-
Q
Do I need a school physical prior to moving into the Residence Hall?
-
A
Yes, All residential students are required to have a complete history and physical performed by a physician or primary health provider. This form which is included in the Orientation packet needs to be sent back prior to coming to campus. Please note a vaccination history is required as well as the Meningitis vaccine per state law. See below.
The Pennsylvania State House and Senate have passed the meningitis vaccination bill for students residing in housing owned by institutions of higher education. The Act is effective on September 5, 2002. If this is your FIRST time residing in a residence hall YOU ARE REQUIRED to receive the meningitis vaccination; or sign a waiver refusing the vaccine for religious or other reasons. You may receive the vaccine at your health provider’s office. Please submit verification of your vaccine to the Health Center Office.
-
Q
How large are the rooms where first year students are housed?
-
A
All room types and residence halls are open to all students. Size of room varies by hall.
In Mac/ Dav, the typical room size, including closets, is: Open Double - 13' x 17' ; Single - 8’ x 17'.
In Disert, the rooms are divided doubles, meaning they have a built-in divider of dressers, closets, and bookshelves that separates the room into two evenly-sized sections. The total dimensions of each room (including the built-in) is 11'11" x 15'9"; each side is approximately 5’ x 15’.
In South, the double suite rooms are approximately 12’ x 15' (front room) and 10' x 12' (back room). The single suites are approximately 15' x 14'.
In Riddle, most of the double rooms are approximately 12’ x 16’ and the singles are approximately 12’ x 11’.
In Prentis, each room within the suite is approximately 13'x17' (bathrooms and closets are included in that dimension). Rooms on Disert 1st (WWC suites) are approximately 11'11" x 15'9" (bathroom and closets are included in that dimension).
If you want to purchase carpet, we do recommend buying smaller than the dimensions listed above. Please, do not cut your carpet prior to arrival; some rooms may have a column and/or a built in closet. Floor plans are viewable online at www.wilson.edu/reslife. Please note the floor plans are not to scale.
-
Q
How are the rooms furnished?
-
A
Each student is provided with a twin bed (extra-long size), dresser, desk and desk chair. Some rooms in Mac/Dav and South may have desk hutches. Most rooms in Mac/Dav and Disert have a small of bookcase. Rooms in Disert have dividers in them that allow for a great deal of storage area and additional privacy while still having a roommate. All floors are tiled or hardwood.
All College-issued furniture must remain in the room throughout the entire year (beds, desks, bookshelves, desk chairs, etc.). There is no storage for college-issued or personal items during the academic year - all of your belongings must fit in your assigned room. If a student has bought out a double room as a single, the second set of furniture may or may not be in the room at the time of move-in. Whatever furniture is present at the time of arrival must stay in the room and may not be removed.
Bed lofts can be rented through www.877bedloft.com. This is a safe, space-creating option for all traditional housing spaces. Homemade lofts are prohibited. Residents are permitted to flip their bed ends or bunk/unbunk beds on their own but extreme care should be taken. Physical Plant will bunk beds for students once prior to the start of each semester. You can request bed bunking by emailing reslife@wilson.edu no later than August 1 or January 9 respectively.
-
Q
What size bed sheets do I need?
-
A
Most of the mattresses on campus are Extra Long. Therefore, you will want to purchase Extra Long twin sheets. These sheets will also fit the traditional sized mattresses without a problem.
-
Q
Do I need to bring curtains?
-
A
All the windows have some form of covering (blinds, shades, or curtains) so it is not necessary for you to bring your own. Some students prefer adding their own decorative elements to the windows. We do recommend that you wait to purchase or make any window coverings until you move in as the windows vary in size depending on residence hall.
-
Q
Are the rooms air-conditioned? Can I bring a fan?
-
A
No, the rooms are not air-conditioned. You may wish to bring a fan to help when the temperature is warm. It is suggested that you talk to your roommate so that you can plan on what size of fan you would like and if you both want one or wish to share a single fan. Please note that window sizes and types vary from residence hall to residence hall. If you have a documented medical need for an air-conditioned room, please submit a Housing Accommodation request form and submit documentation to the Academic Support Center.
