Healthy on the Hill: Housing
Updated February 2023
WKU Healthy on the Hill: Housing
WKU Housing & Residence Life is committed to creating a rich, robust out-of-classroom student experience where students learn about themselves and others, experience meaningful connections, and realize their peak potential. In doing so, we reinforce our primary goals of delivering quality, effective student services while caring deeply for students and investing in their personal and academic success.
For more information about the full WKU Healthy on the Hill Plan, visit wku.edu/healthyonthehill/
Any member of the WKU community who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to contact the WKU COVID-19 Response Team within 4 hours of receiving a positive test result.
COVID-19 Hotline: (270)745-2019, covid.help@wku.edu
WKU encourages everyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or receive a booster if you are 5-6 months past receiving your final dose of vaccine
Why Should I Be Vaccinated?
In addition to masking, social distancing, and good hygiene practices, vaccination against COVID-19 remains one of the most effective ways to prevent illness and stop the spread of the disease.
Vaccination provides multiple benefits to members of our WKU community:
-
Lessens the likelihood of getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill or dying
-
Lessens the likelihood of spreading the COVID-19 virus to others
-
Adds to the number of people in the community who are protected from getting COVID-19 which makes it harder for the disease to spread thus contributing to herd immunity
-
Prevents the COVID-19 virus from spreading and replicating, which allows it to mutate and possibly become more resistant to vaccines
-
Helps protect people around you, especially those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19
-
Being fully vaccinated (Including a booster, if eligible), and not experiencing symptoms,eliminates the need to quarantine if identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
All members of the WKU Community are asked to report or update vaccination status online at app.wku.edu/vaccine.
In accordance with the CDC’s revised masking guidance , WKU lifted its mask requirement on February 25, 2022.
All members of the WKU Community should continue to engage in any safety measures they feel best protect themselves, including wearing masks in all settings if they so choose. WKU’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety offers KN95 masks to all members of the WKU Community at no cost.
KN-95 masks for those who wish to wear them will continue to be available from Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) while supplies last. Masks may be picked up from the EH&S office located at the back of the South Chestnut Street parking lot Monday -Friday between 8:30am and 4:00pm. If you have questions regarding COVID-19 please call the WKU COVID Assistance Line at 270-745-2019. If your call goes to voicemail, please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message and someone will return your call.
Vaccination remains the most effective tool in our fight against the COVID-19 virus, and vaccines are readily available in our area, including at the WKU Health Services. And as always, individuals should stay home when sick.
Any member of the WKU community who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to contact the WKU COVID-19 Response Team within 4 hours of receiving a positive test result.
COVID-19 Hotline: (270)745-2019, covid.help@wku.edu
The traditional visitation policy is in effect.
All residents and guests are required to provide ID cards at the front desk at time of check-in. IDs are returned at the time of check-out.
WKU Residence Halls will follow our facilities vendor, WKU SODEXO's cleaning and disinfection protocols, which includes increased frequency of cleaning in common areas.
Updated February 2023
WKU Housing & Residence Life will no longer require students who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate or quarantine off campus or in a separate space on campus.
Residents and their families are encouraged to create plans for managing care and safety if you are exposed to or test positive for COVID-19. Options include isolating in your room or returning home. If you choose to isolate in your residence hall room, masking in public areas is still required. Additionally, roommates are encouraged to discuss how issues related to COVID-19, flu and other illnesses will be handled within their space.
WKU requires students testing positive for COVID-19 to contact the WKU COVID Assistance Line within four hours of receiving a positive test result. The requirement to isolate for 5 days and mask for an additional 5 days after completing isolation remains in effect. KN-95 masks for those who wish to wear them will continue to be available from Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) while supplies last. Masks may be picked up from the EH&S office located at the back of the South Chestnut Street parking lot Monday -Friday between 8:30am and 4:00pm. If you have questions regarding COVID-19 please call the WKU COVID Assistance Line at 270-745-2019. If your call goes to voicemail, please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message and someone will return your call.
Traditional residence hall safety checks continue.
Safety checks are to ensure the safety and sanitation conditions of each room. They are conducted by members of the hall staff and take place the first Wednesday of every month with the exception of January. These inspections take place between the hours of 10:00 am and 10:00 pm on the scheduled days. It is not necessary for you to be present during these checks.
All buildings are open at full capacity - two residents/room.
Student Responsibility in Mitigation of Disease
Upon signing theWKU Housing contract, residents agreed to the following terms and conditions:
- Student understands that they have a personal responsibility to protect themselves,
but also to their roommate, neighbor, classmates, faculty and staff and the greater
Bowling Green community with whom they may interact.
- Student agrees to adhere to social distancing efforts and follow all guidelines set
forth by the CDC, Kentucky government and WKU to help mitigate the spread of infectious
diseases.
- Student understands that if you have been identified by a healthcare professional
as a Person under Investigation (PUI) for COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with COVID-19,
you need to report this to WKU Emergency Management at (270) 745-2019 to initiate
the reporting process. You also agree that in this instance, you will follow all CDC
guidelines regarding isolation to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and/or communicable
diseases. To stay up-to-date on all WKU Covid-19 information, please visit wku.edu/covid19/faqs/#students.
- Students not following university guidelines for mitigation efforts and policy changes
due to the pandemic may lead to an immediate removal from housing at Western Kentucky
University.
- Any violation of Hilltopics for Residence Hall Living or the Code of Student Conduct, especially regarding health and safety, may lead to an immediate removal from housing at Western Kentucky University.
Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.