USI Residence Life FAQs

Housing & Residence Life FAQs

Whether this is your first day on campus or you've lived here for years, you're sure to have a question about the Housing & Residence Life community eventually; so we've compiled a list of topics and frequently asked questions we hope you'll find useful:

Moving to Campus
What should I bring?
What items are prohibited?
When can I move in?
Can I move my belongings into my room before I am ready to move in?
What are the room dimensions?
What is my mailing address?
Do I have to purchase a meal plan?
Are University Residences co-ed?
What is an RA?
Who is my RA?
Do I have to live in university housing?
Are lofts allowed?
What kind of cable is in my room?
Can I connect to the Internet from my room?
Do I need to purchase property insurance?
Are pets allowed?
What is the standard residence mattress size and are bed linens provided?
Can I get a single room?

Living on Campus
When do classes begin?
Can I have a car on campus? Is parking available?
What are the guest hours for University Residences?
How safe are the University Residences?
Is there a campus safety escort program?
Can I leave things in my room over breaks?
Can I stay in my room over breaks?
Are there curfews in University Residences?
Can I smoke in my room?
Where can I do laundry?
What do I do if I experience a problem with a washer or a dryer?
Do I need to clean my room?
Is there anywhere I can cook?
What can I do if I have roommate problems?
Who can I contact if I have a specific question regarding my room and/or roommate?
Is there a campus bus service?
Where can I go if I am ill?
Does financial aid cover the cost of housing and my meal plan?
Can I have the same apartment every year I am at USI?
Are there computer labs I can use?
What is the alcohol and drug policy for housing?
Can I drive to the main campus?
What can I do if I do not agree with a policy?
Are there opportunities to make friends?
How many hours do I need to take to stay in on-campus housing?
What are the phone number and address of the Residence Life Center?

Policy Violations
What if I get in trouble?
I have a Notice of Administrative Hearing. What does that mean?
What will happen to me during my Administrative Hearing?
What are my rights?
I received a Notice of Informal Resolution. What does that mean?
Does a Notice of Informal Resolution violate due process since I did not meet with a staff member?
What sanctions do I face?
Am I going to be kicked out?
Will my parents be notified?
Will this affect my financial aid or scholarship?
How does the hearing officer make his/her decision?
If my incident involves a violation of state or local laws, could I be prosecuted criminally and through the University judicial system?
If I did violate the policy, can't I just lie (very sincerely) and not get in any trouble?
What if I did nothing wrong?
What if I don't attend my hearing?
What is Restorative Justice and what is Social Justice?

Moving to Campus [Back to Top]

What items are prohibited?
There are also some items that are prohibited in both the residence halls and on-campus apartments, such as:
• Pets (except for small fish - Beta fish are popular)
• Electric, charcoal, or gas grills
• Halogen lamps
• Alcohol
• Alcohol containers
• Weapons
• Ammunition
• Candles - no on-campus facilities may have any candles
• Paintball guns
• George Foreman grills
• Drugs
• Drug paraphernalia

When can I move in?
For the academic year beginning fall 2011, early check-in (for $20 per each additional day) is only available to those students who receive approval from Housing and Residence Life.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Living Learning Community residents only can move in from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday, August 18, 2011
Check-In for new students only
9 a.m.–3 p.m. Check-In at the Physical Activities Center
• 9 a.m.-residents with last names between A-L may begin arriving
• 12:30 p.m.-residents with last names between M-Z may begin arriving
• 3 p.m.–Midnight-Check-In at the Housing and Residence Life Center

Friday-Sunday, August 19- 21
Check-in for all remaining residents
9 a.m.–5 p.m. Check-In at the following locations:
• Residence Hall residents – Newman Hall
• O’Daniel North and O’Daniel South residents – Housing and Residence Life Center
• McDonald East and McDonald West residents – Residence Life Community Center
• 5 p.m.–Midnight-Check-In at Housing and Residence Life Center

Can I move my belongings into my room before I am ready to move in?
No

Do I have to purchase a meal plan?
Students who will be living in the Residence Halls (Newman, Governors, O'Bannon or Ruston Hall) are required to choose between the Red, White, or Blue meal plans. Students not living in the Residence Halls have the option of purchasing a meal plan, but it is not required.

Are University Residences co-ed?
Each suite in the residence halls has four students of the same gender living in it. However, there could be residents of the opposite gender living in other suites in the hall.

What is an RA?
A resident assistant (RA) is a student that has lived in housing and has chosen to work to help other residents. RAs are there to assist residents in solving any housing problems. They can assist residents with working out roommate conflicts, explaining housing policies and procedures, and providing general information to students. They are the ultimate resource for every student living in housing.

