Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Calendar of Openings and Closings for the 2009 - 2010 academic year:

** For a full list of Open/Close information, please consult the HRL Guide.

August 28th	9:00 am - 12:00 pm	First Year/transfer student check-in
August 29th	10:00 am - 10:00 pm	Returning students check-in
November 25th	10:00 am	Halls close for Thanskgiving for students not pre-registered to stay over break. No meal plan service is provided.
November 29th	1:00 pm	Halls reopen for all students
December 18th	6:00 pm	Halls close for the Fall semester. Lunch is the last meal on meal plan for the semester. Students must leave immediately following their last final exam.
January 24th	10:00 am - 10:00 pm	Halls reopen for Spring for all students
March 20th	10:00 am	Halls close for Spring Break for students not pre-registered to stay over break. No meal plan service is provided.
March 28th	1:00 pm	Halls reopen for all students
May 23rd	6:00 pm	Halls close for the Spring semester. Dinner Saturday night is the last meal service meal. Students must leave immediately following their last final exam unless they are graduating, living on campus for the 1st summer session, or working graduation.

I’m new to WCSU and would like information about Housing.
Am I eligible for housing?
Do I need any special immunizations to live on campus?
How can I look for housing if I want to live off-campus?
When should I apply for housing?
What is the $250 Housing Deposit?
How often do I pay this?
Is it refundable?
When is it due?
Can I pick my room?
Who chooses my roommate?
Is the meal plan required?

I’ll be moving in soon and want to know how to prepare.
When do I get to know my roommate and room assignment?
Can I smoke in my room?
What’s the alcohol policy?
Will I have a single, double or triple room?
Can I bring my own bed and/or mattress?
What size are the mattresses?
What about a waterbed?
What furniture or services come with my room?
What phone services are provided?
Can I switch rooms?
May I move in early?
Do the buildings have sprinkler systems?
Can I paint my room?
Can I remove furniture from my room?
What if I need my bed bunked or de-bunked?

I'm living here now and need information.
What are the parking rules, and can I park on campus?
How do I get something fixed that’s broken or not working properly in my room?
How do I get my computer hooked into the ResNet system?
How can guests visit me?
When are the buildings closed, and what if I need to stay?
How can I use the shuttle services between the campuses?
How do I get involved in my floor or hall council?
How can I join clubs or organizations on campus? weight room
Can I be an RA?
What is required to become an ARM?
How do I join the PASS program?
What should I do if I am sick and Health Services is closed?
I'm hungry! Where can I eat on campus?

I’m new to WCSU, and would like information about Housing.

Am I eligible for housing?
If you have been admitted to the university as a full-time, matriculated student, you are eligible for housing. If you are a current WCSU student, you need to maintain a 2.0 GPA and achieve 24 credit hours per year to remain eligible for housing.

Do I need any special immunizations to live on campus?
Yes. All vaccines required by the University are necessary for those living on campus, but you also are required by the State of Connecticut to have a meningitis vaccine. You will not be assigned a room or apartment, regardless of the receipt of your application or deposit, until you have confirmed your meningitis vaccination with University Health Services.

How can I look for housing if I want to live off-campus?
Although we don't provide off-campus housing, when you are looking for off-campus housing, we do recommend the website Places 4 Students, a free service that is specifically designed to help students. Visit their site for more information and to browse their listings.

When should I apply for housing?
As soon as you have been admitted to the University, you may apply for housing. Generally, we have an April 1 cut-off for guaranteed housing for the following Fall semester. This means those people who have been admitted, paid their housing deposit and admissions binder, and who have provided proof of meningitis vaccine by April 1 will be guaranteed on-campus housing at WCSU.

What is the $250 Housing Deposit?
A non-refundable deposit which secures your space in housing each semester. The deposit is a portion of your total cost per semester for your room. This deposit is NOT payable through your financial aid packages nor via the payment plans in which the University participates.

How often do I pay this?
The $250, non-refundable deposit is required for each semester that you intend to live on campus. Deposit due dates for returning students fall at the end of October (depositing for the Spring semester) and at the end of March (depositing for the Fall semester).
Is it refundable?
This is a non-refundable deposit.
When is it due? The Housing Deposit is due for the Spring semester at the end of October. For returning students, the end of March is the due date for the Fall semester.
- New students pay their deposits after they are accepted into the University, and are guaranteed housing for the Fall semester if their deposit is paid prior to April 1st.

As a new student, can I pick my room?
Generally, you may not. Your application will ask you about any building requests you may have, as well as asking you for personal interests and habits which will allow us to make appropriate assignments. This is also where you may request a specific roommate. Please remember -- roommate requests must be mutual! Your friend needs to request you, too.

