July 28, 2021
International Student House COVID-19 Vaccination Policy: Full vaccination within the first six weeks of resident arrival is generally required at International Student House.
Exceptions to our vaccination policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis and any applicant excused from this requirement must adhere to additional health and safety protocols not required for fully-vaccinated residents, including those relating to masking and physical distancing.
International Student House is following guidance by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which you can find the latest updates as of July 27, 2021 here. Note, we are requiring all residents, staff, and guests to wear masks inside the House regardless of their vaccination status.
As of August 1, 2021 we will be adjusting two (2) of three (3) key areas we adapted to throughout much of the past year:
- Room Assignments: We will return to full occupancy. Double rooms will be occupied by two (2) residents, triple rooms will occupied by three (3) individuals, single rooms will remain occupied by one (1) individual.
- Incoming Residents: Those who arrive fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine for a two week period (14 days). Unvaccinated individuals will need to undergo a self-quarantine period and receive a negative COVID-19 test. Please see our “Frequently Asked Questions” page for further information.
July 10, 2020
The House’s priority is the safety and health of our resident community. To lower the risk of transmission of COVID-19 for our residents and greater community, we are following guidance from the CDC and DC Health. Some examples: Community Residential Facilities, Apartments, Cooperatives, and Condominiums, and Hotels and Accommodations.
Three key areas to note:
- Room Assignments: Occupancy will be one resident per room for most rooms. Some of our larger rooms will be two residents per room. Residents share bathrooms that are regularly cleaned and sanitized by ISH’s housekeeping team.
- Meals: Meals at the House are all to-go/prepackaged and our dining room is modified to comply with DC’s restaurant guidelines. Residents should observe social/physical distancing practices.
- Incoming Residents: New residents to ISH are required to quarantine for a two week (14 day) period, assigned to a designated building separate from the main building/community with meals delivered during the quarantine period.
Everyday Prevention Measures:
- Immediately report any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, etc. to the Resident Manager(s) via email
- Make an appointment to get tested promptly
- Take appropriate actions in line with CDC guidelines if you test positive for COVID-19
- Employees and residents should wear face coverings while in public areas of the house
- Perform frequent hand hygiene (with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer)
- Key times to perform hand hygiene include:
- Before eating food
- After using the toilet
- Before and after putting on, touching, or removing cloth face coverings
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
March 25, 2020 at 7:00 PM ET
As we continue to navigate the ever evolving situation that is the COVID-19 threat, it is our priority to keep you informed of the measures we are taking to ensure a safe, healthy environment for our resident scholars and staff. To that end, we continue to monitor CDC guidelines, as well as local and federal mandates that might affect our community.
We are also mindful that this is a challenging time of uncertainty and have taken several actions to support our community here in the House:
- ISH Resident Managers prepare a daily-update message sent to residents to inform our community of new protocols, share CDC guideline updates, and any new government mandates that affect the community. Informative articles or videos with helpful information are also included.
- Virtual counseling sessions are being offered to residents (group or individual) by an ISH Associate Board member.
- Virtual hangouts, interactive games, and other creative activities are being offered by our Deputy Resident Managers that are mindful of social distancing guidelines.
- We have amplified our social media presence to keep you informed on life here at the House.
Most important, our community of resident scholars is supporting each other. They encourage each other through their WhatsApp groups and are leaving treats around the House for their fellow housemates to enjoy.
Our mission is to promote inter-cultural dialogue and encourage life-long connections to a highly diverse international community of graduate students, interns, and visiting scholars. While we look forward to the end of this uncertain time, our mission is being lived out stronger than ever.
Updated March 20, 2020 at 5:30 PM
Prospective Resident Policy Regarding COVID-19
Effective March 20, 2020, International Student House of Washington, DC (ISH-DC) will follow the below outlined policies as they pertain to incoming residents and new reservation applications:
- We are accepting applications on a case by case basis for the health and safety of our current resident and staff community.
- We will honor existing reservations. Incoming residents will undergo a screening process informed by CDC guidelines.
- The House is monitoring the COVID-19 situation and should we deem welcoming new residents unsafe for either the existing community or incoming community member, applications may be withdrawn with no financial obligations.
Non-resident guest policy
Individuals who are not current residents are only permitted to enter the facilities if the visit is of a an urgent nature.
Updated March 18, 2020 at 5:00 PM
A Message from ISH Concerning COVID-19
During this unprecedented time of uncertainty we are committed to supporting our community of resident scholars here in Washington, DC, while taking serious our responsibility to maintain a safe, healthy environment for our residents and staff.
The mission of International Student House of Washington, DC is to provide an exceptional residential experience to a highly diverse international community of graduate students, interns, and visiting scholars. Through shared meals, study sessions, programs, and numerous other experiences the House promotes inter-cultural dialogue, encourages life-long connections, and fosters global citizenship.
In pursuit of our mission while prioritizing the health and safety of our community, we have implemented mandated CDC, DC Health Department, and federal guidelines, including:
- modifying meal service to follow guidelines
- enforcing vigorous cleaning schedules and additional cleaning in all common areas
- providing hand sanitizer at main entry points to the building and dining area
- communicating infectious disease protocol with all ISH-DC residents, staff, and community members
- modifying or canceling events and programs
- Practicing significant flexibility with reservations for current and future residents*
We have also established a task force to actively monitor and manage a coordinated response to the quickly evolving situation.
International Student House has had no cases of illness, and we will continue our vigilant efforts to keep our community healthy and safe. During this time, we are grateful to our extended community for your continued care, as it is such times that we rely most on the unwavering support of our ISH friends and family.
*If you are a current resident or have a reservation for a future date and need assistance to modify your reservation, please email [email protected].
