Frequently Asked Questions

• Roommates
• Rooms, Residence Halls, Billing
• Services & Resources
• Policies & Procedures

Roommates

How do you match roommates?

When you send in your housing application, we ask you to answer a few questions about yourself. Please complete the form honestly, as this is how we will match you with a roommate. Our priority in matching roommates is whether you indicated that you were a smoker or non-smoker, what type of room you requested and whether or not you requested a specific roommate. If you answer the questions honestly, we will try our best to match you with a compatible roommate.

Can I pick my roommate?

To request a specific person to room with, please indicate that person's name on your Housing Preference Form or e-mail us at reslife@emmanuel.edu. We need confirmation from both roommates in order to place you together. We will do our best to place you with your requested roommate; however, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed together.

What happens if we can't get along?

If there are problems with your roommate, the Resident Assistants and Resident Director are here to help you resolve the conflict through conflict mediation. If the mediation process is unsuccessful, then it may be possible for a room switch to be facilitated by the residence life staff. Room changes will not be available prior to the start of the designated room change period, which is typically two weeks after the start of each semester.

Rooms, Residence Halls, Billing

What furnishings are provided? What size are the beds?

Each student receives a bed, a dresser, a desk, desk chair and bookshelves unless it is an economy triple situation. In an economy triple, there are three beds, three desks, two dressers and two closets. The floors in the rooms are tiled. The beds are 80" x 36" (extra long twin sheets). For a sample floorplan, including dimensions, see the "rooms" page.

Can I bring my own furniture? Can I have furniture removed?

You are allowed to bring your own furniture such as futons, chairs, bookcases, etc. However, it is important to note that college furniture cannot be removed from the student room. Therefore, space is somewhat limited. It may be best to bring extra furniture later in the semester once you have determined how much space is available.

What should and should not be brought for my room?

See: what to bring and what to leave at home

How much is room & board and when will I be billed?

Single Room = $12,880
Double Room = $11,200
Triple Room = $9,520
Economy Triple Room = $8,960
Quad Room = $9,520
Apartment at Rodgers Hall = $8,650 without a meal plan

If you live in a suite in Julie Hall, the cost for your room is an additional $700 per semester.

In July, you will receive your bill for all first-semester charges, including room & board.

How many residence halls are there?

There are four residence halls on campus:

• St. Joseph Hall
• St. Ann Hall
• Julie Hall
• Loretto Hall

There are also three satellite locations:

• The Inn at Longwood
• Howard Hall
• three floors at Rodgers Hall, Wentworth Institute of Technology

All of our first-year students are housed on our main campus. A majority of our first-year students are housed in St. Ann and Loretto Halls with some living in St. Joseph Hall and Julie Hall. St. Joseph Hall is coed by wing and houses approximately 410 students, mostly in double rooms, on floors of about 70 residents. Julie Hall is coed by wing and houses approximately 225 students in both traditional double rooms and suites. Loretto Hall and St. Ann Hall are both coed by floor and house approximately 225 students on floors of about 60 residents.

Where are the residence halls located?

The first year residence halls are within short walking distance of the classrooms (buildings 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 on the campus map). Rodgers Hall, the Inn at Longwood and Howard Hall are all approximately a ten minute walk from campus; students living in these off-campus facilities will receive more information from the Residence Director prior to moving in.

Do staff members live in the residence halls?

Yes. All halls are staffed by a full-time professional Resident Director (RD) who lives in the residence hall with you. This person also supervises the Resident Assistants (see below) and is there to assist you when you have questions or problems. The RD also assists in planning programs for the residents of the building. All students are encouraged to get to know their RD, who is a valuable source of information.

What is a Resident Assistant?

A Resident Assistant (RA) is an Emmanuel student just like you. The RAs are selected based on their leadership, maturity and knowledge — qualities that help them to assist students and to build a close-knit residence hall community. RAs plan floor meetings and social programs to allow you to meet your neighbors and make new friends. The RAs also enforce the policies and procedures that we have at Emmanuel College to ensure a smooth-running residential community. The RAs look forward to meeting you and helping you settle into campus life.

What happens on Move-In Day? When is Move-In Day?

