University Housing COVID-19 Updates
Southern Oregon University is offering housing for the summer session, and we are planning to offer in-person services for the 2020-21 academic year, while continuing to prioritize safety and wellness.
All University Housing plans will align with Oregon Health Authority and local health authority guidance. More detailed information for campus-wide plans can be found on the university reopening website.
For information on SOU COVID-19 Cases: https://sou.edu/campus/sou-covid-19-cases/
Spring Term 2021 COVID-19 Information
Letter to students in the residence halls - COVID Testing: 2.23.2021
Dropbox to upload COVID-19 Test Results: https://sou.app.box.com/f/748dba2e483e47a39eb27af7e851307c
Please make sure that your negative test results have your name on them as we won't be able to identify your results any other way. If you are unable to add your name to the test results, please label your document with the following title:
FirstName_LastName_COVID19TestResults
Ex. “Rocky_Raider_COVID19TestResults”
Acceptable tests are: Antigen, and PCR
Your questions about COVID-19 vaccines, answered: https://news.sou.edu/2021/02/your-questions-about-covid-19-vaccines-answered/
Winter Term 2021 COVID-19 Information
Letter from President Schott on Thanksgiving Break, Winter Term Plans: 11.18.2020
Letter from Campus Leadership on Winter Quarter Housing Expectations: 12.10.2020
University Housing Additional Guidance on COVID (Winter Term 2021)
DropBox to upload COVID-19 Test Results: https://sou.app.box.com/f/748dba2e483e47a39eb27af7e851307c
Please make sure that your negative test results have your name on them as we won't be able to identify your results any other way. If you are unable to add your name to the test results, please label your document with the following title:
FirstName_LastName_COVID19TestResults
Ex. “Rocky_Raider_COVID19TestResults”
Acceptable tests are: Antigen, and PCR
Custodial Services
Increased efforts of sanitizing have been taking place in all of the SOU residence halls since March 2020.
High-touchpoint areas in residence halls are sanitized regularly and include:
- crash-bars on exit doors
- door knobs and handles
- mailboxes
- faucet handles
- laundry machine handles/buttons
- elevator buttons
- soap dispenser levers
- paper towel dispenser controls
- light switches
- handrails in stairwells
Dining Services
For Fall 2020, The Hawk Dining Commons will remain open and provide essential services. Food stations will no longer be self-serve, but will be staffed with a server who will plate the food for all residents. Seating areas have also been reconfigured to allow for proper social distancing and will be sanitized regularly.
Additionally, extra hand-sanitizer stations have been added to The Hawk, along with designated social-distancing locations.
Student Engagement
University Housing staff will ensure that residence halls are secure and promote a healthy environment for students to focus on their academics. Student-staff will complete nightly rounds through all of the buildings and,along with the full-time Professional Staff, are still on-call 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.
In observance of social distancing, we will be hosting small group in-person events/programs. Students should also expect small or digital engagement activities, and more personal interactions with their Resident Assistants. Students will also be texted from Housing staff as another way to meet their needs and stay in contact with them.
Residence Halls - Frequently Asked Questions
Will the residence halls be open for Winter 2021?
Yes, the residence halls will be open for Winter 2021. If there are changes, students will be notified via their SOU email. Students will need to have a negative COVID test in order to move in/ come back to the halls.
What will room assignments look like with COVID-19 measures being put in place?
As we have been given guidance, the room spaces are adequate in size to allow for roommates and appropriate social distancing.
How will dining in The Hawk work?
Dining staff will serve the meals to the students, and there will be no self-serve dining options. We are continuing to work with University Leadership, while also following the guidelines provided by the State of Oregon.
Do I have to eat meals in The Hawk Dining Commons?
No, you will not have to eat meals in The Hawk, as SOU Dining will still provide a to-go option for students in an environmentally-friendly container, if you wish to eat elsewhere.
How will Move-In Day work with social distancing?
We will be assigning students a date and time for their move-in. Students will not have to leave their vehicle when coming to campus to check in. They will be given directions on how to move-in from there. Students will receive information in August about their date and time and additional expectations for a smooth move-in. You will be able to find more information on Move-In Day here: https://inside.sou.edu/housing/reshall/advantages.html
What if the day and/or time doesn’t work for me or my family to check into the residence halls?
