Truman State University students are asked not to return to the residence halls at this time unless no other living options are viable due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An email from the University President’s Office was sent out Thursday evening stating that arrangements have been made for students to move out of the residence halls between March 23-30.
President Sue Thomas wrote in the email that Student Government is working to purchase packing materials to make the move out process easier for students.
“How Truman responds to this situation … I really do think we can distinguish ourselves in this really chaotic, uncertain time if we keep focused on where we want to be when we come out the other side of this,” Thomas said.
The email stated that students will receive prorated credits for housing and meals. Specific information about the prorated credits to student accounts will be communicated at a later time.
Starting March 21, only takeout meals will be provided by Sodexo to ResLife residents. Meals will be restricted to those who reside in the residence halls and have meal plans.
The email stated all in-person student services, excluding the Student Health Center, are suspended for the rest of the semester. Thomas also wrote that all in-person student services that have been suspended will be offered in alternative delivery formats.
Thomas wrote that students with scholarship hour obligations will retain their full scholarship funding and will not be required to fulfill any more hours this semester. Students who have a federal work-study job will be compensated for the remainder of the semester based on the number of hours they were projected to work.
Meanwhile, students working for the University and receiving institutional pay who would like to continue their employment should contact their supervisors.
Thomas wrote that a decision regarding Commencement will be made by March 31. The email stated there will be no delay in the conferral of degrees even if the Commencement ceremony is postponed.
“At the end of the day, we are not closed,” Thomas said. “We are not ceasing operation. We are still doing the very best we can — providing the best education and experience we can for our students.”