From the 2021-22 Resident Handbook:
“We expect all members of the University Housing community (residents, staff, and guests) act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those around them, including respect and consideration for the health and safety of all community members. University Housing prioritizes the health and safety of our residents and is focused on minimizing the potential spread of disease within our community. As a resident of University Housing, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) will impact your housing experience. University Housing will continue to make public health-informed decisions that align with university and local officials’ guidance. All residents are prohibited from creating a health or safety hazard within University Housing and the University may request or require a resident to relocate to another residential space or leave University Housing if their continued presence in the housing community poses a health or safety risk for community members.
Residents are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations and health and safety guidance adopted by the University or University Housing as it relates to public health crises, including COVID-19.
This guidance will evolve as the public health crisis evolves and may include, but is not limited to, social distancing, limitations on mass gatherings, access to common spaces, wearing a face covering, COVID-19 diagnostic and surveillance testing (including before or upon arrival to campus), contact tracing, disinfection protocols, limitations on guests into residence halls, and quarantine/isolation requirements (including before or upon arrival to campus).
Adherence to health and safety requirements applies to all residents, staff, and guests and extends to all aspects of residential life, including bedrooms, suites, bathrooms, lounges, community kitchens, retail spaces, and other common spaces.
In the event of a conflict between this COVID-19 addendum and the Housing Contract, including the remaining sections of the University Housing Resident Handbook, the terms of this addendum will take precedence.
FACE COVERINGS and SOCIAL DISTANCING
To best protect the ability of our UWM community to participate in UWM instruction and other activities, non-surgical face mask coverings (i.e. cloth face masks) must be used and six-foot social distancing observed by all students, faculty, and staff, while on UWM lands or in UWM facilities, or engaged in UWM sponsored activities.
Residents and guests are expected to wear a face-covering at all times while outside of a resident’s room. Face coverings must be worn while in suite commons spaces and other common areas such as lounges, hallways, elevators, community kitchens, restrooms, and in the lobby. Face coverings are not required when it is not conducive to performing a task (i.e. brushing your teeth, showering, eating, drinking, etc.). Six-foot social distancing should always be used unless the space prevents distancing.
GUESTS
A guest is defined as any person who does not have an active Residence Hall contract.
In an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and in accordance with state and local health officials, UWM University Housing is implementing a Restricted Guest Policy until further notice. Under the Restricted Guest Policy, ONLY current UWM University Housing residents, residential personnel, and emergency personnel will 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 includes anyone who does not reside in that room, registered guests, and residents of different rooms within any University Housing facility.)
In an effort to further minimize guest entry into the Residence Halls, short term guests such as those delivering food orders, flowers, etc. should refrain from entering the Residence Hall lobbies whenever possible.
QUARANTINE/ISOLATION/SEPARATION
Residents are required to comply with requests from University Housing to leave their assigned space due to COVID-19 or other public health emergencies and failure to do so is a violation of the University Housing Contract, as well as UWS Chapter 17, and may subject a student to emergency removal from their assigned space.
Not all University Housing residential rooms or halls are appropriate for self-quarantine or self-isolation, for example, and in those situations where a student is required or recommended to self-quarantine or self-isolate, students may not be permitted to continue residing in their residential space and will be provided alternative housing arrangements as needed. Removal from University Housing to isolate or quarantine does not constitute a termination of a residential student’s Housing Contract and is not a disciplinary action.
DE-DENSIFYING AND CONSOLIDATION EFFORTS
Residents are required to comply with any de-densifying and consolidation efforts needed on campus due to COVID-19 or other public health emergencies, including, but not limited to, the relocation of all or some residents to alternative housing. Relocation does not constitute a termination of a residential student’s University Housing Contract. In the event University Housing must relocate students as part of a de-densifying or consolidation strategy due to public health concerns for an extended period of time and alternative housing is not available, University Housing will offer impacted students fair and reasonable reimbursement as appropriate and based on information available at that time.
RESIDENTIAL DINING FACILITIES
Dining services in residential facilities, including where and how it will be offered to residents, is subject to the discretion of UWM Restaurant Operations, and is subject to modification to address public health concerns. Due to health and safety guidance, Restaurant Operations in collaboration with University Housing may limit the occupancy of dining halls, limit the amount of time students may remain within dining halls, or make other operational adjustments needed to address health and safety concerns.
CLEANING
University Housing will continue to implement and modify its cleaning protocols to address COVID-19 or other public health emergencies in the interest of minimizing the spread of disease. University Housing will educate and inform residents on appropriate cleaning protocols within their assigned spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within residence halls.
TERMINATION
Upon reasonable notice, University Housing reserves the right to terminate Housing Contracts due to public health emergency needs, including COVID-19. In the event University Housing terminates Housing Contracts due to public health concerns, University Housing will offer fair and reasonable reimbursements for impacted students as appropriate and based on information available at that time.
LEGAL INFORMATION
Your Housing Contract is the basic document that states the contractual obligations between you and University Housing. The Resident Handbook is incorporated by reference in the Housing Contract and forms a legally binding part of the Housing Contract. You are equally responsible for complying with the rules, policies, and regulations contained in this COVID-19 Addendum as you are for those directly printed in the Housing Contract.”