COVID-19 Updates and Guidance > FAQs > Health, wellness and prevention

Health, wellness and prevention

1. Student Vaccine Info

DePaul will require all students, faculty and staff to receive a COVID-19 booster as soon as they are eligible. Everyone in the community will be required to provide proof of a booster by Tuesday, March 1.* More information and instructions on how to submit documentation will be communicated in the coming weeks. Details will be shared via email, Newsline and on DePaul's COVID-19 Updates and Guidance website. ​

This requirement includes all undergraduate, graduate and professional students in all degree programs. 

For more information, please read DePaul's Jan. 13 message. 

*Spring and summer quarter registration opening Feb. 10, so upload proof of a COVID booster as soon as possible in order register for classes once eligible. Students will not be allowed to register for in-person courses until they are compliant with DePaul’s immunization requirement. The block on their registration will be lifted once their booster information is processed, which may take up to seven days.​


To submit your immunization records*, be sure to have an electronic copy and use your BlueKey information to log in to the Student Homepage in Campus Connect>Student Resources>Immunization Status. 

For more information, visit DePaul's Immunization website. ​

*Spring and summer quarter registration opening Feb. 10, so upload proof of a COVID booster as soon as possible in order register for classes once eligible. Students will not be allowed to register for in-person courses until they are compliant with DePaul’s immunization requirement. The block on their registration will be lifted once their booster information is processed, which may take up to seven days.


Students must comply with the COVID-19 booster requirement. 

Students will not be able to register for spring term in-person courses* until they have complied with this requirement. Law students will be dropped from spring face-to-face coursework if not compliant.
 
*Spring and summer quarter registration opening Feb. 10, so upload proof of a COVID booster as soon as possible in order register for classes once eligible. Students will not be allowed to register for in-person courses until they are compliant with DePaul’s immunization requirement. The block on their registration will be lifted once their booster information is processed, which may take up to seven days.


​No. Students who are only enrolled in online classes do not need to comply. As a result, they may not participate in any in-person classes or any on-campus co-curricular programs or experiences on either of DePaul’s campuses.

If they are interested in doing so, they are required to be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, or have received a medical or religious exemption from the requirement. They must also upload their immunization documentation through Campus Connect. 

The vaccination and booster requirement is a major part of the university’s efforts to keep the DePaul campus community safe.​

​Exemptions are detailed on DePaul's Immunization webpage. 

To learn more about finding and scheduling a booster appointment in your area, visit DePaul's COVID-19 Vaccine Resource web page.

​Getting sick with COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness with COVID-19, sometimes called “natural immunity." The level of protection people get from having COVID-19 may vary depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, and their age. No currently available test can reliably determine if a person is protected from infection.

All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives most people a high level of protection against COVID-19 even in people who have already been sick with COVID-19.

Emerging evidence shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system. One study showed that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.

People who were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma or people who have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults or children (MIS-A or MIS-C) may need to wait a while after recovering before they can get vaccinated. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.​

No. Like any other medical treatment and condition, a student''s vaccination status is personal health information, which is confidential under university policy and is a record protected by FERPA. The University Registrar maintains all immunization records according to these requirements. Moreover, some individuals may not be able to get the vaccine due to medical or other reasons and, in line with DePaul's mission, we must practice inclusiveness and care to all members or our community and respect the privacy and dignity of every person.

If you're an Illinois resident or were vaccinated in Illinois, including at DePaul, you can request immunization records by: 

Yes, DePaul University accepts all vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Review DePaul's vaccination requirements web page for more information. 

According to the CDC, if you completed a Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine primary series outside of the United States you should follow the guidance above for booster shots.
 
Otherwise, if you were vaccinated abroad with other COVID-19 vaccines you can get a booster shot if you are 16 years or older and you either: 
If you meet the above requirements you can get a single booster shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least five months after getting all recommended doses or completing a mix and match COVID-19 vaccine series.

2. Employee Vaccine Info

 DePaul will require all students, faculty and staff to receive a COVID-19 booster as soon as they are eligible. Everyone in the community will be required to provide proof of a booster by Tuesday, March 1. 

