Overview
The goal of the department of Housing and Residence Life at Jackson State University during COVID-19 is to create a welcoming environment for residential students while maintaining physical distancing guidelines. The following will list logistics that the department provides to ensure the safety of residential students and staff.
Early arrival Move-In
- All students who arrive early must have their registration complete. Students will not receive an email from Housing and Residence Life if the appropriate departments have not validated their registration.
- There will be a set number of students who can check in at a certain time.
(Max. Capacity 25 students)
- Check-in is electronic and contactless.
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- Students are scanned using a wall mount temperature scanner in each residence hall.
- Students complete room inspection forms and email them back to their hall director by a specific date and time.
- Students scan into their room to account for a headcount and check-in.
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- Students are scanned using a temperature scanner.
- Students are provided welcome sanitation items to remind them of physical distancing in the residence halls.
New Incoming Freshman and Transfer Students
- Students move-in by building and by floor. They will be emailed an assignment and block of time to move in.
- Students receive clearance from Housing and Residence Life thorough email.
- Students electronically check in the residence halls with THD (The Housing Director) software to limit contact.
- If a student arrives, who has not completed registration, they will be directed to the appropriate office.
- There are no volunteers to assist with move-in, students must bring their assistance.
- Students are limited to two move-in volunteers.
- Parents and students must provide move-in assistance equipment, carts will not be provided by Jackson State University this year.
- Parents and students are asked to bring wipes, sanitizer, and gloves.
- Custodial staff empty trash areas multiple times during the day.
- Custodial staff wipe down high-touch surfaces (door handles, elevator buttons, etc.) during move-in.
- Elevators are utilized for going up but stairs must be used coming down.
Returning Students
- Students move-in by building and by floor. They are emailed an assignment and block of time to move in.
- Students receive clearance from Housing and Residence Life through email.
- Students electronically check in the residence halls with THD (The Housing Director) software to limit contact.
- If a student arrives, who has not completed registration, they will be directed to the appropriate office.
- There will be no volunteers to assist with move-in, students must bring their assistance.
- Students are limited to two move-in volunteers.
- Parents and students must provide move-in assistance equipment, carts will not be provided by Jackson State University this year.
- This information is provided to parents in an email to let them know what to expect on Move-In Day.
- Parents and students will be asked to bring wipes, sanitizer, and gloves with you.
- Custodial staff empty trash areas multiple times during the day.
- Custodial staff wipe down high-touch surfaces (door handles, elevator buttons, etc.) during move-in.
- Elevators are utilized for going up, but stairs must be used coming down.
Cleaning Protocols of Residence Halls
Sodexo Magic follows all cleaning guidelines established by the CDC to ensure staff and students’ health and safety.
- Common areas, such as hall offices, lobbies, elevators, and bathrooms are cleaned and sanitized routinely.
- Private Bathrooms: The department has contracted with an external vendor to have private bathrooms in suites and apartments cleaned and sanitized monthly.
- Housing contacts the student via email and text message to inform them when staff will be cleaning the bathroom. The department will also send out a reminder 24 hours before.
- Electrostatic disinfecting occurs every two weeks in all common areas and deep cleaning in the private bathrooms of Alexander, Campbell College, Transitional, and Dixon Halls. University Pointe Apartment Complex is also disinfected, and bathrooms are deep cleaned monthly.
- Common areas are arranged so that students will not be able to gather in groups larger than 10.
- Offices have hand sanitizer for residents and staff and extra barriers to limit the potential risk for exposure.
- Sneeze guards are installed at all receptionist desks to protect students and staff.
Phased Approach from Sodexo Magic Facilities Management
Our phased approach enabled our facilities teams to proactively support each level of this transition with the appropriate tools and techniques that strictly follow local, state, and federal guidelines.
Social Distancing Measures Sodexo MAGIC employees will practice social distancing while performing specific job functions, including internal staff meetings. We will also be happy to assist with updating building/lobby configurations and installing floor markers, which we hope will encourage social distancing among both faculty, staff, and students.
