By Matthew Weekley, Director of Housing Auxiliary Operations and Residence Education
Dear Michigan Tech Residence Hall students,
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to work through fast-moving developments with the State’s response to COVID-19. Earlier this morning, Governor Whitmer issued a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order for the people of Michigan.
The Governor’s order allows students to travel to return to a home or place of residence from outside this state or to return to your home within the state of Michigan. You are strongly encouraged to return to your permanent residence, assuming you are permitted to do so based on your home country’s guidelines, have what you’ll need to continue with classes, and will be safe and healthy there.
Consistent with the Stay Home, Stay Safe order, the University will now put in place the following measures to limit the spread of COVID-19:
Residence hall students are permitted to move out of the residence halls to another place of residence.
The executive order permits individuals to move to another home or place of residence. Residents planning to move off campus must follow these guidelines:
- Each student cannot be assisted by more than two individuals who are not in the same residential housing facility as the student.
- The individuals assisting with move-out may not have a temperature of 100.4F or higher, cough, trouble breathing, or otherwise feel ill.
- The individuals assisting with move-out must adhere to social distancing at all times, except while jointly carrying a heavy object.
All residence hall students residing in Wadsworth, McNair, Douglass Houghton, and Hillside MUST COMPLETE the Residence Hall Spring 2020 Departure Plan Form that was originally sent to you on Wednesday, March 18.
All residence hall students must complete the Departure Plan form as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, March 27, 2020 at 5 p.m. EST. You can select any of the departure dates available; however, to be eligible for the $1,100 residence hall credit, you must depart on or before April 12, 2020. If you have extenuating circumstances, please contact housing@mtu.edu and we can assist you. Students who choose to depart the residence halls should follow these guidelines to checkout properly.
Residents are prohibited from visiting other buildings and from having visitors
- Residents who choose to stay on campus are not permitted to visit residence halls other than their own.
- All non-Michigan Tech visitors/guests are prohibited from visiting resident students through the duration of the Stay Home, Stay Safe order (excluding the exception for those helping to move, mentioned above).
- Residents may not have guests that exceed the number of students currently assigned to a room (example: If there are two assigned beds in a room, only two individuals can be in the room at the same time).
Dining restrictions and front desk operations
- The Campus Cafe will be closed.
- Dining operations will continue in each building for the time being.
- Front desk operations will begin limiting their hours of operation for mail/package pickup. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Front desks will also no longer be checking out equipment, with the exception of vacuums.
Practice social distancing and hygiene techniques
Resident students are required to continue practicing social distancing. Here are some important tips:
- It’s critically important students follow CDC guidelines to maintain proper hygiene (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands thoroughly for 20 seconds). Fully detailed guidance can be found here.
- Avoid congregating in social gatherings of 10 or more and in public venues.
- When socializing, attempt to keep a distance of about six feet from the nearest person.
- Properly dispose of personal trash such as tissues and disposable dining utensils that come into contact with your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid touching your face, nose, and mouth and rubbing your eyes.
- Refrain from personal contact to help stop the possible transmission of the virus and other illnesses.
Make sure to continuously check Michigan Tech’s COVID-19 website for updates
This continues to be a very fluid situation for the entire world, and you are encouraged to utilize Michigan Tech’s COVID-19 website for updates and guidance on new developments.
Sincerely,
Matthew Weekley
Director of Housing Auxiliary Operations and Residence Education