Now that you’ve settled into your space and started your classes, I wanted to remind you of a couple of things on how our facilities unit can assist you.

1. Please record any issues or concerns that you may have with the condition of your room on your Room Condition Report (RCR). You can fill out your RCR here. By filling out your RCR, you will not be held responsible for those documented concerns when you move out.
2. We recognize that this was not a typical summer. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our staff was not working in our halls the whole summer. You may find items that need addressing, like patch and paint issues or a drawer that is not sliding correctly. If you have something that is not working well or is broken please let us know by filling out a work order, and we will make it right. Immediate facility concerns can be reported to the service desk who can contact mechanics. We have one onsite mechanic until midnight each night, and emergency on-call staff if necessary. The phone numbers for each service desk are the following: Sandburg 414-229-6123, Cambridge Commons 414-935-6900, and Kenilworth Square Apartments 414-229-0512.
3. We have received several questions asking if residents are responsible for keeping their room and suite clean. The answer is yes. We encourage you to come up with a weekly cleaning schedule that includes cleaning supplies like bleach, which are approved to kill the COVID-19 virus. You are responsible for scrubbing the shower, cleaning countertops, dusting, vacuuming and mopping floors, and cleaning out your stove/fridge if applicable.
4. For North Tower residents, your Contract Guidebook stated that North Tower would be under construction during this academic year. Last year, part of South Tower was under construction during the academic year. We recognize that some work will be louder on certain days; you can find updates on what work is being done on our Renovation website. We also understand that you are spending the vast majority of the time in your room with online courses. We want to provide you alternative spaces on campus so you can still listen in on lectures or assignments if necessary. Here is the updated building hours website. Included in the list are buildings like KIRC and the Northwest Quad that faculty have suggested possess great lounges and hidden areas where you can put in earbuds and grab a chair away from others to attend class or do coursework. Within University Housing there are many spaces for studying, including Flicks, Channel Lounge, C208, C210 (a conference room for small group work with proper social distancing, of course), the Academic Resource Room next to the Restor, and lounge spaces within the towers.
5. Please continue to wear your mask appropriately, use hand sanitizer (let us know if it ever gets low), wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, maintain your social distance from others, and stay home if you are not feeling well. In order for us to all remain in the residence halls, we all must do our part to continue to embrace the philosophy of “Panthers Protecting Panthers.” The University Housing team wants to continue working here for you the whole year through.
6. Watch this video from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home if Someone Has COVID-19.

The facilities and custodial team are here to make your “home away from home” a place where you want to be. If we can make your experience better, please let us know.

Stay well,

Beth Lobner
Assistant Director
University Housing

In reviewing the needs and concerns of our University Housing community, we want to ensure that all residents have access to university resources. In support of our departmental mission and values, University Housing has reviewed and updated the current Restricted Guest Policy.

Effective Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, all University Housing residents will have access to all University Housing facilities between the hours of 8:00am and 10:00pm. This update has been made in an effort to allow our residential students better access to residential dining facilities and University Housing-sanctioned programs and events.

Under the revised Restricted Guest Policy, ONLY current UWM University Housing residents, residential personnel, and emergency personnel will continue to be allowed to enter the university residence halls. Within a resident’s room, only one guest is allowed at one time for each resident. (The term “guest” here continues to include only anyone who does not reside in that room.)

Currently, Cambridge residents and Kenilworth residents with a contracted meal plan are allowed access to Sandburg to access dining facilities.

UWM Panthers care for each other, which means engaging in healthy and safe behavior, holding each other and ourselves accountable, and maintaining a caring, compassionate, and collegial community characterized by mutual respect and safety. As a University Housing resident, your individual actions have an impact on the greater community. You can find all of University Housing’s policies, as well as information on how residents and staff will work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in the 2020-21 Resident Handbook.

Panthers Protect Panthers! Measures such as wearing masks and physical distancing help keep you — and our entire campus community — safe. Please keep that in mind while you’re on campus, as well as while engaging in off-campus activities. As we have seen for other universities around the nation, when even a small number of people ignore those precautions, it can cause a ripple effect for many other residents, students, and community members.

Please stay healthy and continue to make good decisions,

University Housing

We look forward to having you on campus here in Milwaukee in the coming weeks! The following information is essential to read before you arrive on campus.

