UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To promote the safety of students, families and community members during the off-campus move-in process, Penn State and State College Borough leaders sent a letter to off-campus students and local landlords highlighting tips for travel, move-in and arrival. Damon Sims, vice president for Student Affairs; Eric Norenberg, executive director of the Centre Region Council of Governments; and Thomas Fountaine, State College Borough Manager, shared the letter as part of ongoing collaboration between the University and Borough to partner on strategies to limit the local impacts of COVID-19. The letter also included information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and resources available to students living off-campus.
Along with wearing face masks and physical distancing while loading and unloading, the letter offers a range of off-campus move-in guidelines, from staggering move-in dates and times with roommates to minimize risk of transmission, to asking landlords if they offer a no-contact process to receive keys and other items.
In addition, self-isolation guidance is also provided for off-campus students who have been in contact (or suspect they have been in contact) with an individual infected by COVID-19, or those arriving from states considered “high-risk” by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Students in self-isolation are encouraged to reach out to Student Affairs for support, and to take advantage of a robust offering of services, including delivery of essential items and regular wellness checks.
For the latest updates and information on Penn State’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including frequently asked questions and information specific for students, faculty and staff, visit virusinfo.psu.edu.