University closes housing for remainder of the semester

Brooke Reilly

Quinnipiac University’s Mount Carmel campus- photo taken atop Sleeping Giant State Park

Brooke Reilly
March 15, 2020

Updated March 15, 9:45 p.m.

Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian made the official announcement on Sunday, March 15 to close all university housing for the remainder of the semester due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

On Tuesday, March 10, Olian announced that classes would move online for the remainder of the semester, but students would be allowed back in their residence halls on Sunday, March 22. She originally told the university to look for an update on Wednesday, March 18, but this update came sooner.

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President Olian's email closing housing and next steps.

In the email, Olian said, “We’re all living through an unprecedented time that continues to change on a daily – often hourly – basis. There’s no doubt that our lives have been upended for a while. That’s been very hard for many, including our students who come to Quinnipiac not just to learn, but to connect, compete, grow and lead. Through this time, the choices we are making place protecting the health of the entire Quinnipiac community, and supporting the continued academic work of our students, above all else.”

All university housing is currently closed, and students cannot return to campus at this time. Information on how and when to retrieve belongings from residence halls will be released at a later date. Students currently living in university housing must leave by Wednesday, March 18 at 9 p.m. Students that need to stay in their housing or get access to residence halls for extraordinary circumstances must email [email protected] by Monday, March 16 at 12 p.m. 

All university events have been suspended until further notice. This includes admissions tours and information sessions and all varsity and club spring sports. A decision about commencement has not been made yet, as it is still too far away. 

The university is planning to refund graduating students for housing and meal plans. Those who are not graduating will be credited in next year’s costs.

“We have been focused on the health and education of our students and have not yet resolved the financial impact of this crisis,” Olian said in the email. “We will provide further details in the coming weeks.” 

Professors will start online courses on Wednesday, March 18 and will reach out to students via Blackboard. The libraries are closed, but materials can be accessed online at go.qu.edu/libraryresources.

Health sciences and nursing students may continue attending their fieldwork studies and clinicals if sites continue to support students; however, this will to be monitored. Nursing students received an email saying that professors are re-evaluating clinicals by March 30. If students cannot continue with their experiential learning, program leaders will work with them to figure out a plan to complete their requirements.

The university will remain open, but the majority of its faculty and staff members will be working remotely. Some student employees and graduate assistants may be able to continue their jobs if they can be done remotely. Students can reach out to [email protected] in Student Employment for more information.

The university website will be updated frequently and can be accessed at www.qu.edu/COVID19. Frequently asked questions are published online, and Q30 broke down the most common FAQs.

“For all our current Bobcats, I share your sense of loss as we go through this experience – loss of time with friends, faculty and staff mentors, academic and athletic competitions, team activities, and social gatherings – that were abruptly taken from your lives,” Olian said. “Your QU family will be examining whether, and how, we can offer any parts of those experiences later, even in the summer, especially for seniors. But right now, our focus is on everyone’s health.” 

Stay with Q30 for more information on how COVID-19 continues to impact Quinnipiac students, faculty and staff.