Frequently Asked Questions

(Click on the question to get the answer)

Before You Arrive

• What is the procedure for applying for housing?
• Where should I go to check in? When can I move in? When do I move out?
• What should I bring with me?
• What should I not bring with me?
• May I have a pet?
• May I bring my car to campus?
• What is a Resident Assistant? What is a Moderator?

Amenities

• Is there air conditioning?
• Can I hook up my computer in my residence hall room?
• Are the residence halls wired for cable TV?
• Is there a telephone in my room?
• How do I make a long distance call from my room?
• What laundry facilities are available?
• Are lofts available? Can I bring my own loft?

Rooms and Roommates

• Are there any single-sex residence halls on campus?
• What if I don’t like my roommate?
• May residents trade rooms during the year?
• Are single rooms available?

Food Issues

• Where do I eat?
• What meal plans are there? Which one do I have?
• May I cancel my meal plan?

Safety, Security, and Maintenance

• How can I report maintenance concerns?
• May I burn candles or incense in my room?
• Where can I store my belongings over the summer?
• What happens when a rule or policy is violated?
• What types of measures are taken to protect my safety? How safe are the residence halls?
• What is community damage?

​What is the procedure for applying for housing?

• For new students:
  • Your enrollment fee also serves as your housing deposit. Housing assignments will not be made until the enrollment fee is received.
  • You will receive a packet of housing materials mailed to you from the Residential Life Office. This packet will include a cover letter with instructions for going online to complete your housing application.  The online application is available at: https://admin.owu.edu/cgi-bin/public/OWhsgapplic.cgi.  Also, you will need to fill out personal data sheet completely and return it to Ohio Wesleyan University using the reply envelope. The priority application deadline is May 1.
  • Your application will be processed by the Residential Life Office and your room assignment will be handed out at StART OWU in June.  If you do not attend a June StART OWU session, your assignment will be mailed to your home address in late June/early July. At this time you will find out who your roommate(s) will be.
• For current students:
  • The housing selection process begins early in the spring semester beginning with special housing requests (off-campus lottery, Austin Manor, Small Living Units, single rooms, and Welch Hall respectively).
  • General housing selection takes place in mid-April.

Back to top

​Where should I go to check in? When can I move in? When do I move out?

When you arrive on campus, you’ll see that each residential facility has a designated check-in area. First-year students generally move into the residence halls on the Thursday before classes begin, which is the first day of New Student Orientation. Returning students are permitted to move into the residence halls on the Saturday before classes begin.

At the end of the spring semester, students are expected to leave campus within 24 hours of their last exam or on Friday at 12 p.m., whichever comes first. The residential facilities officially close on Friday at 12 p.m. after exams end. Be sure to make your travel arrangements well in advance so you can comply with this timeline.

Back to top

​What should I bring with me?

Here is a comprehensive list of items that we recommend you consider bringing with you. You will be carrying these things up to your room, so pack several medium-sized boxes rather than large, heavy ones. In addition, once you receive the names of your roommates/suitemates, it’s best that you find out what items they will be bringing. You certainly will not need four TVs, refrigerators, etc. If bringing these items from home is difficult, you can buy them in Delaware.

• Bedroom items:
  • Pillows, blanket, comforter, mattress pad & bed linens of extra long size (Note exception: Hayes and Welch Halls have standard twin size mattresses)
  • Alarm clock
  • Window fan
  • Rugs
  • Reading/desk light
  • Laundry basket/bag
  • Clothes hangers
  • Laundry supplies
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Small refrigerator (not to exceed 6 cubic feet in capacity or draw more than 2 amps at 100 watts)
  • Cable-ready TV
  • Radio/stereo
  • Telephone
• Study room items:
  • Printer paper
  • Address book and stamps
  • Memo/bulletin board
  • Stapler and staples
  • Scissors
  • Notebooks
  • Highlighters
  • Folders
  • Computer equipment (including operating system disks)
• Personal items:
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Backpack
  • Towels and washcloth
  • Toiletries
  • Plates, cups, silverware
  • Shower bucket for your toiletries
  • Umbrella

Note: If you would like to ship boxes to campus so that they are here upon your arrival, you can send them to your campus address. You will have a notice in your Hamilton-Williams Campus Center (HWCC) mailbox that will inform you when, where, and how to retrieve your packages.

Back to top

​What should I NOT bring with me?

