The state of Vermont updated its multi-household gathering policy on December 17, 2020, prohibiting social gatherings between households. In the update, the state clarified that Vermont’s residential colleges and universities would need to provide clearer definitions as to what a “household” was on-campus. In the “Safe and Healthy Return to Campus” papers, the state wrote explicitly that “institutions shall not define a household as an entire campus.”
Vermont collected data from the beginning of October to mid-November that showed 71% of COVID-19 cases in the state associated with “an outbreak” were due to some form of social gathering. This influenced the prohibition, which was temporarily lifted for the holiday season. As of January 3, though, these restrictions remain in place, and thus, NVU has had to abide by the regulations.
The Director of Student Life at NVU-Lyndon, Erin Rossetti, sent an email to students on Monday with the Lyndon campus’s updates in compliance with state guidelines. “We have decided to designate each residence hall complex an individual household,” she wrote.
This means that students may visit and interact in their living spaces–individual rooms, common areas, etc.–with others who live in the same residence hall. Those of other residence halls and those off-campus may not visit, and vise versa.
The households on-campus are as follows: Arnold & Bayley, Poland & Rogers, Wheelock, and Rita Bole Complex. The Whitelaw & Crevecoeur halls will remain set aside for quarantine housing.
In simpler terms, if a student lives in the Poland Residence Hall, they can visit friends who also live in Poland and Rogers. The student may not visit students in other residence halls or friends off-campus in their respective households.
Due to these sudden changes in policy, Residential Life is allowing students to request a room change in order to live in the same “household” as a friend and/or significant other, including switching residence halls or moving off campus entirely. The deadline to request a housing change is January 18. “Requests received after that date will not be considered until after the 2-week room freeze has lifted on February 12th,” Rossetti wrote.
To apply for a change in housing, students are being asked to go to their eRez portal and fill out the “2020-2021 Academic Year Housing Exemption Request” form located under the Housing section.
These updates and other clarifications can be viewed here. Violation of these policies, according to the addendum, will be a considered a violation of one’s housing contract and addressed appropriately.
Feature Photo by Alexandra Huff || Wheelock Residence Hall