised several ways to celebrate the completion of your course of study. Recognizing your achievement remains important; moreover, during this horrible pandemic, rites of passage are perhaps more important than ever.

If you are graduating this spring, you will have three options to celebrate your monumental accomplishment. Soon you will receive additional communication about how to participate, but today, I want to let you know what your options are:

1. You can attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s virtual 2020 Commencement ceremony online.
   The virtual Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 16, at 8:00 p.m. CST and will include special video remarks and the names of each graduate announced. As a graduating student, you will also have the opportunity to send in a photo of yourself or your work, which will be broadcast with your name and degree during the ceremony. This can be shared with family and friends, and if you and your guests are unable to join us on this date, you will still be able to access the Commencement remarks and this moment of recognition for you and your classmates after the ceremony is complete.
2. You can attend the in-person 2021 Commencement ceremony in May of next year.
3. You can attend both the 2020 Commencement ceremony online and the 2021 Commencement ceremony in-person.

I know that the loss of our planned ceremony this year is disappointing to you and your families. It is disappointing to me as well. Having worked in higher education for over 40 years, I know how hard you have worked in your studies, and I know how important it is to recognize your achievement as a community. That is why deans in Students Affairs and Academic Affairs are hard at work to bring you a virtual ceremony this year, and next year, they will work equally hard to celebrate you at the in-person 2021 Commencement ceremony. I hope you will choose to participate in either or both of these important rites of passage.

That is what commencement ceremonies are: rites of passage. As you move from student to alum, the ceremony isn’t your achievement. You are achieving your education already. The rite of passage is your community—classmates and faculty, families and friends—telling you that we recognize your achievement. We applaud you. We celebrate you.

And so we will. This year online; next year in person. Please join us for your celebration.

Elissa Tenny
President

Dear SAIC Students,

On behalf of all SAIC faculty and staff, we send our best wishes to you, your loved ones, and your communities. We hope the extended Spring Break, now coming to a close, has given you both time and space to take care of yourselves and be in a position to continue your spring 2020 courses at a time when we all face new and unforeseen challenges.

Our faculty and staff have spent the past few weeks preparing to transition all courses online, and we are looking forward to welcoming you back to our virtual campus beginning Monday, April 6.

Reconnecting to Your Faculty and Your Classes
We know many faculty and students have been in touch over the break, and in the interest of providing you with clear information and direction, we have asked all faculty to reach out to their classes in the next few days to share details regarding how their courses will resume, as well as their plan for the remainder of the semester. Please be on the lookout for these communications.

If you haven’t heard from your faculty members by the day next week when your class is typically held, please reach out for assistance. Undergraduate students should contact their academic advisor or the Academic Advising Office at 312.629.6800 or stuhelp@saic.edu and graduate students should contact their department chair, graduate coordinator, or the department’s administrative director.

Familiarize Yourself with Online Learning
As you re-engage with your courses, we know you have many questions about what a half-semester of online instruction will look like at an interdisciplinary school of art and design. As a prelude to what faculty will soon share, the Dean’s Office has developed a few resources to help orient you to studying and making remotely:
 
Remote Learning at SAIC: 10 Tips for Success as You Move Your Studies Online

Remote Instruction and Learning: A Student FAQ

Guidelines for Safe “Making” at Home

The Semester Ahead
We urge you to approach your classes with an open mind, a willingness to continue your work, and patience and care for your fellow class participants and faculty as we all put the pieces together. You may find new ways of making that stay with you or new ideas that transform your work. You will have opportunities to develop lasting relationships or deepen existing ones. There will be moments of inspiration, excitement, and challenge. Through it all, ask questions when you have them and ask for help when you need it. Our commitment to you has not changed, despite the changing world around us all.

Do not hesitate to contact us if we can support you in continuing and successfully concluding the spring 2020 semester. Welcome back to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Sincerely,

Jefferson Pinder, Interim Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Arnold Kemp, Dean of Graduate Studies
Dwayne Moser, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
Dawn Gavin, Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Paul Jackson, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Dear Faculty,

As you know, spring 2020 courses officially resume online beginning Monday, April 6. In support of your work moving your teaching into an online/remote context, the Dean’s Office would like to share additional recommendations. These recommendations have emerged from the many conversations happening across our virtual campus in the past two weeks. In order to cut down on separate messages, we are condensing a number of related topics into this communication, broken into content sections for your convenience.

Also please note that department chairs, administrative directors, and area coordinators are reaching out to faculty this week to solicit any further assistance faculty may need to be ready to resume teaching. Departments are trying to reach any faculty with whom departmental personnel have not recently had contact. Should you receive such outreach from your department, please respond to it as promptly as you can, as we collectively seek to make sure all faculty are in the position to resume instruction next week.

In closing, all of us in the Office of the Dean of Faculty, on behalf of the entire SAIC community, want to thank you again for the work you have done to prepare for this moment. The Dean’s Office, your department chairs, administrative directors, and staff across the School are ready to continue to support your teaching in the weeks to come. Do not hesitate to reach out to any of us as needed.

Sincerely,

Jefferson Pinder, Interim Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Arnold Kemp, Dean of Graduate Studies
Dwayne Moser, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
Dawn Gavin, Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Paul Jackson, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
 
Ongoing Assistance for Faculty in the Remote Instruction Virtual Resource Room

CRIT staff will continue to host a virtual Resource Room every weekday from 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT through the remainder of the spring semester. All faculty may stop in for one-on-one assistance. This is the link to the virtual Resource Room for the duration of the semester.
 
Resuming Regular Communication with Your Students

We know that many faculty members have kept in regular communication with students these past few weeks, and we appreciate all of these efforts to stay connected and offer community and support during a tremendously challenging time. To help all students prepare to resume their studies, we ask that all faculty reach out to their class(es) between Thursday, April 2, and Sunday, April 5, to officially resume course-related communication. SAIC will notify all students to look out for such a message.

Here are some further suggestions of what all faculty should share with students in these “welcome back” communications to class participants:

• Share how the course will proceed. In other words, what work will happen, in what time, using which tools and resources (physical and digital)?
• Make clear what resources (physical and digital) students will need to participate in your course moving forward, and invite them to communicate with you individually if they do not have the resources they need so you can help them make a plan (also see the “Resources for Students” section below).
• State what students will need to do in order to keep on track to earn credit for the class.
• Let students know how they should contact you directly should they need to do so.
• Offer reassurance that we’ll all get through this challenging time together.

We strongly encourage all faculty to share their course adjustments and expectations through either a revised syllabus or a simple addendum to your existing syllabus. This will make the transition to online learning less stressful for your students. These can be shared in your “welcome back” communication or as classes begin next week.

If you would like to survey your students on their resources/capabilities as a part of finalizing your revised curriculum, a group of SAIC faculty have developed a brief student questionnaire as a resource for other faculty to draw from or utilize as they feel would be helpful. This questionnaire is among many resources offered in the Guide to Rapid Transition to Online Teaching. This guide is in continuous development and we are currently focusing on sharing discipline-relevant ideas for student work and assignments. We encourage all faculty to draw on these resources as you deploy and refine your remote curriculum over the remainder of the semester.
 
