By Bonnie Gorman, Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs
I was over in Wadsworth Hall yesterday and saw the long line of students waiting for their grab-and-go lunch. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through the challenges we’re facing as we respond to the COVID-19 virus.
While the campus remains open, the Governor issued an order on Monday that required us to close the SDC, the library, Quad Core Fitness, Gates Tennis Center, and the mineral museum. And, as you well know, there is no dining-in at the cafeterias. These requirements have diminished the Husky experience we were making every effort to support and preserve.
Because of all of these changes, you may want to again assess your living situation, and we support you in doing so. In an effort to help, Michigan Tech is offering all students living in the residence halls (Wadsworth, McNair, Douglass Houghton, and Hillside) the option of receiving a credit of $1,100 if they check out of their room anytime before 5 p.m. on April 12, 2020.
Those of you who hold a current residence hall contract will receive an email from Residence Education and Housing Services later today, March 18, with instructions and an online form for communicating your housing plans. Regardless of whether you completed the Residence Hall Access form sent to you last week (Thursday, March 12), this new form must be completed no later than 5 p.m. Friday, March 27. If you indicate that you plan to check out of your room prior to April 12, you’ll need to select the correct checkout date. If you left your room and returned your keys prior to this announcement, housing staff will be in touch soon with further information.
If you complete your checkout during the designated period, you’ll be eligible to receive a $1,100 credit, which you can receive through one of the following three options:
- Credit toward fall 2020 on-campus room and board costs
- Credit for a fall 2020 150-block meal plan (for students living off-campus)
- Credit to your student account
If you’d like to have your credit applied toward your student account, you’ll need to enroll in direct deposit if you haven’t already. The credit will be deposited to you, less any outstanding balance with the University.
Please note that if you receive institutional funding specifically for room and board—including Resident and Operations Assistants, full in-state Leading Scholar recipients, certain ROTC students, certain student-athletes, and others—you will not be eligible for this credit. For questions on whether you qualify, contact the Student Financial Services Office at finaid@mtu.edu.
For many of you, Michigan Tech is the place you consider your primary home. I want to reassure you that our residential facilities continue to remain open and functional, and we will do all we can to protect your health and safety.
Again, I appreciate your patience and understanding as we all work together to navigate the COVID-19 challenge. Our commitment has been and continues to be the safety and well-being of all of our campus community.
Please continue to visit mtu.edu/covid-19 for the latest updates and information regarding campus operations. Should you have any questions, please email covid-19@mtu.edu.
Take Care,
Bonnie