Note

Information, policies and procedures contained on this page are subject to change pending new guidance and recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the state of California and Fresno County Public Health Department.

COVID-19

Information

for Residents

Home / COVID-19 Information for Residents

Incoming 2021-2022 Residents

Fresno State Student Housing is working closely with campus officials and the Fresno County Health Department to determine appropriate repopulation and COVID-19 protocols (including vaccinations) for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Room assignments will not be determined until July 2021. Campus is anticipating more in-person classes for the Fall 2021. Check your Fresno State portal/email for the most updated information.

Current 2020-2021 Residents

COVID-19 Testing

Per the Fresno County Department of Public Health and Fresno State, mandatory monthly COVID testing will be required for all Student Housing residents and employees. Free testing is provided by Fresno State and is available at the Save Mart Center on the below dates from 8am-4pm.
As a part of the testing, Valley Children’s Hospital Staff will administer a COVID-19 nasal swab test.

2021

– April 6 & 7

– May 4 & 5

See your Fresno State email for more information.

Building Modifications, Cleaning and Service

Our facilities team will clean common area spaces twice a day using EPA-registered disinfectants.

  1. High touch areas such as doors, furniture, and handrails are cleaned twice daily.
  2. Residents are responsible for cleaning their own suite.
  3. Appropriate cleaning protocols are in place to respond to a positive COVID-19 case.

Student Housing completed significant modifications to the residential communities and services including, but not limited to:

  1. Installation of protective screens at front desks.
  2. Signage throughout the residential communities to encourage and ensure physical distancing.
  3. Closure and occupancy limits in common areas.
  4. Hand sanitation dispensers in the Atrium.
  5. Sanitizing and disinfecting stations in communal areas.
  6. Cleaning of communal areas occurring multiple times each day.
  7. Updated the Health & Safety Inspection and Service Request protocol to ensure physical distancing and proper sanitation.

Dining

All Fresno State dining locations operate in accordance with Fresno County COVID-19 guidelines, in which has specific protocols to address unique physical distancing and cleaning/sanitation within the operation. The University Dining Hall is open to residents from: Monday – Friday: 7am – 8pm and Saturdays – Sundays: 10am – 8pm Physical Distancing Protocols

– Designated entrance and exit pathways to encourage physical distancing of at least six (6) feet. All locations have directional signage displayed for traffic flow.

– Residents are required to wear face coverings while inside all dining areas.

– Seating in the Dining Hall will be limited once state regulations are allowed.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols

– High traffic areas and commonly used surfaces are sanitized multiple times per day.

Hands-free hand sanitation stations are located in the University Dining Hall.

Isolation and Quarantine Procedures

– When the University becomes aware of a student with COVID-like symptoms or a positive COVID-19 case, an assessment and response team is activated to ensure the sick student is isolated and, as appropriate, close contacts are quarantined.

– Several suite buildings have been designated as isolation spaces for confirmed cases, in a single room configuration.

– Dining Services has a food-delivery program in place for isolated students.

– Isolation kits will be available for sick residents containing paper towels, disinfectant/cleaning spray bottle/wipes, hand sanitizer, and more.

– All members of the community will be asked to follow isolation and quarantine guidelines defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Housing and Residential Life Events

General

– Residential programs and services will be revised to support no-contact delivery or appropriate physical distancing guidelines.

– Group gatherings, events, and programs will be limited per current Fresno State and state restrictions.

– Virtual programs will be implemented.

Masks

Residents must wear a face covering while on campus and in common areas in the residential communities such as hallways, stairways and restrooms. Face coverings do not need to be worn inside the individual suites or their bedrooms.

Guests

Guest policies are subject to change at any time to conform to public health and university guidelines. At this time, residents may not have guests or visitors in their residential spaces (including personal space and community spaces such as lounges, study rooms, and outdoor recreation areas), with the exception of assistance provided to the resident to move the resident into and out of the residential space.

