RLC Updates — COVID-19 Coronavirus

Due to a regional shortage of COVID testing supplies, Rend Lake College is briefly postponing its offering of tests for the testing requirement of the statewide vaccinate-or-test mandate which takes effect Sunday, Sept. 19. We will resume testing when the supply of testing materials in our area enables us to provide it or for you to obtain testing elsewhere yourselves. It is still our intention to follow the state mandate requiring vaccination or weekly testing when the logistics permit. We will send instructions for submitting proof of testing in the near future, more than likely before the end of next week.

In the meantime, for those who are vaccinated and have not yet done so, please submit your proof of vaccination. Students may use https://rlcforms.rlc.edu to submit proof or elect for testing instead, and employees may send their information to Human Resources.

For those who wish, we have vaccination clinics planned from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Waugh Gymnasium on campus on the following dates: Sept. 22; Oct. 5; Oct. 18; and Nov. 8.

Free Pfizer vaccine clinics coming up for RLC students and employees

INA, Ill. (Sept. 16, 2021) — A handful of free opportunities for students, faculty and staff to get fully vaccinated at Rend Lake College have been scheduled this fall. Each Pfizer vaccine clinic will be held from noon - 6 p.m. in the old fitness center at Waugh Gymnasium on the Ina Campus. To cut down on wait times, schedule your vaccine appointment.

The clinics have been scheduled to meet the interval required between doses. The college previously held clinics on Sept. 1 and 14.

September 22
This clinic date can be used for: 1st dose or 2nd dose (if first dose received September 1)
October 5
This clinic date can be used for: 1st dose or 2nd dose (if first dose received September 14)
October 18
This clinic date can be used for: 1st dose or 2nd dose (if first dose received Sept. 22)
November 8
This clinic date can be used for: 2nd dose (if first dose received October 18)

Free Pfizer vaccine clinics coming up for RLC students and employees

INA, Ill. (Sept. 14, 2021) – Rend Lake College is partnering with the state of Illinois to offer free Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

The clinics will be held on Sept. 22 and Oct. 5 in the Old Fitness Center/ Gym from noon to 6 p.m. It is available for students, faculty members and staff.

Walk-ins are welcomed. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized and recommended for those who are 12 years old and older. On Aug. 23, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer vaccine as its first COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 and older.

For up-to-date information about the college and the COVID-19 pandemic, visit rlc.edu/coronavirus. Questions may be directed to 618-437-5321, Ext. 1790.

Joint Press Release from Southern Illinois Community College Presidents - September 13, 2021

Our local community colleges are working hard to develop and operationalize mitigation protocols at our various campuses. Our region has for many weeks now been an area with a dangerously high transmission rate of COVID-19. While each of our campuses will implement procedures in ways that best fit our campus communities, it is essential to recognize that we are unified in our message and our adherence to state and federal guidance and orders regarding vaccination and testing. It is essential to note that we are unified in ensuring our students and staff can visit our campuses, knowing that their safety is our top priority.

It also should be noted that we as Presidents, are in agreement that the best and safest way for our campuses to continue providing face-to-face learning and services is for our communities to get vaccinated against this virus. For over a year, we waited while the vaccinations were developed and tested. Since May of this year, our campuses have held vaccination clinics and worked with our local county health departments and the medical community to promote and provide vaccination. The vaccines have been shown to successfully mitigate the virus and the duration as well as severity of the virus in rare breakthrough cases. We as a collective believe that the science behind the vaccines and the widespread vaccination efforts will allow us to stay face-to-face on our campuses and in our communities. This message is not about politics, we are educators, and our ultimate goal is to ensure our students succeed while also keeping everyone safe.

If vaccinations are not the chosen option, for the good of public health and serving the interest of helping others stay safe, simple testing to help control the spread of the virus is essential. We all must do our part to help reduce the spread and save our healthcare system from imploding. Reducing disease spread is how we stay open for business and protect lives, be it through vaccination or this simple testing. You have options. Please help us to help you by researching, discussing your concerns with your doctor, and committing to the choices you have to keep everyone safe.

Per both the United States President's order and the Illinois Governor's order, we will continue to test those individuals who cannot take the vaccination for various reasons. We will all have a variety of ways for this to be accomplished, and as a group, we continue to support and work together and assist each other in our efforts and resolve. We are here to serve our community; the educational and career success of our students and staff is our mission. Let's focus on each other to move us all forward.

George M. Evans
President, Kaskaskia College

Kirk Overstreet, Ph.D.
President, John A. Logan College

Jonah Rice, Ph.D.
President, Southeastern Illinois College

Terry Wilkerson
President, Rend Lake College

Latest update on COVID guidance - September 10, 2021

There have been numerous developments in recent weeks regarding COVID mitigations and requirements placed on higher education institutions and their students. To help provide information and address potential questions regarding the state mandate, below are links to the state executive order and additional guidance from the state affecting Rend Lake College and all other higher education institutions in Illinois.

Executive Order 2021-22 (Illinois mandate regarding face coverings, vaccination and testing)

Updated Phase 5 Guidance from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and Illinois Community College Board in light of Executive Order 2021-22

Frequently Asked Questions about Executive Order 2021-22 and the updated Phase 5 guidance

Schedule your appointment for Pfizer Vaccine Clinics on 9/1 & 9/22

Schedule Your Appointment Here

(Link: https://idph-mychart.pchosted.com/IDPH/signupandschedule/embeddedschedule?vt=24629&dept=9001410011070)

Students, faculty and staff can now schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccination Clinic being administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health at RLC on 9/1 and 9/22.

