We adapted our housing program to a singles-only program that housed about 4,000 students this year.
Our fall check-in was centralized and conducted at Xfinity Center. It incorporated both Dining Hall bioscans and distribution of student ID cards, two activities that would have ordinarily taken place at Summer Orientation. Students got a grand Terp welcome and a dose of Maryland pride walking through the concourse at Xfinity. The video boards on the concourse included video welcome messages from President Pines and VP Perillo as well as welcomes and information from departments around campus.
Residence Hall Staff, including professional staff and student staff played a key role in educating students about COVID-19 precautions and holding students accountable in the residence halls for following those precautions. Our staff responded ably to several challenges along the way, including the use of Enhance Health Precautions in particular buildings in the fall and the spring and the sequester-in-place order in the spring semester.
Department Successes During COVID We distributed 4Maryland Kits and Terrapin Strong face masks to all residents in both the fall and spring.
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Our fall check-in also included a new “setup and go” option that allowed students to move the majority of their belongings into their room prior to their official arrival on campus. This allowed students and their families to have ample time to set up their rooms in a safe and physically distant way and allowed parents and other family members to be part of the process. About 63% of residence hall students chose this option.
Res Life Roundup | Spring 2021 | Vol. 3
In conjunction with a host of partners across campus (C&VS, Residential Facilities, Dining Services, University Health Center, DSA Directors and Senior Staff, Volunteer Case Managers, and others) we have supported around 2,400 students who had need for special housing arrangements including residing in our Q/I program in Leonardtown/Greek Houses/ Caroline/Wicomico, being required to follow Enhanced Health Precautions, or Isolating/Quarantining off campus or in place.
