Walgreens to Offer COVID Vaccinations on July 29, 2021
Governors State University is partnering with Walgreens to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the university on Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
First and second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, for ages 16 and up, will be offered. Walgreens will assist participants receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine to schedule follow-up appointments.
The clinic is open to the public. Registration is preferred, however walk-ins will be vaccinated, as well.
To volunteer for the event, contact universityevents@govst.edu.
Schedule Your Appointment
Welcome to Summer Session!
On May 13, President Green shared with the campus community that Governor Pritzker announced Illinois' transition to the Bridge Phase of the Restore Illinois Plan, with a possible return to Phase 5 as soon as June 11. According to the Restore Illinois Plan, Phase 5 will permit businesses and schools to return to normal operations with new safety guidance and procedures in place. However, those safety guidelines and procedures have yet to be announced. Given the fluidity of the current situation, we will continue to closely monitor public health guidance and adjust our plans accordingly. We expect that Phase 5 will allow us to operate with fewer restrictions while maintaining a safe environment. As President Green said in her email, "the University community will soon enjoy greater access to campus, including more in person learning, working and collaborating." As such, the University will be contingency planning to ensure that the campus may continue to operate under current conditions or less restrictive ones, depending on how public health guidance evolves.
Part of the University’s contingency planning includes the release of Fall 2021 classroom assignments. Just as working conditions were negotiated with union representatives prior to the finalization of the Academic Year 2020-2021 Operating Plan, the University will continue to address working conditions with UPI and other unions before finalizing the Fall 2021 Operating Plan, including class delivery methods. We look forward to more in-person classes, support services, and operations, and members of the University community will continue to work together toward these common goals.
Illinois is now in the “Bridge Phase” of the Restore Illinois Plan, which means that capacity limits are increasing and those who are fully vaccinated do not count towards capacity limits. As such, during summer term, we will begin to increase activities and presence on campus.
GSU's pandemic operating framework has always been built on science-based guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), and other agencies, and our primary concern continues to be the safety of our community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assured the public that the vaccines are safe and effective and a critical tool to ending the pandemic. President Green shared that she and her entire Cabinet have been fully vaccinated, and GSU encourages all members of Jaguar Nation who can safely do so, to get vaccinated. In addition, GSU has contracted with the University of Illinois to offer the U of I saliva-based Shield Test on campus twice per week at no cost to students and employees. The University encourages all members of Jaguar Nation to take advantage of this free testing opportunity, which is less intrusive than the nasal-based swab test and provides results within a day. Efforts to contribute to the health and safety of the entire campus are hallmarks of the GSU community.
Please continue to visit the GSU COVID-19 webpage for the most current information about campus operations, safety, and other COVID-19 related information.
Reminders:
- Masking indoors is still required, even for those fully vaccinated, including in classrooms, except when alone in a private office or personal residence hall room, or when an individual has a medical condition, disability or other reason that prevents them from safely wearing a face mask.
- Individuals who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks outdoors on university property.
- Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are allowed to unmask outdoors on university property if traveling alone more than 6 feet from others.
- Scarves, bandanas and gaiters are not an acceptable substitute for a face mask.
- Public safety officers, facilities workers, student housing personnel, and those who are critical to delivering distance learning are examples of those employees who must be physically on campus. Many other departments have been working safely on campus throughout the pandemic on a rotating schedule to minimize contact. Colleagues should consult with their managers regarding when and how to return to campus to work safely with the goal of enhancing the on-campus presence of University colleagues, particularly those in student-facing roles. Managers should take into account all relevant considerations, including safety requirements and working conditions established pursuant to collective bargaining agreements.
- Regular building hours are as follows:
- Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Click here to learn about exceptions for holidays and emergency closures. Faculty, staff, students, and visitors are advised to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for social distancing while on campus. - The Cube is open to serve faculty, staff, and students from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- To accommodate remote learning, and most university functions have moved to a virtual environment, including Library research, tutoring and other services offered through the Academic Resources Center and Academic Advising.
- The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park is open to the public from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.
- The A building entrance provides access to the closest restrooms during regular campus hours (below). Masks are required to enter the building. Please visit the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park website for more details.
- Monday–Friday: 6 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 12 - 9 p.m.
- Prairie Place Residence Hall is open for 2021 summer session as well as 2021 – 2022 academic year.
- For more information regarding our response to COVID-19 in specific areas, please visit our following pages:
COVID-19 community updates and resources are available below.
On Campus SHIELD Illinois COVID-19 Testing
Governors State offers weekly SHIELD Illinois COIVD-19 testing at no cost to employees and students. Test administrators will be available during the following days and times:
- 1 p.m. to 2:30 on Tuesdays
- 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays
- Location: Hall of Honors
To get registered for the test, individuals should create an account on the MySHIELD portal and schedule their test appointment. Please visit the SHIELD Illinois portal website and:
- Click on “Sign up for an Account”
- Enter the Agency Code: 9i508lu5
- Follow the prompts to create your portal account
On the day of testing, please bring a photo ID and the QR code provided when you scheduled your appointment. To ensure the highest quality samples, individuals should not eat, drink (including water), chew gum, smoke, or use tobacco products within 60 minutes of providing a saliva sample.
Any food or drink consumed could produce an inconclusive result and require additional testing. Test results will be posted in the patient portal within 24 hours.
Students and employees that participate in the SHIELD Illinois COIVD-19 testing will receive a single voucher to the dining center for a complimentary small Starbucks regular coffee and a cookie pack.
Free COVID-19 Vaccinations
The Will County Community Health Center is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations at several locations.
As a public health strategy, Will County officials recommend households plan to be vaccinated at the same time. Appointments are not required but highly recommended. For additional information on all Will County Health Departments vaccination locations and scheduling, please visit Will County Health.
Resources
Local and GSU
State and National
HEERF Reports