As the University of Idaho gears up for the fall semester, Housing and Residence Life (HRL) and Vandals Dining (VD) are preparing to host students in-person.
In a Zoom event called “Residence Hall Living Q & A,” staff fielded questions about what dorm life, dining options and move-in day will look like amid COVID-19.
Most questions were answered by HRL Customer Relations Manager Jennifer Skinner, VD Field Marketing Specialist Bryanna Muscella, HRL Assistant Director for Leadership Development and Community Standards Renee Skau and Associate Director of HRL Corey Ray. A recording of the event will be accessible on the HRL website and social media pages.
Housing and Residence Life
Students planning to live in the residence halls will be able to choose a move-in time on the HRL website beginning July 6. The two move-in day options are Aug. 19 and Aug. 20. Details regarding the schedule will be provided through email.
Skinner said volunteers will be few and far between, unlike past move-in days.
“We love our volunteers, but safety is our priority,” Skinner said. “We hope to go back to full volunteers by next fall.”
The volunteers who will be present will only be responsible for guiding students and giving them directions. Volunteers won’t actively participate in moving or touching others’ belongings.
A limited number of carts will be available to help students move their belonging. These carts will be sanitized by volunteers after each use.
For safety purposes, students and their families will be required to wear masks while moving into the residence halls. There will be limitations on the number of people entering buildings as well.
“We’re not banning students’ families from attending, but don’t bring every grandma and grandpa,” Skinner said. “Really think about who’s coming with you and protect those at-risk populations.”
All students will be required to wear face coverings inside residence halls, including hallways, laundry rooms and lounges. However, students will not be required to wear masks in their respective rooms.
“The only requirement is that it covers your nose and mouth at the same time,” Skau said. “It can be a bandana or any other kind of covering that is secure. We encourage you to wear whatever is comfortable for you.”
The number of people allowed inside laundry rooms will be limited based on the size of the rooms. In most cases, no more than two people will be allowed to enter the laundry room at any given time.
Vandals Dining
Students will have choices between dining at The Hub, where there will be limited seating, or taking a to-go box with them.
Tables in the Hub will be placed six feet apart from each other and no more than six people will be able to sit at a table, Muscella said. The floor will be color coded to help maintain social distancing and all self-serve counters will be replaced with to-go options. All staff members at the dining area will be required to wear masks and gloves while serving students.
Muscella said no guest would be turned away.
More information regarding housing and dining for fall 2020 is available at the HRL website.
Charmi Gajjar can be reached at [email protected]