New Mexico State University students returning to campus this semester amidst the Covid-19 pandemic face university protocols to ensure not only the safety of commuter students but also those who live on campus.  

For students traveling from out of state, housing is taking extra precautions to ensure student safety even after some students have tested positive for the virus according to sophomore and Residential Assistant Anayancy Campos. 

“It is hard – but we are doing all we can to ensure that they are ok and everyone else is safe,” Campos said.  

NMSU housing is following strict guidelines provided not only to them by the administration of NMSU but also the state of New Mexico, which is still enforcing a 14-day quarantine for out of state travel.  

NMSU required all out of state students to move in early to isolate for 14 days in their on-campus residence. Campos, from El Paso, said she had to move in earlier than other RA’s who are from New Mexico.  

“We had to arrive two weeks early before the students arrived – it was a rough start but all is well,” Campos said.  

According to the NMSU dashboard, the campus has reported a total of 11 on–campus residents who have tested positive for the virus since the site launch in May. According to the website, there are a total of 20 students with active cases of Covid-19.  

On–campus residents must also follow NMSU mandates as well as a required 14–day quarantine from all others if they are diagnosed with Covid-19. Those who have come in contact with a positive test must also adhere to a 14–day isolation period. 

According to a press release, on-campus testing will be conducted over the next two weeks at the Aggie Health and Wellness Center.  The testing is voluntary for those displaying no COVID-19 symptoms and will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. The testing is by appointment only.  

Though the school year is just starting, and these numbers are on the rise, NMSU said the university continues to take measures to ensure student and faculty safety. Campus-wide, the university has increased frequency of cleanings in buildings and classrooms, student resident halls are sanitized and there are hand sanitizer dispensers by most stairwells and elevators in addition to a strict mask-wearing policy. 

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham implemented stricter Covid-19 restrictions on the state in July when the number of cases peaked. Recently, the number of new cases in the land of Enchantment are on the decline, though the Governor’s orders remain in place.