Fall 2020 Housing Update: Incoming Students

July 1, 2020

I know you are eagerly awaiting your fall 2020 housing assignment, and I appreciate your patience. Despite all of the uncertainties around COVID-19, we hope to share final housing assignments no later than Wednesday, July 13. 

In order to protect the health and safety of all members of our campus community we are implementing a number of safeguards that will impact how many students live on campus. This includes:

• Rooms in residence halls that would typically house three or four students (i.e., triples and quads) will be limited to two students each (doubles). 
• Residence halls with community bathrooms and showers will be occupied mostly as usual (with the exception of reduced capacity for triples and quads).
• Apartments and residence halls with suite-style bathrooms will be assigned using a formula of two students per bathroom.
• Some apartments will be left vacant for isolation and quarantine space.
• Strict public health safeguards will be adopted for all on-campus housing.
• Face masks will be required in all common areas, including hallways, elevators, laundry rooms, etc.
  Entry into residential buildings will not be allowed without a face mask (exceptions only for ADA accommodations). 
• There will be increased/enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of public and community spaces, including community bathrooms.
• Hand sanitizer stations have been installed at all residential building entrances.
• Residents will have access to sanitizing wipes for common areas and high-traffic surfaces.
• Plexiglass barriers will be installed at residence reception desks.
• Training on public health measures, COVID-19 symptoms, and appropriate response will be provided for all staff who live in residential buildings, including student staff.
• Isolation and quarantine spaces will be set aside for on-campus students who have symptoms, who are COVID-19-positive, or who are exposed to someone who is COVID-19-positive. 

We have worked closely with public health experts, including University research faculty and the local St. Louis Health Department, to arrive at our housing plan for the fall.

We recognize the pandemic may lead you to shift your plans to be on campus this fall and instead choose to take classes online. If you need to request an exemption from the residency requirement, please email reslife@slu.edu; you will need to provide information about your reasons for exemption.

We appreciate you. We are excited for you to begin your journey as a Billiken. We’re grateful for your patience as we navigate this very fluid and challenging situation. 

Sincerely, 

Debra Rudder Lohe, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Interim Vice President for Student Development