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Q. How do I apply for Housing? |
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A. The Enrollment Agreement is included
with the information materials sent to new students by the Admissions
Office upon acceptance to Valparaiso University. Housing enrollment
materials and information about the residence halls are included in
this packet.
For continuing students, materials regarding the
annual Room Selection Process are available from the Office of Residential
Life.
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Q. What are the room assignment procedures? |
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A. Every effort is made to honor the preferences
marked on the Enrollment Agreement. However, it is not possible to
guarantee that each request will be met. The following procedures
will be used.
1. Returning residents (current residence hall
students and students moving from off campus) are given first preference
to sign up for fall housing accommodations during a special spring
sign-up period during the spring semester.
2. New Residents (incoming freshman, transfer,
readmits, and those continuing students who failed to apply for
a room during the special sign-up period) are assigned to the remaining
spaces based on:
* Date the completed Enrollment Agreement is received.
* Roommate preference. (Requests must be mutual
and received within a short time of each other.)
* Roommate preference takes priority over building
preference.
* Hall and/or room preferences.
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Q. How are roommates assigned? |
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A. Mutual requests for specific roommates are honored
when possible. Otherwise, roommates are assigned using the information
supplied on the Enrollment Agreement. Room assignments are made without
regard to race, color, religion or national origin. |
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Q. When will I know my room assignment? |
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A. Notices of room assignments are mailed in mid
July for incoming students. Along with your assignment, you will receive
the name, address and home phone number of your roommate and information
on check in procedures.
Returning students will receive a confirmation of
their room assignment in mid June.
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Q. What is the Study Intensive Community? |
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A. One wing of the 5th floor of Alumni
Hall is reserved for female freshman students, and one wing on the
5th floor of Lankenau Hall for male freshman students who prefer a
more quiet and focused atmosphere for their studies.
Capacity is approximately 50 students. In this community
the quiet hours are established at a minimum of 7 p.m.
until 10 a.m. each day. Students may increase the number
of scheduled quiet hours based upon their needs and the
academic schedule, with an 80% affirmative vote of floor
residents. If you wish to reside there, you must indicate
it by checking the box on your Housing & Tuition Deposit
form. Checking that option supersedes all other housing options. |
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Q. If I want to buy carpet for my room, what size should I buy? |
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We recommend that you purchase a remnant, and cut this to size
once you arrive on campus. In residence halls with built in furniture,
Alumni, Lankenau, Brandt and Scheele, there is 51 inches of floor
width between the beds. Carpet will not fit under the beds due to the
frames attached to the floor. |
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Q. What if I prefer a different room? |
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A. Room changes are allowed approximately two weeks
after the start of each semester. To request a different room, students
must complete a Room Change Request Form available from your Residential
Learning Coordinator or the Office of Residential Life.
Room Consolidation is a process which operates
under the premise that residents paying for double occupancy are
to reside in double accommodations. The process occurs the first
8 weeks of each semester (except for noncom change periods). The
process provides residents in unpaid single rooms the option of
(1) voluntarily accepting a roommate, (2) voluntarily moving to
another double room accommodation, (3) being reassigned to a double
occupancy configuration by the Office of Residential Life, or (4) signing for
and accepting the additional cost of a single room, rather than
consolidating. Freshman students are not permitted to have single rooms, so option 4 is not available to those students.
Those students who do not comply with the process,
refuse to accept a roommate, or refuse to move according to the
policy are subject to disciplinary action and/or fines.
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Q. Can I have a room of my own? |
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A. A limited number of single rooms are available.
Most singles are assigned to continuing residents through our room
selection process. Demand usually exceeds supply. Indicating a preference
for a single room on the Enrollment Agreement or Housing Agreement
does not guarantee the request will be granted. Students who are granted
a single room will be sent confirmation by the Office of Residential
Life; all others will be assigned double rooms and placed on a single
room waiting list.
