COVID-19 Residence FAQS

Updated July 20, 2022

Details will continue to evolve and we will provide updates as information becomes available on wlu.ca/recovery.

Can I Apply For Residence for the 2022/23 Academic Year?

We are accepting residence applications for both our Waterloo and Brantford campuses for the 2022/23 academic year. (September 2022 - April 2023).

The university will continue to respond to provincial and federal directives related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residence buildings will remain open and operational, providing these plans meet whatever provincial regulations are in place.

What Will The Residence Capacity Be For the 2022/23 Academic Year?

Residence on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses will have full occupancy, including double occupancy dormitory-style rooms.

Students who are assigned to a double room in dormitory-style buildings should expect to have a roommate.

Should I Sign A Lease For Off-Campus Housing?

For those considering whether to sign a lease for private off-campus housing, this decision is up to each individual. For information about tenant rights, please visit the following resources:

• Off-campus housing resources available through the university’s student union.
• The university’s off-campus initiatives page.

When Will I Find Out Which Residence I Will Live In?

Your residence room assignment will be sent to your MyLaurier email address in late July.

Please check your MyLaurier email address frequently for updates from Residence and the campus community.

What Is the Guest Policy in Residence?

Residents have the privilege of hosting guests at their Laurier residence. Non-residents of any given room and/or apartment are considered guests. An overview of our Guest Policy can be found within Section 10 of the Residence Code of Conduct.

Note: For the 2022-2023 academic year, given the evolving situation related to COVID-19, the Department of Residence reserves the right to adjust the Guest Policy as needed based on guidance from Public Health and/or the Institution.

I Have or May Have COVID-19. What Happens Now?

Keeping our communities safe requires both personal responsibility and a collaborative effort from our residence communities.

These expectations are also outlined in the Residence Code of Conduct and the Residence Agreement.

Procedures for Students Living in Residence

As of August 31st, 2022, the Ontario Government announced changes to the isolation requirements for COVID-19. There is no longer a mandatory five-day isolation period for those who test positive for COVID-19 or those who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The updated isolation guidelines will apply to other respiratory illnesses, the flu and COVID-19.

Please follow this protocol if you are a Laurier student living in a Department of Residence-operated building and you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• If you have symptoms of any respiratory illness, stay home until symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours.
• If you have a fever, stay home until it's completely gone.
  If you have gastrointestinal symptoms, stay home until symptoms have improved for at least 48 hours.
• After isolating at home, wear a mask in public for 10 days since the onset of symptoms.
• If sick, avoid non-essential visits to vulnerable or older people for at least 10 days since the onset of symptoms, including visits to high-risk settings such as long-term care homes and hospitals.
• If you're in the same household* as someone who is sick or tested positive for COVID-19, mask in public spaces, even if you feel better, and avoid vulnerable individuals and settings for 10 days after exposure. Isolate immediately if you develop symptoms.

*If you live in a shared living environment, it is your responsibility to communicate these isolation requirements to all members of your ‘household’.

Protocol

Immediately email ResidenceCovid@wlu.ca to self-report. You will receive an automatic bounce-back message that includes all of the information you will need regarding necessary next steps. 

Please review the details from the provincial ‘Stop the Spread’ website to determine what necessary next steps apply to you, including steps you should take to notify any individuals who may have been exposed so they are able to take appropriate next steps to protect themselves and others.

Based on your personal situation, please ensure that you take the necessary steps to keep yourself and our community safe.

We appreciate your commitment to keeping our communities safe by diligently following the outlined isolation expectations.

I’m No Longer Interested In Living In Residence. How Can I Withdraw/Cancel My Application for the 2022/23 Academic Year?

For students applying for residence for the 2022/23 academic year, the residence cancellation deadline is June 1, 2022.

If you no longer wish to live in residence, you must submit an email to housing@wlu.ca by the stated deadline. Please include your first and last name as well as your nine-digit Laurier student ID number.

If you cancel your residence application after June 1, 2022, you will not be eligible to receive a refund of the $600 residence deposit that you paid.