Loyola University Chicago’s guidelines for returning to campus are focused on the health, safety, and well-being of our community as our top priority. Now more than ever, we are called together to care for ourselves, each other, and the broader community. The policies and protocols on this website are designed to support safety and our mission to provide a first-class, Jesuit, Catholic education that prepares our students to serve humanity through learning, justice, and faith.
As we prepare for the spring 2021 semester, we will continue to follow guidance from the scientific community and city and state officials. On June 26, 2020, the city of Chicago announced plans to move to Phase Four of “Protecting Chicago” reopening framework, alongside the state's Restore Illinois plan. The plan is being updated by the city regularly based on the current conditions of the pandemic. Phase four will allow Loyola to continue a limited, staggered, and phased re-opening of our campuses in the spring semester. However, this does not mean all students or University personnel can return at the same time. Faculty and staff should not plan to return to campus or buildings until you are directed to do so by your dean/vice president, department or program director, or supervisor.
Below are links to available information about spring semester 2021.
Quick links for students, faculty, and staff who are planning to be on Loyola's campuses this spring.
Students, faculty, and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 must report their case to the University as soon as possible at COVID-19report@LUC.edu or by calling 773-508-7707. All COVID-19 related questions should be directed to COVID-19support@LUC.EDU.
Note: The COVID-19 vaccines on the market are new, and we aren't yet certain how their distribution will impact our campus operations or procedures around quarantine and isolation. We do ask that students, faculty, and staff who are administered a COVID-19 vaccine participate in surveillance testing until two weeks have passed since your vaccine booster shot. While there are antibody responses after one dose of vaccine, the neutralization of virus isn't optimal (according to most preliminary trials). We're also developing a process by which Loyolans can submit proof of their vaccination, thereby exempting them from future surveillance testing. We will continue to rely on guidance from our local health departments, as we have since the beginning of the pandemic, and will update our community as we learn more information.
In preparation for reopening our campuses, Loyola University Chicago has set forth the following principles to guide our decision making, always remaining in alignment with the latest public health information and the direction of city and state government regulations for safely reopening.
Loyola University Chicago will be closely following state and city guidelines in taking a phased approach to reopening campus and allowing on-campus activities to resume.
Loyola University Chicago is currently operating under Phase 4. In this phase, we are preparing to reopen our campuses for the spring semester. Classes will be offered mostly online with a small number of in-person courses, following city, state, and CDC guidelines. All students, faculty, and staff will be required to follow health and safety guidelines while on campus. LEARN MORE
We all have a part to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Following a simple set of required personal safety practices can lower your own risk of being infected and can help protect others. All members of the Loyola community are expected to follow these practices while on any of the University’s campuses. To learn more about the comprehensive health, safety, and personal wellness procedures Loyola has implemented, visit the Health and Safety page here.
