All University of Michigan students living in University housing will be refunded $1,200 if they move out of their residence halls or apartments by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25.
An email to housing residents from Interim Vice President for Student Life Simone Himbeault Taylor Friday morning said the refund will be applied directly to each student’s account. The refund will first cover any outstanding charges, and the remaining amount will be issued through direct deposit in April.
“We know many of you already have left campus while others continue to consider your decision given your personal circumstances and the increasing reports of community spread of the virus in the Ann Arbor area,” Taylor wrote. “We write now to share details of a $1,200 refund being offered on your University Housing contract for the 2019-2020 academic year.”
Any student who has already officially checked out from their residence hall will automatically receive the refund and no further action is required, the email said. Students planning to move out of their residence hall before March 25 will still have full access to the building and their room until that time.
The email comes three days after students living in on-campus residence halls initially received a notice telling them they would be made to move out of their housing unless a legitimate reason was given for why they could not leave, a decision which left many students scrambling to make accommodations.
“We want to thank you again for your cooperation and patience as we work through the many details regarding your on-campus housing in this stressful and quickly changing time of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Taylor wrote in the email.
According to the email sent Friday, boxed meal services will continue at University dining halls, and students staying on campus will still have access to food from the Maize & Blue Cupboard for the remainder of the semester.
Taylor said the students who remain may need to move out of their current rooms.
“Students staying on campus will be provided with appropriate living arrangements following social distancing recommendations,” Taylor wrote. “For safety reasons, some students may need to leave their existing rooms, but will be living in single occupancy rooms.”
She noted that for those moving to new locations on campus, “assistance will be provided to minimize the impact.”
Daily News Editors Barbara Collins and Ben Rosenfeld can be reached at bcolli@umich.edu and bbrosenf@umich.edu.