Frequently Asked Questions

There are as many questions about living on campus as there are reasons to live on campus. We hope that we've answered most of them here. If you have a question that's not answered here, please contact us at (616) 331-2120 or email us at housing@gvsu.edu.

 GENERAL QUESTIONS

1: Why should I live on campus?
2: What are some of the advantages of living on campus?
3: What housing options are available?
4: Where should I live if I have classes on both the Allendale and the Grand Rapids Pew Campus?
5: Do I have to have a meal plan if I live on campus?
6: Can I have a car on campus?
7: What health services are available?
8: What are the fire safety procedures?
9: How many people share a bathroom?
10: What is the best way to receive packages and mail on campus?

ROOMMATE AND HOUSING ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

11: How will you match me up with a roommate?
12: When will I find out who my roommate is and where I'll be living?
13: What if I don't get assigned to my preferred living space?
14: What happens if I don't get along with my roommate?

WHAT TO BRING TO CAMPUS QUESTIONS

15: What furnishings come with my room?
16: What personal items should I bring?
17: What appliances can I bring?
18: What appliances are not permitted?
19: Can I have a bike on campus?
20: Are pets allowed on campus?

SERVICES AND CONNECTION QUESTIONS

21: Is cable television available?
22: What phone services are provided by the university?
23: What computer network services are available?
24: What types of laundry services are available?
25: Are there regulations that I should be aware of?

POLICY QUESTIONS

26: Can I cook in my living center?
27: Can I smoke in my room or in the common areas?
28: Can I have guests in my room?
29: Can I stay in my room during official university breaks?
30: What is the alcohol policy for on-campus housing?
31: Who is responsible for public area damage?
32: What are the quiet hours policies?

GENDER NEUTRAL HOUSING QUESTIONS

33. What is Gender Neutral Housing? 
34. Who can participate in Gender Neutral Housing?
35. What are the differences between gender neutral and non-gender neutral housing?
36. Where will the Gender Neutral Living Centers be located?
37. What if a student does not want to live in Gender Neutral Housing?
38. What if a parent does not want their student to live in Gender Neutral Housing?
39. What if someone no longer wishes to live in Gender Neutral Housing?
40. In the event that a vacancy occurs, what will happen to the remaining roommates?

 

1 Why should I live on campus? Back to Top

Living on campus gives you opportunities and advantages that can make your college experience more memorable, more enjoyable, and more successful. While you are not required to live on campus, we encourage first-year students to live on campus to more easily become involved in university life their first year away from home.

2 What are some of the advantages of living on campus? Back to Top

Academic Success - research shows that students who live on campus earn higher grades, are more likely to graduate, and have a more rewarding college experience than students who reside off campus.
Campus Life - living on campus makes it easier to participate in the intellectual, cultural, recreational, and social activities offered on campus.
Convenience - living on campus puts you close to faculty, classes, computer facilities, the library, the fitness center, dining rooms, and other campus activities.
Personal Growth - living on campus provides you with an opportunity to develop your social skills by meeting fellow students from many different backgrounds and cultures. You can also gain leadership skills by joining the community council in your living area and getting involved in planning new events, programs, and services.

3 What housing options are available? Back to Top

Grand Valley features some of the newest housing in the state. Depending on your class level, you can choose from traditional, apartment-style, and suite-style living centers, along with on-campus apartments on both the Allendale and downtown Grand Rapids Pew Campus. You must be at least a sophomore to live in an on-campus apartment. Grand Valley also offers a number of theme housing options including housing for Honors College students, art students, students who wish to avoid alcohol use, and students pursing degrees in health sciences, or those who may attend law school. Visit www.gvsu.edu/housing/ for more information on housing options.

4 Where should I live if I have classes on both the Allendale and the Grand Rapids Pew Campus? Back to Top

Grand Valley provides free bus service between the two campuses on a daily basis, making it easy for students to commute based on their schedule and living location. We recommend you look at your class schedule and your interest in on-campus activities before making a decision as to which campus best serves your needs. Information regarding the bus schedule is available at ridetherapid.com

5 Do I have to have a meal plan if I live on campus? Back to Top

You must select a meal plan if you live in a traditional, suite-style, or apartment-style living center. Meal plans for on-campus apartment residents are optional. Visit www.gvsu.edu/campusdine/ for more information.

6 Can I have a car on campus? Back to Top

You are allowed to have a car on campus, but must purchase a parking permit from the Department of Public Safety. Housing reserved parking lots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so get your request in early.

7 What health services are available? Back to Top

The Campus Health Center, which is operated by Metro Health, is located at 10383A 42^nd Ave. across from the Watertower. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm. The facility provides general medical care, including immunizations, women’s health services and physical exams. Metro Health accepts all major health insurance plans and will bill your insurance. You can schedule appointments by calling (616) 252-6030 or just walk in.

