Masks and Campus Safety

Parkland is enforcing the governor’s Executive Order 2020-32 and working with Champaign Urbana Public Health Department (CUPHD) to attempt to keep all of its constituents safe.


Take a self-assessment every day before coming on to campus

All members of the Parkland College community are required to complete a self-assessment prior to each visit to campus. If you answer yes to any of the questions, then you should consider staying home. If you stay home, then you will need to follow your normal notification procedures for classroom absence. If the expected absence is more than one day, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@parkland.edu or 217/353-2048, or contact your instructors directly using your syllabus contact information.


Self-Assessment:

  1. Have you felt feverish?
  2. Do you have a cough?
  3. Do you have a sore throat?
  4. Have you been experiencing difficulty breathing or a shortness of breath?
  5. Do you have head or muscle aches?
  6. Have you noticed a new loss of taste or loss of smell?
  7. Have you been experiencing chills?
  8. Have you been experiencing any other symptoms (runny nose, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain)?
  9. For reported headaches, consider if the headache is: new or unusual onset; not related to caffeine or dietary reasons, such as hunger; if you have a history of migraines, cluster, or tension headaches (if headaches are typical for you).Is anyone in your household displaying any symptoms of COVID-19?
  10. To the best of your knowledge, have you come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (close contact includes household contacts, intimate contacts, or contacts within six feet) for 15 minutes or longer?


Use face masks indoors/outdoors

To reduce the transmission of COVID-19 infection, all Parkland College students, employees, and visitors must wear a face covering in any college building, facility, and classroom. The only exception would be an employee alone in their private office space.

Face coverings must also be worn in all outdoor public places and settings on campus where social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained, such as sidewalks, the bus stop, etc.

Parkland employees and students are required to follow the same safety measures in any college-owned or operated facility that they are following on-campus, regardless of proximity to campus. Students are expected to follow any facility rules when attending off-campus clinicals, internships, or other educational-affiliated component.


Medical condition or disability that prevents cloth face coverings

To begin the accommodation process BEFORE coming onto campus:


Accepted face coverings

An appropriate cloth or disposable face covering that covers both the mouth and nose completely meets the requirement. Face shields are NOT acceptable face coverings. If you have any questions about acceptable face coverings, please send your questions to wellnesscenter@parkland.edu.


Advantages of wearing face coverings

Wearing a face covering offers protection for you and those with whom you interact. Research has shown that wearing a face covering can reduce the spread of respiratory droplets that may contain the virus, which is especially important as those with COVID-19 can be asymptomatic and still infect others. Face coverings for yourself can help protect essential workers who may be in situations where they encounter many people throughout the day and have a much higher risk of getting exposed and spreading the virus.


Compliance with face covering on campus

If a student does not wear a face covering, a member of Parkland’s faculty, staff, or administration will ask for them to put on one. If the student does not comply, they will be asked to leave campus or be escorted out, and may face disciplinary action according to Parkland’s Student Conduct Code.


How to report noncompliance

If you have any safety concerns, you should reach out to your faculty, supervisor, or Dean of Students office at deanofstudents@parkland.edu.


College-provided masks

Parkland College is not providing masks for every student, as most individuals have a particular style or type that works well for them. If a student is on campus and has an issue with their personal mask, the college may be able to provide them with a disposable mask for the day. These individuals should inquire with the nearest faculty or staff member or the Office of Public Safety about a disposable mask.

Employees required to be on campus will receive two employer-provided face coverings.


Safety practices to reduce the transmission of COVID-19

Besides wearing masks on campus, students and employees should:

  • Practice social distancing of more than six feet whenever possible (required on Parkland’s campus).
  • Practice frequent hand washing or hand sanitizing (though washing is preferred, and sanitizer must be at least 60% ethanol).
  • Practice self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms daily, especially of temperature, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing (required for visiting Parkland’s campus).
  • Monitor the health of individuals in their household.


Extra hand-sanitizing stations on campus

Parkland will try to provide hand-sanitizing stations at many of the campus entrances while supplies last.


Classroom safety measures

Social distancing and safety guidelines will be enacted in the classroom. Students may be divided into small groups for on-campus meetings to allow for social distancing. Courses with larger enrollment may require staggered scheduling for on-campus meetings.