Dear Student,

This evening, UW-River Falls announced a move to remote learning for two weeks and a shelter-in-place plan for all on-campus residents.
We did this because the rate of COVID-19 transmission has increased to a level where the university, in collaboration with Pierce County Public Health, needs to respond.
We understand you may have questions and concerns. Our hope is that this email can help answer some of those questions and concerns.
Shelter in Place: What does it mean?
As Chancellor Connie Foster shared Friday evening, UWRF students living in residence halls are being asked to do the following:

• Stay on campus
• Don’t go home
• Don’t go to work, if possible
• Don’t leave campus for unnecessary trips
• You may leave your room and go outside
• You still can get meals in the University Center
• You must follow guidance already provided regarding quarantining or isolating

Will the residence halls remain open?
Yes. The residence halls will remain open to all current residents, and we strongly encourage you to remain in your residence hall.
Even if you have left campus for the weekend, you will still have access to your residence hall.
Overall, continuing to live in your residence hall may protect the health and safety of other UWRF students, your loved ones and the larger River Falls community.
Daily life in the residence halls: How will it change?
All university and Residence Life community standards and guidelines remain in effect. That includes requirements to cooperate with testing and tracing protocols.
You should still wear a mask outside your own room and practice physical distancing.
Do not have guests in your room, and do not visit other residence halls. Only those who live and work in the residence hall are allowed.
Access to laundry, kitchens, and common areas will remain the same at this time.
Overall, residence-hall resources may be limited during this time. We recognize the need for mail services, especially during this time. The Hathorn Mail Center will be closed this weekend. We will communicate as soon as possible how we'll safely distribute mail in the coming two weeks.
What expectations must be met while living in the residence halls?
Your individual actions will help lead to UWRF’s overall success in containing COVID-19. Follow all guidance provided by UWRF, including:

• Continue to abide by all university and Residence Life community standards and expectations.
• Continue to live in your residence hall but limit contact with others.
• Socialize only with those who reside within your specific wing/floor/pod community while maintaining distance and wearing face coverings.
• Avoid contact with others outside of your immediate community.
• Be more vigilant than ever: Wear your face covering. Wash your hands. Watch your distance from others.
• Sanitize surfaces that you are near and touch before and after use.
• Use only the bathroom designated for your specific wing/floor/pod community.
• Do not stay off campus where you could potentially spread the virus to family or friends.
• Do not attend gatherings or parties.

Should I take a COVID-19 test?
UWRF strongly encourages students to take COVID-19 tests. Those identified as intermediate or close contacts are required to follow testing procedures outlined by the Contact Tracing team. Learn more about testing and schedule a test.
What if I want to leave the residence halls?
During this time, UWRF residence halls are not closing.
If you move out of your room and take your belongings, this will not terminate your residence hall contract. Students may submit a Contract Termination Request, although approval isn’t guaranteed. Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis as time allows.
If I choose to leave, will I receive a refund for housing?
No. The residence halls remain open and accessible to residents. UWRF cannot guarantee refunds for those who choose to leave their residence hall.

Overall - your behavior as a member of the Falcon Family matters. With the recent growth in positive cases of COVID-19, we've seen its impact to our entire community and the UWRF student experience.
By following health protocols, you're doing something important – you're protecting our community and our ability to fully engage on campus during this shelter-in-place period.
We care about your safety and well-being. Please take care during this time.

University of Wisconsin – River Falls Department of Residence Life

Yes. Students are encouraged to remain in the residence halls during the shelter-in-place order. 

Students living in the residence halls are asked to do the following:  

• Stay on campus 
• Don’t go home 
• Don’t go to work, if possible 
• Don’t leave campus for unnecessary trips 
• You may leave your room and go outside 
• You still can get meals in the University Center 
• You must follow guidance already provided regarding quarantining or isolating  

UWRF strongly encourages students to take COVID-19 tests. Those identified as intermediate or close contacts are required to follow testing procedures outlined by the Contact Tracing team. Learn more about testing and schedule a test.

All university and Residence Life community standards and guidelines remain in effect. That includes requirements to cooperate with testing and tracing protocols.
You should still wear a mask outside your own room and practice physical distancing.
Do not have guests in your room, and do not visit other residence halls. Only those who live and work in the residence hall are allowed.

Access to laundry, kitchens, and common areas will remain the same at this time.

