COVID-19 FAQs for University Housing
All first-year students and returning upper-class students with housing assignments for any portion of the 2020-21 academic year are expected to read this FAQ site in its entirety.
Below are answers to frequently asked questions regarding Housing Services at CMU during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you can't find the information you are looking for here, please email Housing Services.
Information for Fall 2020 Residents
If your winter break plans have changed, please email Housing Services.
Move-Out for Fall Residents Winter Break Housing Spring Housing Concerns for Fall 2020 Residents Fall 2020 Move-Out Update Message, 11-19-2020 Self Check-out Form
Move-Out for Fall Residents
All residential buildings close on Tuesday, December 22, at 12 pm. All students must move-out of their room prior to traveling for Thanksgiving break or by December 22 at noon. The only exception will be those approved for a Fall Extension or Winter Break Housing. The deadline to submit a winter break housing request has passed. If you have extenuating circumstances that necessitate a late request, please email Housing Services.
What is the move-out deadline for Fall residential students who elect to remain in Pittsburgh through the Thanksgiving break and beyond?
Fall semester move-out must be completed by December 22, 2020, at noon. Housing staff will inspect all spaces to confirm that move-out has been completed.
Can I request an extension to the Fall move-out deadline?
You can request an extended stay through 12 noon on December 27, 2020, by completing the Winter Break housing application by no later than December 12, 2020. This application will be available in mid-November. You must still complete the Housing Portal form and select the option that you intend to apply for Winter Break housing. If you need housing beyond December 27, 2020, you will need to apply for full winter break housing.
What do I need to do when I leave for the semester?
To prepare for check-out, all residents must:
- Complete your move-out date sign up process specific to your building as communicated by your Housefellow or CA.
- Clean bedroom and the living room/kitchen/bathroom in the suites/apartments. Remember to empty refrigerator, wipe counters and clean the oven. Leaving the room and/or common areas dirty may result in a cleaning charge.
- Return and reassemble all furnishings to their proper locations, including bunk beds. Missing room furniture will be charged to the occupants of the space. The furniture must be in move-in condition.
- Remove all personal belongings before leaving your room as CMU is not liable for your personal belongings. Check dressers, closets and desks to ensure items are removed. Items left in rooms will be discarded at the resident’s expense. The only exception will be full year approved residents who are staying in the same room.
- Remove all garbage from your room to the dumpsters outside. Large items/excess trash left in the room will result in a charge.
- Turn on the heat and leave it on.
- Turn off all lights and faucets, and lock your room door.
- Complete the self-checkout form in the Housing Portal and return keys if you live in Webster, Shady Oak or Fairfax.
Do I need to check out?
All residents must complete the self-checkout form in the Housing Portal when they depart campus for the semester. By submitting this form residents confirm that they have completed all the required checkout steps.
UPDATED: Can I have assistance while moving out?
In light of the PA state health department (relating to quarantine and testing for out-of-state visitors) and the Allegheny county health department (which has issued a county-wide “stay-at-home” advisory), parents and/or family members should be present on campus ONLY for the purpose of “curbside loading” of belongings into a vehicle, and should not enter a residence hall or any other campus building. As a reminder, everyone is expected to wear a facial covering during curbside loading as well. Residential students who need assistance to make alternative plans for their move-out given this emerging guidance should contact their Housefellow for assistance.
While we had initially announced that we would allow up to two family members into the residence hall to assist a student with their move-out process, we can no longer allow this due to the reasons above.
Will red moving carts be available?
Yes, moving carts will be available from your CA, RA or the RA on call. It is recommended to connect with your RA in advance to set up a time. Supplies will be available to sanitize the cart before and after use. Please remember that you are responsible for the cart while it is assigned to you.
Where should I park while moving out?
Free parking is available in campus parking lots and in the East Campus garage on weekdays after 5 pm and all day on weekends. At all other times, please do not leave your vehicle unattended while parking in a campus lot. City of Pittsburgh metered parking is available at the posted meter rate.
For Fairfax, Webster and Shady Oak residents: What do I do with my key when I leave for the fall semester?
When leaving campus for the fall semester, all residents of Fairfax, Webster and Shady Oak must return their key and fob (and laundry card for Webster) in a completed checkout envelope to The Residence on Fifth Key Return drop box at 4700 Fifth Ave. Key return envelopes are located by the key return drop box. Failure to return keys will result in up to a $125.00 charge to your student account. A lost Webster laundry will also result in a $25 charge to your student account.
Will university storage be available for Fall residents?
Fall residents who have short- or long-term storage needs will need to utilize one of the many self-storage companies in Pittsburgh. Below is a listing of some of the closest options. Please note that the university does not endorse nor vet such vendors, but we offer this information to assist students and families looking for local resources.
- Dorm Room Movers – Full service storage company; costs includes boxes, professional movers to pick up you boxes at an on-campus location, storage, and delivery to campus when you return.
- Compass Self-Storage- Offers climate-controlled storage in small and medium lockers and has moving trucks available for rent.
- Guardian Storage - Self-storage units and lockers available in Bloomfield and Shadyside.
- STORExpress- Self-storage units and lockers with climate controlled options and free moving truck rental.
- Beyond Self Storage - Climate-controlled storage units located in Robinson Township, Ross Township, and Mt. Lebanon
On-campus storage is not available.
Can I have guests help me when I move out?
