Knox’s culture of shared responsibility and care for our community will be more important than ever this fall. The Student and Employee Wellness Advisory Group worked with constituents to translate public health guidance into a Knox Together Pledge to affirm our commitment to keeping our community safe.
Please be aware of the updated guidelines for planning meetings and events in our current environment.
If you have not yet contacted Campus Life about your plans to return to campus housing for the spring term, please do so immediately by emailing campuslife@knox.edu. Additionally, if the March 21 return date is not feasible for you given your finals schedule, please notify Campus Life of this as well, and they will make arrangements to accommodate you.
If you need assistance moving back into campus housing, you are limited to one move-in helper. This will promote physical distancing in hallways, stairwells, and suite areas. Move-in helpers will have their temperatures taken and be screened for any COVID symptoms. Additional guests are permitted to come to campus, but cannot enter the residence halls. You and your guests must wear masks at all times when on campus except when in your private room or when outside and able to maintain at least six feet of physical distance.
You and your guests are highly encouraged to quarantine at home for 14 days prior to traveling back to campus and, while traveling, are expected to maintain physical distancing, wear face masks, practice frequent handwashing, and follow all applicable CDC guidelines. Please check yourselves for any COVID-19 symptoms prior to coming to campus; if you are feeling ill let us know and we will reschedule your return date.
Students not currently residing on campus who plan to live on campus for the spring term should return on Sunday, March 21. Upon your return to campus, please remember that you can transmit the disease to others even if you are exhibiting no symptoms, so for the health of our community, it is important that you quarantine in your room until you have received a negative test result. While we anticipate getting results within 24 hours, you should anticipate that your initial quarantine could last for up to 48 hours. Initial quarantine means that you are required to remain in your assigned room, except to use the restroom and pick up meals three times a day from dining services. You must wear a mask and maintain at least six feet of physical distance whenever you are outside of your own room (both indoors and outdoors).
After you receive a negative test result, you will participate in modified quarantine. Modified quarantine means that you can hang out in your own suite/house’s common area as long as you wear a mask and maintain at least six feet of physical distance. You can also get fresh air, walk around campus, engage in recreational activities, and visit with friends outdoors, while continuing to follow our safety protocols, including wearing a mask and maintaining six feet of physical distance.
Close contacts of individuals who test positive for COVID will not have to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated.
If you have not yet contacted Campus Life about your plans to return to campus housing for the spring term, please do so immediately by emailing campuslife@knox.edu. Additionally, if the March 21 return date is not feasible for you given your finals schedule, please notify Campus Life of this as well, and they will make arrangements to accommodate you.
On February 7 you should have received an email from NO-REPLY@UILLINOIS.EDU to create an account to participate in our SHIELD Illinois COVID saliva testing. This email gave you instructions and an activation code to help you set up your account. Once you have set up your account, you will be directed to schedule a COVID test appointment. Please schedule your appointment for March 21 or for the alternative date Campus Life assigned you to arrive on campus if March 21 does not work for you. Please create your account now, as the activation code expires in early March. If you cannot locate your email or if your activation code expires, please call SHIELD at 217-265-6059 to get a new one.
The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced that it will resume competition for the spring sports of baseball, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field. Member institutions, based upon campus and local realities of the pandemic, retain ultimate authority over the decision as to whether or not to participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring.
At this time, Knox College is optimistic that Prairie Fire student-athletes will be able to participate this spring under the MWC umbrella.
MWC schools are allowed to engage in spring competition against non-league opponents as long as they adhere to the league’s COVID-19 return-to-play protocol and end competition against non-MWC institutions 15 days prior to the start of league play in each respective sport. MWC competition in most spring sports is expected to start between late March and mid-April and will conclude by mid-May. Conference schedules will be posted online in the coming weeks but are subject to change due to the current health circumstances.
The MWC will closely monitor the COVID-19 environment on MWC campuses, local communities and at the regional and national levels as the ten member schools prepare for the upcoming spring season. At this time, no decision about spectators has been made so current guidance (no spectators at MWC events) remains in place and will be reviewed at a later date.
The Prairie Fire men’s and women’s golf teams compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). At this time, the SLIAC is committed to pursuing competition in the spring.
If you need more information on a topic or have questions that are not included below, email together@knox.edu.
Students not currently residing on campus who plan to live on campus for the spring term should return on Sunday, March 21.
You should plan on arriving on March 21.
Yes. Just like in fall term, students will go into initial quarantine following their first COVID test upon arrival.
Initial quarantine means that you are required to remain in your assigned room, except to use the restroom and pick up meals three times a day from a designated indoor location. You must wear a mask and maintain at least six feet of physical distance whenever you are outside of your own room (both indoors and outdoors). You are in initial quarantine until you get a negative test result.
