Common Area Refrigerators 

All common area refrigerators are now available for resident use based on consultations with Environment, Health and Safety and Student Health Center.   This is based on revised CDC guidance:  In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging

Health and Safety Requirements in Residence Halls

As we return to William & Mary and manage the impact of COVID-19 in our community,
a mutual commitment to the health and well-being of one another has never been
more critical. Here is what you need to know about living on campus this year: Residence Hall Guidelines

8/5/2020 Housing Contract Cancellation Update

Residence Life will be flexible with housing contract cancellations through September 3, 2020. After this date we will defer to the cancellation procedures outlined in the housing contract terms and conditions and/or housing contract addendum. 

Eligible students can cancel contracts with no penalty until September 3, 2020.

• • Students in classes of 2020, 2021, 2022 can cancel contract via the housing portal
  • Students in classes of 2023, 2024 are required to live on campus. They may cancel contracts only if they meet the following criteria:
    • Completing a fully remote class schedule and live at permanent residence with legal guardians.
    • Commuting from permanent residence located within 60 miles of W&M campus.

8/3/2020 Fall Check-In Updates

Greetings –

As you are no doubt already aware, William & Mary’s Path Forward for classes and residential students changed significantly with the operational shift announced on Friday.   We have temporarily closed the portal for check-in appointments while we adjust check-in dates and times to accommodate the changes in check-in dates.

We will re-open the portal with updated check-in dates and information as soon as we can. Please note that the university will be closed tomorrow, 8/4, due to the potential impact of the storm Isaias, which may impact our work on the portal.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these changes.

-W&M Residence Life

7/15/2020 Appointment Information & Move In

We hope that this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy.  We know that you are understandably anxious to come back to campus and we have appreciated your patience.  

This email contains:

• Appointment Information & when you can schedule an appointment
• Moving to Campus

Appointment Information

Fall move-in this year will begin August 8, 2020 and conclude by August 18, 2020. The process will require confirmed appointments as well as special health and safety considerations under the following guidelines: 

• In order to maintain safe physical distancing, no more than 600 residents will be allowed to move onto campus on any given day.  Residents may bring no more than two individuals (aged 16+) with them to assist with move-in. 
• Residents will sign up through the Housing Portal under the Fall Move In Form.  Windows for sign up will begin on July 15th by randomized times:  
  • All students have been assigned a timeslot (similar to upper-level room selection) to access the Housing Portal. Due to system requirements, we have to limit the number of individuals in our Housing Portal at any given time, which is why you are assigned a timeslot. This allows us to phase students into the portal without overwhelming it. All students will be phased into the Housing Portal between July 15 – 18. Once your timeslot opens it will remain open. Know that there are a more appointments than students, so if you miss your assigned timeslot you can still log in and make an appointment.
  • Your Timeslot is: 7/00/2020 00:00 (Military Time). Please know you will not be able to access the Fall Move In Form until your timeslot time opens.  
  • Once you access the Fall Move In Form you will be able to select your move in option based on the move in schedule: 
    • Campus Living Staff
      • Head Staff | August 4, 2020 | 8:00am - 5:00pm
      • Resident Assistants | August 6, 2020 | 8:00am - 5:00pm
    • Returning/Graduate Students
      • Phase I | August 8-11, 2020 | 8:00am - 1:00pm
      • Phase III | August 15-18, 2020 | 8:00am -1:00pm
    • New Student/Transfers
      • Phase II | August 12-14, 2020 | 8:00am-5:00pm
• You must have a pre-arranged and confirmed move in appointment before you travel to campus. If you do not have an appointment, then you will not be permitted to move into the residence hall. There will be no exceptions to this practice.  
• Once you have signed up for an appointment, your student ID will be activated for arrival that day. 
• You will receive a confirmation email with further instructions and expectations.    
• When students arrive on campus, we will be managing entrances and exits within the buildings to optimize foot traffic while maintaining safe distances. 

Moving to Campus

• As you pack for the upcoming fall semester, please be mindful of what you are bringing, how you are transporting it, and how difficult it may be to move your items quickly in the event of a campus closure. Obviously W&M hopes that we will have a relatively “normal” year ahead, but we also believe that we should plan for all semester possibilities. Our suggested packing lists include your basic living essentials with a few helpful suggestions!
• Just as the check-in process will look different this fall, so will move in! All residential students should following the prescribed Move-In Route for their residence hall assignment. All residential students will check-in via a limited-contact process and with key in-hand proceed along their color-coded route. Every residence hall has a specified Unloading Zone, as well as a designated Parking Lot to ensure adequate flow around all of our residential buildings.

We have developed these plans in consultation with our colleagues in Environmental Health & Safety, the Student Health Center, and Facilities Management - all with the goal of keeping staff, students and families as safe as possible. 

Your cooperation and understanding are vitally important. 

Go Tribe! 

