We know students have a lot of questions about living on campus. Below you will find answers to common questions about Fall 2020 housing decisions, safety procedures, and accommodations. 

We will keep this webpage updated as decisions are made. If you have additional questions, you are welcome to email us at housing@wsu.edu.

• I live in an area or state where there is a high rate of COVID-19 community transmission. What should I do?

  If you live in the state of Washington and are from a county with a high rate of community transmission or live in another state with a high rate of community transmission, please remain at your current residence and complete fall 2020 courses remotely. 

  A high community transmission rate is defined as a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents, or higher than a 10% test positivity rate, over a seven day rolling average. Please review the Washington State Department of Health COVID-19 Data Dashboard and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention State and Territorial Health Department Website for additional information about areas with high rates of community transmission. You can also review websites such John Hopkins University and Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center and Georgia Tech’s Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool.

  If you were planning to live on campus and do not meet the demonstrated institutional need criteria outlined below for living on campus, you must cancel or defer your residence hall contract to spring semester. If you meet the demonstrated institutional need criteria outlined below and are approved for living on campus in a university-owned residence hall, you will be asked to quarantine in a designated university residential facility for 14 days prior to moving into your residence hall room when you are coming from a high community transmission rate area.

  For those of you planning to live off-campus, it is essential that you and your loved ones consider and prepare for the health care capacity in the City of Pullman and Whitman County in case of a widespread outbreak. If you are planning to return to Pullman, you should be prepared to quarantine at your off-campus residence for 14 days. You may not be allowed to use the university’s recreational or other facilities, including community spaces, until proof of quarantine has been provided. More information will be shared with WSU Pullman students prior to the start of the semester.

• What does this mean for the First-year Live In Requirement (FLIR)?

  For the fall 2020 semester, WSU has expanded the FLIR definition of University Approved Housing to include your permanent residence. If you would like to live anywhere other than your permanent address or do not meet the demonstrated institutional need criteria below, you must have a FLIR exemption approval on file. You will be not allowed to live in fraternity or sorority house in fall 2020 as a first-year student.

• I want to stay at home. I completed a contract and addendum for a residence hall room. What do I do now?

  You may choose to either cancel or defer your housing contract at http://livingat.wsu.edu/reshall by August 7, 2020.

  If you would like to defer your WSU residence hall room until spring, your security deposit and any initial payments will be retained and applied towards spring 2021. You will not be charged for the fall 2020 semester. If we are unable to repopulate our residence halls for the spring 2021 semester, your security deposit and any initial payments will be refunded.

  You also may cancel by August 7 and your security deposit and any initial payments will be refunded with no penalties applied. If you cancel, you may not have access to a residence hall room for spring 2021 if we are able to repopulate our residence halls at that time.

• I read about the demonstrated institutional need criteria to live in a university-owned residence hall. How do I know if I am eligible?

  We know some students call WSU their home. The University has substantially decreased the number of students who can live in our residence halls. We will do our best to provide housing for those students who meet one or more of the following criteria; however, eligibility under the criteria does not guarantee on-campus housing, and changing circumstances may require additional restrictions:

  • A student with a financial situation that requires living on campus (e.g., private scholarship with requirements to live on campus, eligible for need-based grants, receiving federal or state need-based aid)
  • A first-generation college student that needs transition assistance
  • A student who is participating in an institutional, state, or federal program emphasizing or requiring on-campus resources and support.
  • A student who has a housing situation that is not secure, in jeopardy, or unsafe
  • A student who has in-person, on-campus employment that requires them to be at WSU Pullman
  • A student who is a former foster youth
  • A student who is a veteran or a ROTC cadet
  • A student who has an ADA accommodation through the WSU Access Center
  • A student whose permanent address does not have adequate infrastructure to learn online (e.g., does not have access to reliable home internet)
  • A student who is international or requires extensive travel to return home safely
  • A student who is enrolled in a course that requires face-to-face interaction. You will be notified of course delivery decisions by August 1
  • A student who has an extraordinary circumstance that requires them to be physically present at WSU Pullman. Students in this category will be asked to describe the specific circumstances.

  If you meet one or more of the above demonstrated institutional needs criteria to live in a university-owned residence hall, log on to http://livingat.wsu.edu/reshall. Once you confirm you meet the demonstrated institutional need criteria, you will receive information about your fall 2020 housing assignment and you will be given information about signing up for a move-in time. Please note, University dining options will be limited at the start of the semester.