Freshman students are not permitted to have a single
room. Space availability is one reason, but more importantly,
we feel it is important for new students to have roommates for support
and assistance during the first year experience. Studies have shown
that students having a roommate develop better interpersonal/social
and coping skills during their freshman year when compared to students
without roommates. In addition studies show that first year students with roommates get
better grades, are less likely to withdraw, and generally report
to be more satisfied with the college experience.
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Q. Can I live off campus? |
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A. Anyone having earned fewer than 88 credits by
the first day of fall semester must reside on campus. Exceptions are:
1. Students who Commute from the home and primary
address of a parent or legal guardian.
2. Those who are 22 years of age by September 1
of the academic year in question.
3. Married students.
4. Veterans of active duty with the United States
Armed Forces
5. Those living in approved Fraternity housing.
(You must have a Fraternity Exemption Form on file in our office.)
6. Parents of a minor child with whom you will
live.
7. Those who qualify as an independent student
according to the federal guidelines for student financial aid.
8. Those having received exemption through the
Office of Residential Life.
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Q. When may I move into my room? |
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A. For the fall semester, the residence halls open
at 8:00 am on the Saturday before classes start for all NEW
Valparaiso University students. Upon arrival, you will need to check
in at your residence hall's front desk. Returning VU students may
check in to their residence hall beginning at 2:00 p.m. Students
may continue to check in until 10:00 pm. If for any reason a student
will be checking in later than the evening before the first day of
classes, he/she should contact the Office of Residential Life to make
arrangements for a late check in. Students arriving for the spring semester may move
in beginning at 12:00 noon C.D.T. on the Sunday before classes begin.
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Q. Will I have telephone service in my room? |
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A. The University provides local telephone service,
a telephone, and a voice mail box for each student living on campus.
Long distance service is not provided as a part of this service. Students
may wish to purchase a long distance calling card for this purpose.
You may also go to this link for more information: VU
Telecommunications |
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Q. Will I have cable television service in my room? |
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A. Valparaiso University is pleased to announce that it has recently signed a contract to provide on-campus cable television services. As part of the new service, all residence hall rooms have been upgraded to receive a customized channel line-up with more than 75 channels of entertainment, sports, news, local broadcast and educational content. The new service will be broadcast throughout campus and will be provided free to campus residents as a convenience of occupancy. All that is necessary to receive the service is a cable ready television set and a coaxial cable to connect the television to the cable outlet in the wall.
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Q. Where will I get my mail? |
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A. Mail is delivered daily to each residence hall
desk. Students have a mailbox in the hall which may be shared with
their roommate. UPS and other delivery companies also service the
residence halls, however they often do not deliver during the hours
that the main hall desk office is operating. Thus, the deliveries
are sometimes made without obtaining the appropriate signature. You
are advised to always check with your courier service regarding their
delivery policies. Residence Hall Desk Operations are open from Noon
- 1:00 pm, Monday - Saturday for mail delivery only, then reopen at
7:00 pm each evening. |
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Q. May I change my room or hall assignment? |
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A. The Office of Residential Life accepts requests
for room changes. Requests are granted based on available space, date
of request, and housing requirements. The request form can be
picked up from your Residential Learning Coordinator or the Office
of Residential Life. |
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Q. What is not allowed? |
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A. Pets (except fish), waterbeds, microwaves (except
in Guild, Memorial and Wehrenberg Halls), candles and any open heating
coil appliances are not permitted. Alcohol, drugs, and firearms
are also prohibited.
Due to their high heat production, halogen floor
lamps and light bulbs are prohibited from use. Halogen desk
lamps may not exceed 50 watts, and must have a protective glass
lens over the bulb.
Please note that these are some of the most common
items in question which are not allowed in the residence halls;
this is not an all-inclusive list. For specific questions about
items that do not appear on this list, please contact the Office
of Residential Life. You may also consult the Student
Guide to University Life.
