COVID-19 FAQs

Greetings from Residence Life and Housing! Thanks in advance for your understanding about our need to change our typical timeline and procedures for residence hall check outs.   The following FAQ’s are provided to communicate our current approach. These guidelines reflect the latest timley protocols established by the Messiah College Crisis Response Team.  If you have any check out questions, please contact your Residence Director directly at the contact information provided below.  We are here and available to support and assist you through this process.

Greetings residential students,

We want to thank you for your ongoing patience through this entire unexpected way this semester has gone due to COVID-19.  We recognize that there is so much uncertainty and are hopeful that the below information will provide you with some helpful structure related to the updated housing checkout process.  As we are in unprecedented times, we greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced on April 20 that statewide health and safety measures were extended until May 8 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In order to maintain compliance and align our operations with government-issued directives, the College needed to adjust the dates of the residential student check-out timeframe. The new process—outlined below—takes into account (1) our need to care for and protect the health of employees and current students that remain living on campus, (2) shift students who will live on campus this summer from their current housing assignment to summer housing in Naugle, and (3) facilitate a reasonably safe and expedient checkout for all other residential students that takes into account government-issued restrictions that vary from state to state and change weekly. The process outlined below assumes no changes to the most recent statewide directive and is subject to change based on any new government-issued directives.

Here are some key components of the updated checkout process:

• Students are not permitted to come to campus to check out of their rooms/apartments/houses until May 20 (except Naugle). All residential students must move out between May 20 - June 30, with the exception of Naugle residents who must move out between May 9-May 14.
• Naugle checkouts are prioritized as it is the location of summer housing. In order to protect our current students residing on campus from potential exposure to COVID-19, Naugle residents will move out first so that summer students can then move in. 
• For Naugle residents:
  • Timeline: All Naugle residents should plan to move out between the dates of May 9–14. 
  • Process: Naugle residents will use the TimeToSignUp link (to be provided by RD) to sign up for one of three daily checkout timeframes.  Moving out must be completed within the allotted timeframe only.
    • 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
    • 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
    • 4 p.m.–7 p.m.
  • See For All Residential Students below for key guidelines and requirements.
• For residents of Houses, Apartments, Grantham, Hess, Miller, Mountain View, Bittner, Sollenberger or Witmer currently living off campus who need to check out:
  • Timeline: Checkout dates are from May 20–June 30. Follow the email link that will be sent by your RD in May.
  • Process: Using the link emailed to you by your RD, sign up for one of the daily checkout times listed below. (NOTE: For everyone’s health and safety, we need to limit the number of students on a floor/section/house at any one time and therefore are requiring all students to sign up for a new date/time for check-out). We acknowledge this may require a change in your originally planned date and appreciate your flexibility and understanding.
    • 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
    • 12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
    • 4 p.m.–7 p.m.
    • For apartments/houses: (a) 8 a.m.–2 p.m. or (b) 3–9 p.m.
      1. Please be sure to divvy up kitchen and bathroom cleaning equally.
      2. Please note that only one resident can move out of an apartment or house during any one time slot, and apartments across from each other cannot have people moving out at the same time.
  • See For All Residential Students below for key guidelines and requirements.

• For All Residential Students:
  • Comply with ALL of the following social distancing, and health and safety directives:
    • Students must move out within their checkout timeframe (plan to arrive and be gone all within your allotted time).
    • Students are permitted to bring only one guest with them to assist with move out.
    • All individuals must wear protective masks at all times.
    • All individuals must be fever-free for the past 14 days, must not have been around any person known, suspected of, or exposed to someone having COVID-19.
    • Students will be assigned a door/stairwell that they are to enter and exit the building/floor.  Note the specific door you are assigned on your check out sign-up information to be sent by your RD, and enter/exit only from your assigned door.
    • Students may not sign up for a checkout time with anyone else living in close proximity (e.g., apartment/roommates, residents across the hall or on either side of room (for traditional halls)).
    • Individuals are NOT permitted to stay overnight on campus. 
    • Please remove all belongings, especially large personal furniture items.  NOTE: THERE ARE NO DONATION TRUCKS THIS YEAR so large items cannot be left behind as donation.  Please plan accordingly. 
    • Elevators are only to be used by those with limited mobility.
    • Remain six feet from others in the building and on campus at all times.  This is particularly important in the stairwells and at the key drop box locations.
    • Whenever possible, please avoid touching surfaces in public areas.
    • In traditional halls (not apartments/houses), only lobby restrooms may be used.
  • As you prepare to move out, please remember that your room/apartment/house should be tidy, free of personal belongings, all surfaces wiped down and floors swept/vacuumed before you depart. Vacuums are provided, but cleaning supplies are not (so please bring what you need). A helpful reminder list of things to do while checking out will be printed on each room/apartment/house door.  You are encouraged to bring/rent your own dolly to aid in quicker move-out.
  • For those living 300-plus miles away, complete the storage request form (https://www.messiah.edu/forms/form/367/en/storage) and see further down on this FAQ page for further details on storing belongings, which includes information on local storage facilities.
  • If you have extenuating circumstances that need to be addressed, please reach out to your RD.
  • REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR STUDENT ID CARD WITH YOU!  You will need this for on-campus entry as well as building access.