  If you are approved to live in university-owned residence halls, you must comply with public health measures such as wearing a face mask, observing physical distancing requirements, completing a daily self-attestation, and adhering to common space use limitations.

• What about my university-owned apartment?

  University-owned single student apartments will open as planned on August 1. University-owned family and graduate student apartments will open as planned per your individual license. All residents must comply with public health measures such as wearing a face mask, observing physical distancing requirements, completing a daily self-attestation, and adhering to common space use limitations.

  For students who have signed a contract to live in university-owned single student apartments, we have extended the cancellation deadline to August 7, 2020. You can review our cancellation policy here.

  For students who have signed a contract to live in University-owned family and graduate apartments, you may cancel up to two weeks in advance of your contract start date without penalty. You can review our cancellation policy here. You may also defer your deposit and initial payments to be considered for a future apartment.

  If you would like to change your apartment contract, please log in to your housing contract or email us at housing.apartments@wsu.edu.

• What about my off-campus apartment contract or contract with a Fraternity or Sorority House?

  WSU does not have authority to make decisions for private landlords, including fraternity and sorority housing corporations.

  If you have signed a lease with an off-campus landlord or property management company, please contact them directly to explore your options.

  If you have signed up to live in your fraternity or sorority chapter facility, please work directly with your chapter’s housing corporation to explore your options.

• When will housing assignments be available?

  Only students who have demonstrated institutional need and have been approved, will be able to view their residence hall assignment. Please log in to your housing contract: http://livingat.wsu.edu/reshall

• What will the costs be for living in a residence hall in Fall 2020?

  Check out the Rate Estimator at 

  https://livingat.wsu.edu/estimator/reshall.aspx 

• When is move-in? How do I sign up for it?

  We will provide a link to sign up for move-in when you receive your confirmed housing assignment. You must sign up for a move-in time. Time slots will be 2 hours in duration and arrival times will be strictly enforced. Students will be able to choose a move-in time between Saturday, August 15 – Sunday, August 23.

  Students will be limited to two (2) guests to assist them in moving in, referred to as a “family unit”. Masks/cloth face coverings will be required for all persons entering the residence halls. Elevators will be limited to one family unit at a time, and all persons must abide by physical distancing measures. Unfortunately, no additional helpers will be allowed or provided for move-in this year.

  We understand there are concerns about Move-in dates and times. To support students who have different needs, we are providing multiple options. Such as accommodating those who have already made travel arrangements and allowing students to mail their items to their residence hall room.

  Mailing items to campus will allow students to check in quickly on their move-in day and will eliminate the need for guests to help bring belongings from their car to their room. Packages must arrive Aug. 7-14 and must be addressed to the room students are assigned to. Additionally, students who use this service must not be trying to switch to a new hall or room. Any packages that arrive on Aug. 15 or later may not be available at the front desk until the following week, as they will go through our regular academic year package-sorting process. Learn more about this process at the Move-in website.

  Visit the Move-in website for more information and details. Public health guidance may change between now and move-in date, so please check back often.

• Ah! I don’t have a place to live!

  We are committed to helping facilitate your transition to off-campus living.

  The Off Campus Living website has resources and if you want further guidance on how to move off campus, we have a team of Housing Transition Coaches ready to help.

  You can make a Zoom or phone appointment by contacting the Office of the Dean of Students with the online appointment request form. You can also email deanofstudents@wsu.edu, or call us at 509-335-5757.

  We have a very small number of on-campus apartments remaining. You can apply to live in our WSU-owned apartments here.

• What if I don’t want to live on campus?

  For the fall 2020 semester, WSU has expanded the FLIR definition of University Approved Housing to include your permanent residence. If you are a first year student and would like to live anywhere other than your permanent address or do not meet the demonstrated institutional need criteria to live in the halls, you must have a FLIR exemption approval on file.

• What about spring semester?

  Decisions about the Spring 2021 semester have not been made. If you would like to defer your WSU residence hall room until spring, your security deposit and any initial payments will be retained and applied towards spring 2021. You will not be charged for the fall 2020 semester. If we are unable to repopulate our residence halls for the spring 2021 semester, your security deposit and any initial payments will be refunded.

• If the halls close, can I get a refund?

  If a public health order requires the University to vacate residence halls due to COVID-19, the University will implement a refund or credit policy commensurate with the order(s). We have revised the 2020-2021 Housing Addendum to reflect this change.

• How do I make sure I get to live with my requested roommate?