Faculty and staff who do not submit the proper vaccination or booster documentation, and do not receive approval for a religious or medical exemption may be subject to​ corrective action, up to and including termination, under the university’s policies and procedures and the Faculty Handbook, as applicable.

To learn more about finding and scheduling a vaccine booster appointment in your area, visit DePaul's COVID-19 Vaccine Resource web page.

To attest to your COVID-19 vaccine booster, employees should: 

  • Visit https://hitl-depaul.secure.force.com/DePaulCOVIDTracking.
  • As instructed, enter your 7-digit DePaul ID number. It can be found on your DePaul ID or in Blue Sky as your "person number."
  • Vaccinerecords@mailing.depaul.edu will send an email to your DePaul email address with a secure link.
  • Upon receiving the email, click on the link to securely submit your vaccine information and to upload a photo of your vaccination card.
  • Please complete all fields, including the Vaccine Booster Dose Date and the Booster Dose Vaccination Lot #.

All employees in the community are required to provide proof of a booster by Tuesday, March 1.

​Yes, per CDC: You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19.

Getting sick with COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness with COVID-19, sometimes called “natural immunity." The level of protection people get from having COVID-19 may vary depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, and their age. No currently available test can reliably determine if a person is protected from infection.

All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives most people a high level of protection against COVID-19 even in people who have already been sick with COVID-19.
Emerging evidence shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system. One study showed that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.

People who were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma or people who have a history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults or children (MIS-A or MIS-C) may need to wait a while after recovering before they can get vaccinated. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Ayone who was previously approved for a medical or religious exemption for the COVID vaccine requirement does not need to request an additional accommodation for the booster.



​If you're an Illinois resident or were vaccinated in Illinois, including at DePaul, you can request immunization records by: 

3. COVID-19 Testing

No. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against re-testing for 90 days following a positive test.

The university requires reporting of positive cases of COVID-19. University contact tracing staff will advise on quarantine protocols and when it is safe to return to campus. Visit the COVID-19 Reporting Protocol webpage to learn more.


If you were exposed to COVID-19 and have no symptoms: 
  • Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidance to determine if you need to quarantine and when to test.
  • Then, report confirmed COVID-19 cases of DePaul community members online or call (773) 207-4340. A representative is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you have possible COVID-19 symptoms: 
  • Regardless of vaccination status, get tested as soon as possible. Stay home (except to get tested) while you have symptoms and do NOT attend in-person class or come to campus for work. 
  • Then, report confirmed COVID-19 cases of DePaul community members online​ or call (773) 207-4340. A representative is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.​

For the most up-to-date information on DePaul's COVID-19 testing options, please visit DePaul's COVID-19 Testing web page.

On-campus, saliva-based testing is limited to current students, faculty and staff. As of Monday, Jan. 3, 2022:

Lincoln Park Campus (expanded hours for January 2022):
  • Tuesdays 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m. – Noon
  • Location: McGrath-Phillips Arena inside Sullivan Athletic Center (2323 N. Sheffield Ave.), Lobby 
Loop Campus:
  • ​Mondays 9 a.m. – Noon (Closed Jan. 17 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day); Thursdays 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • Location: DePaul Center (1 E. Jackson Blvd.), Concourse Area
​

Unvaccinated faculty, staff and students with medical/religious exemptions are required to be tested on a regular basis. These individuals will receive communication via email on the required frequency. Individuals that fail to comply with the testing requirement will be subject to appropriate disciplinary channels.

Individuals that are referred for testing will have the opportunity to use on-campus testing. Individuals with exemptions or who are referred for testing will not be charged for testing and do not need to provide proof of insurance.

If you need a negative COVID test for another reason, the university asks that you seek testing elsewhere. More information is available on the COVID-19 Testing webpage.

​

The university requires the reporting of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. The reporting mechanisms shared below must be used. For more information, visit DePaul's COVID-19 Reporting Protocol webpage. 

If you learn of a confirmed case of COVID-19, report about yourself or someone else here..

To the extent possible, the university will protect the privacy and anonymity of those who test positive for COVID-19 and those who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

On-campus COVID-19 testing options are detailed on the COVID-19 Testing web page. Testing is by appointment only and is available to current faculty, staff and students. 

