COVID-19 University-Owned Housing/Dining Frequently Asked Questions
- Use the link below to review the email communication sent to Pontchartrain Hall residents on March 23, 2020 regarding updates to their housing status and the credit/ refund process.
March, 23, 2020 Email Communication
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Our administration has worked closely with our state and local officials to assess our current situation and develop guidelines for the safe retrieval of your items. We have created a large number of available timeslots for our residents to schedule the retrieval of their items. This staggered approach is in the best interest of our residential community as low numbers of individuals in our halls will allow for better social distancing measures.
Express Checkout Procedures:
- Reserve your timeslot using the links below. Please note: once a timeslot is full, you will not be able to submit a form registering for that specific time slot.
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May 12: 8am-10am, 10am- 12noon, 12noon- 2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm
May 13: 8am-10am, 10am- 12noon, 12noon- 2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm
May 14: 8am-10am, 10am- 12noon, 12noon- 2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm
May 15: 8am-10am, 10am- 12noon, 12noon- 2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm, 6 pm- 8 pm
May 16: 8am-10am, 10am- 12noon, 12noon- 2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm, 6 pm- 8 pm
May 17: 8am-10am, 10am- 12noon, 12noon- 2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm, 6 pm- 8 pm
May 18: 8am-10am, 10am- 12noon, 12noon- 2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm, 6 pm- 8 pm
- Please use caution and care when planning your travel to retrieve your items. As picking up of personal property is considered one-time essential travel, you should plan to visit your residence hall only, perform essential tasks and return home. We look forward to encouraging exploration of our city and community in future semesters.
- All campus entrances are closed except the Alumni Drive entrance accessible by Elysian Fields Avenue. Plan to present identification to the UNOPD officer managing the entrance on Alumni Drive in order to access campus.
- Bring your student ID, room key and any needed moving supplies in order to complete your move when you arrive at your reserved timeslot.
- In order to encourage social distancing measures, you may bring only 1-2 helpers to assist you in removing your items from the halls. These helpers must remain with you at all times.
- We encourage you and your helpers to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations including wearing face coverings while in public, maintaining at least 6 feet between persons, frequent handwashing and avoidance of touching the face.
- You will use our Express Checkout process to move out. Once all personal items and trash has been removed from the unit and all doors have been locked, you should return your key via the provided check out envelopes at their hall’s front desk.
- If you need assistance or have questions while completing your check out, please contact the North Hall Front desk at (504) 280-7777. Changes in student staff availability have restricted the ability to have additional staff manage the South Hall front desk at this time.
Express Check-out Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Residence Halls safe to enter?
Our custodial staff are disinfecting all high traffic areas (foyers, common spaces and hallways) regularly and will continue through hall closing. Please follow all CDC instructions to help us limit the spread of COVID-19:
- If you or anyone in your party should feel unwell, have a fever or cough, or have been in contact with someone that could have been exposed to COVID-19, we ask that you (and/or they) stay off campus and contact us to find alternate arrangements. Please email studenthousing@uno.edu.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds frequently and after touching commonly touched surfaces.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth while packing and moving out.
- Wear a face covering and utilize social distancing during the checkout process.
What if I cannot get back to campus by May 20 to retrieve my personal items?
Please contact Office of Residential Life staff directly at studenthousing@uno.edu with the details of your individual situation. Staff will assist you in exploring possible options including but not limited to item package and storage by a designated vendor, permission of a trusted friend or relative to remove your items or other available service.
Can my roommates and suitemates all check out at the same day and time slot?
In order to follow guidelines of social distancing, we ask that you work to stagger your checkout times with your roommates, suitemates, and quadmates to limit the amount of people in an enclosed space. Each resident needs to schedule their own checkout timeslot.
How many people can I bring with me to help pack up my room?
We ask that you bring those persons essential to your move out/packing needs. Should you have more than two additional people with you, we ask that they wait by your car and not enter the building.
What if my preferred day and time slot is full?
If there is no other option due to transportation or work schedules (personal or family), please email studenthousing@uno.edu. We will do our best to work with you and your scheduling needs.
What if I am late to my scheduled time or miss my time completely?
If you’re running a little behind, that is okay. You have the entire time slot to complete your move out. If you miss your time completely, please email studenthousing@uno.edu to reschedule your timeslot.
Previously posted Frequently Asked Questions (Posted Mid-March 2020)
- Am I required to completely move out of Pontchartrain Hall or Lafitte Village? What if I am unable to go home or leave campus?
While Pontchartrain Hall and Lafitte Village are open at this time, you are strongly encouraged to go home if you can do so safely. Students who are unable to leave campus will be accommodated but may experience limited services such as dining variety, campus mail, etc. Please note that campus visitation is currently restricted. If you are unable to return home or leave campus, you must complete the online form sent to your university email account notifying the Office of Residential Life staff of your housing needs. If your plans change, please notify the staff via email at studenthousing@uno.edu.
- I live at Privateer Place. What about me?
This FAQ is specific to Pontchartrain Hall and Lafitte Village. Privateer Place is privately owned and operated. Please consult with Privateer Place management about the specifics; however, Privateer Place remains open and students are able to continue living there.
- Can I leave my belongings in my room?
If you officially check out of your room, you should remove all of your belongings and turn in your room key to formally check out at the front desk of your hall. However, if you want to return home but need additional time to check out of your room and remove your belongings, you should notify your Area Coordinator.
- Will I be charged to check out?
No, there is no charge associated with checking out. However, as with usual check out procedures, damage fees will be assessed for any students who are found to have caused damage in their room.
- Are there any changes in the checkout process?
If you are still on campus and plan to move out, please limit the number of people you bring to assist. If you have already left campus, and want to move out, let us know and we will let you know when you are able to come to campus to retrieve your belongings. As usual, please ensure that your room is clean prior to checking out.
- Is there an additional charge for staying on campus if I need to remain?
No, there are no additional charges if you remain on campus thru the end of the Spring 2020 housing agreement. The Spring 2020 housing agreement ends on Saturday, May 16.
- Will resources like dining, the library, and the University Center remain open?
UNO Dining’s schedule is updated and frequently shared with our residential students. The Library, University Center and UNO Dining schedules are also posted to UNO’s COVID19 Frequently Asked Questions website. Please note that the University will continue to assess these schedules and update as needed.
- If I check out before the end of the semester but face-to-face classes resume sooner, will I be able to check back into the residential community?
Face-to-face classes will not resume prior to the end of the Spring 2020 contract period (May 16).
- If I check out before the end of the semester, will I receive a credit for housing and meal plans?
Please see communication shared under #1 which outlines credit/ refund processes.
- If I remain in the residential community, is anything else changing?
Yes. Effective Sunday, March 15, only current residents are allowed in campus residential facilities. Residents found with guests may be found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct for failure to comply with university regulations. Additionally, social gatherings are currently suspended within all residential communities as the University is continuing to encourage students to maintain social distancing and minimize face-to-face interactions with others. Office of Residential Life staff will continue to assess common spaces in our residential communities and make determinations to close spaces as needed. Currently, the playground courtyard of Lafitte Village has been closed to encourage social distancing among the community.
Residential Life Safety Protocols and Policies
The University of New Orleans and the Office of Residential Life encourage students to actively engage in safety precautions to maintain a safe, healthy campus community. The items listed below describe a few of the commonly encouraged safety resources available to students. While these resources provide reasonable and good-faith efforts, it is impossible to predict individual actions or situations which may occur. Students are encouraged to use their best judgement and report areas or people of concern to the appropriate Office of Residential Life or UNO Police staff member.
