Coronavirus (COVID-19) On-Campus Housing FAQs

This page serves as a location for updates and information regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as they pertain to living in campus housing at the University of Arizona. Housing & Residential Life, along with University of Arizona Leadership, continue to closely monitor how the pandemic impacts our campus community. We will post more information here as it becomes available. Please refer to the University's main Coronavirus (COVID-19) page regularly for important campus information. For questions or concerns, please contact the COVID Ambassador Team Hotline 7 days a week (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) at 520-848-4045 or covidhelp@arizona.edu.

Last updated: September 17

Latest Communications

Sept 14: Notice Regarding Wastewater Testing of Dorms

Aug 17: Update - COVID-19 Protocols for Living On-Campus

Aug 11: COVID-19 Protocols for Living in On-Campus Housing

FAQs

Submitted by adamciampaglio on 2020

What happens with the License Agreement (housing contract) if I can’t move into campus housing?

The License Agreement is binding at the time you agree(d) to its terms. From a financial perspective, however, only the provisions related to Housing Application Fees, Rent Down Payments and late cancellation fees (if any) are effective before you arrive on campus and move into your dorm. Under the terms of the License Agreement, if you cancel your housing application/assignment before you move in, or you don’t move in (you are a “no-show”), you will not be responsible for academic year rent charges beyond those application-related fees. If semester rent charges have already been posted to your account, they will be reversed at the time your cancellation/no-show is processed.

If my classes are a hybrid of online and in-person learning, will I still be charged the full cost for my dorm?

Rent is charged for the dorm room regardless of the modality of your classes. More specific details will be found in the Housing License Agreement and Addendum.

Will I know if my roommate is vaccinated?

The Housing office does not have access to student’s medical records. Consequently, we cannot make room assignments nor re-assignments based on students' vaccination status. For more information, please visit covid19.arizona.edu.

Submitted by adamciampaglio on 2020

What if I think someone in my building is sick?

If you think someone might be ill, please encourage them to seek care at Campus Health immediately. Please remember to be respectful, thoughtful, and considerate. We are all collectively responsible for our community’s well-being. Be sure that you are taking care of yourself and looking out for other campus community members.

There will be no temporary relocation of residents due to suspected positive cases, students should be directed to Campus Health.

How can Housing ensure the safety of students living on-campus?

As we all know, the risk that COVID-19 poses can be reduced but cannot be eliminated at this time. On-campus activities and dorm living present additional potential risks which should be considered carefully against the many benefits of living on-campus.

That being said, Housing & Residential Life and the University of Arizona are going to great lengths to reduce that risk wherever possible.

Each resident must adhere to the guidelines and recommendations set forth by Housing & Residential Life, Campus Health, the University of Arizona, the City of Tucson, and the State of Arizona.

Once a student moves into their dorm room or apartment, their space is considered a domestic, private domicile and not a public space where they routinely come into contact with others. We consider dorm rooms or apartments the student’s private home and thus cannot guarantee what behaviors or practices are followed within these spaces.

Housing & Residential Life will continue to provide residents with educational messaging and guidance for communal living, however it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to abide by guidance and physical distancing recommendations within their dorm room or apartment.

Housing & Residential Life enacted several building updates and modifications to align with CDC guidelines. We have been using our elevated cleaning protocols since March 2020. Additionally, we encourage students to review and follow our residential best practices.

What if I'm not feeling well after-hours?

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms after hours, you can call Campus Health's After Hours number at (520) 570-7898 and speak with a medical provider.

What if my roommate or suitemate tests positive for COVID-19?

Please review the University's COVID-19 Exposure Protocol.

If you have been fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine.

However, you should get tested 3-5 days after your exposure and watch for symptoms and get tested right away should you have any. You should mask in indoor settings and continue to monitor for symptoms for a full 14 days after your exposure.

If you are not fully vaccinated, please read on and take the following actions:

Call Campus Health to discuss next steps and testing at (520) 621-9202.
Stay in your room most of the time and follow CDC guidelines. See the quarantine instructions below.
Monitor your health for any possible symptoms. If symptoms develop, stay home and call Campus Health.

Quarantine means staying in your room most of the time unless you need to leave for essential trips. These include bathroom breaks, picking up food (to eat in your room) and occasional breaks for fresh air and exercise where you can maintain physical distance. When away from your room, always wear a mask, avoid groups, and limit your exposure with others as much as possible.

