Closing Time

It’s been WAY too long since we last posted, apologies to everyone, but here is an email sent out to all students about closing! Of course, this entire email is wildly important, but what’s the most important piece? Halls close at noon on May 11. As Semisonic so wonderfully states it, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”

Hello Chanticleers,

Before we get into finals week we want to remind you that all University Housing facilities close on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 12:00pm. Here are a handful of important things to remember as you prepare to checkout:

• All residents must schedule a checkout appointment with an RA. University Housing staff will be in touch with all approved Extended Stay residents regarding transition housing and checkout appointments.
• All residents must clean their rooms thoroughly before they depart. See the Cleaning Checklist (attached) for a clear description of the cleaning expectations.
  • Failure to complete all the items on the checklist will be noted on your Room Condition Report (RCR) and may result in a charge(s).
  • Clean prior to checkout and save yourself some money.
  • As you are cleaning please dispose of trash properly in the dumpster nearest your building. You will be charged for trash left in/around your room/suite/apartment. Your cooperation and assistance will help us keep the building clear and safe during this busy time of the year and will help make your checkout a speedy one.
  • Sign up for checkout with your RA 24-hours in advance on the schedule posted outside your RA’s room. Failure to sign up 24-hours in advance may mean that you have to wait until an RA is available to check you out. Your RA is a student too and will be taking final exams; thus he or she needs this schedule for checkouts.

• Please note that you are to check out no later than 24-hours after your last final exam or by 12:00pm Saturday, May 11^th whichever comes first (unless approved to stay for Graduation until May 12^th at 12:00pm). Anyone remaining after 12:00pm without permission from University Housing will be charged a $100 Improper Checkout fee.

• Upon checkout with your RA, you will sign your Room Condition Report and return your room/apartment key(s). Failure to checkout properly with a RA will result in a minimum fee of $100. (Please note that this fee is in addition to any charges for damages and/or cleaning issues that may be found in your room/apartment upon checkout.)
• All students must take their bicycles home for the summer. Abandoned bicycles will be gathered up and turned over to the Coastal Cycles program.

Please remember that 24-hour quiet hours are in effect beginning at 10pm on Wednesday, May 1^st, 2013 and will remain in effect through closing day. Remember that other residents may be studying or getting much needed rest during this time, so be respectful of the others in your community.

We wish you the best of luck with your final exams. If you have any questions pertaining to Closing Procedures please ask your RA. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Housing Selection Groups and Proxy

Housing Selection for returning students is quickly approaching. As the time gets closer, we are asked a lot of great questions. To answer a couple of those, students currently living with us do need to apply and go through Housing Selection. We don’t automatically assign the same space next year. We offer a great opportunity for students to pick their own roommates, bedrooms, and even apartments at the Housing Selection! Emails with appointment times will be sent at the end of Spring Break.

Because Housing Selection appointments are done based on time stamps, groups of roommates aren’t always assigned to the same appointment time. In order for students to come together to the Housing Selection, they must register their group. Group registrations forms must be submitted to the University Housing office in Ingle Hall by 11:59pm on March 10.

• When a group of students decides to register to come to the event together, we will look at the time stamps of all the students in that group. In order to determine the time the group comes to the Housing Selection, we will use the appointment time of the last person of the group to apply. (Example – if three people apply on the first day, and the fourth person applies on the last day, the group’s assigned time will be at the end of the event.)
• When coming as a group, students must “close out” the room meaning there cannot be any open spaces in the apartment. (Example – if there is a group of four, they need to pick a four bedroom in Blue Ridge or Piedmont, a three bedroom in Low Country where two people share the double, or add a fifth person and pick a four bedroom in Low Country where two people share the double.) Students coming alone or as pairs (only two) are able to choose from open apartments with random roommates.

Sometimes students are in class, at work, in practice, or studying abroad during their appointment times. In order for those students not to lose their appointment time, they can choose to have a proxy. This person comes during the student’s scheduled appointment time and selects a space for him or her. In order to have someone act as your proxy, please fill out this form to bring to the event. The proxy must have the form at the event in order to make a selection. If needed, a staff member from University Housing can act as a proxy. In this case, please have the form to University Housing office in Ingle Hall by noon on March 19.

As always, if you have any questions about housing for next year, please comment on here, call or email us!

Spring Break Information

It’s a gloomy Monday here, but we’re looking forward to spring! Many students have been asking about dining options over spring break. So, here it is…hot off the press!!

Just a reminder, University Housing stays open for the entire break, but there is a strict ‘No Guest’ policy!