Ongoing Engagement with Students

The Dean’s Office recommends that faculty and TAs plan to interact with each student in the class at least once a week between now and the end of the semester (May 10). These interactions could include work being assigned and then submitted, participation in discussion boards, one-on-one correspondence, participation in virtual office hours, or virtual course activities.

We understand that student interaction will vary from week to week and from class to class, but we ask all faculty to consider how they can most sustainably continue to be in dialogue with each student on a weekly basis and proceed accordingly.
 
What to Do If a Student is Not Participating in Class and You Cannot Reach Them

During this time when we are navigating remote learning, if a student in your class has not been participating and has not responded to your outreach, you can contact SAIC’s dean on call at doncall@saic.edu. Please include in your email the name of the student, course, and issue you are experiencing. Staff from the Office of Student Affairs will respond as soon as possible and asks for your patience during this transition.

If you have reason to believe that there is an emergency involving a student, as always, the dean on call is available via phone 24/7 at 312.768.8485.
 
Resources for Students

SAIC has established additional avenues for students to seek computing or other urgent resources related to their continued ability to participate in their studies. Faculty should be aware of these avenues and refer students to them as appropriate:

• Emergency Relief Funding: The Office of Advancement has raised emergency relief funding to help our students during this difficult time. While funding is limited, there may be extenuating circumstances with your students' situations related to COVID-19 that could increase their eligibility for additional institutional aid in the form of loans or grants. If you know of a student who is struggling to pay for food, rent, utilities, etc., please send the student’s message or information to Jane Brumitt, executive director of enrollment services. Note that this funding will not be used for tuition relief support, but rather it is intended to help students with unexpected needs during this time.
• Computing Resources: SAIC may be able to provide some limited resources to assist students who have urgent course-related computing needs. If faculty become aware of a student who does not have the basic computer equipment necessary to be able to participate in your now-online class, you can refer them to seek these resources. Please have any such students complete this form so we may evaluate their needs.
• Many SAIC services continue to operate in support of student well-being and ongoing teaching and learning. The SAIC COVID-19 FAQ page is a great place to find a list of these resources (navigate to the question: “What resources and services for students and faculty are still available?”) and we encourage faculty to continue to connect students to resources as appropriate.

 
Emphasizing Asynchronous Approaches in Your Curriculum

We again wish to remind all faculty to emphasize asynchronous (non-time-based) approaches in their revised curriculum. For more information on why we encourage asynchronous approaches, please see the Dean’s Office message in the aforementioned Faculty Guide.

We appreciate that there is ample appetite among both faculty and students for synchronous activities, often via videoconferencing applications such as Zoom or Google Hangouts Meet, and videoconferencing resources are available to you via CRIT.

When planning any synchronous activities related to a class, please keep in mind that students may have as many as five different faculty seeking their availability for such sessions each week, which students will have to factor in among many other expectations, School-related and otherwise, and in some cases from another side of the world.

Anticipating that some students will struggle to engage in synchronous instruction for these types of reasons, the Dean’s Office asks faculty to ensure that students’ ability to participate in videoconferencing activities does not determine whether or not they ultimately earn credit for any spring 2020 course. As such, faculty should be prepared to offer asynchronous alternatives for students who cannot participate in synchronous activities.

For faculty who do utilize videoconferencing, we suggest that you record these sessions and post them to your Canvas course page. CRIT has developed a page with instructions for recording and sharing your class meetings/activities.
 
Online Course Curriculum and Intellectual Property

The General Counsel's Office has affirmed that faculty teaching online courses will maintain the exact same intellectual property rights that they currently possess for their in-person classes.
 
Preliminary Guidelines for Safe “Making” at Home

The Instructional Support Spaces/IRFM team has developed some basic guidelines for students making art in a home studio environment, for the health and safety of the artist and anyone else living in the home. Faculty should keep these guidelines in mind when assigning students work and guiding them as they develop course-related projects. A more extensive document addressing specific art-making practices is in development and will be shared in the future. These guidelines will also be shared with students:

• All art-making materials should only be used according to the manufacturer's approved usages, and those usage scenarios should follow all Safety Data Sheet (SDS) precautions for the product.
• Do not use toxic substances or processes.
• Stick to no-VOC or low-VOC products in small quantities, and avoid powders and pigments that could contain silica or heavy metals.
• Anything that would normally have been done in a spray booth is not safe for the home studio environment.
• Always use personal protective equipment (PPE) when necessary and according to manufacturer guidance.
• Ask yourself if a material is really necessary, and when possible, substitute it for a less toxic material.
• If utilizing power or hand tools, use only those tools you are trained on and are comfortable controlling. Tools should be maintained in good working order with required guards installed, and used in conjunction with proper PPE (goggles, respiratory, and/or hearing protection). Comply with manufacturer guidelines for the tool’s usage.
• Tools should not be used to process toxic or potentially sensitizing materials such as plastic, painted surfaces, or materials containing formaldehyde binders or adhesives.

 
Grades and Student Performance Expectations

This is a singular and unprecedented semester, which includes both an on-campus and online period of instruction, all taking place against a backdrop of tremendous distraction and anxiety for all members of our community. Many faculty and departments have been in touch with the Dean’s Office regarding how to approach evaluating student performance and grading in such an environment.

The Dean’s Office and Campus Emergency Operations Group are currently working on addressing these questions and preparing related policy changes. Faculty should expect a communication on this subject as instruction resumes next week.

We are also in the process of updating our Class Progress Report content options to accurately reflect the nature of our remote operations and to make these communications a more useful vehicle for sharing positive and/or encouraging feedback with students, in addition to issues or concerns which require their attention and action. We will share these changes with you as soon as they are finalized

Dear SAIC Community, 

We continue to work closely with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines as we ensure proper protocols and preventative measures are in place for the health and safety of our School community. In Friday’s all-campus message from President Tenny and Provost Berger, we were reminded to take proactive measures for own health and safety and for the well-being of others.

According to the CDPH, there is community-wide transmission of COVID-19 in Chicago. This means the risk of contracting COVID-19 is no longer only tied to high-risk travel or potential exposures on campus or at work. Those you encounter may be carriers of the virus, even if they do not present symptoms. You may be, too. The best way to prevent contracting COVID-19 or to limit its spread is to practice good hand hygiene, avoid contact with people who are sick, stay home if sick, and practice social distancing. Per CDPH guidance, we will not send campus-wide alerts for each positive case, given that all of us should already be exercising maximum caution. Everyone should continue to monitor their health for symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, or difficulty breathing).

Public Health Guidance
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), cough, and shortness of breath. If your symptoms are mild and you are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 (over 60 years old or have underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or chronic lung diseases), please contact your medical provider to discuss whether you need to be evaluated in person. Individuals who are not high risk and who exhibit mild symptoms do not need to be evaluated in person or tested unless the severity of symptoms escalate. The vast majority of ill people experience relatively mild symptoms and can recover at home.

If your symptoms are severe, such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or difficulty waking up, or bluish lips or face, please contact the closest emergency department or call 911 immediately.

