Loyola University > Return to Campus > Housing
Housing
As we begin to open the residence halls to more students this year, we want to ensure all students understand how spring 2021 will look different. A number of new guidelines and policies will be in place. These are meant to ensure the safety of our students and the staff members who manage on-campus housing and dining services. The information below is intended to give students and families an idea of what on-campus life will look like this coming semester. For a complete list of guidelines, students should refer to their COVID-19 training module and the Spring 2021 Housing Agreement.
For a full list of FAQs related to housing for the spring semester, visit: LUC.edu/returntocampus/residentiallifefaqs.
In This Section
On Campus
For the spring 2021 semester, Loyola's residence halls will be open to a reduced capacity. All students will be living in single-occupancy rooms. All first-year students who held an active housing agreement on August 6, 2020 will be granted housing, but the residency requirement for second-year students has been temporarily lifted for the 2020–2021 academic year.We are currently operating under Phase Four of the city and state's reopening plans. Should conditions require the city or state to revert to Phase Three or impose other restrictions that prevent ongoing campus operations, it may be necessary for all residential students to move off campus. If this occurs, the University will communicate all necessary next steps.
Policies for residents and their guests have also been adjusted for the upcoming academic year. Among the changes being instituted are:
- Face coverings are required in all public areas of residence halls including lobbies, elevators, bathrooms, common lounges/kitchens, stairwells, hallways, and laundry rooms.
- Common lounges and kitchens will be open for student use once the 14-day move-in quarantine has passed. Strict occupancy guidelines will be enforced.
- The semester will begin with no guests being allowed in the residence halls for a 30-day period. Once that period has passed, Residence Life will communicate any new guidelines for guests.
- Occupancy in elevators will be limited based on elevator size; residents and guests should use stairwells when possible.
- Some stairwells will be designated as one-way traffic; residents and guests should follow directional signage when using the stairs.
- Staff will take additional measures to sanitize carpets (beyond shampooing) and clean surfaces with disinfectants approved by the CDC.
As guidance around preventing the spread of COVID-19 changes, Residence Life will update signage within residence halls to reflect current policies. Please see the Residence Life Health and Safety Guidelines for additional details on health and safety practices within residence halls.
Move In
Move in will take place the week of January 11. Students will be assigned a date and time to arrive to campus. Each student may only bring one guest into the residence hall to assist with unpacking. More detailed instructions—including traffic routes—will be sent along with housing assignment information in early December.Isolation/Quarantine
As defined by the CDC, isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick while quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. Loyola's policies for isolation and quarantine are outlined below.
First 14 Days – Move-In Quarantine
For the first two weeks after arriving to campus, all on-campus students will be required to observe a 14-day Move-In Quarantine. During this period, students will be required to remain inside their residence hall. Students may only leave their residence hall to complete their required COVID-19 testing. Students may leave their rooms to do laundry or to pick up deliveries at the front door of the building.Students will be coming to the residence halls from around the country. Each students’ home community may be different, both in terms of coronavirus transmission and public health restrictions. It is important that a quarantine period is observed to protect the entire on-campus community. No matter where students are arriving from, they must observe the quarantine period. Faculty are aware of the quarantine period and will provide online options for residential students if needed
Isolation
Anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus-with or without symptoms-must isolate until they are no longer considered at risk of infecting others. Students who are housed in a residence hall with private bathrooms will isolate in their assigned room. Any student living in a residence hall with a shared bath will be relocated to St. Louis Hall where they will live during their isolation period. While in isolation, you may not leave the building, and you may not host any visitors. You will be provided with food and have access to a care coordinator for additional support.Students will monitor their symptoms and a medical provider from the Wellness Center will provide regular virtual wellness checks. These will help to determine when students can safely end their isolation period. The CDC guidelines recommend an isolation period lasting a minimum of ten days.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, a contact tracer will call you within 24 hours to discuss who you’ve been in contact with and where you spent time while you may have been infectious to others. Your name will not be revealed to those you may have exposed, even if they ask.
Positive Diagnosis Isolation
In the event a student is diagnosed with COVID-19, they will need to isolate. If a student lives in an apartment-style room, they must remain in their room for a minimum of 10 days. Students in suite-style units may need to be moved to another location on campus. Buildings on campus have been set aside for COVID-positive students. It is crucial that students observe a full 10-day isolation period after a positive diagnosis to protect the larger campus community. The Wellness Center will provide assistance in contacting your professors and arranging meal deliveries during the isolation period. Questions about isolation care can be sent to covid-19report@LUC.edu or 773.508.7707.Students will monitor their symptoms and a medical provider from the Wellness Center will provide regular virtual wellness checks. These will help to determine when students can safely end their isolation period. The CDC guidelines recommend an isolation period lasting a minimum of 10 days.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, a contact tracer will call you within 24 hours to discuss who you’ve been in contact with and where you spent time while you may have been infectious to others. Your name will not be revealed to those you may have exposed, even if they ask.
If clusters of positive cases emerge in particular buildings or areas of campus, Residence Life may need to quarantine whole buildings for a period of 14 days. Students should be ready for a quarantine or isolation at any time. This includes keeping on-hand an ample supply of clean clothes and toiletries for a 14-day period.
