LIVING CENTRAL. Josh Deacon

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1 LIVING CENTRAL UCO Residence Hall Newsletter for First-Year, new Transfers and their Families Summer 2013 On behalf of the University of Central Oklahoma Housing & Dining staff, it is my privilege to welcome you to your new home away from home We are very excited to have you in Housing this year As you walk around the campus, you will notice the beautiful gardens and the wonderful environment you will be a part of the while attending Central Your time in college is going to be filled with a lot of choices You started this year by making a great choice in living on campus Students who live on campus at UCO typically have better GPA s, are more involved on campus, and have access to more leadership opportunities than those students who live off campus Being a part of the community is more than just living here You will have opportunities to be involved on your floor, in your hall, and throughout campus I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities This will make both your experience and the campus better as a result of your involvement Our goal in Housing & Dining is to help students at UCO graduate from UCO To do this, we provide a safe and secure home on campus, a variety of nutritious food options, encourage community, promote diversity, provide leadership opportunities, enhance character and connect students and faculty If there is anything we can do to help you, please contact any member of the Housing staff Josh Deacon Associate Director, Housing and Dining more information at housingucoedu

2 Living in the Residence Halls Residential Life Staff There are a number of staff employed by UCO to run the residence halls Here are a few of the staff you need to know: Resident Assistant (RA): RA s are students who live on the floors in your hall RA s create community on the floor and are great resources for questions about hall or campus life, important policies and procedures, and create activities and programs designed to enhance residents personal and academic needs The RA s reports directly to the Hall Directors Hall Director (HD): The person responsible for the life in your residence hall community, HD s are full-time staff members with a Master s Degree who supervise the Resident Assistants in your hall Assistant Director for Housing and Dining: The Assistant Director directly supervises several Hall Directors Each is an experienced residential life professional and has a broad background in student development and residence hall management Maintenance Worker: A member of our staff who responds to maintenance issues in rooms Recycling/Sustainable UCO engages in environmentally conscious behavior through broad campus resource management programs, recycling, student initiatives, and green building construction In the residence halls, this includes single stream recycling bins in resident rooms as well as common areas and fluorescent lights There are also recycling bins throughout campus to recycle plastic, paper and aluminum Property Insurance/Renter s UCO s insurance does not cover personal property and the University assumes no liability for loss or damage to personal property for any reason We encourage parents and guardians to check with their own insurance provider to see if a homeowner s policy might cover student s property while at college If it doesn t provide this coverage, you may wish to consider renter s insurance that would provide the coverage you desire Meningitis Vaccination Requirement Oklahoma Statutes, Title , requires that all students who are first time enrollees in any public or private postsecondary educational institution in this state and who reside in on-campus student housing shall be vaccinated against meningococcal disease or choose not to be vaccinated 2 more information at housingucoedu

3 Hall & Roommate Assignments What if I want a Room Change? During the first two weeks of the semester, there are no room or hall changes allowed Room change requests will begin shortly after move-in Residents seeking a change first meet with their Hall Director to discuss the reason why a change is being requested If approved by the hall director the student is then assigned to a new room No changes may be made without authorization from Residential Life staff Students who change rooms without authorization will be required to move back to their assigned room Getting to Know Your Roommate If you ve never shared a room, you aren t alone Living with a roommate is a new experience for many students and the anticipation of getting to know your roommate can be both exciting and stressful Start with the basics Talk with your roommate and ask questions about his or her habits (sleeping, listening to music, watching TV, playing video games or musical instruments) and about likes and dislikes During the first week of school, you and your roommate will fill out your Roommate or Apartment Agreement, which is an important tool to setting expectations of living together and how to handle problems when they arise Even if you requested your roommate and you ve been best friends forever, you ll want to use the Roommate Agreement Living with another person requires communication, flexibility, and willingness to compromise 3 more information at housingucoedu

4 About Your Room Ahh, the joy (or agony) of shopping for a college student s room No matter how well you prepare, you will 1) inevitably forget something and 2) bring more things than you actually need! (Double rooms vary in size) Even within one hall, room size can be up to 20 square feet different Keep that (and your roommate!) in mind when shopping Because space is often at a premium in a residence hall room, you should consider the less is more approach when thinking about what to bring A suggested list of What to Bring and What Not to Bring is on page 6 You and your roommate are responsible for cleaning your own room, and for cleaning up after yourself elsewhere in the building Residence hall community-style bathrooms are cleaned by custodial staff daily Residents in Suite-style and apartment-style halls are responsible for cleaning their own bathroom Each Hall has a common lobby that has a TV, billiard tables, and seating area A DVD player, billiard accessories, electronic game systems and board games are also available to check out when the front desk is open What s In the Room? Rooms are furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, and desk chair for each resident All rooms are carpeted, all windows have miniblinds and cable hookups Bed Sizes: University Suites- Twin X-Long University Commons- Full Central Plaza- Queen (rooms ending with 19 have a King) Murdaugh & West Hall- Most are Twin X-Long All residence halls are air conditioned Vacuum cleaners are available for check out by residents at the hall front desks University Suites West Hall Murdaugh Hall Central Plaza 4 more information at housingucoedu

