Residential Life Update, July 2, 2020
Dear Student,
Residential Life is developing plans to welcome students to our residence halls with added safety precautions to set you up for success. Your safety is our top priority and we are working closely with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The University is also implementing strategies to reduce transmission opportunities, reduce outbreaks, and reduce risk to vulnerable populations.
Strategies that we are implementing in the residence halls include:
- Providing face masks to all members of the University community.
- Requiring students to track symptoms daily and stay in your room if sick.
- Encouraging frequent and effective hand-washing.
- Making adjustments in our occupancy to reduce density.
- Rigorous sanitizing and disinfecting procedures that follow CDC and MDH guidelines.
- Touchpoints in shared spaces are being minimized and physical distancing promoted by reduced seating.
- Providing hand sanitizer stations.
- Plexi shields will be used in service areas where face-to-face interactions frequently take place, such as front desk operations.
- It is necessary for residents to be mindful of their personal behaviors and accept responsibility for doing their part to keep themselves, their roommate, and others safe.
Semi-private sinks
Each residence hall room contains a sink within the room. This allows students to brush their teeth and perform a variety of personal hygiene activities at a semi-private fixture. Students will create a sink-cleaning plan with their respective roommate/apartment mates.
Room Assignments
Single and double rooms are offered; triple rooms are not. Stadium Heights Apartments are limited to 3 residents per apartment, all in private bedrooms. Single rooms in our apartments are called “Single in 3-Person Apartment” and “Double-Room-as-a-Single in Apartment.” Amenities and pricing information is located at this link.
Community Bathrooms
Community bathrooms are located in Crawford, McElroy, and Preska I Halls. These locations will be cleaned & sanitized each morning and sanitized each afternoon.
Phased Move-In Plan
We are establishing a carefully organized move-in process spread out over several days to follow public safety health guidelines. Students will sign-up for a specific arrival timeslot to allow for optimal physical distancing and reduced density.
Dining Services
All dining locations will be open in the fall. Each location will have physical distance indicators to maintain appropriate spacing. Dining Services is working closely with MDH to ensure compliance with dining capacity set forth by the Governor. Alternative seating solutions throughout campus are being explored for students who wish to take a meal to-go when the dining center reaches capacity. Dining employees and customers will wear masks inside dining locations, except when eating or drinking.
COVID Illnesses
While we have a strong prevention plan in place, we understand that students will occasionally let their guard down and may become infected with COVID-19. The University, in coordination with MDH, has created an on-campus COVID hotline to assist in managing cases and notifying contacts of people who are ill. Residence hall students who report that they have tested positive for COVID-19 will be directed to go into Isolation. Isolation spaces have been set aside on campus, or a student may choose to isolate at their permanent address.
We understand that these are uncertain and challenging times. We encourage you to reach out to us if you have additional questions. Please stay safe and healthy.
