Isolation Information

We encourage you to pack within a couple of hours of learning that you need to move to isolation housing to avoid contact with others. For your comfort, we suggest you bring the following supplies for 5-10 days. You will not be able to return to your room, and we cannot deliver items to you.

Please pack:

• Sufficient clothes for up to 10 days (there are no laundry facilities in the apartment; see details below concerning a laundry service).
• Bedding is provided, but some students prefer to bring their own pillow, mattress topper, sheets, or blanket.
• Your personal preferred shampoo, bath and hand soap, towels, and other personal hygiene items.
• Basic items like toiletries, towels and washcloths will be provided but you might prefer to bring your own.
• Cell phone & charger.
• Computer & charger.
• Snacks/extra food.
• Fan.
• Medications (10-day supply).
• Anything else you will need to be comfortable for 10 days.

During your stay, please:

• No social gatherings or congregating in common areas.
• No guests in your housing unit.
• No underage drinking.
• Keep noise to a reasonable level - be considerate of your neighbors as you would in any Michigan Housing location.
• Remain in the community, except for medical care as necessary.
• Do not leave trash outside your door. Bring all trash to the dumpster in the parking lot.
• If you leave your room (to take trash to the dumpster or to take a walk outdoors, for example), wear a face covering and practice social distancing.
• A face covering must be worn anytime you leave the housing unit, including interior corridors/stairways.
• Maintain appropriate social distance from all others, including when you are in or pass by any common spaces.

Michigan Dining has partnered with Grubhub to offer meals for all students staying in Isolation Housing who have unlimited residential meal plans.

To learn more about the service check out the Michigan Dining website: https://dining.umich.edu/menus-locations/isolation-meal-service/

• This service is included at no additional charge if you have a Michigan Dining unlimited residential meal plan.
  • Each day of your stay in Isolation housing you will be allotted $45.00 to order meals through Grubhub.
  • Any charges incurred above and beyond $45.00 per day will be at the expense of the student and payment will be submitted via the Grubhub app or website.
  • Meals are delivered via Grubhub and delivery is complimentary.
• Students without an unlimited residential dining plan can take advantage of complimentary delivery via Grubhub throughout their stay in Isolation housing.
• If you have any questions please reach out to the Michigan Dining team via phone at (734) 763-8250 or email [email protected].
• Instructions on how to take advantage of this meal service can be found here.

DPSS will supply a parking permit for any student driving themselves when they meet the student to unlock their housing unit.

If you need laundry service, we have arranged for discounted pricing from Busybody Student Laundry for drop off service. Call (734) 665-2665 for the discount and to make arrangements.

For non-urgent repairs, please fill out a Fix-It Form. For urgent repairs, please fill out a Fix-It Form and contact the Isolation Coordination Center at (734) 936-2600. For an emergency after hours, call the Facilities Service Center at (734) 647-2059.

• If a student receives a positive test result (via clinician), they will likely need to relocate to isolation housing.
• If the clinician or case investigator determines that a student needs on-campus isolation housing, the clinician or case investigator will notify the Isolation Coordination Center who will then contact the student and provide information about isolation housing. 
• A representative from the Isolation Coordination Center will work with the student to share information about the location of their temporary housing and what to bring, transportation, meals, etc. 
• The representative from the Isolation Coordination Center will notify U-M Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) if the student needs transportation. The student will then call DPSS to coordinate a pick-up and transport to Northwood.
• If the student has their own transportation, they will call DPSS to schedule a time to meet with a Housing Security Officer to pick up their key.
• The Isolation Coordination Center will follow up with the student via phone or email.

When you are notified by your case manager that you may leave isolation housing, plan to check out between 8am - 8pm, as this is when check-out assistance is available:

• Remove any food (including items in the refrigerator) and trash and take to the dumpsters located in the parking lot.
• Leave all towels, blankets, linens, pillows, etc. in the room for housekeeping to clean.
• Remove all personal belongings. Check all rooms before you leave.
• Contact DPSS (734) 763-1131 to checkout. If you need transportation back to your residence, you can request it at this time, or take the university bus.
• Leave the key on the table.

Isolation housing units are thoroughly cleaned between occupants by using disinfectants approved by the CDC for killing COVID-19 to ensure there is no transmission of the disease. Linens are laundered by an outside vendor following CDC guidance, with a wrapped sanitized pack provided in each living space to the new student. Each new occupant is also provided with a new, un-opened shower curtain. 

To reduce the possibility of spreading COVID-19, no visitors (including family members) are permitted in isolation housing. You may briefly visit with others outside your apartment, maintaining social distance and wearing a face covering at all times.

Someone may drop off items for you, but the process should be brief and contactless. You must maintain at least 6 feet at all times and everyone must wear a face covering. Ideally items would be left outside for contactless pick-up.

If you begin to feel ill during your stay, call University Health Service at (734) 764-8320, day or night, to speak with a nurse. Before you go to a doctor’s office or the emergency room, call ahead and tell them about any symptoms and your isolation status.

Contact your EHS case investigator and if a test is needed, they will order one to be delivered to you.

Environmental Health and Safety will work with each student to determine the appropriate location for isolation needs given each student’s situation.

An assessment by the Washtenaw County Health Department, in collaboration with University Health Service and Environment, Health and Safety, will determine whether a student's apartment/home is adequate for isolation, based on specific criteria (e.g. bedroom and bathroom configuration, common areas, etc.)

In most cases, students will not be able to isolate in their on-campus residence hall. Some exceptions may be made for apartment-style Housing assignments.

If you decide to change your isolation location, you must communicate and obtain approval from your Environment Health & Safety (EHS) case manager (if you worked with EHS regarding isolation housing requirement) in advance of leaving the area and advise them of your new location of isolation.

If a student is able to travel home appropriately, they will be encouraged to isolate at their permanent residence, if possible. Isolation guidelines are available on the Health Response website.

Students may be required to isolate (as determined by part of a formal case investigation by the health department or designee) if they test positive.

Identify a friend or roommate who can bring the item to you, and arrange for contactless delivery.

The Dean of Students Office is providing academic and other personal support to all students identified for isolation. Someone from the Dean of Students Office will reach out to you after you have moved into isolation housing to provide support and assistance. You can also reach out to DOS directly [email protected] or (734) 764-7420.

Each student in isolation housing will either have a private bedroom or share with one other person. They may share a bathroom with one to 3 other persons. Some units have a shared corridor to get to the outside.