What happens if I am exposed to COVID-19?
You may learn about being exposed to someone with COVID-19 through a process called contact tracing. Contact tracingis a public health tool used to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Contract tracing involves identifying people who have an infectious disease and the people who they came in contact with and working with them to interrupt disease spread (through isolation and quarantine).Quarantine
Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. If you think that you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 but are unsure, you can contact Dial-A-Nurse at 773-508-8883 (leave a message if call is not answered) to discuss your concerns.An exposure is defined as an individual who has had close contact (< 6 feet) with someone with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 for greater than fifteen minutes.
If you are exposed and need to self-quarantine you will do so in your primary residence hall or off-campus apartment. The quarantine period is 14 days as recommended by the CDC. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you will have access to medical care through the Wellness Center and should contact Dial-A-Nurse at 773-508-8883 (leave a message if call is not answered) or schedule a nurse triage appointment online.
Testing, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine are essential for containing the spread of COVID-19 and will help ensure that we can remain on campus safely, engaging as a community. Now, more than ever students are called to care for themselves, care for others, and care for the community.
Exposure Quarantine
The University will have a contact tracing program when students arrive at the residence halls. If a student receives a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, their close contacts will be identified. The identity of a COVID-positive student will never be disclosed to close contacts during the contact tracing process. If a student is identified as being exposed to the virus because of close contact with another student, they will need to quarantine for 14 days. Students in apartment-style units with kitchens and bathrooms are expected to remain in their rooms. Students in suite-style units may need to be moved temporarily to another location on campus to ensure isolation from other students. Students in exposure quarantine may not leave their rooms for any reason. Leaving their rooms after exposure to the virus risks the health of other students and staff. Students should be ready for quarantine or isolation at any time. This includes keeping on-hand an ample supply of clean clothes and toiletries for a 14-day period.The Wellness Center will provide assistance in contacting your professors and arranging meal deliveries during the quarantine period. Questions about quarantine care can be sent to covid-19report@LUC.edu or 773.508.7707.
For more information on Loyola's Positive Diagnosis Protocols click here.
Off Campus
Students who cannot be accommodated in an on-campus residence hall will be referred to Lakeside Management for single-occupancy leasing.Residence Life Health and Safety Guidelines
Students are asked to adhere to posted signage related to COVID-19 safety and in general should always follow Loyola’s Required Personal Safety Practices. As guidance is changing rapidly, posted signage will be updated to reflect the most accurate information available. All student residents are expected to abide by the following guidelines:Testing
All residential students will be required to comply with frequent surveillance testing, contact tracing, and, if needed, resulting quarantine and isolation. Failure to comply with testing requirements will result in referral to the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.
For more information please visit: LUC.edu/coronavirus/oncampustesting
For more information please visit: LUC.edu/coronavirus/oncampustesting
Hand washing
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. When using hand sanitizer, cover all surfaces of your hands with it and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and always wash your hands after touching your face.
Face Coverings
Face coverings are required in all public areas of the residence halls. These include lobbies, elevators, bathrooms, stairwells, hallways, laundry rooms, common lounges, and kitchens (when open).
Social/Physical Distancing
Put distance between yourself and others whenever possible. The CDC recommends keeping a minimum of six feet of distance from other people.
Guests
For the first month, no one will be permitted to be signed in as guests in the residence halls. Residents may host one additional resident in their room/apartment, presuming that person lives in the same residence hall. Residents are strongly encouraged to practice distancing and wear a mask if in a space with another resident. The guest policy will be revisited after the first month of classes. Exceptions may be made by the resident director of each building.
Elevators
Occupancy in elevators will be limited based on elevator size. Please adhere to floor signage indicating the number of persons allowed in each elevator car. Residents and their guests are encouraged to use stairwells, if able.
Stairwells
Some residential stairwells will be designated for one-way traffic only. Please adhere to the directional signage in stairwells, if present.
Hallways
In buildings where flow can be established, residents will be encouraged to use the hallways in one direction. Follow distancing guidelines and signage.
Bathrooms
Where students are sharing a bathroom with one other resident, please refrain from placing items on bathroom counters. If the toilet has a lid, close it before flushing. Wear a face covering as much as possible, with exceptions for when wearing one would inhibit activities (brushing teeth, showering, etc.). Practice good cleaning habits if you are sharing a bathroom with another resident.
Lobbies
Each residence hall lobby has been designed to support student safety. Please be mindful of the number of students congregating in a lobby at any given time. Follow distancing guidelines and signage.
Common Spaces
When students return to campus, common lounges and kitchens will be closed during move-in quarantine. As guidance changes, Residence Life will update signage and policies for student use.
Room Occupancy
All residents are encouraged to host no more than one guest in their room at any time. Residents and guests should always adhere to six feet of social distancing, where possible. Face coverings are encouraged while hosting your guest.
Printers
Residents should practice social distancing when waiting in line to use a printer in their residence hall. Follow signage guidelines.
Laundry Rooms
Residents should not wait in the laundry room for their laundry loads to finish and should take laundry back to their rooms for folding. Adhere to six feet of social distancing when using the laundry rooms and follow signage. Face coverings are required.
Last Modified: Wed, December 9, 2020 10:47 AM CST
