University of Missouri begins a COVID-altered move-in week

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

University of Missouri students return to campus for the first move-in day on Wednesday amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

One parent told ABC 17 News on Wednesday that he felt comfortable with his child returning to the Columbia campus with the precautions in place.

The university’s Residential Life is trying to keep students' first college experience fun while being safe.

MU is taking the following steps during move-in:

• Adding extra move-in times and dates to reduce group sizes
• Limiting the number of families and friends gathering at a time
• Limiting a student to only two move-in helpers
• Limiting that student and their two helpers in an elevator at a time
• Move-in checks in will be done in the students dorm or apartment

Kevin Sullivan, a parent who was moving his child to MU, said this year has actually gone more smoothly than years past.

Sullivan said the staggered move-in times help and that MU did a great job in communicating expectations beforehand.

Extra cleaning will be done during the week as MU plans to continue following CDC recommendations by wiping off frequently touched areas such as doorknobs, light switches, handrails and tables. 

In a news conference, Tyler Page, Director of residential life at the University stated that the school has an isolation quarantine policy ready to be implemented if and when a student tests positive.

Page went on to add that all staff have been trained, and are ready to enforce all new policies and restrictions on campus.

In the same conference, Bill Stackman, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs stated that the school is following all CDC, and school guidelines.

The university also is limiting the number of carts to help with all the heavy lifting and moving and each cart will be cleaned between uses. 

Move-in week starts Wednesday continues through Aug. 19.

Sullivan said he isn't too concerned about COVID-19 and he believes MU has done everything they can to ensure students' safety.

The university said it will require students, staff and faculty to wear masks during classes.  

Sullivan said he trusts his daughter to use common sense judgment on when to wear her mask.

Social distancing and current health protocols will still be encouraged throughout the campus. 

University of Missouri Chancellor Mun Choi said in a news conference Tuesday that the university is expecting to see higher enrollment than last spring.