Move-in day at USF a balance between safety and the the student experience

In many ways, move-in day at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus looked very similar to years past. Moms toting boxes of clothing. Dads carrying mini-fridges. Students squealing when spotting friends they hadn’t seen in months. 

But due to Covid-19, things are also very different for students returning to campus after nearly six months. Move-in times are scattered so there are no logjams of people waiting to use the elevators. Moms and dads are encouraged to help out, but not to linger. Students who would normally run up and hug one another are keeping their distance. And everyone’s wearing masks. 

“The tough, exciting, interesting part is that we’re doing something that we’ve done for years and we’re being challenged to do it safely while still providing the same experience for our students,” said Dr. Byron Green, associate director of housing and residence education at USF. “Students are looking to have those moments when they build community and make friends. How do we do that when we’re trying to be as socially distanced as possible?”

On Monday, Green was keeping an eye on first-day operations at Osprey Suites, USF’s brand-new, 125,000-square foot residence hall. The $33 million facility can house up to 375 students across five floors, but due to social distancing and a reduced number of students on campus, just over 170 students will move in. 

They’ll have plenty of places throughout Osprey Suites to practice social distancing while connecting with others in their community. There’s a communal kitchen, along with study lounges on each floor and rooms where students can get together to work on projects. A full-service dining facility will open in the spring semester.

For now, though, the main focus is balancing safety with the social needs of students.

“Our first-year students missed so much of their senior year,” Green said. “We don’t want them to miss out on other things, too, so we’re trying to make move-in as exciting as possible.”

In previous years, that meant a party atmosphere with music playing, free food and people all around. Now, it means group text messages and online conference calls. It means scavenger hunts designed to help students learn their way around their new home. It means resident assistants giving guided tours via TikTok videos. And while it may not be the experience incoming students imagined, Green feels confident they’ll be able to make the best of it.

“No other generation is as prepared for what we’re doing right now than this one,” he said. “They’re already engaging so much online and they’re prepared to make friends virtually.”

Alex Perez, a junior from Sarasota majoring in biology, is a pro at move-in day. She’s lived on campus all three years and while the process this year has gone smoothly, she has noticed a few key differences.

“Everyone’s definitely being more courteous on the elevator,” said Perez, who will have three roommates. “If there’s another family in there, you don’t even try to squeeze in. Before we’d always try to squeeze in as many people as possible.”

While there are drawbacks associated with safety precautions such as mask wearing, Perez, who has been home with her family since March, is thrilled to be back on campus and living in a brand-new place.

“I’m curious to see all the differences,” she said. “But I’m also really excited.”