-W&M Residence Life 

7/7/2020 Housing Release Request Updates

William & Mary is committed to both the intellectual and personal development of all students. As such, we require students to live on campus for their first two years in our community.

Given the COVID-19 pandemic situation, below are the ways we can help students navigate decisions regarding living on campus in fall 2020.

Classes of 2024, 2023 (Freshmen and Sophomores) have the following options if they wish to remain enrolled at W&M:

a) Students choose to live on campus and agree to abide by strict health and safety practices outlined in the Residence Life Resource Guide. 
b) Students whose permanent residence is within 60 miles of the W&M campus may commute from their home and join classes in person.
c) Students choose all fall remote course offerings, and reside at their permanent address on record and live with legal guardians.
d) Students defer/take leave of absence.

Living in an off-campus location locally in Williamsburg is not an option for freshmen or sophomore students unless it is their permanent address and they are commuting from their family home and residing with legal guardians whom live in with them in the residence 5 out of 7 days a week.

Classes of 2022, 2021, 2020 and graduate students have the same options as above. Additionally, they may request to cancel their housing contract with no penalty. This can be done via the W&M Housing Portal.

Please let us know your housing plans by August 18, we will continue to be flexible as you plan your fall semester.

If you are enrolled in a meal plan and wish to change or cancel your plan, you must visit mealplan.wm.edu before the end of add/drop and update your selection

Cancellation requests must submitted via the Housing Portal under the 2020-2021 Housing Application, if you choose a Commuter Exemption option please do so on the Contract Release Request page in the Housing Application.

6/17/2020 Housing Contract Addendum & Move In Dates

Residence Life Update:

This message includes important information on the following: 

• Housing Contract Addendum
• Move-in dates for August

In response to managing COVID-19 and all that we must undertake in order to bring students back to campus, it is necessary for us to create an addendum to the 2020-2021 Residence Life Housing Contract. 

Specific changes to the housing contract terms and conditions are presented below. We have made additional changes to some housing policies related to COVID-19 that are reflected in the Residence Life Resource Guide. All students are expected to read and abide by the Residence Life Resource Guide. These new policies include issues such as wearing face coverings, physical distancing and guest/visitation restrictions, etc., so please take time to carefully read this document.

Payment of your housing bill and/or completing electronic check-in will indicate your agreement to these changed terms. Any students with questions or concerns about these requirements should contact Residence Life at living@wm.edu.

Invoices will be posted to student accounts on July 10, 2020.
New student housing assignments will be available in the housing portal by July 8, 2020.

At W&M, we are committed to the flourishing of our Tribe for all time coming. Your consistent efforts for the well-being and health of your fellow students will be a discipline in living and learning together. We know there are new and inconvenient expectations to respect, but in order to return to campus and live together we must work to care for all in our campus community. 

We are excited to welcome you home to W&M!

William & Mary Residence Life
Housing Contract Addendum
2020-2021 

This is an Addendum to the William & Mary Residence Life Contract 2020-2021 that you submitted when you requested housing.  This Addendum is required in order to adjust the operation of the housing program to respond to the pandemic conditions. This Addendum supersedes the following sections of the original contract: 

Period of Contract: The period of contract is for the entire academic year when classes and exams are in session unless otherwise terminated or suspended under the terms and conditions of this contract. Agreements entered into after the beginning of the Fall semester continue in effect until the close of the academic year. The dates specified in paragraph 2 of the Terms and Conditions are no longer operable.

Moving In: You must abide by the published move-in schedule for arrival. Requests for early arrivals will be limited by building readiness, and there may be a charge assessed for early move-in. If you plan to arrive after your scheduled move-in date, you must inform Residence Life in writing from your W&M email account. If you enroll at the University but fail to move in to your assigned residence, you are still responsible for the full academic year room rent.

 Moving Out:

1. End of the academic year: You must abide by the published move-out schedule for vacating your assignment. Requests for late stays will be limited by building availability, and there may be a charge assessed for late move-out.
2. Mid-year: If you withdraw or terminate your enrollment during the academic year, or have your enrollment terminated by the University, you must notify Residence Life of your departure, in writing, vacate your assignment, and return the keys (if applicable) within 48 hours, or as determined by University authorities.

Cancellation of the W&M Residence Life Housing Contract During the Academic Year:

    The provisions of Additional Terms and Conditions §6.B.5 added the following:

1. The University may terminate this contract and your occupancy rights in the event of fire, earthquake, flood, hurricane, or other significant weather event or natural disaster, act of God, strikes, work stoppages or other labor disturbances, riots or civil commotions, litigation, war or other act of any foreign nation, plague, epidemic, pandemic, power of government or governmental agency or authority, state of emergency, or any other cause like or unlike any cause mentioned above, whether natural or man-caused, which is beyond the control or authority of the University.   In the event of such circumstances, all refunds of housing fees will be offered on the following schedule according to the academic calendar for undergraduate classes:

Closure Event Occurs                                                          Percentage of Semester Fees Refunded

Prior to the end of the 3^rd week of classes.                                                                    60%

During the 4^th week of classes through the end of 6^th week of classes.                          40%

During the 7^th week of classes through the end of 8^th week of classes.                          20%

After the end of the 8^th week of classes                                                                           5%

In the event of a residential hall closure during the fall 2020 semester, charges for the spring 2021 semester will only be billed if the residence halls re-open.

