Housing Move-Out Info

Housing Information

With the health and safety of our students as our foremost priority, Rockhurst has developed a plan to organize most of our on-campus residents to begin moving out of all residence halls, THV, Rock Row, Kateri, and OCHs by Monday, March 23, 2020.

It is important to make every effort to complete move-out by this date so that you can focus on your coursework that will be online for the remainder of the semester. We will consider any exceptions to this deadline on a case-by-case basis.

We are requiring all residential students to complete a form to provide us with information prior to arriving on campus for move-out. Please complete the form by Noon, Wednesday, March 18.

Moving Out: What to Expect

On the day of your move-out, we will have staff to assist with move-out procedures, logistics, forms and paperwork, in order to help your move-out go as smoothly as possible.

Prior to Arrival

• Confirm your time block given in the Move-Out Schedule below, indicate in the above form which time you plan on arriving, and who will be helping you.
• Students and their families/volunteers should begin monitoring their health for symptoms as a proactive self-screening measure. Primary symptoms to look for include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. This self-screening should include students taking their temperature twice a day even if they feel well.  Students and their two volunteers need to be asymptomatic.
• If symptoms develop and you or your volunteers believe you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, or have been to a location where community spread of COVID-19 has occurred you should call your primary care physician (and avoid walking in to clinics).  

Upon Arrival / During Move-Out

• Students will not go through the normal check-out process; express check-out procedures will be followed to expedite move-outs.
• Staff will be available to assist students with questions about moving out, to collect keys, and to collect express sign-out forms.
• Dumpsters will be available at locations close to residential facilities for students to discard any items they are not taking with them.
• Common spaces in each building (entrances, elevators, hallways, etc.) will be cleaned on a regular basis by university staff.

After Move-Out

• Once a student (or designated representative if the student is unable to travel to campus) has moved out all their belongings, turned in their keys and signed move-out forms, we will consider that student officially moved out.
• There should be no items left in the room/apartment/house/unit.  Anything left will be considered trash and discarded.
• Please note: We will not be accepting donations for discarded items during this expedited move-out.

Move-Out Schedule 

The schedule was designed to provide order, while also trying to offer flexibility to allow students and their families enough time to move out by next Monday, March 23, 2020. We also are working to minimize the number of students and families who are in residential facilities at any given time. Note: public health experts are encouraging everyone to minimize close contact, which applies during move-out. This means roommates are encouraged to communicate in advance about belongings, so they may avoid moving out at the same time. 

If your floor number and room number are...

XL RESIDENTS:  Use the second digit of your room number to determine odd or even.

Examples:
Corcoran Hall Room 205 = Floor # is even, Room # is odd
McGee Hall Room 305 = Floor # is odd, Room # is odd

XL Hall Room 234 = Floor # is even, Room number is ODD

Examples:
5135 Forest = OCH Odd
1300 Rockhurst Road = OCH Even

FAQs

What information do I need to know regarding move-out?

Who: All residential students who live in a university residential facility that do not require an exception.

What: We are requiring all residential students (with very limited exceptions) that live in a university residential facility to vacate campus with all their belongings by Monday, March 23, 2020.

When: Students may begin moving out as soon as this Friday, March 20, 2020. 

How: We are directing that only the student and 2 move-out volunteers (family, others) come to campus in the directed time slots. If students prefer to designate someone else to retrieve their belongings, they may indicate this information on the form that all residential students need to complete.

What if I am unable to move-out based on the schedule?

If you are unable to move out during one of your designated times, there is a section on the form where you can indicate an alternative date and/or time that would work for you. This date should be between now and Monday, March 23.

Are we supposed to move out completely for the remainder of the semester?

Yes, we are requiring that all students move out of their on-campus housing by 6 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2020, with limited exceptions.  

What if I need to stay on campus for any reason?