You may be able to shorten your quarantine

After day 7 if you receive a negative test result (test must occur on day 5 or later). You can also leave after 10 days in quarantine, but need to continue masking and monitoring for symptoms for a full 14 days
If you receive a positive test result, you will need to isolate with instructions from Campus Health

How to Safely Quarantine:

No In-Person Classes – Go to classes online only (if available) and let your instructor know.
Mask Up – Make sure to wear a mask at all times when outside of your room, no exceptions.
Watch Your Distance and Wash Your Hands - Stay at least 6 feet away from others, and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
Shared Restrooms - It’s OK to use shared restrooms. Try to use the restroom during low traffic times. Please clean up after yourself.
Socializing - Social contacts will need to remain online. Do not socialize in-person during quarantine.
Food & Meals - Get food delivered or have a friend drop off meals at your door, if possible. If picking up carry out is the only option, wear a mask, limit your exposure and go during less busy times.
Work Online Only - Do not go to work in person. Talk with your supervisor or HR representative to discuss options while you quarantine.
Exercise and Outside Time - Go outside to walk or do light activity in places where there are few people. Walk by yourself, make sure to distance from others, and go outside during low traffic times.
Remain in Quarantine for up to 14 days, or until you receive further instructions from Campus Health or from SAFER, a campus contact tracing group. See above for timing and options to leave quarantine early.
Watch for Symptoms - Monitor your health and call Campus Health at (520) 621-9202 if you develop any symptoms or have questions or concerns about your health. After Hours, please call (520) 570-7898.

I'm asymptomatic. Can I get a COVID-19 test?

Please visit the COVID-19 testing page for more information. If you are currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, stay isolated, self-quarantine and call to make an appointment with Campus Health Services or your healthcare provider.

My roommate tested positive. What cleaning options are available to me?

Download this information

Cleaning Packets and Buckets are available through your front desk for check out:

Cleaning Packets consist of:
- Disinfecting wipes
  - After cleaning with the wipes, you can keep or dispose of any unused wipes, you won’t return them to the desk.
The cleaning buckets are for rooms with a private or suite bathroom and consist of:
- Cleaning bucket
- Cleaning rags
- Gloves
- Toilet bowl brush (for dorms with pod, suite-style or private restrooms)
- Roll of paper towels
- Spray bottle of disinfectant
The cleaning bucket and spray bottle should be returned to your front desk upon completion of your quarantine

Best practices for disinfecting room surfaces

If possible, wear reusable or disposable gloves for routine cleaning and disinfection
Clean surfaces using soap and water, then use disinfectant
- Cleaning with soap and water reduces number of germs, dirt and impurities on the surface
- Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces
Follow the instructions found on the disinfectant label (often the product must be left on a surface for 5 minutes before wiping to kill the germs)
Practice daily routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces
- High-touch surfaces include tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.
- Shared items, like microwaves and refrigerators

Request for custodial staff to disinfect your room

You can request to have Housing custodial staff disinfect your room if your roommate has tested positive
This request can be submitted through a maintenance request. Follow the instructions at housing.arizona.edu/maintenance-request
- Custodial is available from 7AM-3PM (Monday-Friday)
  - If you submit a request after 3PM or on the weekend, it will be addressed the next business day
  - If there is an emergency after 3PM or on the weekend and cannot wait until the next business day, please work with dorm staff to submit an after-hours request
In preparation for the custodial staff’s arrival, please remove any of the following items from out in the open:
- Food and drinks
- Electronics
- Any items that touch your face, such as makeup
Once custodial staff has arrived, they will ask that you step out of the room for about 15 minutes while they disinfect the space
Once you return to the space, please open your window and leave it open for about 30 minutes

What will happen if I test positive for COVID-19, or get sick when I'm living on campus?

Please review the University's Positive Case Protocol.

If you have a positive result you will go directly to our isolation dorm for 10 days.

If students are local or have the ability to go home, we encourage you to do so for the duration of your isolation period. If going home is not an option, positive testing students will be moved to an isolation dorm. All students isolating on campus will have access to a virtual healthcare provider.
The Resident Assistant (RA) from the students assigned dorm will remain the student’s RA and will provide virtual support to the student throughout their stay in the isolation dorm.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided to you at no cost during your stay in the isolation dorm.
- Housing will collect any dietary preferences and allergies you may have, and will relay that information to the Meal Plans Office.
- Food delivery services are permitted, however deliveries must be contactless; please meet deliveries in the lobby area only.
You must be released by your UArizona healthcare provider before being allowed to move back to your permanent dorm assignment.
Your fall semester dorm room assignment will be held for you and Housing will help you move once you are through with isolation.
You may be subject to additional testing during this time

You will also be sent the following information: Moving to An Isolation Dorm

Is the COVID-19 vaccine required on campus?

