* The Southern…

As a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is extending spring break for students through March 22, and classes will be offered online or in other alternative formats until further notice, according to SIU Chancellor John Dunn.

Students were expected back on campus this coming Monday, but instead, classes will resume on March 23 in order to “give faculty time to convert courses for delivery in alternative formats,” Dunn wrote in a letter to the campus community on Wednesday.

The letter is here.

* Tribune…

Loyola University announced Thursday it is suspending all “in-person, face-to-face classes” through the end of the semester and will close all its residence halls next week, joining several other colleges in Illinois that are taking similar measures to contain the coronavirus.

While the campus will remain open, “all university-sponsored events with participation greater than 70 people are prohibited,” the university said in a statement. It added that no decision has been made yet about commencement activities. […]

CME Group is closing its Chicago trading floor after Friday’s session as a precaution to prevent the spread of coronavirus. […]

U. of C. joins Northwestern, Illinois State, U. of I. in moving classes online after spring break, DePaul makes changes in latest attempts to contain coronavirus

More here and a running list of Chicago-area closures is here.

* Press release…

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on March 12, 2020 that it will significantly limit attendance at the remaining games in the 2020 IHSA Boys Basketball State Series, as well as at other IHSA events, to preemptively reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

The decision comes after consultation with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Peoria City/County Health Department, the latter of whom made the recommendation that no more than 60 spectators per school be allowed in the arena for each contest at this weekend’s Class 1A and Class 2A Boys Basketball State Finals. The IHSA currently plans to invoke the 60-spectator per school limitation across all remaining basketball games this season. Competing schools will be provided a protocol for determining who receives tickets.

More detailed info is here.

* Feder…

The coronavirus story became personal for multiple media organizations Wednesday after an unidentified employee of the Prudential Building tested positive for COVID-19. The two-tower downtown complex houses Tribune Publishing (including the Chicago Tribune), Hubbard Radio Chicago and Entercom Chicago, all of which encouraged employees to work from home if possible. Elsewhere a growing number of Chicago area journalists also began working remotely, including much of the staff of Crain’s Chicago Business. As a precautionary test on Thursday, virtually the entire editorial department of the Sun-Times will remain off site too. “Let’s be clear: This is a trial run,” the Sun-Times wrote in an editorial. “We have seen no evidence of COVID-19 in our newsroom or in the places we send reporters.”

The editorial is here.

* WICS…

Senior Services of Central Illinois is temporarily suspending all gathering activities and congregate meals due to COVID-19 risks.

This includes congregate meals, programs & activities, the Aging Mastery Program, and some transportation services at locations including Springfield Senior Center, Chatham, and Athens.

No formal statewide announcement has been made, but it looks like several senior centers are closing.

Sadly, this post will be updated.

…Adding… From the Illinois Department on Aging…

Please be advised, effective immediately, the Illinois Department on Aging is requesting all Area Agencies on Aging to suspend all gathering activities placing our older adults at heightened risk including the provision of congregate meals and social activities conducted in group settings. Meals will still be available on a daily basis. Clients will be notified by providers or staff to an immediate alternative to the suspension of congregate dining such as box lunch service, pick-up option or home-delivered meals. During this temporary suspension, healthy adults are encouraged to check on their older neighbors. For more information on how to protect yourself and your loved ones, please contact Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) or visit our website at www.illinois.gov/aging.

…Adding… NIU…

Spring Break has been extended. NIU is extending Spring Break for students through Sunday, March 22. During this additional week, NIU faculty will work to develop alternate modes of course delivery, as appropriate, to replace face-to-face instruction. We understand that this could be especially challenging for different programs, including those at the graduate level, that require doing clinicals, student-teaching, lab work, artistry, etc. We are prepared to accommodate our students and to find effective and appropriate alternatives.

During the extended Spring Break period, NIU will identify ways that we can offer access to academic support services and continue to provide childcare and health services.

Modified courses (replacing face-to-face instruction) will begin March 23, and run for a period of two weeks through Saturday, April 4. Our goal is to return to face-to-face instruction Monday, April 6. However, if warranted by evolving conditions, we will extend beyond that date and communicate that decision in a timely manner.

…Adding… Expected…

The Big Ten Conference has canceled its men’s basketball tournament, which was scheduled to continue at noon on Thursday.

* Sun-Times…

Two more events have withdrawn from McCormick Place, bringing its roll call of cancellations to six as organizers skip large gatherings because of the coronavirus.

The National School Boards Association scrapped its 2020 convention, scheduled for April 4-6. Salesforce said it is converting its Connections 2020 event, scheduled for May 4-6, to a virtual setting.

