Monday, Nov 9, 2020
Dear students and family members,
As we near the completion of in-person class meetings and the closing of the residence halls for Winter Break, we want to provide you with a comprehensive on-campus housing update addressing important information about winter break closing and spring semester housing. This fall semester, over 900 students lived in campus residence halls and apartments. Students experienced opportunities to engage with campus and one another, while ensuring compliance with our campus safety protocols related to COVID-19 to help maintain a healthy campus.
Residence Halls Close for Winter Break
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All campus residence halls close for Winter Break on Wednesday, November 25, at 12 p.m. A separate communication will be sent later this week detailing how to properly check out of your residence hall room.
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As is typical annually, all students are expected to depart for the duration of Winter Break. Students should take whatever they need for the break period, but if they are returning to the same room for the spring semester, they can leave items for when they return.
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Any student who needs housing during Winter Break must Apply for Winter Break Housing through the myRider portal (select Apply for Housing). The application will allow students to denote the dates they require housing. Eligibility for Winter Break housing includes maintaining an active spring semester housing assignment. Applications for Winter Break Housing are due Tuesday, November 24.
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We will try to accommodate students in their fall housing location for the winter break period, however we cannot guarantee this. If safety considerations prompt a building closure, students who require housing will be provided with a temporary housing assignment for the break.
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The fall semester room and board fees extend through Wednesday, November 25 when the halls close for the break. For those requiring winter break housing, a weekly rate of $50 for room and an additional $150 for board will be applied to student accounts. This will include access to up to 19 meals/week. Note: There will be no meal service available on campus from dinner November 25 through lunch on November 29, and again dinner December 23 through dinner on January 3. Students should make alternate plans for meals during these periods.
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It is important to note that campus facilities may have modified hours and accessibility during the winter break period.
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Rider University will continue to uphold state and national guidance on travel-related quarantine, even during the break period. Students should review the New Jersey travel advisory list and international locations identified by the CDC to determine if a 14-day quarantine is required after travel outside of New Jersey.
Spring semester housing
On-campus housing will look very similar in the spring semester as it did this fall. We will continue to maintain health protocols and expectations to promote the safety of our community. Unless otherwise notified, this will include upholding our strict residential guest policy, and keeping our residential lounges closed. We will maintain the enhanced cleaning and disinfecting schedule for residential facilities.
If you currently live on campus and want to continue in your same space
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You do not have to do anything. Your contract is for the academic year and will automatically continue for the spring semester. There will be no change to the current housing rates for spring semester.
If you currently live on campus and want to request a new room
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You must apply for a room change by requesting it through your residence hall Community Director. Your request will be reviewed and processed by the Residence Life Office staff. When your request is approved, you will schedule a move date/time that is convenient and meets our social distancing requirements. All moves that are not processed when the University closes for winter break will be processed when offices reopen in January. Questions regarding room changes can be directed to [email protected].
If you currently live on campus and want to move off campus
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Students who wish to cancel their spring semester housing will need to submit an off campus housing form by Friday, January 8. We have extended the typical cancellation and refund policy given all of the variables families are weighing due to COVID-19. Students must cancel their housing contract by Friday, January 8, to avoid the cancellation fee.
If you do not live on campus and want to apply to move on campus
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Students who want to apply for spring housing must first pay a $200 housing deposit. Deposits can be made online or via the Cashier’s office.
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After your deposit has been applied, you will have access to the housing application via your myRider portal (select Apply for Housing). Select the Spring 2021 term and begin your application.
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Students will be assigned housing based on availability with applications processed on a rolling basis. We will do our best to honor preferences but cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Important dates
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Tuesday, November 24 — Application for Winter Break housing due
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Wednesday, November 25 (12 p.m.) — Residence halls close for winter break
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Monday, January 4 — Housing application deadline for placement preference
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Friday, January 8 — Deadline to cancel housing spring semester without cancellation fee
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January 14 — Earliest housing move-in for students who require quarantine due to travel advisories (information about reserving a time will follow later)
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January 28-January 31 — Spring socially distanced move-in dates (information about reserving a time will follow later)
Quarantine requirements related to travel
Rider University requires all students entering New Jersey from outside of the United States, or from the domestic states that fall under the New Jersey advisory, to quarantine for a 14-day period prior to engaging in community on campus. It’s important to note that this list is updated regularly and can change at any time. Students should plan their return to campus to account for the quarantine period. Additional information will be shared with residential students about quarantine arrangements at a later time.
Academic schedule considerations
We know there are a number of considerations you balance when making decisions about whether you want to live on campus, course modalities being one of those considerations. Spring course registration begins November 9. Faculty have until December 1 to finalize their spring course modalities. Students are therefore encouraged to review the Enhanced Course Roster (ECR) after Friday, December 4 to make any adjustments to their schedule. You have flexibility to alter your housing decision up until Friday, January 8 without any financial penalty. After that time, we will adhere to the housing cancellation policy and timeline. To aid in your planning for the Spring semester, please note the change of academic calendar that was announced last week.
COVID-19 surveillance testing
It is important to note that during the spring semester, we will extend our weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing. Students who live or take courses on campus or who frequent campus for any reason will be required to participate. A certain percentage of students will be chosen randomly for testing in a particular week and except for extenuating circumstances, will be required to be tested. We anticipate that most students will be tested only once during the semester. Tests will be offered free of charge. Additional information will be provided closer to the start of the semester.
If you have questions about on-campus housing, please contact Residence Life at [email protected] or participate in one of our scheduled Residence Life Zoom drop-in hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Log-in with this Zoom link.
Living on campus is such an important and memorable part of the overall student experience. While circumstances have altered the on-campus experience this year, we are grateful that students have had the opportunity for this coveted experience and will continue to do our best to build community and promote the health and safety of students.
Sincerely,
Leanna Fenneberg, Ph.D.
Vice President of Student Affairs
Roberta Butler
Associate Dean of Residence Life