Any individuals who are sick or exhibiting symptoms must stay home. You should stay home and away from others for at least seven days since your symptoms first appeared and at least three days (72 hours) with no fever (without using fever-reducing medications) and improving symptoms.

CDPH Answers Health Questions
We know that many of you have specific questions about COVID-19 and Chicago’s response to the health crisis. Every morning at 11:00 a.m. Central Time, seven days a week, the CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., hosts a live stream session to provide updates and answer questions. We encourage you to take advantage of this resource.

Additionally, Chicago’s COVID-19 site provides guidance, FAQs, and additional resources that may be of help. If you do not find the information you need on their website, please feel free to email CDPH directly at coronavirus@chicago.gov.

SAIC’s Wellness Center Continues to Provide Services
As a reminder, the School’s Wellness Center staff are providing services remotely. Please contact the Wellness Center’s services at the following emails and phone numbers if you need assistance:
 
Counseling Services: counselingservices@saic.edu and 312.499.4271
Health Services: healthservices@saic.edu and 312.499.4288
Disability and Learning Resource Center: dlrc@saic.edu and 312.499.4278

Be Aware of COVID-19 Symptoms
We must continue to preserve our own health and self-monitor for symptoms. CDPH published guidance on how to determine if you need testing, and the CDC developed tools for recognizing the symptoms of COVID-19 and steps you should take if you are sick or are taking care of someone who is sick.

Practice Social Distancing
The State of Illinois’ and City of Chicago’s stay-at-home policy, like similar approaches in cities around the world and the campus closure at SAIC, has been enacted to enforce social distancing, which keeps viruses from spreading among groups of people. It is best to stay at home as much as possible, going outside only for essential items and maintaining six feet of space between yourself and others.

Take Good Care of Yourself

• To help prevent the spread of viruses, please:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth;
• Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze; remember to wash your hands afterward;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick; and
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.

Seek a Doctor If You Are Feeling Sick
Any students who have health-related questions or concerns, who are not feeling well, or who need emotional or psychological support are encouraged to contact SAIC Health Services, at 312.499.4288 or healthservices@saic.edu, or their healthcare provider immediately. Students are also encouraged to use our 24-hour free nurse advice line available at 877.924.7758.

Staff and faculty with questions about their health are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider for medical concerns or the employee assistance program for mental health support. Additionally, for questions regarding benefits and coverage, benefits-eligible faculty and staff may contact Cigna at 800.244.6224. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may also reach out to Telehealth at 855.667.9722 or MDLIVE at 888.726.3171 for questions about their health.

If You Test Positive for COVID-19
If you have been on campus, including our residence halls, within the past 14 days and you test positive for COVID-19, or your healthcare provider suspects you have COVID-19, we ask that you inform the School. We will follow CDPH guidelines while working to protect the confidentiality of anyone at SAIC who self-reports.

To report a positive test or likely diagnosis for COVID-19, students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288, and faculty and staff should notify Irina Melnik, director of employee benefits, at imelnik@artic.edu or 312.629.3382.

The health and wellness of our students and staff are our highest priority. We will continue to provide you with regular updates.

Sincerely,

Joe Behen, PhD
Dean of the Wellness Center

Megan Skarr, MS, FNP-C
Director of Health Services

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Community, 

We write to let you know that today we learned that a member of our School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) community has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The individual is a staff member from our Central Administration office, supporting operations at both the School and museum. The staff member was last on campus two weeks ago (March 13) and has been in self-isolation since then. Additionally, a few individuals in the SAIC community have reported that, while they lack an official positive test result, they or their doctors believe they have COVID-19. Please join us in wishing all of these members of our community a speedy recovery.

Incidence of COVID-19 are on the rise in our hometown. Today (March 27), the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced 1,489 positive cases in the city so far. While these numbers are significant, we also recognize that many Chicago residents with COVID-19 are unlikely to be tested, given the current lack of widespread testing in the United States. Given the prevalence of COVID-19 in the Chicago area and our first positive test, it is imperative that we act with prudence by assuming that there are additional cases of COVID-19 in our community. All students, faculty, and staff in Chicago and beyond should continue proactive measures for their own health and safety and for the wellbeing of others. We will not send additional campus-wide alerts for each positive case beyond this initial notification, given that all of us should already be exercising maximum caution.

Those you encounter may be carriers of the virus, even if they do not present symptoms. You may be, too. We share this update with you not to alarm you, but to remind you to be vigilant in following the health advice and safety protocols below:

Be Aware of COVID-19 Symptoms
We must continue to preserve our own health and self-monitor for symptoms. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) published guidance on how to determine if you need testing, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed tools for recognizing the symptoms of coronavirus and steps you should take if you are sick or are taking care of someone who is sick.

Practice Social Distancing
The State of Illinois’ and City of Chicago’s stay-at-home policy, like similar approaches in cities around the world and the campus closure at SAIC, has been enacted to enforce social distancing, which keeps viruses from spreading among groups of people. It is best to stay at home as much as possible, going outside for only essential items and maintaining six feet of space between yourself and others.

Take Good Care of Yourself
To help prevent the spread of viruses, please:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth;
• Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze; remember to wash your hands afterward;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick; and
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.

Seek a Doctor if You are Feeling Sick
Any students who have health-related questions or concerns, who are not feeling well, or who need emotional or psychological support are encouraged to contact SAIC Health Services, at 312.499.4288 or healthservices@saic.edu, or their healthcare provider immediately. Students are also encouraged to use our 24-hour free nurse advice line available at 877.924.7758.

Staff and faculty with questions about their health are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider for medical concerns or the employee assistance program for mental health support. Additionally, for questions regarding benefits and coverage, benefits-eligible faculty and staff may contact Cigna at 800.244.6224. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may also reach out to Telehealth at 855.667.9722 or MDLIVE at 888.726.3171 for questions about their health.

If You Test Positive for COVID-19
If you recently have been on campus, including our residence halls, within the past 14 days and you test positive for COVID-19, or your healthcare provider suspects you have COVID-19, we ask that you inform the School. We will follow CDPH guidelines while working to protect the confidentiality of anyone at SAIC who self-reports.

To report a positive test or likely diagnosis for COVID-19, students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288, and faculty and staff should notify Irina Melnik, director of employee benefits, at imelnik@artic.edu or 312.629.3382.

In closing, we want to remind you, as we have in many COVID-19 messages, that we are a diverse and inclusive campus where everyone, even those who fall ill, belongs. Though this time apart will be hard, our sacrifices underscore how much we value one another.

Take care,
Elissa Tenny
President

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Community,

We were notified today by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), the building management company for Sullivan Center—a building in which the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) operates classrooms, offices, and an exhibitions space—that an employee of another organization in the Sullivan Center has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The employee is self-isolating and has not been in the Sullivan Center for 12 days. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the tenant quarantined and disinfected the space where the individual was working and JLL informed the other tenants in the building, including SAIC, of the positive diagnosis. 