Your individual actions will help lead to UWRF’s overall success in containing COVID-19. Follow all guidance provided by UWRF, including:

• Continue to abide by all university and Residence Life community standards and expectations.
• Continue to live in your residence hall but limit contact with others.
• Socialize only with those who reside within your specific wing/floor/pod community while maintaining distance and wearing face coverings.
• Avoid contact with others outside of your immediate community.
• Be more vigilant than ever: Wear your face covering. Wash your hands. Watch your distance from others.
• Sanitize surfaces that you are near and touch before and after use.
• Use only the bathroom designated for your specific wing/floor/pod community.
• Do not stay off campus where you could potentially spread the virus to family or friends.
• Do not attend gatherings or parties.

Yes. At this time, card access to the residence halls will remain available to students who reside in the hall. 

Students are encouraged to limit their movement in and out of the halls as much as possible for their own safety and the safety of the residence hall communities. Upon returning to the halls, be more vigilant than ever: Wear your face covering. Wash your hands. Watch your distance from others. 

Yes. Students  can return to collect necessary items. However, we do not recommend that  students go home. If students choose to leave campus, do so with the awareness  that family members and others in the community will be at risk. 

Students who  choose to leave must remember to take necessary belongings. It is not  guaranteed that you will be able to enter the residence halls at any time  during the shelter-in-place order. Pack medication, tech devices, textbooks,  hygiene items, and other essential items. 

Yes. Students can choose to return home, but that is not recommended. Please be aware that students who have chosen to return home should still implement self-quarantine guidance. With a rise in cases in the residence halls, we are trying to reduce the risk of spread to family members and the community at large.  

If you are leaving, remember to take your necessary belongings. It is not guaranteed that you will be able to enter the residence halls at any time during the shelter-in-place order. Remember medication, technology, textbooks, essential items, etc.  

There may be an approval process in place for students who leave the residence halls and intend to return on October 3. 

Yes. Students may choose to return home and have someone pick them up from the residence halls. Only residents and authorized staff are allowed in the residence halls. 

However, we do not recommend that students go home. Also, we do not want students to go home if there is a risk that they might have been exposed to COVID-19.  

Students should self-quarantine for 14-days if choosing to leave campus.  

Yes. Students may leave and return to campus to purchase things they need. With that, if students are in quarantine or isolation, they need to stay in quarantine and isolation and should not leave. Please talk with your contact tracer to arrange getting the items you need. 

Yes. However, students are encouraged to telecommute if possible. If not possible, students may leave the residence halls to go to work. 

Students with jobs on campus should talk to their supervisor regarding expectations. 

Students who are under guidance to quarantine/isolate by the Contact Tracing team are not able to leave the residence halls to go to work. 

The residence halls are not closed.

Students may submit a request to cancel their residence hall contract. Requests will be approved on a rolling basis as time allows.

It is not considered a contract cancellation when a student who moves out of their room and takes their belongings.

Refunds are not guaranteed at this time for contract termination requests that are approved.

The Hathorn  Mail Center is closed until further notice. All mail will be held until after  the shelter-in-place order ends for at least 10 days. 

Strategies  will be determined and communicated to students living in the residence halls regarding  how mail will be processed during this time. 

If students  are expecting an emergency item, such as medication, they should email hathornmailcenter@uwrf.edu explaining their situation. 

If students are experiencing symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to COVID-19 should not be in contact with others. Students who are under isolation/quarantine guidance should not be in contact with others.

If students are feeling well and have tested negative for COVID-19 or been exposed to COVID-19, students can participate in a variety of activities while following health guidelines including wearing a face covering and watching physical distance. Activities include: 

• Go outside for a walk. 
• Meet with a friend or two in very small groups outside with masks and physical distancing measures in place. Students should keep track of who you spend time with and how long you are together for contact tracing measures. 
• Many campus departments are currently putting on virtual events. Check out the Corq app or MyOrgs event page for details. https://myorgs.uwrf.edu/events. 

Student Health and Counseling is here for you.   

SilverCloud is a confidential online portal that offers secure, immediate access to online programs for stress, anxiety and depression. Each module offers information, tips and interactive activities to better understand one’s emotional well-being. This resource is available for free to all UWRF students, staff and faculty.

Currently due to the COVID-19 situation, Counseling Services is offering remote telecounseling therapy appointments for students. To schedule a counseling appointment, please email counseling.services@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3884. 

