EIU Media Relations

Important Information for all EIU Students for after Thanksgiving

To all our students –

Please read the entire message for important information.

Eastern Illinois University will transition to online-only learning for all classes following the Thanksgiving holiday break and for the remainder of the Fall semester, including finals. Please know the decision to transition to online-only learning is out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to do our part to reduce the rising levels of Covid-19 transmission throughout the State.

While the mode of instruction will change during this short period of time, the University’s Residence Halls and Apartments, Dining Centers, Booth Library, the Union, and all student support offices will remain open under CDC, IDPH and EIU guidelines. As such, no refunds will be given for tuition, fees, housing or dining. On-campus student employment will also remain available.

We realize some students may opt to finish the semester from home, choosing not to return to campus until the Spring 2021 semester. Alternatively, some students may want or need to return to campus after the Thanksgiving holiday, and they are welcome to do so. We are committed to keeping campus open and safe for those students.

Whether you choose to stay at home for the last two weeks of classes and finals week, or choose to come back to campus after Thanksgiving for the remainder of the semester, we strongly encourage all EIU students to strictly adhere to the IDPH and the CDC’s recommendations of limiting travel and gatherings during the holiday season as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations across the State and throughout the nation surge. 

• Students who do not choose to return to campus after Thanksgiving break will be required to mail their textbooks back to campus by Friday, December 18 to avoid late charges. This is necessary for us to redistribute the books on time for the start of the spring semester. More information will follow.
• Students who do choose to return to campus after the Thanksgiving holiday break and plan to live in their residence hall rooms for the remainder of the Fall semester should let the University Housing Office know that they are planning to do so by using this link: go.eiu.edu/HousingSurvey.
• As a precautionary measure, ALL STUDENTS should plan to take any materials home with them they would need to complete the Fall 2020 semester remotely. This includes personal computers, laptops, books, and any necessary notes, personal items, or important medications.

As indicated, this decision to transition to online-only learning impacts the remainder of the fall semester only.

COVID TESTING ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

EIU, in partnership with IDPH, will host another voluntary COVID-19 testing event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17. There is no out-of-pocket cost to EIU students and employees. The non-invasive nasal swab testing will be available via walk-up and drive-through. Additional details are available on EIU’s COVID testing page.

• Any EIU students who receive a positive test result from EIU’s November 17 testing should follow all instructions provided by the IDPH or local county health department when contacted by the agency.

INFORMATION FOR SPRING SEMESTER

All students will be back on campus for the spring semester. Classes will begin as regularly scheduled on Monday, January 11. The traditional Spring Break Week has been canceled and substituted with five non-instructional personal wellness days. These five days will be scheduled approximately every three weeks over the course of the semester and no required academic activity will occur. These dates will be shared with the campus community as soon as possible to facilitate academic planning for the spring semester.

More information will be available soon. Please continue to check your Panther Mail and visit EIU’s COVID website for additional updates – including any new information on our processes for returning to campus for the Spring 2021 semester.

As always, I thank you all for your resilience, patience, and strength. EIU’s reputation for success rests heavily with you – our students – and your commitments to keeping one another safe and healthy. Enjoy the upcoming break, as well as the approaching holidays, and please remain safe.

Sincerely,

David Glassman
President