Living on‐campus during COVID‐19: Prepare for reasonable accommodations requests

Abstract

As vaccinations rates go up and higher education institutions return to on‐campus learning this fall, institutions may already be receiving students’ accommodations requests to waive or adjust requirements for living in on‐campus housing. Many colleges and universities waived on‐campus residency requirements during 2020, and with return to on‐campus learning this fall, these requirements are now back in force. Colleges and universities promote living on campus for a number of reasons, including the increased tendency for resident students to perform better academically, seamlessly integrate into campus activities and student organizations, and receive peer support. Students may request an adjustment to your institution's live‐on requirement if they can't receive a COVID‐19 vaccine and/or they're more susceptible to suffering from a severe case of COVID‐19 due to having an underlying medical condition. This means that students may request to live off campus, live in a private/single room on campus, or only live with a specific roommate.