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Frequently Asked Questions About Housing
and Residence Life |
For your convenience, we have separated the Frequently Asked Questions into four Categories. Please select the category below that matches your interest, or scroll through the questions to find the information for which you are looking.
What if my question is not included in the FAQ list?
If you have additional housing questions before you arrive, please contact Nickie Smith, Director of Housing and Residence Life at (540) 362-6281. After you arrive, your resident assistant will also be available to help answer any questions that you may have.
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| The Room and Residence Hall |
What does my room come with?
Hollins University provides each student with a desk, chair, dresser, twin bed (mattress and frame), and a closet. If you would like to see a list of suggested items that you should bring, you can look at our “What to Bring” list.
What size beds are in the room?
Each room has a twin bed for each student. The mattresses are regular size and require standard twin sheets.
Will I have cable and Internet access in my room?
Every residence hall room is furnished with one cable outlet; it is the responsibility of the student to provide the television television and the cable that connects it to the wall outlet. In addition, an Ethernet outlet is provided in the room for each student, which includes a direct connection to the Hollins University network. Additionally, all residence halls are wireless.
Will my room be cleaned?
All residence hall rooms are cleaned and inspected prior to student arrival. Once you arrive, it is your responsibility to clean your own room.
Where are the laundry facilities?
In Tinker, there are two laundry rooms located on each floor with a washer and dryer in each. In Randolph, there is a laundry room located on the first floor. The cost to wash is $1.25 and the cost to dry is $1.25. Both the washers and dryers take quarters only. Students must provide their own laundry supplies.
Will I have a kitchen on my hall?
In Tinker there is a kitchen located on each floor. In Randolph, there is a kitchen located on the second floor, near the Social Room. If you need assistance locating these areas, please contact your Resident Assistant.
Are first-year residence halls air-conditioned?
Tinker is air-conditioned with a thermostat in each room. Randolph does not have air-conditioning in each room, but the hallways are cooled. We recommend that you bring a fan with you if you are assigned to live in Randolph Hall.
Is there carpeting on the floors and are there curtains on the windows?
There is carpeting down the main hallways in both Tinker and Randolph; however, the rooms in Tinker have tile floors. Rooms in Randolph have carpeted floors. Students may bring their own carpets or scatter rugs. In both buildings, the windows have mini-blinds already furnished.
How will I know what my phone number is?
The phone number for your room will be included with your housing assignment information that you will receive via your Hollins University email account in July. The phone number is also printed on the phone jack in your room.
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| Roommates and Housing Assignments |
Will I have a roommate?
All first-year students are paired with a roommate based on the information you provide on the New Student Housing Information Form. We strongly encourage students to contact their roommates (using contact information included with your housing assignment) to coordinate large room items, such as refrigerators, televisions, etc.
How will I be matched with a roommate?
The Housing and Residence Life department will match you with another student who reports a similar lifestyle and academic interests. Roommate pairings are selected based on your responses to the Student Housing Information Form, which can be found online. Individual requests for a specific roommate will be honored when possible.
Can I get a single room?
Resident students who present medical or psychological conditions can request special housing accommodations. Reasonable accommodations will be made to meet the documented need; specific housing requests cannot be guaranteed. The written request must be supported by a licensed physician and will be subject to review by and the approval of the director of housing and residence life, the dean of students, and the university medical staff. The student must execute a medical release form provided by Health and Counseling Services; if the student is under the age of 18, the parent or legal guardian must execute the medical release form.
When will I be notified who my roommate is, and where am I going to be living?
You will be notified of your housing assignment, roommate’s contact information, and other essential information via your Hollins University email account over the summer in July.
Will you give me my roommate’s home telephone number and email address?
Yes, your roommate’s contact information will be included with your housing assignment information that you receive via your Hollins email account in July. However, for confidentiality reasons, we cannot provide any student contact information over the phone.
How are issues between roommates managed?
If you find yourself in a conflict or difficult situation/conversation with your roommate, we ask that you talk to both your roommate and your Resident Assistant (RA) about the issue(s). Your RA is available to assist you in communicating your concerns to your roommate, and will work with all residents involved to mediate the situation. If these initial steps are not successful, your RA will ask for involvement from the Residential Learning Coordinator, Graduate Assistant, or Director of Housing and Residence Life as needed to find the most appropriate/safe solution for all residents involved.
What should I do if I am not satisfied with my housing assignment?
If you are unsatisfied with any part of your housing assignment or room, please talk with your Resident Assistant. She will help you to find the most efficient response to your need.
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| Housing Policies |
Can I smoke in my room?