We wish this—and all—individuals with COVID-19 a complete and speedy recovery. This person is not an immediate member of the SAIC community, and we do not believe that this individual accessed School facilities given our security protocols, other than the shared lobbies and elevators used by all tenants and guests to the Sullivan Center. Nevertheless, we thought it best to alert everyone, both to be as forthcoming as possible during the health crisis, and to address questions and concerns that this announcement may cause.

While we are not aware of anyone who has tested positive among our students, faculty, or staff, on campus or off, SAIC will follow the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and CDC guidance for further prevention and responsible notification in the event of a positive test result. According to the latest numbers (March 24), CDPH has reported 730 cases identified in Chicago. We anticipate the numbers will continue to increase, particularly as more tests are performed, and will regularly update our microsite at saic.edu/alerts with additional statistical information.

If you test positive for COVID-19, we ask that you inform the School. Students should contact Health Services at healthservices@saic.edu or 312.499.4288, and faculty and staff are encouraged to notify Irina Melnik, director of employee benefits, at imelnik@artic.edu or 312.629.3382.

In accordance with CDPH guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we will work to protect the confidentiality of anyone at SAIC who tests positive for COVID-19 while following current CDPH guidelines.

Second, we must continue to preserve our own health and be on the lookout for the health of our community, at SAIC and beyond, throughout this crisis. The CDPH recently published guidance on how to determine if you need testing, and the CDC has developed steps you should take if you are sick or are taking care of someone who is sick. Also, the following CDPH information, which we have shared with you before, remains relevant. To help prevent the spread of viruses, please:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth;
• Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze; remember to wash your hands afterward;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick; and
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.

Any students who have health-related questions or concerns, who are not feeling well, or who need emotional or psychological support are encouraged to contact SAIC Health Services, at 312.499.4288 or healthservices@saic.edu, or their healthcare provider immediately. Students are also encouraged to use our 24-hour free nurse advice line available at 877.924.7758.

Staff and faculty with questions about their health are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider for medical concerns or the employee assistance program for mental health support. Additionally, for questions regarding benefits and coverage, benefits-eligible faculty and staff may contact Cigna at 800.244.6224. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may also reach out to Telehealth at 855.667.9722 or MDLIVE at 888.726.3171 for questions about their health.

In closing, we want to remind you that we are a diverse and inclusive campus where everyone belongs. When and if we have a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in our community, we will need to remember that ostracizing any member of our campus community is neither fair nor helpful. It is imperative to keep in mind that viruses are no one's fault, and we should avoid uninformed assumptions. Compassion is needed during times of uncertainty, and how we steward one another’s well-being should ensure the sense of belonging we foster for everyone at SAIC.

Take Care,

Elissa Tenny
President

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dear Faculty, 

As you prepare your curriculum to transition to remote instruction when classes resume on April 6, we want to highlight three new or updated resources this week. Below you will find information on:

• Ongoing Technology Assistance
• Resources for the Transition to Remote Instruction
• Utilizing Zoom/Teleconferencing Guidance for Faculty

The Computer Resources and Information Technologies (CRIT), the John M. Flaxman Library, and the Dean’s Office staff are all here to assist you in the days and weeks to come. As a reminder, questions about remote teaching platforms (i.e., Canvas) can be emailed to canvas-help@saic.edu. General questions can be addressed to the CRIT HelpDesk at 312.345.3535 or crithelpdesk@saic.edu.

Sincerely,
Dev Ravichandran
Vice President of Educational Technologies and Chief Information Officer

Melanie Emerson
Dean of the Library and Special Collections

Paul Jackson
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies

Ongoing Technology Assistance

• Several of last week’s remote instruction workshops, hosted by Todd Chilton and Jill Lanza, have been posted to the Canvas Faculty Portal page. All current faculty should already have access to this Canvas page. Please note that the slides used during all presentations are also accessible in the same place.
• As a supplement to the recorded workshops, CRIT staff will continue to host an online Remote Instruction Resource Room via Zoom this week, beginning Tuesday. The hours for the Resource Room are below. During the hours of operation, the Resource Room can be accessed via this link.

Tuesday, March 24–Friday, March 27
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

• We invited faculty with previous experience delivering remote instruction to be available along with CRIT staff in the Resource Room to provide their own expertise and suggestions.
• As always, faculty are also invited to reach out to canvas-help@saic.edu with questions or requests for specific assistance.

Resources for the Rapid Transition to Remote Instruction
Staff from the John M. Flaxman Library have been working very hard to develop a one-stop reference site for faculty looking to dig into the wealth of information available on how to develop effective approaches to remote instruction. In concert with CRIT and the Office of the Dean of Faculty, the Library team has curated a key selection of resources to create a single starting point for faculty. This guide is an excellent start but it is also a living repository, and we will develop both its content and functionality according to need and circumstance in the days and weeks to come.

Please review the John M. Flaxman Library Research Guide on Remote Instruction/Online Teaching.

Zoom/Teleconferencing Guidance for Faculty
In the past week, one of the most frequent questions we heard was “How can/should faculty utilize teleconferencing generally and Zoom specifically?”

In response, we put together a brief sheet that provides full details on Zoom, how faculty can gain access to SAIC’s Zoom client, details on the recent removal of meeting duration restrictions for educators, and recommendations for how faculty may wish to use teleconferencing as a supplement to asynchronous instruction.

The Zoom Information sheet will be hosted on the Canvas Faculty Portal page.

Dear Part-Time Faculty, 

You know from President Tenny’s most recent email communication that Governor J.B. Pritzker has issued a stay-at-home order for the State of Illinois to begin at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, and last through Tuesday, April 7.

As Elissa noted, this will prevent all but a handful of employees needed onsite from gaining access to campus facilities. As of tomorrow, faculty may no longer access campus to use any School facilities, including computer labs, studios, or department offices, even in preparation for online teaching.

As a result, I want to move quickly to determine those of you who need computer equipment to continue your spring 2020 online teaching. I ask that you please respond to a brief survey, which will help us determine how to allocate our limited number of laptops and iPads.

I would be grateful for a response by Monday, March 23, at noon. In light of the stay-at-home order, it may be necessary for us to engage commercial shippers to send you needed hardware, hence the tight deadline.

Sincerely,
Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dev Ravichandran
Vice President for Education Technologies and Chief Information Officer

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Community,

As the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) continues to closely monitor the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we are taking proactive measures to ensure the well-being of our students, faculty, and staff.

In an effort to keep our community as safe as possible, and to reduce potential for exposure to COVID-19, SAIC has suspended all campus-sponsored events, including the Spring Undergraduate Exhibition, until further notice in accordance with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We understand that this is disappointing and represents a substantial change to the many ways we usually celebrate the work of SAIC’s talented artists, designers, and scholars.

Be assured that faculty are working with the Dean’s Office to identify appropriate alternative formats for end-of-year and thesis-related events and will provide more information in the coming weeks. This includes the following programs:
 
ArtBash
Design Show
Fashion Show
Film, Video, New Media, Animation, and Sound Festival
IMPACT Performance Festival
MA in Visual and Critical Studies Exhibition at Co-Prosperity Sphere
MakeWork Showcase
MFA Thesis Exhibition
Senior Expo Exhibition
All BFAW, MFAW, BA, MA, and MS readings and symposia

Programs that are canceled for spring 2020 include:
 
Art Sale
Conversations at the Edge
SITE Galleries Exhibitions
Visiting Artists Program Lectures

On or before Monday, April 6, SAIC will provide an update about Commencement. All public events beyond May 10 will be evaluated on a three-week rolling basis. Regular updates on any future cancellations will be shared via SAIC’s COVID-19 Event Cancellations and Updates webpage and community emails.