In preparation for Fall 2020 Move-In, University Housing would like to take this opportunity to remind our incoming residents and guests of campus health and safety protocols related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, contained within this message you will find resources and information intended to assist you in the event you are significantly impacted by COVID-19 in the days leading up to Move-In.

Prior to your Move-In day, students and guests should familiarize themselves with public health and university guidelines, many of which are outlined below. We specifically encourage students and guests to begin self-monitoring, using the COVID-19 Symptom Checker.

If, as your Move-In day approaches, you test positive for COVID-19 or find yourself experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, do not come to campus and contact your medical provider.

Individuals who arrive on campus exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 may be turned away and instructed to return after a 14-day quarantine period. More information can be found below on how to reschedule your Move-In date and time due to COVID-19.

Anyone who visits campus or participates in UWM-sponsored activities, including Move-In, is expected to follow the following public health and university guidelines:

• Engage in recommended hygiene practices:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash and immediately wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid using others’ phones, desks, offices or other work tools and equipment, when possible. Clean and disinfect shared work areas, tools and equipment before and after each use by an individual.
• Maintain a minimum of 6 feet of physical distance from others whenever feasible.
• Do not congregate in groups above the size recommended by public health officials and as designated by campus officials.
• Use cloth face mask coverings according to our campus policy (see below). Students need to bring their own mask to wear on campus. If a student cannot afford a mask, or is unable to attain a mask, they can contact the Dean of Students Office for assistance.
  • UWM strives to create an environment that will allow our students, faculty and staff to live, learn and research to the maximum amount possible. Our community includes members who have heightened risk factors themselves or within their families. To protect those participating in UWM instruction and other activities, non-surgical face mask coverings (i.e. cloth face masks) must be used and 6-foot social distancing observed by all students, faculty and staff while on UWM property or engaged in UWM-sponsored activities.
    • Outside:
      • Six-foot social distancing should always be used unless the space prevents distancing.
      • Masks are required when/where 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained.
    • Inside:
      • Six-foot social distancing should be maintained unless the space prevents distancing.
    • Masks are always required, with limited exceptions subject to approval by the individual’s supervisor or instructor, such as where an individual’s own health condition prevents the wearing of the mask.
• Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Watch for symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. See the CDC’s Website for more information about COVID19 symptoms. In addition to this document, see the CDC’s Website for more information about what to do if you are experiencing symptoms. Additional guidance related to monitoring symptoms is currently under development. If you have traveled, review guidelines upon your return related to your specific route and destination. Follow public health guidance related to self-quarantine after travel. Travel recommendations continue to change and should be monitored regularly.
• Follow all state, local and federal laws, rules, and orders relating to COVID-19 – in the event there is a conflict among such guidance, the most stringent measures are applicable. Such guidance may be issued by the following governments/entities:
  • City
  • County
  • State
  • Federal
  • UW System

The success of these guidelines is dependent on universal application of the above principles by all community members.

If, as your Move-In day approaches, you test positive for COVID-19 or find yourself experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, do not come to campus.

If this situation arises, we ask that you reschedule your Move-In for a date and time after the 14-day quarantine period has passed. To reschedule your Move-In date and time, please click the appropriate link:

• Sandburg Residence Hall
• Cambridge Commons
• Kenilworth Square Apartments

Your Move-In Date & Time

We wanted to take a quick moment to remind you of your Move-In date and time:

Move-In Date: [See your unique email]

Move-In Time: [See your unique email]

To ensure proper social distancing, we are unable to make changes to Move-In appointments. For more information on Move-In, please reference the Move-In Guide found online, and also emailed to you last week. We are excited to see you and looking forward to the semester ahead.

Check MyHousing for Updates

As we get closer to Move-In some housing assignments may have been modified. Please make sure to check your MyHousing portal for any updates to your room or suite assignment prior to your Move-In appointment, as well as verify your PAWS account for your room and board charges and payment due date.

Limited Services

There will be very limited campus services for residents moving in on Aug. 20, 2020. Please see the Restaurant Operations website for hours.

Contract Cancellation
If your plans have changed and you no longer wish to live on-campus in University Housing, please cancel your contract online using the following links: Residence Halls or Kenilworth Square Apartments. Cancellations must be received 24-hours before your move-in appointment or Aug. 26, 2020 (Residence Halls) / Aug. 30, 2020 (Kenilworth), whichever date is earliest.

