Residential Life During COVID-19

Move-in details

New students
Returning students
Packing lists, including health & telehealth supplies: What to Bring

FAQs

Can I have guests/visitors in the residence halls?

Up to 2 people who are not Nazareth students (such as family members) may visit a resident student in the residence hall or Dining Commons between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., as detailed on the Visitors webpage.
In addition, students are strongly encouraged to limit the number of current Nazareth students visiting, to be able to maintain 6-foot physical distancing in your residence hall room, suite, or apartment. It is required that face coverings be worn by all students when any visitors/guests are in residence halls, including individual rooms.
Students are not permitted to have overnight guests or visitors in their residence hall rooms. Residential students will only have card swipe access to the residence hall they live in.

Can I order take out food and have it delivered from Grubhub, DoorDash, etc. to my residence hall?

Yes, as noted on the Visitors webpage, brief deliveries (meals, groceries, etc.) are exempt from online screening. Delivery drivers can come onto campus. Arrange for contactless delivery outdoors as the delivery person cannot enter the residence hall.

How have you reduced density in the residence halls?

We have reduced density by limiting the number of triples and eliminating quad rooms. Occupancy overall has been reduced across campus residences. Lounges and common kitchens have reduced seating capacity to allow for appropriate physical distancing.

Do I need to wear a face covering in my own residence hall room, suite, or apartment?

Not when you are alone or only with your roommate(s), if any. They are your “family unit.”
Yes in hallways and bathrooms that are outside your residence hall room, suite, or apartment.

For more, see Face Coverings.

What does it mean to live in a “family unit?”

If you live in a communal setting such as a residence hall, your room, suite, or apartment is considered your family unit; in an off-campus house/apartment, your housemates/roommates are considered your family unit, where safety measures such as wearing face coverings and physical distancing can be relaxed.

What about dining with others?

Students are encouraged to sit and eat with roommates from your family unit, to align with social distancing protocol, since masks can't be worn while eating and drinking. Otherwise, sit at least 6 feet apart from others when eating.

Can students leave campus for entertainment, dining out, or shopping?

Students are free to leave campus — with strong encouragement (like all members of the Naz community) to wear face coverings and practice social distancing and good hygiene.

Can I go home on a weekend?

We strongly encourage you to stay on campus on the weekends, as many social events, celebrations, and extra-curricular activities are often held then. Students who go home often miss out on these opportunities, which can impede their ability to form and strengthen friendships and connections with the Nazareth community. Additionally, during the pandemic, limiting travel reduces risk. With this being said, we do realize how important it is for students to see their families for family events (birthdays, etc), and recommend that you take health precautions when traveling home. If you are ill with respiratory symptoms, prior to your trip home, please contact Nazareth Health Services at 585-389-2500 to discuss risks of traveling home and exposing others.

Also see:

What is appropriate etiquette for bathroom use in residence halls with community bathrooms, in the age of COVID?

To reduce the risk of transmission, please wear a face covering in the bathroom whenever possible. Obviously this will not be practical when actively showering, but please put the face covering back on before exiting the stall.
Make every effort to keep 6 feet between people. When using a shower stall or a toilet stall, please leave one stall between residents whenever possible. The same guidelines should be followed for sinks as well.

Who is responsible for cleaning a student’s individual room(s)?

Each student is responsible to clean and sanitize your personal space, as usual. See the CDC’s Cleaning & Disinfecting tips, which includes a recommendation to use EPA-registered household disinfectant.

Who is responsible for cleaning the bathroom?

Students who live within a suite/apartment or have a private bathroom are responsible to clean and sanitize their bathroom. See the CDC’s Cleaning & Disinfecting tips, which includes a recommendation to use EPA-registered household disinfectant.
Students who live in a corridor style residence hall with a community (shared) bathroom will have daily cleaning provided by Nazareth housekeeping.

In corridor-style residence halls, how often are the community bathrooms, lounges, and common spaces cleaned?

Cleaning staff are cleaning and sanitizing high-touch items in public areas (door handles, railings, buttons, faucets, etc) 5-10 times per day, 7 days a week. Housekeeping hours have been increased and the residence halls will be staffed from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., 7 days a week with environmental services workers. Community bathrooms will be cleaned and monitored as outlined above; this includes the community showers.

What about ventilation, including in residence halls with community bathrooms?

Nazareth is following this recommended best practice from New York State's opening plan: "Wherever possible, increase ventilation of outdoor air (e.g. opening windows and doors) while maintaining safety precautions." Although there are no direct requirements on HVAC systems in regards to COVID, Nazareth has implemented several improvements. Each building has a unique HVAC system with different capabilities. Where possible, the amount of outside fresh air has been increased to as much as possible. Direct opening of windows is being encouraged, to reduce recirculated air. Additionally, all of the filters have been replaced on the equipment across campus.

How are the showers and restrooms being adjusted for social distancing?

Occupancy overall has been reduced across campus residences, which includes buildings with community bathrooms.

What happens if I get a “red badge” on my daily COVID-19 screening?

See the screening webpage.

If I live in a corridor-style hall and get a red badge, can I leave my room to go to the bathroom?

Yes, you are allowed to leave your room to use the bathroom. Please put your mask on before you leave your room and go directly to the bathroom, doing your best to maintain physical distance from other residents. While using the bathroom, please do your best to keep 6 feet away from any other resident you may encounter and take extra care to observe all of the appropriate COVID bathroom etiquette. This means maintaining 6 feet of distance, leaving a sink or a stall empty between you and another person who may enter the bathroom, washing your hands for 20 seconds, and avoiding touching your face then touching surfaces in the bathroom. On your return trip to your room, please go directly back to your room.

How do I approach health and safety rules or things I’m concerned about, with my roommate?

Here are 8 questions to use in talking with roommates:

Talk about the reality: If one (or more) students in a living space are required to quarantine or isolate, all person(s) who have had close contact will likely be required to quarantine also — meaning going home or otherwise leaving the residence hall/apartment.
Discuss ways to reduce risk, such as not having guests/visitors in your living space.
How often do you plan to be in contact with other people, if at all?
How often do you plan to leave campus, and what precautions will you take?
In terms of restaurants and other public places, what are your plans?
What are your expectations and schedules for cleaning and disinfecting living spaces and purchasing supplies?
How will you support physical distancing in your living space? How do you want to set up your room? What items will you share and not share?
Discuss: How will we approach a conversation and solution if someone in our living space feels unsafe?

Who do I go to when I have questions?

Your resident assistants (RAs) are there to help! Please reach out.

How can parents and families stay connected with their new Nazareth student and be assured they are transitioning well to college life? What if my student gets homesick?

A resident assistant (RA) lives on each floor and is trained to check on students and to handle student concerns. It's important that students connect with their RA during the first few days on campus. That way, they know a trained student who can guide them through their transition and provide a referral to an appropriate resource on campus if the student is feeling sick, or struggling in some way.

Feeling homesick can be common when starting college, and there are many available resources on campus. Confidential assessment, referral, and counseling services are available through our Health and Counseling Center for students experiencing personal and/or emotional difficulties while attending Nazareth.

Nazareth College