After you get a negative test result, you are in modified quarantine. Modified quarantine means that you can hang out in your own suite/house’s common area as long as you wear a mask and maintain at least six feet of physical distance. You can also get fresh air, walk around campus, and visit with friends outdoors. We ask that you both wear a mask and maintain six feet of physical distance even when gathering outside.
Close contacts of individuals who test positive for COVID will not have to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated.
Students taking on-campus classes are limited to travel within Knox County, and then only after completing their initial quarantine. All other travel must be planned in consultation with Health Services. Preventing the spread of COVID-19 remains our priority.
During both initial and modified quarantine, students will pick up their meals three times a day from a designated indoor location. Vegan and meat-based options will be available.
We are working on the details of how this will happen, but we will make sure you can access essential textbooks and mail during the quarantine period.
You can work in your on-campus job during initial quarantine if you can do so remotely. You can work during modified quarantine if you can do so remotely or outdoors while masked and maintaining physical distance. Exceptions may be made for students who remained on campus during the winter break/start of winter term.
Not during initial quarantine. You can travel within Knox County during modified quarantine, as long as you wear a mask and practice appropriate physical distancing.
We have developed a number of processes and policies designed to make community living as safe as possible. That means living on campus looks a little different. Here are a few examples: (1) Although current public health guidance for higher education does not require students to be assigned to single rooms, we recognize that some students may prefer single accommodations and will accommodate as many students in single rooms as possible. (2) The number of guests/visitors a student may have in campus housing is limited to one at a time. Guests/visitors who do not attend Knox are limited to family members/significant others and must be pre-approved by Campus Life. (3) The number of students who can occupy shared spaces such as suite common areas, restrooms, kitchen, and laundry facilities is limited.
Yes. We value the social and educational opportunities that Knox’s many student organizations bring to campus life, and recognize them as a key component of the student experience. Campus Life, Dining Services, and other offices are doing everything in their power to support student organizations, recognizing that meetings and events need to look different to encourage safety. Event planning guidelines can be found here.
The College will not sponsor team intramural sport leagues for fall 2020 and winter 2021 term. The College is committed to closely monitoring the COVID-19 landscape, noting that intramural programs may occur for spring term.
Please review the current Athletic Facility Hours & Protocols.
The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced that it will resume competition for the spring sports of baseball, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field. Member institutions, based upon campus and local realities of the pandemic, retain ultimate authority over the decision as to whether or not to participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring.
At this time, Knox College is optimistic that Prairie Fire student-athletes will be able to participate this spring under the MWC umbrella.
MWC schools are allowed to engage in spring competition against non-league opponents as long as they adhere to the league’s COVID-19 return-to-play protocol and end competition against non-MWC institutions 15 days prior to the start of league play in each respective sport. MWC competition in most spring sports is expected to start between late March and mid-April and will conclude by mid-May. Conference schedules will be posted online in the coming weeks but are subject to change due to the current health circumstances.
The MWC will closely monitor the COVID-19 environment on MWC campuses, local communities and at the regional and national levels as the ten member schools prepare for the upcoming spring season. At this time, no decision about spectators has been made so current guidance (no spectators at MWC events) remains in place and will be reviewed at a later date.
The Prairie Fire men’s and women’s golf teams compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). At this time, the SLIAC is committed to pursuing competition in the spring.
The NCAA’s Sport Science Institute has provided a series of documents and podcasts through their COVID-19 website, conference offices and other platforms that provide guidance to member institutions on the resumption of practice and competition amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. You will find full details of the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition, Second Edition document here. The NCAA is continuing to monitor all information around COVID-19 and provides frequent updates. Please continue to check the website for updates.
The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced that it will resume competition for the spring sports of baseball, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field. Member institutions, based upon campus and local realities of the pandemic, retain ultimate authority over the decision as to whether or not to participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring.
At this time, Knox College is optimistic that Prairie Fire student-athletes will be able to participate this spring under the MWC umbrella.
The Prairie Fire men’s and women’s golf teams compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). At this time, the SLIAC is committed to pursuing competition in the spring.
The Midwest Conference (MWC) Presidents Council announced that it will not sponsor league competition, including championships, for fall and winter sports during the 2020-2021 academic year. The decision was unanimous and covers men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and volleyball.
However, the Midwest Conference (MWC) announced that it will resume competition for the spring sports of baseball, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field. Member institutions, based upon campus and local realities of the pandemic, retain ultimate authority over the decision as to whether or not to participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring.
At this time, Knox College is optimistic that Prairie Fire student-athletes will be able to participate this spring under the MWC umbrella.
The Midwest Conference (MWC) Presidents Council announced that it will not sponsor league competition, including championships, for fall and winter sports during the 2020-2021 academic year. The decision was unanimous and covers men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming & diving, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and volleyball.
