Residence Life

2020 REOPENING PLAN - REVISED

In recent weeks, the Ohio Department of Health has seen an increase in community-wide spread and we are working to find ways to proactively de-densify our residence halls. It is now our goal to have mostly single occupancy in our residence hall rooms.

Our fall semester will look and feel differently, and we want you to have a realistic expectation of your return this fall to BGSU. For example:

Face coverings must be worn when you are not in your private residence
Self-monitoring of your health will be required each morning
Classrooms have been de-densified and physically distanced
The size of social group meetings will be limited
Guests will not be allowed in your residence hall room
COVID-19 testing and contact tracing will be necessary
Proactive quarantine and isolation practices have been put in place
While your physical interactions will be distanced, we will also lean heavily on creative and virtual engagement

Due to all of these restrictions that must be put in place because of COVID-19, we are strongly encouraging students to consider alternative living arrangements and to complete their coursework remotely or fully online.

MOVE-IN DATES

New Students | Aug. 20-22
Returning Students | Aug. 23-25

Isolation Process
Residency Requirement
Guests & Visitors

Who Should Cancel Their Housing Contract?

Students who are able to commute from home or who can make arrangements to live off campus and learn remotely or fully online are encouraged to cancel their 2020-2021 Housing Contract using the COVID-19 Housing Appeal by 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 10.

If your coursework requires in-person/hybrid classes or you need to be close to campus for other reasons, you should consider the following alternative living arrangements:

Commute from your permanent residence if it’s within commuting distance
If your permanent residence is too far away to commute from, consider an alternative off-campus living arrangement

COVID-19 Housing Appeal

Due 12 p.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 10

$1,500 for the First 2,000 Housing Cancelations

Understanding this is a huge inconvenience and disruption to your plans at a late date and recognizing the limitations in off-campus housing in Bowling Green, the University is offering a pament of $1,500 to the first 2,000 students who cancel their housing assignment between Aug. 6-10.

If you already made the decision to withdraw from your housing assignment this semester, there is also funding available for emergency financial assistance if you have been negatively impacted by this global pandemic. A form will be available soon on the Office of the Bursar website to qualify for a $1,500 emergency assistance.

Can Students Live On Campus This Fall?

Students who must live on campus for specific reasons, such as their major requires them to be on campus and they cannot find an alternative living arrangement, still have an opportunity to live on campus at this time.

However if you still choose to live on campus and you are currently assigned to a double bedroom, it is possible your room assignment will change to accommodate the goal to de-densify rooms to single-occupancy.

Room changes will be completed by Aug. 13.

If you are currently assigned to a double room, your room rate will not increase if you get moved to a single room or your room is reclassified as a single. To be fair and equitable, if you are currently assigned to a single, we will decrease your room rate after the room changes have been made.

ACTION REQUIRED BY ALL RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS

We recognize this is a lot to consider! And, for many of you, the decision to live on-campus was made long before the world changed. We want to make sure you have a chance to review these new expectations, talk them over with your family, and make a choice that aligns with your safety, personal needs, and the level of risk appropriate for you.

Due to these changes, we are asking you to complete one of two processes based on how you want to proceed:

OPTION #1: NEED TO LIVE ON CAMPUS

It is important you understand that we are HIGHLY encouraging you not to live on campus this fall. If you are in a situation where you have to live on campus this fall the following needs to be completed to be cleared for move-in:

You must have a move-in appointment. If you have not scheduled an appointment, you need to email us at reslife@bgsu.edu.
You need to read and complete the Falcon Commitment

OPTION #2: CANCEL YOUR HOUSING & RECEIVE A $1,500 CREDIT

The University is offering a $1,500 credit to the first 2,000 students that cancel their housing assignment between Aug. 6-10. If you are canceling your contract, you can do so using the 2020-21 COVID-19 Housing Appeal form. Students who canceled prior to Aug. 6, information will be provided by the Office of the Bursar.

COVID-19 Appeal

2020 ON-CAMPUS HOUSING
It is important you understand that we are HIGHLY encouraging you not to live on campus this fall. If you are in a situation where you have to live on campus this fall, the information below outlines the resources and additional measures we are putting in place to do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19. But, it is up to EVERYONE to ensure the residence halls remain a safe and healthy space to live. We can't do it alone. It will be up to students to do their part inside and outside of our buildings as well to keep themselves and their neighbors safe and healthy.

BUILDING OPERATIONS
The residence halls will be operated differently compared to previous years. Here are some highlights. Please review the revised processes listed below.

You will only be able to enter and leave the residence halls from a single point of entry and exit
Common areas and elevators will have an adjusted maximum occupancy posted
Hand sanitizing stations will be located in high-traffic areas of the buildings
Student gatherings will be very limited inside the residence halls
Guests will NOT be permitted in the building or in your room

Building Entry & Exits

During the academic school year all entrances, except a designated single point of entry and exit, will be restricted to emergency use only.

This change helps us ensure the entryways will be on a strict cleaning regimen that our staff can maintain.

Community Kitchen

Every residence hall has a community kitchen available for residents to use. These will be open for the 2020-21 academic year but with limitations:

Only one person can use the kitchen at a time.
No cookware will be provided.
You must clean and sanitize everything before and after using the kitchen. This includes the countertop, oven knobs, fridge handle, sink handle, light switch and the entrance and exit door knobs.
Cleaning supplies will be available for students to disinfect before and after use.

Campus Operations will also clean the kitchens on a daily basis, but it is the responsibility of every resident to do their part to keep the kitchens safe to use. This process is subject to change if students are unable to adhere to these limitations.

