Housing

Due to the spike in COVID-19 transmission and infection rates across the country, the residential portion of the spring trimester will begin in a gradual process with students moving in in phases during the weeks of Jan. 18 and 25. Classes will begin remotely on time on Tuesday, Jan. 19, but there will be a gradual move-in process for residential students along with a delay to the start of in-person instruction and access to campus for non-residential students.

Move-in dates and times are as follows:

• Wednesday, January 20, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

• Friday, January 22, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

• Sunday, January 24, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

• Tuesday, January 26, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

• Thursday, January 28, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Students should not miss class and should select a move-in date that does not conflict with their academic course schedule. To select a preferred move-in date, students can log into the Housing Portal and select the Spring 2021 Move-In module.

The new gradual move-in process does not at this time include an adjustment to the already altered spring 2021 room, board and fees, as the new move-in dates are not significantly delayed. In addition, as in the fall, no additional fees have been charged to students to cover added expenses related to COVID-19 risk reduction including on-boarding and weekly screening tests of all on-campus students. These important measures in maintaining a safe campus environment, as well as support for students moving to quarantine and isolation housing, continue to be offered at no charge.

If you were originally planning to live on campus for the fall 2020 trimester and had a housing assignment but are not a current resident in housing, you may apply for the housing waitlist. To gain a better understanding of what the demands on the housing system will be in the spring, the Residential Center will open a housing waitlist application from Tuesday, Nov. 10 to Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 4:00 p.m. EST. Students living off campus who would like to return to housing for the spring trimester must fill out the housing waitlist application, which can be found by logging into your Housing Portal, selecting Forms & Applications at the top of the page, then selecting Housing Waitlist Application. At the close of the housing waitlist application period, a review of overall campus occupancy for the spring trimester will take place. Bentley continues to review the evolving public health guidelines and will make any necessary adjustments to the housing system as needed. We cannot guarantee that housing will be available to students not currently assigned to a residence hall. Please know that, if at all possible and within the parameters that public health guidelines dictate, every effort will be made to accommodate your requests. Students will receive a response to their applications on a rolling basis beginning in December/January.

As with the start to the fall trimester, students will be required to be tested immediately upon arrival to campus when moving in. Students will be assigned a time for an onboarding test as part of their scheduled move-in and will be notified in advance of their appointment time. 

Pre-arrival testing will be required for the spring 2021 trimester. Review the options available for students here.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days prior to your move-in date, you will be excused from the Bentley screening testing program for 90 days from your positive test date. This is because anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 may continue to test positive for 90 days. In order to qualify for the screening test excusal, please upload your positive COVID-19 PCR test result to the health portal (including name, date of birth, test date and result). If your positive test was done while on campus with the Bentley screening test program, your result has been noted and you are automatically excused from screening for 90 days from your positive test date. If you test positive at any time during the semester, you will be required to isolate per public health guidance if you are unable to show documentation of a prior infection within the last 90 days.

If you do not wish to return for the spring trimester and instead plan to commute or take classes remotely, you may request to cancel your housing contract by completing the Contract Release Form. You can find this form by logging into the Housing Portal, selecting Forms & Applications at the top of the page and then selecting the Contract Release Form.

If you complete the Contract Release Form for the Spring 2021 trimester by Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 4:00 p.m. you will NOT be charged the regular $500.00 cancelation fee. Forms submitted after that date and time will be reviewed by a committee and the cancelation fee may be assessed.

Students in quarantine/isolation housing must coordinate the delivery of essential items with the university. Due to public health guidelines, third party delivery services are not allowed during the quarantine/isolation period. Meals and snacks can be ordered through the Sodexo ordering form and will be delivered directly to students.

If a friend or family member would like to drop off a get-well kit, the university will be able to make one delivery during the quarantine/isolation period. Guidelines for this delivery process include:

• The items must be non-perishable.
• The packaged delivery must be no larger than the size of one common carry-on luggage, typically 17x21x14. 
• The package can be dropped off at University Police with the student’s name and ID number labeled prominently.
• Deliveries will be made to students on Wednesdays and Sundays of every week between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

In these uncertain times, the possibility exists that a student will contract COVID-19 and have to leave their residence hall room for an isolation location. We encourage students to have a pre-packed isolation bag ready to go for 10-14 days for use while in isolation. Isolation is mandatory for a minimum of 10 days and quarantine (if you need to relocate) is for a minimum of 14 days.

