Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates ￫

Please click here for the latest information regarding Benedictine University's response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Current Residents

University Housing & Residence Life
University Housing & Residence Life

Welcome home, we’re glad you’re here! University Housing & Residence Life’s goal is to make sure that your housing on campus living provides countless opportunities to assist in the development of personal growth, community living, leadership skills, and a place that you can call home. The housing team consists of 2 professional staff, 3 Head Residents, and 13 Resident Assistants under Student Engagement. Collectively our team is tasked with helping to ensure that facilities receive proper attention and provide community building initiatives to enrich the student residential experience.

Preparing for Spring 2021

Preparing for the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches us all, we hope you and your families continue to prioritize your health and well-being of yourselves and those around you. We gathered some information on ways in which you can contribute to make this holiday season safe. 

  • Some of the recommendations include:
  • Wear a mask in public areas and when around others 
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others who do not live with you 
  • Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces 
  • Wash your hands often 
  • Additional considerations and recommendations can be found HERE. 

University Housing & Residence Life
COVID-19 Response Team

Covid-19 Testing Program & Requirements

Our surveillance testing program and efforts will continue in the spring 2021 semester in partnership with Loop Medical. All students who are not exempt from testing must take 2 tests, one prior to arrival and the other on the day of move in.

Once the semester begins, the scheduled testing day for non-exempt residents are currently planned for Wednesdays. Frequency of testing is subject to change; however, all non-exempt residents are expected to schedule testing via Loop Medical’s Patient Portal during the spring semester.  

Reentry to Campus

Non-Exempt Residents
Students who have not tested positive within a 90-day period are NOT exempt and the testing requirements upon reentry to housing is applicable. Students must supply a negative COVID-19 test (lab-based PCR test) taken within the 7 days prior to scheduled move in date.

Students who are within a commutable distance may also schedule their reentry test with Loop Medical if test is taken within 7 days before moving in and results are available on scheduled move in day. Loop’s online appointment scheduler and availability for each location may vary. Students are encouraged to call and request an appointment for their desired date.  Click HERE to schedule your test with Loop Medical. 

Due to the rise in cases and testing nationwide, the turnaround time for testing sites may be delayed. Students are encouraged to seek clarification with any testing site to ensure reentry results are available on move in day.
Other COVID-19 test options could include a test with your primary physician or testing locations can be found here:  

Exempt Residents
Students who have had a positive COVID-19 test within 90 days of scheduled move in date are exempt from reentry testing requirements. Exempt students must upload documentation of positive results to www.ben.edu/healthform if test was conducted off campus. Results must be documented and on file.

Surveillance Testing

Non-Exempt
Students who have not tested positive within a 90-day period are NOT exempt and the testing requirements during the semester is applicable.


Exempt
Students who test positive COVID-19 during the spring semester are exempt from weekly surveillance test requirement for a 90-day period. Exempt dates will be communicated and confirmed by a member of the COVID-19 Response Team.
Exempt students must upload documentation of positive results to www.ben.edu/healthform if test was conducted off campus. Results must be documented and on file.

University Housing & Residence Life
COVID-19 Response Team
(*This information is subject to change)

Spring 2021 Health & Safety Guidelines

Several guidelines and policies will be in place. These are meant to ensure the safety of our students and the staff members who manage campus housing and dining services. Some of these expectations and recommendations include:  

  • Face coverings are required in all public areas within University Housing including lobbies, elevators, bathrooms, laundry rooms, stairwells, common lounges, and hallways. 
  • Some stairwells within Ondrak and Jaeger Halls will be designated as one-way traffic and/or appointed for quarantined residents.  
  • The semester will begin with no guests being allowed in University Housing through February 1, 2021. Once that period has passed, University Housing will communicate when the 2020-2021 guest policy will resume. This means that residents may not visit other residents during this time.  
  • Students are encouraged to remain on campus and limit unnecessary travel off campus during the first 14 days (2 weeks).
  • Students are encouraged to utilize Benny’s to-go option for take-out only during the first 14 days (2 weeks).