• Answering machine
• Candles and incense
• Window air conditioning units
• Ceiling fans
• Hot plates
• Space heaters
• Halogen lamps
• Toasters/toaster ovens
• Illegal drugs, fireworks, or firearms
• Pets (see next question below)
• Waterbeds
• Alcohol (if you are under 21)

If you have questions about what is and is not permitted in the residence halls, contact the Residential Life Office at reslife@owu.edu or 740-368-3175.

Back to top

​May I have a pet?

Due to health and sanitation issues and the possibility of other residents’ allergic reactions, you may not keep, feed, or harbor certain pets in the residential facilities. These issues may interfere with a student’s right to a clean environment conducive to study.

Animals are not permitted in public areas of residence halls. Dogs, cats, snakes, rabbits, and ferrets are strictly forbidden in any residence hall. The only pets permitted are fish and one of the following animals per student: gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, and rats. These small, caged, nonpoisonous animals and fish are permitted in your room if you complete and submit the pet registration form and get advance permission from the Residential Life Office and your roommate(s) before you bring the pet to campus. Your roommate’s request to live in a pet-free environment supersedes your right to have a pet in your room.

Water-filled aquariums of no more than 10-gallon capacity may be maintained for fish, snails, and crustaceans (turtles, amphibians, other reptiles, and other aquarium-dwelling animals are not permitted.) All animals, including fish, must be taken home over semester breaks. The University will not be held responsible for the safety of fish or any animal in the event of electrical power failures.

If we find pets in student housing that violate the pet policy, they will be immediately removed or confiscated and taken to a local shelter or the Humane Society. You will be charged a $50 fine for violation of this policy and also charged for any damages to the facility. Residential Life reserves the right to determine if an animal is appropriate.

Back to top

​May I bring my car to campus?

Parking is available for students on the Ohio Wesleyan University campus with the purchase of a parking permit.  OWUoffers parking to first-year students and sophomores through a lottery system. Parking is limited in these lotteries and you aren’t guaranteed parking in a convenient location. Juniors and seniors are eligible to purchase a Residential parking pass during the first two weeks of each semester. Any student commuting from home may purchase a commuter permit.

Back to top

​What is a Resident Assistant? What is a Moderator?

A Resident Assistant (RA) is a trained upperclassman who lives on your floor and serves as your first point of contact. RAs selected through an application and screening process and have been trained in a variety of issues facing college students. They are required to be on their floors on a regular basis and to get to know each of their residents.

A Moderator is a trained upperclassman student who supervises a Small Living Unit (SLU). A Moderator is also a contact person for students who might have concerns. First-year students do not live in a Small Living Unit, but are encouraged to attend programs and become involved with SLU initiatives.

Back to top

​Is there air conditioning in residence halls?

Smith East and Smith West are air conditioned, but Bashford, Thomson, Welch, Hayes, and Stuyvesant Halls are not.

Back to top

​Can I hook up my computer in my residence hall room?

Yes. Each residence hall room is equipped with network access. See Information Services FAQ.

Back to top

​Are the residence halls wired for cable TV?

Yes. Ohio Wesleyan subscribes to a basic cable service (including HBO). When you arrive on campus you will have the option to sign up for cable TV in your room at a monthly cost. We recommend that you and your roommate decide who the cable will be billed to and share the cost.

Back to top

​Is there a telephone in my room?

No.  You may bring a phone to plug in for local and on-campus calls.   Most students choose to bring a mobile phone with them to campus.

Back to top

​How do I make a long distance call from my room?

The best way to make a long distance call from your room is to purchase a pre-paid calling card and following the directions for use.

Back to top

​What laundry facilities are available?

Each residence hall has a laundry room, usually located on the ground floor of the building. Laundry facilities can be coin-operated (quarters) or you can use your OWU ID card if you have put money into your student account in advance.The University assumes no responsibility for any damage which might occur to your belongings as a result of use of laundry machines. Ironing boards are located in each residence hall, but irons are not provided.

Back to top

​Are lofts available? Can I bring my own loft?

The University does not rent lofts. You may construct your own loft; however, there are rules and regulations you must adhere to concerning the construction, use ,and disassembly of lofts in residence halls and Small Living Units. Please refer to the section of the OWU Student Handbook, Policies Governing Residential Life, #14: Lofts for specific rules and regulations concerning loft construction.

Back to top

​Are there any single-sex residence halls on campus?

Yes. Hayes Hall is an all-female residence hall. There are no all-male residence halls on OWU’s campus, although fraternities offer housing for their members. All other halls on campus besides Hayes are co-educational by suite or floor.

Back to top

​What if I don’t like my roommate?