The provisions of Additional Terms and Conditions §1.D are deleted and replaced with the following:

1. General Information:
   This Contract is subject to all relevant University policies, which may be amended or updated from time to time in the sole discretion of the University. The University retains the unilateral right to terminate this contract at any time. Failure of either party to insist upon strict performance of any of the Terms or Conditions herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any rights or remedies of either party, and shall not be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach or default in any of the Terms or Conditions herein. The University assumes no responsibility for failure to perform any terms or conditions of this agreement due to any force majeure. The University does not discriminate in any of its programs, procedures, or practices against any person on the basis of age, citizenship, color, disability, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or status as a veteran. If you have a disability or otherwise need special accommodations, please notify the Student Accessibility Services office. 

W&M Residence Hall Move In Dates & Information

A phased move-in process is planned for August 2020. In order for us to manage the numbers of people on campus and in buildings each resident will schedule a move-in appointment.

The move-in schedule is below. Details regarding how and when to make appointments will be shared with residents by July 15.

Phase I            August 8-11                Returning Students

                                                            (early arrivals, student employees, etc.)

Phase II           August 12-14              New Student Move In

                                                            (Freshmen, Transfers & JDP Host Students)

Phase III         August 15-18              Returning Students    

There will be approximately 500 appointments available each day, spread across campus.

 We will make arrangements for families with siblings.

Additional details are forthcoming. You should minimally expect the following changes:

• Face coverings must be worn outside student rooms
• Touchless check-in process - likely drive-through for key pick up
• Limited time to unload vehicles outside buildings
• Each resident can bring no more than 2 adults to help with the move-in process
• Helpers will need to depart the building by a specific time each day
• One vehicle per resident
• Pack light – bring only essential items
• No personal furniture such as sofas, futons, home-made lofts, headboards, etc.

Richmond Hall will be used as quarantine and isolation housing as needed for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Residents currently assigned to Richmond Hall have been notified that their assignment will change to a similar capacity room elsewhere on campus.

As we noted in our communication last week, many triple and quad rooms will need to be reduced in density for use as double rooms. Students affected by these changes have been notified that their assignments will change.

We understand these changes are distressing and inconvenient, but they are necessary adjustments for us to make in order for students on live on campus as safely as possible.

Thank you for your patience as we manage these issues during this challenging time. Please address all housing questions to living@wm.edu

We wish you a safe and healthy summer!

 -W&M Residence Life

6/12/2020 Campus Living Path Forward Fall 2020 Residence Halls & New Student Orientation

Residence Life is happy to share our initial plans for welcoming students back to campus in August.

By July 1, we will publish details regarding move in. This will be a phased and scheduled process taking place over a few days in order to manage the density of people in each residence hall. It will necessarily be very different than you might have seen in the past, so please be prepared to adjust your plans and expectations accordingly. We realize the need for families to plan and schedule their visit to campus for move in, and we will share the schedule as soon as we can.

The health and safety of our learning community is a top priority.

We will house all students who have already signed a housing contract for 2020-2021. If you have a completed housing contract we will accommodate you on campus. In the event it is necessary, we have reserved space to accommodate residential students who may need to be quarantined or isolated.

Due to the change in the academic calendar and new expectations regarding living spaces, each student planning to live on campus will be required to sign an addendum to the housing contract that includes a Residence Life Health and Well-Being Pledge.

The addendum and instructions will be provided to contracted students by June 16 and will be due by July 1, 2020.

Compliance with the expectations and commitments in the contract addendum once students are on campus is critical for the ongoing operation of the residence halls. If students are unwilling to agree to this addendum, they should contact us at living@wm.edu regarding their housing options. Instructions will be provided in the coming electronic communication.

We have spent the past weeks reviewing the nature of residence hall living in concert with the current worldwide health situation. Our goal was to design a plan allowing for a housing balance that will provide optimum wellness outcomes for our whole community.

Our housing plan will reduce residential density where possible, and set in place a number of community expectations targeting our shared responsibility of maintaining health and safety.

Below are the initial steps we are taking in the residence halls for Fall 2020:

• We will consider roommates, suitemates, and those sharing apartments to be Flexible Family Units.
• We will eliminate many triple and quadruple rooms.
• We will set out clear guidelines regarding sharing of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other common living spaces.
• We will increase the distance from 30 miles to 60 miles for students who live locally and may wish to consider commuting from home.
• We will temporarily prohibit all guests and visitation in and between residence halls. Only residents of halls will be permitted to enter. This will be relaxed as health guidance safely permits.
• We will hold space for quarantine or isolation housing.
• We will increase cleaning efforts in high touch locations such a bathrooms and doors.
• Hand sanitizer will be located at each building entrance.

