COVID-19

Coronavirus and COVID-19

Update 1/5/2022:

Lincoln College will delay the start of the spring semester one week amid a surge of coronavirus cases in Logan County.

 

All traditional courses will be delivered in-person beginning January 18. Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) courses will begin January 10 online via webcam, as previously scheduled. Lincoln College offices and facilities will remain open with normal operating hours. Spring Break and commencement ceremonies will not be impacted by the delay.

 

Illinois health officials are reporting the highest infection and hospitalization metrics since the beginning of the pandemic. Lincoln College is monitoring the data closely and will continue following guidelines and weekly testing procedures established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

 

“We have significant concerns the highly-transmissible Omicron variant could overwhelm our campus community,” said David Gerlach, President of Lincoln College. “Our number one priority is the health and safety of our students and employees.”

 

All Lincoln College faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, continue wearing appropriate face coverings, and practice good health habits. Individuals displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or who have tested positive are expected to follow recommended isolation and quarantine periods outlined by the CDC and notify Lincoln College Health Services.

 

“We are committed to remaining in-person for the spring semester, so we must take the necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition for students as they return to campus,” added Gerlach. “I anticipate the adjusted date will provide a more desirable start to the spring semester.”

 

Dear Students:

Due to the uptick in cases of COVID19, we are delaying the start of the spring 2022 semester until Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

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The final registration/move-in/check-in schedules are delayed by one week.  Please read the information below for details on when you are allowed to return to the campus:

COMMUTER STUDENTS (students that do not live in the residence halls) may check in at the Admissions Office on

Wednesday, January 12 or Thursday, January 13

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

 

STUDENTS THAT LIVE ON CAMPUS may return to campus next Sunday.  Please check-in at the Student Center per the instructions below:

Sunday, January 16

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Last Name beginning with A-L

 

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Last Name beginning with M-Z

 

If you have questions regarding your assigned day to move on campus, please call the Student Affairs Office at 217-735-7298.

 

Sincerely,

Vice President Boehler

 

Update 8/31/2021:
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has re-issued the mask mandate for the state effective Monday, August 30, 2021. The mandate requires that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, mask in indoor settings.

 

All members of the Lincoln College community are required to wear face coverings in campus facilities, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings should be worn in all shared or public spaces such as common work areas, hallways, classrooms, restrooms, dining facilities, McKinstry Library, Lincoln Heritage Museum, and while attending events or athletic competitions. While working alone in a private office, or while outdoors where physical distancing is possible, face coverings may be removed.

 

Lincoln College has a limited supply of disposable face masks remaining. Therefore, beginning Monday, September 6, all students will be responsible for providing their own face coverings.

 

Lynx have a shared responsibility in protecting one another. As such, student behavior expectations for mask-wearing are available in the Student Conduct Handbook under the COVID-19 addendum. Refusing to provide and properly wear a face covering could result in disciplinary action.

 

Update 8/2/2021:

Lincoln College is updating current COVID-19 guidelines for campus, effective August 2, 2021.

 

On July 27, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its COVID-19 guidance to prevent further spread of the Delta variant. The agency recommends that everyone, including vaccinated individuals, mask in indoor settings in “areas with substantial and high transmission.”

 

All members of the Lincoln College community will be required to wear face coverings in all campus facilities, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will not be required in on-campus residence halls.

 

Face coverings should be worn in all shared or public spaces such as common work areas, hallways, classrooms, restrooms, dining facilities, McKinstry Library, Lincoln Heritage Museum, and while attending events or athletic competitions. While working alone in a private office, or while outdoors where physical distancing is possible, face coverings may be removed. Student-athletes will not be required to mask while actively participating in school-sponsored competitions.

 

Lynx have a shared responsibility in protecting one another. As such, student behavior expectations for mask-wearing is available in the Student Conduct Handbook.

 

Lincoln College encourages members of the campus community and campus visitors to be vaccinated.