If the day and/or time you were told does not work for you, please reach out in an email to housing@sou.edu. We will work with you on an individual basis, but please know that it is challenging to try to accommodate many of these requests and still maintain the intent of small amounts of people checking in throughout the day. We do want to work with you, so let us know if there is an issue.
Where will I need to wear a face-covering?
Students will be required to wear a face-covering anytime they are in an indoor public space, in order to help keep our SOU community safe. This includes, but is not limited to walking in the hallways, using common spaces such as laundry rooms, and walking to and from classes. Students will also be required to wear face-coverings in all dining facilities while they enter, exit, and wait for their food. The expectation in The Hawk Dining Commons is to wear a face-covering all of the time, except while in the act of eating/drinking.
We encourage students to think of their roommate or suitemates as members of their on-campus household, and to have conversations with roommates and suitemates about shared expectations regarding mask usage and physical distancing when interacting with people who are outside their “household.”
What additional items should I bring to campus to help keep me safe?
Students should bring multiple masks, as masks should be cleaned regularly. A thermometer can also be helpful in doing self-screening.
What happens if my roommate or I get sick while living in the residence halls?
Students will work with the Student Health and Wellness Center if they become sick. University Housing will follow all guidelines given to them to help care for the student.
Student Apartments & Family Housing - Frequently Asked Questions
Is rent being reduced or frozen?
No, rent for SAFH will not be reduced or frozen. However, our staff are happy to assist in the creation of a flexible payment plan to help individual students navigate the financial impact of COVID-19. University Housing will also not issue any late fees for the months of April, May, June, July, August, or September of this year to support students’ changing needs.
Will I be getting a late fee?
During the months of April, May, June, July, August, or September of this year, SOU Housing will not be issuing any late fees. The application of late fees will resume on October 1, 2020.
I lost my job due to COVID-19, will I get evicted?
If you communicate with our office in advance and develop an approved payment plan with our staff, we will do everything in our power to help our students avoid eviction.
How do I make rent payments during this time?
Card payments will ONLY be taken over the phone. Check payments can be mailed in or students can call the desk to be let into the Greensprings building (where the housing office front desk is located). Due to COVID-19, the Greensprings Lobby has remained locked at all times, and the University Housing Front Desk is no longer accessible to the public to help minimize possible exposure. Below is the address and phone number for the University Housing Front Desk:
Southern Oregon University Housing
450 Wightman Street
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 552-6371
May I still have friends/family visit me during the shelter-in-place orders?
We ask all SAFH tenants to please refrain from allowing guests into their homes and the SAFH community, which will help reduce the possible spread of COVID-19.
Are the playground structures open?
We have closed all of the play-structures throughout SAFH, which is indicated by caution tape and a sign regarding this closure. Please encourage your children to keep the play-structure areas clear, especially with children who may not realize the play-areas are not open. Their closure is to help limit potential exposure of COVID-19 to the community’s children. We encourage parents to talk with their children regarding proper social distancing, how to maintain it, and why it is important at this time.
Is the laundry room still open?
Yes, the laundry room will stay open. The Resident Managers (RMs) for SAFH will continue to sanitize the laundry room doors, dryer/washer buttons, and the dryer/washer handles every night. The handles for both of the trash compactors will also continue to be sanitized every night when RMs are doing their rounds around the SAFH complex.
Because of COVID-19’s impact on my finances/online coursework I want to move out of SAFH early. Is this possible?
In order to request an early move out please complete and submit a lease breakage form as soon as possible (link: https://inside.sou.edu/assets/housing/docs/SAFH_Lease_Breakage_Form.pdf). Typically, ending a lease early involves a lease breakage fee of 1.5 times the cost of your monthly rent. You can petition that the fee be waived by filling out a petition form and explaining your needs (link here: https://forms.gle/d4X8RNH4Ky84Jyp97). A petition form does not guarantee the waiving of fees, but will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
If I need something repaired how do I maintain social distancing when letting University Staff into my unit?
If you have any maintenance concerns, please submit the concern to the maintenance link here: https://inside.sou.edu/housing/maintenance.html. Though Facilities Management & Planning (FMP) is still in operation to fulfill your maintenance needs, for the health and safety of our staff and yourselves, we are strictly enforcing the 6-foot social-distancing rule and require that all residents of the household wear an appropriate face-covering while University staff are working in your home. Please respect this by keeping your distance while our staff work. If this cannot be accommodated, our staff can arrange to come back at a more convenient time.
