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Life in the Residence Halls

Life in the Residence Halls

Housing and Residence Life (HRL) is committed to fostering engaging residential communities where students will learn and grow as they pursue their academic degrees. We are also committed to creating environments that follow best practices regarding community health during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Below are responses to some important questions you may be asking about what to expect when you join us on campus. 

Note: for the most up-to-date information/guidance from the University, please visit the Niner Nation Cares website.

What responsibility do I have in keeping our communities safe and healthy?  

  • Every Niner has a community, social, and personal responsibility to help keep our residence halls as healthy as possible. New or different expectations may be asked of students to uphold this responsibility as guidance from health officials evolves. HRL will work to keep you informed of these expectations via email, guidance from HRL staff, and through posted signs and publications (e.g. the Resident Handbook).
  • You are expected to clean and maintain your assigned room, suite or apartment as recommended by Housing and Residence Life staff.
  • Adherence to health and safety requirements applies to all residents and their guests, and extends to all aspects of life in the residence halls, including bedrooms, bathrooms, community kitchens, lounges, courtyards, and other common spaces. 
  • Staff may remind you to follow community expectations and meet your responsibilities. Students who choose not to comply with community expectations may be asked to meet with a professional staff member to discuss what it means to be a Niner living in community.
  • You should plan to participate in a facilitated conversation with your room/suite/apartment-mates and Resident Advisor in order to develop a roommate agreement that outlines responsible health practices, in-room guest permissions, cleaning expectations, and sharing of items within your living space. These conversations may be difficult and uncomfortable as you navigate through different perspectives on these community health practices. All residents are expected to remain civil and respectful as they work to find ways to compromise and collaborate with their peers. 
  • When hosting guests, you must always do so with respect to your room/suite/apartment-mates and the agreements made with one another. Your opportunity to host guests is a privilege that may be suspended if you do not follow policy or infringe on their roommates’ primary rights for sleep, study and privacy.

What are the Mask Requirements in the Residence Halls?

  • Masks are currently not required inside the residence halls, but are highly encouraged for those who are unvaccinated or are at high risk for health complications related to infection.

Will I be required to participate in COVID-19 testing?

  • Mitigation testing for off-campus students and employees is no longer required. However, asymptomatic testing will continue to be offered Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the South Village Crossing (SoVi) testing site. Signage will direct you to the correct location. No appointment is necessary for testing, but registration is strongly encouraged. Please note: Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 should continue to contact the Student Health Center at 704-687-7400 to schedule a test. 
  • For the most up-to-date information/guidance from the University, please visit the Niner Nation Cares website.

What if I don’t get along with my roommate or prefer to move to a different room?

  • Students are expected to complete a roommate agreement outlining expectations for living together in their shared space. If conflicts do arise, you should ask your Resident Advisor (RA) or Residence Education Coordinator (REC) for support to help mediate any concerns. 
  • If unoccupied space is available after classes begin, HRL will open a Scheduled Room Change process for students interested in moving to a different room.

How will students and HRL staff connect and build community? 

  • You will receive direct support from your Resident Advisor (RA) and other hall staff.  RAs will host community building events to check in on individual residents and to assist with their transition or continued experience in the halls. 
  • Professional staff also reside in each hall and are available to assist students. Each hall Residence Education Coordinator (REC) can be found on our website and contacted to schedule an appointment.

What additional practices does HRL maintain to keep our communities safe and healthy? 

  • HRL staff clean public spaces, such as community bathrooms, in each residence hall daily, including high-touch and heavily-trafficked areas such as main pathways, front doors, elevator buttons, etc. 
  • Plexiglass shields are installed at reception desks.
  • Hand sanitizing stations are installed throughout the residence halls. 

What should I do if I am sick or believe I have been exposed to COVID-19?

  • Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19  are encouraged to complete their Niner Health Check. Students are also able to take a free test Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the South Village Crossing (SoVi) testing site. Signage will direct you to the correct location. No appointment is necessary for testing, but registration is strongly encouraged.
  • If isolation is needed, you will be asked to return to your permanent, off-campus residence to recover. Under extenuating circumstances, some students may receive approval to isolate-in-place and will be provided specific instructions from the Student Health Center and Housing and Residence Life.

What else do I need to know to prepare for living on campus?

  • At any time, the University may request or require a resident to leave on campus housing when the resident’s continued presence in the residence halls poses a health or safety risk for community members. 
  • You should have a plan for where you will isolate off-campus should the need arise. Temporary isolation space on campus is not available and approval to isolate-in-place will only be approved for extenuating circumstances.  
  • Residential students are required to comply with requests from Housing and Residence Life to leave their assigned space due to COVID-19 or other public health emergencies. Failure to do so is a breach of the Contract for Residential Services and may subject a student to emergency removal from their assigned space. 
  • A student’s temporary relocation from their assigned residence hall to isolate does not constitute a termination or violation of their housing contract. 
  • In the event Housing and Residence Life must relocate students as part of a community health strategy to mitigate the spread of disease or infection for an extended period of time and alternative housing is not available, the University and/or UNC System will provide guidance regarding students’ eligibility for reimbursement of any housing charges.