Congratulations and welcome to UWM! We are so excited for you to live in University Housing this year.

New this year, residents can choose their own Move-In date and time! Please check your email for a message from SignUpGenius.com to choose your Move-In appointment. If you’re not finding the email, make sure to check your spam filter, or call (414) 229-4065 for assistance.

For additional details related to Move-In, we ask that you please review this Move-In Guide to find out more about what to bring, where to go, and overall what that first day in University Housing will be like!

Click here to access a PDF version of the 2020-2021 Move-In Guide.

GO PANTHERS!

Need to Change Your Move-In Time?

Refer back to the original email you received with your unique link from SignUpGenius.com to change your Move-In appointment. The deadline to finalize your Move-In appointment is no later than Aug. 13, 2020!

Rent Your Micro-Fridge Combo Unit!

Students living in Sandburg will have an option to rent a micro-fridge unit through a third party vendor. Residents in Sandburg North/South/West Towers may choose to rent a combination fridge-freezer-microwave unit from MyCollegeFridge.com. Rentals made prior to the priority deadline (Aug. 15, 2020) cost $149.99 for the year, plus an additional security deposit. Rentals that are made after the priority deadline cost $169.00, plus an additional security deposit. Orders placed by the priority deadline are guaranteed delivery prior to Move-In.

Students in other buildings are not eligible to participate in the rental program. In Cambridge Commons, a full-size refrigerator is provided for each suite, and residents may bring a low-power microwave if they wish (<700 Watts). In Purin and Sandburg East, each suite has a fully furnished kitchen with appliances.

Rent a Micro-Fridge

Reserve A Loft!

If residents wish to loft their bed, they must rent a loft from University Housing; homemade or purchased third-party lofts are not permitted in any university residences. Purin Hall residents are not eligible for lofting. The cost for a loft rental is $125/year, prorated at $15/month for any calendar month during which the loft is in the resident’s room. If interested in renting a loft, please request on at uwm.edu/housing/myhousing.

The deadline to reserve a loft via MyHousing will be Aug. 15, 2020. Lofts requested by this date will be delivered to residents’ rooms by the official start of Move-In. If residents missed the Aug. 15 deadline, no staff will be available for delivery. Residents who missed the delivery deadline will be able to pick up a loft from lounge/storage closet during Move-In and set it up in their room. The Resident Assistant staff will come through in September and do an audit of all lofts set up in each room to ensure the safety rail is present and provide a report to the Housing Office to appropriately bill the student for the loft rental.

Loft Payments: Residents are not required to pay for the loft at the time of sign up. Loft charges will be posted to PAWS beginning in mid-September.

Loft Cancellation Deadline: Loft cancellations will be accepted via MyHousing through 11:59pm, Sep. 1, 2020. If residents cancel their loft by the deadline, they must keep their delivered loft in their assigned room. Staff will pick up canceled lofts by Sep. 9, 2020. Loft cancellations submitted on or after Sep. 2, 2020 must be submitted by work order to fixit.uwm.edu for cancellation or removal. The cost for loft rental is $125/year, prorated at $15/month for any calendar month during which the loft is in the resident’s room.

Rent A Loft Kit

Need to Cancel Your Contract?

If your plans have changed and you are no longer attending UWM or living in University Housing, please complete the cancellation form. Cancellations must be submitted to University Housing via the online cancellation forms by Aug. 26, 2020 (Residence Halls) / Aug. 30, 2020 (Kenilworth) OR 24 hours before your assigned date or entry, whichever is earlier.

Cancel Your Residence Hall Contract

Cancel Your Kenilworth Contract

We wanted to take a moment and express our excitement for you to be living in University Housing this year. As we continue to prepare for your arrival we wanted to take a quick moment and inform you we are working on your Fall housing charges and will have them posted to your PAWS account by August 14^th. Thank you for your patience throughout this process as we work to ensure your room placement.

For Cambridge residents, room charges may look a little different this year than in years past. We are offering a $500 credit per semester to anyone living in a double or double upgrade room. You will see your room charge posted on your account and then a separate room credit.