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Q. What facilities remain open during breaks? |
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A. Vacation/Break housing will be offered to international
students and other residents who meet certain criteria. The Office
of Residential Life will usually choose between Brandt Hall and/or
Wehrenberg Hall for break housing. All other residences close
for vacation periods and academic breaks. This includes Thanksgiving
break, semester break, and the spring term recess. Students who anticipate
a need for housing over break periods may wish to pursue an assignment
in the aforementioned areas. Students must meet certain eligibility
criteria in order to stay on-campus over vacation periods and must
apply for housing prior to each break. |
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Q. What are some of the things I should bring? |
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A. Towels, blankets, bedspread, sheets, alarm clock,
laundry basket & detergent, iron, blow dryer, television, stereo,
rugs, pictures, hangers, toiletries, desk lamp, etc. In short, bring
what you need to make yourself feel at home. But remember, there is
limited space in the rooms. Check with your roommate to make sure
you are not bringing two stereos, two televisions, etc. |
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Q. Should I get insurance for my personal belongings? |
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A. If your family has personal property insurance
at home, check to make sure that the policy covers your belongings
while you are at school. If it does not, consider purchasing renter's
insurance. Valparaiso University is not responsible for the personal
property of students. |
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Q. Can I cook in the residence halls? |
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A. Each hall has kitchen facilities for resident
use. Microwaves are available in most floor lounges, but are not allowed
in student rooms (except for Guild, Memorial, Kade/Duesenberg German
House, and Wehrenberg Halls) because of electrical supply limitations.
Since most other appliances are prohibited, students are encouraged
to prepare food in the appropriate kitchen located in each residence
hall. |
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Q. Can I move off campus at any time? |
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A. The term of the Housing Agreement
is a full academic year. Any student who wishes to leave the residence
hall at any time during the academic year for reasons other than graduation,
marriage, permanent military duty, student teaching, or complete withdrawal
from the University, must have approval from the Assistant Dean of
Students for Residential Life or his designee. Cancellation of the
Housing Agreement after July 1 will result in a cancellation fee. |
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Q. Who do I go to with a question or problem? |
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A. Initially, you should go to your Resident Assistant.
Your RA has been trained to assist you and
is an excellent resource person. You may also contact your Residential
Learning Coordinator (RLC). Your RLC is the full time staff person
who lives and works in your residence hall, and is there to assist
residents.
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Q. Is smoking allowed in the residence halls? |
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A. All residence halls and apartment complexes are
designated NON-SMOKING areas. There is no smoking allowed anywhere
within these buildings. |
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Q. Are the residence halls air conditioned? |
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A. Guild, Memorial, Kade/Duesenberg German House,
and Wehrenberg halls are air conditioned. In addition Compass
Pointe Apartments are air conditioned.
There is an added cost for rooms in these halls. In addition, there
are a limited number of air conditioned rooms available elsewhere
on campus for students with documented medical needs. Due to
the limited number of available rooms, medical needs are prioritized
based upon medical need, severity, and consultation with the University
Health Center. There is an additional fee to have an air condition
unit activated in the applicable room. |
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Q. What size are the beds? |
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A. Most beds are a standard twin-size (75 inch).
In Guild, Memorial, Wehrenberg, 807 Mound Street, Compass Pointe Apartments and the second floor of Alumni Hall, all of the
beds are extra-long, (80 inch). Extra-long beds and mattresses may
also be available to students 6’ 3" and taller, depending upon
demand. You will need to notify the Office of Residential Life before
June 1 if you need an extra-long mattress and bed. The Office of Residential
Life will work with other offices to meet requests, but cannot guarantee
that all requests can be honored. . |
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Q. Can I build a loft in my room? |
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For student safety, lofts and decks are prohibited
in all residence halls with built in furniture, including Alumni,
Brandt, Lankenau and Scheele Halls. Lofts may only be constructed
after approval by the Residential Learning Coordinator in Guild, Memorial,
Wehrenberg, Kade/Duesenberg, and 807 Mound Street residence halls.
Construction forms are available from the Residential Learning Coordinator
after a student has formerly checked in to his/her residence hall,
or can be downloaded from this web site.Click
here for the form.
Lofts must be freestanding and may not be constructed affixed to or
standing on room furnishings. If lofts are not constructed properly,
and/or receive inspection approval from the RLC and Physical Plant
Services, must be removed. University furnishing may not be removed
from the room for the purpose of constructing a loft.
