Editor’s Note: The following message was emailed to the campus by Chancellor Dr. Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry on Sept. 28.
Dear Campus Community,
As you are aware, our area has received an unusual amount of rain over the past several weeks and months. The resultant humidity and condensation have resulted in excessive moisture on the first and second floors of Cedar Hall. This moisture has resulted in mold developing in some isolated locations in student rooms. Students’ health and safety are a top priority of our college. Out of an abundance of caution, we will be temporarily relocating several students while contractors clean their rooms.
For the past several days we have been working closely with several organizations and offices both at the university and in our community to address this situation and to develop a plan for appropriately addressing and managing this matter. Those organizations, offices and groups include Environmental Health and Safety, Office of Physical Plant, Strategic Communications, Housing and Food Services, Health and Wellness, University Police and Safety, Student Affairs, and the Chancellor’s Office, among others.
The affected students were notified of this situation by email this morning and are being contacted individually by members of our Housing staff. The staff will work with each student to facilitate their temporary relocation, assist with their moving, and to secure their belongings while they are away. While the affected rooms are being cleaned, students are being offered accommodations at a local hotel. Cleaning will begin on or before Wednesday October 3 and should take a total of seventeen days. We anticipate that cleaning in most rooms will be completed within seven to ten days.
University personnel continue to conduct inspections in all of our buildings. Thus far, no additional weather-related water or moisture issues have been identified. The only residence hall to be affected is Cedar Hall, and the issue is limited to rooms on its first floor and portions of its second floor. Our university colleagues in Environmental Health and Safety have assured us that the other rooms in Cedar Hall remain safe to occupy.
We anticipate that the moves will go smoothly and will not be disruptive to students’ ability to attend classes. We will be communicating and working with students to arrange the timing of their moving to their temporary housing assignment so that it will have a minimal impact, if any, on their classes. Students have been encouraged to notify and work with their faculty in the event that their relocation causes any special challenge that may preclude their attendance.
If you have any questions, please visit altoona.psu.edu/cedar or call our Director of Housing and Food Services, Erin McConnell, at 949-5400.
Editor’s Note: Built in 1997, Cedar Hall houses 320 students, includes living space for professional residence life staff, office space, and a guest staff/faculty apartment. The rooms in each hall are furnished with two single beds, two desks, two dressers, closet space, a small microwave/refrigerator/freezer, and TV cable. Vending machines and coin operated laundry machines are located in each hall. The lounge contains a TV and study, and professional staff members are available for the residence halls.
(Information from https://altoona.psu.edu/penn-state/buildings-hours-of-operation/residence-halls/cedar-residence-hall)