5 Housing Do s and Don ts By following these guidelines and the UCO Fire Safety regulations, you will be able to decorate and personalize your room to create a safe and comfortable place to study and socialize How to Hang Pictures Hanging up posters and pictures in the residence halls brings life to your room and a touch of home However, you need to be cautious so the walls are not damaged Any damages to the room, including damage to walls, will be charged to residents when they check out of their rooms To avoid unnecessary charges and damages, you will need to follow these guidelines for how to hang things in the halls In all residence halls, painter s blue tape, poster putty/sticky tack and 3M mounting products are permitted for hanging posters and light-weight items on the walls Refrigerators Vital for Diet Coke, yogurt snacks and occasionally Ben & Jerry syou ll want to keep them cold in a fridge Refrigerators up to 45 cubic feet are allowed in the residence halls, with a limit of 1 per bedroom Refrigerators no larger than 45 cubic feet and microwaves that are 700 watts or less are permitted in the residence halls Residents may have only one refrigerator and microwave per room Refrigerators and microwaves are provided in the University Commons and the four bedroom University Suites apartments Fire Safety at UCO University Commons How to Avoid a Charge The following items are prohibited in the residence halls because of the damage that results when used If you use any of these items, you will be charged for damages Do NOT use nails or screws in the walls, door frames, furniture, etc You may NOT attach flat-screen TVs, bookshelves or anything else that uses bolts, screws or large nails Fire Safety guidelines prohibit hanging anything from the ceiling If you have any questions about what is permitted, ask your Hall Director or Resident Assistant before you hang up any items At UCO, we take fire safety very seriously and work closely with the local Fire Marshal All residents should become familiar with the UCO Housing Blue Book for their community (residence halls, apartments) The UCO Housing Blue Book outlines what is permitted and what is prohibited in UCO residential facilities Tampering with fire safety equipment will result in a minimum $200 fine, required Fire Safety education and may result in further UCO conduct action If you have any questions about the Fire Safety guidelines, please contact our office Visit housingucoedu for all of the information you need to know about move-in on August 10 To stay up-to-date like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter! 5 more information at housingucoedu

6 What to Bring, What Not to Bring Here are some ideas of what you might want to bring and some things you should definitely leave at home Keep in mind that you and your roommate may need to share some items (TV, fridge) and that space is always at a premium What to Bring Pillows, Pillow Cases Bed Sheets Mattress Pad Comforter, Bedspread, Blankets Shower Curtain (Central Plaza, Suites & Commons) Towels, Shower Caddy Blow Dryer, Brush/Comb, Hair Products Cosmetics Sunscreen, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Floss Soap Deodorant, Razor Clock Radio/Alarm Laundry Basket, Drying Rack, Iron/Ironing Board Laundry Detergent Desk Set (Pens, Pencils, Paper Clips, etc), Desk Lamp (No Halogen Lamps), Computer Stationary Pencil Sharpener, Dictionary/Thesaurus, Calculator Stamps, Envelopes Stapler/Staples, Highlighters Notebooks, Tape Recorder, Daily Planner What Not to Bring These items are banned from the residence halls because they can pose a threat to the Housing community Candles Cinder Blocks Dart Boards Extension Cords (Surge Protectors are allowed) Fireworks Weapons/Ammunition Halogen Lamps Air Conditioners/Space Heaters Alcohol/Empty Alcoholic Beverage Containers Traffic/Street Signs Water Beds Weights Over 25 Pounds and Exercise Equipment Pets (except for fish in a 10-gallon or less tank) Any Cooking Devices with a Heating Element ( ie Toaster Oven) Things Often Forgotten Surge Protector (No Extension Cords) Tape Measure Sewing Kit Trash Can Mirror Batteries Lock Box for Valuables Carpet/Throw Rugs Clothes Hangers Stackable Crates/Bins Shoe Rack First Aid Kit Mop, Broom, Dust Pan Raincoat/Umbrella/Rain boots Posters/Room Decor Things to Discuss with your Roommate Iron, Ironing Board Telephone Message Board Stereo/Radio Television Refrigerator (45 cubic feet/one per room) Microwave (<700 watts/one per room) 6 more information at housingucoedu

