FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions)

Are the residence halls safe?

Do I need renter's insurance?

Are students required to live on campus?

How much does it cost to live on campus?

What is the best residence hall?

What is furnished in a residence hall room?

How are roommates assigned?

When will I find out my room assignment and who my roommate will be?

What do I do if I want to change rooms?

What happens if my roommate and I don't get along?

Once I receive my room assignment, can I see my room?

What do I need to bring?

May I bring a microwave oven and/or a refrigerator?

Will standard-size sheets fit the beds on campus?

Do rooms have telephones?

Do rooms have cable television?

Will I be able to connect to the Internet from my room?

If I move off campus before the end of the school year, do I get a refund?

What is my mailing address?

Is smoking permitted in the residence halls?

Is there a curfew?

What is the visitation policy?

Are there laundry facilities in the residence halls?

Do I have to get a meal ticket if I live on campus?

What is an RA?

Can I build a loft in my room?

When do the residence halls open?

When do the residence halls close?

Are private rooms available?

Are students able to stay on campus during vacation breaks?

Are pets allowed?

May I store things over the summer?

Who is eligible to live in Stickney, Reed and Hoover Apartments?

What should I do if I have a question that isn't answered here?

Are the residence halls safe?
Generally, living on campus is safer than living off campus.  However, since residence halls are public buildings which serve as private residences for a large number of students, security and safety are important concerns. The UWA campus is patrolled by campus police officers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All of the residence halls have fire alarm systems which are tested on a periodic basis and every residence hall room has a smoke detector.

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Do I need renter's insurance?
Since the University assumes no liability for personal property damage, loss or theft, we strongly encourage students to have renter's insurance unless they are already covered by their parent's homeowner's insurance policy.  If your insurance company does not provide property insurance, the Housing Office recommends contacting National Student Services about their student property insurance program: www.nssinc.com

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Are students required to live on campus?
Although the University does not require students to live on campus, UWA strongly  encourages students to live in a residence hall their freshman and sophomore year.  Research has shown that students who live on campus are much more likely to graduate from college than students who live off-campus.  Students who receive a scholarship from the University or participate in certain activities such as varsity-level athletics may be required to live on campus.  

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How much does it cost to live on campus?
When you take into consideration the cost of utilities and commuting expenses, living on campus is very reasonable.  Specific residence hall rates are listed here.

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What is the best residence hall?
The best residence hall is the one where you are assigned because that is where most of your friends will be living.  See the information about Where to Live to make your decision but apply early because many of the residence halls fill up early.

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What is furnished in a residence hall room?
Most residence hall rooms come with basic furnishing for two residents.  Each resident is provided a desk, chair, bed, closet area and several drawers in a dresser.

Rooms in Reed Hall include the basic furnishing plus a small refrigerator and stovetop.  Each room at Reed has a private bathroom with a tub/shower.

Rooms in Stickney Hall have the basic furnishings plus a full refrigerator and oven/stove.  Each room at Stickney has a private bathroom with a tub/shower. Some of the rooms in Stickney Hall are furnished for three students.

In addition to standard room furnishings, apartments in the Hoover area have a sofa, a stuffed-chair, two end tables, a lamp, a dining room table and four chairs.  Each apartment at Hoover has a full kitchen with a refrigerator and oven/stove.  The apartments have two bathrooms.

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How are roommates assigned?
The University of West Alabama encourages educational, social and cultural diversity within the residence halls. Therefore, roommate assignments are made without regard to race, color, national origin, or religion. We do, however, want you to get along with your roommate, so we will try to assign you with a compatible roommate. Since most students do not request a particular person as their roommate, students are matched with similar students, based on answers they provide on their Housing Application (Question #6 - Roommate Matching). Several of the questions are used to assign students to particular neighborhoods within the residence halls.  Additional questions are designed to match roommates. It's not an exact science, but if you answer the questions honestly, you will probably end up with a great roommate.

Some students do request a particular roommate.  If both students request each other and they are assigned to the same residence hall, the two students are assigned as roommates.

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When will I find out my room assignment and who my roommate will be?
Building assignments for the fall semester are mailed out in May and room assignment cards are mailed in July.  Room assignment cards include your room assignment and your roommate's name and home phone number.  Room assignment cards are not mailed out for spring or summer semester.  Students moving on-campus mid-year will find out their room assignment when they arrive on campus to move into their residence hall.

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What do I do if I want to change rooms?
Room Change begins the second week of classes each semester.  If you have found someone you would prefer to room with or you want to change rooms, you may do so by seeing Barbara Dial at the Housing Office (Brock Hall, Room 121).  We want you to have a successful living experience and a great deal of that success is based on a positive roommate situation. Certainly you should try to get along with your roommate but if you can't, we will try to find you another room.  

