University Housing Update

Greetings!

The following email is being sent to all residence hall students.

Some of you may have heard about moisture issues in some residence hall rooms in Eastway (Allyn, Clark, Fletcher, and Manchester Halls) so we want share information to help keep you and your environment safe!

What is happening in Eastway?
Some students living in the Eastway buildings reported concerns about mold and mildew in their room. Given the number of concerns reported, we asked University Facilitate Management (UFM) staff to proactively walk through every residence hall room.  

We are finding most issues are dust and dirt on the louvers of the heating and cooling unit. In these situations, the louvers are wiped down and cleaned with a peroxide solution. In a handful of rooms with a high humidity level, UFM staff have found mold. In rooms where there was more substantial mold growth, students were offered the chance to relocate so we could do a more thorough cleaning of the room.

What about the Eastway Dining hall?
Eastway complex includes four (4) separate residence halls connected by a central dining facility. The dining facility has separate heating and cooling systems. The residence hall rooms have individual fan coil units. Air does not flow between the residence halls and the dining hall.

What about my room?
Hearing about Eastway may have you on heightened alert – no worries, we have you covered!

Enter a work order at: https://www.kent.edu/ufm/ready-work-request. If your work order states a concern of mold, UFM will respond within one business day.

When UFM arrives, they will knock three (3) times and verbally announce before they enter. For concerns noted as mold, UFM staff will enter whether you are home or not.

Upon entering your room, UFM staff will do a visual inspection of the room, wipe down the louvers, and take any other corrective action necessary based on their review. When they complete the inspection, a notice will be left on your room door.

University Response
Each report for mold or mildew is taken seriously. Kent State University follows EPA and CDC recommendations for responding to concerns of mold or mildew. And, as appropriate, each situation will receive attention by staff in UFM, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and/or University Housing.

Tips for preventing mold and mildew growth
Molds are found in virtually every environment, and they can thrive in warm, humid places, including our residence halls and University buildings. Moisture control, air circulation, and good cleaning practices are essential to controlling its growth. Tips to help mitigate mold and mildew growth include:

  • Report water issues/leaks immediately by submitting work order at: https://www.kent.edu/ufm/ready-work-request
  • Set your air conditioning thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees and run the fan on auto to reduce condensation and to maintain proper airflow
  • Keep room air vents (where applicable) in all areas open and unobstructed to maintain proper airflow
  • Open the window if your room feels stuffy
  • Routinely clean bathroom areas (students living in suites), including the shower curtain liner, with bathroom cleaner to prevent the growth of soap scum which is an excellent food source for mold. Always follow the directions and read all precautions before using any cleaning product.
  • If a bath exhaust fan is provided in your living space (example – suites), be sure to turn the fan on when showering. After your shower, keep the shower door closed and the fan running for an extra 10 to 15 minutes to remove excess moisture from the air.
  • Do not hang towels (or any other wet items) to dry between your mattress and bed frame. This can cause mold to grow on the bottom of your mattress.
  • Good housekeeping practices (vacuum floors, wipe down counters, clean up spills quickly, wash out refrigerators, including wiping the doors, etc.) should be shared by all roommates to help reduce the number of food sources for mold growth.


Resources
CDC's Main Page on Mold: https://www.cdc.gov/mold/default.htm
CDC’s Mold Testing page: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/moldtesting.html
CDC's Indoor Air Quality Page: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/default.html
EPA’s Mold Testing and Sampling page: https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-testing-or-sampling
EPA's Main Page on Mold: https://www.epa.gov/mold
University Health Services https://www.kent.edu/uhs


If you have additional questions, please contact us at housing@kent.edu.

Thank you for your assistance keeping your room and our community safe!

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