Residential Life

Our on-campus Residence Halls at East 25th St (Brookdale) and 79th St. will house Hunter/CUNY students. Of utmost importance is offering and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for residents. The Brookdale dorm has a number of features that have allowed Hunter to open and manage this facility safely, specifically it has a capacity of 650 beds in single occupancy rooms and there are both outside spaces and large indoor spaces. The 79th St residence offers units that have the space to accommodate students in double occupancy. The only inside communal space at 79th St is the laundry room which has a capacity limit. The outdoor patio at 79th St. is open to residents with capacity restrictions.

Hunter College may also offer students off-campus housing located at the 92Y and the 97th St Residence depending upon demand.

The following broad community mitigation strategies are essential for limiting the risk of spread of COVID-19:

Promote Behaviors that Reduce Spread

• Teach and reinforce proper hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
• Teach and reinforce use of face coverings.
• Offer supplies: soap, sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes to support proper hygiene.  
• Post signage that promotes the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Maintain a Healthy Environment

• Increase cleaning and disinfection of common and high-touch surfaces and areas.
• Ensure bathrooms are fully stocked with cleaning supplies.
• Ensure proper ventilation/circulation of outdoor air.
• Provide physical guides on capacity of elevators, traffic flow.
• Close shared spaces or limit capacity (kitchen/laundry/lounges).
• Ensure that social distancing can be maintained in shared rooms – modify layouts as needed/possible.

Maintain Healthy Operations

• Offer community support through virtual options.
• Hold virtual meetings among staff.
• Conduct virtual RA/student check-ins.
• Prohibit non-essential visitors.
• Prepare communication system for individuals to self-report:
  • symptoms
  • a positive test
  • exposure to someone else who may be infected

When a Student Becomes Sick 

• Students will be encouraged to seek advice by telephone from a healthcare provider to determine appropriate medical intervention.
• If staff receive information that a student tests COVID-19 positive, campus designated COVID-19 contact will be alerted to work with the NYS Department of Health to notify anyone in the building who may have been exposed.
• Initiate isolation/quarantine as necessary. 
• There will be a limited number of quarantine rooms available on-site at Brookdale. Students at Brookdale who require quarantine will be given the option of returning to their permanent or alternate residence, or to remain on property, if a quarantine room is available (a room with a private bathroom). Quarantined students must monitor their health and call their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms.  See Isolation and Quarantine for more details.
• Students at Brookdale who must isolate at their permanent or alternate residence must obtain medical clearance to return to the residence hall.
• Students at 79th St who require quarantine/isolation will be transferred to the Columbia Heights dorm in Brooklyn, which will offer all COVID quarantine/isolation services.
• Students who report mild symptoms of COVID-19, who would like to see their medical provider, will be directed to contact a family member/emergency contact to enlist their assistance with transport.
• Students who are unable to make such an arrangement will be provided with Allstate Car & Limousine Service contact information.  This service has confirmed preparedness to transport passengers with suspected COVID-19 and students will be directed to alert the service of their suspicion of having COVID-19.  Students who do not want to use a car service will be provided with several local medical care sites located within a few blocks of the Residence Hall. 
• Students who report severe COVID-19 symptoms will be transported to the nearest emergency room via ambulance.

Hunter College is taking extensive measures to ensure that students who move into rooms in our residence halls remain healthy and safe – and that those with whom they interact are equally protected. The requirements cover every aspect of the process. 

Capacity

Hunter will be offering 650 single beds at Brookdale and about 28 units at 79th St.  Each space will have a window, wi-fi, and study space.  Students will be restricted to not have visitors in their rooms.

Self-identified students who qualify for reasonable accommodation due to being immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions can be assigned to the ADA single-use bathroom and nearby room. Such bathrooms are located on each floor of the North Building (11 in total).

Vaccination and Testing

Students moving into all on-campus and off-campus properties will be required to be vaccinated.  

Housing Agreements

 Students will be required to agree to:

• An assumption of risk clause
• Any additions to expectations for conduct
• A requirement that they move to a quarantine room, if required, either on- or off-campus 
• A requirement that they will return to their permanent or alternate residence in the event that isolation is required
• A requirement that they will return to their permanent residence or an alternate residence in the event that evacuation is required

Common areas will require wearing PPE, and increased cleaning frequency in high-touch areas.  See the General Guidelines for more detail.

Kitchens (Brookdale)

• Kitchens are located in the North Building on every floor and the East Building on every floor.  

Elevators 

• Elevators will operate at full capacity.

Bathrooms (Brookdale)

• Thorough cleaning and disinfection will be scheduled prior to and after morning and evening use, following protocols outlined in the general guidelines. In addition, showers will be sprayed down with an EPA-approved disinfectant.

Floor Lounges (Brookdale)

• Floor Lounges are located on every floor in the North Building and the East Building.

Laundry 

• There is one laundry room that serves all of Brookdale and is equipped with a camera monitored by Public Safety.
• There is one laundry room at 79th St. 

Game Room  

• Game room will be open and administered by Student Services.

79th Street Outdoor Patio

• The outdoor patio will be open for students to use as capacity permits with physical distance maintained.  Students may remove masks when outside.