Room changes are only made during the following dates:

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What happens if my roommate and I don't get along?
Roommate conflicts are a natural part of community living.  Most residents are able to work out conflicts on their own.  Sometimes, roommates find that an outside mediator is helpful.  You should contact your RA if mediation is needed.  Hall directors can also assist residents in resolving roommate conflicts.

Occasionally, conflicts arise that cannot be resolved.  In these cases of irreconcilable differences, one of the residents will need to change rooms.  Most residents decide among themselves who should move when there are irreconcilable roommate conflicts.  If this cannot be decided upon mutually by the residents, the residents should contact the Director of Student Life and Housing (Brock Hall, Room 200).  In these situations, the Director of Student Life and Housing will make the decision about who will move. 

When irreconcilable differences arise among students in the Reed or Stickney Hall, special guidelines are followed by the Director of Student Life and Housing.  If the conflict is between someone that is eligible to live in the Residential Scholars Community (Trustee Scholarship recipient, Honors program participant, etc.) and someone that is not personally eligible to live in the Residential Scholars Community, the eligible resident will keep the room and the other resident will be required to move.  The student that is required to move by the Director of Student Life and Housing may either move to another residence hall where he/she is eligible to live or be released from the Housing contract (and move off campus).  Being released from the Housing contract does not imply that the Trustee Scholarship recipient is released from the on-campus obligation imposed by the Admissions Office.  In these cases, the student should first see Richard Hester to determine whether their scholarship will be affected by moving off campus.

In Hoover Apartments and triple rooms at Stickney Hall, the interests of the majority will generally take priority.  If three Hoover residents cannot resolve their conflict with the fourth resident, the fourth resident will be required to move.  In a Stickney Hall triple, if two residents cannot resolve their conflict with the third resident, the third resident will be required to move.

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Once I receive my room assignment, can I see my room?
Since our residence halls are used for camps and conferences during the summer, we are not able to show you your particular room.  Tours of typical residence hall rooms are available during Orientation and by appointment with the Housing Office.

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What do I need to bring?
Deciding what to bring to college is a major task.  You don't want to bring too much stuff or you'll be falling all over everything.  But you should bring things that you feel will make your room your "home away from home".  You may want to consider the following items:

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May I bring a microwave oven and/or a refrigerator?
Small microwave ovens (800 watts or less) and compact refrigerators (4.0 cubic feet or smaller) are permitted in the residence halls.  Reed, Stickney and Hoover residents will not need to bring a refrigerator since rooms have a refrigerator.  Refrigerators should be energy efficient and must not use more than 350 kilowatt-hours per year (KWH/year).

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Will standard-size sheets fit the beds on campus?
Most of the mattresses on campus are extra-long (36" x 80").  If you are bringing fitted sheets, we suggest extra-long sheets.  If your local stores do not carry extra-long linens, we recommend visiting the following site:

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Do rooms have telephones?
No, your room does not have a telephone or telephone service; however, each residence hall room and apartment have a phone jack.  If you want to activate phone service in your room, you must do so at your own expense.  Most students bring a cell phone instead of getting phone service in their room.  After all, college students are out-and-about more often than they are in their room.

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Do rooms have cable television?
Yes, every residence hall room has free basic cable TV service.  You will need to provide your own cable-ready television and coaxial cable.

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Will I be able to connect to the Internet from my room?
Yes, if you have a computer and a wireless network card.  Every residence hall and apartment on campus is connected to the University's local area network by way of several wireless access points.  Using the 802.11b standard (Wi-Fi), the wireless network allows you to connect to the Internet at a very high speed.  If your computer does not have Wi-Fi, you can purchase a wireless USB adapter at most electronics stores, such as Radio Shack.  Installation is easy, simply plug the adapter into your USB port and you're ready to go.  In case your computer has an Ethernet port, be aware that the residence halls do not have Ethernet connections.  Unless your computer also has a wireless card, you should purchase a USB adapter so that you can connect to the Internet from your room.

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If I move off campus before the end of the school year, do I get a refund?
If an enrolled student moves off campus before the completion of the contract period (before the end of the spring semester or the summer semester), he/she will be charged for the residence hall room for the entire year UNLESS he/she is released from the housing agreement by the Director of Student Life and Housing. Residents that want to be released from the housing agreement must fill out a "Housing Agreement Release Form", available here. In most cases, a student will not be released from the housing agreement after AUGUST 29th unless he/she withdraws or graduates from the University.

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What is my mailing address?
Residents are required to rent a campus mailbox at the Student Union Building.  Your address will be as follows:

Students are encouraged to rent a mailbox during Summer Orientation so that they know their mailing address before arriving on campus.

