Dear [Name], 

I hope you have had a restful winter break and are looking forward to arriving on campus soon! We are preparing for your return and look forward to having you back in our residence halls. I want to especially welcome residents who are new to UWRF or who lived at home last semester but will be living on campus this spring. 

Thank you for your renewed commitment to health and safety of our community as we begin spring semester. For those of you who lived on campus this fall, some aspects of living on campus will remain the same, but you can also expect some things to change. Our goal is to increase opportunities for social and academic engagement while continuing to keep COVID-19 in our residence halls at bay. Your hall director will reach out next week outlining exciting changes in the guest policy, the return of hall councils, and plans for in-person events happening in the residence halls. 

As you prepare to return to campus or move-in for the first time this academic year, please review the following return-to-campus protocol. 

COVID-19 Testing Expectations and Residence Hall Access 
As Interim Chancellor Connie Foster noted in her message sent earlier today, students living in the residence halls are expected to complete a COVID-19 test each week of spring semester. Doing so will minimize spread and maintain a healthy living environment in each residence hall. Ultimately, this commitment to testing and low-risk behaviors will allow communities to socialize in greater ways than last semester. 

You must complete a COVID-19 test prior to accessing your residence hall. Door access will not work until you have been tested. Two options are available: 

• Complete a COVID-19 Test at Home
  • You may submit a testing exclusion form for review and approval prior to returning. 
• Complete a COVID-19 Test On-campus
  • Click here to schedule an appointment. There are limited appointments each day. Schedule early, especially if you want to return on a particular day.
  • The campus testing center will be open Thursday, Jan. 21-Sunday, Jan. 24. 
  • Students returning with approved assistance animals must plan accordingly, as there will be no access to the residence halls prior to completing a COVID-19 test.

If you return after January 24, you must still be tested before accessing your residence hall. Starting January 25, the on-campus testing center will only be open Mondays-Fridays. An appointment is required. Please plan accordingly. 

Preparing to Return 
The return-to-campus dates are Thursday, Jan. 21-Sunday, Jan. 24.  Riverside Commons will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, for meal plan participants. Classes begin on Monday, Jan. 25. 

As you prepare to return to campus, I strongly encourage you to follow health and safety guidelines. 

• You may bring one guest to assist in bringing items back into the residence halls. Guests must wear a mask and practice physical distancing while in the residence hall.
• You and the person assisting you are strongly encouraged to self-quarantine or minimally limit exposure to those outside of immediate family units prior to arriving on campus. If you or your guest are not feeling well, please wait to return to campus.
• Travel to campus thoughtfully. Depending on your method of travel to campus, be sure to wear a face covering, physically distance, avoid stopping in high-risk areas, and practice good hygiene.

Move-In for New Residents 
If you are moving into the residence halls for the first time, please note the following: 

1. Complete the required COVID-19 test requirement as described above. 
2. After completing your COVID-19 test, report to your residence hall and call the Resident Assistant on duty. The phone number will be posted to the doors to the residence hall.
3. Meet with a hall staff member to complete the check-in process. 

Other things to consider:

• You may bring one guest to assist you with move-in. Your guest must abide by all policies including wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distance from others.
• Remember to bring your Student ID.
• Park only in designated spots and abide by parking permit requirements. Visit the Parking webpage for more information.

An Invitation 
We look forward to having you all back on campus and want to foster a positive start to the semester. Please join us Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 5-6 p.m. to talk more about what to expect this spring and answer any questions you have. Parents and family members are welcome to attend as well. 

Click here to join the meeting 
Or call in (audio only) +1 262-771-0470,,154959422#   
United States, Kenosha Phone Conference ID: 154 959 422#

I am energized by the potential this spring holds for UW-River Falls and especially our residence hall communities. Thank you for acting in partnership with Residence Life staff as we embark on a new, exciting semester. 

 
With Falcon pride, 

Karla Thoennes, Ph.D. 
Director of Residence Life 
University of Wisconsin-River Falls 

Yes. Students must meet the initial COVID-19 testing obligation prior to accessing their residence hall. Door access will not work until the student has been tested. Two options are available:

• Complete a COVID-19 test at home.
  • Students may submit a Campus Testing Exclusion form via the portal for review and approval prior to returning.
• Complete a COVID-19 test on campus.
  • Schedule an appointment. There are limited appointments each day. Schedule early, especially if there is a specific day the student wants to return.
  • The campus testing center will be open January 21-24.
  • Students returning with approved assistance animals must plan accordingly, as there will be no access to the residence halls prior to completing a COVID-19 test.

If a student returns to campus for the first time after January 24, the student must still be tested before accessing their residence hall. Starting January 25, the on-campus testing center will only be open Mondays-Fridays. An appointment is required.

Student ID card access to the residence halls will not work until the student has completed the testing obligation.

Students need to get tested when returning to the residence halls prior to accessing the hall exterior doors. When the student checks in to their testing appointment or has their Campus Testing Exclusion form approved, residence hall door access will become available. 

Residence halls open at noon on Thursday, January 21.

If you are moving into the residence halls for the first time during the 2020-2021 academic year, please note the following:

1. Complete the required COVID-19 test requirement as described above. 
2. After completing the COVID-19 test, report to your assigned residence hall and call the Resident Assistant on duty. The phone number is posted on the doors to the residence hall.
3. Meet with a hall staff member to complete the check-in process.