Smoking is not permitted in any residence hall room, hallway, or social area. Students who wish to smoke must do so outside, and must ensure that smoke does not enter the residence hall. Smoking in the residence halls will sound the fire alarms and cause all residents to vacate the building.
What electrical appliances can I have in my room?
A list of items to bring (and not to bring) is provided online by looking at our What to Bring page. You can also look on our Housing and Residence Life Policies page for detailed information. If you have specific items of concern that are not listed on these pages, please check with the Director of Housing and Residence Life before bringing them to campus.
Can we bring refrigerators?
Students may bring their own refrigerators. We require that the refrigerators are no larger than 4.5 cubic foot capacity. You may also rent refrigerators from the university. These refrigerators (limited number available) have a two cubic foot capacity and a freezer. Rental for one term is $25. To reserve a refrigerator, please contact Gloria Bryant in Physical Plant at (540) 362-6485 or gbryant@hollins.edu. Please allow two weeks for delivery.
Do I have to keep all the university furniture in my room?
As stated in the Student Handbook, all university furniture is to remain in the room at all times. Students will be billed for any university property that is missing/damaged during their residence.
Can I have guests visit me in my room?
You are permitted to have guests in the residence halls. You are responsible for the actions of your guests during their visit to campus; which includes informing them of Hollins University policies. We also require that all guests (especially male visitors) are escorted at any time they are in the residence halls. Your Resident Assistant will provide you with detailed information regarding the visitation policy upon your arrival to campus.
Can I bring a pet?
Fish are the only pets permitted in the residence halls, with a maximum tank size of 10 gallons.
Will I have a curfew in a first-year residence hall?
No, there is not a curfew in any Hollins University residence hall.
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| Housing Procedures |
Can I arrive before check-in?
Unfortunately, we cannot allow students to arrive before check-in. Many of the rooms will not be ready prior to this date.
What if I need special housing accommodations?
Special housing accommodations can be requested by resident students who present conditions (medical or psychological) through the Director of Housing and Residence Life. Reasonable accommodations will be made to meet the documented need; however, specific housing requests cannot be guaranteed. Written requests must be supported by a licensed physician and will be subject to review.
Are the halls closed for breaks and, if so, what should I do?
The residence halls close for all vacation periods, except for Fall Break. During all other breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring) students are responsible for making their travel arrangements accordingly. For Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks, students may request to remain in housing for a fee. There is no housing available over Winter Break under any circumstances. Please review the current student handbook for more information about break housing.
What do I do if something is wrong with my room when I arrive?
If something is missing or you have a request for maintenance or repair work, you should talk with your Resident Assistant (RA) in order to get instructions on how to fill out a work request. Notifying your RA will also help to ensure that you are not billed for missing furniture or repairs needed prior to your arrival.
Who do I call if there is an emergency?
After 6:30 pm you can call the RA Office (x6133) for assistance. In addition, the Campus Security Office is available 24-hours to assist with emergency situations, and can connect you with the appropriate Housing and Residence Life staff member. To contact Campus Security, call x6419 for non-emergencies and x6911 for emergencies.
What do I do if I lose my keys?
Please contact Campus Security in the case of lost keys. Campus Security will assist you in getting in touch with the appropriate Housing and Residence Life staff member. There is a fee for each key that needs to be replaced, which will be billed to your student account. A list of the fees can be found in the student handbook.
How can I ship my packages to Hollins?
United Parcel Service (UPS) is Hollins’ recommended carrier for cost and efficiency. UPS is the only carrier that delivers directly to the student residences. For the fall term, please do not ship any packages to Hollins before the middle of August. UPS holds all packages shipped after August 14 in its Roanoke Warehouse for delivery to your residence during the last week of August, ideally so packages are in your rooms when you arrive. For correct shipping, use your campus street address that is indicated in your student handbook. Only use your PO Box as an address for mailings sent through the United States Postal Service (USPS). When ordering catalog merchandise, be sure to ask how items are being shipped, since UPS does not deliver to P.O. Boxes.
All items should be addressed as follows:
Your Name
Hollins University
Residence or Building (ex. Tinker or Randolph)
Wing, Floor, Room Number (ex. C Wing, 2nd Floor, #231)
Street Address (ex. Tinker: 8212 Tinker Lane; Randolph: 8135 E. Campus Drive)
Roanoke, VA 24020
What if my question is not included in the FAQ list?
If you have additional housing questions before you arrive, please contact Nickie Smith, Director of Housing and Residence Life at csmith3@hollins.edu, or (540) 362-6281. After you arrive, your Resident Assistant or Housing and Residence Life staff will also be available to help answer any questions that you may have. |
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