Student housing makes adjustments for fall

In response to a BYU-Idaho notice released July 7 for how Fall Semester 2020 registration will proceed among COVID-19, housing complexes have altered their contracts to accommodate students.

A statement released by American Avenue apartments told students of its updated contract opt-out system.

“If the University announces after July 12 that all on-campus classes are canceled, students will be given a 5-day period to transfer their contract to a winter or spring semester with no penalty,” According to American Avenue management.

Some housing complexes prepared for fall semester since March. Michelle Neser, a freshman studying communication and manager of Windsor Manor, has been cleaning and sanitizing all common surfaces for months during the pandemic.

“I have 344 beds in Windsor Manor and as of right now 343 are full,” Neser said. “All day of the announcement I was getting emails and calls of students canceling their contracts and students wondering if I have beds available.”

With a full complex, Neser and the Windsor Manor owners have made new protocols to keep tenants safe including asking students to wear masks in all hallways and common areas.

“I have tenants coming from all different states and all different countries,” Neser said. “Each one of these places has a different severity of COVID-19 cases. We want to look out for the safety of all the students.”

Neser has spent the past month getting the opinion of her current tenants and said the overall feeling from students is they want to be back in the classroom this fall and living in Rexburg.

Other apartment complexes, such as The Gates, have followed CDC guidelines of social distancing and wearing masks but will keep the same amount of open beds per apartment coming this fall.

“We are taking advice from BYU-Idaho to follow the CDC guidelines,” said Nathaniel, manager of The Gates at Rexburg.“All of our beds will be available this coming fall.”

Many married housing complexes have not seen much change during the pandemic. Apartments like Providence Square made amenities unavailable during the statewide stay at home order, but have since reopened them, according to resident Kerri Anderson, a senior studying psychology.