Some suggested items for an isolation bag include: 

• Extra cell phone charger
• Laptop and charger
• A thermometer 
• Clothes to wear and change into during your isolation stay including sweatpants, pajamas, t-shirts, underwear, socks and slippers
• Medicine (cough drops, Tylenol, Mucinex, etc.)
• Body lotion, feminine hygiene, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, a hair brush and hair ties
• Prescription medication
• Multiple face coverings
• Books and other entertainment 

Download the What to Bring to Campus Guidelines

Students who spent any time outside Massachusetts in the 14 days prior to their return to campus are responsible for complying with the Massachusetts COVID-19 Travel Order. Pre-arrival testing may assist you in complying with the travel order; however, residential students who are required to be in travel quarantine must do so off campus.

Bentley Hotel Partnerships

It will be important that all members of the community follow campus guidelines to protect ourselves and one another. Residential students are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations and safety guidance adopted by the university. Guidelines for residential students include:  

• Wear a face covering when on campus, including within the residence halls whenever outside of your room, apartment or suite.

• Roommates / suitemates will be treated as a family unit, allowing more than one occupant per room where 6 feet of physical distancing is not required. If a roommate / suitemate develops COVID-19 symptoms or is confirmed positive, the student will be required to follow protocols established to isolate themselves. These protocols require that students participate in classes remotely for the isolation period and move out of their housing assignment to self-isolate, returning home if possible. For those unable to travel home, the university will provide on-campus isolation accommodations. All roommates / suitemates will be required to self-quarantine based on the family unit definition and follow recommendations by the university.

• Adhere to signs posted around campus. 

• Restrictions will be placed on visitors or guests inside of residence halls.

• No outside furniture will be allowed to be moved into the residence halls.

• Students are required to pack lightly for move-in and only bring essentials.

What to Bring to Campus

Cleaning schedule
The university will educate residential students about appropriate cleaning protocols within their assigned spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in residence halls. Basic cleaning and sanitation methods will be expected of all residents to maintain an appropriate cleanliness standard in their room, suite or apartment. Residents living in suites or apartments are required to clean their own space including restrooms.

Increased cleaning frequencies in all residence hall buildings are designed to meet or exceed the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The areas of focus include common areas, lounges, restrooms and study areas. Additionally, all high-touch surfaces such as door handles, hand rails, fixtures and sinks will be cleaned more often. To promote cleaning and sanitation, additional wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in all buildings.

Lounges
The capacity of lounges in residence halls has been reduced, and new occupancy signs will be posted in front of lounge spaces. Students are required to follow the new capacity numbers.

Traffic Patterns
Residence halls will have signs indicating which doors are to be used for entry and exit. New hallway and stairwell directions have also been added.

All international students will have the choice to attend classes online (from abroad) or study on campus in the U.S. (via hybrid, online or in-person instruction). We understand that many students may have visa and other travel-related challenges that make returning to campus difficult for the fall. Students may opt to study online in the fall from outside the U.S. We will assist you with your immigration status as necessary for your individual situation. We are continuing to issue I-20s for the fall 2020 trimester so that you may plan to join us on campus for classes, which would activate your F1 status. However, if you are unable to secure a student visa in time to begin the fall trimester in the U.S., you can register and begin classes remotely and make arrangements to obtain new immigration documentation that will enable to you to begin your F1 status the following trimester.

The Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) will work with new and continuing students about your fall plans. 

Some students may wonder whether they will need to quarantine after arriving in the U.S. Please visit the Bentley Health Center's Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for health-specific questions. If needed, Bentley is prepared to provide space for residential students to quarantine on campus.

Please make sure to check your Bentley email for information about how to report your plans to us. Additionally, CISS will send information about how fall plans may affect your visa status and work authorization as we learn more in the coming weeks. As always, we are available to answer questions related to your immigration status via email GA_CISS@bentley.edu.

More information for international students can be found on the CISS web page in the section, "Returning to Campus - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions."

Watch the CISS International Students Webinar