COVID-19 Update 3/20/20: Residence Halls Closing

From: Estrellita Longoria, Director of Residential Life

Dear CTX Residents,

Concordia University Texas has determined that it is necessary to close residence halls and, as a result, students are expected to check out of their residence hall no later than Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 5:00 pm. The Office of Residential Life is seeking your cooperation and support as we ask students to begin relocating to their permanent residence. We know that this is a long message, but it contains very important information and deadlines so please read it carefully.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on March 29, 2020, all Concordia University Texas residence halls will be effectively closed and will not reopen for the Spring 2020 semester. Please note that care for you as our students is our first priority and we understand that this decision to close the residence halls may cause undue hardship for some of you. If you have circumstances that you feel necessitate that you remain in the residence halls, please submit a Request for Emergency Extension.

Concordia University Texas will be issuing pro-rated refunds for both housing and food, effective March 29, 2020, for students vacating the residence halls. There is nothing you need to do in order to receive this refund (other than check out of your room). It will be automatically applied as a credit to your student account. Please be aware that if you currently have a balance on your student account, the refund will be applied to that balance to decrease the amount owed. However, we do ask for your patience as we process these refunds over the next several weeks.

Only students who have petitioned for and received an exception will be permitted to remain in the residence halls past Sunday, March 29, 2020. This request must be submitted by no later than 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Again, if you have circumstances that you feel necessitate that you remain in the residence halls, please submit a Request for Emergency Extension.

If you are currently residing in the residence halls at this time, please do not delay planning and conducting your exit from the halls. Students leaving by car are urged to plan appropriately and then pack belongings and depart in a timely fashion. Students traveling by air should take immediate action to plan and schedule their flights. Carefully consider what may be packed and, if necessary, consult your air carrier for details. If you need assistance in storing or shipping your items, please see the resources listed at the end of this e-mail.

If you currently are not residing in the residence halls and need to return to gather your belongings, please sign up for a time to do so here. In order to follow the recommended social distancing protocols, we are limiting the number of students who can return to the halls at one time for move out. We ask that if you plan to bring people to help you, limit it to a small number of individuals, ideally one or two.

• What should I do if I cannot get back to campus and remove my belongings by March 29? Please inform the Office of Residential Life that you cannot return to campus prior to the hall closure. Your belongings will be stored in your room until a time when the University permits students to return to campus and claim them. The Office of Residential Life can be reached via e-mail at residentiallife@concordia.edu.
• What should I do if I have moved out of my room but still have my room and mailbox keys? Please place them in an envelope along with a piece of paper with your full name, Banner number, and room number on it, and mail them to: Office of Residential Life, 11400 Concordia University Drive, Austin TX 78726.

Checking Out of Your Room

Express check-out will be offered to all students checking out of the residence halls. Express Check-Out envelopes will be available at the front desk. Please note, for health and safety, there will not be bins, carts, dollies, or tools available in the halls for move out. You are encouraged to bring boxes, bins, suitcases, or your own carts, as well as any tools you may need, to assist with transporting your items. For these same reasons, staff will not be available to assist you with moving your belongings.

During the move-out process, please remember the following:

• All items must be removed from your residence hall room.
• Everything must be removed from your refrigerator and freezer.
• All trash must also be removed from your room.
• Residents do not need to de-loft their beds. Staff will take care of this after your departure.
• Place your room key and mailbox key inside the Express Check-Out envelope.
• Complete your Express Check-Out envelope.
• Drop your Express Check-Out envelope in the drop box by the mailboxes.

As you develop your plans to exit the residence halls, please be vigilant about your health and safety. Continue to observe recommendations for social distancing, frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and isolating yourself if you believe you may be ill.

Thank you!

As this public health emergency is evolving, we will continue to share information as it becomes available. We understand the serious nature of this pandemic and continue to take our guidance from public health officials. Please be sure to check the University’s webpage and your CTX e-mail often for updates and important information.

The Office of Residence Life thanks you for the time you shared with us. We are saddened to see our residential students leave our residential community earlier than expected and under very different circumstances than we had hoped. We are looking forward to your return in the fall and cannot wait to have our Tornados back on campus!

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at residentiallife@concordia.edu.

Sincerely,
Estrellita Longoria
Director of Residential Life

Other Helpful Resources

We are passing along offers of which we have been made aware that may be helpful to you during this transition. Please be aware that CTX is not endorsing any of these services, but we want to make sure you are aware of offers that you may find useful.

Internet Access

• If you do not have access to internet in the United States, Spectrum and Comcast are offering students free internet.
• For more information on Spectrum’s offer, call 1-844-488-8398.
• For more information on Comcast’s offer, go to InternetEssentials.com or call 855-846-8376 for English or call 855-765-6995 for Spanish.

Transportation

• With colleges and universities all over the United States announcing campus closures in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, many students may need last-minute transportation. Enterprise Rent-A-Car has reduced the minimum age and waived the young renter fee. Assistance for students wishing to make Enterprise Rent-A-Car reservations or having questions are available by calling (1-844-624-4412).

Storage

U-Haul is offering college students free storage for up to 30 days.