Welcome Back To TU

Press release from Towson University:

By Kyle Hobstetter on January 19, 2020

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 20, Towson University will begin welcoming students to campus
to start the spring term.

With approximately 1,400 students arriving, the spring move-in will be smaller and
different than usual. Instead a month-long break, many students are returning after
spending five months at home.

Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Kelly Hoover, and her staff in Housing
& Residence Life (HRL), are ready for the change.

“We’ve been missing having the students around,” Hoover says. “It’s been almost a
year since we’ve had some form of campus life. I think we’re just eager to have students
in the communities, even though its going to be small.

“Let’s get a little bit out of crisis mode and get back to the thing we’re truly here
for, which is providing a community for our students.”

Move-in will last five days, starting Jan. 20 and concluding Jan. 24 for all buildings.
Here is a look at what students should expect and what they need to do before moving
back to campus.

Prior to move-in

Students must schedule the date and time they move in prior to arrival. They must also
complete the pre-move-in process assignment on the student housing gateway to learn about safety, what to bring to campus and other useful information.

Students are encouraged to pack light and bring other belongings as needed throughout
the term. No large furniture—futons, desk chairs, bookcases, etc.—will be permitted this
year, and students are allowed only two helpers during move-in.

In the event students have to move out mid-term, they will need to take all belongings with
them. Housing & Residence Life will not ship resident possessions.

As with fall move-in, students will choose a move-in date and time as well as a two-hour
move-in time slot between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. On the day of move-in, students will arrive
at the South Campus Pavilion to check in, and retrieve their room key

READ MORE: Packing for college

COVID-19 testing

The biggest change are the COVID testing guidelines. This term, students are required
to have a COVID-19 PCR test within 14 days of their arrival on campus. Tests can be
completed at the University Health Center or at their health care provider.

If students took a COVID-19 test off campus, they must submit their negative results
before arriving. HRL also advises that students bring a copy of their results with
them to check-in, just in case.

In addition to a negative COVID-19 test, a COVID-19 waiver form must be signed by
all campus residents prior to move-in. Completing the online document provides authorization
to securely share off-campus COVID-19 test results with the University Health Center.

This gives students the benefit of taking a test anywhere outside of campus and the
results being documented quickly and confidentially.

Complete the form now

Quarantine and isolation space on campus has also been doubled to 196 beds in Glen
Towers C and D, with additional residence halls available if needed. More staffing
to support and care for students in quarantine/isolation has been added to the Division
of Student Affairs.

Scan. Test. Report.

Students need to understand the three critical health requirements for all students,
faculty and staff on campus this spring:

• Scan — Complete a self-screening every day
• Test — Get tested when requested
• Report — Disclose a COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure

These requirements are in addition to health and safety protocols for proper mask wearing and physical distancing.

Academics

• The first two weeks of classes of the spring term (Jan. 25 to Feb. 7) will be conducted
  via remote instruction, with exceptions made for laboratories, clinical experiences,
  internships and experiential courses. After those first two weeks, face-to-face and
  hybrid instruction will begin Feb. 8. No additional changes are planned for the academic
  calendar.
• Approximately 85% of classes during the spring term will be offered remotely, while
  face-to-face and hybrid course delivery will be conducted at previously determined,
  reduced densities in accordance with federal, state and local health and safety guidance.
  Faculty will continue to have the ability to determine the modality of their courses,
  with synchronous elements to all remote instruction highly recommended.
• No changes are planned for the spring break schedule, and no baseline test is initially
  planned for a return from spring break, though that may change.

Other important move-in information

• There will be no university move-in crew.
• Towson University is a mask-on campus and MASKS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES by both the students and their helpers—including in the key pickup line.
• Keys will not be available at individual buildings and must be picked up at South
  Campus Pavilion.
• In order to encourage physical distancing, the following safety measures will be in
  place:

1. No more than eight students may sign up for a time block per building.
2. Elevator usage will be limited based on elevator size.
3. Directional signage will indicate traffic flow within buildings.
4. Doors will be designated as specific entry and exit points.
5. Hand sanitizer will be available in building lobbies.

• Check out the Tigers Care website to learn what the university is doing to combat COVID-19.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.