One hundred University residents in Barton-Lundgren Halls have been asked to relocate to another residence hall by Sept. 13 in order to open up two full halls for additional COVID-19 response, should it be needed, according to Chelsea Hamilton, senior assistant director for communications and marketing at the University, through WPGU News.

For their cooperation, Barton-Lundgren residents have the ability to choose a new room in the residence hall of their choice and will receive a single room at the cost of the double Barton-Lundgren room. 

“This year, we have experienced lower than normal occupancy numbers, especially in Barton-Lundgren. Couple that, with on-campus COVID cases rising, and we felt that is was important to act proactively, and consolidate Barton-Lundgren residents into our other residence halls,” Hamilton told WPGU News in an email. 

Barton-Lundgren can house 236 students at maximum capacity. For a freshman at the University, the cost of living in a Barton-Lundgren double room with a 10 meal, 45 credit plan is $11,898 for the academic year, one of the lowest rates on campus.

COVID-19 cases have surged on campus since move-in, with over 1,000 new cases identified through saliva tests since classes began on Aug. 24.

Nearly 450 University Housing rooms have been reserved for students to quarantine or isolate for COVID-19. Around 800 students are quarantining for confirmed or potential exposure to the coronavirus on and off campus, University officials said Wednesday.

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