Do I have to live in university housing?
No one is required to live in university housing at any time.

Are lofts allowed?
USI does not provide lofts and if a resident chooses to lofts his or her bed, none of the university's furniture can be removed from the resident's apartment/room. In addition, the lofts must be freestanding lofts and they cannot be left in the room after the academic year.

What kind of cable is in my room?
USI provides cable TV to each room at no additional charge. It includes our own SETV which shows movies and also announcement of campus happenings. Click to access the SETV movie schedule .

Can I connect to the Internet from my room?
All residences have access to wireless internet. In the residence halls and apartments, the wireless network is named USIRES. When on campus, the wireless network is named WIFIatUSI. Wireless internet is provided at no additional charge. Residents can find out more about the internet and computer usage on campus at the Computer Center.

Do I need to purchase property insurance?
USI does not assume responsibility for the loss of money or valuables, damage to property, or injuries on the premises. If you are not covered under your parent/guardian's homeowner's insurance policy, we strongly recommend that you make arrangements for insurance protection against such losses.

Are pets allowed?
No pets are allowed in university housing except small fish.

What is the standard residence mattress size and are bed linens provided?
The beds are standard, single-sized mattresses that are 39 inches wide by 75 inches long. Residents must provide their own bed linens.

Can I get a single room?
The availability of single rooms is very limited.

Living on Campus [Back to Top]

When do classes begin?
Fall semester classes begin on Monday, August 22, 2011.
Spring semester classes begin on Monday, January 9, 2012.

Can I have a car on campus? Is parking available?
All residents are allowed to have cars on campus.

Apartment Students
USI apartment residents may park in any marked parking space within the apartment complex to which they are assigned, except those spaces restricted by signage. Each apartment complex will have a colored tag associated with it. All residents must have a tag in order to park legally in these locations. Apartment complex residents may not park as a non-resident in other apartment complexes. After visiting hours, non-resident spaces revert to resident parking spaces and a tag for the area is required.

Apartment Visitors
An apartment complex visitor is defined as a person visiting who is not a resident of any apartment complex. Temporary visitor permits are required for overnight guests.

Residence Hall Students
Residence hall students may park in designated campus lots, but not in the campus apartment complex areas. When visiting in the apartment complexes they may park only in the non-resident areas and only during posted visiting hours. Residence hall students are required to have a parking tag.

What are the guest hours for University Residences?
Guests are required to be registered. In order to do so, click register your guest.
• Sunday through Thursday—7:00 a.m. to Midnight
• Friday and Saturday—7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

How safe are the University Residences?
University Residences strive to provide a safe environment. However, as with any community with a large number of people, it is best to take precautions such as locking doors and making sure your personal items are covered by your parent’s homeowner’s insurance policy or renter’s insurance.

Is there a campus safety escort program?
There is not a campus safety escort program; however, campus security is on campus 24 hours a day and there are blue emergency poles throughout campus.

Can I leave things in my room over breaks?
Leaving belongings in your room is allowed for all breaks except summer break.

Can I stay in my room over breaks?
Residents are not allowed to stay in university housing over winter break without approval. If approval has not been requested by December 7, 2011, residents will be charged $50. During summer break, residents are not allowed to stay in university housing without signing a summer housing contract. During all other breaks, housing will be open for residents.

Are there curfews in University Residences?
No, there are no curfews.

Can I smoke in my room?
No. All University Residences are non-smoking.

Where can I do laundry?
All on-campus laundry facilities offer coin-operated laundry services, while some also offer card-controlled laundry (residents can pay for washing and drying with money you put on your Eagle Access Card).

Residence Halls
Laundry rooms are located on the second floor of each residence hall. All residence hall laundry facilities have debitek machines, which allow students to pay for their laundry with their Eagle Access Card!

O’Daniel South
A laundry room is located directly in the Residence Life Service Center behind the Office of
Religious Life. The Residence Life Service Center has a debitek machine, which allows students to pay for their laundry with their Eagle Access Card!

O’Daniel North and McDonald West
A laundry room is located in the Residence Life Community Center. The Residence Life Community Center has a debitek machine, which allows students to pay for their laundry with their Eagle Access Card!

McDonald East
A washer and a dryer are located in the stairwell of each building. Residents who wish to use these laundry facilities will have to use quarters to pay for their laundry.

What do I do if I experience a problem with a washer or a dryer?
If a resident experiences a problem with a washer or a dryer, he or she should report this to our laundry services provider, CoinMach, at 877/264-6622 or place a service request online. Residents should know his/her location and the machine number when placing a service request.

