Students living in campus housing at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) have noticed mold in their living spaces. While finding mold can be very concerning, fear not, as this is relatively common while living in a coastal region. There are many solutions to deal with mold including utilizing university resources and preventing it on your own.
Students have vocalized their concerns about the lack of care on this issue from the university and housing department. Rumors surrounding the strain of mold have been circulating on campus, the main one being Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as black mold. CSUMB spokesperson Walter Ryce assures “none of the instances at Cal State Monterey Bay have been confirmed to be this particular strain of mold.
“The health and wellness of our students is always a top priority at [CSUMB]. Our facilities team responds immediately to investigate the cause and to remediate the issue, and our housing department works to move the students to a safe space if necessary,” said Ryce.
If students believe they have found mold anywhere in their dorm, they should fill out a maintenance request form found on their housing dashboard. Resident advisors (RAs) should also be alerted of the issue. If a living space has a severe mold infestation, an emergency move-out may be needed; changes may be temporary or permanent and RAs should assist with the process.
According to Ryce, CSUMB’s Facilities Maintenance Department has received 17 work orders regarding mold since Dec. 1, 2023. “12 of them have been resolved as either negative for mold or the mold was cleaned/removed and repairs were made. At least three of these cases were minimal with mold on shower curtains that were cleaned or replaced.
“In cases that were more extensive, external vendors were called in to test for mold, clean the space and repair any damaged surfaces. These are isolated instances that have occurred primarily in bathroom spaces or near windows, where warm and damp situations can occur, especially given our coastal climate.”
Five reports have reached the facilities department since April 2; these work orders are still in progress due to external vendors being involved in testing for mold and making repairs.
Students can recognize mold by seeing it on walls, ceilings, behind furniture or appliances, under carpets, or in other hidden areas that are not immediately visible. Mold typically has a scent characterized by an earthy, musty odor.
Visible water damage such as water stains (discoloration on walls or ceilings) are also signs of dampness or mold.
Physical symptoms are not uncommon while living in a space with mold. Symptoms can include asthma, breathing symptoms/allergies and eczema or skin rashes.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends the following for fixing dampness and mold problems:
- Identifying and correcting the source of any water that may allow mold to grow
- Rapid drying or removal of damp materials
- Cleaning or removing mold and moldy materials as rapidly and safely as possible
If a moldy area is bleached, cleaned or painted over and the source of dampness is not fixed, mold will likely grow again.
Ryce says CSUMB is working with RAs and the housing team “to educate students on what they can do to prevent the growth of mold in their living spaces.” Students should “[ensure] that exhaust fans are running for 15 minutes after shower facilities are used, opening shower curtains to dry appropriately and to report issues with the fans as soon as they occur,” said Ryce.
If students require more thorough information about dealing with mold, check out the CDPH and City of Monterey websites here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/EHLB/AQS/Pages/Mold.aspx