The health and safety of the SAIC community is our primary concern, and we sincerely appreciate your understanding. Please do not hesitate to reach out to saicinfo@saic.edu with any questions.

Sincerely,
Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs​

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Community, 

You have been resourceful, resilient, and compassionate in all the rapid changes we have made for the health and safety of everyone in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago community. I am overwhelmed by your effort. Thank you.

I wanted to take a moment to be sure you knew that your feelings matter, too. Your work matters. The sacrifices we are called to make in this time are extraordinary, but our mission as artists, designers, and scholars endures.

Take Care,
Elissa Tenny

Dear Students,
As noted in previous emails, students will be unable to access campus buildings after Friday at 7:00 p.m. At this time, we are unable to determine when students will resume access to these spaces, so please plan accordingly.

If you have any further questions, please email us at saicinfo@saic.edu. Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,
Tom Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations

Trevor Martin
Executive Director of Exhibitions

I am currently in Chicago and want to retrieve my belongings. What should I do?

• You may retrieve your belongings from campus buildings from 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. through Friday, March 20.
• Any items left in lockers, painting racks, studio spaces, and the Undergraduate Exhibition will be left as they are until arrangements can be made for their retrieval.

I have work in the Undergraduate Exhibition. How do I retrieve my work?

• Students with work in the Undergraduate Exhibition will receive an email from the Department of Exhibitions about how to retrieve their work.

I'm a graduate student. Do I need to clean out my studio?

• If you have an opportunity to document your work in the studio, we encourage you to do so. Nothing elaborate is necessary—just take pictures with your cell phone.
• The campus, including graduate and post-bac studios, will be closed to all students beginning Friday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. We strongly recommend that you retrieve any items or supplies from your studios that you may need to continue your practice off campus. As the impact of the global outbreak may be felt beyond these next few weeks, we do not know when you will be able to access your studio after Friday.

I’ve already left Chicago or I’m in Chicago, but I’m unable to retrieve my belongings. What happens to my belongings?

• If you have already left campus, please do not return to collect your belongings at this time.
• Any items left in lockers, painting racks, studio spaces, and the Undergraduate Exhibition will be left as they are until arrangements can be made for their retrieval.
• If you've left Chicago and need essential items (e.g., laptop, passport, medications, items integral to resuming online coursework, etc.), please let us know by filling out this form so that we can make individual arrangements. We are unable to ship large items (e.g., large canvases, sculptures, musical equipment, etc.), and we reserve the right to prioritize these requests.

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Community, 

I write to let you know that the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) will be closing our campus buildings to nonessential operations as we continue to move toward remote learning. Campus closure will begin in phases beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, until further notice. This includes access to academic buildings. We are also asking all students still living in the residential halls, except those who have nowhere else to go, to vacate by Sunday, March 22.

Supporting the health of everyone in our campus community—students, faculty, and staff—has been at the heart of our decision making, and we must act for the well-being of us all, at SAIC and beyond. While we have tried our very best to meet every new challenge with responses that value safety and try to preserve the greatest possible portion of the educational experience for the remainder of the semester, it seems clear that the unprecedented health crisis presented by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, requires our further action. 

You will have many practical questions. Another email will follow this one with details; it can also be read here. The frequently asked questions section of our alerts page will also be continually updated with the most up-to-date information.
 
But first, I want to recognize that this is an unprecedented time, and we know that this moment asks an extraordinary amount from all members of the SAIC community. I am so grateful for what all of you have accomplished already, especially our staff, who have been working selflessly and tirelessly to maintain as much regularity to our operations as possible. Meanwhile, students and faculty are gearing up to explore learning at a distance, many for the first time. Simultaneously, everyone, especially students, is dealing with the grief of shortened exhibitions and cancelled events. We all anticipate the stress of distancing ourselves from one another, especially when we need one another most. This is hard, and teaching, learning, and working remotely will be a challenge; however, we are doing the right thing.
 
In taking this action, we are, in essence, trying to do for our School what we are all doing for our shared society. Staying indoors. Taking care of those we live with. Making sure we minimize the risk of viral spread, as much as possible, for everyone. This process is likely to keep evolving, and we will need to be responsive to events as they occur. Nevertheless, I have complete faith in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago community. We will weather this moment, and prepare for a full return to campus after the immediate threat is mitigated. Together, we can do this.
 
We must, because even in this uncertain time, our values endure. We are still artists, designers, and scholars. The ways we picture, interrogate, and shape our shared society will always be fundamental elements of the human experience. The images we make, environments we build, and ways of being we envision will be essential throughout this health crisis and beyond.
 
Yours in hope,
Elissa Tenny
President

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Students, 

As President Tenny and Provost Berger announced today, SAIC has taken further measures to minimize the number of individuals on campus in order to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These actions include closing the residence halls, an extraordinary step that we wanted to avoid, but at this time, can no longer. To ease the process as much as possible, you’ll find important information below on moving out of your residence hall.

Student Affairs staff will be available to assist you through this transition. We know this is hard, and there are no easy answers, but please know you are supported by teams of people working around the clock to ensure the process is as seamless as possible.

Please watch your email inbox and saic.edu/alerts for further details. In addition, forward your questions to stulife@saic.edu so that we may route to the appropriate resources and reply as quickly as possible. Thank you for your continued patience and partnership throughout this most challenging time.

Sincerely,

Felice J. Dublon, PhD
Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs
 
Residence Halls Will Close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22
All residential students should leave as soon as possible, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 22. If you have already left Chicago, please do not return to campus. In very extraordinary circumstances, students may appeal to remain on campus. Students who are allowed to stay on campus may be required to move to a different residence hall and/or a different residence hall room. Students and families should recognize that our services and support on campus will be limited at times. To appeal, complete this form by Wednesday, March 18 at 12:00 p.m.

What if I left Chicago and need essential items (e.g., medications, travel documents, etc.) from my residence hall room to complete the semester?
If you’ve already left Chicago, please do not return to campus. Complete this form and we will ship these items to you. Please note, we are unable to ship large items. We will keep your items safely locked, and we will send more details on getting your belongings at a later date.

If I’ve left Chicago, when can I return to retrieve my items and complete my move out?
At this time, we don’t yet know when you’ll be able to return to campus, but we will keep your items safely locked and send more details on collecting your belongings at a later date.

If I am currently on campus and will be moving out of my residence hall room by March 22, do I need to take all of my belongings?
Yes, please plan on moving out of the residence halls and follow our standard check out procedures. To check out of your room, do the following:

• Clean your room or your part of the room and common spaces.
• Move your belongings out. Five boxes per resident are available for free in these locations: 162 North State Street Residences, 4th floor office; Jones Hall, 3rd floor office; Buckingham Basement Residence Life Offices.
• Check your mail to pick up letters and packages.
• Check out by filling out a check-out envelope and leaving your key(s) inside. Check-out envelopes can be found in these locations: Buckingham security desk and next to the residence hall offices in 162 North State Street Residences (4th floor) and Jones Hall (3rd floor).

