Moving In:   Frequently Asked Questions

1. When can I move into my room?
2. Will my bed be standard twin size?
3. Will the beds be bunked?
4. What about lofts?
5. Will I need curtains?
6. Can I paint and decorate my room?
7. When is the first meal served?
8. Where will I get my mail?
9. Where will I do my laundry?
10. What can I expect during my first week in the residence hall?
11. What happens if I lose my key or lock myself out of my room?
12. What if I am unhappy about my room assignment?
13. What should I bring?
14. How do I insure that my roommate and I don't bring duplicate items?
15. Is there anything I shouldn't bring?
16. Computers
17. What if I need to ship some items before my arrival.
18. How do I check out of my room?

Q1. When can I move into my room?

Fall Quarter 2009

Freshman only on Thursday and Friday - September 3 and 4.  Those with last names beginning with the letter:

A through F should arrive on Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

G through K should arrive on Thursday between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

L through R should arrive on Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

S through Z should arrive on Friday between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Upperclass/Returning students will be authorized to begin returning to campus on Saturday, September 5th starting at 9:00 am.

Dining Services will be available to parents at $7 for lunch and dinner beginning with lunch on Thursday, September 3rd. Student meal plans will begin on Thursday, September 3rd.  For a complete schedule of opening weekend hours click here food.  Convenience stores will not honor flex meal plans until Monday, September 7th.

Because of the number of people moving in at the beginning of each quarter and limited parking, we ask that you park in front of a hall only to unload your belongings (30 minutes max).

Winter Quarter 2010

Residence Halls Open on Sunday, January 3 at 9:00 a.m.

Spring Quarter 2010

Residence Halls Open on Sunday, March 28 at 9:00 a.m.

Q2. Will my bed be standard twin size?

Beds are equipped with an 80-inch, extra-long mattress. Bring either flat or fitted sheets for an 80-inch mattress. Room dimensions may be obtained here.

Q3. Will the beds be bunked?

For many of the rooms, the beds can be either bunked or debunked; Residential Custodial Services (RCS) will do this for you. Contact your RCS green office during the first two weeks of each quarter (East: Lincoln at 740.597-9925; West: Treudley at 740.597-5914; South: Pickering at 740.597-7686). If no one is available at the RCS Green offices, you may call the Facilities Management Work Center at 593-2911 between 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to place your request or you can use the online "Work Request" link located at the Housing web site. Requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. At the beginning of the academic year, it may take a few days to complete your request because of the volume of new students arriving.  If you would like a bedrail for the top bunk, please ask the RCS staff.

Q4. What about lofts?

If you are considering a loft, please click here for more information. Finding out ahead of time whether your assigned room will accommodate a loft will save you time and money. Most triples either already have a loft or do not accommodate lofts.  For safety reasons, no personally constructed lofts will be permitted. University-issued furnishings cannot be removed from the room.  Beds are not permitted to be disassembled.  Rented lofts must be returned the last week of class spring quarter. Ohio University strongly encourages the use of a bedrail with all lofts.

Q5. Will I need curtains?

Most rooms have pull shades at each window. The Convocation Center rooms have mini-blinds instead of the pull shades. If you would like more than a shade or mini blinds, you and your roommate(s) may bring curtains or a valance along with a tension (spring) rod for hanging those up.

Q6. Can I paint and decorate my room?

Room painting is not permitted, however students are welcome to decorate their rooms.  Keep in mind that only 25% of the wall space may be covered by posters.  You also need to remember that no nails, tape, or tacks are to be used on the walls.  You will be held financially responsible for any damage to your assigned room.  Some but not all rooms are equipped with a strip of wood molding at the top of interior walls.  Pictures and bulletin boards can be hung from the molding with the use of "S" hooks and wire.  Removable adhesives are the best option for hanging room decorations.

Q7. When is the first meal served?

Meal plans will begin on Thursday, September 3rd for students as they arrive to campus for fall quarter.

Meal Plans will begin with breakfast on Monday, January 4th, 2010, for winter quarter; breakfast on Monday, March 29, 2010, for spring quarter

Q8. Where will I get my mail?

