Oregon State Virus Information

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University Housing & Dining Services COVID-19 information

Oregon State University residence halls will remain open, and dining services will continue, during the university’s move to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 virus.

University Housing & Dining Services is committed to continuing to provide a positive housing and dining experience during this time. See below for ways we are responding to the developing COVID-19 coronavirus situation.

Custodial Services 

Enhanced touchpoint cleaning has been taking place in all UHDS facilities, including dining centers, since Monday, March 2. 

High touchpoint areas in residence halls include:

  • door knobs and handles
  • faucet handles
  • elevator buttons
  • soap dispenser levers
  • paper towel dispenser controls
  • light switches 

Additional touchpoint areas in dining centers include (but are not limited to):

  • surfaces and edges of tables
  • handrails and backs of chairs
  • condiment pumps
  • water spigots
  • cereal dispensers
  • writing utensils used at ordering stations
  • refrigerator and appliance handles

Our cleaning processes have been evaluated and are in line with best practices to address this virus.

 

Dining Services  

Dining centers will remain open and provide essential services. For the most up-to-date location hours, always check Food@OSU.

  • All food is being served in single-use takeout containers so that customers may take their food to-go and eat in the location of their choosing.
  • The use of resuable Eco2go containers is suspended until further notice.
  • Extra hand sanitizer stations have been added to dining centers.
  • Staff are using touch-free scanners to scan ID cards and payment cards whenever possible.
  • Self-service locations within dining centers, such as salad bars and soup stations, may be modified during this time. 
  • If students are feeling ill, they can sign up for our Food Buddy program and a designated person of their choosing can pick up food on their behalf. Food Buddy works with both Dining Dollars and Orange Cash and is available at all UHDS locations.

 

Residential Education

Residential staff will continue ensuring that residence halls are secure and promoting a healthy environment for students to focus on their academics. This includes doing rounds, as well as our on-call rotation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • All UHDS residence halls will be shifting to offer only rooms that have a single occupant for spring term 2020. Students who currently have roommates will be asked to volunteer to move to a different room to achieve state and OSU social distancing requirements.
  • While larger programs will scale back to promote social distancing, residents should expect activities to be announced for smaller settings in their respective halls.
  • Residents can expect their student staff members to be reaching out in more online formats – we encourage students to check their OSU email, Roompact, and GroupMe messages for more information.  
  • UHDS professional staff and student staff will continue to be available for support and engagement, though they may be doing so via digital platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

For information specific to UHDS' COVID-19 response, please see these FAQs or submit your question below.

Is my residence hall remaining open, or do I have to leave campus? Can I stay for spring break?

Updated March 18, 2020

  • Yes, University Housing & Dining Services residence halls and dining locations will remain open during finals week, spring break and spring term, even while the campus is utilizing modified remote teaching and social distancing in response to COVID-19.
  • All campus residents must sign up for  break housing via MyUHDS. The application to stay over spring break closes at 5:00 p.m. Fri., March 20, 2020.
  • Dining locations will be open during spring break. Students are advised to check Food@OSU for updated hours and locations. In addition, student meal plans will reload for spring term on Mon., March 23.
Is OSU recommending I stay in Corvallis, or remain in my home community?

Updated March 25, 2020

  • Following the governor’s executive order on March 23, 2020, and President Ray’s subsequent message urging the OSU community to stay home, we ask on-campus residents – who already have left campus – to strongly consider staying in their home communities while taking remote OSU spring term classes. For those residents who determine that staying in their residence hall is the best option for them, we will continue to remain open and provide safe housing and dining services.
I'm a first-year student. Can I be exempted from the live-on requirement?

Updated March 18, 2020

  • Due to the unprecedented circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, enforcement of the First-Year Experience Live-On Requirement for first-year students not otherwise eligible for an exemption will be suspended for spring term 2020.
  • Enforcement of this requirement will resume for incoming fall 2020 students unless otherwise communicated.
Are you waiving the housing cancellation fees for spring term?

Updated March 26, 2020

  • Given the extenuating circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, for residents who elect to move out and not live with UHDS for spring term 2020, UHDS is choosing not to enforce many of its cancellation policies listed in the housing contract and UHDS Policy Guide. For residents who have a housing contract that includes spring term 2020 but wish to move out because of COVID-19, UHDS will not charge any improper checkout fees or extended occupancy fees, where appropriate. UHDS will also not charge any spring term 2020 cancellation fees for residents who cancel their contract early and complete UHDS’s cancellation request via the MyUHDS portal.
  • For residents who cancel their contract for spring term 2020 because of COVID-19, unused dining dollars will still be rolled over for the next academic year. Any unused spring term dining plan amount will be credited back; only dining dollars that are used during spring term will be charged.

