Community Living During COVID-19

The staff of K-State Housing and Dining Services welcomes you to our campus community! We are committed to a positive experience that enhances your educational experience and connects you to the university. We believe in an inclusive culture that welcomes and embraces students from all backgrounds and of all identities. Our staff is dedicated to fostering environments of quality and care.

COVID-19 and Public Health-Informed Policies

Housing and Dining Services is dedicated to living out our mission while protecting the health and safety of our students. Our department has been in numerous discussions with campus partners and public health officials to develop informed policies and procedures for our residence halls, dining centers and Jardine Apartments. These policies may change to reflect updates to public health guidelines. We will update you with information about specific health and safety guidelines that are important for our residents. In the event of a conflict between the COVID-19 policies and the remaining sections of the Jardine Apartments Handbook, the COVID-19 policies will apply.

Health and Safety: We expect that all members of our communities — residents, staff and visitors — act in a manner demonstrating respect and consideration for the health and safety of all community members. Residents are prohibited from creating a health or safety hazard in our residence halls, dining centers and apartments. The university may require a resident to leave those facilities if their conduct poses a health or safety risk for community members. Residents are required to comply with the law and the policies adopted by Housing and Dining Services and/or the university, including policies that are intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Specific policies are outlined below. All residents, staff and visitors must adhere to these policies. If you are concerned that you are unable to adhere to a policy because of a medical condition, you should consult with the Student Access Center (students) or the ADA Coordinator (employees and visitors).
Quarantine and Isolation: The university may require a resident to temporarily move from their assigned room or apartment if that resident’s continued presence poses a health or safety risk for community members (for example, if the resident tests positive for COVID-19 or has been in close contact with someone who tests positive). In these circumstances, residents must comply with directives from Housing and Dining Services to leave their assigned space, or they may be subject to emergency removal. In accordance with the University's COVID-19 guidance, a resident who has been a "close contact" may be released from the requirement to quarantine if they: (1) are asymptomatic; (2) are able to demonstrate their full vaccination status with two weeks or more time having passed following the second dose in a two-dose series, or two weeks or more following the receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine, and (3) are within six months following the receipt of the last dose.
Alternative housing arrangements will be available for students who are unable to properly quarantine or isolate at an off- campus location. If a student is required to quarantine or isolate and a space is available for them to do so through Housing and Dining Services, this will not be grounds for termination of the contract or for a refund.
Dining Services: Dining services will be provided for those students with meal plans but the logistics of meals — including the occupancy of dining centers, the amount of time students may be present in the dining centers, and/or the delivery of meals — are subject to modifications to address public health concerns.
Cleaning: Housing and Dining Services is implementing cleaning protocols to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Legal Information

Your Housing and Dining Services Jardine Apartments Agreement is the basic document that states the contractual obligations between you and Housing and Dining Services. The Jardine Handbook is incorporated by reference in the Housing and Dining Services contract. You are equally responsible for complying with the rules, policies and regulations contained in the agreement, the Jardine Handbook, and this COVID-19 and Public Health-Informed Housing and Dining Policies and Procedures section update.

As noted in your housing agreement, the terms of the Jardine Handbook — including this COVID-19 and Public Health-Informed Housing and Dining Policies and Procedures section update — may change from time to time. It is your responsibility to regularly review the Handbook and this section update to ensure you adhere to the current terms.

Assumption of Risk

You understand that by residing in university apartments, you are assuming the risks associated with communal living and, as in any shared living environment, those risks include potential exposure to contagious viruses, including COVID-19.

COVID-19 and Public Health Informed Housing and Dining Policies and Procedures

In order to live in Jardine Apartments, residents are expected to adhere to the following policies. If a resident fails to conform their conduct to these policies, that may be considered a breach of the Housing contract and subject to review under the procedures outlined in the Jardine Apartments Handbook.

Expectations of Students Who Require Quarantine or Isolation

Students required to quarantine or isolate are not allowed in dining centers or residence halls (unless moved there by Housing and Dining Services staff for the quarantine or isolation period). Though residents are encouraged to quarantine or isolate off-campus when feasible, residents are permitted to request, a quarantine or isolation location on campus. In some cases, Jardine Apartments residents may be able to properly quarantine in their apartment. Residents quarantined or isolated in on-campus housing are required to adhere to directives from the Riley County Health Department and other public health officials. Residents will be allowed back in their apartment and dining center once they are cleared by appropriate health officials.

Reasonable Accommodations

Residents requiring a reasonable accommodation related to COVID-19 or the conduct expectations described in this COVID-19 and Public Health-Informed Housing and Dining Policies and Procedures section update should contact the Student Access Center to request such accommodations and learn more about the resources available to them. For additional information about reasonable accommodations in housing, please refer to the Jardine Apartments Handbook.

Use of Community Spaces and Services

To protect the health and safety of the campus community, Housing and Dining Services may limit the use of community spaces, including but not limited to laundry rooms, public restrooms, the Map room, the Jardine Apartments office and the Frith Community Center. Services may also be limited, including but not limited to the use of equipment and carts or dollies.

Marketing for University-Affiliated Groups

Housing and Dining reserves the right to limit the ability to table inside Housing and Dining Services facilities as necessary to protect the health and safety of residents, employees and the campus community.