Answers to the Most Common Residence Life Questions

Do the residence halls remain open during holidays and breaks?
Currently, the residence halls do not stay open during holidays and breaks. It is the residents' responsibility to know when the breaks are and to plan ahead to ensure that they have somewhere to stay off campus.

Are the residence halls carpeted?
O'Leary Hall is fully carpeted, both in the hallways and the residence rooms. Rose William Hall has no carpeting in the hallways or rooms, as it offers a very clean tile look. Devine Hall is carpeted in the hallways.

What is an RA?
An RA (resident advisor) is a student staff person who works for the Office of Residence Life. The RAs are responsible for helping students with any issues they might encounter while in the residence halls. In addition, they are responsible for enforcing college policy in the residence halls.

Are students required to live on campus?
We do encourage all of our students to give living on campus a try, but it is not a requirement. Many of our students commute to the college each day.

Can I bring a microwave and refrigerator with me?
You can bring a small "dorm" style refrigerator with you, but you cannot bring a microwave. Each residence hall has a microwave that students can use.

Is there a meal plan?
Each resident on campus is required to carry the college's meal plan.

What is the best way to receive mail and packages on campus?
Each resident student is assigned a mailbox with a combination lock. For students to receive mail: have the sender address the mail to the college's main address, and include the student's name and mailbox number.

Should I bring my computer and are the rooms wired for computer connections?
If you own a computer, it is a good idea to bring it to school with you. Students do not need to bring a computer with them, as the college does have computer labs on campus. Elms College is a wireless campus, so if you do bring a computer, you should make sure that it is wireless compatible.

Does the college provide me with a phone?
The college does not provide students with a phone. However, there is a telephone jack in each room that can be activated at if a student is interested in having a telephone.

Am I allowed to have guests in my room?
You may have overnight guests with prior authorization from your roommate(s). Guests will not be allowed in a room unless all occupants in that room are in agreement. We ask that residents notify their RA when they will be having overnight guests. All guests are subject to college regulations and residence hall policies. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guest(s) and guests should be escorted at all times. If a student feels his or her roommate(s) are not abiding by this policy, it is his or her responsibility to notify a residence life staff member. Guests need to sign in at the front desk each time they visit.

Can I bring a car to campus?
Currently, all resident students are allowed to have cars on campus as long as they have obtained the proper parking permit from the Department of Public Safety.

Are there laundry facilities on campus?
Yes, all three of our residence halls have washing machines and dryers. The cost is $1.50 for a washing machine and $1.50 for a dryer.

Am I allowed to have a pet in the residence halls?
Students may have fish as pets with the consent of their roommate(s). Each room may have one 5-gallon aquarium. Students who have fish should arrange for someone off campus to care for them during holidays and breaks. No other pets are permitted. Animals are not permitted to visit in the residence halls, including interior and exterior hallways.

What are quiet hours?
Quiet hours are in effect from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weeknights and 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, so you and your neighbors may study and sleep. In addition, 24 hour quiet hours go into effect the week before and the week of midterms and finals. Residents have many different schedules and lifestyles, but you will find life a lot easier if you respect each other's right to healthy habits. If other students in your hall are bothering you with noise, you have the right (at any time of day or night) to ask them to be quieter. If trouble persists, feel free to notify your RA, who has the option and authority to set disciplinary procedures in motion. Students are encouraged to keep the volume of their stereos low.

Are there any storage facilities?
There are no storage facilities on campus. Students are responsible for moving all furniture and other belongings at the end of the academic year. Students are charged a moving and disposal fee for any items that are left behind.

Can I bring my gaming system?
Certainly, but the college encourages students to leave expensive gaming systems at home. Students are not able to access online gaming such as Xbox Live or PSN on campus.

How are roommates assigned?
Each summer, first year students receive a roommate questionnaire in the mail. Based on the information from these questionnaires, the housing office does the best they can to match roommates based on similar preferred study times, majors, and academic and social interests. After the first year, residents go through the room selection process where they select their own roommate.

When can I change my room assignment?
There is a freeze on room changes for the first three weeks of each semester. After that, residents can request a room change through the Office of Residence Life. Room changes are not guaranteed, and are only approved if attempts at mediation have failed.

What is the room selection process?
Room selection is the process by which rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors pick their rooms and roommates for the following academic year. Each student in each class is issued a lottery number at random. That number indicates when you will pick your room. If you are a sophomore who has been issued number one, you are the first person in your class to pick a room.

What do if I lose my room key?
If you lose your room key, you should report this information to the Office of Residence Life immediately. In most cases you will be charged a replacement fee for the key and an additional fee if the lock on your room needs to be changed.

How do I change my status from commuter to resident or resident to commuter?
This is a very simple process. All you have to do is pick up a "Change of Status" form from the Dean of Students Office and have the appropriate individuals sign off on it. Once all of the signatures are collected, return the form to the Dean of Students Office and the change will be made as quickly as possible.

Who do I call for help?
If you are in need of emergency assistance, call 911. Campus Safety and Security can be reached at 413-265-2278.