However, the Midwest Conference (MWC) announced today that it will resume competition for the spring sports of baseball, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s outdoor track & field. Member institutions, based upon campus and local realities of the pandemic, retain ultimate authority over the decision as to whether or not to participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring.
At this time, Knox College is optimistic that Prairie Fire student-athletes will be able to participate this spring under the MWC umbrella.
No. For Division III student-athletes, participation in workouts, meetings or practices in their usual season during the fall term will not trigger the use of a season of participation. Additionally, the NCAA recently issued a blanket waiver that states that Division III student-athletes will not be charged with participation, regardless of the number of competition dates, for the 2020-21 season. Visit the NCAA website for the most recent full announcement. It is important to note that a student-athlete must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester or quarter hours, regardless of institutional definition of what it means to be full-time, to be eligible to practice or compete in DIII athletics.
Any intercollegiate competition involving fall or winter sports must be approved by institutional leadership and be conducted in accordance with NCAA Division III rules, and campus, local, state and NCAA health directives. Per NCAA rules these contests count against the team’s contest maximums. Only student-athletes that are certified as eligible per NCAA and MWC rules, may participate in intercollegiate competition. Intercollegiate competition conducted prior to January 1 is not sponsored by the Midwest Conference and will not have bearing on Conference standings, records or awards. The NCAA recently issued a blanket waiver that states that Division III student-athletes will not be charged with participation, regardless of the number of competition dates, for the 2020-21 season. Visit the NCAA website for the most recent full announcement. It is important to note that a student-athlete must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester or quarter hours, regardless of institutional definition of what it means to be full-time, to be eligible to practice or compete in DIII athletics.
Please review the current Athletic Facility Hours & Protocols.
FAQs for international students are available on the Office of International Student Services page.
Yes. Dining Services has made many changes to help protect students, faculty and staff during the pandemic. You can read the complete list here. Dining hours and locations are being extended to allow students to eat in dining areas in a safe manner. Additional Grab and Go items will also be available for those who prefer it.
Knox Dining Services will offer modified service during the move in and testing period. All meals will be provided through the Hard Knox Café. Once the testing and quarantine period has concluded, The Gizmo, The Outpost, and Grab n’ Go will resume regular service hours.
Mealtime hours during the move in and testing period are below. Enter Hard Knox through the doors on the side with the gallery, and exit through the Campus Card office. Dine-in seating will not be available during this time.
Monday through Sunday:
Breakfast 7:30 – 9:30
Lunch 11:00 – 2:00
Dinner 4:30 – 7:30
The Gizmo, the Outpost convenience store and both Grab and Go locations will be open between normal dining room hours during the week.
Menu choices will be posted in the following locations: On the dining services webpage, through an optional daily menu mail, on digital screens in the gallery, and at the service counters. To reduce wait times, two counters in Hard Knox will offer take away food items, including two packaged hot entrée choices, rice or potato, vegetables, sides, desserts, and canned or bottled beverages, as well as a vegan meal option.
As with last Spring and Fall terms, any dietary or spiritual food needs can be communicated directly with Chef Joe, and we will make arrangements for accommodations on an individual basis.
Dining inquiries can be directed to Doug Stenfeldt, Dining Services General Manager, at djstenfeldt@knox.edu, or Joseph Peterson, Executive Chef, at jdpeterson@knox.edu.
Dining Services will continue to offer accommodations for all dietary needs and one of the three concepts in Hard Knox will specialize in both vegan and dietary needs. Virtual consultations will be available for any students or staff with the Chef and GM to address additional needs. The Gizmo will continue to offer dietary substitutions.
Face coverings will be required for all dining services staff, and physical distancing procedures will be implemented in accordance with public health guidelines. Additional personal protective equipment (PPE), including face shields, will be required for some employees. Dining rooms will be fully disinfected between meals and have dedicated entrances and exits with one-way traffic patterns and floor markers to ensure 6-foot distancing between patrons. All serviceware will be single use and distributed through contactless methods. Dishwashing machines will be checked for proper temperature and chemicals every hour, and machines will be drained and cleaned every 30 minutes when in high use. Returned serviceware will be scraped and sent through the dishwasher once for sanitizing before being sprayed or scrubbed and washed in the machine a second time.
No. Catering operations are currently suspended.
Yes. Students with campus employment or federal work study included in their financial aid award will be eligible for positions on campus. There may also be some employment opportunities for students studying remotely.
You can work in your on-campus job during initial quarantine if you can do so remotely. You can work during modified quarantine if you can do so remotely or outdoors while masked and maintaining physical distance. Exceptions may be made for students who stayed on campus during winter break/start of winter term.
http://www.knox.edu/knoxtogether/living-on-campus
Printed on Sunday, April 11, 2021
