Residence Life Coronavirus (COVID-19) Plan
FAll 2020
Move In
Scheduled to limit number of people in the room and building. This allows for proper social distancing and enhanced disinfection of the most high-touch areas within our facilities like door handles, knobs, buttons, switches, handrails, tables, etc.
- General Protocols
- To promote public health on our campus, all individuals that come to campus should self-screen for possible symptoms before coming to campus.
- Self-Screening information can be found here: https://www.atu.edu/pandemicrecovery/student-health-screening.php
- Residents may have up to two additional people to assist in the move-in process
- Residents and guests will have temperature checked prior to receiving keys for their room.
- All residents and their guests must wear masks during the move-in process
- Residents are limited to 2 hours for move in
- Drop Off Days
- Centralized Contactless Check-In
- Students are able to drop belongings off in their room, but not stay
- One resident, per building, every 45 minutes
- Starting at 8 a.m. (new time!)
- Up to 200 students per day could check in
- July 31 – August 8
- Curbside move in available at most locations
- Curbside unloading is limited to 15 minutes to allow for proper social distancing and others to utilize the area.
- Students will sign up to return to campus on August 15
- Ten residents per building every fifteen minutes
- This allows all building to be filled on a rolling basis from 8-5
- Move In Days
- Centralized Drive Through Contactless Check In
- Student are able to move in and stay
- One resident, per building, every 30 minutes
- Starting a 8 a.m. with 18 timeslots each day
- Up to 225 residents per day could check in
- August 10 – 14
- Curbside move in not available
- Early Arrivals
- Students who need to move in prior to August 10 will need to complete a Summer Housing Contract through the Housing Portal
- Students will be charged a daily rate up until August 10
- Student will need to sign up for an arrival time
- Curbside move in not available
Staffing
All staffing has been reconfigured to offer the safest possible environment for students and staff through a model of student outreach, mentorship, and engagement.
- General Protocols
- Twice monthly newsletters will be provided to all residents to keep them posted on events and deadlines throughout the year.
- ATU Live! Talk Show will be presented on the Residence Life YouTube Channel to provide updates twice per month.
- Each week, Residence Life will host multiple events and discussions virtually for students to connect and interact.
- Resident Assistants
- Resident Assistants (RA) are traditionally the students who live on the floor and work with a group of residents to answer questions and provide assistance in the residence halls.
- Have a cohort of 25-30 per RA.
- Cohorts may not all live in the same building, however priority will be given to place cohorts together by LLC, major, interest groups, and proximity.
- Resident Assistants will be responsible for:
- Weekly interactions with all cohort members (text, email, virtual 1:1), with a minimum two virtual 1:1s per month.
- Hosting a monthly cohort interaction in conjunction with curriculum.
- All cohort meetings with students will be virtual
- Student Operation Assistants
- These students oversee lockout keys, check-in and check-out of residents, after hour maintenance concerns, and maintain the service desk.
- Operate Virtual Customer Service Desk – 479-317-7144.
Desk Hours |
Days |
Open |
Close |
Total |
|
Monday |
8:00 AM |
10:00 PM |
14.00 |
Tuesday |
8:00 AM |
10:00 PM |
14.00 |
|
Wednesday |
8:00 AM |
10:00 PM |
14.00 |
|
Thursday |
8:00 AM |
10:00 PM |
14.00 |
|
Friday |
8:00 AM |
10:00 PM |
14.00 |
|
Saturday |
|
12:00 AM |
|
|
Sunday |
5:00 PM |
10:00 PM |
5.00 |
|
Weekly Hours |
75.00 |
- Student Housing Ambassadors
- These students work with predominantly with prospective students by giving tours, answering questions, and hosting events.
- This year all tours will be virtually hosted
- Ambassadors will monitor and respond to our ATU Chat Line.
Policies
Arkansas Tech University Residence Life aims to deliver its mission while protecting the health and safety of our students and minimizing the potential spread of disease within our community. As a resident within ATU Residence Life, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus or similar public health crisis (“COVID”) will influence your housing experience as ATU Residence Life continues to make public health-informed decisions. The below policies and guidelines are incorporated into the residence life terms and conditions of occupancy and are applicable to all residential students. As always, we will endeavor to update you with timely information about specific health and safety guidance important for our residential students.
