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SUNY ESF
ESF Restart: Centennial Hall COVID-19 FAQs

142 Oakland Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
315-741-3067
centennialhall@greystar.com

 

Dear Parents and Students,

Coronavirus is a global pandemic. To protect our students, faculty, and staff -- and in accordance with guidance from Governor Andrew Cuomo -- ESF is implementing the following measures.

ESF will begin spring break after the final class on Friday, March 13. Classes for all students will resume on Monday, March 23. At that time, the college will transition from residential (face-to-face) instruction to virtual instruction. We will use a variety of distance education and non-traditional techniques, ranging from conference calls and videoconferencing to online learning to ensure all students are able to continue this semester’s coursework.

During the period when instruction will be offered virtually, the Syracuse campus will remain open. Residents of Centennial Hall have been provided options: complete the virtual instruction from their permanent residence or complete the virtual instruction from Centennial Hall. We have encouraged students to consider each option and choose the approach that works best for their personal situation.

It is important that students choose an option. Students who leave for spring break will be welcomed back to campus ONLY when ESF resumes residential instruction. We have made this decision for the health and safety of all involved. The CDC indicates that COVID-19 is a new disease and we are still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States. However, COVID-19 is proving to be a highly contagious virus that spreads person-to-person and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. We are also beginning to understand that the virus remains infectious on surfaces for days. This decision is an attempt to limit the spread of the virus.

I want to be clear. We have a moral obligation to take all necessary steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community we reside and this is why we are taking these steps. In addition, the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff is of utmost concern. I emphasize that much of our guidance to you is to prevent COVID-19 from spreading to individuals who choose to remain in Centennial Hall.

On March 11, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, indicated that Americans everywhere need to change the way they live their lives. According to experts, coronavirus is more contagious than the seasonal flu and a full-scale outbreak could stress our healthcare system in ways that have not been tested. Thank you for your patience and support. I encourage you to review the information below for answers to specific questions.

Sincerely, Dave Amberg

Interim President

 

FAQs

Updated 3/12/2020

 As a resident of Centennial Hall, what are my options?

Students who can safely return home at this time are encouraged to leave campus to continue online instruction from their homes, returning to Centennial Hall when residential instruction resumes.

We are aware that there may be reasons – including access to technology – why students may wish to remain in Centennial Hall now. Students may also remain in Centennial Hall during Spring Break and throughout the period of time the College offers instruction virtually.

Campus, including Centennial Hall, remains open. Should you choose to remain in Centennial Hall, we strongly discourage you from traveling. By remaining in Centennial Hall, you are pledging to protect the health and safety of your peers and the public. If you inadvertently become exposed to the virus, you have a responsibility to inform the Centennial Hall staff so that we can evaluate next steps.

Where can students tell Centennial Hall that they would like to stay?

 https://forms.gle/DeFhfoU77asuYBuT9

When can students return?

At this point, we are uncertain when the College will return to residential instruction. We will provide as much notice as possible when we return to residential instruction. Please remember, students do not have to leave. Centennial Hall residents are welcome to stay during and throughout Spring Break.

Will we get a refund for housing?

Our primary focus at this time is the health and safety of our students. This is a developing situation, and we are still uncertain when residential instruction will resume. We are working hard to bring instruction online and will consider other issues as we can. We appreciate your patience and support.

Will I get a refund if I choose to complete the semester from my home location?

The campus remains open, including Centennial Hall. As a resident, you have the option to stay during Spring Break and complete the semester on-campus, at ESF. Residents also have the option to leave Centennial Hall at the start of Spring Break and return when the campus resumes residential instruction. At the moment, we are focused on the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff and preparing the campus for online instruction. We will consider other issues as we can. We appreciate your patience and support.

Will we get a refund for meal plans?

Meal plans are administered by Syracuse University and Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation, and we are still awaiting guidance. We will share information as it becomes available.

Will food be available on campus?

Shaw Dining hall will be available for limited hours. Please see:

 https://foodservices.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Spring-Break-all-hours-vertical.pdf Syracuse University informed us that a second dining hall may open during this time. If that

decision is confirmed, we will share that information. ESF is also looking into other options for food service on campus.

Packages

Centennial Hall will hold any packages that arrive for students who are not on campus. If you are expecting an urgent or perishable package, please contact us at centennialhall@greystar.com immediately to make arrangements. Should you be away from campus for an extended period of time, please contact us to make arrangements to forward packages.

When do I need to move my things out of Centennial Hall?

If you plan to leave Centennial Hall for the duration of the online instruction period (end date unknown), we encourage you to remove any items you will need for the foreseeable future by March 17, 2020. We will issue guidance on moving out of Centennial Hall at a later date.

Visitor/guest policy

To protect the health and safety of our residents, beginning March 18th and until further notice, guests and visitors will not be allowed in Centennial Hall beyond the main desk. We will be checking student ID cards at all times to ensure that only residents are entering Centennial Hall.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

What do I need to take with me when I leave?

Students preparing to leave campus for Spring Break should take with them all devices, textbooks, and other critical materials to be able to continue coursework remotely, including copies of any personal class-related data/files stored on ESF or SU network drives. In addition, students should take all personal effects, valuables, or other items that may be needed for a potential extended period of time away from campus.

Can I leave for Spring Break and then come back?

In order to protect the residents remaining in Centennial Hall from the potential introduction of the virus, once you depart from campus, we ask that you do not return until ESF resumes residential instruction. Should you remain in Centennial Hall for the duration of Spring Break, we strongly discourage you from traveling. By remaining in Centennial Hall, you are pledging to protect the health and safety of your peers and the public. If you inadvertently become exposed to the virus, you have a responsibility to inform the Centennial Hall staff so that we can evaluate next steps. If you are remaining in Centennial Hall after March 17th, you will need a separate key to obtain access to the building. Centennial Hall will issue those keys to students staying for the duration of break.

If I choose to move out, do I need to check out and do I need to return my keys?

If you choose to leave Centennial Hall permanently, you do not need to do any sort of formal check out. We just ask that you clean your room to the best of your ability and that you return your keys to the desk. By returning your keys, you are indicating that you have left Centennial Hall. If you have already departed and haven’t returned your keys, please mail them to:

Centennial Hall 142 Oakland Street

Syracuse, NY 13210

We will not charge any fees to students who forget to return their keys during this time period.

What about my stuff if I leave? Will it be safe?

Personal items left in Centennial Hall will remain in your locked room. Before you depart, we ask that you dispose of any perishable items and empty the trash. Please be aware that Centennial Hall staff will perform Health and Safety Inspections to ensure all perishable items have been removed.