American Campus Communities Creates Comprehensive Disinfection Protocols and Pledges Every Resident will Continue to Have a Home with COVID-19 Program
Challenge
For over 25 years, American Campus Communities (ACC) has been the nation’s leading student housing company with the mission of consistently providing every resident with an environment conducive to healthy living, personal growth, and academic achievement. This includes placing the health and wellbeing of residents and employees as a top priority.
Despite the dynamics of COVID-19, ACC remains an essential housing provider and takes a collaborative approach to best support residents mitigating the spread of the virus and to foster a sense of community in new ways.
Actions
American Campus Communities made a pledge, at the very beginning of the pandemic, that every resident would continue to have a home during this crisis regardless of their ability to pay rent on a timely basis. ACC developed the Resident Hardship Program to work on a case-by-case basis with residents and parents who have experienced a diminishment in income due to COVID-19. We’ve waived all late and online payments fees, ceased financial related evictions and have provided at least $31 million in rent relief to on and off-campus residents.
American Campus Communities collaborated with RB, the makers of Lysol, to set a new standard of cleanliness and disinfection at its student housing communities. “Be safe. Be smart. Do your part. with Lysol Protection,” is a first-of-its-kind resident responsibility and disinfection program and touchpoint analysis designed specifically for the higher education residential experience.
Outcomes
We’ve empowered our employees and over 139,300 residents to do their part to help protect other residents, staff members, friends, family, and members of the surrounding community. We require every resident to sign a COVID-19 personal responsibility acknowledgment for resident code of conduct. This includes a pledge to practice physical distancing, wear a face covering when required, and perform a Daily Wellness Self-checklist to identify any COVID-19 symptoms.
Contact
Gina Cowart
Quote
We made a pledge to residents during the spring semester that we would continue to act in good faith – working with students and families suffering financial hardship on a case-by-case basis so they would be able to complete their online instruction in an academically-oriented environment. On a daily basis, we strive to put the health, safety, and well-being of our residents and the ACC family first. This is our guiding principle as we continue to navigate the effects of COVID-19.