What do RAs do?

The primary role of a Hollins resident assistant (RA) is to lead and facilitate a community that supports the academic and personal development of each individual in the residence halls. RAs accomplish this through developing positive personal relationships with each resident, collaborating with various campus offices, empowering individual residents to engage their fellow students, and upholding Hollins community standards.

If I have a problem, who should I go to?

The best place to start if you have a problem is your RA! All RAs go through an intensive training period that helps prepare them for all kinds of issues that may arise in the residential halls. Additionally, your RA knows you personally.

If you've talked with your RA and you feel as though you have more questions, please see your head RA.

If you have worked with your head RA and you still feel as though you have questions, please see your residential learning coordinator.

If you have worked with your residential learning coordinator and you still feel as though you need more assistance, please contact the director of housing and residence life.

What is an "area?"

University residence halls, houses, and apartments are divided into two areas.

• Area I encompasses all of Tinker and Randolph.
• Area II includes the apartments, Main, East, West, and Hill Houses.

Where is the RA office?

The RA office is located on the first floor of West in room 108. The RA office is open 7 days a week from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The office number is ext. 6133. There is also an RA on duty every night carrying the floater phone. The floater RA can be reached 7 days a week from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. The number of the floater phone is (540) 556-5747.

Why do RAs do rounds?

Rounds are done for the safety of every resident. While on rounds, RAs look for safety hazards such as propped doors and unescorted guests.

Who do I call if I am locked out and can't find my RA?

Residential students are expected to carry their room and building keys, as well as their Hollins ID, with them at all times. For the purpose of safety and security, students must not loan their keys or ID card to any person for any reason. Students are expected to follow these procedures to gain entry if they get locked out of their building and/or room:

• Call a roommate for access to the residence hall and/or room.
• During normal business hours (Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), contact the department of housing and residence life.
• After 6:30 p.m., contact the RA on duty if a roommate is not available. The RA on duty can be contacted through the RA Office (West 108, ext. 6133) or through the RA duty cell phone (540) 556-5747.
• If unable to reach a housing and residence life staff member, contact campus safety if a roommate is not available.

Students are allowed three "free" lock-outs each academic year. Every lock-out after the third will have a $20 charge, billed to the student's account. Continued abuse of the system may result in referral to Student Conduct Council for failure to comply with university policies.

Lock-out procedures can be found on page 73 of the student handbook.

How do I get in touch with my RA if I am off campus?

Call the operator at (540) 362-6000 and they will direct your call to your RA.

What do I do if I lose my keys, ID, and/or post office box key?

If you lose your keys between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., go to the office of housing and residence life to initiate a lock change. If you lose your keys after regular business hours, contact campus security to report your missing keys. The replacement cost for an interior room key is $75. If an exterior door key is lost the fine could be as large as $500. Please see page 70 of the student handbook for more information.

Lost IDs can be replaced through campus safety for a charge of $20.

If you lose your post office box key, you will need to work with the post mistress to get it replaced.

What do I do if I want a room change?

Overall, room changes will not be granted during the first two weeks of a semester, or in the months of December and May. Changes may be implemented after both roommates participate in the roommate mediation process with their RA and/or residential learning coordinator, which may result in a renegotiation of the roommate contract.

If the mediation process is not successful, any student who still desires to change rooms will need to obtain a room change request form from their residential learning coordinator or the director of housing and residence life. Before a student is able to physically change rooms, she is required to fully complete the room change process, which is outlined in the current handbook. An unauthorized room change will result in a $100 charge to the student's account, and she may face possible judicial sanctions.

How does room consolidation work?

In cases where one of the occupants moves from the assigned space, the student(s) who remain will have the following options:

• Move to another room with a resident who is also without a roommate.
• Invite another resident without a roommate to move in.
• Move to a single room, if available ($350.00 additional per semester).
• If available, pay to keep the room as a double-as-a-single ($1,485.00 additional per semester).
• Choose to have the space remain open, but at any time and at the discretion of the office of housing and residence life, a student may be placed in the open space. If, at the time a student is placed in the open space the resident of the room informs the new resident that she does not want a roommate, the original resident of the room will automatically be billed the double-as-a-single rate.

For individuals who want to consolidate and find a roommate, the consolidation process will occur in October and March of each academic year. The apartments are reserved for junior and senior students only. At any time the office of housing and residence life will be happy to assist students in trying to find a roommate.

How do I submit a maintenance request?