Metro Health also offers additional services at Metro Health Allendale, which is less than two miles from campus, just off Lake Michigan Drive. The center provides X-rays, ultrasound, physical therapy, mammography, sports medicine, and more.

8 What are the fire safety procedures? Back to Top

Each student room is equipped with a smoke detector. Periodic fire drills are conducted in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety.

9 How many people share a bathroom? Back to Top

Traditional-style living centers offer community bathrooms, located at the end or middle of the corridor and shared by 20 to 55 students. The custodial staff is responsible for cleaning these community bathrooms. Four to five students share a bathroom in suite-style living centers, two students share a bathroom in apartment-style living centers and in on-campus apartments the number of residents per apartment dictates the number of people sharing a bathroom. Residents are responsible cleaning their own bathrooms in these types of housing.

10 What is the best way to receive packages and mail on campus? Back to Top

Click here for your correct mailing address.

11 How will you match me up with a roommate? Back to Top

If you have a specific roommate in mind make sure that both of you mutually request each other as roommates on the application form. We also recommend that you submit your housing applications together. We'll do our best to honor roommate requests if both students make mutual requests, but in some instances we are unable to honor requests due to space availability. If you don't have a specific roommate in mind make sure you complete the lifestyle questionnaire in the housing application so that we can make the best match possible.

12 When will I find out who my roommate is and where I'll be living? Back to Top

We will notify you of your roommate and housing assignment during the summer prior to your arrival on campus.

13 What if I don't get assigned to my preferred living space? Back to Top

If you apply early you have the best chance of getting your first preference. Even then, you may not get your first choice. Requests to move are evaluated after the first ten days of the semester. Please remember that reassignment requests are made possible as space becomes available. Because of high occupancy, many requests cannot be honored until the end of the Fall semester.

14 What happens if I don't get along with my roommate? Back to Top

You and each of your roommates have your own set of expectations. To encourage open communication we require you to complete and sign a Roommate Lifestyle Agreement that allows roommates to negotiate the environment of their room. The Agreement form must be completed and turned in the second week of school. When roommates have difficulty with one another, we first suggest they talk about the situation, perhaps with Resident Assistants/Apartment Living Assistants (RA/ALA). If a student is unable to resolve a situation with the assistance of a student staff member, the Living Center Director/Apartment Director may act as a mediator ensure that strong feelings do not hinder the process and that roommates follow the rules. Any roommate conflicts should be reported immediately to the floor RA/ALA, Living Center/Apartment Director for roommate options. Room changes are permitted after the first ten business days of the semester, based on availability.

15 What furnishings come with my room? Back to Top

All rooms are furnished with beds, mattresses, desks/chairs, wardrobes, bookshelves, and dressers. On-campus apartments include additional furniture. Beds are moveable and loftable. No new construction of lofts is permitted. Secchia Hall furnishings only include a couch and chair.

16 What personal items should I bring? Back to Top

You should bring your own linen (mattress size is 36"x80"), pillows, and telephone. For a comprehensive list of items to bring click here.

17 What appliances can I bring? Back to Top

Feel free to bring UL-approved desk lamps, clocks, radios, TVs, VCRs, stereos, computers, hair dryers, coffee makers, and hot-air popcorn makers. You are limited to one microwave oven per room (1,000 watts or less) and one refrigerator per room (less than 4.6 cubic feet). Note that On-Campus Apartments and Apartment-Style Living Centers come with a refrigerator.

18 What appliances are not permitted? Back to Top

You cannot bring toaster ovens, hot plates or any electrical appliance with exposed coils.

19 May I have a bike on campus? Back to Top

You may bring a bike but it must be kept outside in bike racks. Be sure you have a good lock and chain to secure your bike. Bikes are not allowed in the on campus buildings. Bikes may be registered with the Department of Public Safety at the Allendale campus, or via Pew Campus Security for the residents of Secchia/Winter Halls at the downtown campus.

20 Are pets allowed on campus? Back to Top

Non-preditory fish are allowed on campus.

21 Is cable television available? Back to Top

All living areas are equipped to receive basic cable at no charge. Residents must provide the television and the cable. Premium channels are available for an additional fee.

22 What phone services are provided by the University? Back to Top

Each living unit has at least one phone jack providing local phone service. Residents must however, bring the phone to plug in to the jack provided. Students may use their personal/pre-paid calling cards for long distance service or their personal cellular phone.

23 What computer network services are available? Back to Top

All on-campus student living areas are capable of accessing the Internet through the Grand Valley campus network. This allows students to access the World Wide Web, electronic mail, discussion groups, data resources, GVSU library, web-enhanced courses and to correspond with faculty and other students. In order to access the network an Ethernet card and RJ45 ethernet cable are required or Wireless 802.11b network card. Visit the On-Campus Access to the Internet page for additional information.

