Fall Semester

• Currently first semester the first day of classes will be August 31
• Wildcat Days aimed at welcoming first year students will begin the evening of Thursday August 27.
• During the 3-day arrival time for first year students there will be community building activities planned by Residence Hall Staff. 
• We will maximize class time prior to the Thanksgiving holiday and, pending faculty senate approval, will cancel fall holidays (Mid semester break – October 12, Veteran’s Day – November 11, and Pre-Thanksgiving Day – November 25 will be used as instruction days.)
  
  • All residential buildings excluding UNH apartments (Gables and Woodside) will close Wednesday at 12 pm, November 25.  Students will not return to campus after Thanksgiving Break (pending Faculty Senate approval).
  • The last 10 days of classes and exams will be online (pending Faculty Senate approval).
• On-campus COVID-19 testing will be in place for students, faculty and staff prior to the start of classes, as well as regularly throughout the semester.
• There will be comprehensive tracing in partnership with the NH Department of Health and Human Services.
• Parents and students should monitor the UNH COVID-19 website for updates. 
• Parents who have activated a Parent Portal account will receive email communications from the Housing Department. Students start this process in their Webcat account by adding a parent portal user (www.unh.edu/parentportal).
• Students will receive a series of communications from Housing/Residential Life/UNH outlining what is expected of them when they arrive to ensure student safety.
• If a student has a pre-existing health condition they need to contact Health and Wellness to discuss whether or not they should live on campus.

On-Campus Living

Health and Safety

• Our goal is to identify and isolate infected individuals immediately if there is a positive test or presumptive COVID 19 decision by our Health and Wellness staff.
• All students are expected to follow the UNH public health guidelines—including wearing a mask, physical distancing and restrictions on large gatherings—to support the health and safety of the university. Students are expected to bring 3 cloth face masks or more.
• All students will have a COVID-19 test upon or prior to arriving to campus.
  
  • Students who test positive/or has a presumptive case of COVID-19, will need to return home immediately. On campus arrangements in a separate hall will be available if it is not possible to return to their permanent residence.
  • All students determined to be a close contact will need to self-isolate in the designated residence hall.
  • Two residence halls will be reserved for COVID-19 related spaces (Adams Tower West and Babcock Hall).
• UNH has worked with student senate to update the Student Rights, Rules and Responsibilities. Living and learning on campus is a privilege. Students who do not adhere to these guidelines will lose the privilege to live on campus.
• Students are required to wear a face covering in public spaces in the residence hall (hallways, lounges, laundry room, bathrooms).
  
  • If a medical condition prevents a student from wearing a face covering, we will work with medical professionals to identify a solution for their return to campus.
• Frequent handwashing and proper hygiene is encouraged to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• If a student has a fever or is concerned about a friend at night, they may contact UNH Campus Police at 603-862-1427 for guidance.
• The Town of Durham will adhere, where and when possible, to similar practices on distancing and masks.
• Contact tracing will be performed in collaboration with state health officials.

Facility Management

• Hand sanitizer will be available in every residential building.
• All rooms will be thoroughly disinfected prior to students moving in.
• There will be increased cleaning of public areas and high-touch surfaces during the year.
• Community bathrooms will be thoroughly cleaned twice a day, 7 days a week.
• All community kitchens will be closed, except for sink use.  
• Residence hall lounges will have capacity signage.

Social Interaction  

• Students are encouraged not to travel away from campus.
• All student and staff interaction will be done with physical distancing. Alternative practices will include virtual and outdoor gatherings and meetings.
• Physical distancing protocols are to be maintained in all campus activities inside and outside.
• We encourage students to spend time together outside as this is a safer environment.

Community Engagement

• Residential Life and Housing will develop virtual as well as small in-person ways to build community with physical distancing.
• All floors will create a community agreement about safety measures to take in their living environment.