Can I ship or store my belongings?
If you are interested in off-site storage or shipping, SAIC has contracted with an independent vendor to provide this service, Collegeboxes, Inc. Collegeboxes will pick up your belongings from your room, store the items, and deliver them back to the residence hall just prior to move-in weekend. Collegeboxes will be on campus to scan, track, and pick up your boxes before the semester ends. Residents may leave these boxes in their room for Collegeboxes to scan and pick up. Collegeboxes can also store items for students who will be living off campus in the fall. For more information on this service or to place an order, visit collegeboxes.com.

Can I get a refund on housing or my meal plan?
Students who leave the residence halls will only be charged for living in the residence halls through March 22. This includes students who have left the residence halls but still have items remaining in the halls. A credit will be sent to students’ accounts by the end of March. Residence Life will be waiving the contract breakage fee, and any unused meal plan funds will roll over to the following semester.

If I successfully appeal to stay in the residence hall, where should I get food?
Governor Pritzker has announced that restaurants and bars must close by the end of the business day today, Monday, March 16 (this does not include the LeRoy Neiman Center Café). At this time, grocery stores remain open and food delivery services can continue.

The current plan is to keep the LeRoy Neiman Center Café open from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. through March 20, and if it is possible and safe to do so, we will try to remain open for the remainder of the semester. However, students living in the residence halls will receive updates if these plans change.

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear Students, 

On March 12, President Tenny and Provost Berger announced new actions to help limit the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among our campus community. In particular, SAIC is extending Spring Break to allow faculty and staff time to better prepare for our planned move to online teaching. Spring Break will now take place from Monday, March 16–Sunday, March 29, meaning no in-person, on-campus classes will be held during this time. Critique Week will continue the week of March 30, though all undergraduate classes that take place during Crit Week are suspended. Then, beginning April 6 through the end of the semester, all classroom instruction will be moved online. The residence halls will remain open, and students may choose to stay on campus or leave campus.

All students who remain on campus are required to notify the Residence Life staff of housing plans for the remainder of the spring semester. Complete this form by March 18 at 12:00 p.m. CST to maintain access to the residence halls.

Below you’ll find more information on residence hall access, summer housing, summer staff positions, and housing renewal for the 2020–21 academic year.

If You Are Planning to Stay in the Residence Halls

• Res Life Desks at Jones Hall and the 162 North State Street Residences will remain open with normal services, however hours may be adjusted. Please see posted signs for open hours.
• Common area spaces remain open for student use.
• The Buckingham Fitness Center is temporarily closed for an undetermined amount of time.
• Dining services will remain open. The LeRoy Neiman Center will be open the following hours: March 16–20: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; March 21–22: Closed; March 23–April 5: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. The MacLean and Columbus Cafes will be closed. We will reevaluate hours and announce plans as of April 6 at a later date. Our campus catering company, Food for Thought (FFT), will no longer be offering self-serve options and will not allow reusable cups to be used for beverages.
• Students are expected to continue following all policies listed in the Student Handbook.

Guests and visitor privileges are the same throughout the weekend. Please note that we do not yet have guidance regarding guests for the future in residence halls. We will share more information as it becomes available.

If You Are Planning to Leave the Residence Halls and Return Before the End of the Semester

• Notify your roommate(s) that you will be gone.
• Check your mail to pick up letters and packages.
• Remove perishable items from your refrigerator/room.
• Take all valuables with you (laptop, passport, medications, external hard drives, jewelry, etc.)
• Consider packing and labeling items before leaving the SAIC campus in case your plans change for returning to campus. Five boxes per resident are available for free in these locations: 162 North State Street Residences, 4th floor office; Jones Hall, 3rd floor office; Buckingham Basement Residence Life Offices.
• If you are in a single room or if you and all of your roommates will be gone for a period of time:
  • Close and lock all windows; lower blinds.
  • Turn heat on low.
  • Turn all lights off.
  • Double check your faucets to make sure the water is not running.
  • Take out the trash and recycling.
  • Make sure your door is closed.
  • Label your bike.
  • Remove your art from common area studios.
• Plan on returning to campus to move out of the residence halls at the end of the term. More details will come as the end of the semester approaches.

If You Are Planning to Leave the Residence Halls For the Remainder of the Semester

• Notify your roommate(s) that you will be gone.
• Clean your room or your part of the room and common spaces.
• Move your belongings out. Five boxes per resident are available for free in these locations: 162 North State Street Residences, 4th floor office; Jones Hall, 3rd floor office; Buckingham Basement Residence Life Offices.
• Check your mail to pick up letters and packages.
• Check out by filling out a check-out envelope and leaving your key(s) inside. Check-out envelopes can be found in these locations: Buckingham security desk and next to the residence hall offices in 162 North State Street Residences (4th floor) and Jones Hall (3rd floor).

If you are interested in off-site storage or shipping, SAIC has contracted with an independent vendor to provide this service, Collegeboxes, Inc. Collegeboxes will pick your belongings up from your room, store the items, and deliver them back to the residence hall just prior to move-in weekend. Collegeboxes will be on campus to scan, track, and pick up your boxes before the semester ends. Please sign up by March 20. Residents may leave these boxes in their room for Collegeboxes to scan and pick up. Collegeboxes can also store items for students who will be living off campus in the fall. For more information on this service or to place an order, visit collegeboxes.com.

Housing Renewal for 2020–21 Academic Year
Residence Life will continue to accept applications until March 24, at 4:00 p.m. for the 2020–21 Academic Year. The online application will require you to sign the 2020–21 housing contract, make a $550 prepayment, and provide roommate preferences. You were given information about applying for housing at the floor meetings hosted on March 1 and via your SAIC email.

The Buckingham Open House originally scheduled for March 16 and the Roommate Finder Fair originally scheduled for March 17 have been canceled. The Housing Renewal Fair is being reworked, and information on how students will select the room of their choice will be shared with students with complete applications.

Summer Housing for Summer 2020
Applications for summer housing will open on April 2. All summer housing for SAIC degree-seeking students is located at the 162 North State Street Residences. Both double and single rooms are available. More details will be available here soon.

Summer Staff Positions in Residence Life
If you are interested in working for Residence Life this summer as a Summer Resident Advisor or a Summer Housing Assistant, applications are open via Engage and will close on March 25. Residence Life staff will be in touch with candidates to set up phone or email interviews.

For Questions About Your Health
Any students who have health-related questions or concerns, who are not feeling well, or who need emotional or psychological support are encouraged to contact SAIC Health Services, at 312.499.4288 or healthservices@saic.edu, or their healthcare provider immediately. Additionally, here is a list of nearby clinics and a 24-hour free nurse advice line available to all students at 877.924.7758.