 

What is the Housing Selection?

Around this time of year, we start telling students to apply for housing so they can go through the Housing Selection. But many of you are asking, what is the Housing Selection?

Good question! Housing Selection (or lottery as it is called at some schools) is a time for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors to pick their housing assignment for the upcoming academic year. Students come to the Coastal Science Center over a span of three days to pick their community, apartment building, and even bedroom!

So what do you need to know about Selection?

1. The Housing Selection is March 19 – 21 from 6p – midnight each night.
2. Students must apply for Fall 2013 housing by 11:59p on March 10 in order to participate in the event.
3. Students will receive invitations with their scheduled time via their Coastal email. Each student is scheduled based on the time they applied. So those who apply early get first choice!
4. If students want to come together as a group, they must register their group, but then they are schedule based on the last person who applied. (Ex – if John applied on February 5 at noon, and Mark applies on March 10 at 11pm, both students will be pulled back to Mark’s scheduled appointment.)
5. Students who are not able to attend at their scheduled time can choose via proxy. This means a family member, friend, roommate, or housing staff member can pick for that student so they do not lose their scheduled appointment.
6. When students receive their invitation, it will give a specific time of their appointment such as March 20 at 9:40p. Students will not be allowed to enter or receive their ticket until 10 minutes prior to that time. Students who show up 30 minutes early will have to wait until ten minutes before their scheduled appointment time.
7. Students who do not apply by 11:59p on March 10 or miss their appointment will be able to go to a make up event on April 2 from 9a – 3p. Appointments aren’t scheduled, so housing staff meet with students on a first come, first serve basis. We encourage students to participate in the Housing Selection as waits can be more than an hour on the make up day. (Students must have an active housing application to participate in the make up day.)
8. Students who do not attend the Housing Selection or make up day will be assigned a space by housing staff based on their preferences.

What communities are available?

• Piedmont in University Place (formerly known as UP2) has single bedrooms in one, two, and four bedroom apartments.
• Blue Ridge in University Place (formerly known as UP1) has single bedrooms in one, two, and four bedroom apartments.
• Low Country in University Place (formerly know as UP3 200s) has double and single bedrooms in three and four bedroom apartments. Each apartment in this community will have a bedroom that two people share.
• The Gardens are a large one bedroom apartment shared by two students.

For more information about the community types, visit our website!

What is closing out a room?

• Closing out a room means that when a group of students choose an apartment, there cannot be any empty bedrooms. So, if four guys come together, they must choose a four bedroom in Piedmont or Blue Ridge, a three bedroom in Low Country where two share the bedroom, or find a fifth roommate with two sharing the doubled bedroom for a four bedroom in Low Country.
• If students choose an option where there is a doubled bedroom, they are required to determine who will be sharing the bedroom prior to signing up for the apartment.
• Students coming by themselves or in a pair are able to choose from a list of “random” bedrooms where they will not be able to choose their other roommates.

We hope this helps with many of the questions that may surface! As always, if you have any additional questions, feel free to ask us here, on Facebook, on Twitter, email us, or that “old fashion” way by calling our office!

Communities in University Place

We are getting questions about the communities in University Place. The application does split them out by community.

• Low Country
• Sandhills (Freshmen only)
• Grand Strand (Freshmen only)
• Blue Ridge
• Piedmont

For more information, please visit the University Place community descriptions on our website!

Fall 2013 Housing Application

We can’t believe we’re already talking about housing for Fall 2013 either, but starting tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. EST, for the Fall 2013 housing application will be live! Even if you currently live with us, you will still need to apply for housing for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Rising second-year students who apply on time will be able to pick their own apartments, rooms, and roommates through the room selection process March 19 – 21 at the Coastal Science Center. You must apply for housing by 11:59pm on March 10 in order to participate in the room selection process. All housing applications are date and time stamped when received, and group selection times will be based on the time stamp of the last person in your group who successfully applied. (Roommates: encourage your roommates to apply as early as possible!). If you have a potential roommate who fails to successfully complete the application they will not be able to be included when you select your apartment.

This year University Housing will be able to offer a limited number of spaces in the Blue Ridge community of University Place for rising third and fourth-year students. These students will also go through the room selection process and pick their apartments and bedrooms in specific upperclassmen buildings. Students who want to live on campus as third or fourth-year students should apply early as there are a limited number of spaces.

PLEASE REMEMBER: We have a two-year live on requirement. Coastal Carolina University believes on-campus living provides students a community that cultivates connections to your peers and the larger institution. University Housing works to meet that vision by building a foundation of care for resident safety and success.