  • Steps for a student who is cancelling for spring term, but can’t come back to get their items until after the term has begun:

    • Student should fill out their cancellation request via MyUHDS if they have not already done so.
    • Student should come to campus to retrieve their items when they are able to do so. Student removes all belongings and returns their room key to the Service Center. If the Service Center is closed, then key is returned to the Residence Hall on Duty Staff.
    • After a student comes to move their items out, as long as they have not accessed the building at other times during spring term, UHDS will credit back their spring term room and dining charges.
    • Student must come back to get their items before spring term ends on June 12.

  • Steps for a student who comes back to OSU, starts occupancy for the term and cancels later during spring term:

    • Student should fill out their cancellation request via MyUHDS if they have not already done so.
    • Student moves items out and returns their room key to the Service Center. If the Service Center is closed, then key is returned to the Residence Hall on Duty Staff.
    • Student will be charged for the days they lived on campus and were accessing their building. The daily rate is determined by dividing the student's room rate for the term by the number of billable days in spring term. For spring 2020, the number of billable days in spring term is 76.
    • The spring term dining plan will be credited back after cancellation. Only the amount that was spent during spring term will be charged.
What if I decide to move out but I can’t get my stuff due to travel restrictions, quarantine, etc?

Updated March 25, 2020

  • Please contact our office by emailing housing@oregonstate.edu so we can discuss your options to get your personal items and cancel your contract.
  • UHDS is working to identify a third party contractor that complies with OSU contract requirements that we can connect students with to manage the packing, removal, shipping, and potential storage for items left behind in rooms. Students would contract with this to-be-determined entity, pay for the services, and assume any and all liability around this process.

  • Steps for a student who is unable to return to Corvallis to retrieve their belongings:

    • Student should fill out their cancellation request via MyUHDS if they have not already done so.
    • Student should fill out the online shipping request form.
    • If student has not accessed the building during spring term, UHDS will credit back their spring term room and dining charges after the survey has been completed and the cancellation request is submitted.
    • Student should mail their key back to UHDS at this address:

Kathryn Magura

University Housing & Dining Services

Oregon State University

957 SW Jefferson Ave.

Corvallis, OR  97333

  • Student must work with UHDS and the selected OSU third-party moving contractor to have items shipped or stored off-campus at the student’s expense.
How can I be safe in a residence hall with so many students given Gov. Kate Brown’s current ban on in-person gatherings?
  • Updated March 25, 2020
    • Social distancing should be considered a shared responsibility. We continue to encourage our students and staff to maintain a six foot distance from others, including friends, coworkers and classmates.
    • For residents, this includes keeping a safe distance when studying or spending time in a residence hall lounge.
    • UHDS staff is doing its part by reducing furniture in hall lounges. Social programs and activities are being restructured to be accessible remotely or for smaller groups.
    • When requested by students, UHDS is working to move students into fully open rooms to create more social distance between students, while keeping their current room rate.
How are you keeping dining centers safe?

Updated March 18, 2020

  • A full list of all UHDS precautionary measures can be found above. UHDS restaurants are now serving all meals in single-use take-out containers so that guests may take their food to go and eat in the location of their choosing.
What if I’m feeling sick?

Updated March 18, 2020

  • If you are not well, remain in your residence hall and contact your primary care physician, Student Health Services, or a local emergency medical care provider.
What if I think I’m exposed but not yet sick?  Should I tell everyone in my room or floor?

Updated March 18, 2020

  • Please remain mindful of social distancing and if you develop symptoms contact the SHS Nurse Advice Line.
If someone is sick in my hall, what will be the procedure for isolating them?

Updated March 12, 2020

  • If someone living in one of our halls is diagnosed with this virus, OSU and UHDS will work closely with Benton County Health on our response protocol. UHDS has identified spaces that can be set aside for students to move into should the need for self-isolation arise.  Any health information that impacts the larger community will be communicated broadly and appropriately.
Can I change rooms during this time?

Updated March 12, 2020

  • Students wanting to move rooms due to concerns related to the virus can use our Virus Response Room Change Request. The request will be available on MyUHDS from Friday, March 13, 2020 at 3 p.m. until April 30, 2020 at 5 p.m. All student requests will be reviewed within 48 business hours and students will be assigned to a new space, as space is available.
My roommate is sick and I don’t want to be around them. What do I do?

Updated March 16, 2020

  • Please talk to your Resident Director and access the Virus Response Room Change process to move rooms. You can also contact the hall staff member on duty on your hall’s duty phone.

Additional questions?

Submit a question about the UHDS response to COVID-19.