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Community,
Today we are announcing new actions to help limit the risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) among our campus community. There are no confirmed cases on our campus; however, we are taking additional measures to help protect and reassure SAIC students, faculty, and staff and to help stem the spread of the virus throughout the larger community:

Extended Spring Break to Prepare for Remote Teaching
We are extending Spring Break to allow faculty and staff time to better prepare for our planned move to online teaching. Spring Break will now take place from Monday, March 16–Sunday, March 29, meaning no in-person, on-campus classes will be held during this time.

• SAIC’s campus, including residence halls, dining facilities, and Sullivan Galleries, will remain open during the extended Spring Break and for the remainder of the semester with modifications made for social distancing.
• This extended Spring Break will allow faculty time to modify their syllabi and acquire the online skills needed to teach remotely. Closer to April 3, students will receive an email with more information on their classes. Please hold off on reaching out to instructors in order to give them time to plan for moving their classes online.
• Interim Dean of Faculty Jefferson Pinder and Vice President of Educational Technologies and Chief Information Officer Dev Ravichandran will reach out to faculty with more information about online resources and training for faculty as they prepare during the extended Spring Break.
• We expect all students will be able to complete the semester online.
• MFA students will continue to have access to their studios and campus workshops and labs during the break, but hours may be adjusted. Undergraduate students who wish to access studios and workshops beginning April 6 can appeal to gain access for the remainder of the semester. More information will be coming from the Undergraduate Division about the appeal process.
• Online Low-Residency MFA courses will continue as scheduled.
• Continuing Studies classes will be suspended as of March 16 for the remainder of the term.

Critique Week Will Continue the Week of March 30
As of today, we are moving forward with Critique Week as scheduled during the week of March 30; however, all undergraduate classes will be suspended during Critique Week. In the coming weeks, the Graduate Division will share more information via email to participating students and faculty about how critiques will be conducted. Students should please hold off on contacting faculty with questions until they have received further instruction via email.

After Spring Break, All Classes Will Begin Online and Campus Will Remain Open

• Beginning April 6 through the end of the semester, all classroom instruction will be moved online.
• Residence Halls will remain open, and the semester will continue. Students may choose to stay on campus or leave campus. More information will be sent from Residence Life.
• Dining services will remain open, but hours may be adjusted. Our campus catering company, Food for Thought (FFT), will no longer be offering self-serve options and will not allow reusable cups to be used for beverages.
• Classroom instruction and critiques will take place remotely.
• MFA students will have access to their studios and campus workshops and labs, but hours may be adjusted. Undergraduate students who wish to access studios and workshops can appeal to gain access for the remainder of the semester. More information will be coming from the Undergraduate Division about the appeal process.
• Students will continue to receive financial aid. Student workers will receive additional details in the coming weeks.
• Registration for Summer Study Trips remains open at this time. We will monitor and make adjustments as needed as more information becomes available.

Events and Public Programming
Following new guidance on social distancing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we’ve limited event capacity to no more than 100 people.

• As announced yesterday, adjustments have been made to the Undergraduate Exhibition; rather than hosting a ticketed preview event on Friday and an opening reception on Saturday, no tickets will be required for entry and viewing hours will be extended, with doors now opening Friday at 2:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. and noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Extending the open hours will hopefully allow a staggered attendance, as gallery capacity will be limited to 100 individuals at a time.
• Scheduled events and programs may move forward as planned with limited capacity of no more than 100 individuals, though some adjustments will be made on a case-by-case basis. This applies to events, film screenings, and rentals at the Gene Siskel Film Center, Visiting Artists Program, Conversations at the Edge, the Roger Brown Study Collection, and any School-sponsored off-campus events.
• We also anticipate that some visiting artists or guests may cancel their speaking engagements given travel advisories.
• At this time, the Commencement Ceremony is moving forward as planned. We are following guidance from the CDPH and CDC, and we will communicate any updates to our community via email, and we will post the latest information on saic.edu/alerts. As we've done in previous years, we plan to livestream the event at saic.edu/commencement for those who are unable to attend in person.

Flexible Work Options for Staff
All administrative offices will remain open, and staff are expected to work their normal schedule. However, we ask that departments and administrative units be flexible about letting staff work from home to ensure childcare or other family responsibilities.

• Our flexible work policy provides information and guidance on working remotely.
• If you become ill, please stay home from work for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Additionally, notify Irina Melnik (imelnik@artic.edu) or Joan Pavlicek ( jpavlicek@artic.edu) in Human Resources if you or anyone you’ve been in contact with becomes presumptively ill with COVID-19 or if you have health concerns that put you at high risk.
• Please talk with your supervisor about flexible work options if you must care for someone who is ill.

Travel Restrictions and Advice
All non-essential travel sponsored by SAIC has been suspended for all faculty, staff, and students. Additionally, we ask that you reconsider personal travel given how quickly guidance from health officials is changing. If you decide to travel, please ensure you have essential items, such as medications, laptops or items related to your coursework or job duties, you might need if you are not able to return immediately given changing travel advisories and possible quarantines.

Remembering Compassion
During this current health crisis, it is understandable that we may feel anxious; however, ostracizing any member of our campus community is neither fair nor helpful. It is imperative to keep in mind that viruses are no one's fault, and we should avoid uninformed assumptions. Compassion is needed during times of uncertainty, and how we steward one another’s well-being should ensure the sense of belonging we foster for everyone at SAIC.

We know this is a substantial change to our regular routine, and it was not made lightly. We care deeply about the health and safety of our entire campus community as well as the need to keep our students’ educations on track. Ultimately, we are making these extraordinary changes out of an abundance of caution, both for our campus and as responsible members of a global society working together to slow the spread of this virus.

We will continue to keep you updated via email and will post updates on saic.edu/alerts. If you have any immediate questions, please direct them to saicinfo@saic.edu solely, so that we can be sure you are receiving the most up-to-date information.

Sincerely,

Elissa Tenny
President

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

This email was also forwarded to parents.

Dear SAIC Community,
While you have received several campus-wide emails in the last few weeks about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), all of which are posted on saic.edu/alerts, I want to reach out to reiterate some of the actions we have taken and provide updates. I also want to respond to some common questions and dispel a few rumors that have been reported to me and my administrative colleagues.
 
There are No Known Cases at SAIC
Please know that there are no known cases of COVID-19 in the campus community. In the event of a positive case, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will announce this publicly. We will share this information with you immediately via email and on saic.edu/alerts and follow the CDPH’s guidance.

Changes to Undergraduate Exhibition
In order to allow our campus to celebrate the work of our undergraduate students while keeping the campus community safe, we have made adjustments to the Undergraduate Exhibition. Rather than hosting a ticketed preview event on Friday and an opening reception on Saturday, no tickets will be required for entry and viewing hours will be extended, with doors now opening Friday at 2:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. and noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Capacity of the gallery will be reduced in order to help visitors practice social distancing, so we encourage students, their families, and faculty members to stagger their attendance on Friday and Saturday and use both entrances on Wabash and State. Additionally, to help reduce the spread of germs, food and beverages will not be served. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility while we showcase the work of our students.

