The closure of Blalock Hall and a “one person per room” policy for the fall is limiting on-campus housing. According to a Student Residential Housing Program announcement, “This change will reduce the number of students who are eligible for housing, but it is necessary because of serious risk factors presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.” The new policy currently restricts housing to only athletes, graduating seniors, and first-semester freshmen/transfer students with additional qualifying restrictions such as GPA and course load (see the full announcement here).
The announcement said, “For those students who are living in campus housing, there will be updated expectations and protocols for safety, including mask wearing and visitation mandates. These cooperative living expectations must be in place, and may need to be further expanded, for the sake of health, sanitation, and the safety of everyone on campus.”
The Office of the President added in the Fall 2021 re-entry plan that “Students should make decisions to return to campus and residential housing with careful consideration with their families. Health and safety restrictions will be set and enforced for students, and despite the University’s best intentions, these safety measures could potentially lead to negative student conduct sanctions and/or eviction from residential housing when violated.”
Third-party groups are stepping up to help meet the needs of students who don’t meet fall housing eligibility requirements. The Facebook group HINU OFF CAMPUS Student Housing/Roommates/Help says “[Their] group is for HINU students that are currently looking for Housing this FA21, if you have no idea what to do for housing [they] may help. [They are here] to provide a way to help students find roommates, off campus housing, and tips”.
Click Here for Fall Housing Application
Featured image from summer 2020 COVID-19 dining restrictions.
