Message to Students About Spring Quarter Residence Hall Closure

March 13, 2020

Dear Seattle University Residential Students:

Seattle University cares deeply about the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff. In light of the university’s decision to conduct all Spring Quarter 2020 classes through virtual or remote instruction, and in an effort to promote social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19, we have decided to close all residence halls for Spring Quarter 2020.

In the best interest of the campus community, we ask that students currently in residence make arrangements to move out as soon as possible, and no later than Saturday, April 4 by 12:00pm. We want to be as flexible as possible during this time but are seeking to move swiftly to support public health efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Departing residents should take all their belongings with them, as the residence halls will not reopen during Spring Quarter 2020. Housing & Residence Life will provide basic cleaning products, moving supplies, and carts. In addition, Housing & Residence Life will be prepared with information about local storage companies at the front desk of each residence hall starting on Monday, March 16. Housing & Residence Life will send additional information with detailed procedures about how to check out of your residence hall and moving and storage resources in the coming days.

If you have already returned home for Spring Break and need to make arrangements to return to campus to move your belongings after April 4 due to travel logistics or other concerns, please contact your Area Coordinator for assistance. We understand that travel may be difficult during this time and will work with students who have already departed on a case-by-case basis to coordinate moving their belongings at a later time.

Since students will be engaged in virtual or remote learning and will not be living on campus, room and board charges for departing residents will not be applied to their Spring Quarter bills.

We understand this decision may create significant challenges for some of our students, therefore we want to do everything we can to support those students for whom this decision may cause undue hardship. We are here to support you during this time. As a result, the university will provide necessary exceptions to this temporary residence hall closure. Students who will have priority to remain in residence in Spring Quarter include:

  • International students;
  • Students who do not have a permanent residence to which they can return;
  • Students who have a severe financial hardship preventing a departure from campus;
  • Student employees in Housing & Residence Life and other departments with essential services who have chosen to remain on campus for their employment;

Students requesting an exception to the Spring Quarter 2020 residence hall closure must submit a request online using this request form no later than Friday, March 20. We will review and respond to all requests within 24 hours. Residents approved to remain on campus will continue to be responsible for room and meal plan charges and may be required to move to a new room on campus over the coming weeks in order to promote social distancing.

Although we believe this is the best decision in the interest of public health, we are saddened to see our residential students leave earlier than expected. We look forward to your continued success in your virtual or remote coursework in Spring Quarter. Your faculty are deeply committed to providing each of you with a rich and engaging learning environment. Our entire campus community will miss your presence on campus as each of you contribute so much of what makes SU a special place. We cannot wait to welcome you back to campus once this pandemic has subsided and normal operations resume.

If you have any questions about expectations for move out or how to request an exception, please call Housing & Residence Life at 206-296-6305 or email housing@seattleu.edu.

For up-to-date information about the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit www.seattleu.edu/coronavirus.

Sincerely,

James Willette, Ph.D.

Associate Vice President & Dean of Students

 

James Willette, Ph.D. | Associate Vice President & Dean of Students
Pronouns: he/him/his

Division of Student Development | SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
901 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-1090

http://www.seattleu.edu/deanofstudents