-
Q
What appliances can I have in my room?
-
A
Only small appliances such as coffee pots, irons, etc. that are UL approved and have an automatic shut-off feature are permitted. All appliances and extension cords must be approved by Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) and be in good, undamaged condition. Extension cords may not be doubled up, bundled together, run under rugs, kept in contact with metal furniture, or hung from walls, ceilings, or light fixtures. All computers, refrigerators, and other appliances must be plugged into a surge protector. No more than 1000 watts should be connected to any single outlet. No more than 1500 watts in any one room.
The following items are not allowed in residence halls: triple/quadruple sockets; incense, candles or any items with an open flame; plug-in air fresheners; items with exposed heater coil/element such as toasters or hot plates; hot pots; bread machines; heaters of any type; oil popcorn poppers; halogen lights; appliances over 110 volts or 600 watts; microwaves; or air conditioning units. Otherwise acceptable small appliances such as coffeepots or irons that are not UL approved or do not have an auto-shutoff feature are also not permitted. The microfridge offered for rental through the College-approved vendor is the only microwave/microfridge permitted in student rooms. No other microwaves or microfridges may be brought into student rooms.
-
Q
Can I have a refrigerator in my room?
-
A
Each student is permitted to bring one refrigerator, no larger than 2.5 cubic feet (max. 2 per room). If students would like a larger refrigerator, each room can have one refrigerator no larger than 4 cubic feet (this would then be the only refrigerator in the room). Students can rent a microfridge through www.myfridgerental.com. If a student rents a microfridge, this would be the only refrigerator unit permitted in the room.
-
Q
Is there cable, phone and Internet access in each room?
-
A
Yes, each residence hall room at Wilson College is equipped with cable, telephone, and internet jacks. A separate internet jack and service is provided for each student in a room. Wilson's Computer Services Office also provides an Ethernet cord for each student to connect to the internet; cords can be picked up during move-in. We ask that students do not bring wireless routers/access points to connect to the internet as it can cause problems with our network. All residence halls, Lenfest Commons and most academic buildings have wireless access as well.
Cable and landline phone services within individual student room are by individual student choice. Each of the public lounges has a television with cable. There are also public phones available throughout campus and the residence hall public spaces. There is only one phone line and one cable jack per room, so it is an important conversation for a student to have with their roommate. Students desiring landline service must submit their request via the online form no later than August 1 and January 9 respectively. Students wishing to have landline phone service within their room are billed through their student account. Phones are available for sign-out through the Student Development Office. Comcast representatives will be on campus during the regular move-in times and registration days each semester to set-up cable service for student rooms. Cable service is a private agreement between the student and Comcast.
-
Q
What long distance service is available to students?
-
A
Long distance is not offered on student landline phones. Most students and families today utilize other means of calling long distance numbers such as calling cards, cell phones etc.
-
Q
Can I hang pictures or shelves in my room?
-
A
Yes but do not use tapes, glues or anything that would create a hole to hang or post things to the walls, closet doors or room door. Sticky-tac, Command Adhesive strips, or S-hooks should be used to hang posters, pictures or personal affects. Please note that any damage resulting from hanging decorations is the responsibility of the student. Nothing may be hung from the ceiling or suspended from the lights. No live Christmas trees or flammable decorations are permitted.
-
Q
Are pets allowed in the residence halls?
-
A
Wilson College has a liberal pet policy. The following small caged and aquarium animals are the only animals allowed in the residence halls: hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, chinchillas, guinea pigs, fish, and small non-poisonous reptiles and amphibians. Permitted animals must be able to live humanely in a cage no larger than 2'x2'x2' and no larger than 10 gallon tank (aquarium or terrarium). Students are only permitted one tank and one cage at any time. Maximum 2 mammals per student.
Pets that are not allowed include dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, arachnids, domesticated farm animals, any animal that is illegal as a domestic pet in the state of Pennsylvania, and any animal not explicitly listed as an allowed animal above. Bringing in an animal that is not allowed will result in automatic loss of pet privileges, substantial fine, and possible Honor Council referral. This includes visitor’s pets, VMC animals, etc.