To submit a maintenance request, log in to my.hollins.edu. Under "Campus Services" in the "Quick Links" section of the homepage is a link for maintenance request forms. Fill out this form as thoroughly as possible in order to have the problem fixed. Building and maintenance calls in residence halls are conducted only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

How do I turn off the heat in my room?

Tinker residents
There is a thermostat in each room so you can monitor the temperature of your room. To adjust the heat, lift the door on the heater and find the switch that can be adjusted from off, slow, medium, or fast. Adjust this switch to the level of heat desired.

Randolph residents
There should be a black knob on the heating unit in your room. Turn this knob to adjust the amount given off by the heater.

Buildings with radiators
At the base of the radiator there should be a knob with a plastic covering. Turn this knob to adjust the amount of heat entering your room.

Apartment residents
Follow the directions posted near your thermostat.

If you continue to have trouble adjusting the heat in your room, please submit a maintenance request.

What items are NOT allowed in my residential room?

• Personal irons
• Halogen lamps
• Candles with burnt wicks
• Incense

Allowed only in kitchen:

• Popcorn poppers
• Toaster ovens
• Electric frying pans
• Hot pots
• Microwaves
• Teapots
• Coffeepots

Students under 21 years of age are not permitted to have alcohol in their residential space. Any animal that cannot live and breathe completely submersed underwater is not permitted.

Why can't I hang things from my ceiling?

Objects hung from the ceiling are huge fire hazards. We ask that you do not hang things from your ceiling in order to maintain the safety of the residential buildings.

Why can't I prop open the door to my building?

Propped doors are a safety hazard. They allow unescorted and unwelcome guests into the building. Propped doors also allow wildlife such as raccoons, snakes, bugs, possums, and skunks into the buildings.

Why do I have to escort my guest?

You are responsible for your guest and his or her actions. If you are not with your guest, then you are not taking responsibility for them, and you will still be held liable for any damages or policy violations they carry out. If your guest is found unescorted they may be taken to the Moody Center or asked to leave campus. If there is a time when you cannot be with your guest, please escort them to Moody and have them wait there until you are able to escort them.

What is the visitation policy?

Guest policies can be found on pages 76-78 in the student handbook.

First-year residents may have overnight guests up to three weekends (Friday noon to Monday 8 a.m.) during the fall term and follow upper-class visitation policy during the spring term.

Upper-class students may have overnight guests visit at any time of the week, not exceeding three consecutive nights per week. After three consecutive nights, there is to be a 7-day period without overnight guests.

What breaks can I stay for?

The schedule for breaks is available in the student handbook. Residential students are expected to make travel plans according to that schedule and leave by the designated closing days and times. Any student who fails to make plans to leave by the designated day and time will be subject to a fine of $100, and an additional $25 per day.

Permission to stay on campus during Thanksgiving and spring breaks can only be given by by the director of housing and residence life. All requests to stay for either break are to be submitted through the online request form that will be available through my.hollins. For Thanksgiving break, the deadline to submit requests is November 18, 2009 (noon), and for spring break it is March 17, 2010 (noon). Failure to submit your request by the due date will result in a late fee.

Students requesting housing over breaks will be assessed a $25 per day charge. No meals are served during these breaks. No one is permitted to stay over winter break.

Students are not to return early from break to the residence halls or apartments. If a student returns to her residence early, without prior approval, she will be billed for the whole break period ($25.00 per day). The university also reserves the right to file judicial charges and assess break fees against students who enter residential areas without permission during break periods.

Guests (including Hollins University students) are not permitted in the residence halls or apartments, under any circumstances during break periods.

How do I get to the hospital?

Carilion Clinic Urgent Care
Take I-581 south to the Elm Avenue exit. Once you exit, take a right. The hospital will be on your left.

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Take I-581 south to the Elm Avenue exit. Take a right at the top of the exit. Move into the left lane and take a left onto Jefferson Avenue. Follow Jefferson. The hospital will be on your left and there will be directions to take a series of left turns to the parking deck.

Lewis Gale Medical Center
Take I-581 south to Tanglewood Mall exit. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right. You are on Electric Road. Follow Electric Road for approximately five miles. The hospital will be on your right.

Ambulance Service
If you have an emergency and need an ambulance, call ext. 6911.

Can first-year students apply to be RAs in their second semester?

You must be classified as a sophomore academically to be considered for an RA position. For other questions about applying to be an RA, please contact your RA or Nickie Smith, director of housing and residence life (ext. 6281, csmith3@hollins.edu).