Dear undergraduates living on campus this semester,
As a follow up to the email I sent yesterday, I write today to update you on developments relevant to our residence halls.
Last night, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added 29 countries to its Level 3 Warning, including much of Europe. As a result, any student returning from personal or University travel to these countries must self-quarantine for 14 days, which means these travelers now cannot return to campus, including residence halls.
Some questions have also arisen about returning to your hall. Many people, including our residence hall rectors, are doing everything they can to communicate well and care for you and the safety of our broader campus community. We are also being both pragmatic and cognizant of public health guidelines. Here is a simple list designed to help clarify questions about the closing of our halls:
● If you are here on campus, please go home no later than noon on Tuesday, March 17. Take only what you need to continue your classes remotely.
● If you are away from South Bend, please do not return just to retrieve your things. Please complete this form and let us know what you need. Hundreds of University staff are prepared to pack and ship your items. If you live permanently in the local area, please do return to your room to get essential belongings before the halls close on Tuesday, March 17.
● If you had travel plans to return to South Bend and it is feasible to change them, please do. We will send you what you need.
● If you had travel plans to return to South Bend and it is not possible to change them, you are welcome to return to your room. The halls are open until Tuesday, March 17 at noon for this reason. That said, please then go home as soon as you can.
● We understand some students are unable to return home. These students will be notified of their approval to remain on campus tomorrow by the Office of Residential Life.
I know how disappointed you must be to not return to campus – we are as well. The University made the very difficult decision to move courses online and close the residence halls based on the best public health advice currently available. As you can see from last night’s CDC travel advisory changes, this guidance is evolving by the hour. Thank you so much for your patience, and please feel free to forward this information to your parents, guardians, and loved ones.
In Notre Dame,
Erin Hoffmann Harding
Vice President for Student Affairs
Originally published by at coronavirus.nd.edu on March 12, 2020.