Planning Continues
Just as the health crisis is rapidly evolving, so is our response. School officials are actively preparing for a number of potential scenarios in line with our Campus Emergency Operations Plan that formally dedicates staff and resources to our efforts. The most up-to-date information can always be found on saic.edu/alerts. Any emails you receive about campus health and safety as well as changes to our routine schedule are archived there. On our alerts microsite, you will also find a frequently asked questions document, which will be continually updated. In particular, you will find our most current responses to frequently asked questions below.

This is an unusual challenge we’re facing together, and you will receive up-to-date information as soon as it becomes available. Everyone in the School’s leadership cares deeply about the health and safety of our entire campus community, and we have been actively planning for many possible scenarios to forestall the spread of disease without unnecessarily disrupting the education of thousands of students. I hope that the health and wellness resources listed below will alleviate some unease you may be feeling during this uncertain time; nevertheless, please know that you may reach out to saicinfo@saic.edu with any additional questions or concerns.

With care,

Martin Berger
Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are answers to questions you may have regarding COVID-19. More questions and responses can be found in this FAQ document on saic.edu/alerts. Please know that this is a swiftly changing situation, and we are working hard to provide you with updated information as quickly as possible. The FAQ document will continue to be updated. For the latest updates, please check saic.edu/alerts.

Are there any cases of COVID-19 on campus?
There are no known cases in the campus community. SAIC is closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19, and we are following guidance from the CDC and the CDPH.

Are there restrictions on travel for SAIC students, faculty, and staff?
For the time being, travel sponsored by SAIC has been suspended for all faculty, staff, and students to those countries with CDC travel health notices at level 2 or 3. The CDC’s list is regularly updated, so please consult the CDC website before booking and/or departing on any international travel.

SAIC has also suspended Admissions-sponsored international travel slated to begin the week of March 8.

With Spring Break and Critique Week approaching, we strongly discourage students from international travel and also ask that they reconsider domestic travel given how quickly guidance is changing.

For domestic travel and countries to which School-sponsored travel is permitted, the choice to travel is yours. If faculty and staff are uncomfortable traveling, faculty should work with the dean of faculty and staff should work with their supervisor to make alternate plans.

If you are planning any travel outside the US to countries that are not currently listed by the CDC as level 2 or 3, we ask that you:

• Review any US State Department, CDC, and World Health Organization advisories before traveling;
• Recognize that, given the speed with which precautions around the world are changing, you may be subject to additional screening measures and travel disruptions;
• Consult with your healthcare provider prior to travel if you are sick or particularly susceptible to illness; and
• Comply with all instructions for post-travel issued by government officials or your healthcare provider.

Students, faculty, and staff currently traveling and returning to campus from a country with a level 3 designation from the CDC should complete this form immediately. Upon returning to the US, individuals should stay home and monitor their health for 14 days before returning to campus.

Will SAIC suspend classes?
The CDC considers this a serious public health threat, however, for the majority of people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low. We will continue to follow guidance from the CDPH and CDC, and we are assessing the virus’s impact on our operations.

Will classes be moved online?
We are currently exploring alternative learning options, and encourage you to check your email and saic.edu/alerts for the latest updates. If you have questions about your attendance for a particular class, please reach out to individual faculty members.

Will SAIC cancel events (VAP, CATE, Sullivan Galleries openings, etc.)?
As part of our travel restrictions, all visitors to campus from countries with a CDC level 3 travel alert cannot come to campus; this has already caused some events to be canceled. We have also made adjustments to the Undergraduate Exhibition. Rather than hosting a ticketed preview event on Friday and an opening reception on Saturday, no tickets will be required for entry and viewing hours will be extended, with doors now opening Friday at 2:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. and noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. For now, all other events will be canceled on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to saic.edu/alerts for the most up-to-date information.

Has SAIC increased cleaning efforts?
SAIC has increased our campus housekeeping efforts, particularly for high-usage rooms, high-traffic spaces, and frequently touched objects. We are also placing sanitation kits in all classrooms and other high-traffic spaces. These kits contain a spray bottle of disinfectant cleaner, facial tissue, and paper towels. Students, faculty, and staff may utilize these kits to wipe down surfaces and sanitize hands as frequently as desired. For instructions on how to properly clean and disinfect surfaces, visit the CDC’s site.

Should I wear a mask?
CDPH does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask. They advise that only those showing symptoms of COVID-19, healthcare workers, and those taking care of someone in close settings such as a home or healthcare facility should wear one. However, if you typically wear a mask, feel free to continue wearing it.

What do I do if I feel sick?
If you are sick, stay home from school or work for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.

Any students who have health-related questions or concerns, who are not feeling well, or who need emotional or psychological support are encouraged to contact SAIC Health Services, at 312.499.4288 or healthservices@saic.edu, or their healthcare provider immediately. Additionally, here is a list of nearby clinics and a 24-hour free nurse advice line available to all students at 877.924.7758.

Staff and faculty with questions about their health are encouraged to reach out to their primary care provider for medical concerns or the employee assistance program for mental health support. Additionally, for questions regarding benefits and coverage, benefits-eligible faculty and staff may contact Cigna at 800.244.6224. Benefits-eligible faculty and staff may also reach out to Telehealth at 855.667.9722 or MDLIVE at 888.726.3171 for questions about their health.

As with any virus, the CDPH recommends taking the following measures to help prevent the spread of viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth;
• Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze; remember to wash your hands afterward;
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick; and
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.

Where can I find the latest SAIC updates on COVID-19?
Updates will be sent frequently to students, faculty, staff, and parents via email. These updates will also be posted on saic.edu/alerts

Dear SAIC Community, 

As we continue to monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and assess its impact on our campus operations, we want to share an update on our efforts to curtail the spread of germs on our campus. It is important to note that there are no known cases in the campus community.

We’ve increased our campus housekeeping efforts, particularly for high-usage rooms, high-traffic spaces, and frequently touched objects. Every evening, all classrooms; gathering spaces; hallways; and frequently touched items such as tabletops, handrails, doorknobs, and elevator buttons are cleaned with a disinfectant cleaner. Restrooms will continue to be cleaned and sanitized three times per day.

While we’ve increased our efforts and resources to help stop the spread of germs, it is impossible for our team to clean every surface around campus. Certain surfaces, such as personal desks, tables with student or faculty projects that cannot be moved, personal phones, and electronics such as keyboards are not cleaned by the housekeeping staff. The Facilities team at SAIC will work directly with departments and administrative offices to maintain adequate cleaning supplies so community members can clean these surfaces.

To assist in these efforts, we are placing sanitation kits in all classrooms and other high-traffic spaces. These kits contain a spray bottle of disinfectant cleaner, facial tissue, and paper towels. Bottles of hand sanitizer will be added to the kits when they become available. Students, faculty, and staff may utilize these kits to wipe down surfaces and sanitize hands as frequently as desired. These kits will be regularly monitored and filled by our Facility Services staff, but if there is a need, they can be refilled by calling 312.499.4920 or emailing irfm@saic.edu.

We will continue to work closely with SAIC’s Campus Health and Safety Team and follow all guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Chicago Department of Public Health.

Sincerely,
Thomas Buechele
Vice President for Campus Operations