Commonly Asked Questions

1. When will I receive my assignment?
2. What if I don't like my roommate?
3. May I request a roommate?
4. Can I get a single room?
5. How do I get phone service in my room?
6. I'm bringing a computer. How do I hook it up to the internet?
7. Can I find out my roommate's name and phone number?
8. Where do I keep my stuff?
9. Do I have to bring curtains or drapes for my room?
10. Can freshmen students drink?
11. Can I smoke in my room?
12. When can I move into my room?
13. What if I want to rent a refrigerator?
14. What furniture is provided?
15. What if I don't have a car?

1. When will I receive my assignment?
Arrival packets are mailed during the first week in August. In your arrival packet will be loads of information, and among this information will be your assignment letter. The letter will list your roommate, her/his name, her/his address, and her/his phone number. It will also include your box number (campus mailing address), your phone number, and the price of your assigned room and meal plan. Once you are on campus, people writing to you should use the format below. You will keep the same campus box number every year that you live on campus.

Your Name
Your Box Number
200 Bloomfield Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117

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2. What if I don't like my roommate?
We encourage you not to make any assumptions about getting along with your roommate until you actually get to school and meet her/him. Most roommate issues are resolved within the first two weeks of school. What seems like a bad match at first often turns out to be a llife long friendship. Whenever possible, we ask that you trust that this is the case, and talk through any issues with your roommate. You don't always have to have much in common with her/him; indeed, it is frequently the case that people with too much in common shouldn't be roommates! The Residential Life staff is well-trained to assist in working through roommate conflicts effectively. The first person to contact in the event of a problem is your Resident Assistant (R.A.). S/He can give some sound advice, and even draw up a roommate contract if necessary. The Resident Director, who supervises the R.A., can also be of help if things don't work out with your R.A. If after all else fails, you simply aren't getting along, then there is a room change process. The process is rather simple: if you are aware of a vacancy where you would rather live, then you would go to your Resident Director and request a room change. The room change process starts after the first two weeks of classes. However, space is often limited in the Fall semester, so there may be very limited options. The Residential Life Staff will do everything we can to help in this process.

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3. May I request a roommate?
You may have noticed on the housing application that there was a space to indicate a roommate preference. If you completed this section, then Residential Life will attempt to match you with the roommate of your choice. Last year we successfully matched about 65% of such preferences. Very often, failure to place roommates together is the result of late deposits on the part of one of the requestors. Other times, it is because both parties did not request each other. Sometimes, though, it is simply because we have run out of options and space to accommodate such requests.

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4. Can I get a single room?
Single rooms are few and far between on our campus. Most have been taken by returning students, who have already completed the room selection process. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate most freshmen requests for single rooms.

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5. How do I get phone service in my room?
As stated above, your phone number will be given to you in your assignments letter, which will be a part of your Arrival Packet, and mailed in early August. Also in your Arrival Packet will be information from our Telecommunications Department regarding phone service. There is one phone per bedroom on campus, and your phone will be working upon your arrival. If you have not contracted for a Personal Security Code (PSC), then you will be able to receive off-campus calls but not make them. You can, however, make any on-campus calls you need to make. If you have contracted for a PSC, then you will be assigned an eight- digit number which you may use to make local calls. Students will need to make arrangements to make long distance calls through calling cards. It is important for you to remember not to share your PSC, for, once you have been assigned this number, you can make calls from virtually any phone on campus.

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6. I'm bringing a computer. How do I hook it up to the internet?
Instructions regarding how to utilize the campus network (which includes access to the World Wide Web, the Library Mainframe, and the University's VAX computer) are supplied by the Office of Information Technology Services, and will be available upon your arrival. In the past, ITS has provided some assistance with this, but you should note that there is usually a waiting period for such assistance at the beginning of the year due to the large number of requests. For more information visit the ITS website.

