We are looking forward to having your students on campus, and we want to assist in their adjustment in whatever way we can. The following tips are a result of the common concerns and questions the Housing staff deal with the first several weeks. We hope you find them helpful!
Preparation
We give the responsibility to the student to know the rules, regulations, deadlines, etc. This information is given verbally and in writing. You can help in the following ways:
- Encourage your student to read the Residence Hall License Contract (opens in a new tab). This is one way we communicate our policies and procedures. You may find it helpful to read through it as well.
- Encourage your student to attend the Orientation sessions during Welcome Week in August and to go to their first floor meeting with their Resident Assistant (RA). Attendance at these sessions prevents much confusion and questions later. The sessions also help your student get to know other new students.
- Know what items are and are not allowed in the residence halls. University Housing provides a very comprehensive, though not all-inclusive, list of items (opens in a new tab) most college students find they need while living in a residence hall. The University Housing site also includes a listing of items not allowed (opens in a new tab) in a residence hall environment.
Communication with Residence Life Staff
Please feel free to contact University Housing if you have any reason to be concerned about your student. Staff are always willing to assist if they know that there is a problem. If your student has a medical problem (epilepsy, diabetes, etc.) encourage them to tell their hall supervisor. This information will be kept confidential but is very helpful should an emergency arise. The following outlines the types of staff members who live in our buildings:
- Coordinator: Coordinators are full-time, Masters level staff with extensive experience in the field of Student Affairs who supervise Resident Assistants and Residence Directors while managing several departmental responsibilities.
- Residence Director (RD): Residence Directors (RDs) are graduate-level staff who supervise the Resident Assistants of their building. RDs assist individual residents with developing their personal, academic and social skills through educational and social programming.
- Resident Assistant (RA): Resident Assistants (RAs) are undergraduate-level staff who can help your student find answers to their questions or problems. RAs have been trained in such skills as peer counseling, crisis intervention and conflict mediation.
Roommate Conflicts
Roommate conflicts are not unusual, especially during the first few weeks of school. We have found that most conflicts can be worked through with proper communication, time, patience, and, in many cases, with the help of a third party (such as Resident Assistants or Residence Directors). Many times, parents and families know about a conflict before the staff hears about it. The following tips are ways you can help:
- Encourage your student to talk with the roommate. Many times when we hear about a conflict, we learn that neither roommate has even mentioned to each other that there is a concern.
- If a simple discussion doesnt work, have them get the RA or RD involved. Sometimes an objective third party can be helpful, and our staff is trained to handle conflicts. Also, the staff may not be aware of a conflict and will not know unless told.
- Many conflicts are short-lived and are reflective of the time of year. For example, we see an increase in conflicts before breaks, during exam times, in the middle of winter, and, for first-year students, at the beginning of the year.
- Residence Hall staff can work with students anytime a room change is requested. The only restriction is waiting until the second week of each semester to begin room changes.
- Students may request a room change by filling out the appropriate form in the University Housing Portal (opens in a new tab) anytime that the process is available during the semester.
Housing for Returning Students
Returning students have the opportunity to re-apply for housing during January. Because the demand for residence hall spaces sometimes out-numbers the spaces available on campus, returning students are not guaranteed housing. In order to claim a space on campus, it is imperative that returning students follow the housing reapplication schedule in order to apply for housing and pay their housing deposit by the set dates.
Housing for Transfer Students
Transfer students have the opportunity to apply for either the Transfer or Transfer Educator Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) through the housing application process. More information about these and other RLCs can be found at housing.appstate.edu/rlc. All other transfer students will be assigned to spaces based on availability after freshmen and returning students have been assigned.