For Kenilworth residents, please remember each semester’s monthly charges are posted to your PAWS account at the beginning of that semester. Payments for each month are due by the 5th of that month. If you are not a UWM Student, you will receive a monthly paper statement which will be mailed to your campus address

If you have any questions with regards to housing, our office is happy to help.

Office Hours: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm

414-229-4065

Please read for the latest and most correct University Housing updates.

2020-2021 Residence Hall Rates

The 2020-2021 Residence Hall Room Rates have been approved by UW System.

You may make changes to your building and room type preferences in MyHousing until 11:59pm on Sunday, July 12, 2020.

UWM Restaurant Operations has not provided a final update on meal plan rates and offerings. Once we have those details, an email with updates will be sent to you.

Reminders

• The deadline to update roommate and room type preferences is 11:59pm on Sunday, July 12, 2020, in your MyHousing portal. You are required to complete the Acknowledgement of Risk statement in order to receive a room assignment.
• You must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credit hours for fall semester. If you are not enrolled by August 1, 2020, your 2020-2021 Residence Hall Contract will be canceled.
• If you no longer wish to live on campus, you are required to complete the Contract Cancellation Form. Cancellations received prior to August 1, 2020, will receive a refund of the $50 refundable housing contract deposit. The final deadline to cancel is August 27, 2020, or 24 hours before your scheduled move-in date, whichever comes first.

Roommate Requests

By requesting a roommate, you are assuming an increased level of risk related to potential exposure to coronavirus. Unlike typical years, University Housing will assign roommates together in shared bedrooms only when confirmed as a mutual request. If you have a preference for a double or triple, but you do not have a mutually confirmed roommate request, you will be assigned to a single occupancy or SOLO Double (Single Occupancy during Low Occupancy) space. The assigned room type rate will apply.

To assist students who would like help finding a roommate, University Housing created a UWM University Housing Roommate Matching Fall 2020 Facebook group. This group is designed to be a place for students to engage directly with other students and should be used only for finding roommates.

If you would like to use this group, please read the note or watch the video pinned to the top of the page then find the post that best represents what you are looking for based on LLC or building preferences. After making an initial connection, it is important to private message or call the other person to get to know each other more. If you both agree you’re a good match, exchange UWM ID numbers so you both can update your MyHousing roommate requests. Roommate requests must be mutual, so both students must enter their roommate request.

Also posted on the Facebook group page is a document with suggested topics to discuss with a potential roommate. We strongly encourage you to discuss those topics with a potential roommate before making a final decision. Space will be limited, and so room changes will likely be harder to accommodate in the Fall than in previous years.

Please know this group will be very loosely moderated, and we expect students to be respectful when using this platform.

Don’t Forget!

The deadline to update preferences and submit roommate request is 11:59pm on Sunday, July 12, 2020, in your MyHousing portal. It is a requirement to complete the Acknowledgement of Risk statement in order to be assigned a room.

We thank you for your patience as University Housing continues to prepare for the Fall 2020 semester.

Please read below for a number of updates related to University Housing processes and assignments.

This email applies to all students with signed residence hall contracts, whether you are a first-year student, a transfer student, or a returning student.

All contract holders who wish to live in University Housing in Fall 2020 must login to www.uwm.edu/myhousing and complete the Acknowledgement of Risk statement by 11:59 p.m. on July 12, 2020 (click on the link titled “Action Required”). While there, students may also update their roommate and room type preferences, as long as changes are made prior to the July 12 deadline. Students who do not complete the Acknowledgement of Risk will not be assigned until they complete the acknowledgement. Contract holders who do not want to live in University Housing should complete a Contract Cancellation form, which can be accessed at https://uwm.edu/housing/secure/residence-hall-contract-cancellation-form/.

University Housing will be assigning suites in a number of different configurations, as we work to support social distancing and reduce density in our communities. Suites typically occupied by four to six residents may now house only three to five residents. For example, a double occupancy room may be assigned SOLO (Single Occupancy during Low Occupancy) with only one resident and be considered single occupancy for the upcoming contract period.

Assumption of Risk

Based on available guidance from public health authorities, students and families should be aware that living in University Housing will result in students coming into contact more frequently with other residents, staff and visitors. As such, the risk of exposure to COVID-19 coronavirus is increased, as is the risk of contracting COVID-19 coronavirus, just by living in University Housing.

