Campus Living

To help keep the USF community safe this fall, USF has temporarily modified its residential policies to comply with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the City and County of San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Securing the health of our students, staff, faculty, and surrounding community is our top priority. We will follow guidelines to ensure that we can continue learning, working, and living safely. Failure to follow guidelines outlined by USF will result in a referral to the student conduct process for students.

Symptom Reporting is Required

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you must remain in your residence room, limit your traffic outside of the room, and report your condition by using the Positive COVID-19 Case Intake Form health survey or by emailing covidtracing@usfca.edu. Currently, the COVID-19 symptoms include one or more of the following:

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficult breathing
  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Runny nose or new sinus congestion
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Fatigue
  • New gastrointestinal symptoms that you haven’t experienced before
  • New loss of taste or smell that you haven’t experienced before

Shelter in Place

In the unlikely event of a residential viral outbreak, USF may have to require residents in one or more residence halls to shelter in place. In this situation, infected students and their close contacts must follow the University’s isolation and quarantine protocols. All other students within the residence hall will be required to remain on their floor for a 14-day quarantine. During this period, the University will deliver meals to students, and students will attend classes remotely. In the event of a campus viral outbreak, USF may also have to prohibit travel on and off campus for a period of two weeks in addition to implementing a shelter in place. In this situation, all students will attend classes and access campus resources remotely.

Physical Distancing

USF is aligned with state and local guidance as we proceed with our previously announced phased reopening and a return to in-person instruction. As of June 15, there are no capacity limits in campus buildings and no physical distancing requirements. 

More Information on Physical Distancing

Face Coverings Requirements

It is optional for residents to wear face coverings when in the residence halls. This includes, but is not limited to, hallways, lobbies, elevators, community kitchens, and lounges. Residents do not need to wear a face covering when in a common area restroom and showering, brushing teeth, or washing their face. You do not have to wear a face covering in your living unit with your roommate – that is your home! Those sharing rooms and units should have conversations around expectations in these spaces. Please see the CDC’s current face covering guidance. 

More Information on Face Coverings

Guest and Visitation Policy

Guests will be permitted in campus residential facilities. Residents must attest that all guests are in compliance with the university’s face covering and symptom reporting requirements.

Residents are allowed to have guests support them during the move-in process. All guests must be in compliance with the university’s face covering and symptom reporting requirements.

Residents are allowed to enter other residents' rooms, but must follow university face covering requirements if unvaccinated. Vaccinated residents may request vaccinated residents and guests visiting their room to wear a face covering if they choose.

Effective August 24th, and until further notice, guests visiting on-campus residential facilities are restricted to only those who are affiliated with USF. This could include students visiting a resident of another building or an off-campus student visiting a friend in on-campus housing. No overnight guests will be approved. 

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) and Service Animals

As part of the approved animal policy, students must designate a non-student or a student off campus as an emergency contact in case of illness, hospitalization, or other emergencies that would impact a student’s ability to provide care for their approved animal. If a student cannot care for their animal (i.e. a student is placed in isolation and cannot walk the dog or go outside to clean a cat box litter), the emergency contact should be within a 3-hour radius and they will keep the animal until the student is able to regain care of it. The emergency contact is expected to retrieve the animal within 5 hours.

Items Available at the Front Desk

Front desks will provide full services, including: issuing temporary access cards, mail and package service, checking out recreation equipment and kitchen supplies. Desk staff will have a limited supply of face coverings, and personal hand sanitizers.

Public Lounge Space and Kitchens

All community lounges and kitchens inside the residence halls will be open and available for use.

St. Anne’s kitchens will be temporarily closed during regular cleanings by ABLE staff. Residents must wait until the kitchen is clean and available to enter the space.

Elevators and Stairways

There will be no restrictions on the usage of elevators or stairways. All building entrances will allow for normal entrances and exits.

Water Stations

Public drinking fountains and water supplies will be accessible for 2022-2023. Please be mindful of not placing your water bottle directly on the devices when using the water bottle fillers that are attached to the water fountains.

Please refrain from pouring anything into the machines.

Vending Machines

Vending machines will be stocked, based upon supply availability, and available for use for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Laundry Facilities

Laundry facilities will be open and available for usage.

Restrooms

Restrooms will have regular cleaning services provided in compliance with CDC and SFDPH guidelines.

Maintenance Request and Custodial Services

For all non-emergency Facilities work orders, please submit requests online.

For urgent Facilities issues, please call (415) 422-6464 during business hours and Public Safety at (415) 422-4201 after hours. For routine maintenance and repairs, the work may either be deferred until the room is unoccupied (winter or summer break), or it may be done by contacting the occupant and informing them of the available time window for work to be performed.

Facilities personnel will respond as quickly as possible for emergencies and problems requiring rapid response to minimize the potential of injury or damage to buildings and property. In such cases, Facilities personnel will respond wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and may enter rooms (including residences) without scheduling their arrival. Facilities personnel will knock and introduce themselves in these cases. Residents will also be required to wear face coverings when interacting with Facilities personnel both at the door and while work is being conducted in their room or residence.

Restrooms will be temporarily closed during regular cleanings by ABLE staff. Residents must wait until the restroom is clean and available to enter the space.

More Information on Cleaning & Disinfection

General Fire Evacuation Procedures

In the event of a fire alarm and need to evacuate the residence hall, all residents will evacuate via the nearest stairwell. Residents shall wear their face coverings during evacuation unless physically unable to do so.