 

“Receiving the vaccine is the best way for our students and employees to protect themselves and the Logan County community against the virus,” said Lincoln College President David Gerlach.

 

Only 37.5% of Logan County residents are fully vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared to 48.6% of the United States’ population. Logan County is currently considered a high transmission area for COVID-19.

 

According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

 

“Lincoln College plans to offer several incentives in the coming weeks to encourage student and employee vaccination,” added Gerlach.

 

In conjunction with the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health partners, Lincoln College will continue to adjust operations accordingly to protect the campus community. Policies may continue to be adapted and amended as conditions change.

 

With the safety and welfare of Lincoln College and the Logan County community remaining a top priority, the institution is excited to resume in-person instruction this month.


Update 5/26/2021:

Lincoln College is updating current COVID-19 guidelines for campus, effective immediately.

 

On May 13, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the removal of mask mandates for fully vaccinated people both indoors and outdoors, even in large gatherings. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Illinois will align mask and social distancing guidelines with these CDC recommendations.

 

In accordance with new CDC and state guidelines, masks and face coverings will no longer be required at the Lincoln College campus for fully vaccinated individuals. Masks will continue to be required inside the Lincoln College Health Services Office as well as on campus transportation.

 

“Individuals on campus have the option to wear a mask or practice physical distancing if they are fully vaccinated,” said Lincoln College President David Gerlach.

 

During this transition, the campus community asks that individuals show compassion and respect to fellow Lynx on decisions related to mask-wearing. Wearing a mask is still an effective method for preventing the spread of illness for vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

 

Lincoln College encourages members of the campus community and campus visitors to be vaccinated, however, the college will not require proof of vaccination status from employees, students, or visitors at this time. The policy will be reviewed prior to the start of classes in August to reassess current risks and mandates.

 

“Receiving the vaccine is the best way for our students and employees to protect themselves and our campus community against the virus,” said Gerlach.

 

According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

 

“New cases of the coronavirus have declined considerably nationwide and in Logan County. A significant portion of the population have been vaccinated, including many who work on the Lincoln College campus,” Gerlach added.   

 

With the safety and welfare of Lincoln College and the Logan County community remaining a top priority, the institution is excited to offer in-person instruction for fall 2021.

Lincoln College will continue to adapt to current challenges and reinvent higher education to best serve the students, faculty, staff, and community.
 

 

Update 3/26/2021:

Lincoln College is planning to hold in-person instruction for fall 2021, which begins August 16.

 

Students were welcomed back to campus for the spring 2021 semester, with not a single case of the novel coronavirus contact-traced to any classroom environment. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 throughout the 2020-2021 academic year, positivity rates on-campus have remained low.

 

“We are looking forward to offering the true Lincoln College experience once again to incoming students. With spring 2021 traditional new student enrollment the highest it has been in eight years, I have renewed hope that some sense of normalcy has been restored,” said Lincoln College President David Gerlach

 

Lincoln College faculty, staff, and administration continue to assess and modify processes to ensure the health and safety of the campus community. Lincoln College will continue to meet or exceed all mandates, guidelines, and recommendations from state and federal health authorities, including those pertaining to mask wearing and social distancing. The College will also maintain enhanced cleaning protocols.

 

A traditional residential experience consisting of athletic competitions, small group events, socially responsible dining services, and hands-on learning opportunities is currently available to students. All classes designed for in-person delivery, including traditional, graduate, and the Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) courses are expected to be held face-to-face this fall.

 

“New cases of the coronavirus have declined significantly nationwide and a large portion of the population have been vaccinated, including many who work on the Lincoln College campus. We are ready to offer students the personalized, unique academic experience that we did prior to the pandemic,” Gerlach added.    

 

Update 11/5/2020:

Lincoln College announced a transition to online instruction two weeks earlier than planned amid rising cases in Logan County and surrounding communities.

 

Lincoln College reports 11 active cases of COVID-19 and an increasing number of individuals in quarantine due to primary exposure to the virus.  

