March 11, 2020
This afternoon, Dr. Mary J. C. Hendrix, Shepherd University President, announced that the University will be extending Spring Break through Sunday, March 29. This means that most students leaving for spring break will not return to the residence halls until Sunday, March 29, at the earliest. The University will send out communication at a later time if this return date changes. Please make sure to take all textbooks, notes, laptops, medications, and critical personal items with you when you leave for break. You do not need to remove everything from your room.
I understand that this announcement changes your plans and I appreciate your flexibility. These decisions are made with the goal of keeping all Shepherd community members as healthy as possible and to allow us to decrease the risk of a major interruption in academic progress for students. Based on this information, here are some things that you should know about the residence halls closing this Friday and about your eligibility to remain on campus:
Eligibility:
- Dunlop and Printz apartments will remain open to current residents during the extended spring break. No further permission for your occupancy of your room is required and no additional fees will be assessed. See below about the no visitation policy for Extended Spring Break.
- Boteler, Lurry, Martin, Miller, Moler, Potomac Place, Shaw, Thacher, and Yost halls will close this Friday, March 13 at 6:00pm through Sunday, March 29, at the earliest.
- Only residents who have been pre-approved through the Good Living Portal to stay during the break may remain on campus after Friday, March 13 at 6:00pm.
- These halls will not reopen until Sunday, March 29 at 10:00am, at the earliest.
- A standard $25/night fee may be applied to students who are approved to remain during the week of March 16. No charges will be assessed for approved students the week of March 23.
Policy notes:
- No visitors will be permitted in any of the residence halls, including apartments during the break. In other words, residents who are approved to stay during the extended spring break may not have any guests, which include residents from other buildings, other Shepherd students, family members, etc. This restriction may be extended for additional periods of time.
- Residents who are approved to stay during the extended spring break that violate University policies, including this visitation policy, may be required to leave University housing until after Shepherd returns to instruction in the classroom, as a student misconduct matter.
- Residence Life professional, Hall Director, and Resident Assistant staff will still be on campus throughout the extended spring break. However on-campus dining options and other University services will be limited.
To Apply:
- Requests to stay must be received through the Good Living portal by Friday, March 13 at 10:00am
- Select Applications & Forms > Extended Stay Request – Spring Break (Spring 2020)
- If you completed a form for the week of March 14 – 21, you will need to submit an additional form to be eligible to stay the week of March 22 – 29.
- Approval to remain on campus during the Extended Spring Break is subject to approval on a resident’s demonstrated need.
Thank you very much for working together and supporting each other as we adjust to this important need. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.
Dr. Liz Sechler
Director of Residence Life