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COVID-19 Residence FAQS

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Updated August 11, 2021

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

Can I Apply For Residence In The Fall?

We are accepting residence applications for both our Waterloo and Brantford campuses for the September 2021-April 2022 academic year.

As we plan for fall 2021, 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 in the fall.

In the event that physical-distancing requirements reduce our residence capacity for fall 2021, we will make any necessary adjustments during our residence room assignment process. This may impact our residence guarantee*.

The university will notify all applicants if changes are made to our service delivery model that impact the residence guarantee.

*While Laurier endeavours to honour its residence guarantee, the University will not be liable for any failure or delay in providing residential accommodation when such failure arises out of any cause or causes beyond its reasonable control.

How Can We Decide Whether To Live In Residence When There Are Still Many Unknowns?

Though it’s unclear what public health guidelines will be for the fall 2021 term, Laurier has begun making plans for a gradual, phased and safe return to in-person activities on our campuses for fall 2021 and winter 2022 terms.

Given that we anticipate some level of public health measures will still be in place in the fall, Laurier is  planning to offer a mixture of in-person and virtual courses and services. Read more about Laurier’s plans for the fall term.

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:

What Will Happen If Someone In Residence Has A Confirmed Or Presumed Case Of Covid-19?

The Department of Residence is putting together a strict quarantine procedure in line with public health requirements, which will be put in place if a student or staff member in residence has a confirmed or presumed case of COVID-19. This procedure will be communicated to you once you’ve moved in.

If There Is An Outbreak And Students In Residence Are Asked To Evacuate, What Should I Do If I Have Nowhere Else To Go?

The health and wellbeing of our community is our top priority and we are following the guidelines set out by public health authorities. We will only evacuate residence buildings if it’s necessary to do so. We would work one-on-one with students who need extra support to ensure everyone has a safe place to live.

What Will The Residence Capacity Be For the 2021/22 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.

What Safety Measures Are Being Implemented in Residence?

The Department of Residence is committed to the safety of all residents. As such there will be some modifications made to daily life inside the residence buildings. We anticipate being able to relax many of these as public health regulations ease in the Province of Ontario and within the two communities we operate our residence buildings -- Brant County and the Region of Waterloo.

  • When in public indoor spaces and outside of their assigned living space, students are required to wear a non-medical mask. Exceptions will only be made with medical documentation.
  • Students will be able to participate in in-person, indoor residence programming opportunities as approved by regional public health and in accordance with space capacities.
  • Outdoor residence programming opportunities will move forward following provincial and regional health guidelines.
  • Students are required to self-report COVID-19 symptoms and/or a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Self-reporting procedures will be communicated to you once you have moved in.
  • Students who become infected with COVID-19 (vaccinated or not), may still be required to self-isolate. The Department of Residence will have a strict quarantine procedure in place located in a separate designated residence building. This procedure will be communicated to you once you have moved in.

Students will be required to follow the rules put in place to ensure the health and safety of the community and to maintain their place in residence.

What Is the Guest Policy in Residence?

Your health and safety is of utmost importance to us. In order to provide a safe residence experience for everyone, we are continuing to adapt our operational procedures in accordance with the guidelines set by public health authorities. Our modified guest policy is outlined below. Please note that these measures will change as public health recommendations evolve.

  • Students are permitted to socialize indoors with members of their own residence building.
  • Students can host one guest at a time in their assigned living space, provided the guest is from the same residence building as them and that both parties are adhering to Public Health Guidelines (physical distancing, wearing a mask).
  • External guests to a building are not permitted. This includes students from other residence buildings and/or non-residence students. University staff are exempt and are required to adhere to strict screening processes and could include custodial, food services, residence, and support staff for students with documented accessibility needs.

What Kind Of Mask Is Acceptable To Use Outside Of My Residence Room?

Please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website for more information about non-medical masks or face coverings and how to use them. Medical masks, including surgical, medical procedure face masks and respirators (such as N95 masks), must be kept for health-care workers and others providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.

When Will I Find Out Which Residence I Will Live In for the Winter 2022 Term?

Applications received for the winter term will be processed on an ongoing basis.

  • Students attending the Brantford campus who applied for residence by November 8th have been emailed their room assignment information.
  • The winter term admissions process is still underway for the Waterloo campus, and it is anticipated that students will receive their room assignments by Friday November 12th.

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

Vaccinations in Residence

 The University requires all students, staff and faculty to be fully vaccinated to attend campus. This means that all students living in residence must meet the requirements of the university’s mandatory vaccination policy. This decision reflects Laurier’s continued efforts to focus on the health and safety of the university community amid the ongoing risks of COVID-19. More information is available through Vaccinations Requirement FAQs.

When Is Residence Move-in Scheduled?

Students who are moving into residence for the winter term are able to pick up their keys on Monday January 3, 2022.

Detailed instructions and key pick-up locations will be included in your room assignment letter.

I’m No Longer Interested In Living In Residence. How Can I Withdraw/Cancel My Application?

For the 2021/22 school year, the residence cancellation deadline is June 30, 2021 to be eligible to receive a refund of the $600 residence deposit.

For students applying for residence for the winter 2022 term, the residence cancellation deadline is November 12, 2021.

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 Laurier student ID.

For the 2021/22 academic year, if you cancel your residence application after June 30 at 11:59 p.m., you will not receive a refund of the $600 residence deposit that you paid when you applied for residence.

For the winter 2022 term, if you cancel your residence application after November 12th, you will be charged the $600 residence deposit that had been initially waived during the application process.