This page will be updated as the university continues to respond to the health and safety needs of on-campus residents.

Please continue to check this page and watch your Oregon State email address for any updates related to on-campus housing and dining.

Fall 2021 Safety & Success Planning

Updated June 30, 2021

Oregon State University is planning to resume traditional on-site and in-person activities at OSU locations for academic year 2021-22. 

All University Housing & Dining Services plans will align with Oregon Health Authority and local health authority guidance.

    

Cleaning and Sanitation

 

Updated June 30, 2021

Professional custodial staff members clean public areas and bathrooms in all housing and dining facilities daily, with additional touchpoint cleaning as needed. Our cleaning standards and processes are in line with current CDC recommendations and we use disinfectants that meet the EPA criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2.

Public restrooms and shared kitchens are cleaned and disinfected daily, with additional sanitization of high touchpoint areas as needed.

High touchpoint areas subject to enhanced cleaning in residence halls include (but are not limited to):

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

Dining areas and dining center bathrooms are cleaned daily, with additional sanitization of high touchpoint areas as needed. Additional touchpoint areas subject to enhanced cleaning 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
  • Residents are responsible for cleaning their own bedrooms, and residents who are assigned to suites with in-suite semi-private bathrooms are responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms.
  • We request that all residents, staff, and visitors wash their hands frequently, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds. Restrooms are available in every residence hall and dining center.
  • In situations where hand-washing is unavailable, the U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Extra hand sanitizer stations are available in all dining centers.
  • Learn more about hand-washing and sanitizing.

     

Physical Distancing & Reduced Density

 

Updated July 20, 2021

As of June 30, 2021, OSU’s Face Covering Policy and Physical Distancing Policy are terminated and were replaced with a general COVID-19 Safety and Success Policy.

 

  • Update, July 20, 2021: State health guidelines regarding filling triple rooms to full capacity during the 2020-21 academic year have been lifted, and due to demand for on-campus housing, we can return to filling triple rooms to their designed capacities.

 

  • Move-in for fall 2021 will be a multi-day process to allow for greater distancing.
  • Students will be assigned a specific move-in time slot based on their room assignment. Their move-in date and time will be visible via MyUHDS when they have been assigned a room.
  • More information will be shared on our Move-In Guide page as plans are developed.
  • Furniture and traffic flow within dining centers has been arranged to allow for  greater distancing between individuals.

  

Face Coverings

 

Updated August 5, 2021

Effective August 5, 2021, face coverings are required in all public indoor settings at Oregon State.

This policy will be reviewed weekly, adjusted as appropriate, and communicated on the COVID-19 Safety & Success website.

For purposes of this face covering requirement, “public indoor settings” at OSU include indoor environments in university-owned or controlled property or in which OSU activities are held, and which are open to the public. Examples include classrooms, dining centers (except while seated to consume food/drink), recreation centers, indoor sports venues, conference and event centers and spaces, service centers, front desks, and offices with frequent engagement with OSU community members or the public.

Generally, public indoor settings do not include university workspaces (e.g., offices or cubicles) and spaces within residence halls that do not have high frequency or recurring visitations by the public, and where individuals are not exposed to others who are not assigned to work in that space.

  

Screening & Self-Isolation

 

Updated August 26, 2021

All OSU employees and students should regularly screen themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone who is experiencing a new symptom or who feels ill should stay home and consult with a medical provider.

  • We recommend that students bring a thermometer with them to campus and regularly screen themselves for a heightened temperature or other potential symptoms of COVID-19. Body temperature should be below 100°F/38°C without the use of medication to reduce temperature.
  • Please review additional symptoms and self-screening criteria.
  • Residents who feel sick should remain in their residence hall and contact their primary care physician, Student Health Services, or a local emergency medical care provider.
  • Student Health Services offers telehealth appointments.
  • Student Health Services will provide COVID-19 testing for patients who are experiencing any COVID symptoms. Testing is typically covered by all carriers. The CARES Act currently provides testing free of charge to uninsured patients. For more details about testing, please call SHS.

  • All incoming campus residents will receive an OSU-administered COVID-19 test during fall term move-in.

  • University Housing & Dining Services has set aside rooms on campus for students to move into should the need for self-isolation arise.
  • Students who need to self-isolate may use our Isolation Food Delivery Service, available through the student MyUHDS portal.

  

Testing

Updated Sep. 15, 2021

All students living on campus for fall 2021 are required to be tested for COVID-19 during fall term move-in regardless of vaccination status. Students living in the residence halls who are unvaccinated will be required to test weekly at a testing site located on the OSU campus. See below for additional testing information. Please be aware if local public health conditions change, testing requirements may change.

