Closing College Campus

March 20, 2020

John Williams
Interim College President

On Friday, March 20, the governor of Illinois issued a statewide shelter-in-place order (also known as “stay-at-home”), effective 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21. According to Governor Pritzker’s order, educational institutions, “for the purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research, or performing essential functions,” are considered essential operations. Until further notice, Principia College will provide all of its undergraduate education remotely (i.e., no in-person instruction). Classes will still begin on March 30.

We are now a restricted campus. Therefore, I need to address several key issues:

• What it means to be a restricted campus
• “Continuity of operations”—continuing critical operations in support of our education mission and in support of the students who are confined to campus
• On-campus rules of behavior
• Limits to services on campus

What it means to be a restricted campus:

The campus is accessible only to approved on-campus students, residents in housing “inside the gate,” and essential personnel (as determined by supervisors).

Continuity of operations:

For the purpose of continuity of the operations of Principia College, we have designated three categories of employees: 

1. Essential personnel: All essential tasks that can be done remotely must be done off campus. If your work can only be done on campus, you are expected to come to campus.
2. Non-essential personnel: Tasks, while needed, are not essential for basic continuity of business. Employees in this category are eligible to receive temporary, paid “emergency leave,” due to the “stay-at-home” order.
3. On-site essential personnel, working or entering COVID-19 zones: In the event that we must have COVID-19 zones on campus, employees who elect to work there will receive incentive pay. (At this time, Principia has no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.) 

All employees should consult with your immediate supervisor or department head as to your designation.

Student employees may continue to work if their supervisor has deemed their work essential. Please contact your supervisor. Students who are not able to work due to coronavirus-related restrictions may be eligible for paid emergency leave. Questions should be emailed to hr.stu@principia.edu.

For those who can work remotely and need to pick up materials and resources from campus, please do so by March 21 at 5 p.m. If it’s not possible to come to campus before 5 p.m. on Saturday, your supervisor or department head needs to coordinate the date and time with Security, preferably between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Have them email watch.security@principia.edu and matthew.brill@principia.edu with your request.

The webinars for faculty will still continue next week.

All employees will continue to be paid, whether they are at work or not.

On-campus rules of behavior:

The concept of “stay-at-home” means that residents must not leave campus except to travel for health and safety, necessary supplies and services, and to care for others, as specified by the executive order issued by the governor of the State of Illinois. For those restricted to campus, adhere to social distancing guidelines as outlined in the order, which includes maintaining a physical distance of “six-feet per person … to the greatest extent possible.” While we are socially distancing in a physical sense, we are very interested in supporting the social cohesion of our community. Stay tuned for ways in which we will be creating virtual spaces to continue to build and support our community.

For those essential personnel coming to campus to work, you will be expected to follow the same rules outlined above. In addition, your movements on campus are limited to spaces for completing your essential tasks.

Limits on campus services:

Dining Services will be limited to use by students in student housing, PGTIs, resident counselors and their families, and Christian Science nurses. No one else will be served. It will be take-out only. Meals cannot be eaten in the dining room. Cards only, no cash permitted.

Athletics facilities will be closed.

Library facilities will be closed.  

Employee children, unless residing on campus (within the gates), are not permitted on campus. 

We will be providing letters for essential employees to carry with them should authorities stop them for verification. 

We know there are many more questions that will have to be answered and that will arise as we start to implement these latest changes. Please send your questions to president@principia.edu.

We are grateful for your flexibility and patience during this evolving situation. Your continued prayerful support is vital and deeply appreciated.

“Let us reassure ourselves with the law of Love” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 384).