As of August 2011, ferrets are no longer permitted on campus. Because we recognize the responsibility of pet ownership, any returning student who had a registered ferret as a pet on campus during the 2010-2011 academic year will be permitted to continue caring for the animal on campus, with the cage/habitat used during the 2010-2011 academic year, within the parameters of the pet policy. No new entering students are permitted to bring ferrets on campus; nor can any returning student introduce a new ferret to campus that was not registered during the 2010-2011 academic year.
Upon arrival on campus each pet must be registered with the Resident Assistant and the Pet Proctor of their hall/floor. This includes any animals brought in throughout the school year. The failure to do so within 24 hours will result in the loss of that individual's pet privileges.
Pets must be kept in the owner's room at all times. In the event that the animal needs to be transported out of the room/hall, it must be transported in a closed container/carrier. Animals are not permitted in any common space other than for transport in and out of the building. If being carried through a common space, the animal must be in a visible, closed, solid bottom carrier at all times (i.e. no transport on one’s person, in hamster balls, etc.).
-
Q
Can I smoke in my room?
-
A
No, smoking is NOT allowed in any building on the Wilson College campus. Effective July 1, 2012 the Wilson campus is smoke-free, meaning that smoking is not permitted anywhere on the Wilson College property. Students interested in smoking cessation resources should contact the College Nurse.
-
Q
Are candles and incense allowed in the rooms?
-
A
No, for the safety of all our residents, candles and incense are not allowed in your rooms. It is a Blue Book violation to be in possession of candles or incense. Students may also not have anything with an open flame or open heat coil. Plug-in air fresheners are also not permitted as they constitute a fire hazard.
Use or storage of flammable products including gasoline, paint, and paint thinner is strictly prohibited. Weapons, firearms, and explosives (including fireworks) are also strictly forbidden in the residence halls.
-
Q
Do I have to have a roommate all 4 years?
-
A
No. Students have the option of selecting the room type (double, single, or double as a single) that best suits their needs. Singles and Doubles as Singles are on a first come basis as space permits. Allowing students of any class year to choose the room option that best suits them promotes more satisfaction with room arrangements and lowers anxiety over less than ideal room pairings. All residence halls are open to all students based on availability, however to be pulled up as a suitemate in Riddle, you must have junior standing or higher. There is no class year requirement to be pulled in as a direct roommate in Riddle.
There are a limited number of Singles available and the number of Doubles as Singles is capped to make sure there is enough space for all students needing campus housing. If the room type you desire is not available, you can request to be added to the waitlist for the type of room you'd prefer. Note that single rooms and double rooms used as singles are both priced at different rates. Room rate is determined by occupancy. Please note that the College reserves the right to consolidate room assignments prior to the start of fall semester if the need arises.
-
Q
How are roommates assigned?
-
A
Many students meet their prospective roommates during open houses and Premier Weekend. All deposited students are asked to complete a housing form indicating their housing preferences. There is space on this form to specify a roommate preference. Once BOTH students deposit and request each other as roommates on the housing survey, they will be housed together. Students will receive instructions about accessing the online housing form when they receive their Orientation packet in May. Students who do not complete the form by June 1 or do not preference a roommate on the form are matched by the Director of Residence Life using the information provided in the housing survey. Complete honesty in the housing form responses helps to ensure a more compatible roommate match.
-
Q
When are roommate assignments made?
-
A
The first round of summer housing assignments are made in early July; a second round in late July; and then on a rolling basis until move-in. You will be notified of your housing assignment via your Wilson College email account. This email will contain your room assignment, move-in instructions and contact information for your roommate. It is strongly encouraged that you contact your roommate before arriving at Wilson. All assignments are made on a first-come basis so it is vitally important you complete your housing form as early as possible.
-
Q
What is a Resident Assistant (RA) and what do they do?