Who chooses my roommate?
You may always request a roommate, and we can almost always accommodate your requests for that roommate if the requests are mutual. If you don’t have a specific request, we do our best to place you with someone who shares your interests and habits. We do not and will not assign (or re-assign) roommates based on race, religion, sexual identity, or ethnicity.

Is the meal plan required?
The purchase of an Ultimate Dining plan is required for all students living on the Midtown campus and in Centennial Hall on the Westside campus. Pinney Hall and Grasso Hall are required to purchase the Blue 75 meal plan, or may opt to purchase the Gold 125 or Ultimate Dining plans at an increased price.

I’ll be moving in soon and want to know how to prepare.

When do I get to know my roommate and room assignment?
Roommate assignment information is sent out in mid July. You will have plenty of time to be in touch with your new roommates before school begins. Just a reminder- We will not make any changes in regard to roommates once assignments are sent out until at least two weeks after the school year begins, and this is only space permitting.

Can I smoke in my room?
No. WCSU residence halls have been smoke-free since 2001, and State law now requires that all colleges and universities have smoke-free residence halls.

What’s the alcohol policy?
If you’re not 21, you may not consume alcohol or be in a room in which it is present or being consumed. For a full explanation of the policy, please read the WCSU University Wide Alcohol Policy. Underage students in the presence of alcohol, or those who provide alcohol to underage students, may be issued a citation by the WCSU Police under the auspices of State of Connecticut Public Act 06-112. This citation carries a fine and the loss of driver's license for the student(s) charged.

Will I have a single, double or triple room?
The vast majority of students here are assigned to standard double rooms. We do, however, have a handful of rooms that are over-sized and designed to accommodate three students. The fee for these rooms is slightly less. These rooms are not double rooms that have been converted to triples to accommodate overcrowded conditions.

Single rooms are scarce on the Midtown campus and in several of our Westside buildings. Singles (other than the singles in each Pinney Hall 5-person apartment) will be assigned for medical need by the Department of Housing & Residence Life, in consultation with Health Services, the Counseling Center, Disabilities Services and/or your private physicians. If you believe you require such accommodations, please make touch with the appropriate office, and complete the Special Housing Accommodations form, located in the FORMS section of this website. General learning disabilities such as ADHD/ADD or Asthma are not generally considered as sufficient evidence of the need for a single room assignment.

Due to the high demand for WCSU on-campus housing, some double rooms may be expanded to triples for a brief period in order to meet that demand. Generally, expanded triple rooms revert to double occupancy by the start of the second semester.

What size are the mattresses?
Mattresses are regular twin sized mattresses.

What about a waterbed?
Waterbeds are not permitted.
Can I bring my own bed and/or mattress?
Fire code laws do not allow for students to supply their own mattresses or beds.

What furniture or services come with my room?
Each room on campus comes with a bed, desk, desk chair, dresser, and wardrobe or closet. (Rooms that are expanded triples will NOT have a 3rd desk, desk chair, or wardrobe. Students may request such furniture, which will be provided as space and availability permit). Rooms all have overhead lights. Basic cable TV service (no special channels) is provided in each room. Internet can also be accessed through each room on campus, through wired or wireless access. All buildings have a wireless printer available to students as well. Please click here for information on ResNet.

What phone services are provided?
Local phone service is provided. There is no long distance service available in our Residence Halls. Please bring calling cards or cellular phones to make long distance calls. Students must bring telephones that can be plugged into outlets in the wall. Voice mail accounts are provided, and students are strongly encouraged to set up their voice mail boxes.

Campus 911 Emergency service is directed via room phones. We highly encourage all students to bring and activate a phone so that this vital service may be provided.

Can I switch rooms?
Once assignment letters have been sent, no room changes will be made (other than for departmental needs) until after the second week of classes. If you believe you have a problem, do not wait to deal with it, but speak to your Resident Assistant or Resident Director immediately.

May I move in early?
Generally, early move-ins may not be able to be accommodated based on the needs of the department.

Do the buildings have sprinkler systems?
We fortunately have very good fire suppression and alarm systems throughout our campus. Each building is fully sprinkled, and has state of the art fire annunciation equipment. The Danbury Fire Department is contacted immediately when an alarm is sounded, regardless of reason.

I’m live on campus now and need information.

Can I paint my room?
Rooms are painted by our facilities personnel. If you believe your room needs to be painted, please make a request through your building’s resident director to accomplish this.

Can I remove furniture from my room?
Furniture that is provided in your room must stay in your room. The University does not have adequate storage to accommodate furniture removed from student rooms.

What if I need my bed bunked or de-bunked?
University staff will not debunk or bunk beds in student rooms. (* If medical need requires a change, the staff will attempt to make necessary changes as time permits).