UPDATE, 11-19-20 1:30 p.m. ET - Per the updates sent to residents on 11-19-20 regarding the changes in guidance from both the PA State Health Department and Allegheny County Health Department, move-out assistants are no longer permitted. Per that message:
"In light of the state order and the county advisory, we do unfortunately need to make one immediate change to our move-out process. While we had initially announced that we would allow up to two family members into the residence hall to assist a student with their move-out process, we can no longer allow this. Parents or family members should be present on campus only for the purpose of 'curbside loading' of belongings into a vehicle, and should not enter a residence hall or any other campus building. As a reminder, everyone is expected to wear a facial covering during curbside loading as well. Thank you for abiding by these restrictions to protect the health and safety of our residential students and staff. We are committed to upholding the state’s recent order and do not want to put families in the awkward position of being redirected by staff to their vehicles during the move-out process. Residential students who need assistance to make alternative plans for their move-out given this emerging guidance should contact their Housefellow for assistance."
Winter Break Housing
Is university housing available during the winter break?
Winter break housing is available to any Fall semester residents who need university housing for a portion of the winter break that begins on December 22, 2020.
How do I apply for winter break housing?
If you think you will need winter break housing, please list your intent through the Housing Services portal by 12 noon on October 19, 2021. A member of the Housing and Residential Education team will contact you to discuss your circumstances and confirm your housing needs. If approved, you will be provided with more information about submitting your Winter Break housing application at a later date.
When is winter break housing available?
Winter break housing for Fall residents is available for residents with a confirmed need from December 22, 2020, at noon through January 16, 2021, at noon. Winter break housing beyond January 16 will not be permitted given the need to clean and reset the rooms/apartments for Spring semester. Students living in winter break housing who have a Spring assignment will be able to move directly into that assignment upon move-out from their winter break housing.
Which residence halls will winter break housing be offered in?
Currently, we expect to utilize vacant apartments in Webster and Shirley for students who need winter break housing. All other residence halls will be closed at the end of the move-out period.
In July, I was granted a full-year housing offer based on my personal circumstances. If I need to be here for winter break, will I need to move all of my belongings?
It is our hope and expectation that all residents pre-approved for full-year housing will be assigned to the same room as their Fall assignment for the Spring semester. However, all Winter Break residents will need to move to a Winter Break building - Shirley or Webster Apartments - for the duration of the break. Full-year residents will be permitted to leave belongings in their room over Winter Break, however, residents will need to take all essential belongings with them to their Winter Break assignment as Winter Break residents will not have access to their fall room during the Winter Break period. More details will be available once Spring assignments have been announced during the week of November 9.
Will I be charged for living in winter break housing?
Winter break housing residents will be charged $500 for the entire winter break period. This charge will not be pro-rated on a per night basis. Students for whom this charge presents a financial hardship based on their personal circumstances are strongly encouraged to request assistance through the Tartan Emergency Support Fund.
Spring Housing Concerns for Fall Residential Students
I am a Fall residential student who would prefer to continue living in university housing in the Spring. Will the university have space for me to do so?
At present, given the current number of students with a spring housing offer, waitlist offers are very unlikely. For the Fall semester, we have been operating at 25% of our usual housing capacity. We will need to increase capacity to almost 50% in order to house everyone who has already been given a spring housing offer. Meeting that goal while operating consistent with our COVID-19 mitigation strategies will require the use of some hotel inventory, so we do not anticipate we will have expanded capacity for those who do not currently have a spring offer. If we are able to make any such offers, we expect to know by October 30, 2020.
What resources are available to assist me with securing off-campus housing in Pittsburgh for the Spring semester?
The following property management firms have available apartment rentals that are proximate to campus, in neighborhoods such as North Oakland, Shadyside and Bloomfield. Please note the university does not endorse nor vet specific firms, but we offer this information to assist students and families seeking off-campus housing at the present time.
JJ Land Company Apartments
412-363-1033
Email JJ Land Company Apartments
John C.R. Kelly Realty Inc.
412-683-7300
Email John C.R. Kelly Realty
Lobos Management Company
412-441-1400
Shadyside at Home Apartments
Unfurnished apartments for year-long rentals
412-682-2300
Email Shadyside at Home Apartments
Sterling Land Company
412-214-9935
Email Sterling Land Company
Union Real Estate
412-288-7800
Email Union Real Estate
2020-21 Housing Availability
How will housing work for the 2020-2021 academic year?
We are committed to offering you an opportunity to live on campus for one semester in the year ahead to provide an equitable approach to assigning our limited capacity. All first-year students, and all upper-class students with existing housing assignments, will be provided on-campus housing for only one of the upcoming two semesters, and only a very small number with special circumstances will be provided housing for both semesters. We know this is a disappointment for some students and families. We look forward to the day when we can offer our fulsome residential housing experience to all students. The extraordinary times of living through a pandemic call for our heightened and sincere commitment to your health and well-being, which we believe this approach promotes.
I am an international student who is not currently present in the United States. Will I be considered for housing?
We recognize international students who do not yet have a valid visa are likely to have difficulty entering the U.S. for study by the Fall semester given consular closures, travel bans, and limited flight availability. The Office of International Education is working closely with all international students and partnering with Housing Services so we can optimize the possibility of securing housing for at least one semester for our international students. For questions, please consult with your OIE advisor.