-
A
As members of the Residence Life staff, these upper class students live in the residence halls and are responsible fore developing the residential community. RAs know a variety of campus resources and can assist residents with transition to campus living. They are available to answer student questions, to build community on their floor, to provide programs for the floor, to support students through friendship and referrals, and to ensure all members of the community are respecting community and campus policies.
-
Q
What types of programs do RAs offer?
-
A
RAs are encouraged to be creative, to provide educational, social and recreational activities, and to consider ideas from their residents when planning programs. Programs can range from Wii tournaments and ice cream socials to breast health awareness and environmental sustainability events. RAs also post informational items and advertisements on their halls. These items might include campus activities, information on Women’s history, alcohol/substance abuse education, excursions, general safety, etc.
-
Q
How many students are there on each floor?
-
A
The size of a floor or hall varies each semester but typically has no fewer than 18 and no more than 50. WWC floors are typically 4-8 student families.
-
Q
Are there laundry or kitchen facilities available?
-
A
Each residential community has a public kitchen and laundry room. All kitchens are equipped with a full size fridge/freezer combo, 1-2 microwaves, sink, and some cabinetry. All kitchens, with the exception of Mac/Dav, also have a stove and oven. Students are responsible for maintaining the kitchen and providing their own dish washing liquid, drying towels, etc. Each laundry room has 2 washers and 2 dryers, coin-free. Students should bring their own laundry products. Please note that horse blankets, rugs with rubber backing, 3-in-1 laundry products, and dryer bars are prohibited in our campus laundry machines.
-
Q
What are the bathrooms like?
-
A
The bathrooms in most of the residence halls are communal bathrooms. There are one or two bathrooms per floor, each typically shared by an average of 25 students. There are several shower stalls, toilets, and sinks per bathroom. The custodial staff on campus cleans bathrooms daily. Because these are shared spaces, we strongly suggest students bring some sort of shower caddy to take their personal belongings back and forth between their room and bathroom. WWC suites, South, and most of Riddle rooms feature private bathrooms.
-
Q
I’m in a room with a private bathroom. What do I need to bring?
-
A
The private bathrooms all come standard with a white shower curtain, curtain hooks, towel bars, and a plunger. Most have a wall-mounted mirror and medicine cabinet combo. The student can request toilet paper refills from Housekeeping as needed. Students should plan to bring any sort of decorative elements they’d prefer, such as rugs or printed curtains. They should bring hand towels and soap (for hand washing) as well as cleaning products and the responsibility for cleaning private restrooms remains with the student(s).
-
Q
Are there designated quiet hours?
-
A
Yes, there are designated quiet hours. Residents of the hall/house will determine the general quiet hours within the first two weeks of classes, and will include quiet hour specifications in the hall/house contract. Minimum quiet hours across campus are 12am-7am on school nights and 2am-8am on weekends. Communities can set larger quiet hours but cannot set a standard that is less than the minimum hours. Courtesy hours are always in effect and there are 24-hour quiet hours in effect during finals week so that students may focus completely on studying.
-
Q
Is there a curfew in the residence halls?
-
A
The College does not have an established curfew. Each student is issued a key that enables her to enter her residence hall. Doors to the residence halls and/or floor are locked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students must use their key to access the living spaces. If locked out, the student must provide a valid Wilson ID to Security or the RA on duty in order to access the hall and/or individual rooms; the ID is verified against the hall roster before access is granted.
-
Q
Can guests visit in the residence halls?
-
A
Yes, Wilson students are permitted to have guests, both student and non-student, within the parameters set by the residence hall community agreement. Each residential community has the right to discuss and determine appropriate times for guest visitation and restrict visitation accordingly. At maximum, students may entertain guests (resident/non-resident, male/female) in the residence hall any day of the week within the limit that any guest may stay no more than three (3) nights and four (4) days in any 7-day period. Guests are only permitted in individual rooms at the permission of both roommates. Overnight accommodations for guests may be arranged through the Conference & Special Events Office. All guests, both male and female, must be escorted at all times. As stated above, the hall vote governs the specifics of visitation for both genders. The guest and visitation policy applies to all guests, including parents and other Wilson students.