Campus Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions

Wearing a mask — and wearing it properly — is the best way to limit the spread of COVID-19. Masking is no longer required at RUSH except in specific areas and for specific types of patient interactions. However, we encourage masking as a preventive measure and have hospital-grade masks available for use.

Effective October 17, 2023, in alignment with the RUSH System for Health, RUSH University no longer requires the COVID-19 vaccine for students. The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be strongly recommended.

• Information about staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines can be found here.
• Information about finding a COVID-19 vaccine in the community can be found here.

If you have questions about how to keep your areas safe, please contact the infection prevention and control team by phone at (312) 942-3060 or by email at Infection_Prevention_Team@rush.edu.

The designated entrances to AAC are on the 1st and 4th Floors, near the bridge from the parking garage.

Masking is no longer required at RUSH except in specific areas and for specific types of patient interactions. However, we encourage masking as a preventive measure and have hospital-grade masks available for use.

• Hospital approved masks are provided to every person entering a building on the RUSH campus.
• Your facemask must be a medical-grade facemask provided by the medical center.
• Cloth masks are not approved for use in any RUSH buildings.

Hospital approved masks are provided to every person entering a building on the RUSH campus. If your mask is lost or soiled during the day, return to the entrance to obtain a replacement.

The bookstore has relocated to the second floor of Armour Academic Center. It is next to seating and study rooms in the cafeteria.

Classrooms will be cleaned and sanitized once a day, at the end of the day. Disinfectant cleaning wipes will be available in all classrooms. It is recommended that you wipe your desk and chair before and after use. Masks will be required for everyone inside of the building, and hand sanitizer is available at multiple stations on every floor in AAC, as well as in all open classrooms, labs and study spaces.

Yes. Equipment will be sanitized once a day, while computer testing labs will be cleaned before each testing session. Disinfectant cleaning wipes will also be available in these spaces at all times.

Bathrooms in AAC will be cleaned three times per day. If needed, the bathrooms can be cleaned more frequently.

After a positive test result, you must notify Student Health at Student_Health@rush.edu and immediately begin quarantine.

Please review the Health and Testing page for complete testing information and procedures.

Please contact your program director or course instructor to create a plan for ongoing engagement in your coursework.

If there is another COVID outbreak that requires us to implement stay-at-home precautions, all instruction will be delivered remotely. In-person labs and clinical rotations may be suspended in order to protect the health of students and those in the medical center and our partner sites. Your program director will contact you directly if this affects your program of study.

If a faculty or staff member tests positive, employee health will make recommendations regarding care for that person and will make recommendations regarding quarantine and testing. The course director and college dean will make recommendations regarding access to the course and ongoing teaching on a virtual platform until additional arrangements can be made, if necessary.

After a positive test result, you must notify Student Health at Student_Health@rush.edu.

Students in clinical rotations should follow the same exposure and quarantine procedures as clinical workers at their site.

Students should also notify their clinical coordinator and follow the procedures for monitoring symptoms, testing or quarantine as determined by the clinical site.

Effective October 17, 2023, in alignment with the RUSH System for Health, RUSH University no longer requires the COVID-19 vaccine for students. The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be strongly recommended.

Information about staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines can be found here.

Information about finding a COVID-19 vaccine in the community can be found here.

Vaccine appointments can be scheduled using MyChart.

Quarantine helps prevent the spread of disease before a person knows they are sick and means staying at a single designated home or dwelling for a specific number of days before doing any activities outside of the home or dwelling. People in quarantine should separate themselves from others as much as possible and check themselves for symptoms. According to the CDPH, additional requirements under quarantine include:

• The individual must not be in public or otherwise leave the dwelling that they have identified as suitable for their quarantine, unless seeking medical care.
• If seeking medical care or testing, or when traveling to or from the airport, train station, or bus station (if applicable), a face covering must be worn and public transportation must not be used.
• Food and other needed supplies must be delivered to the individual’s dwelling; the individual may not leave the premises to acquire supplies.
• The traveling individual or family group should be situated in separate quarters with a separate bedroom and, if possible, separate bathroom facility from non-traveling household members.
• The individual must self-monitor for symptoms potentially consistent with COVID-19. If any symptoms develop, the individual may leave the dwelling to receive testing for COVID-19 but then must return to complete the 10-day quarantine while isolating from other household members, regardless of the test result.

The expectation is that you will read communications from the University about the changing COVID landscape, and adhere to the most up-to-date policies.

If you are required to quarantine or self-isolate, please continue to conduct yourself with professionalism. We strongly encourage that you take these guidelines and policies seriously to protect your own health, and the health of your surrounding community.

After a positive test result, you must notify Student Health at Student_Health@rush.edu.

If you need to stay at home or self-isolate because you develop a symptom of COVID-19, please be assured that your college/program director will develop a plan so that your academic progress can continue. Do not come to campus if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild or limited.

Your compliance with policies, both on and off campus, will prevent the spread of coronavirus. We strongly encourage you to take personal responsibility as future health care professionals to comply with public health measures such as masking, social distancing and self-monitoring for symptoms.