August 7, 2020

Dear Student,

The ability to select an appointment time for your residence hall move-in will launch next week. The appointment scheduler will open starting on the following days and times for each residence hall. Once opened, the scheduler will remain open until Monday, Aug. 24.

Access to the appointment scheduler has been staggered due to system capacity limits. There will be no competition across residence halls for move-in appointments, as there are move-in time slots available for each hall from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, through Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Students who have not selected an appointment by August 19 will be assigned a move-in timeslot and notified via email. Appointments can be changed via the scheduler until it closes on August 24.

Scheduler - Opening Times for Each Hall

Monday, Aug. 10
7 a.m. - South Fork Suites and Ames Suites
11 a.m. - Crabtree Hall and McMillan Hall
3 p.m. - Parker Hall and Grimm Hall

Tuesday, Aug. 11
7 a.m. - Hathorn Hall and May Hall
11 a.m. - Prucha Hall and Stratton Hall
3 p.m. - Johnson Hall

Step-by-step Guide to select a move in appointment >>

As a reminder, residence hall move-in information and instructions are available here.

Thank you,

Department of Residence Life
715-425-4555 | reslife@uwrf.edu

July 2, 2020

Dear Student,

We are looking forward to you living on campus this fall at UW-River Falls!

As you are aware, campus life will look and feel different because of COVID-19, but we are committed to working together to make your experience a positive one. Your commitment to the health and safety of our community is vital and every resident will need to adhere to new guidelines, including:

    Cleaning common areas (kitchens, study lounges) after use
    Not having guests in the hall or in your room
    Maintaining six feet of social distancing when possible
    Abiding by occupancy limits outlined for our various common spaces
    Allowing custodial staff to properly clean spaces during designated cleaning times

It will also be important to think about how you choose to socialize when away from the halls. It is especially critical to stay away from places that are crowded and to avoid mass gatherings. Your decisions may impact your ability and the ability of others to attend class, visit family, or maintain employment. If you have a roommate(s), it is strongly recommended that you discuss these topics prior to returning to campus and continue these conversations while on campus.

Our staff is committed to helping you have a successful year. We are reviewing various strategies to get everyone connected and engaged. We will be diligently checking in on your experience. As you continue to make decisions about your fall experience, please review the following:

Medical Single Room Request
A medical single room request lottery will be open from July 6, 2020 at noon until July 9, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. Single rooms are available on a limited basis with an established priority that emphasizes health and well-being. Students with COVID-19-related medical concerns can submit a request for a single room at the double room rate through the housing portal. Single rooms will continue to be available for students with ADA-related accessibility needs at the standard rate. Students who are approved for single rooms will be notified July 14, 2020.

Learn more about how to submit a medical single room request here.

Single Room Lottery
A single room lottery will be open July 6, 2020 at noon until July 9, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. Students who do not have a medical need for a single room but are interested in one can sign up for the single room lottery in the housing portal. If there are single rooms available after medical single room requests are met, we will use the lottery to determine single rooms. Students who are lottery approved for a single room will be notified on July 14, 2020. We will keep a lottery wait list and if a single room becomes available, we will contact you.

Learn more about how to enter the single room lottery here.

 
Roommate Request-Only available to students who do not have a room assigned for fall 2020
The roommate request section in the housing portal will be open from July 15, 2020 at noon until July 19, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. If you want to request a roommate or change a previously accepted roommate, you must do it during this time period. If you are searching for an upperclass student who has a room assignment for fall 2020 and can’t find them in the roommate search, contact Residence Life for assistance. After the section closes, no additional roommate requests or changes will be accepted. Rooms and roommate changes will not be possible after July 19, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

Learn more about how to select a roommate here.

To verify your roommate request, visit the roommate search section in the housing portal. Your confirmed roommate request will be listed in that section.

Room Swap-Only is available to students who lived on campus spring 2020
If you would like to do a person-to-person swap or switch into a half open room, you must send an email to reslife@uwrf.edu requesting access to the room swap section in the housing portal before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2020. You will NOT have access until you complete this step. Room swap will only be open in the housing portal from July 15, 2020 at noon through July 19, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Please plan accordingly. If you want to room with a student who doesn’t have a room assigned for fall 2020, you need to contact Residence Life for assistance.

Room Assignments
Room assignments will be emailed to your UWRF email account the week of July 27, 2020. The room assignment email will contain the hall and room you are assigned to, as well as your roommate’s information if you were assigned a roommate.

