Dear campus residents,

We know there have been questions regarding reports of mold in a small number of residence halls on campus.

The university is committed to the well-being and safety of the campus community, and we take a number of steps to reduce the potential for mold in our on-campus housing. We conduct routine structural and hygienic inspections, inspect residence halls prior to occupancy, use building systems that pressurize the air in residence halls to reduce humidity levels, and use sensors that track moisture levels. Even with all these efforts, it is possible for some leaks and condensation to occur in buildings and for mold to form.

When the university receives a report of mold, our personnel follow established protocols based on the standard of care for mold remediation and guidance provided by the on-staff industrial hygienist. First, the space is inspected to locate mold and understand its cause. Second, remediation is performed to remove the mold damage and address the underlying cause of the water or condensation. Third, the space is cleaned using an EPA-registered antimicrobial to eliminate and prevent mold, and a HEPA filter is used while the work is completed to remove any fine particles.

As necessary, the university will also have environmental testing conducted by an unaffiliated lab to test air quality. Testing air quality through an accredited lab is the industry-accepted standard for assessing whether airborne mold levels suggest a fungal problem indoors, when compared to outdoor testing results. Air sampling can detect mold that may be behind walls and other building structures.

If the air quality testing suggests there is mold, the university will inspect the area and re-test, if necessary, to confirm the results. However, if mold is present, the Office of Housing and Residential Experience coordinates with Plant Operations to remediate the area of concern. Remediation includes addressing areas where there are signs of excessive moisture as well as discoloration that may be perceived as mold. If significant time is required for the remediation, impacted residents will be relocated.

Since Jan. 1, the university has received maintenance requests indicating questions and concerns about mold in 15 rooms on campus. Plant Operations and Housing are responding to these requests and continue to follow the guidance of the university’s industrial hygienist with respect to inspection, mold remediation and testing.

Testing conducted after recent remediation efforts in three Morgan House rooms indicates there is no indoor air quality concern regarding airborne mold. The concentrations of airborne mold spores in the tested rooms were significantly less than the concentration in outdoor air. Visual inspections in 18 additional randomly selected rooms in Morgan House did not reveal any areas of concern.

Please remember to report any maintenance issues as soon as possible using the university’s maintenance request form. We will continue to respond to maintenance requests from residents and, consistent with our protocols, will perform additional testing as necessary.

Additionally, the Student Health Center is always available to address health questions and concerns. You can make an appointment online or call 615-322-2427 to speak to a patient services representative. The Student Health Center’s hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Sincerely,

G.L. Black
Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students