Bobcat Move-In Guide Fall 2014 | 1

Fall 2014Bobcat Move-In Guide

Department of Housing and Residential Life (DHRL)

fall

2014

- 5,

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Welcome Bobcat!Your first semester is quickly approaching! We look forward to your arrival and are busy preparing our residential facilities for a successful 2014–2015 academic year.

The Department of Housing and Residential Life (DHRL) understands this is an exciting time for you. We have designed this guide to help you prepare for your move to campus and navigate the check-in process to get settled in your new home.

The Texas State University System Board of Regents

Donna N. Williams, Chairman | ArlingtonRon Mitchell, Vice Chairman | Horseshoe BayCharlie Amato, San AntonioDr. Jaime R. Garza, San AntonioKevin J. Lilly, HoustonDavid Montagne, BeaumontVernon Reaser III, BellaireRossanna Salazar, AustinWilliam F. Scott, NederlandAnna Sandoval, Student Regent | AlpineDr. Brian McCall, Chancellor

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Save time by planning for your move and your new home away from home. Familiarize yourself with our facilities, policies and move-in process. Spend some time thinking about what you want your new home to look like. What do you need to be successful? How can you make it feel like home?

Your Assignment Once you choose your community, visit our website to look through hall photos and floor plans. This information will assist you in your preparation.

If you choose not to participate in room selection, you will be automatically assigned to a space. If you are unable to select your preferred hall online, it is because there is no availability in that hall.

Please remember that each facility offers its own unique benefits. We encourage you to strive to become part of that community before requesting a transfer. If you decide to request a move, please see our website or call 512.245.HOME (4663) for more information.

Your Packing Checklist Your assigned on-campus space is your home away from home. We encourage you to fill it not only with the items you need to succeed, but also with personal items that will help make your space cozy and comfortable. Appropriate decorations are encouraged.

We encourage you to contact your roommate. Contact information can be found online through MyHousing in advance of check-in. This will help you and your roommate avoid bringing duplicate items. Be sure to check out the list on the right for suggestions and avoid bringing items that are not allowed in the residence halls. (Bobcat Village suggestions can be found on our website.)

How Big Is Your Bed? Most halls feature standard twin-size beds. Beretta, Bexar, Brogdon, Chautauqua, Falls, Gaillardia, Laurel, Retama and Sayers offer extra-long twin beds. Bobcat Village and some San Marcos suites (double suites with single bedrooms only) offer full-size beds.

Your Responsibilities Living on-campus provides a unique opportunity to be an active and responsible member of a community. As a resident, you are afforded certain rights, such as the right to express your uniqueness and individuality. At the same time, you are expected to abide by community standards. We promote open expression of individuality and diversity within the bounds of courtesy, sensitivity and respect. The DHRL staff has established policies and procedures that govern group living. By signing the 2014–15 Housing Contract, you agreed to abide by these community standards. For more information on residential policies and housing standards, visit our website.

Renters Insurance You are strongly encouraged to secure renters insurance. The university or DHRL will not be held responsible for any damages or losses that may occur while living on campus. Protect yourself and your property!

Prepare

What to Bring

*Area rug

Coffee pot

Computer, printer, coaxial cable, Ethernet cable

Decorations (pictures, posters, art, double–sided foam tape)

Desk lamp and alarm clock

Electronics (television, DVD player, iPad, iPod)

Laundry items (basket, high–efficient detergent, hangers)

Linens (towels, sheets, blanket, pillow)

**Mini-refrigerator

Shower caddy and shower shoes

Telephone

Toiletries and hair dryer

Wastebasket

What to Leave at Home

Alcohol/alcohol containers

Blender

Candles/incense

Electric grill

George Foreman grill

Hot pot

Microwave

Nails

Pets (only fish allowed)

Prescription drugs not prescribed for you

Propane stove

Toaster

Weapons or facsimiles of weapons

* Bobcat Village, Blanco, San Jacinto and San Marcos feature carpet in the bedrooms. If you are assigned to a different hall, consider bringing a rug or carpet remnant to cover the tile floor.

** One refrigerator (no larger than 4.5 cubic feet) is allowed in each room. Students in San Jacinto Hall can have two per bedroom. San Marcos Hall comes with one refrigerator per suite and those residents are allowed to bring one additional mini-refrigerator. Bobcat Village offers a full-size refrigerator in the unit.