Community Laundry

All residence halls have community laundry room(s) available for residents to use. These will be open for the 2020-21 academic year but students will be required to follow the posted occupancy signs, remain six feet apart at all times and wear a cloth face covering while using the space.

Cleaning supplies will be available for students to disinfect before and after use.

LAUNDRY TIPS:

We recommend NOT using PODS in our machines. Students tend to overload the washers which does not give the PODS enough room to move around and dissolve. This leads to a residue left on the clothing, requiring multiple washes to get it out.
Download the BGSU App! The app shows you what machines are available and when your laundry is ready.

Lounges

LOUNGES

Every residence hall has multiple lounges available for residents to use. These will be open for the 2020-21 academic year but students will be required to follow the posted occupancy signs, remain six feet apart at all times and wear a cloth face covering while using the space.

Cleaning supplies will be available for students to disinfect before and after use.

Residence Hall Computer Labs

Every residence hall has a computer lab available for residents to use. These will be open for the 2020-21 academic year but students will be required to follow the posted occupancy signs, remain six feet apart at all times and wear a cloth face covering while using the space.

Cleaning supplies will be available for students to disinfect before and after use.

Front Desk Processes

Our team is working on revised front desk processes that will be rolled out closer to move-in. Details will be provided to students as details are finalized.

These policies could affect check-in and guest procedures, protocols on what items can be checked out by residents and more.

2020-2021 Guests & Visitation Policy

To strengthen our ability to limit the spread of COVID-19, Bowling Green State University has adjusted the on-campus visitation and guest policy and will no longer allow guests or visitors into on-campus housing. A student will only be able to access the building and room/suite they are assigned. This policy modification will be reviewed throughout the academic year and changes may occur based upon the Ohio Public Health Advisory System and guidance from BGSU’s Chief Health Officer, as well as, local and state health officials.

For move-in specific guest policies, please review the Move-in Guide.

Updated 2020 Move-In Plan

In order to provide more physical distancing and to adjust to the new 2020-2021 Academic Calendar, move-in dates have been adjusted to the following dates:

New Students | Aug. 20-22
Returning Students | Aug. 23-25

As new move-in plans are implemented, they will be posted on our move-in website.

Learn More

HEALTH & SAFETY
Each residence hall is its own, individual community and students with roommates and suite-mates will be treated as a single household. The health of this community will be driven by the behavior of the members and it is vital all community members take an active role in keeping everyone safe by:

Practicing proper hand washing
Wearing face covering
Practicing physical distancing
Checking your temperature daily
Sanitizing your personal space on a daily basis

KEEPING YOUR RESIDENCE HALL SAFE
In addition to the University COVID-19 protocols, we have put together the following resources to ensure we are all doing our part to keep your home on campus safe. Please read through the following tabs carefully.

Cleaning

Bowling Green State University is following CDC and local health officials’ guidance on cleaning protocols in the residence halls. Residents will notice staff disinfecting common areas and cleaning community restrooms more frequently. Residents should be cleaning their rooms and private bathrooms multiple times a week in accordance with the CDC-recommended cleaning procedures and products.

Increased Building Cleaning Procedures

Every day, Campus Operations will go into the community bathrooms, lobbies and lounges to disinfect using a combination of electrostatic cleaning and disinfectant spray.
Twice a week, a Kaivac Cleaning System will be used in every community bathroom for a deep cleaning.
High-touch public areas will be disinfected several times per day. This includes, but is not limited to, door handles, laundry room areas, kitchens and elevators

The increased cleaning efforts by Campus Operations should not replace every resident's responsibility to keep their building clean. Students should do their part to minimize touching and utilizing public spaces. When utilizing a public space, students should use CDC-compliant cleaning products to disinfect the area before and after use. Supplies will be available at the front desks to clean public spaces but students will be responsible for their own disinfecting supplies for their room.

Face Coverings

GENERAL INFORMATION

Everyone in the residence halls will be expected to wear cloth face coverings in all common areas, which is considered to be any area outside of a personal room or suite within the residence hall.

Students with roommates and suite-mates will be treated as a single household and as a result will not need to wear a face covering while inside their on-campus room. Residents, staff, guests and visitors are expected to wear cloth face coverings in all common areas of the residence hall, which is considered to be any area outside of their room or suite within the residence hall.

The CDC has currently reported, “COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.”

Although cloth face coverings may not protect the wearer, this practice has been implemented in the residence halls to help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to others. Standing six feet apart does not excuse the requirement of wearing a mask.

We recommend purchasing reusable face coverings that can be washed or enough disposable coverings for the semester prior to move-in. Cloth face coverings can also be made out of everyday household items. We will provide each resident with a face covering as well. We also recommend reading the following resources prior to move-in day:

Quarantine and Isolation Process medicalcross

While our actions will make a difference, we also recognize that it is unlikely we will be immune to the virus on our campuses. We are instituting proactive quarantine and isolation practices. Based on the date of contact with any COVID-19 positive individual, you and your roommate, if you have one, may have to quarantine together for up to 14 days in your residence hall room or return to your permanent residence. If you test positive for COVID-19, you will move to designated isolation apartments. Academic accommodations will be made, and meals will be delivered to students in isolation.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

The University is offering a $1,500 credit to the first 2,000 students that cancel their housing assignment between Aug. 6-10. If you are canceling your contract, you can do so using the 2020-21 COVID-19 Housing Appeal form. Students who canceled prior to Aug. 6, information will be provided by the Office of the Bursar.

COVID-19 Appeal

COVID-19 Student Action Plan

We are no longer requiring the COVID-19 Student Action Plan.

Contact Us

OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE
470 Math Science Building
Bowling Green, OH 43403
419-372-2011 | reslife@bgsu.edu

Staff Directory