Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

I am writing today to share the news that a student in Stuart School of Business has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). This is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 at the university.

Following university policy and guidance from public health authorities, the student is in self-isolation off campus.

Based on what we currently know, the student was last at the university on Thursday, March 12, and was asymptomatic. At this time, we understand that within the last 14 days the student was present on the Downtown Campus (Conviser Law Center) and Mies Campus, in particular IIT Tower, Stuart Building, and Keating Sports Center. The university has been and will continue conducting extensive cleaning in these locations to further limit the risks.

We are in the process of identifying and reaching out to students, faculty, and staff whom we have reason to believe may have had direct contact with this individual. We have been in communication with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) regarding this situation, and all community members who are notified that they have been in direct contact with this individual will be advised to self-quarantine for the next 14 days.

Federal and state law prevents us from identifying the student, but as noted above, the university is working to notify anyone who had direct contact with this individual so that they may take appropriate action to self-quarantine.

As a reminder, if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, self-quarantining is important to protect the people in your lives who might be more vulnerable to the virus. University policy requires that individuals in contact with someone with COVID-19 stay home and monitor their health for 14 days.

As always, we encourage you to visit our coronavirus (COVID-19) website: www.iit.edu/COVID-19. This website contains up-to-date information and communication regarding university plans and policies as well as important information from government authorities regarding COVID-19.

For more information, please visit chicago.gov/2019-nCoV or cdc.gov/coronavirus, email coronavirus@chicago.gov, or call 312.746.4835.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Alan W. Cramb
President, Illinois Institute of Technology