Considering Lofting? Beretta, Bexar, Brogdon, Chautauqua, College Inn, Falls, Gaillardia, Laurel, Retama, San Jacinto, San Marcos, Sayers, Smith and Tower come equipped with beds that can be lofted to provide more floor space. No additional equipment is required. Students in other facilities must rent a lofting kit in order to loft beds. The kits can be rented through the Residence Hall Association by visiting our website.

Access MyHousing by logging into your Student

Self Service page.

Protect YourselfFind out if your parents’ homeowner’s insurance policy covers catastrophic events. We strongly recommend purchasing renters insurance.

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New student move-in is a busy day for both residents and their families. We have developed a centralized check-in process to serve you efficiently. All new students (with the exception of those assigned to Bobcat Village) will report to Strahan Coliseum before heading to their assigned residential facilities. New student move-in will occur on August 16–17, 2014. Students should arrive according to their scheduled arrival time listed below. The list is organized by the last two digits of your Student identification number.

Check-In• Report to Strahan Coliseum (not your

assigned facility) at your assigned arrival time. Bobcat Village residents report directly to Bobcat Village.

• Receive your key and complete check-in paperwork.

• Report to your assigned hall and unload.

• Move your car(s) to a perimeter lot. You will receive directions upon checking in at Strahan Coliseum.

ArriveBobcat Village Check-In If you are assigned to Bobcat Village, please report directly to that facility on August 16 or 17 during your assigned arrival time.

Additional Information If you plan to arrive on August 18 or later, please report directly to your residence hall. Centralized check-in at Strahan is only for those arriving on August 16–17 from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Remember, you must claim your space by 5 p.m. on August 24 or it may be forfeited.

Keep in mind that all new students with 0–29 hours must participate in PAWS Preview. Students will receive notification of their assigned PAWS Preview session after New Student Orientation.

Limited Availability of Some Campus Offices Make the most of move-in weekend. Both Student Business Services and Financial Aid will offer limited hours on August 16–17 to assist students. Please check with these individual offices for availability.

Saturday, August 16 Sunday, August 17

9 a.m. 51–53 00–03

9:30 a.m. 54–56 04–07

10 a.m. 57–59 08–11

10:30 a.m. 60–63 12–14

11 a.m. 64–66 15–18

11:30 a.m. 67–69 19–21

Noon 70–73 22–25

12:30 p.m. 74–76 26–28

1 p.m. 77–79 29–31

1:30 p.m. 80–83 32–34

2 p.m. 84–86 35–38

2:30 p.m. 87–90 39–41

3 p.m. 91–93 42–44

3:30 p.m. 94–96 45–47

4 p.m. 97–99 48–50

4:30 p.m. Open for those who missed their assigned time.

Open for those who missed their assigned time.

5 – 7 p.m. Check-in closed. Check-in closed.

7 – 9 p.m. Students can report to their hall check-in.

Students can report to their hall check-in.

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You have successfully checked into your hall or apartment. Your family has left... Now what? It’s time to get settled and learn more about your new community. The following information concerning residential amenities will help you get connected and comfortable in your space.

In Your Room Cable service: Bring a coaxial cable to take advantage of the extended basic cable provided in each residential room at no extra charge. If you would like to request additional services or report a problem, you may do so by contacting Grande Communications at 512.878.4880.

Electronic network: All hall lobbies and some study lounges offer wireless Internet access. Individual student rooms do not have WiFi and require ethernet cables. You are expected to abide by university, state and federal regulations related to accessing electronic networks. If you have questions regarding connectivity or would like to request complimentary virus protection software, contact the Information Technologies Assistance Center (ITAC) at 512.245.ITAC.

Telephone service: A telephone line is provided to each resident with the exception of students assigned to triple rooms, who share one line with three voice mailboxes. You are responsible for providing your own telephone and for maintaining this line. For more information, visit www.telcom.txstate.edu/site/student_info.

Emergency assistance: Dial 911. All campus telephone lines will connect you with the University Police. Dialing 911 from an apartment phone will connect you to the San Marcos Police Department. It is a violation of university policy to dial 911 when there is no emergency.

In Your Residence Reception desk services: Each facility offers services through a reception desk. Staff members welcome guests, answer questions, distribute mail and help ensure the safety of all residents. At the reception desk, students can offer suggestions, register complaints, request lock changes for lost keys, locate a staff member, ask questions about policies, submit maintenance requests and inquire about student life on campus.

Laundry facilities: Laundry rooms can be found in every residential facility. Washers and dryers are available for resident laundry use. The cost to operate is included in the semester housing rate billed to the student. Notify the reception desk of problems with the laundry machines.

