October 20, 2020

Dear North Central College Campus Community,

Earlier today, Governor Pritzker announced additional COVID-19 mitigation efforts for Illinois’ Region 8, which includes DuPage County. These measures—which include a halt to indoor dining and further limitations on the size of events and social gatherings—will be applied starting Friday, October 23, to address the region’s rising COVID-19 positivity rate. More details about the state’s resurgence mitigations can be found here.

It is important to note that the number of positive cases of COVID-19 among our campus community remains relatively low. While we have every reason to feel good about that, we must also recognize the uphill nature of the fight to limit the spread of COVID-19, especially with the current increase in cases throughout the region. Students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to exercise extra diligence on campus and in their travels beyond the campus community.

In response to the State’s additional mitigation measures, as of Friday, October 23, the College will implement the following revisions to our current health and safety protocols until further notice:

• College-approved, in-person events hosted by recognized student organizations, College offices, and faculty or staff can proceed with no more than 25 people in attendance and only as long as face coverings are worn and physical distancing is maintained. These will be the only types of events permissible anywhere on College property.
• Students, faculty, and staff can casually gather in groups of no more than 10 individuals, where face coverings are worn and physical distancing is maintained.
• In collaboration with Chartwells, our food services partner, all food and drink from any North Central dining venue must be taken to go.

The following activities, restrictions and expectations will remain unchanged:

• In-person classes will continue to meet as scheduled and in accordance with our existing health and safety protocols, including wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance. The College has provided sanitizing wipes in all classrooms and labs; students, faculty and staff are encouraged to clean desks and work stations before and after use.
• Athletics activities will continue as scheduled, following the protocols established by the College’s athletics department and with guidance from the NCAA, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW).
  Student employment will continue as directed by supervisors.
• Students, faculty and staff participation in the College’s surveillance testing efforts will proceed as scheduled.
  Outside guests are prohibited from visiting students in the residence halls.
• Members of the campus community who have been exposed, are experiencing symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19 must notify the College immediately using the COVID-19 Reporting Form.
• Parties and unregistered events of any size are strictly prohibited as they remain high-risk activities that jeopardize the health and safety of our community.

As we have done and will continue to do, we ask that you prioritize your health—and the health of the broader campus community and the entire Naperville community—by wearing a face covering, maintaining a safe distance from others, regularly washing your hands, tracking your symptoms daily with the College’s #CampusClear app, staying home if you are sick, and avoiding contact with others who are ill. Whether on or off campus, these measures have proven to be successful in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Thank you for your continuing diligence during these challenging times, and we wish you and your families well for the remainder of the semester.

Best regards and #TogetherNC,

Troy D. Hammond
President
Professor of Physics

Abiódún Gòkè-Pariolá
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor of English