COVID-19 Updates & Information - City Colleges of Chicago

Latest COVID-19 Guidance

View the latest COVID-19 guidance at CCC.

COVID-19 Case Reports

Review COVID-19 case reports by college.

Testing

Learn more about the COVID-19 testing program.

Health & Safety at City Colleges

The health and wellness of our students, faculty, and staff are our highest priority, and City Colleges of Chicago continues to follow the health and safety guidelines outlined by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

As such, the following measures have been implemented across all seven City Colleges and at the District Office:

Vaccinations

City Colleges of Chicago requires all faculty, staff, and students to test for COVID weekly from January 3rd through at least February 25th regardless of their vaccination status.

Exemptions

Only those students/employees who are learning/working 100% remotely or those who tested positive for COVID in the last 90 days are exempted. Employees out of the office for the full week with use of personal days, floating holidays, vacation or an approved leave of absence will be excused from that week’s testing.
City Colleges has partnered with Northshore Clinical Labs to administer RT-PCR tests across our campuses.
The test is administered by collecting a sample using a simple, minimally-invasive nasal or cheek swab. Please find more information about the program, including the testing schedule, below.

Testing

City Colleges strongly encourages all faculty, staff, and students to get vaccinated. Please use the City of Chicago Vaccine Finder to find a convenient vaccination option for you.

Masks

City Colleges requires that all individuals wear a face mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status, when entering and exiting, in all public common areas, such as elevators, restrooms, hallways, and classrooms, as well as any time where six feet social distancing is not maintained.
Our Security teams will continue to maintain a stock of disposable masks at facility entrances for individuals that may have forgotten to bring their own and need one for the day.

Testing Program

City Colleges offers a wide array of on-campus testing options at each of our seven main campuses and five satellite locations, and faculty, staff, and students may test at any of the locations. Regular testing contributes to keeping everyone at City Colleges safe by identifying asymptomatic individuals that could be carrying the virus.

At this time, students taking only online or distance-learning classes are not included in the mandatory testing requirement. Similarly, employees working only online or remotely are not included in this requirement.

Students without an approved exemption that do not test as required will be subject to discipline, including loss of access to their college and classes. Employees without an approved exemption that do not test as required will be subject to discipline, including suspension without pay and termination.

The testing lab staff will be on City Colleges campuses based on the schedule below. You only need to test once per week.

Prior to your first appointment, please click and complete this pre-registration form. Pre-registration is required to ensure the lab has the necessary personal and contact information. This form will cover required consents and only needs to be completed once.

Please find the testing schedule below, and click on a link to schedule a specific testing appointment time for each week.

College	Room	Hours of Operation	Registration Link
Daley	Bottom of Stairs from Lobby to LL	Mondays 9 am – 5 pm Tuesdays 12 pm – 8 pm Wednesdays 12 pm – 8 pm Thursdays 9 am – 5 pm	https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-Daley
Harold Washington	Room 102		https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-HaroldWashtington
Malcolm X	Conf Room 1103		https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-MalcolmX
Kennedy-King	W-278		https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-KennedyKing
Olive-Harvey	Room 1402		https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-OliveHarvey
Truman	Room 1571		https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-Truman
Wright	Events Building Lobby		https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-Wright
AVI	Room 1208A	Tuesdays 11:30 am – 7:30 pm Fridays 9 am – 5 pm	https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-AVI
Dawson	Outside Room 101	Tuesdays 8 am – 4 pm Wednesdays 11 am – 7 pm	https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-DawsonTechnicalInst
Humboldt Park	Room 113A	Tuesdays 11 am – 7 pm Wednesdays 11 am – 7 pm	https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-HumboldtPark
South Chicago	Lab 016	Wednesdays 11 am – 7 pm Thursdays 11 am – 7 pm	https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-SSLC
WSLC	Room 130	Wednesdays 9 am – 5 pm Thursdays 11 am – 7 pm	https://bit.ly/COVIDTESTING-WSLC

Additional Guidelines

Monitor yourself for COVID-19 symptoms, especially after attending a large gathering, traveling, or pursuing other high-risk activities.

