Here’s what Ohio State students living on campus can expect
Students returning to live at Ohio State University this fall will be expected to wear masks in common areas and encouraged to pre-order and pick up meals from dining halls.
They also must adhere to a designated time slot during a two-week move-in period in August, the university announced Friday.
The information distributed by Ohio State’s Office of Student Life Friday offers additional details on the university’s fall return to campus. Ohio State has previously said it will reduce the population density in residence halls.
The university said isolation and quarantine housing will be provided for students with Ohio State housing contracts, for those who get sick or are exposed to COVID19. Those housing options will be available if students choose not to or are unable to return home to their permanent residence.
Students living in residence halls are required to wear face masks in all common areas, such as lobbies, study spaces and laundry facilities. The face coverings are also recommended if students gather or socialize in residence hall rooms, but such congregating should be limited, the university said.
Move-in will occur from Aug. 12 to Aug. 23, with students scheduling a designated time block to arrive to ensure no more than eight students are moving into any one residence hall during the same one-hour period.
The university is asking students to limit the number of people helping them move in to just one or two people. Students and those assisting them with move-in are asked to wear face masks and perform temperature checks and COVID-19 symptom self-assessments before arriving on campus.
Some move-in volunteers will be on-site to direct traffic and answer questions, but will not assist with moving students’ belongings. Moving carts will be available and sanitized after each use.
Students are encouraged to practice physical distancing while using residence hall laundry facilities, and are asked to take clothes back to their rooms to fold.
Shared items such as kitchen supplies, board games and sports equipment that are typically available at residence hall front desks will no longer be available.
Ohio State previously announced it would temporarily waive its requirement that sophomores live on campus. Those sophomores who do not wish to live on campus during the upcoming school year can still make that request by emailing housingosu.edu.
Preliminary housing assignments will be emailed to returning students by the end of next week. Incoming first-year students will receive assignments in midJuly.
As for campus dining, traditional all-you-can eat and self-serve, buffet-style dining options will not be available, and will operate instead as pre-order, pickup locations. Mobile ordering and food pick-up “will be the preferred and most encouraged option,” and “all customers must wear face masks when picking up food,” the student life office said. Chilled meal packages also will be available for reheating in residence hall rooms.