Back on Track - Housing and Dining

Updated 7/2/2020

Residential Life and Housing are preparing to welcome students back to campus this fall.  In light of the current situation with COVID-19, several changes have been made to the housing experience to better protect our students.  These changes are highlighted below.

Arrival

In order to best support physical distancing needs, new and returning students’ arrival will be extended over the course of several days.  Arrival will begin Sunday, August 9, and will continue through Saturday, August 15 for new students and Monday, August 17 for returning students.  All students will be required to sign up for a check-in appointment.  Students will be receiving detailed information about scheduling their arrival appointment and logistics of arrival in mid-July. 

Upon checking in, students will receive a temporary unloading permit that will allow them to park in designated unloading zones for one hour.  Students may bring up to two guests to assist them with moving into their residence halls.  All students and their guests are required to wear face masks in the parking lots and while in the residence hall buildings.  Unfortunately, this year there will be no move-in-crew volunteers to assist with arrival. While a limited number of move-in carts will be provided, we encourage families to bring their own dollies if possible.  A variety of physical distancing measures have been taken to make move-in a successful and safe process.  We ask that students and their guests follow all provided measures at all times. 

Housing Changes

Residential Life has taken measures to reduce the density of each residence hall.  More than 300 single rooms have been identified for incoming first-year students.  All first-year students should have received an email for additional information on how to select a single room.

Returning students had the option to select single rooms during their room selection process.  Additional single rooms will be available in the open room exchange between July 1 and July 6.  Returning students should check their housing portal for more information about these single rooms.

Students with a chronic illness that may put them at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 should submit ADA paperwork to be considered for a medical single room.  This paperwork can be found in the housing portal and on the Residential Life website, https://www.indstate.edu/sites/default/files/media/reslife/isu-housing-accommodations-request.pdf.  This paperwork must be completed by a medical provider and we encourage students to submit this paperwork as soon as possible.

Students living in communities with pod-style bathrooms will have a specific bathroom assigned to them.  We ask that all students utilize their assigned bathrooms.  Common areas such as lounges, kitchens, and laundry rooms will have reduced sitting and occupancy for the fall semester.  There will not be kitchen equipment or game room equipment available for check-out. 

For the fall, guests will also be restricted to the lower lobby levels. Residents will be encouraged to continue physical distancing on the floors.  Masks will be required in common areas, hallways, and bathrooms. 

Dining Halls

·       As guests enter the dining room, they will experience

• Improved sanitation procedures in the entryway, including hand sanitizing stations
• A friendly greeting by staff, wearing appropriate PPE at the checker stand
• Augmented signage that includes floor decals to reinforce traffic patterns and social distancing

·       In the serving area, they will find

• Floor decals and consistent signage to reinforce traffic patterns and social distancing
• A clockwise travel pattern that allows efficient movement through select stations
• No self-service stations, including beverages – all stations attended by uniformed staff wearing and using appropriate PPE
• Staff frequently sanitizing serving stations to ensure safety and instill confidence

·       Guests may expect to discover

• Meal packaging that is appropriate to the specified menu item, along with wrapped utensils, napkin and portioned condiments, if no available seating
• Menu toppings and condiments to be portioned by the attendant
• No personal refillable containers to be utilized in the dining room to ensure safety for our staff and guests

·       In the Dining space, students will see

• Adjustments in seating availability, based on local government regulations and seat capacity of the space
• Constant sanitation and cleaning by uniformed staff members
• Tables that are cleaned and disinfected after each use and free of any items like salt/pepper shakers or napkin dispensers
• Traffic patterns that lead from the seating area to the exit with designated instructions along the way for returning dishes or disposing of packaging or waste into marked receptacles

·       Sycamore dining hours remain continuous from 7a-9p Monday-Thursday, 7a-6:30p Friday, and 10a-2p Saturday-Sunday. Credits may be used for Resident dining meals from 2p-Close on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Commons at select retail operations.

Thanksgiving Break/Remote Learning Post-Thanksgiving

More information about remote learning after Thanksgiving and what that means for room and board rates, returning to campus, and checking out of the Residence Halls and Apartments for mid-year graduates will be coming in mid-July.

Students with questions or concerns are encouraged to call the Office of Residential Life at 812-237-3993 or email at ResLife@indstate.edu.

This University guidance is subject to change as more guidance becomes available from public health and government officials. Please check back periodically for updates.