If you’re feeling sick, stay at home and get tested, even if you have been vaccinated.

In the unfortunate event you test positive for COVID-19, stay at home, and please contact your HR Business Partner (for employees) or Dean of Student Services (for students). The appropriate contact information is listed below. They will work with you confidentially to coordinate leave and provide any needed support. City Colleges Security will also contact you to conduct contact tracing and make necessary reports to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Your cooperation with contact tracing is another important means of helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Students:

College	Dean of Student Services	Phone	Email
Richard J. Daley	Douglas Geiger	773/838-7575	dgeiger3@ccc.edu
Kennedy-King	Michael Crawford	773/602-5541	mcrawford34@ccc.edu
Malcolm X	Lisa Willis	312/850-7131	lwillis01@ccc.edu
Olive-Harvey	Michelle Adams	773/291-6319	madams@ccc.edu
Harry S Truman	Mary Ann Soley	773/907-4754	msoley@ccc.edu
Harold Washington	Jacquelyn Werner	312/553-5854	jwerner9@ccc.edu
Wilbur Wright	Romell Murden-Woldu	773/481-8450	rmurden@ccc.edu

Employees:

*In addition to notifying your assigned HR Business Partner, we also recommend that employees copy leavemanagement@ccc.edu on their COVID-19 notification message.

College	HR Business Partner	Phone	Email
Richard J. Daley	Ericka Williams Silvia Robles	773/838-7528 773/838-7630	ewilliams249@ccc.edu srobles29@ccc.edu
Kennedy-King	Jacqueline Lawrence Betty McCants	773/602-5579 773/602-5365	jlawrence@ccc.edu bmccants2@ccc.edu
Malcolm X	Seth Baker Christine Guerges	312/850-7038 312/850-7205	sbaker71@ccc.edu cguerges@ccc.edu
Olive-Harvey	Latasha Larry Ana Palomo	773/838-7528 773/838-7630	llarry4@ccc.edu apalomo3@ccc.edu
Harry S Truman	Michael Roberts	773/907-4462	mroberts39@ccc.edu
Harold Washington	Christine Guerges Valetta Buckner	312/850-7205 312/553-5623	cguerges@ccc.edu vbuckner@ccc.edu
Wilbur Wright	Alison Guengerich	773/907-4445	aguengerich1@ccc.edu
District Office	Eugene Nichols	312/553-2874	enichols01@ccc.edu

Breathe Easy: Learn more about City Colleges’ ventilation systems:

FAQs

Below, please find answers to some of the questions you may have, separated into the following sections:

Vaccinations
Testing
On-Campus Health & Safety Protocols
Quarantine & Isolation

Not seeing the information you need? Send an email to covid19@ccc.edu.

Vaccinations

Are vaccinations required to return to campus?

The state of Illinois has indicated that all higher education faculty, staff, and students participating in on-campus work or learning need to either be vaccinated or they must take part in a weekly COVID-19 testing program. At this time, students taking only online or distance-learning classes are not included in the mandatory vaccine or testing requirement. Similarly, employees working only online or remotely are not included in this requirement.

Where can I get vaccinated?

The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to get vaccinated. Please use the City of Chicago Vaccine Finder to find a convenient vaccination option for you. You may also call the City of Chicago helpline at 312-746-4835 for additional assistance.

How do I show proof of vaccination to be exempted from the weekly testing requirement?

For Students: Upload a photo of your vaccination card to my.ccc.edu using the following instructions:
- Log into my.ccc.edu
- Under Alerts/Task/Holds, click on Upload COVID-19 Vaccination ID Card
- Click Upload New Document
- Choose document from your device
- Click Upload and Done
- Watch this video for a demonstration of how to upload your proof of vaccination.

For Employees: Show proof of vaccination in person to the HR Business Partner at your primary work location (as listed above under ‘Additional Guidelines’), or upload a photo of your vaccination card to my.ccc.edu using the following instructions:
- Log into my.ccc.edu
- Under Onsite Visit, click on Upload COVID-19 Vaccination ID Card
- Click Upload New Document
- Choose document from your device
- Click Upload and Done

Note: In general, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If the requirements are not met, they are not fully vaccinated.

