Decide if you are going to remain on campus or isolate at home (if possible). We encourage students to consider returning home to complete their isolation. If you are unable to return home for any reason (e.g., distance, cost, health of individuals at home, housing insecurity, safety concerns, etc.), we will support your isolation on campus.

Isolation: Stay in your Room or Request Isolation Space

If you have tested positive, it is recommended by the CDC that you isolate. Review the CDC guidelines for isolation after testing positive, including when you can end isolation. If you must leave your room, wear a well-fitting mask or face covering while you are out.

If you are isolating in a shared suite/house, you should remain in your room unless you need to use the suite facilities (kitchen, bathroom, etc.), and be sure to maintain physical distance and wear a mask or face covering when you do.

Residential students who test positive for COVID-19 can isolate in their own room/suite without the need to relocate to a temporary housing assignment. However, if there are any concerns from roommates, suitemates, or the individual who tests positive, we can make accommodations for students to temporarily relocate if space is available. You can do so by filling out a Request for Temporary Accommodations Form.

Help Protect Others

Avoid contact with others in your room, suite, or house, as much as possible.

Limit the use of sharing personal household items like cups, towels, and utensils.

Take steps to improve ventilation in your housing by opening the windows, if possible and safe to do so. (Some residence halls do not allow for the windows to be open due to HVAC operations.)

Food

You are primarily responsible for obtaining your own meals while you are sick. Friends can assist by picking up a take-out from the Eatery using your card. You can also order a sick tray or something from the Eatery menu that can be picked up by a friend. You can do using the Sick Tray - Meal Pick Up form.

Cleaning

Follow CDC recommendations on the best way to clean high touch areas (light switches, door knobs, counters, bathroom, kitchen, etc.) in order to reduce the potential spread of the virus.

We understand you may have questions about living with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. It’s important to remember that residential students who become sick with many different illnesses, such as the flu, a cold, mono, a stomach virus, usually remain in shared rooms/suites with their roommates while recovering. Due to highly effective vaccines, mutations in the virus that are associated with milder illness, and higher population-level immunity, college students are rarely getting severely ill from COVID-19. Colleges are well-positioned to consider an isolate-in-place protocol under which residential students who test positive can isolate in their own room/suite/house without the requirement to relocate to a temporary housing assignment.

However, if there are any concerns from roommates, suitemates, or individual students who test positive, we can make accommodations for students who test positive to temporarily relocate if space is available. Contact Residence Life through the Request for Temporary Accommodations Form for assistance in finding a space.