Get SettledMail service and delivery: Mail is delivered and picked up at each residence hall or apartment reception desk Monday through Saturday. Mail is placed by staff into individual student mailboxes. Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. deliveries, such as UPS or Federal Express, are accepted. Non-mail deliveries (with the exception of flowers) are not accepted. Check our website for the mailing address for your assigned hall.

Night desk worker: The night desk worker is a student staff member of Housing and Residential Life who assists the residence director in developing an environment in residence halls that are conducive to comfortable living, safety, and security by providing coverage after traditional desk hours have ended.

Safety and security: Your student identification card will provide access to your assigned residence (with the exception of Bobcat Village, which features exterior entrances). Please keep your new home secure by not allowing others to “piggyback” on your entry and by meeting your guests at the front door. You also can help discourage theft by locking the door to your room or apartment every time you leave, even if you are simply visiting a neighbor or doing laundry downstairs. It takes only a few seconds to become a victim of theft. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

On-campus parking: On-campus hall residents may purchase a residential permit to park in any residential lot of that same color or an all-zone perimeter lot. Bobcat Village residents may purchase

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an apartment-specific permit. You are encouraged to purchase a parking permit online through Parking Services (www.parking.txstate.edu) before your arrival in the fall to avoid waiting in line. Permits should be ordered well in advance of arriving on campus to allow time for them to be mailed.

Parking spaces are limited. Even if you have a residential permit you may not be able to find a residential spot and may have to park in the commuter areas at times. If you have to park in a perimeter lot during evening hours, contact University Police at 512.245.SAFE (7233) for a safety escort to your residential hall or apartment.

With Your Roommate One of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have at Texas State is getting to know people from different backgrounds, cultures

and ethnicities. Being someone’s roommate could be the beginning of a very influential and personal relationship in your life.

Whether your roommate is a lifelong family friend, high school acquaintance or someone you just met, there will undoubtedly be times when you will not see eye-to-eye. It is not necessary to share every aspect of college living. In fact, learning to communicate your expectations is important. Please complete your roommate contract together in an honest and forthright manner.

Communication with your roommate can and will break down. Take the first step in addressing the situation with your roommate in an effort to understand what is wrong. It may be something very simple that can easily be resolved, or it may be an issue on which you have to work together.

When you need help, get assistance before the problem becomes overwhelming. Your resident assistant and residence director are available to help you.

With the Earth in Mind We are committed to sustainability. More specifically, we conserve water and other resources, as well as promote recycling and green living in our residential communities. We ask you to join us in this effort to keep the world in good shape for generations to come. We have taken the following steps in the right direction:

• Creating recycling programs

• Providing water-saving laundry equipment

• Using recycled materials in hall offices

We encourage you to take part as well.

Join us by using:

• Sustainable products for your room

• Desk lamps with LED lights

• Eco-friendly alarm clocks

• Energy Star-rated mini-refrigerators

• Energy Star-rated personal fans

• Biodegradable laundry powder

• “Oxy” bleach alternatives

• Non-synthetic, petroleum-free laundry baskets and bags

• Eco-friendly clothes hangers

• Rechargeable batteries

• A water filter pitcher

• Reusable non-plastic water bottles

You also can do your part to conserve energy in your room:

• Close shades to block out heat from the sun and reduce the need for air conditioning.

• Turn air conditioners off when not in your room.

• Keep lights off when possible.

• Take shorter showers and turn off running water when not in use.

• Unplug all appliances when not in use (i.e. computers, TVs, radios).

• Place beverage containers, paper, cardboard and other recyclables in designated recycling bins.

• Use the recycling bins provided in your room.

See you soon!Please enjoy the remaining weeks of summer, but take some time to review this guide and prepare for what will be one of the most important and exciting experiences in your life. Please remember that this information and more is available on our website. Our staff is looking forward to working with you. Here’s to a wonderful and academically rewarding year ahead!

Department of Housing and Residential Life www.reslife.txstate.edu | 512.245.HOME | reslife@txstate.edu

This guide was produced with sustainability in mind. The paper is 30 percent post-consumer recycled, which means that 30 percent of the paper’s content completed its life cycle as a consumer item that otherwise would have been disposed of as a solid waste. Using post-consumer recycled paper not only saves trees, it cuts down on waterborne waste, solid waste and greenhouse gases. The use of recycled paper for this publication prevented 141 pounds of greenhouse gases from being released, four pounds of waterborne waste from being created and preserved two trees for the future.