We recognize that there are a variety of reasons why returning home may be particularly challenging and/or an impediment to some students' ability to successfully complete the semester. Exceptions are being considered for the following circumstances:

1. International students for whom returning to their home country may not be an option.
2.  Students with concerns for basic needs (e.g., students who use Rockhurst as their primary address, who have concerns about access to food, who have significant financial concerns, who have concerns for health and/or safety, whose home address is in a geographical area where high-speed internet is non-existent/very difficult to access, compromising their ability to consistently and actively engage in online coursework).
3. Students who need to physically be in Kansas City to complete outside-of-the-classroom requirements (e.g., internships, clinicals, student teaching, etc.).

If any of these categories apply to you, please provide as much information as you are comfortable sharing on the form. Additional information may be requested as we review and make decisions about who will be approved to stay on campus.  Those approved to stay on campus for the semester will all be relocated/consolidated in one area/facility with roommate(s) assigned by Residence Life.

I have requested an exception to remain on campus. When will I find out if my exception is approved?

For anyone who submits an exception request in the online form by the noon deadline on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, we will make every effort to respond to those requests by the end of the day Thursday, March 19th.

If I am approved for an on-campus housing assignment, do I continue living in my current space?

Yes, for now. After move-out is complete, we will make further decisions about where these students will live and who their roommate(s) will be for the duration of the spring term based on a number of factors.

What if I am quarantined and can't return to campus to move my belongings?

If you feel that you cannot safely return to campus to move your belongings, you can indicate this exceptional need on the form. You may be asked to provide more information. If you cannot make it back to campus, you may also designate a proxy to pick up your belongings for you. This information can also be noted on the form.

Can I have overnight guests in my room/unit or apartment?

Given the circumstances, no overnight guests will be allowed to stay in a student’s residence hall room or apartment. Anyone who is helping a student move should stay off-campus in a hotel or other accommodations.

What if I need to store my belongings?

The University cannot provide storage on campus for any student belongings. Some local vendors are providing free or reduced-price storage for students who are unable to return to campus to collect their belongings. 

What if I don't want my belongings and choose not to return to campus?

Please make every effort to return to campus to pick up your belongings. Remember, you can designate a proxy on the form to pick up your belongings for you if you are unable to make it back to campus. We are handling exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis for those who cannot retrieve their belongings before March 23.

What are the food options available during move out?

Dining services will have TMDR open for breakfast, lunch and dinner to accommodate students that are moving, as well as students that need to remain on campus for an exception.

Current Hours (subject to change)

Monday – Friday

Breakfast: 7-9 a.m.

Lunch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Dinner: 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Weekends

Lunch: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Dinner: 4-6 p.m.

TMDR will close between meals

What happens if I feel ill when I am preparing to move out?

Students and their families/volunteers should begin monitoring their health for symptoms as a proactive self-screening measure. Primary symptoms to look for include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. This self-screening should include students taking their temperature twice a day even if they feel well.

Students and their volunteers should be asymptomatic before they enter a residential facility. If students/their volunteers are ill, they should not come to campus but make other arrangements for their belongings. Anyone who comes to campus with symptoms will be asked to leave the residence halls/units/apartments.

Is it possible to get a refund for at least a portion of the spring housing that we paid since we are not even going to be there?

We know there are many questions about refunds for unused dining plans and for the time students won’t spend in the residence halls. We want to assure students and families that we are having discussions about how to address these important questions in a fair and equitable way.  Please continue to monitor your Rockhurst email multiple times a day.

What about the housing application process for THV and private rooms for next year?

Our first priority is to get everyone moved out of their current spaces.  We will send details about the application process the second half of next week.

What are possible corporate resources to assist with this move?

A number of businesses have come forward to assist students and universities during these extraordinary times.  Several in particular that we are aware of include the following:

• U-Haul:  U-Haul Offers 30 days of free self-storage
• Frontier:  Students Fly Free with Frontier

This is not a comprehensive list – and is not intended as a University endorsement of any particular business.  However, it is shared in a spirit of being of assistance to RU students making this transition.

Mark R. Hetzler, M.S.

Associate Dean of Students

Student Development & Residential Life