University Housing & Residence Life
COVID-19 Response Team
(This information is subject to change)

Spring 2021 Move In/Return to Campus

Please review this information carefully to prepare yourself for move in weekend. University Housing will open for the spring semester on Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17. Students who are not exempt from testing will be tested by Loop Medical upon arrival to campus before going to the residence halls to check-in. Keys will not be distributed and access to housing assignment will not be approved until testing has been completed. Test results can take up to 2 days. Residents will be expected to quarantine in their assigned housing until results are received.  

Due to the testing requirement for return to stay, residents will not be allowed to move in any earlier than Saturday, January 16. 

Move in schedule and requirements 

  • Residents are expected to self-quarantine at their permanent residence for 14 days prior to campus arrival. 
  • Copy of health insurance must be sent to the University by January 15 HERE. 
  • Rice Center will be the designated check-in location for reentry testing.
  • All residents must supply proof of a COVID-19 lab test taken within 7 days before scheduled move in date and supply confirmation of a negative test result. Results can be provided in either format:
  • New and returning students who are required to test will be assigned a move in day and time that falls after scheduled test with Loop Medical. Students will be notified when the Loop Medical Portal opens. Look for more information the first week of January. The Move-in times are expected to run from 10am-5pm.
  • Residents who are identified as non-exempt from COVID-19 testing must test on arrival and will be notified. 
  • Residents who are exempt from COVID-19 testing (see Exempt from Testing criteria) will be notified and will be scheduled to move in between 1-5pm on Sunday, January 17.  
  • Key distribution for check in will be held in the following locations: 
    • University Housing Office (Krasa Center) – Jaeger Residents 
    • Ondrak 1st Floor Lounge – Ondrak Residents 
    • Founder’s Clubhouse – Founders’ Residents 

While we will continue to review and evaluate guidelines and policies in our Return to Campus Guide and Return to University Housing Plan for the spring semester. Updates will be communicated via student’s Benedictine issued email account and posted on the Current Residents webpage within the www.ben.edu/housing website. 

University Housing & Residence Life
COVID-19 Response Team
(This information is subject to change)

Meet the Staff


Resident Assistants (RAs) - Resident Assistants are student leader staff members responsible for building community for the residents, keeping residents informed on department and campus wide events and procedures, confronting policy and documenting policy violations, mediating roommate issues, and participate in nightly duty to ensure safety and security in campus housing.

Head Residents (HRs) - Head Resident Assistants are responsible for direct supervision of Resident Assistants, assist in large scale programming, community development and participating in on-duty rotation for emergency and crisis management response in campus housing.

Assistant Director - The Assistant Director, Monica Ragusa plays an integral role at the University and is responsible for all aspects of student staff including selection process, recruitment training, and supervision. Monica is responsible for the training, development, oversight and mentorship of the Head Resident and Resident Assistant staff in all of the University’s residential communities and leads the conduct process for the department.

Director - The Director, Liz Velez leads the department and ensures that the Student Engagement Mission is carried out. Liz is responsible for the operations of campus housing administration, occupancy management, departmental initiatives and strategic planning. In this role, Liz is also involved in assisting with resolving a variety of student issues, conduct and contract management.

Meet the RA Staff

 

University Housing & Residence Life Handbook

The Benedictine University Housing Agreement is contained within the Housing Portal online. By completing an application and housing agreement, a student is made aware of the terms and conditions associated with residential living, and the student provides consent to the terms and conditions as part of that process.

It is the responsibility of each resident to become familiar with all policies and procedures set forth in the University Housing & Residence Life Handbook, as well as the Student Code of Conduct and Student Handbook. The Housing staff is available to assist you with interpreting the various policies enclosed in this Handbook, learning about your new surroundings, and becoming an active community member on campus.

Resident Handbook

 

Interested in becoming an active community member?

Check out our leadership opportunities, clubs and organizations HERE.