All contract holders will be required to acknowledge the following statement on their contract before being assigned: “Student understands that living in campus housing could increase a student’s risk of contracting COVID-19.” The priority deadline to complete this acknowledgement is July 12, 2020.

Your University Housing room assignment may be withheld until this acknowledgment is completed.

Returning Residents

Nearly all selections from Returner Self-Assignment will be honored. A very small group of individuals (fewer than 2%) will be contacted separately, as their self-assignment will not be honored due to space limitations. If you wish to remove yourself from your self-assigned location, you may do so by emailing university-housing@uwm.edu. Those removals must be submitted via email by 11:59 p.m. on July 12, 2020. If you remove yourself from your self-assigned location, you will be assigned via the random lottery, according to the preferences you made in the MyHousing contract.

Due to limited availability, self-assignment waitlists for specific room types will likely not see movement until after the Fall Room Freeze is lifted.

Returning residents who did not participate in the first self-assignment event will be prioritized, to have a room assignment made by the random lottery according to the preferences made in the MyHousing contract.

All Residents Who Have Not Self Assigned (Including New First-Year and Transfer)

Due to COVID-19 coronavirus, we are re-openeing the preference requests (including roommate and room type requests) in the University Housing Contract. We recognize that this pandemic may have caused you to re-evaluate your living arrangements.

Preference Change Deadline

University Housing may have to lower the density within our communities, which may result in some rooms not being assigned to the standard capacity limit as in previous years. For example, a double room may be assigned as a single in instance when no mutual roommate preferences are indicated on you contract. Therefore, we ask that you review and update your roommate and room type preferences you previously indicated at www.uwm.edu/myhousing.

Whether you would like to add someone as a roommate or suitemate preference, or would prefer to remove a roommate preference because you prefer to live in a single, we ask that you please update your requests while logging in to www.uwm.edu/myhousing to complete your Acknowledgement of Risk statement. You will notice that there are now options to designate someone as a roommate or a suitemate. This online suitemate selection is a one-time exception to our normal preference process. By requesting a roommate, you are assuming an increased level of risk, related to potential composure to coronavirus.

Unlike typical years, University Housing will only assign confirmed mutually requested roommates together in shared occupancy bedrooms. If you have a preference of a double or triple, but you do not have a mutually confirmed roommate request, you will be assigned to a single occupancy or SOLO Double (Single Occupancy during Low Occupancy) space. The assigned room type rate will apply.

You must make all changes by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2020. If you do not make any changes, then your previously submitted preferences will be used to attempt to assign you, provided you have completed the Acknowledgement of Risk Statement.

Loss of Requested Roommate

If you are a student being assigned through the lottery and have requested a roommate, there are potential changes that could result if your requested roommate cancels or terminates their contract with University Housing.

• If the roommate cancels their University Housing Contract prior to the assignment process, then the roommate request will be ignored and assignment will continue based on other selected preferences.
• If the roommate cancels their University Housing Contract after assignments have been made, the remaining resident may be moved to a single occupancy space or that double space will be converted to a “SOLO Double” (Single Occupancy during Low Occupancy).

Estimated Assignment Release Date

University Housing is currently planning on releasing the first batch of assignments on Friday, July 17, and we anticipate having all assignments completed by August 7. This rolling release of assignments is similar to a typical year. On that date, students with valid contracts (i.e., not canceled) will receive one of two emails: either

1. you’ve been assigned, with instructions on how to access the assignment and move-in information, or
2. you are in a queue to be assigned, and will be assigned as spaces develop. Students who are not assigned may still cancel their contract with minimal penalty (see “Adjusted Cancellation Deadline” below).

University Housing estimates that there may be additional cancellations as the summer continues – as students learn more about which classes will be online, in-person, or hybrid. This will potentially allow for more students to get assignments, or (once all contract holders have been assigned) have new contracts offered (for students on the contract access waitlist).

Adjusted Cancellation Deadline

Due to the delay in the release of housing assignments and course delivery methods, University Housing is extending the cancellation deadline. Any students who cancel their contracts before August 1 will have $50 of their deposit refunded to them, compared to the $100 forfeiture on the original cancellation schedule. Students who cancel after that date, but at least 24 hours prior to their move-in or by August 26 (whichever comes first) will forfeit only their deposit, and will not face any other cancellation penalties.