In accordance with the new Arizona statute, the University will continue to strongly encourage, but not require, that all members of our campus community be vaccinated. Vaccination protects the vast majority of recipients from severe infection and transmission of the coronavirus, including the variants identified to date.

If you are in Tucson, you can receive your vaccine at locations across Pima County. Campus Health is now offering the Pfizer vaccine to all University students and benefits-eligible employees. If you’re outside of Tucson, check VaccineFinder for availability in your area.

If you are fully vaccinated, please upload your vaccine document to the secure, HIPAA-compliant system.

Is COVID-19 testing required on campus?

We will continue to offer voluntary, free, and convenient COVID-19 testing to students, employees, and designated campus colleagues on main campus. The University strongly encourages unvaccinated individuals to be tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, although COVID-19 testing is no longer mandatory for any students or employees. Visit the COVID-19 testing page for more information.

Please note that, in accordance with the new Arizona statute, the University may require students and/or employees to comply with mandatory COVID-19 testing in the event of a significant outbreak, as determined by the Arizona Department of Health Services. Learn more at https://covid19.arizona.edu/required-testing.

If you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, we recommend you call to make an appointment to get tested by Campus Health or your health care provider.

Are face coverings required on campus?

Please review the current University guidance on the use of masks.

Housing Policy

MASKS/FACE COVERINGS: Masks or face coverings must be worn in all spaces designated by posted signage. These spaces will include dorm entrances/lobbies, lounges, kitchens, laundry facilities, elevators, and stairwells.

Isolating on Campus

Submitted by adamciampaglio on 2020

Tested positive for COVID-19? Follow these steps:

Return to your assigned dorm room
Pack for your stay in isolation (10 days)
You will receive an email in about an hour with more information about your isolation assignment, transportation to the isolation dorm, and more.
- In the meantime, please review this important information:

What do I need to bring with me to the isolation dorm?

What to bring:

Clothing for 10 days (there will be no access to laundry services in this dorm assignment to minimize exposure)
Any prescribed and over the counter medications*
Toiletries (toothbrush, shower supplies, Kleenex, personal care products, tampons, pads, etc.) and other necessary toiletries, including an extra towel or two
Your textbooks and other supplies needed to continue with your studies
Your laptop and charger
Your phone and charger

Stock up now!*

You don’t want to wait until you’re sick to realize you're low on the meds you regularly need or don't have enough food, snacks, or other essentials to last a few weeks. Be sure you are prepared with some basics like tea, Gatorade, Pedialyte, microwaveable meals, peanut butter, healthy snacks, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, prescription meds as well as some over-the-counter meds.

Other things to consider:

You will have the option to have meals provided to you in your new room, but pack any of your favorite non-perishable snacks and a reusable cup or water bottle
You will be provided with a mini-refrigerator in your room
Toilet paper is provided
Bring any bed linens that will make your stay more comfortable
- Linens will be provided in your room, but feel free to bring your favorite pillow or blanket
No front desk services are available
No mail or package delivery is available during your stay

*The Campus Health Pharmacy can deliver prescriptions & OTC items. Call (520) 621-6516 to place your order.

What is provided in my isolation dorm room?

Mini fridge
Microwave
Linens
- Pillow + Pillowcase
- Comforter
- 2 flat bed sheets
2 bath towels
1 washcloth
Cleaning supplies
Toilet paper

How do I get food in isolation?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided to you at no cost during your stay in the isolation dorm.
- Housing will collect any dietary preferences and allergies you may have, and will relay that information to the Meal Plans Office.
Food delivery services are permitted, however deliveries must be contactless; please meet deliveries in the lobby area only.

Stock up now! You don’t want to wait until you’re sick to realize you're low on food, snacks, or other essentials to last a couple weeks.

How can I get medication or other OTC items?

The Campus Health Pharmacy can deliver prescriptions & OTC items. Call (520) 621-6516 to place your order.

Are there additional fees for staying in isolation?

There are no additional fees or charges for students staying in the isolation dorm.

I tested positive for COVID-19 and have been isolating off-campus. What is the process for returning to my dorm?

If an on-campus resident tested positive and isolated off-campus, they can be cleared to move back to their assigned dorm by a Nurse at Campus Health.

What happens when I'm ready to discontinue isolation?

Once your isolation period is over, you must be cleared by a Campus Health provider before returning to your assigned dorm. You can contact your provider via email/secure messaging through PatientLink or call (520) 621-9202 to speak with a provider.

Will I need to get re-tested?

Students will not need to be retested at the end of their isolation and cannot test out of isolation before the recommended 10 day isolation period.