STUDENT’S TRANSITION TO LIVING ON-CAMPUS
WELCOME
Moving your student into a residence hall signals the beginning of their life on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus.
All kinds of exciting, new, challenging, and unexpected experiences await them. None of us can accurately predict how the college experience will go for your student.
Students’ lives can be a combination of ups, downs, and successes. As they’re on this journey, you can serve as a valuable resource. In many ways, our staff can too. We want students to take advantage of the opportunities and resources available to them on the UW-Platteville campus and develop skills that will help them throughout their lives.
This booklet is designed to be an addendum to information your student has received from our department. We encourage you to look at that information as well, as you will find it informative.
FAMILY PARTNERSHIP
Being a great family partner includes:
• Reading our monthly newsletters and monitoring the UW-Platteville and Residence Life website and social media accounts.
• Asking your student questions and reminding them about things when they need it.
• Encouraging your student to speak directly with an office or professor on campus.
• Talking with your student about initiative and “putting themselves out there.” Many campuses are reporting that students are having difficulties with face-to-face interactions and conflict mediation. These are important skills to navigate as our residents move toward their professional careers.
• Chatting with them about their financial situation. Let them know there are many on-campus opportunities for student employment, some right outside their door. The resident assistant position, for example, pays for a single room and meal allotment for the year, plus a $925 stipend. We find this experience also set students apart when they are applying for full-time, post-graduate positions due to the breadth of transferrable skills they have.
• Discussing your expectations related to drinking, drug use, class attendance, and video gaming.
And, remember, even though they don’t always show it, your efforts to care, show compassion, and ask how their day/week has been going is appreciated. That communication structure may change however, and texts may not come daily like they used to.
RESOURCES TO ASSIST WITH COLLEGE TRANSITION
Transitioning to college can be both exciting and challenging. University Counseling Services at UW-Platteville has identified helpful resources that can assist students in making this transition.
• Set to Go - A JED Program for Transition to College at settogo.org
• Starting the ConversationCollege and Your Mental Health at www.nami.org/collegeguide
• Mental Health Issues Overlooked in College Transition - Special Report at www.webmd.com/ special-reports/prep-teenscollege/20180125/parentsteens-survey
• UW-Platteville University Counseling Services - List of campus resources at www.uwplatt.edu/department/ counseling-services
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
The staff of Residence Life believes that living within an engaged community is an essential part of a college student’s learning and contributes to the academic mission of the university. Realizing that different times of the semester bring different challenges for each person, staff members are asked to work closely with students living in their wings, floors, and residence halls in addressing these needs.
Staff use the following residential learning goals based on student development theory and community need to aid in building a curriculum that will benefit students. Throughout all community building efforts, residents are encouraged to establish meaningful and healthy relationships based on a foundation of clearly set and respected boundaries, open communication, and civil-minded decision-making.
There are multiple ways a student can become engaged with others in their residence hall as they choose. Here are just a few:
• Attend campus events advertised by hall staff
• Engage with hall programs and events
• Participate in hall community nights, hall governance, or involvement teams
• Join their wing in attending the Friday Night Club events hosted by Residence Life every Friday night
• Check out Campus Programming and Relations calendar of events including comedians, crafts, trips, and engaging activities each week
• Log into their PioneerLink account and join one of the many UW-Platteville student organizations
As a parent/guardian you may hear from your student that they are struggling to get connected. Our residence hall staff will knock on their door and issue invitations to join and participate; however, it is ultimately up to your student to take the initiative to attend events, join organizations, and accept an invitation.
NO CRYSTAL BALL
One thing to note: our residence hall staff members do not own a crystal ball. While we are often aware of general trends of what our students may be going through, we will not know a particular student’s situation unless they communicate directly with us.
Our staff members are interested in getting to know their community members. Encourage your student to reach out to their resident assistant regarding:
• Interest areas for programmatic efforts
• Areas of growth – studying habits, getting to know others, learning to live independently, etc.
• Areas of strength – what they’re great at, how they can assist others in the community, etc.
If a student is experiencing a situation that would benefit from discussing it with a resident director or a resident assistant, we encourage the student to initiate that conversation.
COMMUNICATION
While we know you are trying to be helpful by making a phone call on behalf of your student, please note that we are bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regarding what we are able to share about your student. It is in their best interest for the student to contact their resident assistant, resident director, or the department regarding their concerns for the following reasons:
• We truly see your student as an adult – they are over 18 and legally, independent from their parent/guardian.