Residence Life will communicate additional details to residential students in by July 1, 2020. We will directly contact individual students whose assignments may be changed.

While many of these changes might be uncomfortable, these efforts are critical in reducing risk for yourself and the entire campus community.

We ask for your patience until we are able to provide more specific information regarding assignments and the move in process.

New Student Orientation

First Year Experience looks forward to welcoming you to campus in August! In accordance with public health guidelines, William & Mary has made decisions regarding the fall semester that require alterations to the new student move-in and orientation program and schedules. Look for updates via email and on our website beginning the week of June 15 so new students and families can adequately prepare for this exciting transition.

We can’t wait to see you all on campus in August! Have a safe and healthy summer!

5/6/2020 On Campus Move Out Steps

Thank you for selecting your 2020 Move-out time slot! It is required to read the following instructions carefully and in their entirety:

Your move-out appointment for 2020 Spring Move Out Appointments Spring App time and date is DATE TIME (Military Time) for 02:00:00 hours It is important to plan your trip carefully so that you are on-time for your move out appointment as your building access will be only for the date and time listed above.

You can reschedule as long as you do so prior to 24 hours before your appointment. Once you have canceled you will be able to select another appointment. This move out appointment is only for you. If you have a roommate they will need to schedule their own move out appointment to maintain social distancing.

Before you come to campus

• Make sure you have your student ID and your keys
• Bring any moving supplies such as boxes, broom/cleaning supplies, tools or a cart with you, we will not have any shared supplies available for residents to use to avoid any inadvertent exposure.
• Bring a cloth face covering with you, while you are in the building everyone will need to keep their mouths and noses covered at all times. CDC Prevention You should also bring gloves and hand sanitizer if you have them.
• You may have a maximum of 2 adults (16 years and older) with you to help you move. No children or pets (aside from service animals) will be allowed in the buildings.
• Health precautions – if you or your helpers answer yes to any of the following, you should stay home and reschedule:
  • Have you been in close contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
  • Are you currently or have you experienced any of these symptoms in the last 14 days?
    • Fever greater than 100?
    • Difficulty breathing?
    • Persistent Cough?

Once you are on campus

• Do not park on the sidewalk, in fire lanes or on the grass.
• Your student ID will only work on your residence hall and the duty office building during your move out appointment.
• Bring a cloth face covering with you, while you are in the building everyone will need to keep their mouths and noses covered at all times. CDC Prevention
• You must maintain safe social distancing (minimum of 6’ spacing) while on campus and in the buildings.
• There will be one designated entrance for incoming foot traffic (your ID will only work on this door) and once you enter the building there will be designated stairwells going up and stairwells going down as well as the building exit. While this may not be convenient, the interior traffic flow is important to maintain social distancing and avoiding crowding at doors and in stairwells. Pay attention to and comply with all directional signage in the building.
• Either wash your hands or use hand sanitizer every time that you re-enter the building.
• Because of challenges associated with maintaining in elevators we require the following guidelines:
  • Elevators may only be used for transporting large belongings or if there is a need due to a mobility issue.
  • Stage items at the elevator so that the elevator is only used once to transport all of your belongings downstairs – this will allow safe and efficient use of limited elevators on campus.
• Dispose of all trash and recycling outside in the dumpsters provided. There will not be any Dormania or other charity collections on campus this spring. If you have items that you wish to donate please take them with you to donate elsewhere.

We understand that this is a challenging and time restricted process and while we expect that your rooms are free of trash and personal property we also acknowledge that you may not be leaving your room squeaky clean!

Once you have moved out

• Return your room/apartment keys to the black key drop box located outside of the duty office using the envelope provided. Please dispose of the single use pencil when done.
• IMPORTANT: You will need to officially check-out of your room via the Housing Portal to complete the check-out process.

Please note the following Parking Advisory regarding road closures on campus: Road Closure Advisory - West Utility Plant Summer Pipe work

-W&M Residence Life

4/30/2020 Final Move Out Update & Instructions

We hope that this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy.  We know that you are understandably anxious to come back to campus and retrieve your belongings and we have appreciated your patience.  