- Health and Safety. We expect that all members of the ATU Residence Life community—residents, staff,
and visitors—act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those
around them, including respect and consideration for the health and safety of all
community members.
- All residential students are prohibited (ATU Student Handbook Article III, Section C, 12) from creating a health or safety hazard within ATU Residence Life and the University may sanction, reassign, or terminate a resident’s contract if their continued actions in the housing community poses a health or safety risk for community members.
- All residential students are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations, and health and safety guidance adopted by Arkansas Tech University or Residence Life as it relates to public health crises, including COVID-19.
- This guidance will evolve as the public health crisis evolves and may include, but
is not limited to:
- Reduced occupancy in community spaces (lounges, laundry rooms, kitchens, lobbies, and computer labs)
- Wearing a face covering
- Participation in contact tracing
- Disinfection protocols
- Self-Isolation or Quarantine
- Suspension of outside guests into residence halls/apartments
- Complete an isolation and quarantine plan
- Adherence to health and safety requirements applies to all residents, staff, and visitors
and extends to all aspects of residential life, including bedrooms, bathrooms, community
kitchens, lounges, computer rooms, courtyards, and other common spaces.
- At any time, Arkansas Tech University may request or require a resident to leave ATU Residence Life when that resident’s continued presence in the housing community poses a health or safety risk for community members (ATU Student Handbook Article III, Section C, 12).
- Cleaning. ATU Residence Life will continue to implement and modify its cleaning protocols to address COVID or other public health emergency in the interest of minimizing the spread of disease. ATU Residence Life will educate and inform residential students on appropriate cleaning protocols within their assigned spaces to reduce the spread of COVID- 19 within residence halls.
- In the event of a conflict between this Section COVID-19 and Public Health Informed Policies Addendum and the remaining sections of the Residence Life Terms and Conditions of Occupancy, this Section will apply.
Community Space
Laundry rooms, computer labs, student rooms, kitchens, and lounges.
- Masks worn at all times
- Community spaces will be limited use
- Spaces marked with number of people allowed based on social distancing policies and CDC recommendations
- Computer labs will be properly spaced and masks must be worn at all times.
Facilities
Bathrooms, stairwells, entrances, exits, maintenance, occupancy, etc.
- Community bathrooms
- Sinks divided by Plexiglas
- Areas cleaned multiple times daily with CDC recommended products
- Stairwells
- Stairwells will be divided into Up Only Stairs and Down Only Stairs
- Handrails will be cleaned multiple times daily with CDC recommended products
- Entrances
- Main entrances will be marked
- Social distancing policies will be clearly marked
- Designated based on stairwells
- Down stairwells that flow to an exterior door will have card reader deactivated for entrance
- Only Up stairwells will allow entrance where possible
- Exits will be clearly marked
- When possible different doorways will be used for entrance and exits.
- Maintenance
- Student will submit work orders through Housing Portal, call to the Virtual Customer Service Desk, or through their cohort staff member.
- Maintenance where it is required to enter the room will be scheduled when possible, unless an emergency is presented.
- Staff will wear CDC and ATU recommended/recommended coverings and PPE.
- Occupancy
- All rooms have been configured for single and double occupancy
- Isolation Rooms
- Students will be required to have an isolation and quarantine plan. For those students who can travel in a private vehicle, we strongly recommend isolation and quarantine in the comfort of your own home. For those students living on-campus and cannot travel home, the university will have a limited number of dedicated isolation and quarantine space available on a first-come first-serve basis.
WILL MY RESIDENCE HALL CLOSE?
The Residence halls and dining remain open ONLY for those students approved for special circumstances including personal safety, access to Internet, no other available housing, academic distress or other legitimate reasons.
CURRENTLY ON CAMPUS?
If you are currently on-campus, you do not need to sign-up for a check-out time. You should begin moving out immediately and will need to complete your move-out by April 3, 2020.
Students may petition for housing accommodations that extend past Friday, April 3 under special circumstances including personal safety, access to Internet, no other available housing, academic distress or other legitimate reasons. A Roompact form will be provided for exceptions asking for reasons emergency housing is needed and contact info (name and number). This form should be completed no later than noon March 25, 2020.
