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Housing and Residence Life

How big will my room be?
The average size of the rooms in our traditional residence halls is 11 x 14. For more information on a particular building, click here.

Does each student have a dresser?
We provide one dresser per room; however, this can vary according to each residence hall. (For example: in Bennett and Noll, the dressers are built into the wall, so there is only one.) If residents of a room desire a second dresser, they should submit a work order through their Resident Assistant (RA) and if supply allows, one will be provided.

Does each student have a desk?
The standard set up for the rooms of our new students is two desks and two chairs. Returning students are given the option to request a second desk in their room, which will be provided as the supply allows.

Am I allowed to take furniture out of my room?
Each room must maintain the minimum amounts of furniture for its occupancy - in other words, all SJC furniture must remain in the room. If a student in a private room wishes to remove furniture, he/she may do so by submitting a work order through his/her RA.

How big are the beds?
The beds in all buildings, with the exception of Justin Hall East and Justin Hall West, are extra-long twin beds. The mattresses measure 36 x 80 while the beds in Justin East and Justin West are 36 x 75.

What size should my area rug be?
The rooms are approximately 11 x 14, so we suggest an 8 x 10 area rug.

When will I find out who my roommate is?
New students who have submitted their completed Housing Preference Form by the second week of May will receive their housing assignment and roommate during the first week of June. All others will be mailed out as assignments are made.

When is the housing deposit due?
Returning students must pay the $100 deposit by April 1st each year. This allows the student to register for classes and select housing accommodations.

What if I miss the deadline for the housing deposit?
If you miss the housing deposit deadline, you will need to pay it before you are permitted to select housing.

If I want a particular person to be my roommate, what do I do?
For new students, you and your desired roommate must indicate each other's name on the Housing Preference Form and submit both applications in one envelope. For returning students, you must submit a joint housing application.

How can I insure my belongings at school?
In some cases, your parents' homeowners' insurance may cover any items you bring to school, so please check with the insurance company. If you wish to purchase separate insurance, you may want to contact National Student Services, Inc.

How are the bathrooms arranged?
All of our traditional residence halls have community bathrooms (one per floor), and there are several showers available, each enclosed with a curtain. In Schwietermann Hall and the Residential Suites, there are private bathrooms that the students themselves must maintain.

Am I allowed to move furniture around and create different arrangements in my room?
In most cases, yes. In a few of our buildings, the closets and dressers are attached to the walls and therefore not able to be moved.

Am I allowed to have a private room?
Freshmen are not assigned to private rooms unless they meet the requirements for special housing accommodation. Returning students may request a private room during the room selection process or during room changes. Requests will be accepted or denied based on space availability, and there are additional costs for all private housing.

What if my roommate and I don't get along?
Discuss this concern with your roommate. If you are unsure how to approach him/her, talk with your Resident Assistant (RA) or Area Director (AD) and use your roommate agreement to get the conversation started. If your initial conversation with your roommate does not resolve your concerns, work with your RA and AD to find other ways to handle the conflict. If a solution cannot be found with your RA/AD, please contact the Director of Housing and Residence Life for further assistance. Occasionally, a change in roommates is required.

At times, living with someone else can be difficult, but it's one of the most valuable experiences you will have at SJC. The Housing and Residence Life staff will be happy to share practical negotiation and compromise strategies with you - information you can use for the rest of your life.

Should I bring all of my belongings at once?
We encourage you to contact your roommate prior to your moving to campus to discuss who will bring the items you want in your room. This will avoid taking up precious space with duplicate items and make for a smoother transition to college life.

Do the residence halls remain open during breaks and holidays?
The residence halls close for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring breaks. Students must vacate their rooms by the closing hours posted during those times. For Christmas break and May closing, students are leave within 24 hours of their last exam. The residence halls will re-open once the College is back in session.

Parents and students should make travel arrangements well in advance so that students may leave the halls by the required time for each break period.

Do I need an answering machine?
No. You will receive a campus phone extension, which has a free voice-mailbox service. You can use your voice mail to create a personal message for callers from on and off campus.

Can I make long distance calls from my room?
Yes. You will receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to make long-distance calls from all campus phone lines. These charges will be billed to your student account each month.

Am I allowed to have a satellite dish?
Satellites are not permitted, nor are other outside antennae. However, the College does provide basic cable for each residence hall, which includes a student-selected movie channel and on-campus stations. To access cable, you will need to provide your own coaxial cable cord.

Where can I do my laundry?
Each residence hall has laundry facilities. The cost is $0.75 to wash and $0.75 to dry per load. The Laundry Room, an off-campus self-service and drop-off facility, is located near campus across the street from Fountain Stone Theaters.