• Your student is facing an obstacle. It is important for them to learn to communicate through problem solving, and advocate for themselves.
• The students are the ones who will be living with the results of whatever the issue may be. What might be okay and satisfactory for you as a support person, may not be what a student would choose or advocate for. We want to hear what your student thinks.
If you feel your student has exhausted options for problem solving, please do reach out, and make us aware of what your student has experienced. Please understand that while we are limited in what we can share with you due to FERPA, we are able to hear anything you would wish to share with us regarding a situation. For you to be involved in a conversation with your student, via phone, virtual meeting, or in-person, we will request your student complete a Release of Information form for us to be able to convene.
In summary, we want to partner with you, but we want your student to learn to be independent in their decision-making, problem solving, and advocacy skills. Encourage them to let us know what is going on for them. We want to be as helpful as we can through your student’s transition to UW-Platteville, as well as get them directly to resources that can support their academic and social efforts.
COMMUNITY STANDARDS
Everyone in the community is expected to respect the rights of others. Students must make choices to maintain a safe and secure environment and allow all residents to pursue their academic objectives.
Residence Life personnel educates residents regarding their rights and responsibilities that are associated with community living and use them as a guide in making decisions concerning resident welfare and behavior.
To meet the goal of all students achieving the pursuit of their academic objectives, standards of behavior, and policies have been set for which you will be accountable. These include, but are not limited to:
• UW-Platteville Residence Hall Handbook (also found online)
• UW-Platteville Student Handbook
• UW System chapters
• Wisconsin state law
• Federal laws of the United States of America
INDEPENDENCE AND PERSONAL DECISION MAKING
Students need to read and pay attention to policies, procedures, process, and possible consequences for noncompliance. As responsible members of the residence hall community, students are expected to know the community standards and follow policies and procedures.
We communicate directly with your student, and they are responsible for knowing and responding to the information appropriately. You know your student best, if they need extra support in keeping track of deadlines and details, please talk with them about how you can assist, and how they can ask for help.
They are adults and responsible for their actions or inactions, and many times you will hear from our staff that we want to speak with a resident directly about
their experience, not through a parent or guardian. This is to assist them in learning how to navigate the world independently.
If your student has questions or concerns, the residence hall staff can be a good resource, but your student must be willing to communicate with them. Our staff can’t fix all problems, or any, if they don’t know about them. They can respond to problems and try to help and refer your student to another department on campus for the best possible outcome.
RESIDENCE HALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
• The Residence Hall Policy Handbook is available online at www.uwplatt.edu/department/residence-life/policies. Residence hall staff review policies with residents during their first wing meeting. Students are responsible for reviewing and understanding the contents of the handbook.
• The handbook contains information about Residence Life regulations and policies, including snow removal for parking regulations. The handbook also provides information about the residence hall disciplinary system.
STUDENT CONDUCT PROCESS
The Residence Life philosophy on discipline comes from an educational perspective which complements the academic goals and assists in the development of the individual holistically. This is approached through the following steps:
• Information is given to the students upon arrival. Each resident receives the Residence Hall Handbook electronically. They are also discussed at wing meetings and highlighted through hall newsletters, posters, etc.
• When a resident makes inappropriate decisions, the behavior is confronted. The staff tries to help residents modify the behavior through the discipline process.
The choice lies with the student to make a change to their behavior. Through Residence Life, sanctions can include, but is not limited to, educational sanctions, written reprimands, or disciplinary residence hall contract termination for repetitive policy violations. Disciplinary termination will result in a housing refund to the student of 50% of prorated rental fee, and forfeiture of the remaining room charge and prepayment. In the case of emergency suspension from UW-Platteville, this contract will be terminated immediately.
If a student’s behavior is detrimental to the community in which they live or is repetitive or severe enough in nature to impede their academic progress, the student will be sanctioned to move to another residence hall, or their residence hall contract could be cancelled altogether.
STEPS IN THE DISCIPLINE PROCESS
• Inappropriate behavior occurs.
• Residence Life staff files an incident report (or University Police may be contacted dependent upon incident severity).
