KU plans on-campus move-out process through April; possible refunds still undecided

photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World File Photo

Madison A. and Lila M. Self Hall is pictured Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at 1620 Engel Road on the University of Kansas campus.

University of Kansas students in on-campus housing received more guidance Wednesday on how their abrupt move-out process will work while keeping precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

More than 3,500 of the more than 5,000 on-campus residents are away from Lawrence, a message from KU Housing said, so students will schedule a two-hour time block where they can bring no more than two other people to collect their belongings.

The message did not address whether students would receive refunds for their housing and dining costs. Students were told Tuesday that discussions on a potential refund process were underway. It’s unclear when a decision may be made.

Beginning Friday, students who are able will schedule a date and time to return to Lawrence and get their things. This process will be staggered until April 7, KU spokesperson Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said. Students will have different dates and time slots to choose from based on which building they lived in.

For students unable to return to campus — those who may face health risks by doing so or those who are in a quarantined area of the U.S. — KU Housing will work with each person on a case-by-case basis, the message said. Barcomb-Peterson did not elaborate on what options may be available.

Students who have traveled to California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon or Washington since March 1 or visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin or Gunnison counties in Colorado since March 8 aren’t allowed to return to campus. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Wednesday issued mandated 14-day quarantines for Kansas residents returning from those areas.

KU said it would work with those students once travel restrictions are lifted.

While collecting their belongings, students aren’t responsible for cleaning their rooms other than getting rid of trash, KU’s message said.

“It is vital that the move-out process be orderly and structured to protect everyone,” housing officials said. “We know how challenging this has been for on-campus residents whose time on KU’s campus ended so suddenly.”

More coverage: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Find all coverage of city, county and state responses to the virus at: ljworld.com/coronavirus/

What to do if you think you may have COVID-19

Patients who have symptoms — difficulty breathing, cough and fever — should stay home, immediately isolate themselves from others and call their health care providers. Patients should never show up unannounced at a medical office or hospital. Instead, they should call ahead to explain their symptoms and give health care workers the ability to minimize the risk to others.

If patients do not have health care providers, they may call the Lawrence Douglas-County health department’s coronavirus line, 785-856-4343.

For updated information on the outbreak, Kansas residents can email COVID-19@ks.gov or call 866-534-3463 (866-KDHEINF), which is staffed 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

More information can be found through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s website or the Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health website.

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