As you may be aware, Emmanuel College is a small campus. On Move-In Day for the fall semester, typically in early September, we stagger arrival times to make it easier to unload cars and keep the flow of traffic moving. Details are mailed to you during the summer and are also posted on this website. Please be aware that each family is allowed only one car to transport belongings; also, no U-Hauls or trailers are permitted.

How safe are my belongings in my room?

Students' belongings are as safe as the measures they take to protect them. Each residence hall is equipped with card-access front doors, alarmed emergency exits, and ID access rooms. Additionally, the front desk is manned 24 hours a day either by student workers or security personnel. The only individuals who should be in the hall at any time are residents, escorted/signed-in guests, or visiting residents from other buildings.

Can someone enter my room without my consent?

College staff members may enter student rooms for reasons of health and safety inspections, emergencies, suspicion of illegal activities/policy infractions, or maintenance concerns. By submitting a work order, you are giving permission for your room to be entered for repairs, etc. Notice of coming health and safety inspections will be posted throughout the entire residence hall prior to the actual inspection. Prohibited items such as pets, firearms, incense, candles, etc., and unauthorized appliances will be removed and you will be notified of such removals.

Do I have to move everything out during break periods?

No. You are allowed to keep all of your belongings in your room over all breaks including Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring. There will be specific steps you will need to take to make sure your room is adequately prepared for each break, such as unplugging appliances, closing and locking windows, etc.

Can I obtain housing during a break?

One residence hall will be open over Thanksgiving and Spring breaks for students who would like to stay on campus. Information will be available in the month before each of these breaks as to how you can apply for break housing and the cost. All residence halls are closed over Winter break.

I'm so bored! Is there anything to do when I've run out of homework and video games?

Residents are strongly encouraged to keep open lines of communication about on-campus and in-hall events that are held throughout the year. Flyers are often posted in designated areas (usually in common areas such as lounges or front atriums). RAs use our college e-mail system, FirstClass, to post information about activities occurring on and around campus. Students should check their e-mail regularly to keep up with news about on-campus happenings and other important information. There is also a comprehensive First Year Experience program to provide residents with programs and activities to acclimate you to the college experience.

What about smoking, parking, quiet hours, etc.?

See more below under Policies & Procedures.

Services & Resources

Are there washers/dryers in my building?

There are laundry facilities in each of the residence halls. In Julie Hall, St. Joseph Hall and Loretto Hall, the washers and dryers are in the basement; in St. Ann's Hall, they are on each of the floors. The laundry facilities are either coin- or card-operated.

Can I bring a computer? Will I have Internet access in my room?

Yes to both questions. Each room is wired for Internet use. In order to access the Internet, your computer will need to have an ethernet card installed prior to coming to campus. During orientation, all students will receive an Emmanuel College e-mail address through our FirstClass mail system. The use of modems with an external server (e.g., aol.com) is not permitted in the residence halls. Read more on computer-related services. Additional computer questions should be addressed to Information Technology at 617-735-9966.

Will I have cable TV in my room?

Each room is wired for cable television. There is no additional fee for this service but you are responsible for bringing or buying your own coaxial cable to make the connection to your TV.

Do I need to bring a telephone?

Yes, you must bring your own telephone. Each student room has one telephone number that you will receive on Move-In Day. Each student will receive personal voicemail service connected to their phone number. Since we have voicemail, there is no need to bring an answering machine. All students are provided with free local calling service to most areas of Boston. Students are responsible for their own long distance charges and should get a telephone calling card or cellular telephone for that.

How do I get mail?

Mail is delivered Monday through Friday and placed in your mailbox, which is located in the lobby of St. Joseph Hall. Packages may be picked up in the mail room on the Plaza Level of the Administration Building. You will receive a combination for your mailbox when you arrive on campus in the fall. Your mailing address is as follows:

   Your Name
   Emmanuel College
   400 The Fenway
   Box # (provided before or on Move-In Day)
   Boston, MA 02115

Where will I eat?

Meals are served in the Jean Yawkey Center dining room; sandwiches and snacks are served in the Atrium Café, located next to the dining room. There are two meal plans offered by Bon Appetit Food Service at Emmanuel College:

1. 15 meals/week with $95.00 flex dollars
2. 19 meals/week with $25.00 flex dollars

All students are automatically signed up for the first option (which is the most popular among students) unless the college is notified that you prefer the second.