Please visit our website and contact us with questions.

With Falcon pride,
Karla Thoennes, Ph.D.
Director of Residence Life

As we are preparing for fall semester, we know it is likely you have several questions about living on-campus this fall. I hope to address some of your questions in this email and provide a glimpse into communication you can expect from our department moving forward and throughout the rest of this summer.

First, know that we are dedicated to the continued health and safety of our residence hall and campus communities. Guided by several resources, including our local public health professionals, we must take extra measures to enhance the safety of our residents and staff and mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19. These actions include reducing occupancy in some of our residence halls, extending our move-in dates and adjusting our move-in process, implementing new safety-related policies and expectations, and enhancing cleaning practices in the residence halls. Additionally, we recognize that delivery methods have changed for several academic courses, and we want to accommodate students whose courses will be all or mostly online.

Room Assignments
Room assignment information will be sent to all fall residents by the end of July. Prior to this, we will be taking several steps to confirm student housing needs and the spaces that will be available for occupancy.

Commuter Policy Extended
The commuter policy has been updated for the 2020-21 academic year, providing more flexibility to students who wish to commute from home. Students can now commute from the residence of a parent, legal guardian, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or older siblings if the residence is located within 40 miles of UWRF.  See full details and request form here. Students who are approved to commute will receive a $100 refund of their housing deposit if the Commuter Policy Form is completed and postmarked by July 6, 2020.

First and Second-Year Student Online Learner Exemption
The Online Learner Exemption Request is for any first or second-year student who 1) graduated high school after 2018; 2) will have only four credits or less of face-to-face classes for fall 2020; 3) will live with a parent/legal guardian; and 4) is not otherwise commuter-eligible. See full details and request form here. Students who are approved will receive a $100 refund of their housing deposit if the Online Learner Exemption Request Form is completed and postmarked by July 6, 2020.

Upper Class Student Online Learner Contract Cancellation
Fall 2020 contracted students who do not fall under the two-year residency policy who have only four credits or less of face-to-face classes for fall 2020 may choose to cancel their contract. Students who submit their cancellation request for this reason by July 6, 2020, will receive a $100 refund of their housing deposit. See information about how to cancel here.

Residence Hall Guest Policy
We all play a role in reducing the risk to ourselves and others in spreading COVID-19. Just as societal policies and expectations have changed, policies and expectations for our campus, and especially the residence halls, must also change to lessen the risks associated with COVID-19. More information about expectations and policies will be forthcoming, but we want to make you specifically aware of changes in our residence hall guest policy.

With few exceptions, persons allowed in each residence hall will be limited to residents of the hall and staff who must work there. No outside guests will be allowed at any time other than during move-in. Additionally, residents may not have guests in their individual rooms, including other residents of the hall. Hall residents may meet and visit with each other in common areas so long as social distancing and room occupancy limits are upheld.

As More Information Becomes Available
Information regarding selecting a roommate and single room requests will be communicated over the next two weeks. Fall move-in plans are in progress and information will be shared as it becomes available.

We recognize we don’t have all the answers yet, but we are committed to do our best to provide relevant and timely communication. Please check your @my.uwrf.edu email account regularly for updates. We will also post new information on our website.  Finally, look for an invitation to participate in our Residence Life Live Chats hosted online in July and August.

Thank you for choosing to live on campus. We hope you have a safe summer, and we look forward to providing a memorable experience when you join us this fall!

With Falcon Pride,

Karla Thoennes, Ph.D.
Director of Residence Life

Dear Residents,

UW-River Falls Chancellor Dean Van Galen in his letter to you on March 20 shared that UWRF has been authorized by UW System to reimburse the prorated charges for housing and dining from the end of Spring Break through the end of spring semester for students who have left the university prior to the end of their contract. Students who have vacated the residence halls will receive a prorated reimbursement.

Housing reimbursements will be processed by Friday, April 17. Unfortunately, crediting these funds toward future semesters in lieu of a refund is not an option due to rules related to the awarding of federal financial aid.

If you have signed-up for direct depositing of refunds, great! Any refund due to you will be deposited via ACH into your designated checking or savings account within two to three days. If you have not signed up, you still have time. Click this link for instructions. You can also email billing@uwrf.edu if you need assistance. Otherwise, a refund check will be mailed to your home address listed in eSIS.
Watch your UWRF email for additional information.

Thank you,
UWRF Department of Residence Life