CURRENTLY AWAY FROM CAMPUS?
If you are currently away from campus, you will need to sign-up for a check-out time. A link will be posted on the main Residence Life website on March 20, 2020.
- You can sign up for a day and time between March 23, 2020 – April 3, 2020 to come and retrieve your belongings.
- All students who are not currently on campus must sign-up for a check-out time.
- This process allows us to manage the number of students in the hall and practice social distancing.
- ID cards will only be active during the window around your check-out time.
SIGN-UP FOR AN EMERGENCY MOVE-OUT APPOINTMENT
ONCE YOU ARRIVE ON CAMPUS
Due to the number of students currently on campus and to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, we ask you to arrive at the time you selected. Arriving outside this time may cause access to be denied.
Once you arrive on campus, envelopes will be attached to your door for each student occupying the space. Additional envelopes will be available in the hall lobby along with the steps for checking out. You will proceed to remove everything from your residence hall / apartment space.
- Bring your own packing, moving, and cleaning supplies.
- Do NOT park in any disabled parking spaces or blocking a fire lane. Vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed for safety.
- You will have one hour to move out. There are no expectations for cleaning or damage assessment. Please take your trash to the dumpster. No recycling and donation collection will occur – please keep your items and donate after you return home.
- Please complete the form on the front of the envelope, place your keys inside the envelope and sign the back. Envelopes should be placed in the drop-off bucket / box in the lobby/community center. Staff will wipe down pens between uses. We will not provide moving carts during this time.
- There will be no room inspections upon check-out. However, overwhelming or intentional damages to the room may be charged to the resident.
ALREADY MOVED OUT?
If you have already moved all of your belongings out and do not need to return to campus, please contact Residence life at housing@atu.edu to make arrangements for returning your key and getting officially checked out.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- The number of students able to sign up for each check-out time is limited to five (5). Students will be allowed to sign up for a check-out time each hour at each residence hall between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 pm and 1:00p.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning March 23rd – April 3rd.
- Utilize this link to access the sign-up page: https://atu.starrezhousing.com/StarRezPortalX/
- Please do not come to campus until your assigned time. Due to the number of students currently on campus and to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, we ask you to arrive at the time you selected. Arriving outside this time may cause access to be denied.
- Pick-Up the Check-out envelope attached to your door.
- Turn in your Check-Out envelope via collection box/bucket located your residence lobby hall or apartment community center (University Commons Club House for University Commons and Vista Place Apartments)
- All residents should leave by April 3, 2020.
- Students may petition for housing accommodations that extend past Friday, April 3 under special circumstances including personal safety, access to Internet, no other available housing, academic distress or other legitimate reasons. A Roompact form will be provided for exceptions asking for reasons emergency housing is needed and contact info (name and number). This form should be completed no later than noon on March 25, 2020.
- Residents can mail their key back to Residence Life following the specifications listed below.
- Residence Life is not responsible for returned keys that are lost in the mail.
- Key must be sent Certified Mail or FedEx.
- Key must be placed in a sturdy envelope that cannot be easily damaged by the keys inside. It is recommended to utilize a bubble mailer/envelope.
- Keys lost in transit are the responsibility of the resident. Failure to return your keys may result in additional charges for lock changes and key replacements.
- Key must be mailed to:
Arkansas Tech University Department of Residence Life
Doc Bryan Student Services Center, Suite 211
1605 Coliseum Drive
Russellville, AR 72801
- We will support social distancing by the check-out schedule we have developed.
- We encourage all students to practice social distancing during this time on-campus.
We will not be able to provide housing to students who do not have a current contract. Additionally, please be advised that for continuous housing:
- Students must have approval by Residence Life to remain on campus after April 3, 2020.
- Only lock-out keys will be handled through the desk. All other operations will be handled via phone or email.
- No equipment check-outs will be available
- Report maintenance issues via the Maintenance Request site on the Current Student webpage of the Residence Life Website.
- There will not be any residence hall programming
- No guests will be permitted
- We recommend students limit their travel in and out of the residence hall.
- Do not congregate in groups of 10+ people or more.
- Please, no visitors or overnight guests.