Mail is not delivered to the residence halls.  Packages should be sent through the U.S. Postal Service to your campus mailbox.  If you must have something sent to you by Federal Express or UPS, you should use the following address: 

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Is smoking permitted in the residence halls?
No, smoking is not permitted in the residence halls. The residence halls and apartments on the UWA campus are tobacco and smoke-free.  This means that smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the building nor within fifty feet of the main entrance to the building.  Smokeless tobacco is also prohibited.

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Is there a curfew?
UWA does not have a residence hall curfew.  We believe that decisions about when a student should be in his/her room should be made by the student and his/her parents.  We do have a controlled visitation policy in the traditional residence halls.  We also lock the exterior doors to the residence halls at 11:00 p.m. for the privacy and safety of our residents.  A resident's room key will unlock the main entrance to his/her residence hall.

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What is the visitation policy?
In the traditional residence halls, visitation is limited to when the residence hall office is open.  Generally, visitation is permitted in a student's room between the hours of 2:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. on weekdays and between 1:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. on weekends. In Stickney, Reed, Hoover and Patterson Apartments, visitation is permitted between the hours of 10 a.m. - 2 a.m. 

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Are there laundry facilities in the residence halls?
Yes, coin operated laundry machines are located in each residence hall and apartment area.

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Do I have to get a meal ticket if I live on campus?
Yes, all residents except for Hoover and Patterson residents must purchase a meal plan.  More information is available here.

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What is an RA?
An RA is a Resident Assistant.  These students have been trained to assist new residents in their adjustment to college life.  They also assist students with housing concerns.

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Can I build a loft in my room?
No, lofts are not permitted.

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When do the residence halls open?
Move-In Day 2008 is Saturday, August 16th.  Students that have reserved a space in the residence halls will be able to pick up their room keys at the Student Union Building (SUB) between the hours of 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Residents will also be able to pick up their keys on Friday and Sunday, August 15th and 17th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  However, we suggest arriving on Saturday since we will have volunteers on Saturday to help new students move into the residence halls.  Since some students are required to attend Orientation on August 15th, sudents that have reserved a space in the residence halls may pick up their keys at the SUB on Thursday, August 14th from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

New residents for the spring semester and fall residents that have changed rooms for the spring semester may pick up their keys at the Housing Office on Thursday, January 8th and Friday, January 9th. between the hours of 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.   Please note that keys will not be issued on Saturday, January 10th or Sunday, January 11th.

The residence halls open for the summer semester 2009 on Monday, May 25th.  Students that have reserved a space in the residence halls will be able to pick up their room keys at the Student Union Building between the hours of 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Residents may also pick up their keys on Tuesday, May 26th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  Please note that keys will NOT be issued on Friday, May 22nd - Sunday, May 24th.  Students that are only attending classes for the second mini-term during the summer must pick up their keys at the Housing Office on Friday, June 26th and Monday, June 29th.

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When do the residence halls close?
The residence halls will close for the fall semester at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 11th.

The residence halls will close for the spring semester at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 7th.

The residence halls will close for the summer semester at 5 p.m. on July 31st.

Students with special travel needs may receive permission to depart up to 24 hours later than the scheduled closing time (see above) but they must contact their resident assistant and hall director at least one week prior to the last day of finals to request the special appointment.

Students who are participating in Commencement may receive permission for a check-out appointment on Commencement Day, but they must contact their resident assistant  and hall director at least one week prior to the last day of finals to request the special appointment.

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Are private rooms available?
Private rooms are not generally available at the beginning of the fall semester or the summer semester.  Private rooms are usually available in the traditional residence halls during the spring semester.  Students interested in a private room should see Barbara Dial at the Housing Office (Brock 121).

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Are students able to stay on campus during vacation breaks?
Housing is available during University breaks but at an additional charge.  Students may be required to move to a central residence hall during break periods.   Long breaks cost an additional $200.  Short breaks cost an additional $75.  Break housing is not available during the month of August.

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Are pets allowed?
No, pets are prohibited except for fish in up to a 20 gallon aquarium.  Patterson Apartments does allow some pets.  Patterson residents should contact the Housing Office for additional information.

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May I store things over the summer?
Storage is not available in the residence halls but there are a few storage facilities off campus.  A limited amount of on-campus storage is available to students who live more than 500 miles away from campus.  For more information, contact the Housing Office.

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Who is eligible to live in Stickney, Reed and Hoover Apartments?
To be eligible for a Residential Scholars Community, a student must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Some of the Residential Scholar Communities have specific requirements that must also be met, in addition to the above criteria.  Please see information about Reed Hall, Stickney Hall, and Hoover Apartments for specific requirements.

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What should I do if I have a question that isn't answered here?
For additional information, contact the Director of Student Life & Housing.

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