Spring move out this year will begin May 6 and conclude by June 5. The process will require confirmed appointments and special health and safety considerations and will proceed under the following guidelines: 

• In order to maintain safe social distancing, no more than 200 residents will be allowed on campus on any given day.  Residents may bring no more than two adults with them to assist with move-out. 
• Residents will sign up through the Housing Portal under the Spring 2020 move out form for a two hour appointment to retrieve their belongings within the move out time frame. Sign up will start on April 30th based on the following schedule starting with graduating seniors and graduate students:  
  • All students have been assigned a timeslot similar to room selection to access the Housing Portal so that we do not crash the system.  
  • Your Timeslot is: DATE TIME (Military Time). Please know you will not be able to access the Spring 2020 Move Out form until your timeslot time.  
  • Once you access the Spring 2020 Move Out form you will be able to select your move out option from the list below then follow next steps: 
    • I am able to retrieve my personal belongings between May 6 and June 5 
    • I am unable to retrieve my belongings and want to utilize a pack and store or ship option 
    • I am unable to retrieve my belongings; however I am able to designate someone to retrieve my belongings between May 6 and June 5 
    • I did same room sign up and will not need an appointment as I am leaving my items over the summer 
    • I have already moved out of my room, but did not checkout
  • You must have a pre-arranged and confirmed move out appointment before you travel to campus. If you do not have an appointment, then you will not be permitted to enter the residence hall. There will be no exceptions to this practice.  
  • Once you have signed up for an appointment, your ID will be activated for that period.  You will receive a confirmation email with further instructions and expectations.    
  • When students arrive on campus, we will be managing entrances and exits within the buildings to optimize foot traffic while maintaining safe distances. 
  • Residents will not be permitted to stay in their rooms or apartments beyond the two-hour appointment window it takes to move-out.  We are not reopening for occupancy. 
  • For those residents who will not be able to travel back to campus during this time period or who need to store their items, as you go through the portal sign-up you will be given options and information from our private moving and storage partners. 

We have developed these plans in consultation with our Environmental Health & Safety, Health Center and Facilities Management, all with the goal of keeping staff, students and families as safe as possible. 

We realize that these conditions are complicated, but in order to safely manage move-out we need to carefully control the number of people in residence halls at any given time. Your cooperation and understanding are vitally important. 

Go Tribe! 

-W&M Residence Life

Pack & Store or Ship Option 

• Dorm Room Movers - Move, Store, Ship 
• SmartBox - Portable Storage & Moving

4/20/2020 Housing Update

Greetings from Residence Life –

We hope this message finds you safe and healthy as we all manage the effects of this unprecedented global event.  We wanted to take a moment to give you an update on the planning process for retrieving your belongings:

• Currently W&M is still open but buildings are locked – staff who can work from home are required to do so.  Only authorized staff (Facilities Management and Building Services) are permitted in the residence halls and even though residents are not present we are concentrating on work in the public areas. 
• The earliest that we may open the residence halls for students to retrieve their belongings will be mid-June if the Stay-at-Home order for Virginia expires and the employees at the university who have been working from home can return to campus.  Some important points to remember:
  • We are unable to predict exact dates for your return as it is dependent on the stay-at-home order duration, and the rates of COVID-19 spread in the local community and across the state.
  • We are working on a phased schedule to bring students back to campus since allowing everyone back at the same time would be counter-productive from a health and safety standpoint.  We are working with staff from the Student Health Center and Environmental Health and Safety Office to determine safe parameters for resident return.
  • We are finalizing arrangements with our campus partners for storage providers which will include storage Pods, boxes and packing services.  We understand that these services will be a critical necessity for those residents who will have difficulty returning to move out of their rooms because of distance and /or conditions in their home state or country.  We believe the options that they offer will be a convenient solution for all involved.  We will have more information regarding storage and packing options soon.
• We will be doing room checks which may include emptying the refrigerators in student rooms.  We are working with Dorms Direct to identify, empty and remove rental refrigerators prior to student return. Privately owned refrigerators may be emptied by custodial staff based on recommendation or our Environmental Health and Safety Office.
• Other Dorms Direct rental items such as loft units and futons will be removed after student move-out is complete.

Please check the Residence Life website for other updates and information: https://www.wm.edu/offices/residencelife/.
You can also contact our office via email – living@wm.edu – we have a high volume of email questions coming into our office so your patience is appreciated as we respond to all inquiries. 

Wishing you good health during this challenging time.

-W&M Residence Life

4/2/2020 Item Retrieval & Move Out Updates

• All rooms on campus are secure and will remain so until further notice. Given the fluid nature of this pandemic and uncertainty about timing and a return to campus we are leaving personal items secured in student rooms and apartments. 
• Due to the no-travel order in Virginia that is in place until June 10 we will not be scheduling a time for retrieval of belongings until it is deemed  safe to travel and interact. We appreciate your continued patience as we negotiate these decisions in a challenging and changing environment. Until then, you can be confident your room will remain secure.

4/8/2020 Summer Housing 2020 Update

Per the Provost’s recent update, all W&M in-person classes will move to remote delivery for both sessions of summer.  Due to this decision we will not offer on-campus housing this summer. If public health guidelines change to the extent of allowing an on-campus presence in the second session, the Provost will reexamine viable options at that time.

3/30/2020 Recent Housing Updates

Picking Up Items: All university buildings are closed until further notice. It is not possible to enter residence halls or academic buildings to retrieve items under any circumstances.