APPROVED HOUSING SOLUTION
The following prorated credits and refunds, as applicable, are approved for Arkansas Tech University students on the Russellville campus in good standing who will be moving out of the residence halls during the spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19:
• Students in good standing will receive a prorated credit for the spring 2020 semester only based on the date they check out of the residence halls. Students who voluntarily check out of their residence hall rooms by April 3 would receive a credit for residence life. This percentage will decrease on a prorated basis determined by their checkout date. The credit would be applied to the students’ remaining housing account balance starting on April 3. Any additional credit would be applied to a future housing term within the next 12 months.
• Students in good standing, who will complete their degree requirements in May 2020 and will no longer be eligible for student housing beyond the spring 2020 semester, will receive a prorated refund based on the date they check out. The refund would be applied to their student account.
This is not a waiver of any other contractual obligations of the student under the terms of the Residence Life Housing Agreement.
If other extenuating circumstances exist, a student may appeal following a COVID19 Petition for Refund process established through the ATU Department of Residence Life and available now through the housing portal. All appeals must be received no later than Aug. 1, 2020. Students who have applied to continue to live in the residence halls based on special circumstances --- including personal safety, access to the internet, no other available housing, academic distress or other legitimate reasons --- will continue to pay the residence hall fees.
APPROVED MEAL PLAN SOLUTION
The following prorated credits and refunds for food services, as applicable, are approved for Arkansas Tech University students who have meal plans and will move out of the residence halls and for commuters who will no longer come to campus for classes during the spring 2020 semester due to COVID-19:
• On-campus housing students in good standing will receive a prorated meal plan credit based on the date they check out of the residence halls. Students who voluntarily check out of their residence hall rooms would receive a meal plan credit for the remainder of the spring semester. This percentage will decrease on a prorated basis determined by their checkout date. The credit would be applied to the students’ remaining meal plan balance. Any remaining meal plan credit would be applied to a future meal plan cost during a semester term within the next 12 months.
• On-campus housing students and commuter students in good standing, who will complete their degree requirements in May 2020 and no longer be eligible for meal plans beyond the spring 2020 semester, will receive a prorated meal plan refund and any unspent declining card balance dollars will be returned based upon what is applicable for each student’s plan. The refund will be posted to each applicable student’s account.
• Commuter students in good standing will receive a prorated meal plan credit as of March 18, 2020, or later, based upon last usage of their spring meal plan. The credit calculation will be based upon a prorated percentage of unused meal plan weeks left in the spring semester due to Arkansas Tech’s move to online instruction. The prorated credits would be applied to future meal plan cost during the next 12 months.
• Students who use declining balance cards, other than those who completed their degree requirements in May 2020, and who are eligible for meal plans beyond the spring 2020 semester and who have unspent declining card balance dollars remaining by the end of spring semester will automatically roll their declining card balances over to the next semester. The rollover declining card balances will expire, if not used by Sept. 30, 2020.
This is not a waiver of any other contractual obligation of the student under the terms of the meal plan agreement. If other extenuating circumstances exist, a student may appeal following a process that will be established. All appeals must be received no later than Aug. 1, 2020. Students who have applied to continue to live in the residence halls (beyond April 3) and will be using their meal plans based on special circumstances --- including personal safety, access to the internet, no other available housing, academic distress or other legitimate reasons --- will continue to pay the meal plan rates.
Students graduating this Spring 2020, will receive a refund applied to their account after graduation is confirmed. Approx. towards the end of May.
Students coming back Fall 2020- Spring 2021, will have a credit applied towards their housing charges approx. the 3rd week of July.
Students who checked out of housing Spring 2020 and are not returning for the Academic Year 2020- 2021, and apply for a *Petition for Refund through the housing portal by August 1st will be reviewed by late August.
*Please note that the Petition for Refunds is only available to students without a booking for Fall 2020-Spring 2021. If the student has a booking and is not planning to return Fall 2020, a contract cancellation form must be submitted ASAP to housing@atu.edu. The form and cancellation policies can be found here https://www.atu.edu/reslife/policies-forms/reshall-contract-cancellation.php After the cancellation is approved and the booking is cancelled, the Petition for Refunds will be available.
https://www.atu.edu/finaid/.
https://www.atu.edu/studentconduct/.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UNIVERSITY UPDATES