What should I do if I lose my vaccination card?

Contact your vaccination provider directly to access your vaccination record. If you cannot contact your vaccination provider directly, contact your state health department’s immunization information system (IIS). You can find state IIS information on the CDC website. Vaccination providers are required to report COVID-19 vaccinations to their IIS and related systems. You can also email COVID19vaccine@cityofchicago.org. If you got vaccinated through a City of Chicago site or at the United Center, they will send you a PDF of your proof of vaccination. If you got vaccinated somewhere else, it is recorded in the state registry – they will look that up for you and get you those results.

Testing

What is the process for COVID-19 testing?

Individuals that are participating in on-campus work or learning that are not vaccinated are required to get tested for COVID-19 once per week. The testing schedule varies by college and can be viewed above.

When will testing take place, and how do I make an appointment?

The testing lab staff will be on City Colleges campuses based on the schedule provided above. Click on a link in the testing chart to schedule a specific testing appointment time for each week. You only need to test once per week if you have not provided City Colleges with proof of your vaccination card.
Prior to your first appointment, please click and complete this pre-registration form. Pre-registration is required to ensure the lab has required personal and contact information. This form will cover required consents and only needs to be completed once.

How were the testing days and times selected?

The colleges selected the days and times for testing to try to accommodate as many people as possible.

What should I do if I can’t be on campus on those days or times?

Please review the wide array of testing days and times at all City Colleges facilities to find an option that works best for you. Individuals may test at any City Colleges location to provide as many options as possible. In the unusual circumstance that an individual is unable to attend any of these testing options, a test result from a third-party provider may be submitted. The test must be administered by a medical professional and may not be a store-bought kit. Third-party test results must be submitted during the same week the test occurred, or they will not count towards a student or employee’s weekly test.

If I obtain a third-party test, how do I submit the results?

In the unusual circumstance that an individual will be unable to attend any of the City Colleges-provided testing options, a test result from a third-party provider may be submitted. The test must be administered by a medical professional and may not be a store-bought kit. Third-party test results must be submitted during the same week the test occurred or they will not count towards a student or employee’s weekly test. Please follow the directions below to submit a test:
- For Students: Upload a photo of your test results to my.ccc.edu using the following instructions:
  - Log into my.ccc.edu
  - Under Alerts/Task/Holds, click on COVID Test Results Upload
  - Click Upload New Document
  - Choose document from your device
  - Click Upload and Done
  - Please do not email test results. Test results that are emailed will not be accepted.

For Employees: Upload a photo of your test results to my.ccc.edu using the following instructions:
- Log into my.ccc.edu
- Under Onsite Visit, click on COVID Test Results Upload
- Click Upload New Document
- Choose document from your device
- Click Upload and Done
- Please do not email test results. Test results that are emailed will not be accepted.

Can I test at any of the locations, or must I test only at my home campus?

Individuals in the program may test at any of the City Colleges locations.

Why does the lab request to see my City Colleges ID card each time I test?

HR and Student Services are tracking compliance with the testing requirement. By presenting your City Colleges ID each time you test, they will capture your employee or student ID number. This will ensure that you are recorded as having taken a test. Please be sure to have your City Colleges ID with you each time you test.

What kind of test is it? How long will it take for results?

The test is an RT-PCR test and is administered by Northshore Clinical Labs by collecting a sample using a simple, minimally-invasive nasal or cheek swab. You will be offered a choice of either the nasal or cheek swab by the testing provider. Results will be provided within 24-48 hours. You will receive an email and/or a text notification with a link to log into the provider’s secure portal to view your results.

What if tested on campus but I don’t receive my test results from Northshore Clinical Labs?

Please allow 48 hours to receive your results. If you do not receive your results within that time frame please reach out to the lab directly at citycolleges@northshoreclinical.com or 773-570-6510. When contacting the lab please also be sure to check that they have the correct contact information (phone and email) to ensure they can notify you when results are available.

What happens if I test positive?

