When can I arrive and move in?
What if I get hungry, Where do I go to eat?
Do I get a mailbox?
What do I need to bring? May I decorate my room?
What about refrigerators, phones, & TV’s?
Can I bring my own computer? Are the residence halls wired?
How does Parking work? Do I need a parking permit?
Is there anywhere to do laundry? Must I save it until I go home?
What if I need to store something? Is there space available?
I am anxious about having a roommate, what can I do?
Is there a curfew? How does the key system work?
Are the Residence Halls open during the school breaks?
Do I need my own property insurance?
Can I build a loft in my room?

1) when can I arrive and move in? top

2) Where do I go to eat? All residents are required to have a meal plan that can be used in the various dining facilities on campus. Our main dining hall is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day school is in session and students can also use their meal plan in the Lion’s Den Grill and College Street Ice Cream and Soda shop. Learn more about Dinning Services. top

3) Do I get a mailbox? All residents have an on-campus mailbox assigned to them for their personal use. You will keep the same mailbox as long as you are a student at Mars Hill. You will receive official campus mail through this mailbox. The mailroom is in the ground floor of the Wren College Union. Our mailroom is a full service facility Monday through Friday and closed on the weekends. You may purchase stamps, envelopes, boxes, and mail out packages and letters. top

4) What do I need to bring? All the rooms are furnished but there are some things that you will need to supply yourself. (See What to Bring). Sheets to fit an extra long size twin mattress, blankets, pillows, comforters, shower rugs, towels, alarm clocks, and personal items. Toilet paper and shower curtains are provided. Talk with your roommates about stereos, TVs, CD players, tape players, etc. which you might be able to share. Other than the Apartments and Bailey Mountain Hall, cooking appliances such as toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, and crock-pots are not allowed. Other appliances that are not allowed include portable heaters, window air conditioners, and halogen lights. Please remember that candles and incense are also not allowed in the residence halls.
We feel that it is important that you personalize you space. Posters, plants, bedspreads and a throw rug can help make your room seem more like home. However, we do ask that you avoid doing things that will damage the walls or woodwork. For example, transparent tape is almost impossible to clean off. Masking tape and self-adhesive tape/hooks can be used with care but may pull paint off walls. The question to ask yourself is whether you will be able to return your room to its previously unimaginative condition at the end of your stay. All room furnishings must stay in the room. top

5) Refrigerator: Compact portable refrigerators are permitted if they do not exceed 4.0 cubic feet, 36 inches in height, and 1.5 amps. Most students rent or buy mini refrigerators (2.7 cubic feet) which can be obtained at many different retail stores.
Telephone: Each residence hall room includes telephone service with campus and local access as part of the regular housing package. Long distance telephone service is not included and must be done with a calling card or a personal cell phone. Room phone numbers can not have additional services billed to them. You or your roommate will need to supply the phone. Mars Hill College policy is that cell phones outside of the immediate calling area will not be called by college personnel when returning phone calls.
Cable TV: Basic Cable Service is provided in all resident rooms as part of your housing package. Students can upgrade the cable package in their room or order premium channels

by contacting the cable provider Telemedia directly at 1-800-993-9313.top

6) Can I bring my own computer? Are the residence halls wired? Almost 85% of MHC students bring their own computer to college. Two computer data jacks with a direct network connection to the campus server are available in every student room. Your computer must have a standard Ethernet card to connect to the network. Software to access the network can be obtained during orientation. If you do not own your own computer there are computer labs around campus for all students to use. Bailey Mountain Hall is equipped with wireless internet access. top

7) How does parking work? Do I need a parking permit? Free parking is available to all students at Mars Hill, but restrictions are in place as to where different individuals may park. Vehicles are required to have a parking decal on their rear window in order for the College to identify which vehicles belong to which students. Permits can be obtained by filling out a parking decal form sent to students during the summer or from Campus Security when you arrive. top

8) Is there anywhere to do Laundry? You may take all your dirty clothes home to get washed but it will probably impress your mom if you go home with clean clothes. Therefore, each residence hall has its own laundry facilities for you to use. Washers and dryers are operated either by coins or by laundry cards. Laundry cards can be purchased in $5, $10 and $20 increments in the Wren Union. Each load is $1.00 to wash and $1.00 to dry. top

9) What if I need to store something? The Residence Halls do not have any storage space for “extra” belonging. All of a student’s belongings (and the furniture provided for your room) must be kept in your room. There is also no storage during summer so students are encouraged to go in together to rent a storage unit from one of the local storage companies. top

10) I am anxious about having a roommate, what can I do? Many students find that living with a roommate is a critical part of their housing experience. This person can be one of the most important people in your on-campus living experience. He or she can be the source of either deep friendship or extreme aggravation depending on how well you get along. A critical element for roommate survival is mutual respect. Be aware of your own rights while also being sensitive to your roommate’s. It is important to make agreements about living together at the start. Look for more helpful hints on making your roommate situation a good one.
In situations when you are having trouble working things out with your roommate, it is often less a question of who is right or wrong and more an issue of communication and compatibility. Sometimes it takes someone who is not directly involved to assist in this process. If by chance you cannot work out differences with your roommate, contact one of the residential staff. If you do not feel your issues are being addressed properly, come by the Residence Life office and speak with the Director. top

11) Is there a Curfew? How does the key system work? No, there is not a curfew and students are free to come and go as they see fit. The buildings are kept locked with either a punch code lock or card key lock. You will be told the combination or issued a card key so that you can come and go as you choose throughout the day or night. We do require that all visitors sign in and sign out at the front door and be escorted by a resident while in the building. You will be issued a key to your room. It follows that you and your roommate are really the only ones who can offer some assurance of security for your room. We recommend locking the door to your room when you leave, to prevent petty theft. Students are responsible for lock change costs due to lost or stolen keys. top

12) Are Residence Halls open during school breaks? No, during most school breaks the residence halls close on the last day of classes and students are not allowed to stay on campus. Please plan in advance to be able to leave campus at the start of each break. During some breaks we do allow students to stay in their room and charge them an extra per day cost.
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13) Do I need my own Property Insurance? Residents are encouraged to purchase their own personal property insurance to protect against theft or damage. Mars Hill is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property. Property Insurance can be purchased through National Student Service, Inc. at www.NSSINC.com. Damages by students to College owned property will be assessed by the Residence Life Office and become bills owed to Mars Hill College. top

14) Can I build a loft in my room? Lofts can only be built with prior approval from the Director of Residence Life. They must be free standing and use nuts and bolts (no nails) for construction. Fire code requires that lofts have a minimum of 2 Ft. clearance from the ceiling. View the complete loft guidelines in Policies and Guidelines.
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