The Board of Trustees of Illinois State University approved a contract for processing COVID-19 tests during the spring semester, authorized the University to use an external search firm for a presidential search, and extended President Larry Dietz’s contract to June 30, 2021.
COVID-19 testing
The Board of Trustees gave approval to a contract with Reditus Laboratories to provide and process up to 12,500 PCR COVID-19 tests and share test results with the University through secure electronic means. The contract will be in effect from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 at a cost not to exceed $1.25 million.
Reditus Laboratories has provided PCR COVID-19 testing services for Illinois State throughout the fall 2020 semester. The University’s current contract with Reditus expires December 31, 2020. The PCR tests provided by Reditus will be used as part of the spring 2021 COVID-19 testing program on campus, along with antigen testing, which provides results in as little as 15 minutes.
Illinois State continues to pursue use of the saliva-based COVID-19 test developed by the University of Illinois – SHIELD. At this time, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has not granted the University of Illinois’ request for Emergency Use Authorization. In addition, technology for patient registration, specimen collection, and results notification is still in development by the University of Illinois – SHIELD.
Search firm
Trustees authorized Illinois State to engage an external search firm to assist the Board of Trustees in the hiring of a new president. President Larry Dietz recently announced his plans to retire in the summer of 2021. Payment for search firm services will come from University funds.
Presidential contract
Trustees approved the extension of President Larry Dietz’s contract to June 30, 2021. President Dietz’s current contract is set to expire December 31, 2020.
The full Board of Trustees resolutions are available online.
