Updated: August 2023

Quincy University continues to urge all members of our community who can safely do so to choose vaccination and, when recommended, vaccine booster shots. COVID-19 vaccinations are very safe and highly effective. Every person who is vaccinated protects that person’s friends and family. As Pope Francis said, “being vaccinated is an act of love.”

While the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States has moved from the pandemic stage to the endemic stage, COVID-19 infections remain a continuing source of concern for Quincy University and for other colleges and universities. QU may revise its COVID-19 guidance at any time, based on information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and by the State of Illinois.

On the Quincy University campus, cloth or disposable masks are optional in all classrooms, laboratories, and other campus buildings and spaces. However, any employee may require that anyone entering the employee’s campus office must use a mask while in that office. In addition, the university allows some faculty to require student mask use in classrooms, laboratories, or other campus learning spaces, based on the health circumstances of the faculty member or the faculty member’s family. Members of the university community may wish to carry masks while on campus, in the event that mask wearing is requested in a campus office or classroom.

Any member of the Quincy University community is welcome to wear a mask for protection against COVID-19 infection or other infectious diseases. No member of our community should be criticized for making the choice to wear a mask.

For Fall 2023, students who have not already provided information to the university about their COVID-19 vaccination status are encouraged, but not required, to do so. While vaccination is strongly encouraged and highly recommended, students and employees are not required at present to provide information regarding their vaccination status.

QU is not currently operating any program for COVID-19 surveillance testing. Questions about COVID-19 testing should be directed to the Division of Student Development.

Students and employees may be required to quarantine if they have tested positive for COVID-19 infection. Quincy University will provide information about quarantine obligations to community members, based on the most recent public health guidelines.

University employees and business partners should review any guidance previously emailed to them and speak to their supervisors if they have questions about COVID-19 precautions.

New recommendations from the CDC, changes in Illinois policies and rules, updated recommendations from local public health officials or additional guidance from the Catholic Church might lead us to revise our policies related to COVID-19.