 

“In the past 24 hours, an increasing number of our campus population were moved to quarantine. Despite having high compliance among faculty, staff, and students in following safety protocols, the data presents an untenable situation,” said Lincoln College President David Gerlach.

 

The early transition is an attempt to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus. In recent weeks, Logan County cases have risen to 726.

 

“We are making these difficult decisions based on reliable public health data and updates from the Lincoln College Health Services Department. We are mindful that transitioning to remote learning creates disappointment and frustration amongst students and employees. I hoped we could finish the last two weeks of the fall semester in-person; however, the health of our campus community is a substantial concern,” said Gerlach.

 

Students may remain on campus through November 20 but will meet academic requirements remotely until after the holiday. Students choosing to remain on campus are subject to campus restrictions and must prepare for severely limited on-campus activities and interactions.

 

Beginning immediately, the college will close all public areas of campus, including athletic facilities, Lincoln Heritage Museum, Lincoln College Bookstore, McKinstry Library, Meyer-Evans Student Center, and all outdoor recreational areas. All athletic competitions and practices are temporarily suspended.

 

All academic support services will continue to be offered in online formats. These support services include advising, disability services, library resources, career services, and academic tutoring.

 

Dining Services remains open with a modified grab-and-go process. Residential students will schedule meal pick-up times, which will allow for reduced density, and a safe flow of persons entering and exiting during meal times. Residential students in quarantine will continue to have food service delivery available.

 

Lincoln College Health Services and the Logan County Health Department continue to partner in monitoring individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, scheduling testing, and contact tracing analysis.  Exposed or symptomatic students living off-campus, as well as employees, are instructed to remain at their home residence, following CDC quarantine and isolation guidelines.

 

Prior to the announcement about transitioning online, classes and building schedules were modified to reduce the number of students and faculty within academic buildings. Lincoln College reduced in-class time to comply with safety guidelines; additionally, some classes are already delivered in an online format, including all Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) courses and graduate courses.

 

 Facilities on campus impacted were identified and are currently undergoing rigorous targeted cleaning and disinfecting, which is in addition to the daily cleaning and disinfecting regimen. These steps will be taken in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations.

 

“The decision to move online for the remainder of the fall semester was not taken lightly. Our students achieve higher levels of success when we can operate in person, providing engagement that is critical to student learning. However, pivoting our plans to reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus further is essential in safeguarding our campus community,” said Gerlach.

 

Update 7/15/2020:

Lincoln College is pleased to announce that it is on track to resume in-person instruction for fall 2020.

 

The College continues to adapt and prepare for the new school year, with a commitment to providing an exceptional education while safeguarding the health and safety of all Lynx during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

 

“We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to campus,” said Lincoln College President Dr. David Gerlach. “We are confident the precautionary measures taken for fall will create a safe environment for our students, our staff, and the community at large.

 

“In addition, we are mindful of the $53 million annual economic impact that Lincoln College contributes to Lincoln, Logan County and Illinois,” Gerlach added. “That positive impact is dependent on having students on campus this fall.”

 

The Fall Planning Steering Committee, comprised of Lincoln College faculty, staff, and administration, have been developing innovative plans to ensure a safe return to regular operations and on-campus activities, following guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities, as well as the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE).

 

In accordance with these guidelines, the College will require all faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors to wear a face mask on-site. The Lincoln College Health Services Office will have face masks available, but individuals may choose to wear their own personal face coverings as well. Likewise, members of campus will be required to wear Lincoln College lanyards with their college-issued ID to easily identify members of the campus community who are wearing face coverings.

 

Lincoln College faculty are eager to welcome back students this fall. Classes and building schedules have been modified to reduce the amount of students and faculty within academic buildings. Though most classes will have a face to face component, actual in-class time may be reduced to comply with safety guidelines; additionally, some classes may be delivered in an online format, including all Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) courses. In all circumstances, well-developed online components will compliment every student’s learning experience this fall. Traditional classes are set to resume on August 17.

