Parents Orientation: Living on Campus

Presented by Beth McGuire Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life

Office of Residence Life Who we are…

What that means…

• Director • Assistant Director • Resident Directors • Graduate Resident Directors • Senior Resident Assistants • Resident Assistants • Office Assistants

• We are here to support and challenge your students. We are focused on helping them navigate this engaging environment for the purpose of growth and interaction. Their success is our success!

Residence Life: General Information • 10 Residence Halls – all smoke free; rooms/complexes are clustered by first-year students. Stuyvesant and The Netherlands are first-year only complexes. The only residence hall a first-year student cannot reside in is Nassau/Suffolk.

• Full-Time Resident Directors live in the Residence Halls and a majority of whom hold Master’s Degrees • Approximately 130 Resident Assistants live on the floors with your students

How many of your students currently share a room with a sibling at home?

• Communication is the root of 99% of roommate issues. Students are encouraged to talk to their roommates as soon as an issue occurs. Problems only worsen when a situation festers.

• Mediation- Students can go to their Resident Assistants if they are unable to resolve the problem themselves. They are encouraged to first bring a problem to their roommate’s attention before going to the RA. • Room change process: email reslife@hofstra.edu – But your student won’t need a room change!

Please note…

• Room assignments will be sent to the Hofstra Pride email account.

• First-year students DO NOT ALL live in the Netherlands and Stuyvesant Hall. As aforementioned, Netherlands and Stuyvesant just simply do not have upperclassmen residents.

• Move-in Day – Friday, August 28, 2015; 2 distinct move-in times to avoid traffic congestion. What can you expect on check in day?

• Discovery participants – Sunday, August 23, 2015 • Fall athletes – sometime in August and to conference housing

Can I look inside a Hofstra Residence Hall Room?

On our Website!

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What else should I know about the rooms?

• Are the rooms carpeted?

• Can I mount things on walls?

• Can I do construction in the room?

• Health and Safety Inspections – students need to comply with policies • Protect your belongings through an insurance program (personal or parent)

Residence Hall Linens • Designed for Extra-Long Twin Mattresses

• Over 30 Sheet Set Color Combinations • Bundled “Value Pack” options available

To bring or not to bring….

Complete list is included in your move-in brochure and in the Living Factor available online

• While laundry usage is unlimited you should bring detergent • Refrigerators – Up to the residents (1 per room); vendor • Storage – we have a vendor; we also recommend the smaller flatter boxes that fit under beds • Linens – We have a vendor or you can buy on your own – twin extra long sheets • Vacuums? Not necessary • Cleaning supplies? Yes • Toilet paper – we provide!

• Bathroom Cleaning? It depends.

• Maid Service? No! and you can’t contract out for one either!

• One-cup coffee makers? Yes (new this year)

What not to bring…

• • • • •

Pets- Not even cute ones!

Candles – Not even for decoration Extension cords - surge protected only!

Toasters Tapestries or curtains for windows Please review an extended list of items in the Living Factor.

We must uphold the policies of the New York State fire code.

Students can be fined if illegal items are found in their rooms.

THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY!

Most frequent policy violations….

• Candles • Extension Cords • Failing to evacuate during a fire alarm!

• Not showing ID upon entering a residence hall • Alcohol violations • Actions of Guests • Please discuss with your students their responsibility to READ documents and policies!

Is there staff around in the evenings and on the weekends?

• Resident Assistants (RA’s) on duty nightly – 6pm to 8am • Resident Directors (RDs) in office from 9-5. DOD on after hours for emergency situations.

• Counselors on Duty • Dean of Students Staff on Duty • Public Safety-RSRs/CANN • Health Center • Will I be called if my student is ill? –Only in serious emergencies.

What should we do if there is a problem in our room upon move-in?

• Tell a member of Residence Life team. Please do not fix or clean it yourselves.

• During the academic year, students can submit work orders to resolve issues • We have emergency staff on hand for weekend responses such as HVAC, etc.

Dining Plans Please check dining website for any updates to the yearly costs of a dining plan

7 dining plans available. Each plan consists of an allotment of points ($1 = 1 point) that are deducted from your student’s account as they are used. First year resident students are required to purchase PLAN 5 or higher. The dining plans are as follows: • PLAN 7 - $2,300 • PLAN 6 - $2,165 • PLAN 5 - $1,990 • PLAN 4 - $1,795 • PLAN 3 - $1,630 • PLAN 2 - $ 880 • PLAN 1 - $ 465 COMMUTING STUDENTS ONLY

Adding Money Online 1. Students can add money through their portal at: my.hofstra.edu. They select Hofstra On-Line and tab on the Dining Services menu.

2. Parents can add money online once student signs the dining plan contract. Go to my.hofstra.edu and select “Hofstra Card� under parent services box

Can I Ship Things in Advance?

• We do not recommend shipping in advance, since there is no storage area on campus.

• Mail important letters or packages through services with a return receipt.

• Packages will be delivered to U.S. Post Office in Student Center; email is sent to student’s Hofstra pride e-mail account

Questions?

Thank you and welcome to a fantastic new adventure here at Hofstra!!!