Public Health Measures

MERV-13 filters have been installed in all DePaul buildings on both the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses. 

Additionally, the percentage of outside air drawn into buildings has been increased, and the start and stop times for all building fans has been extended to ensure that any particles not trapped in filter media are diluted with fresh air to the extent possible. 

All DePaul offices and cubicle areas will be cleaned during the week of July 12 in preparation for the larger return to campus during the week of July 19. This also includes rented spaces in 55E. Jackson. 

Effective July 19, office and cubicle cleaning will resume following the same weekly schedule, and to the same specifications, that was in place prior to the pandemic. Additionally, Facility Operations will no longer require (or accept) e-mail requests for office or cubicle cleaning as of this date. 

Those wishing to clean or disinfect their working surfaces more frequently are encouraged to do so. Departments may order disinfecting wipes from Staples or Amazon. For everyone’s safety, please do not order or use any bleach-based cleaning products. 

Common area cleaning has already reverted to pre-pandemic levels. Common touch points such as elevator buttons and door handles are disinfected on a nightly basis in compliance with CDC guidelines. 

Classrooms and laboratory spaces used for official summer session courses will be cleaned prior to each instructional session just as they were throughout the pandemic. 

Sanitizer stands in computer labs will continue to be stocked with paper towels to enable users to disinfect peripheral devices prior to use. 

Departmental meeting rooms and other special use spaces will be cleaned nightly as they were pre-pandemic. These spaces will not be sanitized between events throughout the day. 

Facility Operations has procedures, equipment and necessary supplies readily available to disinfect spaces should a confirmed or suspected case scenario be reported.  

Facility Operations will restore all classroom and common area furniture that its personnel moved as part of social distancing back to its pre-pandemic state throughout the summer. 

Classrooms used for Summer I and Summer II courses will be reset back to pre-pandemic conditions following the conclusion of all in-person teaching sessions. 

All common area furniture moved by individual departments or areas, within their respective suites, will remain as it is. Each area will decide when and how best to reset these items. 

Outdoor tables and seating at the Lincoln Park Campus will be reinstalled to their pre-pandemic locations as time permits throughout the summer.  

The 700+ hand sanitizer stands that were deployed at the onset of the pandemic will remain in place and will be stocked with sanitizer through at least the end of winter quarter. As the CDC is no longer specifying disinfection of common high-touch areas multiple times per day, Facility Operations will phase-out stocking paper towels in the sanitizer stands, with the exception that paper towels will continue to be provided in computer labs to facilitate disinfection of peripheral devices. 

Hand sanitizer gels are now readily available and departments may procure individual-sized bottles for placement on employee desks through Staples and Amazon. 

As hand sanitizer is readily available, Facility Operations will not be taking requests for placement of additional hand sanitizer stands on campus.

As was the case throughout the pandemic, disposable masks will remain available at all building lobbies at the Loop Campus and in select locations throughout the Lincoln Park Campus. 

Water fountains will be reactivated as soon as the CDC guidance allows for such. In the meantime, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle to utilize the many bottle refill stations on campus. 

Restrooms will be spot cleaned and stocked throughout the day, as needed, and to pre-pandemic standards. 

All restrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected during regular nighttime cleaning service. 

There are no COVID-related capacity limits in elevator cabs as this time. 

All DePaul elevators were equipped with UVC technology to disinfect the air entering the elevator cabs. 

Most academic buildings have open stairwells available for those who prefer not to use an elevator to reach their destination. The southeast stairwell of the DePaul Center will remain open for general circulation to all DePaul floors, with the exception of the 10th floor library, for security reasons.

Much of the general signage related to mask wearing and social distancing will be removed over the summer. New signage, reflecting the latest guidance, will be placed in high-traffic areas in due time.  

Signs pertaining to proper handwashing will remain posted near restroom and break room sinks. 

Plexiglass shields were installed in all areas originally designated by area VP/Deans. They will remain in place indefinitely, unless removal is requested. 

Work orders may be placed to remove unwanted shields from departmental desks. Requests will be fulfilled by Facility Operations as time permits. Note: as each installation was custom-made, and given the lack of storage space, removed shields will be discarded. 

Facility Operations will not custom make shields for additional desks or areas at this time. Ready-made products are widely available online and may be ordered to fill a specific departmental need. 

The applicability of the following recommendations varies depending on if (and how frequently) office kitchen appliances were utilized during the COVID-19 closure period. Any equipment not utilized for at least several weeks should be thoroughly flushed prior to resumption of normal use. Facility Operations has prepared these recommendations as a courtesy; it does not service or repair kitchen appliances: 

Kitchen sinks: Run both the hot and cold water taps for at least three minutes each to flush out the lines and to circulate water through any small point-of-use hot water heaters that might be servicing the sink. 

Dishwashers: Run at least one cycle, using the proper soap, and without any dishes in the machine to both clean the machine internally and to remove any stagnant water that might be in the supply line and in the drainage system.

All refrigerators: Unused refrigerators were cleaned out and unplugged during the initial campus closure period. They will remain unplugged until departments resume normal occupancy of their spaces. Refrigerators should be plugged in by departmental staff and allowed up to twenty-four hours to reach the proper temperature prior to use for food storage. 

Refrigerators with ice/water functions: Dispense several large cups of water through the old filter to remove any sediment in the water line. Then replace the water filter in the refrigerator (if applicable) and continue to flush the water line as per the instructions that came with the replacement water filter. Finally, make and discard at least two batches of ice.

Coffee machines plumbed with a water line: Place a service call with the company supplying the machine. Have the coffee service technician properly flush the machine’s internal reservoir and change any filters, which may be in-line with the water supply. 

Standalone coffee machines: Any coffee machine with an internal water reservoir should be cleaned and flushed as per the instructions provided in the owner’s manual. Instructions for cleaning Keurig machines, in particular, are also available online. 

Bottle-less water coolers plumbed with a water line: Place a service call with the company supplying the machine. Have the service technician properly flush the machine’s internal reservoir and change any filters, which may be in-line with the water supply. 

Bottle-type water coolers: Flush out and discard all water in the current water bottle, install a new water bottle, and then draw several additional cups of water to fully flush the inside of the machine with new water. If water bottles were stored for a prolonged period near a window, the ultraviolet light could impact the water quality and it is recommended to request replacement bottles from the water supply vendor. 

University vehicles that were not used during the pandemic will require professional servicing. Facility Operations will not jump-start or otherwise repair any such vehicles. Responsible departments are required to have any such vehicles towed to a qualified automotive repair shop for servicing and a safety inspection prior to returning them to the road.

Responsible departments are also to ensure that license plate stickers, emissions testing, City of Chicago vehicle stickers, and insurance cards are updated as needed prior to use.