Flex dollars can be used like cash in our Café or to host a guest for a meal. You can add Fenway Cash to your card to use in the dining hall, on vending and laundry machines and at a variety of area vendors and restaurants. Visit www.fenwaycard.com for more information.

What health services are available? What about off-hours?

The Student Health Center is a collaborative venture between Emmanuel College (EC) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The mission of the Student Health Center is to provide accessible and high-quality health care to the students at Emmanuel College. The Health Center will strive to maintain and promote the health and well-being of the student population while treating acute illnesses and coordinating referrals for specialty care when appropriate. The Health Center is open during normal business hours. Contact info:

   St. Joseph Hall, ground level
   617-264-7678 (phone)
   617-975-9329 (fax)
   healthservices@emmanuel.edu

After hours, if there is a medical emergency, residents can page the Resident Assistant on duty in any of the residence halls. The RA will be able to get in contact with a professional on-call staff member who will be able to take the appropriate steps to get you medical attention.

Policies & Procedures

Can I bring a car to campus?

A limited number of parking spaces is available on a first-come, first-served basis for commuter students. A parking application must be submitted to the Vice President of Student Affairs for approval.

May I have an overnight guest in my room?

All first-year students must earn guest privileges in order to have an overnight guest in their room. In order to earn guest privileges, you must attend three workshops on a variety of themes including safety in the city, roommate mediation and alcohol education. See the student handbook for more information.

I'm oh-so-attached to my pets. Will they be able to share my in-hall college experience?

Due to health and safety concerns, no pets are allowed except small fish.

Who is allowed in the residence halls?

The only people allowed in the residence halls are residents of that building, residents from other buildings who have checked in with the front desk, and guests escorted by residents. No un-escorted guests or solicitors are allowed at any time. If you see a suspicious character or someone soliciting money or information, you are encouraged to contact your RA or Campus Safety immediately.

I'm a smoker. Where can I light up?

Smoking is prohibited in all university buildings. All smoking must be done outside and at least 50 feet away from the buildings.

What is the college's policy on alcohol and drugs?

Emmanuel College is a dry campus. That means possession of alcohol is forbidden on the campus by anyone, even if you are of legal drinking age. Drugs are not permitted. Having possession or being in the presence of either of these substances will result in disciplinary action.

Whoops, I messed up. What happens now that I've violated a hall policy?

After an incident report is submitted, the student allegedly in violation of hall policy will receive communication informing him/her of the date and time of the hearing the student is expected to attend. At this meeting, the student is given the opportunity to respond to the charges against him/her. The case is heard whether the student elects to attend or not. Based on this meeting, a decision will be made of the student's responsibility for the violations and the outcome will be communicated to the student. If found responsible, sanctions are rendered and communicated.

Oh no! Something is broken in my room — what do I do?

If something breaks in your room or in one of the common area spaces, please notify a Resident Assistant or Residence Director so that they can contact the Facilities Department to have it repaired as quickly as possible.

What are my cleaning duties?

The hall cleaning staff is responsible for day-to-day cleaning of common areas such as bathrooms, trash rooms, lounges and others. Residents are fully responsible for cleaning their own rooms and are encouraged to maintain a healthy and clean environment. Efforts should be taken to regularly clean dishes, dispose of trash and remove or properly store open food containers. Once each semester, the Residence Life staff will conduct a health and safety inspection to ensure that the living environments in the Residence Halls are up to code.

What are quiet and courtesy hours?

Quiet hours are designated times when residents are required to not make sound that can be heard from outside their room. Quiet hours are 11:00 pm - 8:00 am on nights when there are classes the next day and 1:00 am - 9:00 am on nights when there are no classes the following day. These hours allow a safe-haven period when studying and sleeping can be accomplished. Failure to acknowledge quiet hours will result in disciplinary action.

Courtesy hours are similar to quiet hours but last 24 hours a day. These require students to respect their fellow residents and adhere to any requests to lower their volume when their fellow community members are disturbed by the noise. Courtesy hours let residents maximize the use of their hall space even during times not specifically designated as quiet hours.