Students who left their on-campus housing due to the coronavirus pandemic should have seen housing credits on their TouchNet accounts Monday.

If the students qualify for refunds, they will start to be issued this Thursday. Students who qualify are students who have stayed in housing and wouldn’t have an outstanding balance after the credits have been applied.

For a four person/two bedroom apartment or residence hall, the housing credit applied will be $945. Two person/one bedroom apartments will add up to $1,139. Two person/two bedroom apartment will be $1,688 and a one person/one bedroom apartment will be $2,117.

These are standard charges, but credit amounts could change depending on the student’s case.

Students who don’t receive their refunds by April 27 are encouraged to contact the Bursar’s Office.

There are 78 people still on campus as of last week, including students, area coordinators and their spouses or partners. Housing gave everyone a laminated ID card on a lanyard so they could easily be identified on campus. This is so Public Safety knows they’re allowed to be on campus.

“Some of our community neighbors are used to walking on campus with their dogs and all of that, and they’re not allowed to do that anymore,” said Amy Price, director of Housing and Residence Life. “Public Safety will stop them from doing that.”

The C-Store is still open and offering some of the summer menu items for those who still live in housing.

“We still have people doing rounds to ensure safety and security,” Price said.

Housing is still taking maintenance requests for students in housing as well. 

Price said she has been sending emails periodically to the people still on campus to give them updates.

There is no deadline to fill out a housing contract and the application process is still the same for next semester.

“Although our numbers are slower right now, because I think everyone is just not really sure what’s happening, I really do think it’s going to pick up once we know more about the fall,” Price said. “Nationally, all colleges are kind of in the same boat of not really knowing what’s happening.”

Housing extended the date to cancel 2020-21 housing contracts without penalty to July 1. Returning students who didn’t already choose a space and new students will have online room selection July 2-14. Then, roommate notification will be available on myUSI on July 15.

Price encourages students to reach out to anyone at the university if they are in need of assistance.

“Students need to reach out if they need help, to academic skills to their academic advisor, to their instructors, their faculty, all faculty and staff here,” Price said. “We’re all still working and we may be working from home, but everyone is here to support the students and what they need.”