COVID-19 update: A Message for Students & Families (March 21, 2020)

Dear Students and Families,

First, my thanks to all of you for your support and cooperation as we navigate the many unknowns and rapidly changing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. I know the decision to continue remote learning and to close our residence halls has presented a lot of challenges for students and families. We are all so inspired by the way our community responds with kindness, compassion and caring in moments like this, from those offering to pack and ship belongings to their friends to local residents opening their homes to students who need a place to stay. Thank you for the way you have supported one another.

You’ve asked lots of questions this week and we will continue to keep information coming your way. I hope the information below will answer some of the most frequently-asked questions.

We are all trying to answer your emails as quickly as possible, but we sometimes fall behind. Whenever possible, please send questions to COVID19@denison.edu in order to get the quickest response.

Sincerely,

Laurel Kennedy

Current Move Out Process

Many have been able to return to campus to pack up and move out, or have identified a proxy. I know many are still planning to return this weekend and through the 25th. I remind you that when you get on campus, you do not need to come to the Housing Office to check in. Please park near your residence hall and call 740-587-6271 between 9-4. Someone will meet you at your residence hall to help you access the building.

Options for Moving Out in the Future

Many who are unable to return by March 25th have written to ask what other opportunities you will have to be reunited with your belongings. It is our intent to open another window of time for students to retrieve their own belongings. We understand that for many of our students, this is their preferred option. Doing so is largely contingent on official guidance from the State of Ohio and the needs of the campus and local community. We will offer as many options as we reasonably can to accommodate the different preferences our students have expressed. We ask our students to understand the complexity we are facing as we navigate an extraordinary set of circumstances.

We are focused right now on supporting the current move out process and helping students still on campus get home, to family and friends, or into homestays with local hosts.

We will begin planning the next phase of move out options and processes the first week of April. By then we should have more guidance from the State of Ohio.

Our ability to plan effectively and provide as many options as possible will largely depend on the information students provide us now about the current state of their rooms. We need all students to complete the Spring 2020 Housing Checkout form immediately. To date,1015 students have provided their information. (Thank you!)

If you haven’t yet, please do so now: MyDenison »MyHousing » Applications » Spring Checkout (Spring 2020). Your completion of this form allows us to identify which students will need additional opportunities following 3/25. No need to send further information on your preferences at this time. We’ll be in touch!

Please be aware that it is very possible that we are entering emergency conditions, under which we may be asked to use our residence halls for quarantine space for first responders or other critical community purposes. We will do our best to respect the wishes of those who want to pack their own belongings, but we cannot guarantee this, given the reality of the pandemic and the needs of the community.

Reimbursement Information

We are working out the best way to process prorated adjustments for the unused portion of students’ room and board charges. Please give us some time to sort out the specifics. As soon as we have, we will share that information with you. ‌

Student Financial Support

We‌ ‌continue to offer financial support‌ for those who need it to help ‌with‌ ‌travel‌ ‌arrangements, technology for remote learning, and other purposes. Please contact the Financial Aid office at 740-587-6276 for support.‌ ‌ ‌

Student Health and Wellness

All students will receive a special-edition wellness newsletter early next week. It will include information on the health and counseling services we are able to offer remotely as well as other remote wellness programming. The staff in the Wellness Center is hard at work identifying ways to continue to offer as many resources and services as possible.

Building Access

In support of our social-distancing efforts, as of 5 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20, we have closed the campus to visitors. Buildings will only be accessible via card access by the campus community (faculty, staff, students, contractors and emergency personnel). If you need a new card, please email housing@denison.edu. Your card will be sent to the Campus Safety Office for pickup.

Dining Services

We are focused on keeping faculty, staff, students and dining staff safe while still providing dining services. Bon Appetit and Denison University’s COVID-19 task force are in regular contact and are monitoring all federal and local recommendations. For the health and safety of students and staff, to help prevent potential community spread of the COVID-19 virus in accordance with health department guidance, we are taking these steps:

• Offering to-go orders
• Enforcing social distancing and requesting that all patrons and guests refrain from in-house dining
• Removing all self-service and communal condiments and other items
• Emphasizing and enforcing personal hygiene awareness and our health-reporting policies with staff
• We will remain open with the special hours of operation listed below

  Saturday-Sunday, 3.21.2020-3.22.2020

  Slayter Market

  10:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.

  Common Grounds

  10:00 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.

  Monday-Friday, 3.23.2020-3.27.2020

  Slayter Market

  9:00 a.m. — 8:00 p.m.

  Common Grounds

  8:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m.

  For updates please visit the Bon Appetit website.

Bookstore

The Bookstore is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Instructions will be coming soon to students regarding book buyback.

Closures

In accordance with guidance from Governor Dewine, the following facilities are closed until further notice:

• The Library is closed but online resources will remain available. You may connect with library staff and/or consult Library Guides. More specific information will be available Monday, March 24.
• Mitchell Center including Crown Fitness Center is currently closed
• The Denison Museum is currently closed
• The Denison Art Space in Newark is currently closed