Coronavirus Information

Room and Board Contract Addendum

This addendum is attached to and made a part of the Room and Board Contract for the 2022-2023 Academic Year.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this addendum and the provisions of the Room and Board Contract, the provisions of this addendum shall control.

Johns Hopkins University (“University” or “JHU”) aims to deliver a living and learning experience within University housing while protecting the health and safety of our students and minimizing the potential spread of disease within our community. As a resident within University housing, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”), or similar public health crisis, will impact a student’s housing experience as the University continues to make public health-informed decisions or responds to governmental orders.  As a result of living in University housing, residents are required to comply with the Student Conduct Code (“the Code”) and all University Policies and Procedures.  Residents who violate the Code or any University Policies and Procedures will be held accountable through the student disciplinary process set forth in the Code.  The University takes the health and safety of our students seriously. As a result, in addition to the requirement to comply with the Code and other University Policies and Procedures, students assigned to University housing must also follow any policies and procedures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) and the World Health Organization (“WHO”) in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and as set forth in University guidance and guidelines.  Additionally, all residents of University housing are expected to follow any and all Executive Orders from the State of Maryland or local governmental entities, or directives from JHU regarding public health guidelines.  Students are reminded that public health guidelines are subject to change, and students are responsible for adhering to the current guidelines.  A student’s failure to do so may put others at risk. Residential students who do not follow the guidelines and directives set forth in the housing contract, this addendum, and the Code may face consequences, including removal from University housing. Actions that put individuals and the community at risk will be met with serious outcomes.

COVID-19 and Public Health-Informed Policies

1. Health and Safety. The University expects all residents living in University housing to act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those around them, including respect and consideration for the health and safety of all community members. The University may request or require a resident to leave housing if their continued presence in the community poses a health or safety risk for community members or if their actions create a health or safety hazard within University housing. Residential students are required to comply with health and safety laws, governmental orders, ordinances, regulations and health and safety guidance adopted by the University as it relates to public health crises, including COVID-19. This guidance will continue to evolve as the public health concerns and considerations evolve and may include, but is not limited to, physical distancing, limitations on mass gatherings, wearing a face covering, daily monitoring of health for symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19 via any means required by the University (e.g., mobile app, webform, email, etc.), COVID-19 diagnostic and surveillance testing (including before or upon arrival to campus), attainment of a  COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots, seasonal flu vaccination once it becomes available, except in limited circumstances, contact investigation, disinfection protocols, limitations on guests into assigned residence halls, quarantine/ isolation requirements (including before or upon arrival to campus), any additional requirements included in the JHU Guidance which is incorporated herein by reference as though set out in full, and any other requirements which may be implemented by the University in the future.  Adherence to health and safety requirements applies to all residents and staff and extends to all aspects of housing, including bedrooms, bathrooms, community kitchens, lounges, computer rooms, and other common spaces.  Due to public health concerns, residents may not have full access to community kitchens, lounges, computer rooms and other common spaces, but may instead, be required to comply with University guidelines that limit use of these spaces.

2. Quarantine / Isolation / Separation. At any time, the University may request or require a resident to leave housing when that resident’s continued presence in the community poses a health or safety risk for community members. Residential students are required to comply with requests from Housing or Johns Hopkins University to leave their assigned space due to COVID-19 or other public health emergencies, and failure to do so is a violation of the housing contract and may subject a student to emergency removal from their assigned space. Additionally, students who test positive may be required to isolate in their own room/suite/apartment.   In those situations, students will be required to remain in their assigned room until medically cleared by medical personnel from Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC). They also may be required to wear a mask when sharing common living areas with other roommates/suitemates and/or practice other safety measures.  Students required to quarantine or isolate may only leave for medical appointments or emergency care.

3. COVID-19 Vaccinations. Residents must be compliant with the current JHU vaccination policy (as may be updated or amended as necessary) as of the first day of their summer program:

  • COVID-19 vaccination and either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID booster shot is required
  • International students who have received a vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization but not one authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, must have one booster dose (either Pfizer or Moderna).
  • Students in programs that offer medical or religious exceptions may apply for them as per existing JHU policy.

4. Testing and Contact Investigation. All residents must have a negative COVID test before starting their program/courses. The test should be conducted before arriving on campus and students who are COVID positive should notify the University SHWC and their instructor and not travel. Either a rapid antigen test (not more than 24 hours before arrival) or a PCR test (not more than 72 hours before arrival) is acceptable. Asymptomatic residents who are unvaccinated must test twice per week throughout their program. Generally, asymptomatic vaccinated residents will be exempt from regular surveillance testing. Residents may be required to take COVID tests during the program based on medical and local public health advice. Please note these requirements may change as public health guidance changes and residences will be notified of those changes. Current testing guidelines can be found on this website.  

