As of Sept. 20, IVCC students may face disciplinary action from the college unless they provided the college with proof of vaccination or weekly proof of a negative COVID vaccine test.

“It is our goal to abide by the spirit and language of the executive order and to maintain as safe of an on-campus experience for everyone,” said Mark Grzybowski, vice president for student services. The college had to change its policy because of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s new executive order on Aug. 26 requiring the vaccine in higher education institutions in the state.

The college is providing weekly testing opportunities as well as asking students to voluntarily provide their vaccine status.
For those who refuse to comply with the protocols, Grzybowski said, “We expect that students who are not vaccinated or have not provided proof of vaccination to comply with the SHIELD testing (or provide the negative result of an external test that they will be able to upload via a portal). Failure to comply could lead to disciplinary including the in inability to attend class.”

Some students have tested positive for the virus and exemptions can be provided by the school.

“For students who were previously positive, they will continue to test positive for a period of time,” Grzybowski said. “In those instances, they would work directly with me as I monitor a temporary test exemption list.”

The three current options for the Covid-19 vaccine include Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. Under the mandate, an initial dose needed to be received by Sept. 19, with a second dose administered in 30 days.

Most staff and faculty at IVCC are vaccinated, according to statistics shared in a recent IVCC Board of Trustees meeting. However, IVCC only recently began collecting data from students on who is vaccinated or unvaccinated due to the governor’s order.

Preliminary results show that over 25 percent of the student body has been vaccinated, which means an estimated 70 percent will need the weekly tests to continue with their coursework, Grzybowski said.

Anyone who cannot take the vaccine for any reason will have to be tested for the virus at least once a week.

Grzybowski said protocols have been put in place for students to record their vaccine status and/or testing results.

Crystal Credi from IVCC’s Student Services has provided the information to all students regarding Covid-19 vaccinations and testing: Students may show vaccination proof at the tables near the information desk in the CTC building, and anyone who completes this task will receive a $100 gift card to the IVCC Bookstore. Grzybowski said that over 500 gift cards have been given out over the last two weeks.

SHIELD testing for the unvaccinated is available in the cafeteria 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays.

IVCC also will host vaccination clinics on the main campus in partnership with the La Salle County Health Department.