Move Out: At this time we are not able to provide dates for move out of belongings. All rooms are secure and your items can remain in your room until further notice. Power will remain on in all residence halls. Once the University has made a decision regarding summer programs and use of buildings we will determine a plan and timeline for moving belongings. As soon as we have more information regarding this process we will share it via email and the residence life website.

 Refrigerators: We realize perishables may have been left in refrigerators.  Power will remain on in all buildings. We are working on plans to manage refrigerators. Once we have a final plan in place we will let residents know via email and on the website.

Connections: Most student staff members are still working, and looking for ways to keep your residential communities connected from afar. Please look for messages from your RA and try to stay in touch with your Tribe!

3/20/2020 Important Housing Update

Dear W&M Resident Students,

By now you have received the university message from President Rowe regarding the continuation of online coursework for the balance of the semester and the closure of the residence halls.

We know this is incredibly disappointing and distressing news, and we will do our best to balance student needs with health and safety practices during this challenging time, while following the information from the Virginia Department of Health.

All W&M residence halls (including apartments and the Graduate Complex) will close effective March 25 at 5:00 p.m.

Students currently on campus and in residence need to move out by 5:00pm, Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

• Residence halls will not reopen this semester.
• If possible remove all of your belongings at this time and complete the online check out process via the Housing Portal under 2020 Spring Move Out. This form is to be completed only once you have removed all of your belongings from your assigned room. If you are waiting until the currently anticipated April-May move out time, do not complete this form at this time.
• No family or friends may enter the building to help you move out. We are sorry for this inconvenience but must prohibit numbers of people in the buildings.
• Return your room and/or apartment key(s) to the black drop box available at the area/building Duty Office by completing an Express Checkout Envelope provided by the drop box and placing your key(s) in an Express Checkout Envelope and drop it in the drop box.
• If you are unable to move out completely now, we will offer another window later this spring to come back and collect your belongings. If you have a refrigerator in your room please empty it, unplug it, and leave door open.

If you are away from campus and have belongings in your room for which you have a critical need (medications, laptops) you must make plans to collect them by Wednesday, March 25, 5:00 p.m., as follows:

• Email living@wm.edu to request approval.
• It is critical that you bring your room key and ID card to access your residence hall.
• If you don’t have your key, email living@wm.edu for assistance.
• You will have a limited amount of time to collect your belongings and leave campus.
• Social distancing protocols will be in place and we will require compliance with these actions.
• No one may accompany you into the building. Only residents will be permitted entry to residence halls. If you bring guests with you, they must remain in your vehicle.
• This is not a time for you to completely move out of your room. This is a quick retrieval only.
• If you have a refrigerator in your room please empty it, unplug it, and leave door open. Trash bags will be available near the main entrance of each hall. Trash should be removed from the hall and placed in dumpsters outside.
• Do not come to campus if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been asked by state or local health officials to self-quarantine. Under those circumstances, you may designate someone else to return for your critically-needed belongings by emailing living@wm.edu.

If you need someone else to retrieve your critical items (medications, laptops) for you:
Email living@wm.edu from your official W&M email account and provide the following information:

• Your name, hall and room number
• Name of person coming to gather items
• Only one person may enter the residence hall
• They will be escorted at a distance of 6-8 feet by a staff member
• If you have a refrigerator in your room please have the person picking up your items empty your refrigerator, unplug it, and leave the door open. Trash bags will be available near the main entrance of each hall. Trash should be placed in the dumpsters outside.

Full Move Out Procedures:

We will plan a full move out period, hopefully between mid-April and mid-May. More information about access and hours during that window will be shared at a later date. Please note that future health conditions in our region may require adjustments to these proposed dates.

• We will be working with our storage vendors to arrange for their services when we are able to allow general move out.  We will be sending out information as it becomes available.
• Dorms Direct knows where all of their items are located and asks that they just be left in place to be collected when they are able to do so after move-out. If you have questions, please use their contact form and they will get back with you directly: https://dormsdirect.com/contact.html. 

Bookstore Updates:

W&M Bookstore has updated their website with two tiles (on the home page) for the students inquiring about their rental textbooks and textbook purchases for F20.

• Students are able to request a free shipping label for their textbook returns (one free label per on line order) – as of now we are not accepting any in store rental returns
• If textbooks are still required, orders may be placed on line for home delivery – Free Shipping
• W&M Bookstore will ship all textbook orders to home addresses

W&M Bookstore is currently offering Free Shipping on all website orders.

Concerns:

For those students who are unable to implement their personal evacuation plans – know that we are committed to working with you to find a solution. Please click here to consult with us.

These are terribly challenging times. We care deeply about you and are committed working together to provide solutions in this unprecedented situation.  We will continue to find ways to periodically connect with you over the next several weeks.

Stay healthy,

Maggie Evans
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Campus Living

3/16/2020  Important Housing Updates - All Residents

The governor has mandated that all state agencies close to the public. This means that all offices and services on campus will move to essential-only activity. In our effort to respond to the governor’s directive and reduce density and activity on campus, we are making the following necessary changes to residence hall access. It is imperative that you adhere to the guidance below.

