Residential Education and Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on questions below for answers:
What's the difference between a "residence hall" and a "dorm?"
A big one! The term "dorm" originates from the Latin word "dormitus," meaning to sleep. Although we want students to be able to sleep in the residence halls, they are more interactive communities where hall staff and hall councils work hard to provide fun programs which provide personal and educational growth and development of students.
Do I have to live in a residence hall?
Living on campus at Southern Oregon University provides first year students with academic advantages as well as easing the transition to University life. Therefore, single freshman students who enroll at SOU within one year of high school graduation must live in the residence halls, unless, prior to signing a contract, they declare that they are living with a parent or legal guardian. Living on campus offers many advantages to our students: Convenience, Cost, and Community.
Convenience. Living in the residence halls simply puts you in closer contact with the campus community and doings. You're close to classes and school events, have special parking lots so you won't have to search too much for a spot, and don't have to waste valuable study time preparing meals.
Cost. The rates of living on campus are comparable to the costs of living off campus in the surrounding areas. We strive to make affordable housing available to everyone. Also, there are no hidden or surprise costs in furniture, deposits, or monthly bills. The rates students pay for their room are fixed, and will not fluctuate with increased costs.
Community. The greatest advantage to living on campus and one in which we take great pride. You are able to meet people from all over the world (and perhaps your hometown). In hall programs or just hanging out in the lounge, you're bound to meet new people and make new friends.
What are my chances of getting the hall I want?
The odds of getting the hall you want depends on when we receive your application and Enrollment Deposit. We assign hall preferences by the date we receive your Enrollment Deposit. So, the sooner your application is received, the higher you are on our assignment list. Single rooms, too, are assigned by date of deposit order. If having a single room is a priority for you, be sure to get your application in as soon as possible. Occassionally, we will have to deny housing for applications for fall term received after August 1st.
We assign single rooms on a first come, first served basis, with the people who have the earliest date of deposit offered single rooms first.
Can I request a particular complex, hall, or roommate?
Absolutely! Again, though, get that application in early. Once the assignment process begins, and more assignments are made, the chance for getting the specific halls are limited. If you have a roommate request, make sure you both request each other before June 30th.
What can I do if I don't get my preferences?
We have waiting lists for both double and single rooms in all our halls. Throughout the year, we offer spaces to people as they become available.
Can I live in the residence halls for just a term?
Yes. We offer students the choice of an academic term contract, which means you agree to live on campus for one term. You do not have to pay contractual fees once you move out at the end of the term (you are charged contractual fees if you move out before the end of the term). The Term by Term Contract carries a $150.00 sign up fee, but in signing it you can avoid the $15.00/day contractual fees students are assessed if they break the contract and move before the year's end.
Note: Since Freshmen who are within one year of High School graduation are required to live on campus, they may not sign a Term by Term Contract.
We have 2 options--the academic term (see above) and the academic year, in which you agree to live on campus for the year. It has no sign up charge but you are charged contractual fees of $15.00/day left in the year if you move out before the end of the academic year. There are exceptions...if you graduate, withdraw from school, or meet other criteria established by the Housing Policy Committee, you can be exempt from paying penalties. Contact the Housing Office or review your contract for more details.
How is the roommate selected? What if we don't get along?
We offer a questionnaire in an effort to match students with roomates that have similar interests and expectations. Learning to live with a roommate can be quite an adjustment. We feel that learning to get along with a roommate and learning to embrace diversity while better defining yourself is an integral part of the on-campus experience. If, however, you feel you have been improperly matched and cannot live with a particular roommate, you may put your name on our waiting list and we will contact you as space becomes available.
Who can I talk to if I need help?
Your hall is staffed by resident assistants and headed by an area coordinator. All Staff have been trained not only to deal with crisis situations, but are also there to provide support, information, and programming. The hall staff has been hired through a competitive selection process, and there is a staff member on duty from 7pm-8am every night to provide security, guidance, or a friend in which to talk. They are there to maintain safety and enforce policy.
What furnishings will I find in my room?
All student rooms are equipped with a wooden bunkable bed (extra long twin), a desk and chair, bookshelves, closet, bureau, and a waste basket. The rooms also include a telephone jack which provides local phone service, and expanded basic cable TV service and an Ethernet jack.
How do I make long distance calls?
To make a long distance call, you will either need a calling card or a 7 digit access code provided by the school. Since this is a code that is assigned to you personally, Telecommunications can automatically bill you for charges to your student account, rather than billing the room and trying to sort out any complications with your roommate.
Basically, anything you think you'll need in order to feel at home. Remember that you'll probably be sharing a room with another person, so try not to bring so much you'll both feel crowded. We highly recommend calling your roommate so you can coordinate what to bring. A complete list of what to bring and what to leave behind is in the Smart Moves brochure.
Will I be able to study in my hall?
Of course. Most of the halls have study lounges, and you can study in your room. If you find that you cannot study because your neighbor is too loud, simply ask them to keep their volume down. Most will reciprocate, knowing that they will need the favor returned someday. If they are uncooperative, ask your hall staff to intervene. If having a quiet environment is a priority, you may want to apply to live in one of our quiet halls. Ivy and Susanne Homes are 24 hour quiet halls, and Baker and Greensprings D are 14 hour quiet halls. All other halls maintain courtesy hours in the evening so students can rest and study.
Are pets allowed in the halls?
Only fish. And plants.
Will the residence hall be open during breaks?
The residence halls are open both Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks. Food service is not available during both of these times, so be prepared to make your own meals or eat out during these breaks. For students needing housing during Winter Break, a conference hall will be open for residence hall students. Students needing housing over the Winter Break should contact the Housing Office for more information.
Your student ID card is good at any of the eateries on campus, plus the soda and vending machines located in all of the buildings. The Cascade Food Court, located in the Cascade Complex, is the main dining facility and offers several hot entrees each meal as well as sandwiches, soups, doughnuts and bagels, and grab-n-go snacks. Also available is a snack shop in the Greensprings complex.
The Student Union offers a variety of eateries which includes Elmo's Grill, Raider Aid Snack Shop, Subway sandwich shop, Global Fusion Healthfoods, and Java Union.
You buy a meal plan, and your student ID card is encoded with the amount you've purchased. When you purchase food, the amount is deducted from the points you have on your card. If you discover you have a meal plan that does not fit your needs (we offer three of increasing value), you can change your plan at any time EXCEPT the last week of spring term.
Director of Housing and Residential Life
Liz Green
Assistant Director of Residential Life
(541) 552-6377
Fax # (541) 552-6380
1-800-482-7672 Ext. 6371 (Calls within Oregon)
housing@sou.edu