Both new students and rising second-year students must either apply for housing or have an approved Housing Exemption for the 2013 – 2014 academic year. Keep in mind that any student required to live in university provided housing who does not have an approved housing exemption on file will be given a housing assignment automatically and will be billed appropriately. All students who believe they qualify for an exemption from the housing requirement must apply for an exemption through University Housing; for more information on Housing Exemptions, please click here. The following are the only reasons an exemption may be granted:

1. MARRIED: Copy of marriage license required

2. PARENT: Primary provider of dependent children who live with them – Copy of birth certificate required

3. MILITARY: Proof of military status required

4. LIVING LOCALLY WITH PARENTS: Permanent address must match parent’s address

Please remember, the housing exemption process is to be utilized prior to completing a housing application and is no longer available once a student accepts an assignment and moves into their assigned space.

Please be aware that University Housing only operates the following communities:

• Ingle Hall

• Eaglin Hall

• The Woods: Maple, Cypress, Oak, Palmetto, Elm and Dogwood Halls

• The Gardens: Azalea and Magnolia Halls

• University Place Apartments: Grand Strand, Sandhills, Low Country, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont

Therefore any other community is “off-campus” housing and not directly affiliated with University Housing and Coastal Carolina University. Living in other communities, regardless of their proximity to campus, does not satisfy the live-on requirement and signing a lease with one of these properties will not be an acceptable reason for a housing exemption or release from the University Housing license agreement.

We are excited to have you join us next year and to work with your to build wonderful communities.

For any questions, please contact University Housing at (843) 349-6400 or housing@coastal.edu. For more information or additional ways to connect with us, please visit coastal.edu/housing; follow us on Twitter @CCUHousing; or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CCUHousing.

We are excited to help you select your beds, and we are sure to help you “Feel the Teal” all the way through!

Einstein Bros. Bagels

The newest hot spot is now open! Stop by Penny Hall for delicious bagels!

Moving In This Weekend?

We are excited that all our new (and returning) students are coming back this weekend! At this point, all spring assignment are viewable in WebAdvisor! If your student does not have a assignment, please contact our offices as soon as possible.

Students attending Orientation will begin moving into the halls immediately following the end of Orientation. If he or she has an assignment on Main Campus (Ingle, Eaglin, Palmetto, Dogwood, Elm, Maple, Cypress, or Oak), he or she will go to the University Housing Office in Ingle Hall to check in and pick up his or her key. If he or she has an assignment in University Place (Grand Strand, Sandhills, Low Country, Blue Ridge, or Piedmont), he or she will go to the University Housing Office in Grand Strand to check in and pick up his or her key. Both desks are 24 hours desk, and student staff will be available to help you navigate campus or the local area.

Students not attending Orientation will begin moving into the halls on Saturday, January 12. (This is for both new spring students or fall returners.) Students who were living with University Housing in the fall do not need to check in. If your student has a new spring assignment on Main Campus (Ingle, Eaglin, Palmetto, Dogwood, Elm, Maple, Cypress, or Oak), he or she will go to the University Housing Office in Ingle Hall to check in and pick up his or her key. If he or she has a new spring assignment in University Place (Grand Strand, Sandhills, Low Country, Blue Ridge, or Piedmont), he or she will go to the University Housing Office in Grand Strand to check in and pick up his or her key. Both desks are 24 hours desk.

Please keep in mind, students are required to attend their mandatory hall meeting on Sunday, January 13. Fliers will be posted around their communities for the time. If your student has any questions about those, contact the Resident Assistant of his or her community.

OVERNIGHT GUESTS

Residents are permitted to have same-gender; overnight guests as long as it is okay with their roommate(s). (This includes parents or siblings.) Overnight guests are allowed to stay for a maximum of three nights each month. A guest request form must be filled out and approved by the community’s RD. Forms are available at every community desk.

ROOM CHANGES

Please remember, a lot of time and energy is put in to making the best housing assignments possible, therefore they are final. If a student would like to request a room change, he or she can do so after the third week into the semester. Room change request forms are available from the Resident Director (RD) of each community. Requests are granted on a space-available basis. If a student wants to change rooms because of a roommate conflict, he/she must consult with his/her Resident Assistant (RA) and/or Resident Director (RD) and discuss the issues at hand before a room change will be considered. To submit a room change request an RD must provide approval by signing the room change request form and if space is available, a room change may occur.

INSURANCE

The University does not carry insurance that will cover losses you might incur from fire, theft, or other casualty. We encourage you to consider a personal property insurance plan or renter’s insurance if you are not sufficiently covered under another insurance policy.