 

Dining services will remain open to students with limited seating and physical distancing in common areas. Lincoln College has added outdoor seating as a creative way to reduce the density in dining areas, enhanced cleaning protocols, and removed self-service stations. Signage has been added to ensure a safe flow of persons entering and exiting during meal times.

 

Similarly, Lincoln College has made plans for additional cleaning in the residence halls and will be carefully monitoring common areas. A section of the residence halls have been reserved for COVID-19 isolation, should it be needed.

 

Lincoln College students will return to the residence halls through a phased move-in plan, in place of a one-day event. Groups of students will begin moving back to campus July 27 and continue through August 13. The multi-day move-in process allows the College to ensure social distancing guidelines are met.

Student clubs and organizations will meet within appropriate physical distancing and group-size limits set by state and local health officials. The Meyer-Evans Student Center will not be open for casual gathering but is available through a reservation process in the campus app, Presence.

 

Lincoln College has adopted new cleaning and sanitation procedures for campus. These strategies will reduce the likelihood of spreading illness and include additional hand sanitation stations, protective shields in classrooms and offices, availability of single-use cleaning products, and signage displaying new requirements and best practices.

 

Lincoln College is also continuing to follow guidance from Governor Pritzker and local and state health authorities regarding campus events, including athletic games.

 

At this time, athletic competition is set to resume on September 5, 2020 with a reduced number of contests allowed. Fall sports will begin practicing August 15. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) will require student-athletes and coaches to receive a negative polymerise chain reaction (PCR) test no more than five days prior to the first competition. All game day participants including coaches, student-athletes, managers, and referees will be screened no more than six hours prior to the contest. Similarly, student-athletes and coaches will be screened prior to each practice.

 

All other campus events will follow similar guidelines: limiting the number of events throughout the year, requiring a reservation and ticketing procedure to limit attendees, and adjusting seating at the venue. Another inventive approach will be the creation of an outdoor practice and performance area for performing arts students.

 

Many buildings have adjusted processes to ensure campus safety. The McKinstry Library will be available to college patrons only, continuing to support remote teaching, learning, and research. The Fitness Center will also be closed to the public this fall.

 

The Lincoln Heritage Museum looks forward to welcoming back visitors with new safety measures in place. LHM will be limiting persons viewing exhibits at one time and face coverings will be required for all guests. The date of re-opening will be determined and announced soon.

 

Personal accountability is key to keeping the campus healthy, therefore, student behavior expectations have been modified in the Student Conduct Handbook. Students are expected to sign and acknowledge they are completing regular self-checks at temperature-check stations.

 

In conjunction with public health partners, Lincoln College will monitor the prevalence of coronavirus within Logan County and continue to adjust operations accordingly to protect the campus community. Policies may continue to be adapted and amended as conditions change.

 

With the safety and welfare of Lincoln College and the Logan County community as a top priority, the institution is excited for the return to in-person instruction for fall 2020. The future success of Lincoln College is dependent upon the shared mission to serve its Lynx family-including alumni and supporters-in the months ahead. Lincoln College will continue to adapt to current challenges and rethink higher education to best serve the students, faculty, staff, and community.

 

Update 4/19/2020:

Effective March 21, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide stay-at-home order. On March 31, Governor Pritzker extended the stay-at-home order, state disaster proclamation and school closure order through the end of April. On April 17, the Governor extended the closure of in-person instruction for elementary and secondary schools in Illinois through the end of the school year.

 

As a result of the these orders, Lincoln College is delivering all spring traditional classes online through the end of the spring semester. The College has also made the difficult decision not to hold a commencement ceremony as planned in May. We are continuing to monitor the situation, following the advice of health care professionals.

 

Logan County (where Lincoln College is located) reported its first case of the novel coronavirus on April 2.

 

At this time, every county adjacent to Logan County has also reported at least one COVID-19 positive case. Lincoln College is located along the I-55 corridor about halfway between Chicago and St. Louis and every county along the corridor has reported COVID-19 positive cases. Deaths have been reported in the nearby counties of Christian, Macon, McLean, Peoria, Sangamon, Tazewell and Morgan.

