Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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?
When you are looking for off-campus housing, we 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 a May 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 May 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.

Is it refundable?
This is a non-refundable deposit.

When is it due? The Housing Deposit is due for the Spring semester by October 31st. For returning students, April 1st 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 May 1st.

Can I pick my room?
Generally, you may not. You will receive a questionnaire once you have secured a housing space. This 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. The questionnaire is also where you may request a specific roommate.

Who chooses my roommate?
You may always request a roommate, and we can almost always accommodate your requests for that roommate. 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 roommates based on race, religion, sexual identity, or ethnicity.

Is the meal plan required?
The purchase of a full meal plan is required for all students living on the Midtown campus and in the New Westside Residence Hall on the Westside campus. Pinney Hall and Grasso Hall do not require the meal plan, as they are full apartments with kitchens. Students in Pinney and Grasso may choose to purchase full or partial meal plans if interested.

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 early August. We realize that some schools send out assignment information much earlier, but at this time, we are operationally unable to do this. However, 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.

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 and your private physicians. You will be required to provide medical documentation of your need for a single. General learning disabilities such as ADHD/ADD or Asthma are not generally considered as sufficient evidence of the need for a single room assignment.

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

What about a waterbed?
Waterbeds are not permitted.

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 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. 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, and answering machines are recommended.

Can I switch rooms?
Once assignment letters have been sent, no room changes will be made (other than for departmental needs) until 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?
Some early check-ins are permitted, on an individual basis and with the permission of the Associate Director for Facilities Management and Planning. Generally, this move-in is only one or two days in advance, and 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?
Let your RA or RD know that you need or would like the beds changed. Except in cases of emergency or health reasons, these requests will be met as time permits. Custodians and maintainers will take care of safety issues first, and are not permitted to bunk or de-bunk your beds without a work order.

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. Currently, resident students with less than 30 credits are not permitted to park on the Midtown campus Monday – Thursday, 6 am – 6 pm. Parking is available at the Westside campus, and shuttles provide 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. Housing maintainers can generally repair most items in your room, but we may need to seek assistance from WCSU maintenance on some issues. 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, or a WCSU College ID. Friends under 18 years of age must provide parental consent to be allowed to visit in the halls. 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)
Following finals in December through the opening of the semester
The week of Spring Break
Limited housing is available during these times at an additional cost.

If you know in advance that you would like to stay in your room when the residence halls are closed, you should try to select Pinney Hall, Centennial Hall or Newbury Hall for your room assignment. If you live in any other building, you will need to receive permission and signatures from residents living one of the open buildings in order to be able to stay on campus. (There may be unassigned spaces, which would be available to students who can not find anywhere else to live, but this is not guaranteed).

How can I use the shuttle services between the campuses?
Shuttles generally run on the ½ hour between the Midtown and Westside campuses during the week, from 7 am – 11 pm, and on a more limited basis on the weekends. A full schedule is available from the Campus Safety website, and questions or concerns specific to the shuttle service, please direct them to Chief Neil McLaughlin.

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 Financial Aid office. Even if you don’t get work study, Financial Aid 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 Homepage and the Announcements page.

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 and a desire to help your fellow students, along with 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 encourages to go to Danbury Hospital Emergency Room for treatment.

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

Midtown
Student Center Cafeteria (1st Floor)
Monday - Friday
Breakfast 7am - 10:00am
Continental 10:00am - 10:30am
Lunch 11am - 3:30pm
Dinner Monday-Thursday 4:15pm - 7:15pm; Friday 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Saturday and Sunday
Breakfast 10:30am - 11:00am
Brunch 11:00am - 1:30pm
Dinner 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Student Center Snack Bar (Ground floor)
Monday - Thursday 7am - 9pm
Friday 7am - 2pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday 2pm - 8pm

Westside
Westside Classroom Building Snack Bar (1st floor)
Monday - Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 2pm
Saturday & Sunday Closed