* WIU…

Residence Halls

Residence halls will re-open at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 15 as originally scheduled; however, students may choose to remain in their permanent residences until further notice. If students choose to return to their respective residence halls, they must check in via their STARS account when they arrive on campus. Dining services will be available.

University Operations & Faculty/Staff

While classes are canceled next week, the University remains open for regular business. All faculty and staff will resume their normal work schedule the week of March 15. Student employees and graduate assistants should consult with their respective supervisors. Employees and students who feel ill should stay home and contact their health care provider.

University Events

All events on either campus with more than 50 participants that are scheduled between now and April 3, 2020 should be canceled, unless deemed as essential for University operations. We have implemented a mandatory event registration form, which will remain in effect for the remainder of the semester, which can be found at bit.ly/WIUEventRegistration2020.

* Press release…

The Central Illinois Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration has canceled the Rail Splitter Award Banquet and Award Ceremony scheduled for Monday, March 16th at the UIS Student Union Ballroom in response to the COVID-19 threat. The awards ceremony will be rescheduled for a future date to recognize recipient Dr. David Racine.

* SJ-R…

Democratic congressional candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan’s campaign said she has canceled a planned election night gathering that was to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Londrigan is running against Stefanie Smith of Urbana in the Democratic primary for the U.S. House in the 13th Congressional District. The event was to be at Café Moxo downtown Springfield.

* EIU…

· Eastern Illinois University will extend its spring break for students through March 29. No classes will be held during this time.
· Students will have the option of studying remotely from their campus residence or from home after spring break.
· The University and all of its offices will remain open during this time period and will remain open moving forward.
· To the greatest extent possible, when university courses resume March 30, classes will be delivered through online instruction and/or other alternative instructional methods. Online and other alternative learning methods will replace traditional face-to-face instruction and continue until further notice. We understand that some classes will be much more difficult to deliver online and in different formats. We continue to explore different approaches for completing these courses and faculty will communicate with their classes via email during the week of March 23rd. […]
· Residence halls and Greek Court will close throughout the duration of the previously scheduled Spring Break, though students may return on March 23. In short, all residence halls and on-campus dining will be available to all enrolled students with housing and dining contracts.

* NEIU…

SPRING BREAK
The University’s Spring Break, which is scheduled to start on Monday, will be extended a second week through March 29. Faculty, staff and administrators should continue their normal work schedule during these two weeks. Also during this time, faculty will develop alternate modes of course delivery, as appropriate, to replace face-to-face instruction. At the current time, the University has no plans to close.

EVENTS
Effective immediately, all events that are scheduled to take place this semester at the University with 50 or more anticipated people are canceled until further notice. This includes today’s Diversity Food Fest that was scheduled to take place this afternoon in Alumni Hall. It is too soon for us to know how we will handle Commencement in May.

* Expected…

Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day has been postponed.

The Illinois State Rifle Association said it plans to reschedule the April 1 I-GOLD event to May 13.

* Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…

In an effort to take precautions related to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are cancelling the Saturday, March 14, 2020, REAL ID Info Session + Mobile ID event. It is our intention to reschedule this event in the future.

* Illinois Board of Higher Education…

Out of an abundance of caution regarding matters pertaining to COVID-19, we are cancelling the March board meeting. Details on a rescheduled meeting date will be posted on the IBHE website at www.ibhe.org when they become available.

* Sun-Times…

Former Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Bob Weir has postponed tonight’s concert at the Chicago Theatre with his band Wolf Bros.

* Illinois State Museum…

All ISM programs, events, and school group visits are canceled through April 10;
All official ISM travel is canceled through April 10;

* Sen. Richard Durbin…

In an effort to minimize health risks to him, you and others, we have canceled all of Senator Dick Durbin’s major public events, including his fundraising events. We hope to reschedule them in the near future and will keep you posted.

* Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy…

I am writing to inform you that after the Residence Halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13 and students enjoy their spring break, the IMSA campus will continue to be closed through extended weekend April 13. Spring break will be extended through March 25 and online classes will commence on Thursday, March 26 and will continue until the Halls reopen at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13. Additionally, we are cancelling all events during this closure period. Students should stay at their permanent home. Onsite teaching is expected to resume April 14. However, the outbreak is evolving and this information may change rapidly as warranted.

Students will not be permitted to return to campus during this closure period. Please prepare for this extended time away from campus by bringing home essential personal belongings and items necessary to complete coursework remotely. We will also be sending medication home with students when they depart campus. We will share more information about the remote learning format and expectations via email within the next week.

* The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is closing on Friday.