COVID-19 | Guidance and Resources for Students
Attention
Effective February 28, 2022, in accordance with public health guidance, Saint Xavier University has moved to a mask-optional campus.
It is important for students to talk to their advisors to find out which courses they need to progress toward graduation and to pay attention to course formats in which they are offered.
The method of course delivery can be found in your course schedule on the mySXU portal. If you need further assistance, please contact the Office of Records and Registration at 773-298-3501 or registrarFREESXU.
For convenience and comfort, advising and academic coaching sessions are available in-person and online. Tutoring sessions are offered in person in small groups.
For accessibility questions, please contact Margaret McDonnell, director for the Center for Accessibility Resources, at 773-298-3308 or mcdonnellFREESXU.
At this time the COVID-19 vaccines remain highly recommended, but not required. The Health Center continues to recommend that everyone be up-to-date on their vaccinations and offers COVID-19 vaccinations five days per week for anyone six months of age and up.
Effective as of July 12, 2022, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker rescinded the requirement that higher education employees and students be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing.
For more information, visit our Testing and Vaccines web page.
Yes. The SXU Health Center offers both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines Monday through Friday. We currently offer the updated (bivalent) booster vaccines, which are recommended for everyone 6 months of age and up. We can also administer the primary series to those who still need first and second doses.
Appointments are preferred (call 773-298-3712).
Based on public health guidance, SXU has moved to a mask-optional campus as of February 28, 2022.
Those who wish to continue wearing a mask may do so.
If you are experiencing any of the common symptoms of COVID-19, please follow these steps:
- Stay home if you are not feeling well. If you must leave, make sure to get tested for COVID-19 before you go and wear a mask.
- If you do not have any home COVID-19 tests or would like to be tested at the SXU Health Center please call 773-298-3712 to request a COVID test or a sick visit with a nurse practitioner.
- If you test negative on your first rapid COVID-19 test, it is recommended that you test again 2 days later to confirm.
- If you test positive use this Isolation and Exposure Calculator to determine when you can return to campus and when you can stop masking. Residents can isolate in their residence hall if they cannot go home. If you have any questions please contact the Health Center at 773-298-3712 or healthcenterFREESXU.
- Communicate your absence with your instructors, coaches, student employment supervisors and other personnel as needed. The Office of the Dean of Students can assist with absence notifications; please email deanofstudentsFREESXU.
All your instructors are ready to work with you to continue learning if you are unable to come to campus, whether that's because you are sick yourself, quarantining because of exposure to another person who has COVID-19 or another situation. It's very important to let your instructors know promptly if circumstances prevent you from attending class.
According to the CDC, individuals with certain conditions may have a higher risk for developing severe illness from COVID-19 infection. Those conditions may include:
- Older adults (aged 65 years and older)
- People with HIV
- Asthma (moderate to severe)
- Chronic lung disease
- Diabetes
- Serious heart conditions
- Chronic kidney disease being treated with dialysis
- Severe obesity
- Being immunocompromised
If you are a student and are in a high-risk group for COVID-19 and believe you cannot attend classes in person, you should contact your advisor about arranging a completely remote schedule. This could include a combination of online courses that would have virtual class meetings in real time or a course that might have both.
You can also contact Margaret McDonnell, director for the Center for Accessibility Resources, at 773-298-3308 or mcdonnellFREESXU, for assistance.
Please pay close attention to all communications sent from SXU to your @mymail.sxu.edu email, especially those from President Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., regarding campus plans and state and city mandates. You can learn about our plans for a safe return with our Campus Plan webpage.
We also encourage you to register for Campus Alerts to ensure you receive timely communication if there is a need to adjust campus operations due to an emergency, weather conditions or other situation. To sign up, go to Self-Service on the mySXU portal and verify your information.
Testing and Vaccines
Learn more about how and where to get vaccinated against or tested for COVID-19
Learn More
A detailed "What to Bring" list is available by logging into eRezLife and clicking on "Resources."
We also ask residents to pack their items in containers that can assist in easy transport should the need arise to move to an isolation space on or off campus. Consider preparing a "go bag" with a change of clothes, water bottles, hygiene products, phone charger, etc., to keep on hand should you not feel well and need to relocate. Please pack for easy transport into the building as we may be unable to provide move-in crew assistants or wheeled crates.