Please note faculty, staff and students with medical and religious exemptions are required to be tested on a regular basis.  

4. Contact Tracing

No. The identities of positive cases and the people who have been in close contact with them will never be shared publically with the DePaul community. All will remain anonymous. 

DePaul's priority is to maintain privacy and respect the dignity of all people during this challenging time.

​Contact tracing is a process that local health departments use to control and prevent the spread of diseases, like COVID-19. By identifying and isolating cases, and quarantining close contacts, the spread of COV​ID-19 may be averted in the absence of effective vaccines.

​For more information about contact tracing and DePaul's efforts, please visit Newsline​. ​

A close contact is someone who has been in close physical contact with a case, or within six feet for 15 minutes over a 24 hour period, of an identified case while they were infectious.

For more information about contact tracing and DePaul's efforts, please visit Newsline . 

If you test positive for COVID-19, you must report it to the university by using the secure third-party form​ or calling (773) 207-4340​. ​A contact tracer will call you to determine the period in which you may have been infectious. You will be asked to identify people wh​o were in physical close contact with you, within six feet for a period of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period, during the time you were potentially infectious.

If you have been identified by a case as a close contact, a contact tracer will let you know that you may have been exposed to a person who tested positive for COVID-19.

For more information about contact tracing and DePaul's efforts, please visit Newsline. 

5. Face Masks

As of April 11, masks are no longer required to be worn indoors on campus. However, DePaul will continue to be a mask-friendly campus and wearing a mask will be highly recommended for all indoor spaces. If you are joining a meeting or gathering and a participant asks you to wear a mask, please do so. N95 respirators are available for free at a variety of pharmacies across the country. Visit the Centers for Disease Control​ and Prevention website and enter your zip code for a list of available locations.


​Yes. DePaul will remain a mask-friendly campus out of concern for fellow students and colleagues, and in the spirit of Take Care DePaul. If you are joining a meeting or gathering and a participant asks you to wear a mask, please do so.
 
The community can also download a mask-friendly zone poster to hang in their dorm, office or cubicle to share their mask-wearing preference with others.

Everyone is expected to provide their own mask, however KN95 masks will be available at a limited number of first-floor desk areas near building entrances. It is also acceptable to wear a cloth mask layered over a surgical one. A well-fitted surgical mask by itself is also acceptable but not preferable.
​
Loop campus:
CDM Center, 243 S. Wabash Ave., Public Safety desk in the lobby
Daley Building, 14 E. Jackson Blvd., Public Safety desk in the lobby
Daley Building, State Street entrance, Public Safety desk in the lobby
Lewis Center, 25 E. Jackson Blvd., Public Safety desk in the lobby
DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd., Public Safety desk in the lobby

Lincoln Park campus:
Holtschneider Performance Center, 2330 N. Halsted St., Public Safety desk in the lobby
Schmitt Academic Center, 2320 N. Kenmore Ave., Parking Services Office in Room 177
2400 N. Sheffield Building in the lobby
Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave., lobby

Free N95 respirators: 
N95 respirators​ are available for free at a variety of pharmacies across the country. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website​ and enter your zip code for a list of available locations. 

6. University Safety Measures

​​​No. Like any other medical treatment and condition, a student's vaccination status is personal health information, which is confidential under university policy and is a record protected by FERPA. The University Registrar maintains all immunization records according to these requirements. Moreover, some individuals may not be able to get the vaccine due to medical or other reasons and, in line with DePaul's mission, we must practice inclusiveness and care to all members of our community and respect the privacy and dignity of every person.

No, starting Feb. 28, you will not be required to show proof of vaccination to access DePaul's dining facilities.  


Health Services are offered through AMITA Sage Medical Group at 1150 W. Fullerton Ave, in Lincoln Park.

The program offers basic medical care for minor illnesses and injuries for a quarterly fee. It is NOT a health insurance plan. If a student lives in a residence hall, except for University Center, they are automatically enrolled in DePaul Student Health Service.

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Submit a question

If you can’t find an answer that you’re looking for, please email DePaulCommunityHealth@depaul.edu.

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