Community COVID-19 Policies and Procedures

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 education 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 Public Health-Informed Policies

Housing and Dining Services pledges to carry 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 apartment community. This section serves as an addition to the Residence Hall Handbook, with information specific to Housing and Dining Services' operation during COVID-19. These policies may change to reflect updates to public health guidelines. We will provide you with information about specific health and safety guidelines that are important for our residents. In the event of a conflict between COVID-19 policy and the remaining sections of the Residence Hall Handbook, the COVID-19 policy 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 within 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 to quarantine or isolate in place in their assigned room if that resident’s continued presence in the community 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 to quarantine or isolate in their assigned rooms. Failure to comply with these directives may subject a resident to risk mitigation measures, up to and including emergency removal. All residents must follow the quarantine and isolation instructions in the University’s COVID-19 guidance. It is the resident’s responsibility to stay aware of any changes in the University’s COVID-19 guidance, as it may be updated from time to time.
Dining Services: Dining Services will be provided 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. Additionally, Housing and Dining Services has invested in Synexis filtration systems, which will be installed in rooms with more than one resident as well as some common spaces. Housing and Dining Services staff will maintain the machines and students are responsible for allowing the machines to run as directed.
Termination: To protect the health and safety of other residents, employees and/or the campus community, including but not limited to in response to risks and considerations related to COVID-19 or other infectious diseases, the university may modify the opening, closing and break dates for the residence halls. If the university makes any such change, residents will be notified as soon as practicable under the circumstances. Any reduction in total number of available occupancy days for a resident, based on a university decision as outlined above, will result in a corresponding pro rata return to the resident of rent paid to Housing and Dining Services. The rent is calculated by the amount paid by the resident, less standard move-out costs incurred by the university, which is generally around $215.

Legal Information

Your Housing and Dining Services contract is the basic document that states the contractual obligations between you and Housing and Dining Services. The Residence Hall 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 contract, the Residence Hall Handbook, and this COVID-19 and Public Health Informed Housing and Dining Policies and Procedures section update.

As noted in your housing contract, the terms of the Residence Hall 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 residence halls, 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.

Additional Policies and Procedures

In order to live in the residence halls, residents are expected to adhere to the following policies, as well as campus-wide policies. If a resident fails to conform their conduct to the policies, that may be considered a breach of the housing contract and subject to review under the procedures outlined in the Residence Hall Handbook.

Expectations of Students Who Require Quarantine or Isolation

Students required to quarantine or isolate who choose to do so with Housing and Dining Services are not permitted to be outside of their assigned residential space for quarantining/isolating. Though residents are encouraged to quarantine or isolate off-campus when feasible, residents are permitted to request a quarantine or isolation location on campus. 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 regular residence hall space 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 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 lobbies, lounges, laundry rooms, kitchens, study rooms, music rooms, and workout/weight rooms. Services may also be limited, including but not limited to the use of front desk equipment and carts or dollies.

Marketing for University Affiliated Groups

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