7 Residence Hall Facts & Figures Hall Type Bed Size Floors Elevators Meal Plan Required? Added Amenities Commons 2 Bed, 2 Bath COED Full 3 No No Wireless internet, kitchen, cable, laundry in apartment Commons 4 Bed, 2 Bath COED Full 3 No No Wireless internet, cable, kitchen and laundry in apartment Suites (double) 2 Bed, 1 Bath COED Twin XL 4 Yes Yes Wireless internet, cable, food court, free laundry facility and lounges in building Suites (quad) 4 Bed, 1 Bath COED Twin XL 4 Yes Yes Wireless internet, cable, food court, free laundry facility and lounges in building Suites 4 Bed, Galley Kitchen COED Twin XL 4 Yes Yes Wireless internet, cable, food court, free laundry facility and lounges in building Central Plaza COED Queen 8 Yes Yes Wireless internet, cable, coffee shop, free laundry facility and cafeteria located inside the building Murdaugh Hall Male Twin XL 3 No Yes Wireless internet, centrally located, community bathroom, and free laundry facility West Hall Female Twin XL 3 No Yes Wireless internet, centrally located, community bathroom, and free laundry facility *Move in starts at 9:00 am on August 10, 2013 Get Connected with Housing & Dining Online! Before you move in make sure and like our Facebook page for up-to-date events, giveaways and contests: facebookcom/ucohousingandding Also, find us on and Instagram at Instagramcom/ucohousinganddining Check Out our 360 Tours! View the space you will be living in before you move onto campus This tour allows you to see everything from the floor to the ceiling Visit this website: newspin360com/tour/ok/edmond/uco/housing/ 7 more information at housingucoedu

8 Other Helpful Facts UCO Community Standards and The Blue Book The Community Standards for students living on campus establish the fundamental guidelines for group living by seeking to balance individual freedoms with the rights of the community, to establish communities that recognize and celebrate the dignity and self-worth of all community members, to support positive choices made by students, and to hold residents accountable when they choose to violate these standards Resident students are also expected to abide by policies in the UCO Student Handbook, available on line The Blue Book on the Housing website contains the Community Standards as well as information about your housing contract, residence hall policies and services Parent Newsletter Residence Life has established an electronic newsletter for parents of residential students The newsletter is published twice a semester and contains news and information about upcoming events See our website housingucoedu for more information Bikes Mail There is a $3250 per semester mail service fee Each resident is provided with a United States Postal Service Post Office Box All residents will pick up their mailbox key at check in West and Murdaugh residents will receive their mail in a PO Box located directly beside the Broncho Stamp n Post Counter University Commons, University Suites and Central Plaza residents will receive their mail in a PO Box in or near their building Mailboxes for Central Plaza residents are located in the hall outside of entrance to the elevators Mailboxes for Suites residents are located in the Suites Lobby Commons mailboxes are located near Building 2 and Building 3 of the Commons All residents should return their mailbox keys to the front desk upon checkout Boxes are serviced Monday through Friday throughout the year, except for holidays Outdoor bike racks are available adjacent to all residence halls Bikes may not be stored in residence halls If you want to Bum-A-Bike go to Cycology located at the southeast side of Murdaugh Hall Bum-A-Bike is a free bike rental service offered for two weeks at a time They are open 8 am to 5 pm 8 more information at housingucoedu

9 Services for Residents UCO offers a variety of services for resident students to help make this a home away from home We work with several companies and campus partners to bring services that will be helpful to both students and their parents alike 9 Housing & Dining s Easy Payment Plan Enroll today in a payment plan for your fall Housing & Dining charges If you aren t planning on paying off your entire Housing and Dining balance by September 1, 2013, this is a great option for you If your balance is not paid in full by August 31 or you have not already enrolled in a payment plan, you will be auto enrolled and charged a late fee of $50 The payment plan splits your Housing & Dining charges into four equal payments that are due on the first of each month with the first payment due on September 1, 2013 To get more information about this plan, visit our website at: wwwucoedu/administration/housing/parents/payment-scheduleasp or call Cathi White at for assistance Laundry Laundry rooms are located in all residence halls In the halls, the cost for using laundry equipment is included in the fees for your hall Here are a few tips to make it easier: 1 Remember the golden laundry room rule don t leave your clothes in a machine, others will be waiting to use it! 2 Only use high-efficiency (HE) detergent Washers are front-loading, high-efficiency type 3 Respect the laundry room and help keep it clean for other residents 4 Utilize the Laundry View service offered in each hall This service allows you to check machine availability, receive text alerts, get laundry help and place a service call We recommend that you DO NOT leave your laundry unattended Dining On-Campus Included in every meal plan is the Meal Trade program which allows students to trade their meal credits for select menu items found at Broncho Sports Grill, Outtakes at Nigh University Center, Outtakes at the Library and Central Plaza Deli Just look for the Meal Trade logo at participating locations Also included is the Meal-to-Go Program, designed for students on the run, offered only at Buddy s Cafeteria The program allows students to pay a one time refundable $5 deposit in exchange for a recyclable to-go container plus a to-go drink On the next visit you have the choice to return the Meal-to-Go container in exchange for a new one or simply ask for your $5 deposit back If you decide that your meal plan is not accommodating your dining needs you have the option to change your meal plan Visit the housing office or call for more information Complete information about UCO Dining Services can be found at housingucoedu Make sure to use #LiveCentral on Twitter and Instagram to tag UCO Housing & Dining more information at housingucoedu

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