Do I need to clean my room?
Residents are to keep a clean, habitable living space. If a resident’s room is not clean before check-out at the end of the academic year, he/she could be charged for excessive cleaning.

Is there anywhere I can cook?
Each apartment has a kitchen, but there is nowhere to cook in the residence halls. The only cooking appliance allowed in the residence halls is a microwave. There are charcoal grills located around housing (only use Matchlight brand charcoal).

What can I do if I have roommate problems?
Since living on campus is an opportunity to interact with diverse individuals, we encourage residents to talk with their roommates about any problems or concerns. After that option has been explored, residents can speak with their Resident Assistant to help resolve the problem. The RA, along with the Area Coordinator, will then make the decision whether or not a room change is necessary. Many times all roommates involved will sign a roommate agreement that sets basic guidelines for behavior. Reassignment will only be available beginning September 6, 2011, and is granted on an individual and space available basis.

Who can I contact if I have a specific question regarding my room and/or roommate?
If a resident has specific questions other than who his/her roommate is and where his/her room is located, he/she can call Housing and Residence Life at 812-468-2000 or email living@usi.edu.

Is there a campus bus service?
Click to see the campus bus service schedule.

Where can I go if I am ill?
USI has a Student Health Center. There are also two hospitals in Evansville.

Does financial aid cover the cost of housing and my meal plan?
Depending on the type and amount of financial aid a resident receives, his/her housing and meal cost could be covered. Most loans and grants can be applied to housing and meal plans. Some scholarships may have restrictions. Residents should be sure to speak with their Financial Aid Counselor and ensure their understanding of financial aid. The Department of Housing and Residence Life has no control over which types of financial aid cover housing and meal plan costs.

Can I have the same apartment every year I am at USI?
During spring renewal, each resident has the opportunity to choose to live in the same apartment, but all residents in the residence halls must move. This is because the residence halls are reserved for first-year students. In some cases, uncontrollable circumstances may force the Housing and Residence Life Department to make changes as deemed necessary.

Are there computer labs I can use?
There are computer labs across campus and in the housing areas that are open during select hours of the week. Students can use these labs to do homework, research, and check email. Most library services can be accessed from any computer lab. See the Computer Center's website for computer lab hours and availability.

What is the alcohol and drug policy for housing?
The residence halls and on-campus apartments are dry. This means that absolutely no alcohol or any alcoholic container is permitted anywhere on the premises (cars, apartments, outside, etc.) of the on-campus apartments or the residence halls. It is important to remember that a violation of the alcohol policy can place your housing contract in jeopardy. Should you choose to violate the policy, you could find yourself facing an Administrative Hearing. Possession of illegal drugs is a violation of housing policy and federal law. Students found in violation of this policy may be removed from university housing. Possession of drug paraphernalia is also prohibited. For more information about USI’s alcohol and drug policy for housing, please refer to the Students’ Rights and Responsibilities.

Can I drive to the main campus?
Residents who live in the on campus apartments cannot drive to the main campus between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 3:00p.m.

What can I do if I do not agree with a policy?
Students that do not agree with a policy can approach the issue with the Student Housing Association (SHA). This student-run group has been tremendously helpful in the Department of Housing and Residence Life’s efforts to ensure that the ever-changing student population is best served.

Are there opportunities to make friends?
Housing is a great place to make friends! There are very few other places that offer as many activities and opportunities to know your neighbors as in residence life! We routinely program events and publicize other events on campus.

How many hours do I need to take to stay in on-campus housing?
Students must be enrolled in at least 9 undergraduate credit hours at USI to live in on-campus housing during the normal academic year, and students must be enrolled in at least 3 undergraduate credit hours during the summer.

What are the phone number and address of the Residence Life Center?
Housing and Residence Life Department
839 Pruis Lane
Evansville, IN 47712
812/468-2000

Policy Violations [Back to Top]

What if I get in trouble?
When a student gets in trouble, they are subject to the administrative policies as outlined in the 2011-2012 Housing/Food Service Contract. This includes an administrative hearing with a hearing officer. The resident and the hearing officer will discuss the incident that occurred, and it will be decided if you are responsible for the charges. If you are found responsible then the incident will be assigned a sanction.

I have a Notice of Administrative Hearing. What does that mean?
It means that you are alleged to have been involved in a violation of one or more USI policies and that you have a meeting scheduled with a hearing officer to discuss it. The letter lists the date and time of the hearing, possible policy violations, the hearing officer your meeting is with and how to contact him or her. A redacted copy of the incident report will be available at your scheduled meeting or can be obtained in person at the Office of Student Conduct and Resolution Services. Requests for report copies must be made at least 24 hours in advance of your hearing.