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


	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 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? 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? When you are looking for off-campus housing, we 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 a May 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 May 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. Is it refundable? This is a non-refundable deposit. When is it due? The Housing Deposit is due for the Spring semester by October 31st. For returning students, April 1st 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 May 1st. Can I pick my room? Generally, you may not. You will receive a questionnaire once you have secured a housing space. This 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. The questionnaire is also where you may request a specific roommate. Who chooses my roommate? You may always request a roommate, and we can almost always accommodate your requests for that roommate. 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 roommates based on race, religion, sexual identity, or ethnicity. Is the meal plan required? The purchase of a full meal plan is required for all students living on the Midtown campus and in the New Westside Residence Hall on the Westside campus. Pinney Hall and Grasso Hall do not require the meal plan, as they are full apartments with kitchens. Students in Pinney and Grasso may choose to purchase full or partial meal plans if interested. 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 early August. We realize that some schools send out assignment information much earlier, but at this time, we are operationally unable to do this. However, 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. 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 and your private physicians. You will be required to provide medical documentation of your need for a single. General learning disabilities such as ADHD/ADD or Asthma are not generally considered as sufficient evidence of the need for a single room assignment. 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 size are the mattresses? Mattresses are regular twin sized mattresses. What about a waterbed? Waterbeds are not permitted. 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 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. 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, and answering machines are recommended. Can I switch rooms? Once assignment letters have been sent, no room changes will be made (other than for departmental needs) until 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? Some early check-ins are permitted, on an individual basis and with the permission of the Associate Director for Facilities Management and Planning. Generally, this move-in is only one or two days in advance, and 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? Let your RA or RD know that you need or would like the beds changed. Except in cases of emergency or health reasons, these requests will be met as time permits. Custodians and maintainers will take care of safety issues first, and are not permitted to bunk or de-bunk your beds without a work order. 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. Currently, resident students with less than 30 credits are not permitted to park on the Midtown campus Monday – Thursday, 6 am – 6 pm. Parking is available at the Westside campus, and shuttles provide 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. Housing maintainers can generally repair most items in your room, but we may need to seek assistance from WCSU maintenance on some issues. 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, or a WCSU College ID. Friends under 18 years of age must provide parental consent to be allowed to visit in the halls. 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) Following finals in December through the opening of the semester The week of Spring Break Limited housing is available during these times at an additional cost. If you know in advance that you would like to stay in your room when the residence halls are closed, you should try to select Pinney Hall, Centennial Hall or Newbury Hall for your room assignment. If you live in any other building, you will need to receive permission and signatures from residents living one of the open buildings in order to be able to stay on campus. (There may be unassigned spaces, which would be available to students who can not find anywhere else to live, but this is not guaranteed). How can I use the shuttle services between the campuses? Shuttles generally run on the ½ hour between the Midtown and Westside campuses during the week, from 7 am – 11 pm, and on a more limited basis on the weekends. A full schedule is available from the Campus Safety website, and questions or concerns specific to the shuttle service, please direct them to Chief Neil McLaughlin. 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 Financial Aid office. Even if you don’t get work study, Financial Aid 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 Homepage and the Announcements page. 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 and a desire to help your fellow students, along with 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 encourages to go to Danbury Hospital Emergency Room for treatment. I'm hungry! Where can I eat on campus? Midtown Student Center Cafeteria (1st Floor) Monday - Friday Breakfast 7am - 10:00am Continental 10:00am - 10:30am Lunch 11am - 3:30pm Dinner Monday-Thursday 4:15pm - 7:15pm; Friday 4:30pm - 6:30pm Saturday and Sunday Breakfast 10:30am - 11:00am Brunch 11:00am - 1:30pm Dinner 4:30pm - 6:30pm Student Center Snack Bar (Ground floor) Monday - Thursday 7am - 9pm Friday 7am - 2pm Saturday Closed Sunday 2pm - 8pm Westside Westside Classroom Building Snack Bar (1st floor) Monday - Thursday 8am - 8pm Friday 8am - 2pm Saturday & Sunday Closed *If you have a specific question, or one that was not answered here,* *please contact Housing Office.*