• In most cases, the resident director sends a hearing letter via email to those individuals involved in the incident to set up an appointment to discuss the situation. It is best that the meeting occurs as soon as possible while the facts are still clear. For repeat offenders and serious violations, the initial contact will be from an assistant/associate director. Residence Life reserves the right to refer disciplinary cases and/or consult with University Police and/or the Dean of Students Office to determine next steps.
• The purpose of the initial hearing meeting is for the resident director or assistant/ associate director to gather all pertinent information about the incident. The student is asked to explain exactly what happened. After the student shares their perception, their role in the incident is examined by the RD/AD with the incident report written by staff members confronting the situation. If a student chooses not to meet with the RD/AD, a decision will be made without benefit of their input, so it is in the best interest of the student to meet with the RD/AD and discuss the situation.
• Following all input and fact gathering, the RD/AD will decide whether the student’s behavior violated any rules, policies, or laws. If necessary, an appropriate sanction will be given.
• The student will receive an emailed sanction letter explaining the findings of the meeting. If sanctions were implemented, the resident has the right to appeal the decision to the hearing officer’s supervisor.
A student’s conduct file is cumulative throughout their whole academic career. If they are involved in multiple offenses, sanctions can be implemented in not only our department, but also through the Dean of Students Office, and State of Wisconsin. Many times, potential employers or landlords reach out for disciplinary and rental references and recommendations based on a student’s conduct file. The university will not submit a reference or recommendation without a student’s knowledge or release to do so unless court mandated.
RENTER’S INSURANCE
Neither UW-Platteville nor Residence Life is liable if your property is lost, stolen, or damaged in any way, anywhere on the premises (including storage facilities), under any circumstances.
Residents are liable for all damages to their residence hall room/suite and belongings, and to neighbors’ residence hall rooms/suites and belongings that occur due to their, or their guests’, actions. Renter’s insurance protects you from financial loss if there is a fire, leak, or flood in your residence hall space..
While not required, it is highly encouraged that residents purchase renter’s insurance while they live in the residence halls.
IN-HALL AMENITIES
Residence Life strives to make our residence halls feel like home for all residents. We continuously look at what updates can be made to create a comfortable living environment. Each hall has specific amenities it offers to residents. Visit www.uwplatt.edu/department/ residence-life/residence-halls and select your residence assigned hall for the following information:
• Residence hall furniture dimensions
• Residence hall room layout dimensions
• Public area information
LAUNDRY IN THE RESIDENCE HALL
ID/card swipe washers and dryers are in the laundry room of each hall for your use. Monetary amounts may be added to a student’s eAccounts by visiting: https:// eacct-uwplatt-sp.transactcampus.com/eaccounts/ anonymoushome.aspx. The cost for these machines are $1.50 per one washer load and $1.50 for one dryer load. There is an option to add for additional drying minutes. Prices are subject to change. Rountree Commons laundry room costs are included in the residence hall fee. Courtesy and respect for others’ property should always be practiced in the shared use of these facilities. Laundry machine maintenance concerns should be reported to CSC Serviceworks. Contact information is in each residence hall laundry room. Requests for refunds can be directed to laundry@uwplatt.edu.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE RESIDENCE HALL
Television
Television lounges with access to cable are available in every residence hall. Many students choose to utilize streaming services via smart televisions or devices.
Wi-Fi
Every bedroom has Wi-Fi internet and is also equipped with multiple data jacks, so students don’t have to share their connection with a roommate. With these connections, students can access email, network storage, the internet, and more. Network support is available to assist them.
Computers
If your student does not have their own computer to connect to the network, they may use the computer lab in their residence hall, which is in the basement of the hall. Southwest Hall has one computer located in each of the study rooms for use by residents within the hall. Bridgeway Commons and Rountree Commons have computer kiosk stations within the public lobby areas.
MAIL AND PACKAGE DELIVERY TO THE RESIDENCE HALL
Mail and packages are delivered daily to the residence halls via the front desk. Each resident shares a mailbox with their roommate. Packages are logged via the residence hall front desk system. An email is sent to the resident when a package is ready to be picked up.
To receive mail, it must be addressed with your student’s full name, room number, and street address of their residence hall. Their campus address is listed on the residence hall website: www.uwplatt.edu/department/ residence-life/residence-halls
It is important that students update their address in PASS and with online shopping vendors (Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc.) throughout their academic career at UW-Platteville as packages cannot always be forwarded or returned to sender. UW-Platteville and Residence Life are not responsible for damaged, lost, or stolen packages.
