Eastern Mennonite University

A Parent’s Guide to Life at EMU

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What is provided in a residence hall?

Generally, each residence hall room is furnished with two beds, two dressers, two closets, two desks, two chairs and two mirrors. Roselawn, Elmwood, Oakwood and Maplewood have built-in dressers with wardrobes. Window treatments are provided in the form of mini-blinds or shutters. Students may not remove furniture from their rooms.

The single beds provided can be lofted, bunked or kept on the floor. Student-owned lofts are not permitted. Each residence hall provides tv and study lounges, kitchens, laundry facilities and limited storage space.

How are roommates assigned? How do you change rooms or roommates?

Roommates are assigned according to hall and roommate preferences. New students who do not express a preference are matched by computer. Roommate changes are not permitted during the first two weeks of either semester and are only an option after attempts have been made to resolve differences.

Your student should contact the residence director if they experience difficulties. Students who are in a room by themselves need to consolidate with another student or pay a single-room fee. All first-year students are required to have a roommate. Room consolidation must take place within the first two weeks of each semester.

What does a residence director do?

Each residence hall is staffed with a professional staff member who is responsible for the general supervision and management of the residence hall and assists with emergencies. The RD (Residence Director) is also available to advise, counsel and refer students needing special services. The RDs also plan programs to meet students’ co-curricular educational needs.

What is a Community Advisor?

Community Advisors (CA) are select student staff members who live with students on each hall. CAs also plan programs and assist the professional staff.

Do men and women live in the same residence hall?

Northlawn is a women’s hall housing approximately 165 women. Oakwood is currently a men’s residence hall housing approximately 90 men. Maplewood, Elmwood and Roselawn house both men and women. They are divided either by wing or by floor, allowing for complete privacy. The lounges are common areas where both men and women can gather for socializing or studying.

Students are only permitted on floors of the opposite gender during open hours.

What are open hours?

Open hours are designated times where students, family and friends may visit floors and rooms in halls of the opposite gender. By designating times, students are ensured of their privacy. The designated hours for the 2002-03 year are listed as an example. They are reviewed and revised each year.

What is the policy regarding living off campus?

Because EMU believes that residence hall living fosters intellectual, social/emotional, physical and spiritual development, it is required that all full-time single, undergraduate students live on campus. Exemption may be given to students who meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Live with parents or legal guardians.
2. Earn at least 90 semester hours of credit before fall semester registration day
of the academic year in which off-campus housing is requested. (i.e., senior status)
AND be at least 21 years of age by September 1 of the academic year in which
off-campus housing is requested
3. Be at least 24 years of age by September 1 of the academic year in which
off-campus housing is requested, regardless of credit hours earned.
4. Need to reserve an apartment due to marriage plans within the semester
5. Require specialized care as prescribed by a medical doctor.

Students 25 years of age or older on September 1 of the academic year for which they
apply are not eligible to live in undergraduate residence halls, but may live in EMU
apartment-style housing.

What appliances are allowed in the residence hall?

The use of electrical appliances is limited due to safety and circuit-overload factors. Students are permitted to have small refrigerators that do not use more than

1 kwh/day in energy consumption and are UL approved. Microwaves and hot plates are not permitted in residence hall rooms. Each floor has kitchen facilities providing a large refrigerator, stove/oven and microwave.

Does my student need to bring a computer?

Students are encouraged to bring computers. Although there are about 100 PC and Macintoshes in the campus computer labs, that’s hardly enough for all the students.

Every student is provided the option to obtain a login ID for EMU’s computer network. EMU is committed to helping students achieve an appropriate level of computer proficiency, so a computer is a good investment.

Costs: Annual Network Connection $120, Network Cable $10, Network Card $25, laptop Network Card $50 to $75.

Are telephone and cable tv services provided?

Students need to bring non-cellular phones. Each resident will have a voice mail box to receive messages. Students will receive an individual authorization code for placing long-distance calls. Students should consider this code extremely confidential. Charges for long-distance calls will be billed monthly to the student’s account.

As a parent, you may want to set guidelines for phone usage with your student prior to arrival on campus. Televisions are provided in the common lounge areas in each residence hall. Televisions are allowed in individual rooms, although cable services are not available there.

Are there laundry facilities on campus?

Yes, washing machines and dryers are located in each residence hall. Laundry facilities are free to all students living on campus.

Will my student be allowed to have a car on campus?

Students may have cars on campus with a campus decal, which is available at no cost from the physical plant office. Student parking is available in designated areas on all parts of the campus.

For more information contact ...

Housing and Residence Life at (540) 432-4128