What will happen to me during my Administrative Hearing?
You will meet with a hearing officer. You will be given time to review the incident report(s) and the policies you are alleged to have violated. Your hearing officer may ask you some questions and provide you the opportunity to explain the situation from your point of view. The hearing officer will consider any witnesses and supporting information you may have brought. The hearing officer will make a decision based on the information available and the University standard of "More Likely Than Not" that the violation did occur. The hearing officer will assess sanctions and/or stipulations as needed.

What are my rights?
Your rights are outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior.

I received a Notice of Informal Resolution. What does that mean?
It means that you are alleged to have been involved in a minor violation of University policy. The Notice explains the policy you are alleged to have violated and a sanction that you are required to complete. If you choose to dispute your involvement in the incident, the form also lists the name of the hearing officer who sent the notice. You can contact him or her to request a full administrative hearing.

Does a Notice of Informal Resolution violate due process since I did not meet with a staff member?
A Notice of Informal Resolution is used for minor incidents where there is little additional information that the hearing officer needs to gather. These are cases that students have traditionally admitted to being in violation. Sending the student a Notice of Informal Resolution is a matter of convenience for the student, since they do not have to meet with a hearing officer. However, if you get a Notice of Informal Resolution and you wish to contest the incident, you can contact the hearing officer listed at the bottom of the form and request a full administrative hearing. The Notice of Informal Resolution is commonly used prior to breaks or at the end of a semester and when a student may not be available.

What sanctions do I face?
Sanctions range from a written warning to suspension or expulsion from the University. Some policy violations also carry a fine. A variety of educational sanctions may also be assigned. Please follow this link for a listing of potential sanctions.

Am I going to be kicked out?
If you are involved in repeated violations of policies may result in contract termination. Cases involving controlled substances or drugs, sexual imposition, assault, parties, or theft may result in contract termination.

Will my parents be notified?
The University reserves the right to contact parents regarding disciplinary issues. Parents will be contacted for incidents such as alcohol and controlled substances or drugs, etc. We encourage students to contact their parents in all situations. Please follow this link for a sample parental notification letter.

Will this affect my financial aid or scholarship?
It might, since some financial aid or scholarships depend on a student remaining in good standing with USI. You should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 812/464-1767 with any questions you may have. Suspension, expulsion and probation not in good standing, are generally the sanctions capable of altering a student's 'good standing'.

How does the hearing officer make his/her decision?
The hearing officer collects as much information as he or she can, and determines what occurred. The burden of proof or standard of evidence is the measure used to determine one's involvement in an incident. In order for a student to be considered 'In Violation', the hearing officer must show that a student is more likely than not responsible in a violation of a policy.

If my incident involves a violation of state or local laws, could I be prosecuted criminally and through the University judicial system?
Yes, you may. Your relationship with the University is separate from your responsibilities as a citizen. Although they may stem from the same incident, violations of state, local or federal laws are regulated by a court of law. An administrative hearing adjudicates the violation of University policy. To illustrate this better, an employee who assaults a fellow employee could be fired and face criminal charges.

If I did violate the policy, can't I just lie (very sincerely) and not get in any trouble?
This is generally a bad course of action, for a few reasons. First, if it is determined that you have lied in a judicial hearing, you will face an additional charge and additional sanctions. Second, most lies do not hold up well under scrutiny, even if several people are trying to cover each other. Third, by telling the truth, you don't have to worry about keeping your story straight in the future. Ultimately, there are more long-term benefits from telling the truth and learning from the incident than from trying to cover it up. The Truth Is Out There!

What if I did nothing wrong?
Then you have nothing to worry about! So relax, attend your meeting, and tell the truth about what you know.

What if I don't attend my hearing?
A decision will be made without you. You do have the right not to attend your hearing; however, it is in your best interest to attend so you can present your view of what happened. Otherwise, the hearing officer will have to make a decision based on whatever information is available.

What is Restorative Justice and what is Social Justice?
At USI, Restorative Justice is used in conduct hearings or mediation circles that encourage individuals to take responsibility for their actions and repair harm as a result of their actions. At USI Social Justice, principles are taught to hearing officers in effort to minimize oppression and to limit systemic marginalization of student populations.

If your question isn't addressed above, please call us at 812/468-2000 or 888/864-8468. A professional Housing and Residence Life staff member will be available to speak with you between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you need to contact an individual staff member please view the Housing and Residence Life Staff Page, or email living@usi.edu.

8600 University Boulevard - Evansville, IN 47712-3596 - 812/464-8600