SHIELD testing will remain in its same location – Court 5 in EIU’s Student Recreation Center. Further information will be included in the weekly reminder messages sent to those required to test.
On Aug. 26, Governor Pritzker issued an Executive Order (EO) with new mandates for all universities and colleges across the state. The new EO specifically states that all personnel and students working at and/or attending Illinois colleges and universities need to be vaccinated for COVID-19 except when religious beliefs or health circumstances preclude vaccination. In addition, all students and employees who are not fully vaccinated or have not had their vaccination card verified by the university MUST be tested for Covid-19 at least once every week. There are no exemptions from the weekly testing unless you are fully vaccinated and have had your vaccination card verified by EIU. Your participation in the weekly testing will be monitored by EIU’s COVID Response Team.
Employees and students who are unvaccinated, not yet fully vaccinated, or who do not wish to disclose their vaccination status with EIU will be required to submit to the mandatory weekly (or more frequent) SHIELD testing. In order to meet the expectations of the EO, students and employees who do not comply with mandated testing as required will be subject to disciplinary action.
The Executive Order and revised vaccination/testing policy at EIU became effective on Sept. 5, 2021.
SHIELD Illinois is upgrading to a new technology system offering enhanced features. You will need to create a SHIELD Illinois portal account upon completion of the consent form here: go.eiu.edu/EIUShield.
First, visit this page to submit your consent. After that, you will be redirected to the Shield Illinois registration page where you will register with EIU’s Agency Code:
Once your account is completed, you will be able to make an appointment.
ALL individuals who want to utilize SHIELD Testing at EIU must complete the new registration.
Once you have set up your portal account, you can register for a test. This creates a QR code in your patient account, and you should bring a screenshot/printout of that QR code to the appointment.
Please bring a photo ID. Individuals should not eat, drink (including water), chew gum, smoke, or use tobacco products within 60 minutes of providing a saliva sample. Doing any of these things within 60 minutes of providing a sample could produce an inconclusive result and require the individual to re-test. Test results will be posted in your patient portal after the lab results are completed.
As always, if participants need help creating an account, they can call the SHIELD Illinois patient support line at 217-265-6059, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are stairs leading into the testing location on Court 5 of the Student Rec Center. If you need accessibility accommodation, please email shield@eiu.edu in advance to plan for accommodation.
Eastern Illinois University is authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.