First-Year Housing Brochure

Housing Information for Your First Year at Albion College

Welcome and Residency Requirement

Staff

Roommate Assignments

Residence Hall Directors

Albion College is a four-year residential college, which means you should expect to live on campus through graduation. While at Albion you will find many learning opportunities provided through the residence halls that will enhance your experience here.

These paid professional staff members live in the residence halls and manage the hall staff along with providing basic counseling support for students.

First-year students will be housed in Wesley Hall.

Transfer students may be assigned to any of our residence halls. Each will be assigned a roommate.

Roommate requests are welcomed.

All students residing in campus residence halls are required to be on the Albion College board plan.

All students are required to live in College-owned housing unless they reside with their parents or legal guardians within 50 miles of campus. Exemptions are also granted if you are married, have legal dependents, are a veteran, or are 23 years old or older.

Resident Assistants

RAs are student staff members who live on the floors of the residence halls. They are trained to help residents with any problems that may arise.

Residence Hall Room Furnishings

Assignments will be mailed in early July and will contain building/room number, phone number, and assigned roommate’s contact information.

Rooms at Albion College are double rooms that contain two of the following: bed with mattress (80" x 36"), desk, desk chair, bookshelf, dresser, closet, and computer jack. Each room has a cable TV outlet and telephone with voicemail. Each room has its own window.

Roommates are encouraged to get acquainted and discuss room personalization.

Lofts are prohibited in all residential units. For room layout and dimensions, please visit:

Note: Rooms will not be big enough for each roommate to bring a refrigerator, microwave, futon, etc., so items to be shared should be discussed in advance.

www.albion.edu/reslife/

Items to Bring The Basics • • • • • • • • • • • •

Backpack Desk supplies Calendar Bulletin board Dry erase board Posters Dictionary/thesaurus Hangers Laundry bag/basket Laundry detergent/dryer sheets Iron/ironing board Umbrella/raincoat

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Stamps/stationery Cleaning supplies Extra glasses/contacts Small sewing kit Small tool kit Sports gear Throw rug/carpet Medical information Medications Copies of prescriptions (medicine, glasses) Insurance card Copy of birth certificate Social Security card Driver’s license

Electronics and Housewares • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Alarm clock Lamp (Halogen lamps prohibited) Fan Surge protector (UL-approved outlet strip with circuit breaker) Flashlight/batteries Radio/MP3 Player TV/cable cord Computer/Ethernet cable Printer/extra printer ink/paper Refrigerator (3.5 cubic feet or less) Microwave (700 watts or less) Coffee maker* Toaster* Hot pot*

*Coffee maker, toaster, and hot pot must have automatic shut-off.

Bed and Bath Items/Toiletries • • • • • • • • • • •

Sheets/pillowcases (twin extra-long sheets–80") Comforter/bedspread Blanket Pillow Towels/washcloths Shower tote Wastebasket Soap/soap container Hair care products Hair dryer Curling iron

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Items to Leave at Home

• • • • • • •

To reduce unnecessary health and safety risks, the following are prohibited in residence hall rooms:

Shower shoes Bathrobe Razors/shaving cream Deodorant Facial tissue Toothbrush/toothpaste First aid kit

• Animals or pets Fish are the only animals allowed in student rooms and must be in a tank of 10 gallons or less.

Fish must be removed from the residence halls during College breaks (Thanksgiving, semester break, and spring break).

• Sunlamps • Cooking equipment with an exposed heating coil • Extension cords or multi-plug extenders/outlets • Space heater or electric heaters • Air conditioner Students requiring air conditioning units for health reasons may contact the Office of Residential Life.

• Candles and incense • Water bed • Nails, screws, and paint intended for your room walls or doors • Ceiling fans • Alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, or paraphernalia • Kitchen knives • Weapons • Fireworks

Property Insurance

Students should leave at home irreplaceable personal items or items of great value.

Questions? Please contact the Office of Residential Life.

The College does not insure personal effects of students. Therefore, it is recommended that students insure their belongings either through their parents’ homeowner policy or a separate policy. Albion College does not assume responsibility for theft, loss, or damage to students’ personal property. It is recommended that students label all personal items and record serial numbers.

Move-In Procedures

Room Personalization

Room Changes

On new student move-in day, you should report directly to your assigned residence hall to check in.

Residents will be issued a room key, Albion 1Card (Student ID), and a room condition inventory report (RCI). Residence hall staff will be available to answer questions and assist you with check-in. If you arrive early for any reason (athletic team, band), you will receive separate instructions from your coach or instructor regarding the details of your check-in.

Room personalization is welcomed and encouraged, but in order to keep repair costs to a minimum and maintain a safe living space, the following guidelines have been developed.

Each student is encouraged not to make judgments about whether or not s/he will get along with her/his roommate until after the roommate pair has spent some time together. Roommates do not have to be best friends. Many roommate pairs do very well living in the same room with one another while maintaining best friend relationships with other students on campus.

• Posters, photos, etc., should be hung only with materials that will not damage or discolor walls upon removal.

• Painting of rooms is not allowed. The use of wallpaper and contact paper is prohibited in residential areas.

• The use of darts, nails, screws, etc., in walls or furniture is prohibited in all student rooms.

• The attachment of TV, CB, and FM antennas or dishes to student living areas is prohibited.

• The connection of wireless Internet routers is prohibited.

If roommates are experiencing problems, residents should contact their RA or RD as soon as possible for assistance in resolving their problem. If the roommate conflict cannot be resolved after participating in a roommate mediation process facilitated by a member of the residence hall staff, the RD may approve a room change. No room changes will be allowed during the first two weeks of classes each semester.

Frequently Asked Questions Should I bring all of my belongings at once?

The Residential Life staff encourages you to contact your roommate and discuss who will bring the items you and your roommate desire in the room. This prevents duplicate items. Making contact with your roommate before arriving on campus can make for a smooth transition to college life.

Do the residence halls remain open during breaks and holidays?

Student residences are closed during the following breaks: Thanksgiving, semester break, and spring break. Students must vacate their room by the closing hours posted or on the day of their last exam.

Travel arrangements should be made well in advance so that students may leave the halls by the required time for each break.

In-Hall Services and Facilities

box with password. Each room comes with a phone.

Students may bring a cordless phone but wall-mounted telephones are prohibited.

Cable Television

Kitchen/Laundry Facilities

All residence hall rooms are equipped for cable television. Students will need to bring a cable cord, and TVs will not be provided.

Telephone Service

Our telephone system allows students to make long distance telephone calls from their room with a PIN number and will be billed to the individual student.

Each student will also be given their own voicemail

Each residence hall comes with a kitchenette, and basic kitchenware is provided through hall staff.

Washers and dryers are available in each residence hall. The fee is $1.25 for both washer and dryer cycle, and may be paid using the Albion 1Card.

Questions and More Information If you have any further questions regarding residential living at Albion College, please call, write, e-mail, or visit our Web site.

Albion College Office of Residential Life 611 East Porter Street Albion, Michigan 49224 Telephone: 517/629-0224 Fax: 517/629-0197 reslife@albion.edu www.albion.edu/reslife