• Registration to come back and stay on campus has been closed. No new students may register to return to campus until further notice.
• In accordance with the governor’s directive, access to residence halls for pick-up of personal items left over spring break is temporarily suspended while the campus and campus offices are closed to the public.
• Duty Offices in Residence Halls will remain closed at this time. 
• Faculty are aware that some students may not be able to retrieve text books or educational supplies and will adjust accordingly.
• We will provide additional information as we have it during this ever-changing situation.
• If you need assistance with a residence life issue email living@wm.edu. We are monitoring and responding to messages.

Room Selection:

• Room Selection for returning students for the 2020-2021 Academic Year will proceed on schedule online, including Priority Housing. 
• If you have direct questions for Residence Life, all communications have been sent to student W&M emails and shared via our Residence Life website. Please know that although the Residence Life office is closed to the general public they will still be responding to emails sent to living@wm.edu. However, please expect delays in responses due to high volume. 

 Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this rapidly changing situation. The W&M Tribe is strong!

Best,

Maggie Evans
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Campus Living

3/16/2020  Important Housing Updates - Current Residents On Campus

 The governor has mandated that all state agencies close to the public. This means that all offices and services on campus will move to essential-only activity. It is imperative that you adhere to the guidance below.

• We strongly advise you to leave campus if you are able to return home or stay with friend/family off campus. W&M will only be able to provide essential services and it will be best if only those with truly extenuating circumstances remain on campus. Reducing the density of our campus community is crucial.
• If you have left campus or when you leave campus please complete a Departure Form so that we know you are no longer on campus.
• No group gatherings. Medical advice at this time is that interaction is limited to immediate family groups only. In our residential setting we interpret this as roommate/suitemate groups only. Do not gather in your residence halls or elsewhere on or off campus.
• Do not visit friends in other residence halls. Only enter your assigned residence hall. No outside guests, even family, are permitted in your residence hall.
• Commons is set up as a to-go option only and no self-service.  Food is either pre-packaged or boxed by dining staff and is available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tribe Market is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Chick-fil-A is to-go only, no indoor seating. 
• Carry your keys and ID with you every time you leave the room. Residence Life staff will be unable to respond to lockout requests. We need you to be responsible and diligent about locking your doors and carrying your keys. In an emergency situation, WMPD will help with an accidental lockout, but we need this to be a last resort.
• Duty Offices in Residence Halls will remain closed at this time. 
• Emergencies should be directed to the William & Mary Police at 757-221-4596. 

Room Selection:

• Room Selection for returning students for the 2020-2021 Academic Year will proceed on schedule online, including Priority Housing. 
• If you have direct questions for Residence Life, all communications have been sent to student W&M emails and shared via our Residence Life website. Please know that although the Residence Life office is closed to the general public they will still be responding to emails sent to living@wm.edu. However, please expect delays in responses due to high volume. 

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this rapidly changing situation. The W&M Tribe is strong!

Best,

Maggie Evans
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Campus Living

3/14/2020  Update to Lock Out Hours & Protocol

Residential Students:

Today has been a day of high emotions as we, together, continue to move forward with our unprecedented university operating procedures. We appreciate your patience as the number of students needing lock-out assistance has been overwhelming. In order to serve our residents in a timely manner, but also take care of our small Residence Life team, the following protocols are effective immediately for those students who need assistance accessing their residence hall room:

 March 14 and 15:

• • Between 8 AM – 8 PM at Residence Life (212 Campus Center)
  • Between 8 PM – 8 AM contact W&M Police on their non-emergency line (757-221-4596)
• March 16 through March 20:
  • 8 AM – 5 PM at Residence Life (212 Campus Center)
  • Between 5 PM – 8 AM contact W&M Police on their non-emergency line (757-221-4596)

The Residence Life Office is located in the Campus Center, Room 212. The building should be accessed using the entrance across from Taliaferro Hall.

Keep the following guidelines in mind as you retrieve belongings:

• Carry your room key and student ID with you at all times.
• Always lock your residence hall door.
• Do NOT prop exterior residence hall doors.

We appreciate your patience as we continue to do our best to provide student assistance during this challenging time.

Best,

Maggie Evans 
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Campus Living

3/14/2020 Lock-Out Reminders for March 14-15 

Dear Residential Students:

Please know that the Office of Residence Life is working with a limited on-campus staff due to the recent operational changes to campus.

If you left your residence hall room unlocked upon your spring break departure, your door was locked upon completion of the fire safety inspections. If you have your room key, you are welcome to return at your convenience.

3/13/2020 Reminders If On Campus

Duty Office:

• Again please make sure if you are returning to campus to bring your ID Card and Keys, AS DUTY OFFICES ARE CLOSED. This also means there will not be access to items to be checked out either.

Lockouts:

• Lockouts Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. come to the main Residence Life Office, 212 Campus Center.
• After hours lockouts should be called to the Residence Life Lockout line at 757-221-5625.  