All residents who believe that they have symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19 and/or learn that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 are required to contact the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Call Center (“JHCCC”) at 833-546-7546 to be evaluated and, if the JHCCC so directs, tested for COVID-19.  As noted above, residents must also comply with any rules and precautions to self-isolate and/or to self-quarantine should they receive a positive COVID-19 test result.  Residents must also follow any guidance from medical health professionals at the SHWC.

In the event a resident is tested for COVID-19 or any other communicable disease, the resident authorizes any of its medical providers, including the SHWC, to disclose the results of that test to JHU school officials, including personnel within Student Affairs, and other JHU affiliates, as needed, in order for appropriate steps to be taken to mitigate any risk to the resident or any other resident, student, staff, employee, or visitor of JHU.  The resident acknowledges that agreeing to these terms is voluntary and no medical treatment will be affected if the resident refuses to sign this Room and Board Contract.  To the extent the resident wishes to revoke his or her consent under this Room and Board Contract, the resident is required to notify Housing.  Such revocation may be grounds for JHU to terminate this Room and Board Contract.  The resident understands that once the results of the test have been disclosed, the test results may no longer be protected under federal and state health privacy laws and may be re-disclosed subject to any other federal or state confidentiality law.

5. De-Densifying Efforts. Residential students are required to comply with any de-densifying efforts needed on campus due to COVID-19 or other public health emergencies, including, but not limited to, the relocation of all or some residential students to alternative housing. Relocation does not constitute a termination of a residential student’s housing contract. In the event housing must relocate students as part of a de-densifying strategy due to public health concerns for an extended period of time and alternative housing is not available, JHU will offer impacted students fair and reasonable reimbursement as appropriate and based on information available at that time.

6. Dining Services. Due to health and safety guidance adopted by the University or Housing, or issued by governmental authorities, as described in Paragraph 1, Hopkins Dining reserves the right to modify where and how dining services are offered, limit the occupancy of dining halls, limit the amount of time students may utilize dining halls and/or make other operational adjustments needed to address health and safety concerns.

7. Cleaning. Housing will continue to implement and modify its cleaning protocols to address COVID-19 or other public health emergencies in the interest of minimizing the spread of disease. Housing will educate and inform residential students on appropriate cleaning protocols within their assigned spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within residence halls and residents will be expected to comply with additional cleaning protocols as required by the University.

8.  Additional Requirements for Roommates. While all students are expected to adhere to the rules and guidelines included in this addendum, students who request and are assigned a roommate are expected to take additional steps in order to maintain the health and safety of not only themselves, but their assigned roommate and other residents in their assigned residence hall.  (For purposes of this addendum, “roommate” includes individuals residing in the resident’s same suite or apartment.). Any student who has a roommate must communicate regularly with their roommate regarding issues that may impact the assigned living space, including any expectations regarding cleaning and use of shared spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchens, and use of common items, such as refrigerators and microwaves. The University strongly discourages sharing any personal care and hygiene items.  

9. Travel. Before planning any travel, please refer to the domestic travel guidance and international travel guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Also, check the COVID-19 situation at your destination before traveling, and follow public health guidance according to the CDC risk level. If you are traveling internationally, also become familiar with specific policies in your destination country and follow requirements for vaccines, testing, and quarantine, which can vary widely. Be careful about your activities and observe good health practices once your reach your destination, not just during travel to get there. Upon return, if you or anyone in your party has any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or other flu-like symptoms, please call the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Call Center at 443-287-8500 for guidance regarding classes/work.

10. Termination. Upon reasonable notice, JHU reserves the right to terminate housing contracts due to public health emergency needs, including COVID-19. In the event JHU terminates housing contracts due to public health concerns, JHU will offer fair and reasonable reimbursements for impacted students as appropriate and based on information available at that time.

Legal Information

Your Room and Board Contract is the basic document that states the contractual obligations between you and JHU Housing. This Addendum is legally binding and is incorporated by reference in the Room and Board Contract. You are equally responsible for complying with the rules, policies and regulations contained within the 2022 Summer Room and Board Contract and this COVID-19 and Public Health Policies and Procedures Room and Board Contract Addendum.