Home / Caldwell University Restart Plan / On-Campus Residential Housing

On-Campus Residential Housing

Caldwell University is planning for a reduction in the resident population in accordance with Executive Order 155. Additional reductions are expected due to the inability of international students to obtain visas or plane tickets, and the reluctance of some of our students to reside in communal living during a pandemic.  Additional reductions in capacity have been made resulting in a waitlist for the residence halls.

Stage 3

  • How will you reduce capacity in on-campus housing facilities to the extent practicable in accordance with Executive Order 155? Please list your overall occupancy rate and your reduced occupancy rate. 

There are three residence halls on campus with a combined capacity of approximately 630 residents. Quad and triple occupancy rooms have been reduced to double rooms. Quad rooms or suites that have two separate bedrooms with a private bathroom will be used.  The residence halls are set up to operate at 85% to 88% occupancy if all students who are currently assigned move in. However, since most new international students are not expected to arrive given the closure of their countries’ embassies or consulates and restrictions on air travel, a decline of an additional 36 occupied beds is anticipated. This will reduce our planned capacity by 20%. 

  • What criteria will your campus use to identify students for whom residential housing is necessary for an equitable education?

For the students who have not been assigned housing already, a wait list has been created. The wait list will not be used until move-in is complete. The wait list will prioritize students based on the following criteria: distance, housing insecurity, personal hardship, access to transportation, deposit date, application date. There will be two batches of wait list assignments as more space becomes available.  Each time, priority will be recalibrated to accommodate late applicants. 

  • How will the institution ensure infection prevention measures are followed in shared or common areas (such as residence hall kitchens, game rooms, bathrooms, etc.)? 

Common spaces such as kitchens, lounges, public single use bathrooms, and laundry rooms will have daily cleanings and disinfectant supplies will be available for students to wipe down areas before and after use. The number of occupants at a given time will also be limited in these spaces to ensure social distancing.

  • What steps will the institution take to minimize outside visitors to residence halls? 

Outside visitors will not be permitted either as day or overnight guests.  

  • Describe routine cleaning measures to be implemented in on-campus housing, including communal bathrooms. 

Communal bathrooms will be cleaned two times daily, seven days a week, in accordance with state guidelines. 

  • What protocols are in place for residents who need to isolate and quarantine? Please list the amount of housing (single rooms/private bathrooms) available to house these individuals. 

Students who need to quarantine or isolate themselves will go home to do so. In the event a student cannot go home, fourteen spaces are currently designated on campus for isolation and quarantine.  An additional wing can be made available for quarantine housing in addition to the designated spaces if needed. If the University has determined a need to isolate or quarantine a student, the following will occur: 

Quarantine:

  • Students would be placed independently in a room with a private bathroom, with as much separation as possible from other residents. Isolation rooms can be used as quarantine rooms if fully unoccupied and necessary. Students will have food delivered through established protocols and must self-monitor for the 14-day period. 

Isolation:

  • Students will be placed independently in a room with a private bathroom, with as much separation as possible from other residents. Rooms identified for Fall 2020 can hold up to two individuals. Food will be delivered through established protocols and students must self-monitor for the 14-day period.

Process for Determination and Assignment

  • The Graduate Resident Director (GRD) on call will receive a call from the front desk and will be provided with a student’s name and cell phone number.
  • The GRD will then call to make sure the student is in his/her room.
  • In the event that the student cannot travel home and isolation or quarantine is needed, the GRD will then assign the student to an available space by providing the student with a room number, combination for lock box, self-monitoring instructions and isolation/quarantine checklist via email.
  • The student will have 20 minutes to gather personal items and then will walk directly to the space provided. The student must wear a face mask and cannot stop or talk to anyone in the process.
  • The GRD will call the student’s roommate to ask him/her to remain away from the room for an hour. The roommate will then be asked to quarantine in that room and contact tracing will commence. 
  • The student will then proceed to the assigned space and will remain there and monitor and report symptoms until cleared to return to  normal activities by Health Services (for the 14-day period and self-monitor as per instructions by Health Services).

Self Monitoring Instructions: 

  • Self monitoring will include keeping track of all symptoms and seeking emergency medical attention (911) if serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish color of the lips or face should be present.  
  • Temperature should be monitored with a thermometer and recorded twice a day along with any other symptoms that are noticed.   

Cleaning Protocol

  • The custodial team will wait 24 hours after a student has left a space before  entering the room.
  • The space will be cleaned with an electrostatic fogger first to disinfect.
  • All surfaces will be cleaned including the kitchenette, room keys and table outside the bedroom. 
  • All trash will be immediately disposed of outside the buildings.
  • Keys will be returned to the lock box outside the room.
  • New shower curtains will be placed in the room and cleaning supplies will be replenished.

Stage 2

All protocols will remain the same in Stage 2 as described in Stage 3 for the small population of students in residence.  All common areas such as lounges, kitchenettes, etc. will be closed.