24 What types of laundry services are available? Back to Top

Each living center and on-campus apartment complex has laundry facilities for residents to use.  Students are provided with a laundry card, preloaded with cycles for use.  If additional cycles are needed, students may purchase them at the VTM locations (North Living Center C, Ravine Apartments, Laker Village North Community Center and Niemeyer Living Center). 

25 Are there regulations that I should be aware of? Back to Top

All rules and regulations that govern GVSU residential living are outlined in the Housing Contract, Housing Handbook and Planner, and the GVSU Student Code. All on-campus residents are responsible for their own behavior and the behavior of their guests. Students who violate GVSU rules and regulations or state and local laws will be referred for disciplinary action. Students may be removed from the on-campus residential living community for any of the following reasons: - Weapons/explosives/firearms - Physical or verbal assault - Fire or tampering with fire safety equipment - Use of alcohol by a minor - Possession of drugs - Habitual policy violations.

26 Can I cook in my living center? Back to Top

Traditional and suite-style living centers include community kitchen facilities and Apartment-Style Living Centers include a kitchenette in every apartment. You can use coffee makers, hot-air popcorn poppers and microwaves - providing that they are 1,000 or less in wattage, in your room.

27 Can I smoke in my room or in the common areas? Back to Top

Smoking is prohibited in all on-campus housing and academic buildings.

28 Can I have guests in my room? Back to Top

Guests are permitted only at your request and with the prior consent of your roommate. You become responsible for their behavior. All guests must abide by University and building regulations.

29 Can I stay in my room during official University breaks? Back to Top

Yes, after notifying the appropriate housing personnel. However, dining services may not be available during this time.

30 What is the alcohol policy for on-campus housing? Back to Top

Alcohol is prohibited in all living centers, regardless of the age of residents. Residents who are 21 or older and reside in designated areas may consume alcohol in their rooms, in the presence of other 21 year-olds, provided minors are not present. Open containers of alcohol are not permitted in any of the public areas or parking lots of the on-campus housing units. Items such as kegs, beer bongs, drug paraphernalia, large open containers of alcohol, and open parties are prohibited. Students who are not of legal drinking age may not store or possess alcohol, or empty containers of alcohol at any time in their rooms. Visible displays of alcohol or containers of alcohol will be referred for disciplinary action.

31 Who is responsible for public area damage? Back to Top

All undetermined public area damage will be charged back to the residents of the living areas in which the damage occurred. This policy is designed to encourage residents to take pride and ownership in their living areas and to reduce the amount of unreported public area damage.

32 What are the Quiet Hours policies? Back to Top

Sunday through Thursday evenings from 10:00pm to 10:00am are designated quiet hours. Weekend quiet hours begin at midnight and end at 10:00am. Quiet hours are periods of time where residents will be required to restrict noise levels to an appropriate level to allow for study time and sleeping. All other times will be courtesy hours, during which all residents are requested to keep noise levels sensitive to all floor residents' needs.

33 What is Gender Neutral Housing? Back to Top

Gender Neutral Housing is defined as a housing option in which two or more students may share a multiple-occupancy apartment regardless of the students’ sex or gender.

34 Who can participate in Gender Neutral Housing?Back to Top

Gender Neutral Housing is open to all students whose needs are not met by our traditional housing options in specific apartment units.  Gender Neutral Housing supports the University's non-discrimination policy which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

35 What are the differences between gender neutral and non-gender neutral housing?Back to Top

Although many factors are considered, the primary factor Housing and Residence Life bases all housing placements on is gender.  This is the default placement unless a student specifically chooses Gender Neutral Housing.  Gender Neutral Housing placements are not made on the basis of gender.

36 Where will the Gender Neutral Living Centers be located?Back to Top

Gender Neutral Housing is located in specific apartment units.  Housing assignments are made based on room/apartment availability and mutual roommate requests.

37 What if a student does not want to live in Gender Neutral housing?Back to Top

Only students requesting Gender Neutral Housing will be placed in units held for Gender Neutral Housing.

38 What if a parent does not want their student to live in Gender Neutral Housing?Back to Top

The University encourages students to maintain an open dialogue with their families in order that they can be supportive of a student's housing decisions.  Students 18 and older are legally able to make decisions about their housing contracts.  Students under 18 should discuss housing plans with their families, as they must provide parental consent. 

39 What if someone no longer wishes to live in Gender Neutral Housing?Back to Top

If a student decides he or she no longer would like to occupy Gender Neutral Housing, he or she can submit a room change request to the Office of Housing and Residence Life to be moved to a different unit on campus.

40 In the event that a vacancy occurs, what will happen to the remaining roommates?Back to Top

The room will default back to the gender of the remaining occupant.