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Dear Residence Hall Students and Families,
In light of recent guidance from Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and information from public health experts, we are postponing in-person move-outs from campus residence halls until further notice.
University leadership, including Student Affairs, the University Health Center, and Resident Life, consulted with the Dean of the School of Public Health and Prince George's County Health Department officials about Governor Hogan's statement released on Monday and reiterated in today's press conference that "unless you have an essential reason, then you should stay in your home." In order to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our community, we are suspending all opportunities to return to campus to retrieve your belongings until further notice.
While it had been our hope to allow interested students who felt safe doing so to return to campus between March 27 and April 5 to retrieve their remaining belongings from the residence halls and complete their check-out, it is clear that the public health imperative of maximizing social distancing compels us to postpone all residence hall check-out activity, therefore:
1) For residents who are currently off-Campus
- We are canceling move-out appointments scheduled between now and Sunday, April 5, 2020. We are in the process of creating a new move-out appointment schedule.
- We will notify you of a new appointment schedule via email when conditions in Maryland and across the country allow.
2) For residents who are still on-campus living during the extended break period
- If it is safe for you to do so, please continue your move-out plans using the instructions you received and following CDC prevention and travel guidelines.
3) For those students who have been approved for emergency on-campus housing starting April 5, 2020
- You will continue to be housed in residence halls and should continue in your current approved break housing assignments for at least the remainder of this week. More information will be communicated to these students in the coming days.
We know some students are anxious to retrieve their belongings and we will make plans that allow you to do so once public health experts determine that it is safe to do so. In the meantime, your belongings will remain secured in your assigned residence hall space. Some exceptions will be made for students who need to access their rooms. Students with extraordinary circumstances such as the need to retrieve life-sustaining medication or a passport and belongings to return to their country of origin should contact the Department of Resident Life directly at reslife@umd.edu.
Online classes will resume as scheduled on Monday, March 30. Students should visit the Keep Teaching website for online education resources. While focusing on academics in the coming weeks, we encourage all students to follow the health and safety guidance and directives of public officials in your state, county, and city.
The sudden closing of our residence halls over the past week has been an unexpected and difficult outcome for our community. We had hoped students would return from break to continue developing friendships and connections, making lifelong memories, and have the opportunity to properly say their goodbyes to roommates, floormates, and classmates. It is our hope that you will continue to stay connected with your friends and continue your Maryland journey together. Visit the Keep Connected website for resources and ideas on how to stay connected.
If you have any questions or would like to contact a member of our Resident Life team, please send an email with your request to reslife@umd.edu.
Please know we care about you and are here to support you. We appreciate your attention to this notice and your patience and understanding during this ever-evolving situation.
Please continue to take care of yourself and be well and safe.
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