• To decrease traffic in buildings, check-ins will take place online. All documentation will be sent home for completion and move-ins will be spread over a week or more and will be conducted only by appointment.
• No more than 40 students a day for check-in (Brookdale), and only students moving in will be allowed in the Brookdale building. Anyone assisting must wait in the courtyard. No more than 8 students a day for check-in at 79th St.
• All check-in appointments will be scheduled for 4-hour slots (Brookdale) and 2-hour slots (79th Street) during which time the student will have access to move-in all their items.  Moving in with carts outside of their 4-hour appointment will not be permitted unless otherwise noted. As rooms are fully furnished, we strongly urge students to only move-in their essential items and not any large items.
• Carts will be put in a cleaning rotation every time they are used.  With limited check-in slots per day, Facilities will have increased time to disinfect carts between use.  Carts will be locked up at the end of each day.

• Face Covering – all residents and staff must have a face covering when they are outside of their personal rooms (bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, elevators, staircases) on the Campus
• Office Visits – Residence Life Offices are located on the Ground Floor of the North Building at Brookdale and the Lower Level of 79th St.  Each office has a window and can be occupied by 2-3 occupants physically distanced at a time, as designated by the signage.  Hand sanitizer and disinfectant will be available in the office.  A minimum number of residents will be allowed to enter the ORL office at any particular time.
• Meetings – staff, and other meetings, if in-person, will follow the workplace guidelines.
• Visitors/Building Access – only residential students will have access to the residential building’s daytime and overnight visitation will be suspended indefinitely.  When residents enter the building, they will show Public Safety their ID with their sticker
• Education – training will be provided on signs/screens of COVID-19 for residents
• Student Engagement – both virtual and in-person community and educational programs and activities will be offered, with an enhanced focus on wellbeing, mental health, health promotion, safety, and education.  In-person programming/gatherings will follow appropriate guidelines and precautions.

• Messaging designed to broadcast information on preventative measures, with an emphasis on individual responsibility for adopting recommended personal-level actions, will be posted throughout the property. 
• Procedural changes and precautionary measures will be communicated to all residents prior to their arrival.

• Brookdale/79th St. cannot serve as an isolation site – students who require isolation will be required to return to their permanent residence or alternate location until they receive clearance from an appropriate medical professional to return to the residence.
• Brookdale has the capacity to accommodate a limited number of quarantine spaces:
  • Students on quarantine will be required to do a symptom screening daily and should use the CDC’s self-screening symptom tool. If the screening responses suggest a possible COVID-19 infection, the student should consult with a medical provider for further guidance on evaluation and/or testing as indicated.
• Documentation of quarantine is required:
  • If quarantine is completed in a hotel, the invoice/receipt for the stay will serve as documentation of quarantine.
  • If students choose to quarantine with a friend or family member, they will be asked to provide the following information: name and address of the person with whom they stayed, and the arrival date for the quarantine period.
• Hunter has identified (2) on-site quarantine rooms for students who are quarantined on site.
  • Students will be provided with PPE, and safe physically distanced transport if traveling between floors to arrive safely in quarantine location.
  • Students will be provided with a thermometer, sanitizing wipes or disinfectants, tissues, soap, hand sanitizer, and toiletries.
  • Signage will be provided stating restricted access as “Private Quarters.”
  • Students who require quarantine will be offered meals through Seamless, from which they can order what they choose. A link to Hunter’s Seamless account will be provided to students and they will be able to make selections every day through the course of their quarantine period at the allocation of $50/day. Residence Life staff will be available to accept deliveries and drop outside students’ rooms.

Residence Life staff will coordinate existing and supplemental student services (such as routine medications/supplies, referral to mental health counseling, academic advising, etc.) for students who quarantine on site.

Students at 79th St who require quarantine/isolation will be transferred to the Columbia Heights dorm in Brooklyn, which would offer all COVID quarantine/isolation services.

Students will be required to identify to where they will move in the event that evacuation from the residence is required. Information regarding emergency preparation in the case of a campus closure will be shared with students via routine informational emails. Where possible, students will be given sufficient notice such that they have the opportunity to plan departure and pack. Students will receive notice via email.

• PPE will be available for all activity.
• Procedures for leaving keys, packing belongings (where applicable), etc will be communicated to students.
• To decrease traffic in buildings, move-out scheduling will take place online by appointment.
• No more than 40 students a day for check-out will be permitted, unless a more rapid pace of evacuation is required, in which case this would be closely monitored by Public Safety.
• Carts will be put in a cleaning rotation every time they are used.
• Maximum elevator capacities will be maintained throughout move-out.

Hunter College will also offer off-campus housing to students located at the 92Y and 97th St Residences, both of which are managed by third parties.

• 92Y offers single and double occupancy rooms with communal bathrooms, kitchens, and other community spaces.
• 97th St Residence offers double and triple units with a bathroom contained in each unit. There is a communal kitchen, and other community spaces.

Both sites maintain COVID-associated policies and regulations with regard to face coverings, capacity limits in common areas (kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, study spaces, etc.), physical distancing, and cleaning protocols. Hunter College will collaborate with our 92Y and 97th St. contacts to both communicate CUNY-mandated policies and protocols and reinforce student adherence. Sites will be required to meet the stricter of the standards for CUNY students in residence.