Covid-19 Information

Virtual Commencement 2020, May 22

  • Parkland College's 53rd Commencement Exercises will be held via YouTube on Friday, May 22, at 7 p.m. Please access the link on our website, at parkland.edu/commencement.
  • More than 300 students will be participating in this year's event, which will feature keynote speaker Col. (Ret.) Craig Osborne, chief of staff for Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
  • Learn more about the ceremony on our news page here.



Note to District 505 Residents and Students: COVID-19 Response

NOTE to Students: Important Course Information for Spring 2020 Semester

  • Please utilize your faculty as the primary contact for each of your courses during this period of all online instruction. They will have the most accurate information regarding your spring courses.
  • You may also contact Parkland College's Call Center at 217/351-2200 for assistance with campus-related questions.
  • Once you have worked with your faculty to get specific course information, you can work with an advisor on your academic plan. Please contact counselingservices@parkland.edu to set up communication with an advisor.
  • Parkland is committed to helping you complete the coursework you have in progress and finding an educational solution that works for every student. Our goal is to make sure every student completes their courses. Please do not withdraw at this time. We ask for your patience as we work through this challenging time together.

Illinois Stay-at-Home Order to Affect Access to Campus 

Access to Parkland College's campus will be closed off significantly starting 5 p.m. March 21, 2020, as Gov. Pritzker's executive Stay-at-Home order for all Illinoisans begins to take effect. Learn more from President Ramage's message, here.

Commencement 2020 Suspended 

Parkland College has suspended its spring 2020 Commencement Exercises. Please view details here, and view a video update by Dr. Thomas Ramage here.

Parkland College is currently operating in an online format and with limited campus services. Spring break will be extended by one week, with online-only instruction resuming March 30. Students and community members are urged not to come to campus unless absolutely necessary. Please call 217/351-2200 for assistance. 

From March 2020: 

In light of the recent and widening COVID-19 outbreak, Parkland College is working closely with local and state public health agencies to take the necessary precautions to address the viral threat to our district communities. We also follow regular updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The College’s response seeks to strike a balance between preparedness and caution. We have taken additional steps to reduce the possibility of COVID-19 transmission to our campus and community. The College will implement this plan through April 7, 2020, and continue to reevaluate as new information becomes available.

  • Spring break will be extended by one week, with instruction resuming March 30. This allows faculty an additional week to reformat instruction for online delivery and for support services to transition to a remote format.
  • Starting March 30, 2020, Parkland College will be shifting courses to an online format. This measure is intended to decrease the overall concentration of students on campus without disrupting the work of teaching and learning. For students, this means that the majority of courses will shift to the online format upon their return from spring break.
  • Instructional delivery will be conducted online through Cobra Learning. There will be no in-person lab sessions, studios, or testing.
  • Students should continue to check their Parkland email accounts for updates from their faculty regarding the status of their classes. Students will receive further communication from the College regarding the shift to the online format.
  • The Parkland Child Development Center will be closed effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 through April 7, 2020, in an effort to maximize social distancing and slow the spread of the virus in our communities. Leadership will communicate directly with Child Development Center families regarding any further developments.
  • The College will minimize large gatherings on campus for the duration of this alternate format.
  • Some Parkland Community Education courses may be cancelled. Students should check their email for forthcoming updates regarding class availability.
  • Students, faculty, and staff returning from a CDC Level 2 or 3 country will continue to be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.

This is not a campus closure, and Parkland College will remain open and operational.

Facts on COVID-19 in Our Community and Campus

Parkland College is continuing to monitor information related to the spread of COVID-19. The Parkland College Parkland College Wellness Center is committed to keeping you informed with the latest public information and community response to the virus and to take any new actions that are warranted as new information emerges in this rapidly changing situation.

For the most up-to-date totals of Illinois and District 505 residents affected by COVID-19, please consult the Illinois Department of Public Health and the C-U Public Health District websites, respectively. Gov. Pritzker has issued an executive Stay-at-Home Order for all Illinoisans through April 30, 2020.

To those in our community with family and friends navigating this difficult time, the thoughts of all of us at Parkland College are with you. We offer resources for support and assistance if you are ever in need of them.

Students with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact their health care provider, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department (217/531-5369 or 217/352-7961) or Parkland College Wellness Coordinator Sara Maxwell (smaxwell@parkland.edu, 217/373-3879).

We want to extend our thanks to everyone in our community for taking steps to protect yourselves and one another. Whether it is wearing a mask because you are concerned about getting or spreading any infection, staying home from work or class when you are sick, or getting your annual flu shot, we are healthier because of your efforts.


CDC Coronavirus Description

How You Can Protect Yourself

How is COVID-19 spread, and what can I do to protect myself?

  • COVID-19 is thought to be spread mainly from person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • To protect yourself, we recommend that you follow these precautions:
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow or into a tissue.
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick (i.e., within 6 feet).
    • Clean frequently touched surfaces.
    • Keep your immune system strong with basic health practices such as exercise, healthy eating and adequate sleep.

COVID-19 Social Distancing - IDPH

How can I stay healthy on campus?

  • Our custodial staff will be doing extra disinfecting of common areas and frequently touched items, such as hand railings and door handles, on campus.
  • Additional hand sanitizer dispensers are being mounted on the walls around campus in 30 different locations.
  • Disinfect your personal workspace/study space including your keyboard, mouse, and phone.
  • Continue to follow cough hygiene and handwashing hygiene.
Procedures for At-Risk Individuals

If you have questions or believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19:

  • Anyone displaying respiratory symptoms are being asked to call their healthcare provider or the emergency department before arriving at the facility for testing.
  • Wearing a surgical mask and washing your hands frequently may help protect others from infection.


If you have traveled from a country listed on the Centers for Disease Control's COVID-19 travel advisories page within the last 14 days, or do so over Spring Break:

  • Immediately contact Sara Maxwell, Wellness Center Coordinator, at smaxwell@parkland.edu or call 217/373-3879. 
  • Students, faculty, and staff returning from a CDC Level 2 or 3 country will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.


If you are caring for a family member or friend with confirmed COVID-19 at home or another nonhealthcare setting, please review the precautions list from the CDC for recommendations.

Spring Break 2020 Travel Advisories

Before and during travel:

For those traveling domestically or abroad during Spring Break, we urge you to monitor the CDC and State Department travel advisories. The safety level of any given destination could change before or during your trip, which could affect both your health and your return to campus March 23 when classes resume. Please pay particular attention to recent alerts for China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, and Iran.


Returning from travel:

If you have traveled from a country listed on the CDC's COVID-19 travel advisories page within the last 14 days, or do so over Spring Break, you are advised to immediately contact Sara Maxwell, Wellness Center Coordinator, at smaxwell@parkland.edu or call 217/373-3879. 

Please note: Students, faculty, and staff returning from a CDC Level 2 or 3 country will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days.


How to protect yourself while traveling:

  • For students, faculty, and staff wanting to travel, we advise that they adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel warnings at  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
  • Practice good health hygiene while traveling such as coughing and sneezing into the bend of your elbow or into a tissue, wash your hands in warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and distance yourself from noticeably sick people.
  • Other basic health practices should be considered to keep your immune system strong such as exercising, eating a healthy diet, and getting plenty of sleep.
COVID-19 Campus Message Archive
IT Services

Main IT Services Landing Page: https://www.parkland.edu/Main/About-Parkland/Department-Office-Directory/Campus-Technologies/IT-Services

Resources Include:


Page last updated 5/22/20