Staff

We continue to enhance our student support services, facilities and program offerings. Our primary responsibility is to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all student residents. Students living on campus will have access to inclusive living communities and the kinds of learning opportunities that will support their holistic growth. The Residential Education team, including Resident Director, Resident Advisors, Public Safety Assistants and Front Desk Assistants will be available in the on-campus communities to support student success as well as safety.

Amenities

– Atrium Patio: The Atrium outdoor patio is open for residents to use, including game tables.

– Swimming Pool: Open, but is subject to change following state regulations. No more than 10 residents allowed at any given time.

– Sand Volleyball Court: Outdoor volleyball court is closed and may reopen if guidance allows.

– Atrium Computer Lab: Computers and Pay-for-Print is open for residents to use.

– Student Housing Fitness Center: Open (except on Sundays), but is subject to change following state regulations. No more than 3 residents allowed inside at any given time.

– Kitchen: Open 10am – 7pm. No more than 2 residents allowed at any given time.

Density

– All Spring 2021 residents that live in the suites will be charged a 3 bedroom suite double rate.

– With the reduction in density, we anticipate we will be able to accommodate up to 250 residents for Fall 2020 out of our 1,100 total bed spaces.

– We will also reduce the density of our residential population and potential exposure to others by not utilizing the three (3) traditional residence halls with common/shared restrooms. Instead, we will only offer suite-style living communities.

– In suite-style communities, residents have a shared bathroom and living area in their suite. In all cases, there will be no more than three (3) students to a restroom.

Testing is required for all Student Housing residents and it is available for residents through Fresno State at the Save Mart Center. Please contact Fresno State’s Health Center for COVID-19 testing resources at 559.278.2734. Students may also seek testing at any Fresno County testing site or through their provider.  

Beyond testing, there are a number of initial steps that we recommend students take prior to arrival in order to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This includes actions like reducing non-essential time out of their homes for the two week period prior to leaving for school, avoiding non-essential travel, using facial coverings, physically distancing, and monitoring their health and well-being. We will be sharing these recommendations with all students.

During the travel process, we recommend that students review and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control on minimizing the risk of COVID-19 during travel.

Consistent with requirements from the Fresno County Department of Public Health, students who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will be required to isolate. Close contacts will also need to quarantine.  The University has developed plans to­­­ respond to any cases of COVID-19 in our campus community, including isolation and quarantine protocols. This includes spaces that are set aside to support this function and close partnership with our local health agency.

The student will be released from isolation based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the length of the isolation period and directives from Fresno County Department of Public Health.  

If a student is isolated and wants to go home, the guidance would depend on the location of the student’s permanent address. The CDC requires self-isolation, therefore travel is not advised. However, if you live within driving distance and would be able to pick up your student, this would be acceptable as exposure would be limited. If a student has COVID-19 and is moved into the family home, the student would be required to isolate there and all household contacts would be required to quarantine.

Fresno State Housing staff and the Health Center staff will be in contact with residents who are placed in isolation to ensure the student is following isolation guidelines and also to meet the students’ needs for meals and supplies.

If your student does not want to continue living in university housing, they may submit a Petition for Cancellation. However, please be aware that the Student Housing License Agreement is a legally binding contract, and cancellation charges may be assessed.

Undergraduate students living on campus are required to select a meal plan as part of their license agreement. Meal plans are optional for graduate students. Having a meal plan allows the student to focus on all the intricacies of campus life without the burden of having to plan, shop, prepare and clean up after meals. See Dining info above.

Yes. Please contact Student Housing for more information.

There are many essential services of the University, including residential, research and service activities, which cannot be suspended nor can be done remotely, and the University would not close. Further, Fresno State allows for instruction to vary across in-person, hybrid, and virtual delivery, such that the institution can be responsive to any increase in cases in Fresno County or within our campus community. Fresno State is not planning to close based on a predetermined number of positive cases. Instead, services and courses that are in person may be moved to virtual learning depending upon guidance from CDC as well the Fresno County Department of Public Health.