  Please make sure both you and the person you have requested have indicated that you would like to live together on your housing application AND that you have both agreed to the addendum by the July 12 priority date. From there we do our best to ensure people are living with someone they requested.

• How do I cancel if I am not coming to Pullman?

  You can cancel or change your housing contract by going to livingat.wsu.edu/reshall

• What will dining be like?

  Our dining centers, espresso locations, and food services across campus will be open with reduced capacities, wellness checks, physical distancing, no-touch payment options, and increased cleaning protocols. Our goal is that you have access to a delicious and healthy menu, so we plan to provide a mix of hot and cold options and a robust grab-and-go selection. Students are encouraged to download the GETFood app or order online to utilize food pick-up.

  Cougs Feeding Cougs and food pantries will still be available for those needing assistance.

• If I (student) need to self-isolate due to COVID what is that process?

  The university will be releasing further information closer to the beginning of the fall semester regarding what the isolation/sequester steps will be for residence hall students.

• Will I be informed if someone on my floor/in my building has a positive COVID test?

  Closer to the beginning of the fall semester, the university will be releasing further information regarding COVID-19 response within the residence hall 

• How are community spaces/ kitchens being utilized?

  When it can be done safely, we will phase in the use of community spaces such as kitchens, lounges, and study spaces. These spaces will begin closed for use in the fall. Initially visitors/guests will be prohibited. Once allowed, we will log and track visitor/guest information.

• What if I do not want to wear a mask/face covering?

  If you cannot adhere to the rules for living on the Pullman campus outlined below, there are non-residential options at WSU you can explore, such as enrolling at WSU Everett, WSU Global Campus, WSU Tri-Cities, or WSU Vancouver. Students enrolled in health sciences programs may also explore options at WSU Spokane.

  All of our physical campuses will be taking similar health and safety measures. We are all Cougs and we need to take care of each other. All students who attend WSU must abide by health and safety directives issued by WSU, the government, and health officials.

  If you will not follow the rules and do what is required of you, you should consider other arrangements for your education in the fall.

• University Recreation, Compton Union (CUB), and Cultural and Student Centers

  Our recreation facilities and programming, as well as other student spaces, will be open with reduced capacities, wellness checks, physical distancing, and increased cleaning protocols. Some activities may have a reservation system to ensure occupancy limits.

  We will continue to provide remote programming as well as some in-person options to enhance your Coug Experience.

• Once assignments are made, how do I find out what my room for the fall is?

  To find your room assignment, please log back onto your housing application by clicking “my account” in the top right hand at www.housing.wsu.edu. Once you are logged in, you can view your housing assignment.

• When can I move-in to my residence hall this fall? How are you going to ensure social and physical distancing?

  The university is committed to providing a safe move-in for students that observes all health guidelines, including social and physical distancing. More information regarding move-in will be available later this summer at movein.wsu.edu.

• How can you ensure social distancing in the residence halls?

  WSU has been using CDC, as well as local and state health department recommendations, to inform campus response to COVID-19. In the residence halls this includes evaluating physical spaces and determining furniture configuration, signage and education, programming plans, staff training, and more to encourage all students to practice social distancing.

• What is custodial doing to clean in the residence halls?

  WSU Housing and Dining Custodial are using guidance offered by the CDC on proper cleaning procedures and chemicals to combat the virus that causes COVID-19. This includes increased cleaning/disinfecting of high-touch areas and limiting access to gathering spaces.

• I have a medical need to have a specific type of room, what should I do?

  If you have medical needs for which you need a housing accommodation, please contact the Access Center to complete an accommodation application. Once we have your approved accommodation documentation from them, we can work to re-assign you to a space that will meet your needs.  Access Center: 509-335-3417

   

• APARTMENTS: What if I decide not to come?

  • Single Student Apartments: For students who have signed a contract to live in university-owned single student apartments, we have extended the cancellation deadline to August 7, 2020. You can review our cancellation policy here.
  • Family/Graduate Apartments: For students who have signed a contract to live in University-owned family and graduate apartments, you may cancel up to two weeks in advance of your contract start date without penalty. You can review our cancellation policy here. You may also defer your deposit and initial payments to be considered for a future apartment.

• APARTMENTS: What will it look like to live in the campus apartments?

  Mainly the same as before, with a few small updates:

  • Residents will be required to masks/cloth face coverings when not in your private apartment.
  • Residents will be expected to follow physical distancing guidelines.
  • Residents will be expected to adhere to community space use limitations.
  • Residents will be expected to complete a daily self-attestation when leaving their apartment.