Two University of Illinois campuses - Urbana-Champaign and Chicago - will start this semester remotely with remote learning. In addition, all three of the University's campuses will require a negative COVID-19 test before students, faculty and staff return to classroom learning in January.

The Chicago campus will move to remote learning for two weeks and the Urbana-Champaign campus will move to remote learning for one week before going back to classroom learning for spring semester.

The decision was made, in part, by the new omicron variant of COVID-19, as well as a surge in COVID-19 cases throughout Illinois. Delaying in-person classes will aim to help prevent a surge within the campus community.

In a letter to the campus community, the University said, “We anticipate the two-week period of online instruction will allow students to get booster doses, settle in and navigate any health issues without the concern of missing the beginning of the semester."

Other campus areas, including residence halls, dining areas and the library, will be open at the start of the semester.