Applying for Housing
How do I apply for a residence hall room?
Housing per Class Level
Where do first-year students live?
Where do graduate, upperclassman, and transfer students live?
Health Insurance & Vaccinations
Do I have to show proof of health insurance to live on campus?
Do I have to have certain vaccinations to live on campus?
Rooms & Room Assignments
How do I know what my room assignment is? When will I receive it?
Who is my roommate? May I contact my roommate before we move in?
May I see my room before I move in?
What size are the beds in the residence hall rooms?
What furniture comes in the room?
What are the estimated room measurements for each building?
May I paint my dorm room?
Are students allowed to build bed lofts?
What are the room rates and meal plan rates?
What about the window coverings?
Where do I get my room key?
What to Bring
Can I bring a small appliance like a microwave, coffee maker, or refrigerator?
What should I bring for my room?
What am I not allowed to bring?
Resources & Facilities
What is an RA? What does an RA do?
Are there laundry facilities on campus?
Rules & Policies
Are students subject to curfew?
What is the visitation policy?
Are residents allowed to have a car on-campus?
What happens when a rule or policy is broken?
Applying for Housing
How do I apply for a residence hall room?
New students, returning student, and graduate students can apply for housing online.
Back to top
Housing per Class Level
Where do first-year students live?
First-year students live in Brotherton Hall and Middle Hall in Living Learning Communities with students who will be in their University 101 class.
Back to top
Where do graduate, upperclassman, and transfer students live?
Graduate, upperclassmen, and transfer students live in Ratrie Hall, Middle Hall, Cox Hall, and East Apartments. Cox Hall rooms are the only single rooms offered to students on campus.
Back to top
Health Insurance & Vaccinations
Do I have to show proof of health insurance to live on campus?
Yes, when you complete your housing application you will need to submit proof of your health insurance.
Back to top
Do I have to have certain vaccinations to live on campus?
Yes, all students must have up to date hepatitis B, meningitis, and MMR.
Back to top
Rooms & Room Assignments
How do I know what my room assignment is? When will I receive it?
Room assignments are made during June and July, and written confirmation of your assignment should arrive at the address listed on your housing application during the summer. This confirmation includes information regarding which residence hall and room you will be living in, your campus address, the name(s) of your roommate(s), and information about freshman orientation.
Back to top
Who is my roommate? May I contact my roommate before we move in?
If you have one or more roommates, those names and contact information will appear on your room assignment confirmation. Feel free to get in touch with your roommate(s) before arriving on campus to get to know one another, and discuss who will be bringing what.
Things to discuss with your roommate:
- Carpet or throw rug
- Computer
- Electronics, such as TV, VCR, stereo, etc.
- Refrigerator (no larger than 2 cubic feet)
- Microwave
- Telephone and answering machine
- Expectations for residential living
Back to top
May I see my room before I move in?
Students may schedule a tour with the Admission Office during the summer to see a showroom. Otherwise, the residence halls are closed to students until the move-in date.
Back to top
What size are the beds in the residence hall rooms?
The beds are extra long twin beds, 29 inches wide. To ensure that all of our parents and students have an affordable, convenient way to get XL twin sheets, the Residence Hall Association (RHA) has partnered with Residence Hall Linens. From extra long sheets and comforters, to towels and shower caddies, to allergen guard pillowcases and extra-long mattress pads, they’ve got everything you need to turn your dorm into a comforting home-away-from-home. Plus, proceeds from this program go to the RHA and are used for programming in the residence halls. There’s free shipping on all Value Pak orders, and over 23 color combinations to choose from. Plus, linens are delivered to your home during the summer so you don’t have to venture out to the retail stores. Order now for the best selection — popular colors can sell out quickly. Please visit the RHL website http://www.rhl.org/uoc.
Back to top
What furniture comes in the room?
Each room comes equipped with a bed, mattress, desk, desk chair, dresser, closet space, window shade, Ethernet hookup (internet), telephone hookup, and cable television outlet.
Back to top
What are the estimated room measurements for each building?
