• If you are experiencing any signs or symptoms associated with COVID-19 do not come to class or to campus, and follow notification procedures for students and employees on the COVID-19 Policies and Campus Protocols webpage on the Return to Campus website.
  
  
• When in-class and on-campus, comply with all NLU public health and safety directives, they are informed by guidance from national, state and local municipalities.
  
  
• Compliance with safety and COVID-19 policies and protocols is both an individual and community responsibility. In a respectful and meaningful way, individuals are asked to hold themselves and each other responsible for collectively navigating our community through the end of the pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, norms for student classroom interactions are necessarily different than in the past. The following guidance and suggested syllabus language pertain to issues arising from these new norms. Please note that the guidance here is intended to supplement the other policies and procedures that are found further below in this document.

• In-Person Classes: To assist with social distancing, classes have been scheduled using 75% of room capacities. The university is carefully monitoring public health guidance in each county and state in which we have a campus presence, as well as updated information from the CDC and IL and FL Departments of Health and will make changes as needed.
  
  
• Students in Quarantine or Isolation: Students who enter quarantine (exposure to a COVID-positive person) or isolation (confirmed COVID infection) will not be able to attend in-person class sessions. Instructors will receive a notification that the student is unable to attend class. Students in quarantine or isolation who have no symptoms or only mild symptoms may continue to participate in classes remotely if that option exists. If a student is sick and unable to participate in class at all, faculty will be notified by the office of the Dean of Students. Faculty teaching in-person classes should be prepared to accommodate students who enter into quarantine or isolation, just as they would accommodate any student who falls ill for an extended period of time.
  
  
• First-Year Students: Many of our first-year students are coping with two transitions simultaneously. They are transitioning from high school to college, with all of the academic challenges that entails, and they are also transitioning from a year or more of remote learning to in-person classes. It is natural that some of these students will experience self-doubt. Faculty teaching first-year students should be prepared to help students overcome these challenges with empathy and understanding.
  
  
• Student Mental Health and Wellbeing: During the pandemic, students across the country have reported elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. In some cases, students bring these concerns directly to their instructors, perhaps in the context of a missed assignment or poor performance in the course.
  
  
• Academic Accommodations: While flexible assignment deadlines may sufficiently address students' concerns, students may also request formal accommodations through NLU's ADA services. If students are seeking formal accommodations because of a positive case diagnosis for the novel coronavirus, they should first complete the Student Coronavirus (COVID-19) Reporting Form and include medical documentation of their diagnosis. After completing that documentation, students should schedule an intake with their ADA Specialist. Based on CDC Guidance, students can be provided with temporary accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973) that typically range from two – six weeks in duration depending on the severity of their symptoms and directives from their attending physician.

What should faculty do if students aren’t compliant with COVID-19 protocols?

• Faculty should be clear about institutional and course-based expectations by documenting these expectations in their course syllabus and course D2L shell, and reviewing them as needed.
  
  
• It’s human nature to lapse in compliance especially in the context of COVID-19 fatigue, patience and persistence should be exercised as we continue to hold everyone responsible for adhering to public health protocols.
  
  
• Regardless of COVID-19 fatigue, students are expected to follow the instructions of a University official, if students do not comply with a faculty or employee request, they should be asked to leave the classroom and they should be documented for violation of the student code of conduct. Incident Reports documenting violation of student conduct can be submitted here.

Will courses be offered bimodal (offering virtual classroom and on-campus class meetings at the same time)? If so, will teachers be trained?  

• We are not yet certain if we will have the bimodal technology installed in classrooms and/or full-scale infrastructure to deploy it during the Fall term. As soon as we have the technology and infrastructure developed, we will begin training faculty, as needed, to support the ability to teach in the bimodal modality, and we will discuss with faculty the best means to do so. 

What is the availability of cleaning supplies (i.e., hand sanitizer, wipes), and where do we go for them, both in Chicago and Wheeling? Will these items be in classrooms?  

• Hand sanitizer and wipes will be available in classrooms - the Facilities team will do a check every morning to ensure classrooms are stocked. Additionally, these items are available by request at the front desk.

COVID-19 

National Louis University recognizes that this is a difficult time which may be filled with uncertainty as we move forward with the academic year. Your safety, health, and well-being, as well as that of our faculty and staff are our primary concern and we want to be able to support you in any way that we can. During the COVID-19 pandemic, norms for student classroom interactions are necessarily different than in the past, we ask that you adjust your behavior to best keep yourself and others safe. We have expectations that you act responsibly in order to mitigate risk to others:

• If you are experiencing any signs or symptoms associated with COVID-19 do not come to class or to campus, and follow notification procedures for students and employees.
  
  
• When in-class and on-campus, comply with all NLU public health and safety directives, they are informed by guidance from national, state and local municipalities.
  
  
• Compliance with safety and COVID-19 policies and protocols is both an individual and community responsibility. In a respectful and meaningful way, individuals are asked to hold themselves and each other responsible for collectively navigating our community through the end of the pandemic.

The University understands that at this time you may be facing some obstacles that would make it difficult to meet your academic goals. Please use the Student Resources page on the Return to NLU webpage for information and resources. The webpage also archives official University communications, access to technology, and student services.  Remember, We are #NLUStrong! and together we will navigate these extraordinary and challenging times. 

Counseling and Wellness: 

The following text has been provided by the Counseling and Wellness Center and the THRIVE Campus and Community Collaborative and may be included in your D2L announcements:

Students may experience situations or challenges that can interfere with learning and personal well-being, especially in the context of a prolonged public health pandemic. These might include strained relationships, unstable housing situations, hunger, high levels of stress, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, or loss of motivation. NLU has many resources to help with these or other issues you may experience. Free, confidential mental health services are available by contacting the NLU Counseling and Wellness Center. The NLU THRIVE Campus and Community Collaborative assists students experiencing hunger and housing instability.

For additional samples of syllabus statements, visit: https://otl.du.edu/plan-a-course/teaching-resources/sample-syllabus-statements/