University Park, IL,
02
April
2020
|
10:54 AM
America/Chicago

Governors State Supports Extended Stay-At-Home Order

Dear GSU Community,

Citing a growing threat to the state’s healthcare system, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker today extended the Stay-at-Home executive order through the end of April. The extension comes a week before the original order was set to expire and as the statewide COVID-19 toll tops 5,000 and deaths number more than 70.

In his address, Governor Pritzker said many of the state’s 12.6 million residents have complied with the stay at home order and practiced responsible social distancing. However, the Governor extended the order as infection rates accelerate.

The executive order requires residents to remain home with specific exceptions for businesses that provide essential services, including colleges and universities, banks, convenience stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, laundromats, and hardware stores.

In compliance, Governors State University will continue restricting access to campus. We expect all employees, except those whose presence is essential to minimal campus operations, to stay at home.

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.To continue accommodating remote learning, 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.

Additionally, the campus is open from 7 to 7 PM, Monday through Friday, to serve students who need access to technology. To keep everyone safe, students are required to follow CDC guidelines for social distancing while on campus.Please check your Governors State email for more detailed communications from Human Resources regarding this rapidly changing situation. Updates are also available at our dedicated website www.govst.edu/COVID-19/.

Thank you for your patience, your perseverance, and for the care and compassion you show toward each other. We will get through these most difficult times together.

Elaine P. Maimon, Ph.D.

President