Housing - FAQ
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.
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.
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.
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 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 Interim Director for Housing & Residence Life, Stephanie Martin 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 required to 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 voicemail box service. You can use your voicemail 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.
What is the smoking policy in the dorms?
Smoking is prohibited in the residence halls and within 30 feet of the entrance to any building on campus.
Individual Rooms and Residential Suites
Upon vacating a room or suite, you are expected to complete a check-out process that includes an inspection of your room with your RA. Using the Room Condition Report (RCR) Form that you completed when you moved in, you and the RA will check together for damage and missing property. Once the inspection has been conducted, the RA will forward the completed form to the appropriate Area Director. Using the RCR, the Assistant Dean for Campus Life or a designee will inspect your living space to compare the check-in condition of the room listed on the form to its present condition after you checked out. If the Assistant Dean/designee determines that the space has been damaged beyond normal wear, or that College property is missing, you and your roommate/s will be billed accordingly. The RA does not, under any circumstances, determine what is or is not billed.
Common Areas
When damage occurs in a residence hall or suite's common area, the Area Director will work with the students and staff to determine, if possible, who is responsible for the damage. Common area damage affects everyone in the community. It impacts students' use of the building and results in increased housing costs.
The Area Directors post signs for damages as they occur. Students have one week from the time of posting to provide information regarding who is responsible for the damage. After that time, the cost is evenly divided among all students who share the space where the damage occurred. These damages are posted to student accounts and listed as DRMDMG. They are posted at most once a week.
Students can avoid damage billing by doing the following:
- Carefully reviewing the RCR prior to signing at check-in and check-out to ensure it appropriately reflects the condition of the living space.
- Personalizing the space in ways consistent with current housing policies
Repairs
We need all residents to pay attention to the condition of their community. If something in your room, building, or suite is not functioning properly, damaged, or broken, please contact your RA and submit a work order to have it repaired. Students who live in the Residential Suites should send an e-mail to housing@saintjoe.edu with the work order information, which includes name, room, location in room, and description of issue. Unless it's an emergency, a resident of the room must sign the work order.
In the event of an emergency maintenance issue or a student is unable to find an RA, he/she should contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life at extension 6116 or Safety and Security at extension 6129.