Consider the following essential items to add to your packing list:
- digital thermometer
- hand sanitizer
- hand soap
- sanitizing wipes
- disposable or cloth masks
- acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen
Residence Life, Facilities and Public Safety work collaboratively to provide a reasonably safe on-campus living experience. Enhanced cleaning protocols are in place in common areas. Hand sanitizing stations are available in all buildings. Residence hall staff are trained on updated policy and procedures. Residents are encouraged to regularly clean and sanitize their personal living spaces. We are committed to continual monitoring of national, state and local laws, rules and guidelines, including CDC guidance, as well as the potential spread of the virus, and adjusting University practices, expectations, workplace operations and communications accordingly.
Local students will first be asked to quarantine or isolate at their primary residence. Residence Life has identified a very small number of isolation rooms if students are unable to go home or isolate in place.
Students will be supported through their stay in on-campus isolation/quarantine by the SXU Health Center, the Dean of Students office and Residence Life by having regular contact with the Care Coordinator from the SXU Health Center. However, students in isolation or quarantine must be able to fully care for themselves at all times. If at any time it is determined that it is unsafe for a student to be alone in an unmonitored setting, the student will be transferred to a higher level facility, such as a hospital emergency room.
If you believe your roommate is not seeking needed care, you can contact the Director of Residence Life, who will assist in coordinating the appropriate follow-up based on the situation. We ask that all residents take personal safety precautions any time their roommate(s) are ill.
Remote Technology Request
You may fill out a Remote Technology Request Form to request a loaner laptop and/or headset for remote learning.
Please note that requests for loaner laptops have increased and will be distributed
on a first-come, first-served basis. For technical support, visit The Hub.
Remote Learning Support Request
You may fill out a Remote Learning Support Request to assist with any other challenges associated with remote/distance learning.
Please use this form to share your individual challenges. We will evaluate and provide
as much support as possible to maintain productive learning experiences.
Getting Started with SXU Canvas (PDF)
- Your instructor will use Canvas to deliver their course content online, please familiarize yourself with different features on Canvas.
- A collection of e-books, journal articles and relevant resources can be found on the library's Pandemic Resources page.
- The library has also created a one-stop source for Subject and Resource Guides, containing resources for specific disciplines and information pages for specific courses.
- Library staff are happy to assist with online resources.
- Zoom Video Conference allows students to conduct synchronous meetings with their classmates. Users can broadcast real-time audio and video, share presentation slides, or demo online resources by sharing your screen.
- Basic Zoom Account is free for all users.
- User can conduct unlimited one-to-one meeting and 40-minute group meetings
Getting Started with Canvas Conferences
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Canvas Conference allows students in the same class to conduct synchronous meetings with their group members. Students can broadcast real-time audio and video, share presentation slides, or demo online resources by sharing their screen.
- Students can conduct unlimited meetings.
- Tips to make your video conferencing experience a great experience.
To help families and households struggling to afford internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC established the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
Open enrollment for the program began May 12, 2021, and will provide a discount of:
- up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households.
- up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of:
- up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Learn more about the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program including who is eligible, which broadband providers are participating and more.
While most campus locations will be open with usual business hours, it's possible hours or staffing may need to change with the situation. Please call to confirm a department's availability.
Student Accounts
The Office of Student Accounts is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to discuss your finances to support your education. Appointments are recommended but not necessary. Please contact 773-298-3046 or studentaccountsFREESXU for assistance.
Access to account information and payment options are also available on the mySXU portal. Nelnet payment plan information is available online or 1-800-722-4867.
Center for Success
For students and alumni who may have lost their job due to the pandemic, the Center for SUCCESS can help with finding part-time and full-time employment as well as provide a resume review.
As of April 3, 2020, SXU's Center for SUCCESS is sending out direct links for virtual advising appointments, career development resources and remote micro-internship opportunities. A comprehensive resource guide is now available on Canvas. A full suite of academic and career guidance is available to all students on Handshake.
Learning Center
The Learning Center is available for in-person and virtual tutoring and writing support services. Students can make an appointment via the online scheduling system.
Counseling Center
Our Counseling Center team is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m to support students' personal counseling needs both virtually and in person by scheduling an appointment at 773-298-4045.