PhD Student Dismissed From UIUC After Working Remotely to Protect His Mother

[IllinoisThrowAway]

As the article states:

A fourth-year doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) may face deportation after being dismissed from his studies due to noncompliance with COVID-19 testing.

Yidong Chen, who goes by the nickname Ivor, lived with his mother in Champaign-Urbana while working remotely as a teaching assistant in the fall semester of 2020.

Because his mother has greater chances than he does of contracting COVID-19, Chen barely left their home until the start of the spring semester of 2021.

Chen opted out of his university’s policy on COVID-19 testing, which changed multiple times throughout the past few months. 

After a few minutes, the panel issued the following as a result of noncompliance:

1. Dismissal from the University for one year, effective immediately
2. Two 1,000-word reflective essays
3. A trespass notification that prohibits Ivor from setting foot on University property, subject to enforcement by the University Police Department
4. A petition letter for University re-entry after one year
5. 80 hours of community service
6. Evidence of successful academic or work history during his one-year dismissal

The full story can be found here: https://nextshark.com/university-of-illinois-phd-student-dismissed-covid/

Sadly, this isn't uncommon. The Union has fought for students many times but the administration has continued to pull stunts like this many times.

If you haven't made your mind up yet, please consider these things when applying/accepting offers.
 

[Alyssa Silva]

BFA.