Frequently Asked Questions
What items would be appropriate to bring to my room? What’s not allowed?
Housing maintains a
comprehensive list of suggested items to bring, as well as
prohibited items in the residence halls. Please refer to
Housing’s
What to Bring/What Not to Bring site.
What is the
difference between a Residence Assistant, Hall Director, and
Residence Life Coordinator?
Residence Life staff
members live and work in the Residence Halls in order to provide
you with quality and consistent service in your new home away from
home. In your time on campus, you will meet your Resident Assistant
(RA), your Hall Director (HD), and your Residence Life Coordinator
(RLC), who all have specific roles in developing a safe and
inclusive community here at Rutgers.
Please visit our
Meet the Staff section to learn more about the different
staff members working in Residence Life.
How do I request a room change?
Do not
despair! A roommate relationship in college can be managed, and
many result in close relationships that are sometimes maintained
long after you have left the college experience. Building a
positive roommate relationship takes work however, but it is better
to put work into this relationship than endure the problems that
arise when things do not go well with a roommate.
Please visit our
Living with a Roommate section for more information on requesting a room change.
Can a friend and I live together?
Housing is offered on a
first come first serve basis. If you and your friend submit your
applications together and on time, you will be able to live
together if space is still available.
How are male and female rooms situated?
All roommate pairings
are single sex. Most floors are co-ed by room, meaning that a room
of women may be next to a room of men, and vice versa. Several
residence halls that offer a single sex by floor/house option.
Douglass campus is the only campus reserved for all female
students.
Are there laundry facilities available?
What size are the beds?
All beds are extra long
twin. You can find sheets for them at most stores, or you can
purchase them on opening day from a vendor.
How can students get involved in Residence Life?
There are countless opportunities for students to get involved at Rutgers. Here are
just a few ways to get involved where you live.
Special Interest Housing opportunities for students to chose to live with
students who have a similar academic and/or social interests. Explore the many
options available and contact the local Housing office on that campus to express
your interest in living in a specific community.
Join Hall Council within your own building, or the
Residence Hall Association
(RHA), which plans programs and assists in formulating new policies for resident students all over
campus.
Volunteer for the Community Restitution Board and sit in on residence hall
disciplinary cases to provide educational opportunity for your peers to see the
impact of their negative behavior and to restore justice to that community!
There are also several jobs available to students on campus.
You can work as a Community Assistant doing sign ins in your own building on the
weekends to get to know other students in the hall.
You can also
apply to be a Resident Assistant or Apartment Assistant on campus. Upperclass students are responsible
for a floor/wing/house of students in order to serve as a resource, a programmer, a helper, a
community builder, and a policy enforcer.
How do students eat on Campus?
All resident
students are required to have a
meal plan (except those in apartment settings). Meal cards can be used at any Rutgers
University dining hall. Special meal accommodations, including kosher dining, can be
requested and all campuses have late-night meal options for students with evening hours.
Should students bring refrigerators?
Every residence hall
room on campus is furnished with a Micro-fridge. This unit
consists of a refrigerator, freezer and a microwave. The cost
for this unit is included with the charge for housing.
Can students have cars on campus?
Livingston is the only
college that allows all students to have a car on campus. However,
parking is limited at other campuses, so parking is restricted.
You cannot use your car to commute between classes until after
8 pm. All cars must be registered with the
Parking Office.
Is phone service available?
Students interested in having a land line in their room should contact Verizon directly. You will need to bring your own phone.
Are all residence halls equipped with high speed internet?
All residence halls have high speed
internet. The cost is included in your housing fee. Remember to
bring a surge protector to protect your computer and other
electronic equipment. You should also consider bringing an extra
small table or stand for your CPU and/or printer so you still have
working space left on your desk. We strongly advise that you buy
insurance against damage or theft of your computer and other
personal belongings, and that you take your computer home with you
during breaks and vacations. Check with your parents: personal items
may be covered under their homeowner's or renter's insurance policy.
If there are roommate problems, how are they resolved?
The roommates
will complete a Roommate Agreement upon arrival and will be
assisted by their Resident Assistant if problems persist. The RA
will consult with his or her Residence Life Coordinator if
necessary. Educating students on how to live together is a big part
of Residence Life. Be sure to read our section on
Living with a Roommate.
