Student COVID Info Housing
Will there be COVID rules, regulations, and restrictions in place for the 2021-2022 academic year?
At this time, students should assume that some restrictions may be in place. Students living on-campus will receive an email communication, if at any point, additional safety protocols are necessary based on CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines.
Please read the full Addendum to Occupancy/Lease Agreement: On-Campus Housing COVID Rules and Regulations Spring 2022 .
What happens if I test positive for COVID while living on campus?
Students are encouraged to quarantine/isolate at their primary residence. If returning to their primary residence is not possible, limited space on campus is available for quarantine/isolation until West Chester University Health Services clears the student to end quarantine/isolation.
More information about testing and monitoring FAQ pages as well as the COVID-19 Workflow .
Will masks be required in WCU Managed and USH Managed residence halls and apartment buildings?
No. Masking regulations have been lifted. Find more information here.
What is the procedure if a roommate tests positive ? Or a suite mate? Will they need to quarantine?
Roommates/Suite mates will quarantine for 5 days if they have been in close contact within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period unless they have been fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated students who have been exposed by a single source (i.e roommate) will need to quarantine off campus for 5 days. It is recommended that exposed unvaccinated members get tested at Day 5 after last exposure, if possible.
People who are fully vaccinated do NOT need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms, and wear a mask indoors in public for 10 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.
Please refer to the Spring 2022 Covid Workflow for next steps.
Where do I find a COVID-19 vaccine near me?
If you are interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, use vaccines.gov to find a location near you. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, visit the Centers
for Disease Control (CDC) resource Vaccines for COVID-19.
What is the current guest policy for on-campus housing?
The University's Guest Policy is designed to maintain security in residence halls
and apartments. A guest is defined as anyone who is not assigned to a residential
unit. A unit is defined as a, room, suite or apartment as leased by the resident.
Guests are allowed in residence halls, rooms, suites, and apartments only with prior
consent from roommates/apartment-mates/suitemates. The rights of the roommates/apartment-mates/suitemates
take precedence in issues involving a guest. Please see policy for restrictions.
- Guests are allowed in residence halls, rooms, suites, and apartments only with prior consent from roommates/apartment-mates/suitemates. The rights of the roommates/apartment-mates/suitemates take precedence in issues involving a guest.
- All guests entering a residence hall must possess and display one of the following
forms of photo identification listed below. Any guest not physically having the proper
(valid, unexpired) form of identification will not be permitted access. No exception.
Acceptable photo identification forms are limited to:
- Valid government-issued identification cards such as driver's license, military ID, state ID, or passport.
- West Chester University Ram-E card.
- The Department of Public Safety reserves the right to deny access to any person if it is reasonably determined that such a person does not have valid identification and presents a threat to other residents' peace, safety, and welfare.
- Guests are permitted to stay overnight with prior consent from a roommate(s)/apartment-mates/ suitemate. Guests can stay in University housing for a period of two nights within seven days. The 7-day period begins when a guest stays overnight. A resident student may not have a long-term guest (squatter). A squatter is a person who occupies a residential space without payment of rent. The host will be responsible for repayment.
- Short-term guests (including families) are permitted to visit between the hours from 12:00 pm-12:00 am, with prior consent from a roommate(s)/apartment mates/ suitemate. Visitors under 18 (minors) are not permitted to stay overnight in any residential facility. Minors must be accompanied always by a parent or guardian or given express written permission by the Vice President of Student Affairs or designee to be a resident’s guest in the residential facility.
- An overnight guest is any person remaining in a room/suite/apartment where they do not reside between 12:00 am-12:00 pm.
- A guest who enters any residence hall will be required to sign in and be in the presence of the host always. When the guest leaves, the host needs to accompany the guest to sign out the building's guest. Failure to adhere to sign-in/sign-out policies will result in the loss of guest privileges. A guest may not be left in a room/suite/apartment/facility while the host attends class, work, or other activities.
- Violations of this Guest Policy will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.
- Residents are not permitted to sign in guests for other residents.
- Each residential unit has a maximum capacity. Residents are required to manage the unit occupancy limit with their roommates. Each resident is limited to two guests at a time not to exceed the maximum capacity for the unit. A double room (two residents) can have a maximum of four people, a triple unit can have 6 people and a unit occupied by 4 or more have a maximum capacity of 8.
- This guest policy applies to single, double, and triple occupancy units in all residential facilities including University Student Housing.
- The Resident is responsible for ensuring their guest follows all residential and University rules and regulations, including but not limited to: pets (except trained service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, or other pre-approved support animals), firearms, explosives, dangerous or hazardous substances, or illegal drugs.