The Panther gathered information from Chapman’s CU Safely Back plan and spoke with Dave Sundby, the director of Residence Life and First Year Experience (RLFYE), to create a nine-item guide for students anticipating to live on campus in the fall.

What criteria is used to evaluate who is approved for Chapman housing?

• Those with housing insecurity, those approved for disability accommodations, international students, those whose safety or internet connection at their permanent address is of concern and those enrolled in academic programs likely to return in-person are among the top considered candidates for on-campus housing.

• Permanent housing distance from the main campus was also used to measure the necessity of on-campus housing. 

What prerequisites will students need to meet before living in campus housing?

• Students are required to take a 20-minute COVID-19 training module through Canvas. The safety training will appear under the “Dashboard” tab. 

• Before arriving in Orange, California, students will be mailed a COVID-19 test kit that can have up to a six-day turnaround. Students will request the at-home test kit, collect a nasal swab sample and ship the test to LabCorp to review. Results will then be sent confidentially to Chapman administration. 

• If a student does not come to campus without first submitting proof of health insurance, they will be enrolled and billed $2040 for Chapman health insurance, which is partnered with UnitedHealthcare.

How many students will be returning to campus housing?

• The exact number is still unclear, but RLFYE anticipates 1700 students to return in the fall.

• After capping off housing capacity to between 40 and 45%, the demand for housing was low enough that everyone who requested housing was granted an accommodation.

What guidelines do students need to abide by while living in campus housing or commuting to the main campus itself?

• Unless in a private residence or when eating, students are required to wear face coverings at all times. Another exception is socially distanced outdoor scenarios.

• No large gatherings of 50 or more are permitted. According to the California state guidance, occupancy is limited to 25% of room capacity.

  • RLFYE allows groups of two to four students to gather in common spaces.

Will there be any required health assessments?

• Daily health assessments will be conducted and students who develop or display symptoms of COVID-19 and have temperatures above that of a fever – 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit – will stay in touch with a contact tracer and be directed to isolated apartment units or off-campus housing to quarantine for at least two weeks.

• The health screening includes an online questionnaire, which will be sent to students’ Chapman email. There, students can report any symptoms they may be experiencing. In the event a student receives a “DENIAL” status, they must avoid coming to campus and contact their health provider for further guidance.

What restrictions will be imposed on student life that differs from previous semesters?

• Building access will be limited to only those living there. Non-residents and guests will not be accommodated for most circumstances.

• Furniture with fabric seating that’s difficult to clean will be removed from shared spaces or lounges, and all furniture will be physically distanced to adhere to state guidelines.

• The fitness room at Chapman Grand will be closed until further notice, and RLFYE are currently discussing whether or not to close the outdoor pool space.

Will transportation be offered by RLFYE?

• No shuttle services are offered at this time, and it is not anticipated that commutes to and from the main campus will be provided.

• However, once RLFYE is able to resume shuttle operations, students will be required to show the “CLEAR” status from their daily health survey before being allowed to board the shuttle.

  • Chapman IDs will be scanned for entry in order to improve contact tracing.

  • Face coverings are required and shuttle capacity will be reduced to 10 passengers.

• RLFYE is creating a shuttle service program that will take students to local grocery stores.

Will community activities be offered by resident advisers (RAs) like they have been in the past?

• RAs are encouraged to connect with their residents and build a community between residents in an online setting. 

• Social opportunities offered will vary based on who a student is assigned to, but almost all activities will be limited to virtual spaces.

What are the available housing options and how have housing rates fluctuated from last academic year?

• Only Chapman Grand, The K, Panther Village and the Davis and Harris apartments will be available this fall semester.

  • The rates for fall 2020 depend on the specific housing assignments.

• For studio and loft Panther Village units, and single bedroom units at the Davis and Harris Apartments, students will be charged $5,408.

  • This accounts for about $950 less than what was charged during the 2019-2020 academic year.

• For all The K units, two-bedroom Davis Apartment units and two-to-three-bedroom Chapman Grand units, students will be charged $6,604.

  • This accounts for about $250 more than what was charged during the 2019-2020 academic year.

• For Chapman Grand single units – including one bedroom and studio layouts – students will be charged $7,540.

  • This accounts for about $290 more than what was charged during the 2019-2020 academic year.

• The rates for the spring semester are subject to change based on overall housing occupancy.

While housing rates and occupancy for the fall semester have been adjusted to “account for physical distancing and Campus Leadership decisions,” it’s still up in the air what housing will look like for the spring semester once all students return to campus. 

As Chapman administration closely reviews the County Data Monitoring list and evaluates the sustainability of a successful and safe return to regular campus life, students will simply have to refrain from participating in large social gatherings, wash their hands frequently and keep their spirits up when taking remote classes on Zoom.

Clarification: No large gatherings are permitted until further notice, but students are allowed to gather outdoors in small groups (no more than 12).