Emergencies:

• Nighttime and weekend emergencies will need to be directed to the William & Mary Police at 757-221-4596. 

3/12/2020 Dear Residential Students:

A message was sent on March 11 from President Rowe regarding the suspension of all in-person classes through at least April 3. This message provides additional instructions for managing on-campus housing issues during that time. 

While we understand the temptation to head back to campus and be with classmates, in the strongest of terms we urge you to comply with our guidance that you remain at home or away from campus until early April. The CDC has suggested that college students remain in their permanent residence as the safest option to avoid the spread of the virus and we are committed to following this direction.  

While most administrative offices are open during this period, all campus events are canceled and services and access to campus facilities including academic buildings and libraries will be limited. Campus Recreation will be closed. Dining will be limited and will only provide carryout service. You will have a more safe and positive experience at your permanent residence during this period of online and remote delivery of instruction. 

W&M is committed to doing all we can to make decisions that help us slow the spread of this virus, and practice self-distancing behaviors. The nature of residence and dining halls make both of these issues challenging, and are simply not the safest places to be when spread of germs is an issue.

The following residential operations will be in place until at least April 3, 2020. The safety and well-being of the campus community is our top priority. We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work to reduce the density of our on-campus community and take needed steps to address the spread of coronavirus. If you are currently away on spring break, we strongly encourage you to stay home or return to your home. Those who need to visit campus briefly to collect crucial belongings, such as computers or books, will be permitted to do so, and details about how to do so are below. If you are currently on campus for spring break, we strongly encourage you to return home.

I Am Already Away from Campus But Need to Access Belongings

If you need to access belongings such as textbooks, medications, laptops, or personal items, please do so prior to Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 9:00 p.m... 

After March 15, 2020 resident ID access will be active to retrieve essential items will be between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m... only on the following dates: 

• March 16, 2020 – March 20, 2020
• March 23, 2020 – March 27, 2020
• March 30, 2020 – April 3, 2020

Starting Friday March 13, 2020, you will have access only to your assigned residence hall. This includes fraternity and sorority houses. Residents will have access to their assigned building until Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 9:00 p.m... With the exception of the dates and times outlined above, only those residents who have registered to remain on campus (information about registration below) will have access to their halls after 9:00 pm on Sunday March 15.

 When making travel plans, please arrange for your return to campus to be as brief as possible – just enough time to gather your essentials and return home. Remember to bring your student ID and room key for easy and quick access to your room. 

I Need to Live On Campus Through April 3

If you need to stay on campus, following are examples of compelling reasons:

• Permanent residence is too distant for travel (e.g., International, excessive expense) or in a location deemed unsafe for travel
• Campus is essentially your only “home”- no permanent residence or family situation potentially unsafe
• Locally employed, are currently scheduled to work, and rely on this income for educational or living needs.
• You have unique and immediate situation that requires consideration

These are essentially the conditions under which a student should consider returning to stay on campus. You must complete the housing registration form by Sunday, March 15, 2020 at noon. If you have a situation not listed above you may contact living@wm.edu or call 757.221.4314 to consult with us.

Starting Sunday, March 15 at 9:00 p.m... card access will be active only for residents who have completed the housing registration form and received confirmation to remain on campus. During this time, the Residence Life guest policy will be suspended; residents that are approved to stay in the hall will not be permitted to have unapproved residents or other guests as visitors.

If you remained on campus for spring break and cannot return home, you must fill out the housing registration form by Sunday, March 15, 2020 at noon.

To be clear, if you can stay or return home you should do so. You should consider staying on campus only if you have no other reasonable option. This is not a time for students to be on campus to hang out with friends or for convenience.

Expectations for Students Who Remain on Campus During this Period

• Confine your studying to your residence hall whenever possible
• Do not convene in groups
• Group study should be conducted electronically and not in person
• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others 
• No guests are permitted in the residence halls

Modified Dining Operations beginning 5 pm, Sunday, March 15, 2020:

Commons (The Caf) Hours:
Accepting Meal Swipes, Dining Dollars & Express
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm 

Tribe Market:
Accepting Dining Dollars & Express
10:00 am – 8:00 pm 

Chick-fil-A:
Accepting Dining Dollars & Express
11:00 am – 8:00 pm 

Dominos Pizza Delivery:
Accepting Dining Dollars & Express
Sunday – Thursday 10:00 am – 12:00 am
Friday & Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 am

Out of an abundance of caution and utmost consideration for the health and wellness of the campus, Commons (The Caf) will be closed to seating and service will be take-out only.

Your safety and well-being is our top priority. We appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work to reduce the density of the population on campus and take steps needed to address the spread of the virus.

If you have questions regarding housing over the next couple of weeks please direct them to living@wm.edu.

Best regards,

Maggie Evans
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Campus Living

For Continued Updates On COVID-19 From The University Please Visit

• Campus Announcements