ISU trustees approve COVID-19 testing contract, external search firm for new president

Posted on December 14, 2020
ISU continues to pursue use of the saliva-based COVID-19 test developed by the University of Illinois. (Twitter/Illinois State)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – Illinois State University trustees met Saturday and approved a contract for processing COVID-19 tests during the spring semester.

The board gave approval to a $1.25 million contract with Reditus Laboratories to provide and process up to 12,500 PCR COVID-19 tests. The Pekin-based laboratory has provided COVID testing services for ISU throughout the fall.

The university continues to pursue use of the saliva-based COVID-19 test developed by the University of Illinois. At this time, the Federal Drug Administration has not granted the University of Illinois’s request for Emergency Use Authorization.

Meanwhile, ISU’s governing board authorized the university to use an external search firm for a presidential search, and extended President Larry Dietz’s contract to June 30. Dietz recently announced his plans to retire this summer.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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