Mailboxes are located in the lobby of each residence hall, except for those residents in the mod-style buildings and Adams Hall on the South Green.  Those mod-style buildings and Adams Hall residents pick up their mail in the Nelson Dining Hall mailroom.

You and your roommate(s) will be assigned a mailbox for your room. Mail is delivered Monday through Saturday and is placed in your mailbox by 5 p.m. If you receive a package through the U.S. Mail, you will receive a package slip in your mailbox. Packages may be picked up by bringing the package slip and your ID to the staff office during nightly office hours (8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.). Students residing in the mod-style buildings or in Adams Hall on the South Green should pick up their packages at the South Green mail room in Nelson from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  UPS and Fed-Ex delivers packages directly to student rooms.

Q9. Where will I do my laundry?

There are laundry facilities in all South Green residence halls and some individual residence halls, including: Voigt, Bryan, Lincoln, Biddle, Shively and the Convocation Center. Central laundry facilities are located under Gamertsfelder Hall on the East Green, Bromley, and Treudley Hall on the West Green, and under Dougan House on the New South Green. Click here for more information on laundry facilities.

Q10. What can I expect during my first week in the residence hall?

When you move in you can expect to meet a lot of new people. You'll be meeting other students like yourself as well as becoming acquainted with various staff members.

You will meet the Residential Custodial Services staff (RCS), which is responsible for keeping public areas such as the bathrooms and lounges of your building clean. Bromley and Adams Hall residents are responsible for cleaning their own shared bathrooms and should bring cleaning supplies needed for this. You are responsible for the cleanliness of your own room and for your own trash removal. Some residence halls have a vacuum cleaner available for use during staff office hours.

You will meet the Residential Housing In-Hall staff who are responsible for creating a positive living environment and helping you adjust to college life. Most important will be your resident assistant, or RA. He or she is a student like you. Each RA is assigned to a floor section--a group of rooms--for which he or she is responsible. Your RA is trained to answer your questions and to foster community living.

During the first few days, your floor section will meet with your RA to discuss the house rules. Some of these are university policies, but many are decisions that will be made by your floor section. The emphasis is on creating a safe and healthy living environment. As a member of a new community, you have input and a responsibility to create your community.

Q11. What happens if I lose my key or lock myself out of my room?

You are responsible for your keys. Be careful and never lend or give your keys to anyone.

Your safety is a priority, so make it a habit to lock your room when you're not in it and be sure to take your keys with you. If you do lock yourself out, find your RA or another RA in the building to let you into your room. If no RA is available, then contact your green office for assistance. The green offices are located in Jefferson Hall (740.597.9968) on the East Green, O'Bleness (740.597.7468) on the South Green and Boyd Hall (740.597.5956) on the West Green.

Propping open exterior doors, lending your keys to someone else, or letting a stranger into the building are all risks to your safety and the security of all the residents of the building. Residents who engage in such behavior may be subject to disciplinary action.

Lost keys will have to be replaced, and a lock change will be necessary. Your account will be charged for any keys you lose and any associated lock changes.

Q12. What if I am unhappy about my room assignment?

We know everyone isn't always satisfied with his or her initial room assignment. If you are unhappy about your room assignment, you will have an opportunity to change rooms two weeks into the quarter. It's important to note that no changes will be made during the first two weeks of any quarter. After that, if you want to change rooms or are in a living situation that's causing you concern, talk to your RA. He or she will advise you on the best way to handle your situation and, if necessary, explain how to go through the room change procedure.

Q13. What should I bring?

We can't specify exactly what each of you should bring, but we do have the following suggestions based on years of experience.

Necessities

• Alarm clock
• Backpack
• Bedspread, pillow, and mattress pad
• Blankets and sheets (for 80" twin bed)
• Class schedule
• Clothes hangers
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Connect Ohio Book
• Desk lamp
• Dust rag, dust spray
• First aid kit
• Laundry supplies
• Notebooks, pens, pencils, tape, stapler, paper clips, scissors
• Rain jacket/umbrella
• Rolls of quarters (if not using Bobcat Cash) for laundry/vending
• Shower bucket (to carry your shower supplies)
• Shower shoes/flip flops
• Summer clothes (it's hot in Athens until October)
• Telephone if you want to use the landline
• Towels and washcloths
• U.L.-approved surge bars or power strips

Nice but not necessary

• Carpet or rug
• Computer, Printer, Ink Cartridges, Paper
• Dish washing soap
• Fan
• Iron
• Memo board or bulletin board
• Molding hooks and removable adhesive
• Mugs and glasses
• Paper towels
• Radio/IPOD
• Room decorations and posters
• Sewing kit
• Shoe bag or rack
• Silverware and microwave-safe dishes
• Television and coaxial cable
• Under-the-bed storage boxes
• Bike with bike lock

Q14. How do I insure that both my roommate and I don't bring duplicate items?

