Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a residence hall?
A residence hall—formerly known as a dormitory—is the place students call home while they are earning an education. A residence hall not only provides shelter for students (like their older sibling—the dorm), but it also offers a variety of educational and social programs for students. A large staff resides and works in the halls to provide students with support and encouragement while they are away from home.
Q: Important Dates
-Residence Halls will be closed beginning on Friday, March 7 at
10 p.m. due to Winter Break
-Residence Halls will reopen on Sunday, March 16 at 1 p.m.
-Residence Halls will be closed beginning on Wednesday, March 19, at 10
p.m. due to Spring Break
-Residence Halls will reopen on Tuesday, March 25 at 1 p.m.
-Residence Halls will close May 9th at 10 p.m. for the end of the
semester
Q: Am I required to live on campus?
Q: What are RAs, GMs, and ACs?
A Resident Assistant (RA) lives on every wing of each residence hall floor and has been trained to provide students with information about the university, give advice concerning personal issues, plan programs and activities for their residents, and insure the safety and security of the building.
There is at least one Graduate Hall Manager (GM) who lives in each residence hall. GMs are graduate students who have the same responsibilities as the RAs plus administrative services, advise student organizations, supervise RAs and residents of the building, and maintain the discipline system of the hall.
There is one Area Coordinator (AC) for every two or three residence halls on campus. ACs perform administrative services, advise student organizations, and supervise GM staff and RAs. ACs are also responsible for maintaining the discipline system of the residence halls.
Q: What size are the beds?
All beds are standard sized twin. (NOT extra-long twins)
Q: How big are the rooms?
Rooms range slightly in size in each hall, but the average room size for each building is as follows:
Becht: 9' x12'
Ballentine: 12'8” x 15'
Givan: 12' x 16'
Nair/Wilkinson: 11'8” x 14'12”
Q: What should students bring to residence halls?
Q: How do students receive mail?
Students will receive mail in a mailbox they share with their roommate located in their residence hall. Mail is delivered from the Clarion post office to the Clarion University receiving department and then delivered to residents' mailboxes, so add an extra day onto the delivery time of regular U.S. Mail. If a student needs a package rush delivered, ship it FedEx or UPS (or a similar service). The package will then be delivered the next day and the student will be sent a notice or receive a phone call that their package is available to be picked up at the area desk. Extra large packages that have been shipped to a student will be kept at the receiving department where the student can pick them up.
Q: What services does a residence hall provide?
In addition to the services provided by the hall staff, residence halls are also served by two area desks (North and South), where students can check out games, kitchen supplies (pots and pans, cookie sheets, kitchen utensils, etc.), and various other supplies. The office also controls access to the kitchen and microwaves.
Q: When will students find out about their roommate?
Roommate information will be mailed out in mid-July.
Q: Are there laundry facilities in the residence halls?
Yes, all halls have laundry facilities. Cost is $1.25 per load to wash and $.75 per load to dry. Ironing boards are available in some residence halls, they may also be brought to campus by any student.
Q: Can freshmen bring cars to campus?
Yes. Freshmen can park in a parking lot across from Nair and Wilkinson Halls with a $100 parking permit for the year. Freshmen may also park at the university's Memorial Stadium for free.
Q: Are computers available for student use?
Yes, computers are available at both area desks. There are also lap top computers that students can sign out for a 24-hour time period. These laptops can be signed out through both the North Area Desk (Nair Hall) and the South Area Desk (Givan Hall).
Q: What about cable, Internet, and telephone?
Cable, Internet and telephone costs are already built into the housing fee. Each service will be operational when you move into your room, you just need to bring your own TV, computer and telephone.
Q: Is there any specialty housing in the residence halls?
Yes. Becht and Givan Halls consist of all women residents and all of the residents in Ballentine Hall are men. Wilkinson and Nair are co-educational buildings by wing.
Q: When is Move-In Day?
Move-In Day for first-year students is August 24 from 9a.m.-4p.m. Move-In
Day for upperclassmen is August 26 beginning at 10 a.m.
Move-In Day for the Spring Semester will be January 13 beginning at 10 a.m.
Q: What if I have other questions about housing?
Contact the Office of Residence Life Services in 230 Egbert Hall, call 814-393-2352 or by e-mail us at reslife@clarion.edu .