EIU Media Relations

EIU expands student resident safety amidst coronavirus concerns

University to provide single-occupancy room residency throughout 2020-21 academic year at no additional cost

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University has announced that it will provide its incoming and returning students single-occupancy room residency throughout the duration of the 2020-21 academic year.

An email sent to current EIU students May 5 included the following updates and information:

“Alongside a world-class education, our students' well-being is our primary concern at Eastern Illinois University. The events of the past two months have forced all of us to make significant changes to our everyday lives, and to ensure we’re all doing our part to take care of those around us in these unique times. Many of those adjustments are likely to continue into the foreseeable future as the world continues to adapt and respond to COVID-19.

That’s why today, we want to share another significant step EIU is taking to support the well-being of our entire campus community. All continuing and incoming EIU students with housing and dining contracts will be provided single-occupancy rooms during the 2020-21 academic year at no additional cost.

Having a roommate has typically gone hand-in-hand with the residential university experience. However, these are not typical times. By offering this additional benefit to our on-campus residents, EIU intends to further ease the anxieties you and your family face as you return to campus this fall. It will also allow you to focus better on your studies in our friendly and supportive on-campus environment.

More detailed information on EIU’s 2020-21 single-room occupancy room guidelines will soon be available at https://www.eiu.edu/housing/roomoptions.php. Single-occupancy rooms will be subject to availability, but we anticipate having capacity for all continuing and new incoming students.

At EIU, we take everyone’s well-being very seriously. This and other wellness focused decisions will continue to be made as thoughtfully and responsibly as possible to protect our students, our employees, and our entire EIU community.”

A similar email was sent to prospective EIU students and parents.

EIU’s COVID-19 response has been ongoing and comprehensive as information and data around the virus and its impact have evolved. A summary of communications announcing EIU’s COVID-19 decisions are available and continue to be updated at https://www.eiu.edu/covid/emails.php.