By providing your consent to allow Northshore Clinical Labs to share results with City Colleges, a member of our Security team will contact you to conduct a contact tracing interview. Please contact your HR Business Partner (for employees) or Dean of Student Services (for students) ASAP for assistance with any work leave and academic support issues. They will also provide you with return to work and school guidance – you may not return to on-campus activities until the completion of the required quarantine period outlined in the guidance.

What happens with my personal medical information?

Northshore Clinical Labs handles all personal information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. By providing your consent, your results will be shared with City Colleges. Additionally, Northshore Clinical Lab is required to notify public health officials of positive tests and may also be required to submit some positive specimens to the Illinois Department of Public Health for research purposes. Negative samples will be destroyed. Northshore may also retain de-identified samples for ongoing quality assessment.

If I had COVID-19 already, do I still need to be tested?

The CDC recommends that once a person tests positive for COVID-19, they should not re-test for 90 days (unless recommended by a primary care physician due to new symptoms) because people can continue to test positive but not be contagious.
Individuals that have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days will be exempted from testing until the expiration of the 90-day period. Please contact your HR Business Partner or Dean of Student Services to obtain the requisite form. Once the 90-day period has lapsed, you will be required to participate in the testing.

Is there any cost to the test?

There is no cost.
While you may be asked for your insurance information, there is no co-pay and you will never receive a bill. You may receive an Explanation of Benefits from your insurance provider – this is not a bill. If you do not have insurance, you simply must inform the testing provider of that fact, as well as provide a government-issued ID. There will still be no cost for the test.

Why do you require my email address and phone number?

Results will be provided within 24-48 hours, and you will receive an email and/or a text notification with a link to obtain your results through the provider’s secure portal. For this reason, it is important for the testing provider to collect this information.

What happens if I do not test?

Employees without an approved exemption that do not test as required will be subject to discipline, up to and including suspension and termination.
Students without an approved exemption are subject to Section 8.30.
- Section 8.30 Infectious Diseases Procedures: Infectious Diseases (p. 111, language below is paraphrased) The Chancellor, College President, or their designees will report all incidents of infectious diseases to the City of Chicago Department of Health or other responsible public agency, as required by law. Upon report, the Chancellor, College President, or their designees will follow the direction of the responsible public agency. CCC is committed to protecting the health and general welfare of students, faculty, and staff. CCC will not disclose the identity of any employee or student who has a communicable disease, except as authorized by law or where that individual provides written consent. The college shall identify sources of competent and confidential testing for communicable diseases, as well as counseling services upon request.
- The following consequences will be enforced based on non-compliant actions:
  Level 1: Students who missed two testing screenings – Student will receive an email reminder with testing expectations.
  
  Level 2: Missed screenings for third and fourth incidents – Student will receive a written warning and Dean of Student Services will be informed.
  
  Level 3: Missed screenings for 5th and 6th incidents – Student will have an Administrative Hearing with the Dean of Student Services or designee.
  
  Level 4: Ongoing failure to comply, after 7th incident – Student will immediately lose access to courses and facilities for the remainder of the term.

On-Campus Health & Safety Protocols

Do I have to wear a mask in City Colleges buildings?

City Colleges requires that all individuals wear a face mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status, when entering and exiting, in all public common areas, such as elevators, restrooms, hallways, and classrooms, as well as any time where six feet social distancing is not maintained. Our Security teams will continue to maintain a stock of disposable masks at facility entrances for individuals that may have forgotten to bring their own and need one for the day.

Do I have to complete a health screening before I enter a City Colleges location?

A daily health self-screening is not required to enter City Colleges facilities.

What are the current cleaning protocols?

Classrooms and conference rooms that are in use will be cleaned and disinfected a minimum of once per day. High-traffic areas may have additional cleaning as determined by each college. In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case on campus, affected areas are cleaned and disinfected thoroughly in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Additionally, plexiglass barriers that were installed at areas of major interaction between employees and the public will remain in place, as will hand sanitizer and/or wipe stations.

What has been done to address air quality and filtration?