What are the parking rules, and can I park on campus?
For a complete guide to parking on campus, please see the Campus Safety website, which details parking rules, regulations, maps and permits. Shuttle service provides transportation between the campuses.

How do I get something fixed that’s broken or not working properly in my room?
See your Resident Assistant or Information Desk to fill out a Maintenance Request Form. For issues involving heat, please see your RD or the RD on duty immediately.

How do I get my computer hooked into the ResNet system?
Please visit the University Computing website for complete details about using ResNet for high-speed internet connections. It’s also important to have a University e-mail account (WestConn Email) in order to receive important communication from around campus.

How can guests visit me?
Guest policies are explained in the Policies section of this website. Generally, you may have visitors over the age of 18 while the Information Desk is in operation. Guests are required to provide identification – Driver’s license, State-issued ID card, Military ID, Passport, or a CSU University ID.

Friends or family under 18 years of age must provide parental consent to be allowed to visit in the halls. Permission forms are available iby clicking above, or in the FORMS section of this website, and must be submitted 24 hours in advance of the visit, or if a weekend visit, by noon on Friday.

Please check with the Resident Assistants or Resident Director of your respective building for more detailed information on obtaining parental consent for guests that are minors.

When are the buildings closed, and what if I need to stay?

The residence halls are closed:

Thanksgiving (Wednesday through Sunday). There is no additional charge for the Thanksgiving Break, but any student wishing to stay must pre-register.
Following finals in December through the opening of the semester -- the Intersession. There is an additional charge to stay on campus during this period.
The week of Spring Break. There is no additional charge for Spring Break, but any student wishing to stay on-campus must pre-register.

Not all buildings remain open for the Dec./Jan. Intersession Break. However, there may be unassigned spaces available if you do not live in a building which is remaining open. These spaces would be available to students who can not find anywhere else to live, but there is no guarantee that any space will be available. Generally, students are required to receive permission from other students living in the halls that remain open during the breaks.

How can I use the shuttle services between the campuses?
Shuttles generally run every 15 minutes between the Midtown and Westside campuses during the week, from 7 am – 12:30 am, and on a more limited basis on the weekends. A full schedule is available from the University Police website, and questions or concerns specific to the shuttle service, please direct them to the University Police.

How do I get involved in my floor or hall council?
Show up and show interest! As a resident student, you are a member – you just need to get involved. And remember, your participation and leadership in these organizations will reward you with priority points in the CULTURE™ program.

How can I join clubs or organizations on campus?
Check out the WCSU Clubs website and The Student Center/Student Life Office for more information about student clubs and organizations.

How can I apply for a job on campus?
Take a walk to the Student Financial Services office. Even if you don’t get work study, Student Financial Services has a list of departments and offices that need student workers. If you’re interested in working at your Information Desk in your hall, please see your RD or the Student Administrative Assistant.

Can I be an RA?
If you are a sophomore with a 2.3 GPA and you want to have a very rewarding experience, consider applying to become a part of this great team of student leaders. More information regarding application availability and selection will be available periodically on this website on the Housing homepage, and on its STAFF and ANNOUNCEMENTS pages.

What is required to become an ARM?
You must have a 3.2 GPA, Junior status, and a real desire to work with students. ARMs get a room, money, and a lot of fun helping students focus on their academic success. Visit this website often for information about applications and the selection process.

How do I join the PASS program?
If you have a 3.0 GPA , a desire to help your fellow students, and have a subject or two that you feel comfortable tutoring someone in, you can be a PASS member. Simply see your building’s ARM to sign up!

What should I do if I am sick and Health Services is closed?
On a small campus such as ours, there are times when the Health Services Office is not staffed - primarily nights and weekends. During these times when Health Services is closed, students are encouraged to go to Danbury Hospital Emergency Room for treatment.

I'm hungry! Where can I eat on campus?

Midtown Marketplace [Student Center Cafeteria (1st Floor)]
Monday - Thursday                        7 am - 7 pm
Friday                                               7 am - 6:30 pm
Saturday                                         10 am - 6:30 pm
Sunday                                           10 am - 8 pm

Midtown Food Court (Snack Bar)
Monday - Thursday 7:30 am - 9 pm
Friday 7:30 am - 2 pm

Westside Market Place
Monday - Thursday                      7:45 am - 7 pm
Friday                                             7:45 am - 6:30 pm
Saturday & Sunday                     10 am - 6:30 pm

Warner Hall Coffee Kiosk
Monday - Thursday 7 am - 2 pm
Friday 7 am - 12 pm

Danbury (Faculty Dining) Room
Monday - Friday 10 am - 2 pm

If you have a specific question, or one that was not answered here,
please contact Housing Office.