 

On April 16, the number of positive cases in Illinois surpassed 25,000 and on April 18, the number of deaths in Illinois passed 1,200.

 

Going to online instruction enables Lincoln College to serve our students and ensure their well-being by adhering to social distancing guidelines.

 

Lincoln College has restricted public access to all campus facilities until further notice. This decision allows our institution to reduce the number of individuals on our campus in order to protect vulnerable populations.

 

Update 3/18/2020:

Lincoln College continues to navigate through this unprecedented time. While we are still not aware of any cases of the novel coronavirus in Logan County, the safety of the Lincoln College community is our principal concern. Therefore, we are taking proactive steps with guidance from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as local and state health officials.

 

At this time, Lincoln College faculty will deliver all spring traditional classes online through at least March 23-April 3. No face-to-face instruction will take place on campus during this time.

 

Going to online instruction enables Lincoln College to adhere to social distancing guidelines and ensure the well-being of our students. Social distancing measures enable our campus to prevent the spread of illness in areas where large groups congregate such as classrooms, dining halls, and residential buildings.

 

Lincoln College is restricting public access to all campus facilities until further notice. This decision allows our institution to reduce the number of individuals on our campus in order to protect vulnerable populations.

 

All public and private campus tours of Lincoln College, as well as college or community-sponsored events are also discontinued at this time.

 

Update 3/12/2020:

Dear Lincoln College community,

 

Amid growing concern over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Lincoln College will be taking a series of precautionary measures that will impact the campus community.

 

Though Lincoln College nor Logan County have any confirmed cases of coronavirus, the health and safety of our community is a top priority. After considering the available information on COVID-19 from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as local and state health officials, we have determined that Lincoln College will extend Spring Break for traditional students by one week, March 16-March 22. Please note, at this time, ABE and graduate classes will proceed as scheduled.

 

We encourage residential students to remain at their permanent home residences until further notice. Accommodations for students who need to reside on campus will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Only students with prior administrative approval will be permitted to remain on campus.

 

At this time, no decision has been made regarding the transition to online instruction. Faculty and staff will resume work on Monday, March 16 observing spring break hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to prepare for alternative instruction using remote technology, should Lincoln College need to shift to an online format in the near future. Lincoln College will be hosting preparatory training for faculty and staff beginning March 17th. An agenda outlining these training sessions will be sent soon.

 

Lincoln College will be postponing any further college or community-sponsored events utilizing our campus facilities until further notice. Lincoln College strongly recommends practicing appropriate social distancing and continued practice of good health measures.

 

Lincoln College advises that, in accordance with U.S. Department of State and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, campus members suspend all travel, unless in cases of an emergency or if deemed by the College to be essential, which will be determined by President Gerlach or his cabinet members. A list of countries and travel notices can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

If you are not already signed up for our emergency notification system, Omnilert, we encourage you to do so. All users who choose to subscribe will be sent emergency text messages, phone calls, and email alerts from Lincoln College during situations of emergency: https://lincolncollege.omnilert.net/subscriber.php.

 

Lincoln College will continue to provide updates to ensure the health and safety of our campus community as often as possible. All actions are intended to limit any disruption to academic progress and financial hardship. The College will continue to make informed, emergency decisions, or modify existing plans, to best serve the Lincoln College community. We understand there may be new challenges for faculty, staff, and students, however, continuing to take the necessary precautions for our campus well-being is paramount at this time.

 

Lincoln College has established a COVID-19 website with information that is regularly updated at https://lincolncollege.edu/covid19/. We encourage you to also refer to the CDC website for additional preventative measures, health resources, travel information, and case information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html.

 

Lincoln College will remain vigilant in monitoring any changes to this rapidly evolving situation and address questions and concerns for our campus as they become available. Please send all inquiries regarding coronavirus to [email protected]. We will respond to emails within 24 hours.