Other things to consider:

• You may bring one guest to assist you with move-in. Your guest must abide by all policies including wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distance from ohters.
• Remember to bring your Student ID
• Park only in designated spots and abide by parking permit requirements. Visit the Parking webpage for more information.

Yes. Here are things to consider as you prepare to return to campus:

• Each student may bring one guest to assist in bringing items back into the residence halls. Guests must wear a mask and practice physical distancing while in the residence hall.
• Each student and the person assisting them are strongly encouraged to self-quarantine or minimally limit exposure to those outside of immediate households prior to arriving to campus.
• If the student or the guest assisting are not feeling well, please wait to return to campus.
• Travel to campus thoughtfully. Be sure to wear a face covering, physically distance, avoid stopping in high-risk areas, and practice good hygiene.

Students, parents, family members, and others are invited to attend a virtual open forum with representatives from Residence Life and Dining on Tuesday, January 19 from 5-6 p.m. The forum will be recorded and posted soon after it occurs.

Click here to join the meeting.

Call in (audio only) +1 262-771-0470, conference ID: 254 959 422#

Yes. All students residing in the residence halls are required to be tested weekly. UWRF students can learn more and schedule a test at no cost.

Students do not have to be tested on campus at this time. Students can be tested elsewhere.

Students are able to submit a Campus Testing Exclusion form and provide documented proof of either having tested negative in the last 7 days, or of having tested positive in the last 90 days and having completed your isolation time. 

Students who submit an exclusion form must wait to return to campus until they receive approval via email. Students who are approved will have to take a COVID-19 test on campus or submit an exclusion form every two weeks. 

Students who have tested negative in the last 7 calendar days: 

• Students may submit an off-campus test confirmation showing the testing method (PCR or antigen), a negative result from that test, and that the test was administered at a reputable source such as a health care provider or lab. 
• Upload a photo image, PDF, or other file that shows the test results for verification. The upload must show the student’s full name, date of test, testing provider and result. Multiple supporting documents may be uploaded. 

Students who have tested positive in the last 90 days: 

• Students that have tested positive and completed their isolation time will need to upload their positive test result and/or public health release paperwork to the Campus Testing Exclusion form. 
• Positive test results need to be within the last 90 days to be considered a release from testing.  
• If over 90 days, students are considered plausible for re-infection and are subject to testing again.  
• Upload a photo image, PDF, or other file that shows the test results for verification. The upload must show the student’s full name, date of test, testing provider and result. Multiple supporting documents may be uploaded. 
   

All residence hall students must comply with testing protocols. Any refusal to do so may result in your Residence Hall Contract being terminated and your immediate removal from the residence halls. This may also result in your status as a student to be reviewed.  See UWRF policy AP 01-128 for more information.

Residence hall students can expect regular email communication throughout the semester regarding the testing obligation. Students who do not meet the deadline can expect to meet with a university staff member. Not meeting the testing obligation may result in termination of the Residence Hall Contract and immediate removal from the residence halls. See UWRF policy AP 01-128 for more information.

Residence Life is notified upon the completion of your test. No health information or test results are shared with the notification.

The guest policy will be fluid as campus continues to monitor COVID-19 test results. Residence Life reserves the right to alter the guest policy as is necessary for the health of the community. Any changes to the policy will be communicated to residents via email.

Spring 2021 Guest Policy:

Residents are only allowed to be in their assigned residence hall and all others are not allowed, including other UWRF students. Each resident may have one other person from the same residence hall in their room/suite if the following conditions are met:

• The hosting resident is present in the room.
• None of those present in the room/suite are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, or fever.
• Roommates/suitemates have completed a new Roommate/Suitemate Agreement outlining their decision on guests.
• The residence hall population maintains an 80% COVID-19 testing compliance rate each week.
• Face coverings are strongly encouraged to be worn in the room when guests are present.

Any UWRF student found in a residence hall other than their assigned hall will be held accountable for violating this guest policy. Any hall resident who hosts an outside guest in their residence hall will be held accountable for violating this guest policy.

University employees and contracted service personnel are allowed in the building to perform necessary job-related functions and must wear a face mask and adhere to all university COVID-19 guidelines.

Specific exceptions to this policy will be communicated to residents for move-in and move-out purposes.

Read more about contract termination requests >>

Students who 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. 

Students who are feeling well and have tested negative for COVID-19 or have not been exposed to COVID-19, are able to participate in a variety of activities while following health guidelines including wearing a face covering and watching physical distance. Activities include but are not limited to: 

• Get involved in Hall Council.
• Use recreation equipment in your hall, such as ping pong and pool table supplies.
• Attend events hosted by your Resident Assistant or Hall Director. Check your email and hall Snapchat regularly for updates on hall events. 
• Many campus departments are currently hosting a combination of in-person and virtual events. Check out the Corq app or MyOrgs event page for details: https://myorgs.uwrf.edu/events
• Exercise at the Falcon Center.
• Rent outdoor recreation equipment from the Falcon Outdoor Adventures Rental Center. Most items are free for students to rent.
• Get involved with a Student Organization.
• Meet with a friend or two in very small groups outside with masks and physical distancing measures in place. Students are encouraged to keep track of who they spend time with and how long they are together for contact tracing measures. 

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 remove telecounseling therapy appointments for students. To schedule a counseling appointment, please email counseling.services@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3884. 

Participate in free Mental Health Mondays on the third Monday of every month from 1-2 p.m. via Zoom. Hosted by Student Involvement and Counseling Services.