RESIDENCE HALL MAINTENANCE
When something in the room or suite needs to be repaired, students can submit a work request through the 24-hour Facilities Management SharePoint site: https://uwplatt.sharepoint.com/sites/ buildingsandgroundmaintenance/. Repairs are handled by maintenance staff as soon as possible. In Rountree Commons, work orders need to be submitted via the Rountree resident portal. In the event of a facilities emergency, students should contact residence hall staff to assist.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
University Police are on call and patrolling our campus 24/7, every day of the year, to protect our students and their vehicles. Our facilities are locked 24/7 and residents will access their building using their student ID or, for Rountree Commons residents, a key fob. Every residence hall has an on-call staff member, trained in emergency protocols, who can assist residents. Additionally, UW-Platteville offers Safe Walk and shuttle services for its students, and there are accessible emergency blue light call boxes across campus.
We encourage all residents to download the RAVE Guardian to their smartphones. This app is free to UW-Platteville students and can keep students notified in the event of a UW-Platteville emergency. Additionally, there are tools for students to utilize including a personal safety timer, the ability to send a confidential tip, or call University Police directly.
For more information on safety and emergency preparedness at UW-Platteville, please visit www.uwplatt.edu/department/crimeprevention-and-security/emergency-preparedness.
ROOM RESERVATIONS, CHANGES, CHARGES, ETC.
Information about the room reservation process and deadlines will be widely publicized during the fall semester. It is extremely important that students pay attention to dates, procedures, etc. Students should check the Residence Life SharePoint as well as their uwplatt.edu email for more information.
RESIDENCY POLICY
Residence Life adheres to the UW System Board of Regents Residency Requirement which states that any student living further than 40 miles away from campus is required to live on campus for the first two years of their academic career. Residents will be reminded of this policy throughout the year.
• Each year the department is notified of second-year students who have been encouraged to move off-campus to live with friends and have signed leases, sometimes by their parents or guardians. This is in direct violation of the Residency Requirement, and in these cases, the student is then charged a double-occupancy room rate in addition to their off-campus lease. Freshman and sophomore students are required to live on campus and will not be able to cancel their housing agreement unless they are withdrawing from the university.
• During the spring semester, those second-year residents who have not yet completed a residence hall contract for the following year will be notified of the policy and a hold will be placed on their account, preventing them from registering for classes. A resident can schedule an appeal meeting with a Residence Life administrator to lift the hold; they are not released until they have received proper authorization.
• Students who are not required, but choose to sign a rental agreement, will be held to their contract unless they are no longer attending UW-Platteville. By submitting the electronic room rental agreement, they are entering into an academic year contract and financially obligated for rental in the residence halls for the academic year. Exceptions to this will be available to students who participate in a recognized university program that requires the student to live away from this area such as student teaching, internship, co-op, and study abroad.
ROOM CHANGES
• Students can change rooms after the 10th day of classes. This waiting period allows for administrative details to be complete for the semester with continued pending contracts and offers students the opportunity to get to know their roommate.
• Residents should talk with their hall staff first about room changes. Your resident assistant or the hall resident director will be the best source of information.
• We need to hear from the resident regarding room changes. Staff will not move a resident if someone other than the resident speaks with us about the situation.
• If your roommate checks out of the room, you will NOT automatically have a single room. Single rooms are only available in McGregor or Wilgus Halls. There is a first-come, first-served waitlist for students on the department SharePoint site. First semester freshmen are not eligible for these single rooms unless there is an extenuating circumstance, and it has been approved by the department.
CHECKING OUT OF YOUR ROOM
• Residents need to check out of their room with a staff member. Staff will check the space for damages with you and make sure you sign any necessary paperwork. Residents are billed for their space until they complete this paperwork with staff, and their key has been turned in.
HOUSING CHARGES
• Charges for housing will appear on your student account in PASS. Should you have any questions about these you can contact the Cashier’s Office or Residence Life.
RESIDENCE HALL ROOM RESERVATION FOR 2025–26
Information about the room reservation process and deadlines will be widely publicized during the fall semester. This includes reservations for Southwest Hall (our returning/transfer students only building).
It is extremely important that students pay attention to the dates, procedures, etc. that will be emailed to them, posted on social media, as well as presented to them during community meetings. Tell your student to watch for this information.
