Housing and Residence Life moving forward

More than 600 student residents are expected to check out of UTRGV housing, a university official said Tuesday.

The exit follows a March 17 letter from University of Texas System Chancellor James Milliken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that “living in campus residence halls will be limited to students who do not have a suitable alternative.” 

About 160 of the 800 student residents are expected to stay on campus, said Sergio Martinez, director of Residence Life.

“We wanted to make sure that students felt safe and the university leadership felt it best that we ask students to go home by Tuesday, March 31,” Martinez said. “However, if they did need to stay for the remainder of the spring term, they could apply using an exemption process that we established.”

Exceptions include students who do not have other housing options, according to the UTRGV Housing and Residence Life Facebook page. Including students who are

–from another country (international students);

–students who live in an area that is compromised;

–unable to travel due to self-isolation;

–in the foster care system; and,

–primary residence is on campus.

   Asked if students who move out will be refunded, Martinez replied, “So, we want to have a billing adjustment for their housing charges posted to their student account. What we plan to do is prorate their room and board charges as of an established date … which in this case will be March the 17th. Once we make the adjustments, we’ll post it on their student account, and they can view that adjustment.”

The checkout process is the first step to request the unused portion of the student’s room and board refund, according to the UTRGV website.

“A Check-Out must occur to be eligible for a refund,” the website states. “Rest assured that due to these extenuating circumstances, the $1,000 early termination fee will not be assessed. Any charges relating to visible room damages will be offset against your $100 security deposit and refund.”

As reported on March 19 by The Rider, Chancellor Milliken sent a letter to the presidents of the eight UT institutions on March 17 stating, “Students who have paid for residence halls, dining plans, and other specific, related campus services they cannot use will be reimbursed or credited for unused portions.”

To fall in with the date of the letter from Milliken, room and meal plan charges will be incurred through March 17, according to the website.

“Dining Dollars will be based on actual amount spent. Any room and meal plan charge adjustments will be posted to your student account,” the website states. “If you have a credit balance after the charge adjustments, a refund will be processed in accordance with university fiscal policies.”

Martinez said the role of Housing and Residence Life is to educate students and that has always been the case.

“That doesn’t change now,” he said. “If anything, more than ever, we need to operate under facts, right, and how [COVID-19] transmits. So, we need to listen to the professionals in this case, and apply the best practices that they’re saying: you know, keep isolated, stay at home and when you go out, if you have to, wash your hands and follow those guidelines. And I think those that are remaining on campus will be OK.”

For more information about the checkout process, visit: https://www.utrgv.edu/housing/en-us/resources/covid19/housing%20covid-faq/index.htm.