The University assumes no responsibility for injuries which may arise
from the use of lofts. Before vacating their rooms, students are to
return their room to its original condition, and must remove all loft
materials.
- Lofts must be constructed only after receiving
approval. The appropriate forms must be approved by your
Residential Learning Coordinator after
your arrive on campus in the fall. Please do not
submit requests in advance.
- Lofts must be free standing and may not be
affixed to or standing on room furnishings; no furniture may be
removed from the residence hall room.
- No decks are permitted.
- If lofts are not constructed properly or are
constructed without permission, they may be removed; the University
assumes no responsibility for injuries that my arise from the
use of lofts.
- Before vacating your room, you must return
your room to its original condition or be assessed a fine.
- No loft may be nearer to the ceiling than 24"to
30", with the maximum distance available applied.
- No loft may block or bridge a doorway.
- Lofts must be bolted together; No nails at
the major joints!
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Q. Can I bring a computer? |
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A. Yes, you can bring your own personal computer
for your room. All of the residence hall rooms and apartments
have direct access to the university network and internet. You will
need to provide your own network card. Each residence hall also has
a computer lab for resident use. To lean more about the specifications
for computers in the residence hall, go to our University Information
Technology web site or click here: http://www.valpo.edu/it |
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Q. Are there lounges in the residence halls? |
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A. Depending upon the hall in which you live, a
variety of lounges are available. Some lounges have TVs, VCRs, microwaves,
pool tables, exercise equipment and more. Others are set aside for
quiet study or group project work. |
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Q. Are there laundry facilities available? |
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A. Every residence hall and apartment complex has
a laundry area with washers and dryers. Equipment operates by a debit
card account (Crusader Cash) or by coin. The cost is $1 per load to
wash and to dry. Crusader Cash accounts are separate from the dinning dollars account, and may be established by contacting the Student Accounts Office. |
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Q. What about parking accessibility? |
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A. Parking areas for residents are located near
each of the halls. All are well lit and patrolled nightly by University
Police. All students are required to register their vehicles with
University Police to obtain a parking sticker. Freshman are generally
not allowed to have cars on campus. |
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Q. Can I rent a refrigerator or bring my own? |
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A. If you wish to bring your own, the refrigerator
is limited to 3.0 cubic feet, and must draw fewer than 5.0 amps of
electricity. One refrigerator is permitted per room.
We have an excellent partner in the rental program, Collegiate Concepts, Inc. They offer different rental programs, and a unique product called a Microfridge; a patented microwave/freezer/refrigerator. Go to this website to learn more about the program. Roommates may sign up together and split the rental fee, and units are delivered directly to the room before you move in. To order, go to their web site: www.collegefridge.com , and select Valparaiso University.
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Q. Is storage space available in the residence halls? |
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A. Yes, limited storage space is located in most
residence halls for use by current residents only. Because space is
limited, first consideration is given to international students and
students who live more then 500 miles from the university. We suggest
that you purchase a 30 gallon plastic tote for placing items in to
storage. |
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Q. Can I have friends or guests in my room? |
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A. Each University-operated residence hall
or living unit within it, may arrange visitation hours (guest
privileges) during which students may have a member of the opposite
sex in their room, with the following limits:
For Freshman, the first four weeks of the fall
semester:
Sunday - Thursday, 10 am - 11 pm, and Friday - Saturday,
10 am - 1 am
After four weeks, (and for all upperclassmen)
Sunday - Thursday, 10 am - 1 am, and Friday - Saturday,
10 am - 2 am
Students wishing to host a same sex, overnight
guest in their room may do so only with the advance consent of their
roommate(s). All guests must be officially registered with
the residence hall staff, and may not stay more than three consecutive
nights. Guests are expected to abide by all University and
residence hall regulations.
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Q. My question was not answered above. How do I find out more
information? |
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A. If an answer you want is not found here, please
submit your question via email to:
reslife@valpo.edu
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