  • Oregon State will require an OSU-administered COVID-19 test of all incoming campus residents, regardless of vaccination status, at Move-in. Testing will be available upon your arrival at Reser Stadium. Be sure to have your insurance card and photo identification ready.
  • Test results will be posted on your SHS portal within 48-72 hours. In the event of a positive result, Student Health staff will contact you about isolation options. Please be aware if local public health conditions change, testing requirements may continue or change.
  • Wastewater testing for the surveillance of COVID-19 is planned to continue throughout OSU residence halls this fall.
  • On-campus residents will be notified if wastewater sampling detects the virus in their residence hall community. These residents may be required to complete an OSU-administered test for COVID-19.  
  • Student Health Services will provide COVID-19 testing for patients who are experiencing any COVID symptoms. Testing is typically covered by all carriers. The CARES Act currently provides testing free of charge to uninsured patients. For more details about testing, please call SHS.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Are first-year students allowed to live off campus?

Updated July 27, 2021

We understand that due to the unique circumstances of COVID-19, there may be reasons why some students -- or their families -- do not feel that living on campus is in their best health interests. As a result, for academic year 2021-2022, requests for an exemption from the FYE Live-On Residency Requirement due to COVID-19 will be considered as follows:

  • Students who have an underlying medical condition that puts them at higher risk for severe illness for COVID-10, may request an exemption through OSU's Disability Access Services (DAS).
  • Students who have COVID-19 concerns that are not related to their own medical conditions may request an exemption by completing the FYE Live-on Residency Exemption Request Form.

To learn about policies for OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 
What steps are dining centers taking to reduce the risk of COVID-19?

Updated July 27, 2021

With state guidance being lifted, UHDS dining centers plan to operate at typical serving capacity this fall. We anticipate having dine-in service available in all restaurants, cafes and coffee shops. Dining areas and dining center bathrooms are cleaned daily, with additional sanitization of high touchpoint areas as needed. Our cleaning standards and processes are in line with current CDC recommendations and we use disinfectants that meet the EPA criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. We will continue to offer low-contact food service options such as mobile pick-up and robot delivery services.

To learn more about OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 
What steps are being taken to reduce COVID-19 risk to students in their residential hall rooms with a roommate?

Updated July 27, 2021

We encourage all residents to responsibly practice best measures to manage their health and help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as daily self-monitoring for symptoms, complying with testing requirements, washing their hands frequently, and following OSU’s Safety and Success policy.

For more information about OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 
If someone is sick in my hall, what will be the procedure for isolating them?

Updated July 27, 2021

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. 

To learn about hos this works at OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 
My roommate is sick, and I'm concerned about my own health. What do I do?

Updated February 26, 2021

Please talk to your Resident Director and they can assist with an emergency room change process to move rooms or discuss our isolation and quarantine spaces. You can also contact the hall staff member on duty by calling your hall’s duty phone.

To learn about how this works at OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 
What if I’m living on campus and feeling sick or think I'm exposed but am not sick yet?

Updated Feb. 26, 2021

If you are not well, remain in your residence hall and contact your primary care physician, or the Student Health Services Nurse Advice Line, or a local emergency medical care provider. Please remain mindful of physical distancing and prepare to quarantine.

To learn about policies for OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 
Is testing required of on-campus residents?

Updated July 27, 2021

At this time we do not anticipate that vaccinated UHDS residents living on campus Fall 2021 and beyond will be required to test regularly for COVID-19 once their vaccination card information has been verified by Student Health Services.

More information about any required testing for non-vaccinated students prior to move-in is forthcoming, and UHDS residents will be notified before Sept. 2021.

To learn about policies for OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 
I have received the vaccine and am fully vaccinated. Will I still be required to test weekly as an on-campus resident?

Updated July 27, 2021

We anticipate that students wo are fully vaccinated and have completed the attestation requirement will not be required to undergo asymptomatic testing regularly.

To learn about how this works at OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 

As a fully vaccinated resident living in on-campus housing, if another resident that I work with or have spent time with contracts COVID-19, will I be required to isolate or quarantine?

Updated July 27, 2021

Unless directed by the local public health authority, we anticipate that you will not need to quarantine or isolate as long as you are asymptomatic (symptom-free).

To learn about how this works at OSU-Cascades, visit its website.

 

If I am placed in a triple room, will I have one or two roommates for the 2021-22 academic year?

Updated July 27, 2021

The previous state health guidelines that impacted filling triple rooms to full capacity have been lifted at this time, and due to demand for on-campus housing, we plan to return triple rooms to their full capacities.

Additional questions?

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