Thank you for speaking with us. What are living arrangements looking like in the residence halls this year?

For the fall 2020 semester, each residential student is living one person per living unit, so that they each have a private bathroom and eating space in their personal quarters. Our RA and professional Residence Life staff is in place and living on campus for the academic year. Residential students who arrived from regions on New York's list of restricted states were able to complete their 14-day precautionary travel quarantine in their residence hall room, in conjunction with required follow-up to our office's guidelines.

How has the shift to low-occupancy affected residence life?

Our lowered occupancy for the fall semester not only allows each student to be in a situation where they could immediately self-isolate if needed, it also allows our Residence Life team to establish higher quality connections with residential students. All students connect via a personalized and individual Zoom meeting upon check-in, where we can review the numerous policy changes for the fall semester and answer questions, but also have one-on-one time with each student. The individual time is definitely a plus and would not necessarily be something that would be attainable at our maximum occupancy.

Move-in day must have looked very different this year. Were there any moments of joy or excitement despite the circumstances?

Move-in day was very different this year, unique and special in its own way. Our students and parents arrived wearing masks. We implemented a virtually "contactless check-in" process, which allowed for social distancing and all of the necessary safety precautions but still allowed our students and parents to have that connection, safely, with our Residence Life team. Our check-in packets this year also included SVA logo face masks for each residential student. It has definitely been one for the record books.

For more information on SVA Residence Life, click here. For additional details concerning housing and planning and policies for accommodations related to COVID-19, visit the Housing Policies and Restrictions Related to COVID-19 webpage.

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