A few things to keep in mind:
• Starting in the fall, students can reserve their same room space for 2025–26. This will be widely advertised via posters, postcards, social media, SharePoint, and the website.
• Each student must reserve a residence hall space for each academic year. No one is automatically placed in their same space for subsequent years they are a student.
• Students who are not required, but choose to sign a rental agreement, will be held to their contract unless they are no longer attending UW-Platteville. By submitting the electronic room rental agreement, students are entering into an academic year contract and financially obligated for rental in the residence halls for the academic year. Exceptions to this will be available to students who participate in a recognized university program that requires the student to live away from this area such as student teaching, internship, co-op, and study abroad.
• The process for Southwest Hall room reservations begins in the fall and is available to students with 30 university post-high school credits and above.
• The process of changing halls for the following year to Bridgeway Commons, Rountree Commons, and the seven traditional halls typically begins in February and is based on a student’s university post-high school credits.
RESIDENCE HALL CLOSING PROCEDURES FOR BREAKS AND HOLIDAYS
• During any break, students may sign up to stay in their residence hall at no additional charge. The traditional halls do close for the week after fall semester finals and reopen the day before Winterim classes.
• Bridgeway Commons, Rountree Commons, and Southwest Hall remain open for its residents during the whole academic year.
• Specific information related to hall closing procedures, including dates and times, can be found on the Residence Life websit at www.uwplatt.edu/department/residence-life
PHONE NUMBERS
RESIDENCE LIFE
608.342.1845 | reslife@uwplatt.edu
If you would like to speak to an administrator or need general information related to a residence hall process, policy, procedure, or have a housing bill question please utilize our general office number of 608.342.1845. The office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. during the academic year.
ROUNTREE COMMONS BUSINESS OFFICE
866.474.6236 | rountreecommons@uwplatt.edu RESIDENCE HALL
If you would like to contact the resident assistant oncall between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.* please call the following:
RESIDENT DIRECTOR
OFFICE PHONE NUMBERS
If you or your student would like to contact the resident director of their residence hall, please utilize the resident director office phone number. Their office hours are posted on their office door with a mixture of morning, afternoon, and evening hours for flexible scheduling.
EMERGENCY
In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1 for police or medical need. This is a 24-hour emergency line, seven days a week. For nonemergency related phone calls please call University Police at 608.342.1584 and stay on the line for an administrative assistant.
* For emergencies between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. please call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, contact University Police at 608.342.1584.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Students can access UW Mental Health Support 24/7:
• Call or text 888.531.2142, or chat via UW Mental Health Support 24/7 Portal.
SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE
Call or text 988. For Veterans line, press 1
ON CAMPUS SUPPORT
For both urgent and routine situations, students may contact University Counseling Services at 608.342.1865 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or schedule a meeting using their MyHealth portal.
RESIDENCE HALL FRONT DESK PHONE NUMBERS
Rountree
DATES TO REMEMBER
FIRST SEMESTER (2024)
Aug. 31
Freshman and transfer student move-in
Sept. 1–2 All other students move-in
Sept. 3 First day of classes
Sept. 29 Hall involvement team training
Oct. 6–12 Homecoming week
Oct. 15
Oct. 22
Nov. 26 - Dec. 1
Dec. 14
Same room reservation for 2025–26 academic year begins
Single room reservation for 2025–26 academic year begins
November break, halls close at 6 p.m.; if a student needs to stay they must sign up via SharePoint
Commencement for December graduates
Dec. 16–20 Finals week
Dec. 20
Halls close at 6 p.m.; if a student in a traditional hall needs to stay until Dec. 21, they need to speak with their RD; students in suite-style halls will need to sign up via SharePoint
SECOND SEMESTER (2025)
Jan. 1
Jan. 2–17
Jan. 17
Halls open for Winterim at 2 p.m.
Winterim session; no additional charge to stay in the residence halls during Winterim Session
Freshman and transfer student move-in
Jan. 27 First day of classes
Feb. 5 Application deadline for the resident assistant position applications for 2025–26 academic year
Feb. 11
March 24–28
Residence hall room reservations open to all students based on university credits
Spring break; if a student needs to stay they must sign-up via SharePoint
April 18–21 April break
May 16–17 Commencement for spring graduates
May 19-23 Finals week
May 23
Halls close at 6 p.m.; if a student in a traditional hall needs to stay until May 24, they need to speak with their RD; summer residents will be instructed on moving to summer hall placement