It’s very important that the information you provide on your online housing application is as honest and complete as possible because it makes it more likely that we can match you with a compatible roommate. Living with a roommate is often one of the most significant learning experiences of being at college. It is important to make an effort to communicate your concerns with each other and to try to resolve problems yourself. We know that not all living situations will work out as you and your roommate(s) might wish. If problems come up, talk to your Resident Assistant for some help or suggestions. If problems persist, you and your RA should meet with your RLC or the Director of Residential Life to discuss options.

Back to top

​May residents trade rooms during the year?

Room changes can be made during the year, depending on the amount of space available. There is a 2-week room freeze at the beginning of each semester during which you will not be given permission to move. If you wish to trade rooms with another student or move to another room on campus, you will need to complete a Room Change Request Form, which is available in the Residential Life Office, HWCC 225.

Back to top

​Are single rooms available?

Single rooms are available on a limited basis. Returning students receive priority in room assignments, so incoming students do not generally receive single rooms. Throughout the year, if a single becomes available and your name is next on the waiting list, you may be eligible for a private room.

Back to top

​Where do I eat?

Ohio Wesleyan University offers a wide variety of dining options on campus. Meal plan credits may be used in the Food Court, Bakery and Bishop Cafe (Hamilton-Williams Campus Center), Smith Hall Dining Room, Welch Hall Dining Room, Ritazza cart in University Hall, Ritazza cart in Science Center, Thomson Corner Store, and Pizza Via Delivery.

Unused meal plan credits from fall semester may be carried over to the spring semester. Unused credits at the end of the spring semester are forfeited. We do not refund unused meal plan credits if you complete fall semester but do not return for spring semester. For more information, go to Dining Services.

Back to top

​What meal plans are there? Which one do I have?

If you live on campus, you are required to participate in a University meal plan. There are three plan options offered. New students typically participate in the middle-sized meal plan unless otherwise requested. No changes to the selected meal plan are permitted after the first two weeks of each semester. For more information, go to Dining Services.

Back to top

​May I cancel my meal plan?

All students who live on campus are required to participate in a University Meal Plan. Rare exceptions will be considered only for those students with medical conditions or membership in religious organizations with strict dietary guidelines that cannot be accommodated by the University’s food service vendor. For more information, go to Dining Services.

Back to top

​How can I report maintenance concerns?

If there is a problem in your residence hall room that needs attention from maintenance staff, contact your RA as soon as possible to have him/her submit a work request. It is important for you to understand that personnel from Buildings & Grounds will enter your room to fix the problem even if you are not present.

Back to top

​May I burn candles or incense in my room?

No! Candles and incense are prohibited in student rooms. Please leave these things at home!

Back to top

​Where can I store my belongings over the summer?

Each residence hall has a limited amount of storage space. This lack of space requires the University to limit the number of items that may be stored. Public Safety (PS) has the responsibility for all student storage. Access and retrieval of stored items is arranged through the PS office. PS has the right to determine what constitutes a reasonable amount of storage. Room furniture may not be removed from a room and placed in storage.

Suitcases and trunks, whether full or empty, may be stored in hall storage rooms at your sole risk. All items placed in OWU’s storage must be boxed and labeled. Unfortunately we are unable to store furniture, rugs, or refrigerators. Empty luggage can be placed in storage by Public Safety at the student’s request. Limited summer storage is available with priority given to out-of-state students. All personal items must be claimed within one year of the date that they are stored.

Back to top

​What happens when a rule or policy is violated?

If you are found to be in violation of a rule or policy governing Residential Life, you may be referred to the student judicial system by a residential life staff member (RA/Moderator/RLC) or Public Safety. Go to the OWU Student Handbook for more details about the judicial process for students.

Back to top

​What types of measures are taken to protect my safety? How safe are the residence halls?

All of the residence halls are locked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students have access to the residential facilities with their OWU card. It is very important that you not allow people you don’t know to enter the building. There are phones located outside each residence hall so that guests (parents, friends, other non-members of the University community) can call you and have you come to the door to let them in.

Back to top

​What is community damage?

Student(s) or students responsible for damage resulting from abuse of facilities, negligence, or means other than those attributed to normal deterioration will be expected to assume the cost of repair or replacement. If the responsible individual or individuals are unknown, then the occupants of the corridor/hall will be expected to assume the cost of repair or replacement. Community damage is calculated by taking the total amount of all damage and dividing it by the number of residents living in that hall/area. Community damage charges on a student account are not subject to appeal.

Back to top