• For students currently living on campus: please see the separate email communication from your RD with your particular instructions.

Again, thank you so much for your cooperation.  All the best to you as you move out.  Have a great summer!

1. WHEN DO I NEED TO CHECK OUT BY?

• Due to updates to COVID-19 safety protocol, the college is delaying check-out times. We previously had check-outs scheduled for April, but now they will take place in May into June. All undergraduate students currently off campus are required to have checked out of their residences between May 20 and June 30 by noon. Naugle residents MUST move out between May 9-14. Students currently approved to live on campus will be communicated their check-out expectations through their RD.
• Note: We will continue to monitor state and national directives, and this schedule is subject to change pending those outcomes. If you are in a county/state that is affected by a “stay-home” or “shelter in place” restriction, we encourage you to sign up for as late a move-out date as possible, in anticipation that your situation may change. If those directives, however, remain in place, the College will work with those impacted families as necessary. Any changes to this schedule would be announced on the residence life website, the emergency blog, and an email to students and their families.
• Students not currently on campus are to wait to return to campus until May 20. STUDENTS WHO LIVE LOCALLY AND WANT TO CHECK OUT MUST WAIT UNTIL MAY 20 (unless they lived in Naugle) in order to honor the changing safety parameters outlined by Pennsylvania Governor Wolf.

2. WHAT ARE MY CHECK-OUT OPTIONS?

Please note that due to social distancing, we are capping how many people can sign up on a particular day for each building and floor. RDs will send out a sign up form in the coming weeks with more information. Students may receive an email communication informing them that they need to sign up for a different date if there are concerns for overcrowding.

• Express Check-Out is now occurring via a TimeToSignUp link that RDs will be sending to their residential students in May (Naugle will receive theirs sooner).  This allows you to select the day and timeframe you will be checking out, without needing to meet in-person with anyone. See further details in question #4 below.

3. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE I CHECK OUT OF MY ROOM?

• Ensure all of your belongings (closets, drawers, cupboards, etc.) are out of your building
• Do a quick clean of your room/apartment:
• Vacuum your (side of the) room/apartment/house
• Wipe down surfaces (including apartment fridge, stove and oven)
• Take trash out and put in outdoor dumpster (not in common spaces like bathrooms, lounges, hallways, etc.)
  • Place furniture in its original position from August
  • If you are the last person out of your room/apartment, ensure it is completely empty of any non-college belongings. It is a highly recommended that you communicate expectations and responsibilities with your roommate(s) to ensure everyone is sharing an equal load of cleaning.
• During the adjusted move-out procedures, the Office Sustainability is collecting unwanted clothing and unopened food. These items will be donated to local charities such as Mennonite Central Committee, Community Aid, and Bethesda Mission instead of being disposed. Collection boxes will be located in the same area as the key-drop locations, and at Naugle (see question #9). Please place only unwanted clothing and unopened food in the corresponding collection boxes. Please note that we cannot take any other miscellaneous items – only clothing and non-perishable foods.

4. HOW DOES EXPRESS CHECK-OUT WORK?

• To maintain social distancing, students are highly encouraged to utilize this option for checking out:
• For express check out, sign up for a timeslot on the TimeToSignUp link that your RD sent.
  • Card access will work on the day you have signed up for express check-out only.
• Follow the steps outlined in the express check-out form and in question #3 above. Be sure you have removed all personal items from your lounge/apartment fridge/freezer and building laundry room too.
  • Turn in your room/apartment/house key in one of four locations:
    1. The key drop box outside the Mountain View Classroom
    2. The key drop box in the Fishbowl
    3. The key drop box in Witmer
    4. The key drop box outside the Residence Life Office across from Lottie
       1. PLEASE ALSO TURN IN WORK STUDY OR OTHER CAMPUS OFFICE KEYS (campus post office keys only need to be turned in if a student is not returning in the fall)

5. WHO DO I CHECK OUT WITH?

• No in-person interactions are needed if you are utilizing express check-out.. 