Team Member/Employee Health Employees will regularly report on their health, including temperature checks. Cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing high-touch surfaces will be cleaned more frequently with professional-grade, EPA approved products. In addition, we continuously review our staffing levels to best accommodate increased restroom cleaning frequencies.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Sodexo MAGIC employees wear masks in all buildings and as directed by the university.
Personal hygiene and handwashing Staff has increased hand-washing frequencies and be cognizant of the need to practice safe hygiene both on and off-campus.
Temperature Scanner and Facial Recognition
This device will be used when students enter the residence halls for Move-In day and during day-to-day operations when students and guests enter the residence halls.
Campus Outbreak Contingency Plan
Despite all our best efforts, we are prepared for an increased rate of infection in the JSU Community.
If a residential student or staff member is identified with a positive case of COVID-19, or is exposed and awaiting test results, we follow a precise plan of notifying the necessary parties on campus and self-isolation takes place immediately. If the confirmed individual had close contact outside other areas, then all students or staff with whom the confirmed individual had close contact shall be self-isolated for two weeks. We communicate with campus dining to ensure that the student will receive their meals during the self-isolation period. Should there be a major outbreak in the region that requires the state, county or city to order another stay-at-home mandate, students in on-campus housing, who may need to shelter in place, will be provided dining options.
Plan to include messages to counter potential stigma and discrimination.
In circumstances where there is a confirmed COVID-19 case on campus, we maintain the confidentiality of the student or staff member as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, as applicable.
Clean and disinfect thoroughly
Close off all areas used by the patient. Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the area and then begin cleaning and disinfection.
Cleaning staff clean and disinfect all areas (e.g., offices, bathrooms, and common areas) used by the COVID-19 patient focusing primarily on frequently touched surfaces.
If surfaces are dirty, staff use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
For disinfection, the most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. A list of products that are EPA-approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19 is available here. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).
Ensure continuity of safe housing
Work in close collaboration with local public health officials to make all decisions related to on-campus housing.
If cases of COVID-19 have not been identified among residents of on-campus community housing, students may be allowed to remain in on-campus housing. In this situation, we educate housing residents on the precautions they should take to help protect themselves when there is a community spread of COVID-19. Residents should follow any more specific recommendations provided by local health officials. Any on-campus resident who may have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 should follow instructions provided by local public health officials, including possible temporary relocation to alternate housing for self-quarantine and monitoring for symptoms.
If cases of COVID-19 have been identified among residents of on-campus community housing, work with local public health officials to take additional precautions. Individuals with COVID-19 may need to be moved to temporary housing locations. These individuals will need to self-isolate and monitor for worsening symptoms according to local health officials’ guidance. Individuals in close contact with COVID-19 may need temporary housing to self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms. Consult with local health officials to determine when, how, and where to move ill residents. Information on providing home care to individuals with COVID-19 who do not require hospitalization is available on CDC’s website.
Residents identified with COVID-19 or identified as individuals in close contact with COVID-19 should not necessarily be sent to their permanent homes off-campus. Sending sick residents to their permanent homes could be unfeasible, pose logistical challenges, or pose risk of transmission to others either on the way to the home or once there. JSU will work with local public health officials to determine appropriate housing for the period in which they need to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms or worsening symptoms.
Ensure any staff remaining to support students in on-campus housing receive the necessary training to protect themselves and residents from the spread of COVID-19. Staff should also be trained on how to respond if a resident becomes ill. Adequate cleaning and personal hygiene supplies should be made available.
Ensure continuity of meal programs.
Consult with on-campus dining to determine strategies for modifying food-service offerings to the JSU students.
Consider ways to distribute food to students, particularly those who may remain on campus while classes or other events and activities are dismissed.
If there is minimal to moderate or substantial community spread of COVID-19, design strategies to avoid food distribution in settings where people might gather in a group or crowd. Consider options such as “grab-and-go” bagged lunches or meal delivery.
If on-campus housing residents have been relocated to temporary alternative housing, consider how meals can be provided to these students. Work with local public health officials to determine strategies for providing meals to residents with COVID-19 or who are being monitored because of contact with persons with COVID-19.
Ensure any staff remaining on campus to support food services receive the necessary training to protect themselves, and those they serve, from the spread of COVID-19.