For fall quarter most new students (freshmen, re-locating, graduate and transfer) will receive room assignment and roommate information around mid-July. Fall quarter students who turned in housing applications May 1 and later, will receive assignment information late August. Students will be notified via email when winter/spring quarter assignments are available for viewing. Late December (for winter quarter) Late March (for spring quarter) you will view housing assignments online through "MyHousing" from our web site, www.ohio.edu/housing.

We provide this information so you may make contact with your roommate(s) before you move in. Most roommates want to introduce themselves as well as clarify things such as who will bring the TV and who will bring the iron. Because space is limited, it's a good idea to discuss what each roommate plans to bring, so you don't end up with two carpets, and two TVs.

Q15. Is there anything I shouldn't bring?

Yes. For your own health and safety, the following items are prohibited in the residence halls:

• Weapons, including and/all firearms and martial arts-related
• Cooking appliances, including crock pots, grills, toasters, or toaster ovens
• Alcohol (if you are under the legal age of 21)
• Candles
• Crock pots
• Explosives
• Fishnet or paper lanterns
• Hot plate or any open-coil cooking appliance
• Illegal drugs
• Personal microwave or refrigerator (refrigerator and microwave provided)
• Pets (other than fish)
• Posters that will cover more than 25 percent of your walls
• Toaster or toaster oven

Q16. Computers

Ohio University has a wealth of computer resources available throughout campus.  In addition, students can purchase laptop or desktop computers at a discount through the university's Technology Depot or bring their own computer from home.  Wireless Internet access is available across campus, and all rooms have an Ethernet jack and cable.  Please visit http://www.ohio.edu/technology/communication/ to learn more about Internet access on campus.

Please note:  The university monitors its network for illegal use of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) software.   Students who use P2P software at home should make sure to disable/uninstall that software before connecting to the campus network.

Visit http://technology.ohio.edu/help/blocked-faq.html to learn more about the university's P2P policy. 

For questions, please contact the Service Desk by calling 740-593-1222 or sending e-mail to servicedesk@ohio.edu.

Telephone

A wired telephone line is included in each room with no charge for local service.  All students should bring a telephone and answering machine with them to campus.  Long-distance service is available with a Bobcat Calling Card, which you can activate when you arrive on campus.  You can also make collect calls or use a calling card from home.  Please note that each student utilizing a Bobcat Calling Card will receive a separate monthly bill.  Visit http://www.ohio.edu/technology/communication/phoneservices.cfm for more information.

Q17. What if I need to ship some items before my arrival?

You may ship items to your campus address. Please time such shipments so that they correspond with your arrival. United Parcel Service will not deliver to the residence halls for fall quarter before Thursday, September 3, 2009, for winter quarter Monday, January 4th, 2010 and for spring quarter Monday, March 29th, 2010.

Q18. How do I check out of my room?

Whether you are checking out of your room (not returning) during or at the end of the quarter, you must contact your RA to set a designated time (make a reservation) to meet with them when you are ready to leave.  This insures that they will be available to properly check you out of your room (signing your Room Condition Report and turning in your key/s).  Please refer to the Residence Life link from our web page under Related Web Sites and click on "Resident Information" and "Hall Closing" for the latest "closing check list" for information about how to properly check out of your room.

A Reminder

Housing and Dining contracts are binding for the entire academic year.

If you have signed the contract to live in the residence halls and participate in a meal plan, you've committed yourself from September to June. You will not be released from your contract in the middle of the academic year, even if you achieve 6 quarters in residence. The binding contract supersedes exemption categories based on hours earned or quarters in residence.