Use the link above to schedule your appointment. Any appointments that can be scheduled in advance will help to cut down on wait times during the clinic event since all attendees must be registered in the clinic system to receive their vaccination. Registrations will also be accepted onsite but can greatly increase wait times. Parents are required to be present for anyone under 18 years of age and consent forms signed.

Questions? Call (618) 437-5321, Ext. 1790

August 27, 2021

Message to students ...

Students,

As you are likely aware, on Thursday the governor issued a COVID vaccination-or-test mandate to all higher education students in Illinois. This is a statewide mandate with which Rend Lake College must comply, as must all other colleges and universities in the state. RLC officials are working out the logistics of how this process will occur going forward, and we will let you know as soon as we have these details worked out.

The expectation for students will be that you must either be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID testing in order to be allowed on campus. The easiest way to prove vaccination status will be to bring in your vaccination card or email a picture of it to the college. Again, we will send out further details about this process when they are worked out, and we are sharing this now to give you time to find your card and / or snap a picture of it in preparation for submission for those who choose to do so.

If you are currently unvaccinated and choose not to vaccinate, the mandate requires you to have a COVID test at least weekly. We are planning accommodations to allow you to do this on campus during regularly scheduled times, and are now working with our providers on scheduling.

In conjunction with all this, we have extended the last day to drop 12- and 16-week classes with a refund to Friday, Sept. 3; that deadline previously had been Friday, Aug. 27.

We will host a free, walk-in COVID vaccination clinic from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, and Wednesday, Sept. 22, in the gymnasium.

We recognize this is a strange and stressful period of time, and it remains our goal to keep all of you moving forward on your educational path. At this time we have no plans to transition back to fully remote learning and we intend to continue with our current scheduling set-up. As always, if you need help, feel free to reach out to us at RL-Cares at [email protected] or 618-437-5321, Ext. 1225. Keep an eye on rlc.edu/coronavirus for further updates.

Thanks!

- RLC

August 26, 2021

Rend Lake College is partnering with the state of Illinois to offer a couple of free COVID-19 vaccine clinics next month.

The clinic will be held on Sept. 1 in the Old Fitness Center Gym from noon to 6 p.m. It is available for students, faculty members and staff.

A second dose vaccine clinic will be held on Sept. 22 from noon to 6 p.m.

For up-to-date information about the college and the COVID-19 pandemic, visit rlc.edu/coronavirus

July 7, 2021

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion (Retroactive to include CRRSAA and ARP funds)

HEERF I, II, III Retroactive Quarterly Report Period Ending June 30, 2021

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) and American Rescue Plan Act, 2020 (ARP), which provided funds for student and institutional assistance, requires that certain information be posted for the public.

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. We have signed and returned the certification and agreement, and will use the applicable amount of funds on emergency financial aid grants to student.

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. Total allocation to Rend Lake College for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA - $591,132. Total allocation to Rend Lake College for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP - $2,417,055.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter). Total amount distributed as of 6/30/2021: $191,678

The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. For the spring 2021 semester, there were an estimated 466 eligible recipients.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. For the spring 2021 semester, 466 students received Emergency Financial Aid grants.

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. The distribution of $191,678 was divided among Spring 2021 PELL eligible students based on qualifying percentages (full-time, ¾ time, half-time, less than half-time).

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Not applicable

June 10, 2021

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion (Retroactive to include CRRSAA and ARP funds)

HEERF I, II, III Retroactive Quarterly Report Period Ending Sept 30, 2020

HEERF I, II, III Retroactive Quarterly Report Period Ending Dec 31, 2020

HEERF I, II, III Retroactive Quarterly Report Period Ending March 31, 2021

May 20, 2021

An acknowledgement that the institution signed and returned to the Department of Education the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution has used the applicable amount of funds designated under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. We have signed and returned the certification and agreement, and will use the applicable amount of funds on emergency financial aid grants to student.

The total amount of funds that the institution will receive or has received from the Department pursuant to the institution’s Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. Total allocation to Rend Lake College for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA - $591,132. Total allocation to Rend Lake College for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the ARP - $2,417,055.

The total amount of Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs as of the date of submission (i.e., as of the initial report and every calendar quarter thereafter). Total amount distributed as of 5/20/2021: $191,678

The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. For the spring 2021 semester, there were an estimated 466 eligible recipients.

The total number of students who have received an Emergency Financial Aid Grant to students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. For the spring 2021 semester, 466 students received Emergency Financial Aid grants.

The method(s) used by the institution to determine which students receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants and how much they would receive under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs. The distribution of $191,678 was divided among Spring 2021 PELL eligible students based on qualifying percentages (full-time, ¾ time, half-time, less than half-time).

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the Emergency Financial Aid Grants. Not applicable

April 6, 2021

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act Sections 18004(a)(1) Institutional Portion, 18004(a)(2), and 18004(a)(3), if applicable.

HEERF 3rd Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Report

February 5, 2021

ATHLETICS UPDATE

With the return of some of our students to campus for face-to-face lab work beginning the week of February 8, we are starting some of our Warrior sports programs on a limited basis.

Winter sports such as basketball will be slated to begin February 20, slightly earlier than our previous tentative plans. Spring sports such as baseball and softball are scheduled to resume March 1. Teams are currently practicing. These timeframes give us a window to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases and help mitigate any community spread. While there can be no spectators for games at this point, we will continue to monitor conditions and consider when fans can begin attending.

We understand the desire to get sports underway again, and these decisions have not been easy. The priorities must be the safety and health of our students and campus community first, and our team has kept this at the forefront since the onset of the pandemic. Some may understandably consider this an overprotective approach. We do not take our responsibility lightly, and are doing what we can to balance the needs first and the wants second of our community.

We appreciate your enthusiasm and support for the RLC Warrior teams!