Wednesday, Jul 15, 2020
The health and safety of the Rider community is a major priority as we prepare to deliver an engaged learning experience for fall 2020. As state and federal guidance continues to evolve, so do our plans to accommodate the in- and out-of-class experience in ways that reduce the risk of exposure to coronavirus.
CDC guidelines now suggest that limiting the number of students who share common-area bathrooms will minimize exposure and limit close contact with those who test positive for COVID-19, thereby reducing the need for subsequent testing and/or quarantine. This guidance, paired with local health professional advice, has led us to significantly shift our fall semester housing plan. We will revisit plans for spring 2021 at a later time.
Our revised housing plan will reduce overall residential occupancy to 50-65% of total campus housing occupancy, arrived through the following decisions which are attentive to health directives while maintaining some individual choices for students.
We will significantly de-densify predominantly double occupancy residential buildings/spaces (including traditional residence halls and houses). In buildings that share common area bathrooms, we will reduce overall occupancy on each wing/floor to no more than 65%. The majority of rooms will be converted to single occupancy to minimize exposure. While we strongly encourage single rooms to further minimize exposure, we will accommodate a limited number of roommate requests in these buildings while maintaining the overall reduced capacity per bathroom. Spaces in these buildings will be offered at the current double room rate, even for students who occupy a double-room as a converted single (rates for air conditioned and non-air conditioned buildings still apply).
We will continue to occupy students in suites and apartments as designed. These spaces will accommodate roommate requests because the space configuration naturally limits bathroom utilization. These spaces will be offered at the current suite and apartment rates.
We will do our best to accommodate themed communities by prioritizing spaces for affiliated students in each of the Greek houses and students in Living Learning Communities. If these spaces remain unfilled, we will open them to other students as necessary to accommodate housing demand given our reduced occupancy.
To accommodate these new changes, all students who are currently assigned to housing will be removed from their current assignment and asked to reapply if you would like to live on campus during the fall semester. Students who opt not to reapply for housing will have their housing deposits applied to their fall term bill.