LAUNDRY

Laundry machine use for all residents is free of charge. Please bring only laundry soap that is marked “HE” for our High Efficiency, low water, low suds washers!

FURNISHINGS

Beds, desks, drawers, closet space, central heat and air-conditioning, a cable television hook-up, window coverings (in most cases mini-blinds) and internet access are provided in each room. Residents are responsible for the furniture in their bedroom and any common area space. All of the furniture that is in a space at check-in must be there at check-out. Although all of the furnishings we provide are not brand new, we do expect our residents to treat these items as their own, with respect and proper care.

BIKE RACKS

All halls have bike racks located in or around their building. Students are welcome to bring their bikes, and they may place and lock their bikes in these designated areas, at their own risk. Bicycles are not allowed to be stored in the resident’s room, apartment, hallway, or balcony due to fire codes.

SHUTTLE SERVICE

CCU also offers an excellent shuttle system which can take you anywhere on campus, from UP to the Science Center. We encourage students to use alternative transportation options before bringing their cars to campus. However, all students are permitted to have a car on campus, but it must be registered through the Department of Public Safety. Students living on-campus can only purchase a “Resident” parking pass. Students living at University Place will purchase a “University Place” parking pass.

SMOKING

Smoking is not allowed anywhere in or around Coastal Carolina University buildings and residence halls. The designated smoking gazebos are the ONLY place smoking is allowed on campus.

ALCOHOL and DRUGS

CCU is a “Zero Tolerance” Campus. NO alcohol or illegal substances are permitted at any time in or around the residence halls, regardless of age. At University Place, alcohol is only permitted in apartments in which all assigned residents are of legal drinking age. Residents in these units may register with University Housing to be considered a “wet” unit.

If you have any questions, please contact University Housing at (843) 349-6400 or housing@coastal.edu.

The End of the World…As We Know It

While the end of the Maya’s 13th Baktun didn’t quite spur the apocalyptic fears Y2K did, many people still worried about the end of the world coming today. Most scholars believe the Mayans were actually predicting the dawn of a new era, or a new hope.

In looking at the end of the Mayan calendar as a birth of a new hope, what are you doing to make a new era, or even a new you? Maybe this is the time to make the New Year’s Resolution of ALL resolutions and actually keep it! The challenge has been issued, commit now to doing one thing that begins this new era. Want some small ideas?

• Smile at least one person every day. You may risk some weird looks if you’re out of practice, but it’ll get easier!
• Put down the Snickers bar and Diet Coke and trade it for some veggies and water.
• Thinking about making a short trip to the grocery (for those veggies)? Walk or ride a bike.
• Study more! Set goals to make the Dean’s List, or raise your GPA just 0.2.
• Sleep…with all the fun things to do in the area, we know it’s hard to make time to sleep. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep can make you healthy, happier, and smarter.
• Reduce your consumption. Think before you make purchases. Do you really need an eighth pair of jeans?
• Reuse items that still have life. Don’t add working items to the landfill! Our great partners in Sustainability have added water refill stations all over campus. Use those instead of buying a new bottle of water each time.
• Recycle! Sustainability has also put recycling bins all over campus. Take a few extra steps to recycle your garbage rather than trashing it.
• Volunteer! Whether that’s feeding the homeless or picking up trash, if everyone donated a little of their time, the impact would be huge!

Maybe you’re going to commit to something massive to change you and your world. Big or small, make the resolution to do something to usher in this New Era!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Winter Break in University Housing

Hey Everyone!

We wanted to put a reminder out about Winter Break and spring move-in. The residence halls officially closed last Friday, December 14. We will reopen for spring on January 12. Between that time, students are not permitted in their suites or apartments.

Move-in day for spring is January 12. If you were here for fall, no need to check in with us! If you were not here for fall, you’ll go to your 24 hour community desk to check-in and get your keys. For those assigned to the Woods (Palmetto, Elm, Dogwood, Maple, Cypress, or Oak), Eaglin Hall, or Ingle Hall, you will go to the Ingle University Housing Office to check in and pick up your keys. For those assigned to University Place (Grand Strand, Sandhills, Low Country, Blue Ridge, or Piedmont), you will check in and pick up your keys at the Grand Strand University Housing Office.

If you have any questions about move-in, feel free to ask on here, Facebook, Twitter, email (housing@coastal.edu), or phone (843-349-6400). Keep in mind that University offices, including University Housing, will be close December 22 through January 1.