Campus News

Rockford University Students, Faculty and Staff,

Rockford University has convened its Emergency Operations Policy Group and Campus Incident Response Team to ensure the University is actively assessing the most current information and guidance related to the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Influenza. We stress that at this point, the risk to the campus remains low for COVID-19. However, there are measures we should be taking at this time to help prevent the spread of these viruses.

The public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, like flu by:

• • WASHING YOUR HANDS OFTEN with soap and warm water.
  • COVERING YOUR COUGH, cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve or a tissue that you throw away.
  • CLEANING SURFACES OFTEN, increase cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
  • STAYING HOME, if you are not feeling well, stay home to keep others from getting sick.

Rockford University administrators are working closely with the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) to ensure we’re ready to respond if the coronavirus disease 2019 – COVID-19 – spreads to our area. There are no confirmed cases in the region, including in Winnebago County.

As spring break is upon us, domestic travel is inevitable. Domestic travelers are urged to remain diligent in monitoring the latest guidance on COVID-19 and to follow all preventative measures.

It is likely that international travelers may face further restrictions while they are abroad or upon returning to the United States. Presently, the CDC does not recommend travel in China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy. Because this list may expand, we encourage international travelers to consult the CDC’s website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.

Rockford University will continue to follow all government-issued advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. State Department, the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD), and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Campus Activity during Spring Break:

Rockford University’s offices are open during spring break from March 9-12, 2020. Offices are closed on Friday, March 13. University staff will continue to monitor the situation actively and be prepared to offer additional information and guidance as the situation evolves.

Resources:

• Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) – www.wchd.org
• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) – http://www.dph.illinois.gov/
• If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email DPH.SICK@Illinois.gov  
• U.S. State Department – https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/novel-coronavirus-hubei-province–china.html
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html; https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
• Rockford University Lang Wellness Center – (815) 226-4083; healthcenter@rockford.edu

Sincerely,

Eric W. Fulcomer, Ph.D.
President