Greetings from University Housing and Residential Life.

Thank you for choosing to stay in University Housing for the remainder of the fall 2020 semester.  While we know this wasn’t the experience many of you were hoping for, we are doing everything we can to make this the best experience possible under these circumstances, while also continuing to support your health and safety. As we expressed in our message to you on Sept. 4, part of our efforts could include the relocation of students who chose to remain in our residence halls. Through careful consideration, we have made the decision to move students currently living in James White Hall, Building 1940 and Temple Towers to buildings on the south of campus. 

This change is being made to keep residential students from living in highly unusual conditions—even for COVID-19—such as two or three people residing on a floor or building wing. By consolidating our remaining residential population to the south side of campus, you will be more likely to maintain the residential community and experience you expected as a Temple student this semester. And, these efforts will also allow us to operate more efficiently and to better and more safely provide services to you. 

There will be no additional housing charges for the fall 2020 semester, and you will have the option of choosing which building you would like to relocate to. The Room Change Process for all students currently living in White, 1940 and Temple Towers will open immediately so you can request your desire to relocate to a room in 1300, Morgan North, Morgan South or Beech International Village. 

There is also still availability in the off-campus properties that we are working with this semester, The View at Montgomery, University Village and The Nest. If you would like to apply for a room change, it is important that you do so immediately, as room change requests are being honored in addition to student’s relocation requests. 

• If you currently live in White Hall or 1940 and you do not request a specific room through the Room Change Process, you will be relocated into either 1300 or Morgan Residence Halls. 
• If you currently reside in Temple Towers and you do not request a specific room through the Room Change Process, you will be relocated to either Morgan North Residence Hall or Beech International Village. 

No matter where you move to or from, your housing rate will not increase during this relocation process.

Additionally, dining services will also be moved to the south side of campus. Beginning Oct. 3, the Esposito Dining Hall in Johnson and Hardwick will close for the rest of the semester and dining operations will run solely out of the Morgan Dining Complex. Again, this transition was made with the safety and security of our students in mind.

If you are subject to consolidation and/or requesting a room change, you will need to complete the Room Change Request Form in MyHousing via TUPortal to indicate your preference of building and assignment alone or with a roommate(s). When logging into MyHousing, select the 2020–2021 academic year application then navigate to the Quick Links page and scroll down to select the Room Change Process Form. We ask that you submit this form by 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28. You will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so please don’t delay in submitting your request. We will be assigning students using a de-densified model that we used earlier in the semester, with the exception of students who choose to remain with their current roommate groups. Roommate groups will continue to be honored in the relocated assignments.

Once assignments are completed, we will work with you to begin the relocation process on Friday, Oct. 2 and through the weekend of Oct. 3–4. We will continue this process the following weekend of Oct. 9–11 and plan to complete the relocation process by Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. Unless you specifically choose to move on a different date, all residence hall relocations will be scheduled for a weekend, so as not to disrupt your ongoing weekly class schedule. Residence halls will provide move-in assistance, including the use of carts and assistance moving items across campus.

SCHEDULING YOUR MOVE-OUT
Because we will offer move-in support for relocating, you will need to schedule a date and time for your official move-out and relocation. Once this move-out schedule system is ready, your building staff will communicate that registration process. Expect that information to follow during the week of Sept. 28. 

CLEANING PROTOCOLS
We will disinfect all spaces and rooms that are fully vacant will be cleaned. If you are remaining in a unit with vacancies, you are expected to keep your spaces clean and free from clutter to allow new residents the opportunity to move into the open vacancy.

CANCELING YOUR HOUSING
If you wish to cancel as a result of these updates, you may request to cancel housing through the Cancel Housing Application in MyHousing via TUPortal. When logging into MyHousing, students will select the 2020–2021 academic year application then navigate to the Quick Links page and scroll down to select the Cancel Housing Application. Students that request canceling their housing contract now will not receive a full refund of their housing and meal plan and will be subject to the Cancellation Process of the Undergraduate/Graduate Housing License. 

JOIN US FOR A LIVE CHAT VIA ZOOM WITH QUESTIONS
If students or family members have any questions or concerns, we’d like to invite you to attend a Virtual Town Hall via Zoom for a Q&A session, Friday, Sept. 25, from 12–1 p.m. where you can speak to Sean Killion, Associate Director of Housing Operations, Olan Garrett, Director of Residential Life and TJ Logan, Associate Vice President for Students Affairs. Click this link on Friday at 12 p.m. for the Live Q&A Session.

If you have any questions, please call our University Housing and Residential Life office at 215-204-7184 and select option 2, email us at housing@temple.edu, or access the open UHRL Zoom customer service with your Temple email address at temple.zoom.us/j/98249671942.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and we look forward to navigating this process with you.

Best wishes,

Shana N. Alston
Director, Housing Operations
University Housing & Residential Life