**Remember that you will be sharing a room and that space is limited.**
- Ratrie Hall
Double Room 11 × 18
Apartment 10 × 18, Living room 9.5 × 26.5
- Middle Hall
Double Room 11 × 18
Apartment 12 × 19, Living 11 × 15, BH 15 × 10.5
Back to top
May I paint my dorm room?
No, you will not be able to paint your room.
Back to top
Are students allowed to build bed lofts?
No, students are not allowed to build bed lofts. However, if you’re interested in using a university loft kit, please contact your Resident Director when you arrive on campus. A limited number of loft kits are available in each hall and a lottery system is used to determine who will receive a loft kit on the first day of class.
Back to top
What are the room rates and meal plan rates?
View current housing fees and meal plan rates.
Back to top
What about the window coverings?
All residence hall rooms have blinds on each window.
Back to top
Where do I get my room key?
When you come for move in, you will receive your key from the Resident Assistant of your Residence Hall.
Back to top
What to Bring
Can I bring a small appliance like a microwave, coffee maker, or refrigerator?
University of Charleston has established policies regarding the use of heat-producing appliances. For safety and sanitary reasons, cooking appliances are not permitted in rooms that are not equipped with kitchens, except for refrigerators and microwaves. Refrigerators 4.0 cubic feet and under are allowed in all rooms, and microwaves no larger than 0.9 cubic feet without convection are also permitted in student rooms.
Back to top
What should I bring for my room?
We suggest that you bring particular items that will make your new home feel like home — but you can't bring everything. Some of the basic items you might want to include on your list are:
- Alarm clock
- Bath towels
- Bathroom cleaning supplies
- Bedding
- Blankets
- Clothes hangers
- Cups, glasses, plates, bowls, and silverware (all microwave safe)
- Desk lamp
- Flashlight
- Hairdryer, curling iron, etc.
- Iron and ironing board
- Key ring
- Laundry basket and supplies
- Milk crates, waffle blocks, or plastic storage bins
- Personal toiletries
- Pillow
- Posters and souvenirs (to make your room feel more like home)
- Roll of quarters (a dollar per wash and a dollar per dry)
- Wastebasket
- Cable cord for TV
**Due to fire safety regulations no extension cords or multiple outlet plugs will be allowed in the halls**
Back to top
What am I not allowed to bring?
- Hot plate, hot pot, toaster oven, etc. (Any appliance with an open heating element is a fire hazard and therefore prohibited)
- Pets (Except fish in 10 gallon aquarium or less)
- Portable heater
- Halogen lamps (Greater than 300 watts are proven to be a fire hazard)
- Large furniture (It's good idea to wait and see how much room you really have)
- Fireworks, firearms, paintball guns, weapons including switchblades, BB guns, and archery equipment
- Incense, potpourri burners, and candles (Not only are they fire hazards, but neighbors may be allergic or annoyed by such odors)
- Nails, tacks, and mounting tape (All of these items will cause damage to room walls)
Back to top
Resources & Facilities
What is an RA? What does an RA do?
An RA is a Resident Assistant and he/she is part of the student staff that lives in the residence hall to help build community and citizenship on each floor and help students with learning outside the classroom.
Back to top
Are there laundry facilities on campus?
Laundry facilities are located in each hall on campus. Washers are $1.25/load and dryers are $1.25/per load.
Back to top
Rules & Policies
Are students subject to curfew?
There are no curfews.
Back to top
What is the visitation policy?
Guests are to be escorted at all times by a resident and are expected to adhere to all of the University of Charleston’s regulations and policies. Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests. The visitation policy is Sunday to Thursday 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday and Saturday, 24 hours. Students may have co-ed overnight guests on Friday and Saturday night if they are properly signed in with the Desk Assistant and leave identification.
Back to top
Are residents allowed to have a car on-campus?
Yes. The procedure for obtaining a parking pass will be explained to all students at orientation.
Back to top
What happens when a rule or policy is broken?
A person found in violation of a policy will meet with the Director of Housing or his/her designee to discuss possible sanctions.
Back to top