All City Colleges facilities’ HVAC systems are put into operation an hour before occupancy and are run for an additional air exchange after occupancy. We follow the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidance on air exchanges per hour (target goal is two air exchanges per hour). City Colleges systems use a variety of different filters across the district, each with its own specifications and requirements to match the manufacturer recommendations for the equipment. Outside air and return air are filtered before being supplied to public areas. We have increased outside flow and enhanced filtration to keep impurities out of the air at a higher efficiency down to the micron level.
You can watch this video to learn more.

Quarantine & Isolation

What should I do if I have tested positive for COVID-19?

In the unfortunate event you test positive for COVID-19, stay at home, and please contact your HR Business Partner (for employees) or Dean of Student Services (for students). The appropriate contact information is listed above under ‘Additional Guidelines.’ They will work with you confidentially to coordinate leave and provide any needed support. City Colleges Security will also contact you to conduct contact tracing and make necessary reports to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Your cooperation with contact tracing is another important means of helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Individuals that test positive for COVID-19 must stay home (except to get medical care) for 10 days since symptoms first appeared and at least 24 hours with no fever and improved symptoms (without use of fever-reducing medications). For more information, please refer to the City of Chicago’s COVID-19 website for the latest guidance on what to do if you are sick and managing your health.

What should I do if I’m feeling sick?

If you’re feeling sick, stay at home and get tested, even if you have been vaccinated. While you are home, you should contact your instructors (students) or supervisor (employees). Remember that your first goal should be to return to health.
You can also utilize the CDC’s COVID-19 self-checker tool.
For Students: If you need academic support due to extended absence, please contact your Dean of Student Services.
For Employees: If you are requesting to work from home because of not feeling well or the illness is symptomatic of COVID-19, in addition to your supervisor, contact leave management (leavemanagement@ccc.edu) and supply them with contact information to call you back. They will work through the process with you to determine if you are eligible to work from home and/or need to quarantine.

What should I do if I am exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19?

Persons that are in close contact(defined as within six feet for 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period) with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19 should quarantine in accordance with the guidelines set by the Chicago Department of Public Health found here. Fully vaccinated people do not need to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic. A person is “fully vaccinated” when it has been more than two weeks following receipt of the second dose in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series or more than two weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. If you need to quarantine, you should contact your HR Business Partner (for employees) or Dean of Student Services (for students) to discuss options for work and class.
You can also utilize the CDC’s COVID-19 self-checker tool.

What steps should I take if I have been mandated to quarantine?

For Students: If you have been mandated to quarantine due to exposure to a person that has tested positive for COVID-19 or have tested positive yourself for COVID-19, stay at home and contact your Dean of Student Services and supply them with contact information to call you back. Employees should also contact their supervisor to notify them. Additionally, please consult with your medical provider and obtain a COVID-19 test.
For Employees: If you have been mandated to quarantine due to exposure to a person that has tested positive for COVID-19 or have tested positive yourself for COVID-19, stay at home and contact leave management (leavemanagement@ccc.edu) and supply them with contact information to call you back. You should also contact your supervisor to notify them. Leave Management will work through the process to determine if you need to quarantine, whether you can work from home, or whether you are eligible for COVID-19 Sick Pay. Additionally, please consult with your medical provider and obtain a COVID-19 test.

What is the City Colleges protocol if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19?

In the event an individual that has been on campus tests positive for COVID-19, City Colleges Security will contact that person and conduct a contact tracing interview to determine if close contact (defined as within six feet for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period) occurred with other members of the City Colleges community while the individual was infectious. If close contacts are identified, they are contacted by City Colleges Security and provided quarantine guidance (while also maintaining the privacy of the infected individual). Security will also inform HR or Student Services of quarantines to ensure appropriate work arrangements, leave, or academic support are provided. Affected areas are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Can I travel? If I do travel, do I have to quarantine?

All City Colleges students, faculty, and staff should abide by the latest guidance from the City of Chicago’s Department of Public Health (CDPH), which can be viewed here. The CDPH updates the guidance regularly in response to COVID-19 metrics. Individuals are responsible for understanding the current status of the guidance in relation to their own personal travel and must be abide by that status upon their return.

Questions?

Questions? Call us at 773-COLLEGE or visit www.ccc.edu/VSS.