Today, March 19, Governor Wolf issued an order that all “non-life-sustaining” businesses in Pennsylvania must close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. Thursday to slow the spread of coronavirus. This order indicates specifically that institutions of higher education are not exempt.

We are writing to reassure all members of the Arcadia community, especially the students we have remaining in campus residences, that we are allowed to maintain essential services and residential operations (including Oak Summit and other Residence Halls).

We have 75 undergraduate students residing on campus and 25 graduate students on lease agreements. There are also several live-in professional staff on site.  

Access to the main campus is strictly limited to essential personnel who have been designated and informed by leadership. These individuals have received pertinent information and security credentials with swipe access into buildings and offices. Any faculty or staff who have concerns about retrieving materials they might need from their office should contact their supervisor. All non-essential personnel are not permitted on campus. 

With public health officials recommending that people limit travel, we are planning for residence hall move-outs to occur once these restrictions are lifted, and anticipate the move-out process to occur from mid-April into the first week of May. More details will be sent about scheduling time to move your belongings out of your room—email housing@arcadia.edu with any questions or concerns.

We understand that rapid developments can cause anxiety or lead to uncertainty about what to do. The University will continue to send updates as information becomes available to help reduce stress or uncertainty, as the health and safety of our community remain our number one priority.