UI Foundation/UI Advancement Weekly Update 07.23.21

Dear Team:

Is it just me or does it I feel like this summer is flying by?  In only one month our universities will have students back on campus and the first day of classes will be happening in Urbana (8/23), Chicago (8/23), and Springfield (8/20). Now that I am settled back into my office at Harker Hall, I am especially looking forward to watching the Quad spring to life and the increased energy that will be present on all of our university campuses.

As you all have likely heard, our three universities and the UI System are doing their best to prepare for classes and to resume campus life as safely and efficiently as possible.  In preparation for that, the System recently released some new information about COVID-19 vaccination policies. In addition to the previously announced vaccination requirement for students, the System has also made the decision to require the COVID-19 vaccination for faculty and staff. (For more information, please reference the Massmail from UI System President Tim Killeen.)

For those of you who work at the Foundation, we will be following the System’s lead and will also require our employees to be vaccinated.  More information will be shared with UIF employees about this in the coming days.

I know many of you are already vaccinated and this announcement will not require any action. For others, this new requirement may lead you down a previously unplanned path. But, if there is one thing we have learned from the pandemic, it is that we have the ability to adjust to each of the “new normals” that come our way.  I sincerely appreciate your willingness to adapt and, to reference one of our core values, “practice civility.”  This value is particularly important as we navigate the unchartered waters of our new work life. It isn’t always easy, but I believe we will all get to the other side better and stronger than ever before.

On another note, I am happy to share that UIF Vice President and General Counsel Wes Curtis has decided to delay his retirement for a few months and will not be leaving us September 30 as originally announced. He now plans to be with the Foundation through January 31, 2022.  Thank you Wes!!!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunny and warm summer weather that is predicted!

Best Regards,

Jim