Parents object to steps to leave dorms over coronavirus. UK alters some rules.
After parents complained, the University of Kentucky adjusted some move out requirements for its students.
The University of Kentucky informed students Wednesday night that they would have until March 27 to remove their belongings from residence halls. While students were on spring break, UK had announced Tuesday that the remainder of the semester’s classes would be online.
UK initially required that students return and be present as their belongings were moved out, but the university changed course Thursday.
Some parents complained that the requirement for students, particularly those living out of state, to come back flew in the face of recommendations to avoid travel and crowds during the COVID-19 outbreak. Some objected to the deadline for moving out.
“We made a decision . . . that we WILL NOT require the student to be present if the person coming to get their items has been authorized by the student and a waiver is signed,” UK spokesman Jay Blanton said Thursday night.
The university was creating an online form for students who would rather request that their belongings be moved to a storage facility by a third party, or taken by a family member or coach, Blanton said.
“These are tough issues,” Blanton said. “We are trying to do what is right for everyone.”
The university required students who are going to pick up their belongings make an appointment to do so. The appointments would spread out move out times and keep within Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines, according to UK..
“We developed a plan to space out move out over a nearly two-week period to give students and families time to move out, while also continuing their studies,” Blanton said. “If there are barriers to that for students and families, we will work with them.”
Some parents don’t see why students can’t leave their belongings at UK until what would have been the end of the semester when it could be safe to get them.
Patrick Enright, a Lafayette High School graduate who now lives in Illinois, was one of the parents who called the university to complain. He said his daughter is a freshman at UK and doesn’t want her things handled by a third party.
Enright said that if he were told the university was emptying dorm space for another use, he wouldn’t be so disappointed.
“We would totally understand if we were given a legitimate reason,” he said.
When asked about why items had to be removed by March 27, Blanton said it was in accordance with guidelines.
“We need to have the residence halls as empty as possible to comply with the guidance we are receiving from state and federal health officials,” Blanton said.
UK was one of several Kentucky universities that turned to online classes for the remainder of the semester.
“Large groups of people congregating together or living in close proximity to one another significantly increases the risk of contracting the virus,” Blanton said. “We have some students who will continue to live on campus, who can’t move at this time. We need to have enough space to keep them safe and healthy by practicing appropriate social distancing.”
UK and a student leader said previously the university would not allow some students to stay on campus. For instance, some students from other countries may be unable to immediately return home. But those students had to get UK approval.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 9:27 AM.