6. HOW DO I AVOID IMPROPER CHECK-OUT FINES?

• Ensure your room/apartment has no trash left behind
• Remove all of your belongings from the building by your selected time frame
• Check-out within your sign-up time.  “No shows” result in an improper check-out fine
• Ensuring you turn in your key on your check out date
• Clean as directed (see question #3)
• Be sure you locked your door upon leaving
• Be sure you completed the Express Check-Out Form or sign up for an in-person time in advance
  *Note: Additional charges could be assessed for any damages in your space and/or missing furniture

7. WHERE CAN I STORE MY BELONGINGS UNTIL THE FALL?

• Storage is provided only for students who live more than 300 miles away. 
• One student may store no more than 5 items (NO FURNITURE).  Please sure to use the provided storage tags from your RD.
• Please follow the Residence Life storage website details.
• If you need to store more than 5 boxes, we recommend that you store your belongings off campus. Uhaul is offering the first month free to college students displaced by COVID-19 (call 717-232-5961 or 717-315-6011).
• Students will store their belongings in the storage room of the building they currently reside in; in Mellinger if living in the apartments. 
  • To store items in storage, students must:
    • Fill out the storage request form.
    • In advance of your arrival to campus, Residence Life will drop off storage tags to your room or apartment before your scheduled check-out timeslot.
    • Once the student has boxed up (and LABELED) their items for storage (must still follow the guidelines below), the student should move the boxes next to the appropriate storage room. For those who are in a residence hall, storage rooms are in the floor lounge (except Naugle and Witmer, whose storage areas are in the basement). For those who live in an apartment, storage is in Mellinger B. Apartment students will need to travel to Mellinger, swipe into Mellinger B, and carry the items into the basement corridor. Residence Life staff will move your items into the storage room.
    • Once you move the boxes to be stored to the correct spot, you MUST email housing@messiah.edu immediately. A Residence Life staff member will move your boxes into storage shortly after your email is received (using COVID-19 appropriate caution). 
    • If you have any questions about this process, either email your RD or housing@messiah.edu. 

8. WHERE DO I RETURN MY ROOM/APT/HOUSE KEY?

• BE SURE TO PUT YOUR KEY IN THE GIVEN ENVELOPE (located by the drop boxes) and clearly mark what each key is for.  Work study keys should also be dropped off here.
• Drop the envelop in one of four locations:
  • The key drop box outside the Mountain View Classroom
  • The key drop box in the Fishbowl
  • The key drop box in Witmer
  • The key drop box outside the Residence Life Office across from Lottie

9. WHAT IF I ALREADY MOVED OUT OF MY RESIDENCE?

• Please communicate with your roommate(s) regarding any communal belongings they may need to take/discard on your behalf -Mail in your key to the Residence Life Office in a padded envelope or taped to a paper inside the envelope so that the jagged edge of the key is covered.
  •     Mail to:
    Messiah College
    Residence Life
    Suite 4502
    One College Ave
    Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
• This must be received within a week.

10. WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO CHANGE MY CHECK-OUT TIME?

• We recognize that travel plans can change.  Students need to let their RD know at least 24 hours in advance if a check-out time needs to be changed.  This is important to avoid an improper check-out charge.

11. HOW DO I CONTACT MY RD?

Bittner: 717-796-4094 or iyoon@messiah.edu
Fry: 717-796-4230 or cdcmiller@messiah.edu
Grantham: 717-796-5224 or jprice@messiah.edu
Hess: 717-796-4173 or anicols@messiah.edu
Kelly: 717-796-4173 or anicols@messiah.edu
Mellinger: 717-691-6080 or ckurtz@messiah.edu
Miller: 717-796-4230 or cdcmiller@messiah.edu
Mountain View: 717-796-5210 or tm1370@messiah.edu
Naugle: 717-796-4380 or jhatfield@messiah.edu
Smith: 717-796-5224 or jprice@messiah.edu
Sollenberger: 717-691-6080 or ckurtz@messiah.edu
Special Interest Houses: 717-796-5210 or tm1370@messiah.edu
Witmer: 717-691-6079 or bmoshier@messiah.edu

12. IF YOU NEED TO RETURN TO CAMPUS (AND HAVE BEEN APPROVED):

• DO NOT ENTER RESIDENTIAL SPACES IF:
  • You are showing any signs of illness, specifically fever or cough
  • Have had known or suspected exposure to anyone with COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks
    • Instead return to your vehicle and call the Engle Center at 717-691-6035

• AS YOU ENTER:
  • Practice social distancing: avoid hugs, avoid hand shakes, keep a good distance, etc.
  • Do no visit anywhere you do not absolutely need to.
  • Avoid touching surfaces in public areas, wherever possible.
  • Wear a mask at all times.
  • Enter and exit only from the doors you are assigned.
  • Use only the lobby restroom.
  • Only one other person is allowed into the building with you to help you move out.
  • Collect your belongings and depart ASAP.

13. WHERE DO I FIND A VACUUM?

• Vacuums are in the floor lounge (laundry room for apartments).  Please return it to the lounge/laundry room after use.

14. WHAT BUILDINGS CAN I ACCESS WHEN I COME TO CAMPUS?

• Only your campus residence, the Eisenhower Campus Center (business hours only), and Engle Center for Health and Counseling (business hours only) are open.  
   

15. HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR HOUSING FOR 2020-21?

• Residence Life is working on an online housing sign up process. Keep watching your email and our website (https://www.messiah.edu/info/21460/residence_life) for information to be posted soon.

Have a great rest of the semester!  The Res Life team will continue praying for you.  May you sense God’s peace and presence with you each and everyday.