May 2012

Dear Student:

         Illinois law states that students who enroll in any college or university in Illinois must present to their school proof of immunization for tetanus/diphtheria, measles, rubella, and mumps.

         However, the law contains a provision for accommodation on religious grounds. The law requires Principia to collect either an accommodation form or proof of immunization for every student. By law, students without such records on file by Week 8 of their first term are not allowed to enroll for the next term. Before opting for the religious accommodation, it is important to consider the significant commitment to prayerful protective work for yourself and your community that this step entails. For those who have been immunized in the past—or decide now to obtain immunization— it is important to mail or FAX (618-374-5901) your proof of immunization to us as soon as possible. This is necessary even if you were immunized in the past, but are now submitting a Religious Accommodation Form. 

         Principia has been grateful for the respect and freedom it has received from health authorities to enable students to rely solely upon Christian Science treatment to meet their health needs. It is essential that Principia, its students, and their parents be obedient to the law and follow legal procedures designed for the protection of the student, the community, and the institution. Please give this matter your careful consideration. As Mary Baker Eddy states in Retrospection and Introspection, “Genuine Christian Scientists are, or should be, the most systematic and law-abiding people on earth ….”

         In a case of suspected communicable illness, students will be required to go to Cox Cottage (Principia’s on-campus care facility), which is staffed by Christian Science nurses. (There is no charge.) In cases of communicable diseases that, by law, need to be reported to the local health authorities, Principia would report directly to the Jersey County Health Department and would comply with any relevant Department guidelines.

         As a rule, these guidelines would only affect the individual student. In the case of certain illnesses—measles, for example—such guidelines would affect the entire Principia community. In such cases, it might be necessary to isolate a student exposed to the illness. Only exposed individuals whose proof of immunization is deemed adequate by the County authorities would be exempt from isolation. The isolation period would continue until the Jersey County authorities determined that there was no further danger to the community, which could be a period of up to several weeks. The readiness of a student to return to classes must be determined by Principia, consonant with the guidelines of the Jersey County authorities.

         In recent years, we have been reminded that the freedom to practice Christian Science needs to be protected. Principia is grateful for your continued alertness to the importance of consistent prayer in maintaining health.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jonathan W. Palmer
College President