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7. Can I find out my roommate's name and phone number?
Of course you can. As stated above, it's part of your assignment letter that will be sent out the first week of August. All assignment letters are sent as soon as the new student assignment process has been completed, so unfortunately we will not be able to tell you your roommate's name or any other information before you receive your letter.

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8. Where do I keep my stuff?
There is ample storage for seasonal clothing and everything you need to be comfortable in the desks, dressers (or under bed storage units), and closets provided to you. However, these are residence halls, and as such they may not have quite as much space as you may be accustomed to at home. When you arrive, please bring only what you think you will need until your first visit home. If you find that your room can accommodate more "stuff" than you originally brought, you can always bring it up then!

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9. Do I have to bring curtains or drapes for my room?
Blinds or shades are provided on all windows in the residence halls. There is no need to bring curtains or drapes. However, if after your arrival, you want to decorate your room with such material, you are welcome to do so. Just remember that anything you put up must come down at the end of the year, and that you are responsible for any damage caused to the room by the installation.

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10. Can freshmen students drink?
You may drink all the Pepsi, Coke, Kool-Aid, water, juice, or other soft drinks you want. If you mean alcohol by this question, then you know the answer simply by answering another question: Are you 21 years old or older? If your answer is no, then drinking is illegal in the State of Connecticut.

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11. Can I smoke in my room?
No, all university's buildings are smoke-free as per Connecticut State Law. This does not mean that we are a smoke-free campus, as smoking is allowed outdoors on campus grounds.

Residential Life refers to the smoking/nonsmoking variable indicated on the housing application. It must be mentioned that we occasionally receive incorrect information about a student's smoker/nonsmoker status. It is important that students that smoke (outside of the residence halls) indicate this information so that we may place you with other smokers.

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12. When can I move into my room?
All new students are invited to move into their assignments on a date to be determined, beginning at 10:00 a.m. New students should go to Gengras Student Union, where we will have most University offices set up at tables to help answer your questions and get you settled at the University. This "consolidated opening" marks the beginning of your college experience, and is a very exciting time. Do not be worried if you feel stressed and anxious; almost all new students do. Try to relax, get settled, get involved in the activities, and have a good time.

PLEASE NOTE: Students that are attending Orientation Session 5 will move into their assignment on a date to be determined when they arrive for orientation.

Returning Students can move in on a date to be determined. No early arrivals are permitted.

Residential Life staff are still being trained in that last week in August, building preparation is still underway, and the last session of Orientation will still be in progress. Therefore, early arrivals are not possible. If you believe that unavoidable circumstances warrant arriving early or late, please email or fax us this information, and we will do what we can to accommodate your arrival on Friday or after Saturday. We cannot promise anything, however, so you should make contingency plans in case we cannot accommodate your request. Please do not email or fax us with early arrival requests before you receive your assignments letter, and include your name, address, phone number, and email address. Our fax number is (860) 768-7902.

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13. What if I want to rent a refrigerator?
Refrigerator rentals are available. Information on renting refrigerators will be included in your arrival package which will be mailed out in July from the Orientation Office.

If you plan to bring your own refrigerator or microwave, please bear in mind that refrigerators must be 3.6 cubic feet in size or less, and microwaves must be one cubic foot or less.

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14. What furniture is provided?
Each student is provided a desk, a desk chair, a dresser or under bed storage unit, a mattress and a bed frame. There are closets in each room. During opening, a vendor will be on campus selling popular residence hall items such as crates and baskets for additional storage. There are also several stores nearby which sell similar items.

15. What if I don't have a car?
Having a car on campus as a Freshmen is allowed but discouraged. A Shuttle Bus makes regular stops around the campus, and goes off campus to local shopping centers during the first weekend of school. The Shuttle Bus route routinely goes to several off-campus locations throughout the school year, and the Capital District Transit Authority has a bus stop located directly in front of the campus.

Most students do not have much need to leave campus. The University Bookstore, The Village Market, Zia's Juice Bar, Taco Bell, Java City, The 1877 Club Restaurant, two cafeterias, and the Hawk's Nest provide most of the resources you will need.

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