ResLife - FAQs

• What kinds of activities are there to do in the halls? Each Resident Assistant (RA) is responsible for planning programs and activities designed to educate and entertain students in the halls. Past programs have included volleyball tournaments, movie nights, knitting groups, study groups, and birthday parties. Additionally, each hall has a variety of recreational and entertainment equipment (varying by hall) such as pool tables, ping-pong tables, big-screen TVs, and board games.

• Is there a curfew for students living in the halls? There is no established curfew for students.

• Does the College cover the cost of damaged or stolen items? No, the College does not. It is a resident’s responsibility to carry insurance for their items. Many homeowner’s policies allow for an inexpensive addition to cover student items. Students can also invest in renter’s insurance.

• Can I leave my things on campus in the summer? Limited storage is available for the summer on a first-come, first-served basis. It is the resident’s responsibility to transport their things to the storage locations. Specific information about summer storage will be available at the close of the school year.

• Where do freshman students live? Where do upperclassmen live? Freshmen students typically live together in Anderson Hall and Hayman Hall. Upperclassmen live in Finney, Simplot, Owyhee, Sawtooth, the Village, and off-campus school-owned houses.  An RA is assigned to each living community in the residence halls.

• What is an RA? One RA lives on each floor of the residence halls. RAs are students who provide leadership to their floors, build community among residents, serve as a resource for their community members, and respond to emergencies.

• Where do students park their cars? There are a limited number of parking spaces at some residence halls, and these are first-come, first-served. Ample parking is available in general parking lots on campus, however. Students must apply for a permit online through Campus Safety.

• What kind of internet connection do the residence halls have? All residence halls have wireless routers throughout. You can request an Ethernet connection in your room from the IT department through the IT helpdesk (helpdesk@collegeofidaho.edu).

• How are bathrooms organized?
  Most bathrooms in Anderson, Hayman, and Simplot are single-gender. Hayman and Simplot have one all-gender single-use restroom, and Anderson has four. The other buildings feature individual-use restrooms.

• Can the beds be bunked?
  The beds can be bunked, provided that both roommates agree to the arrangement. Students can get bunking pins from their RA Office.

• Can beds be lofted?
  We have limited lofting kits for beds. They are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

• What size are the beds?
  We have both standard twin and twin extra-long beds on campus. Extra-long sheets will fit comfortably on both mattress sizes. We recommend you purchase extra-long sheets.

• Are students responsible for cleaning the community bathrooms in Anderson, Hayman, Simplot, and Voorhees?
  The College’s Facilities staff provides daily cleaning of the bathrooms as well as other community spaces (i.e. hallways, lounge areas, etc.) on weekdays and complete a light clean of bathrooms on weekends. Students are expected to engage in reasonable and respectful use of the facilities at all times. Cleaning supplies are available in the RA office and students can borrow these at any time.

• Are students responsible for cleaning bathrooms or common spaces in Finney Hall, Owyhee Hall, Sawtooth Hall, “Ketchup” Apartments or “Mustard” Apartments?
  YES. Residents in suites and apartments with private-use bathrooms and common spaces have the responsibility to clean these spaces. The custodial staff does not clean these spaces. Residents must provide their own cleaning supplies and toilet paper.

• Are there laundry facilities in the halls?
  Each hall has a designated laundry area in the basement. The cost to run the washers and dryers is included in your residence hall fees.

• Can students bring their own beds?
  Students are welcome to bring their own mattresses or beds as long as there is adequate storage space available for the dorm furniture. They are responsible for removing the college-provided furniture and transporting it to storage as well as for returning it to their room prior to checking out. College staff are unable to help with this.

• What furniture is provided in each room?
  Each room includes the following, one per person: bed frame with mattress, desk, desk chair, wardrobe, and dresser.

Family housing is available to students with dependent children. The College owns a limited number of houses in the south blocks of campus and these houses can be utilized as family housing. Family housing is prioritized for students with dependent children, and then staff and faculty. These houses are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Pricing for these houses is determined by the number of rooms and includes sewer, water, and trash.

• Can students have appliances in their rooms?
  Students can have small dorm-size refrigerators and microwaves in their rooms. George Foreman-type grills, instant pots, and other cooking appliances are to be used in designated common kitchen locations only. Appliances with open-coil heating units (toaster ovens, for example) are not allowed. Additionally, all residence halls – except for Anderson Hall – have a common kitchen shared by residents of the hall.

• What items are students not allowed to bring?
  Students are not allowed to bring items that may constitute a fire or safety threat. Therefore, appliances with open heating units such as toasters and hot plates are not allowed, as well as candles intended for burning (decorative unlit candles are allowed and those used in conjunction with a candle warmer). Weapons or firearms of any kind are not allowed (this includes airsoft guns). Additionally, students under 21 are not permitted to have alcohol in their rooms.

• Are pets allowed in the residence halls?
  Only fish in tanks of 10 gallons or less and service or assistance animals, approved through the Department of Accessibility and Learning Excellence, are allowed.

• Does the College have a residency requirement?
  The College has a three-year residency requirement. This supports our vision of a dynamic, lively campus most students will call home.

• How do students access their hall?
  The halls are accessible 24-hours-per-day. Students must use their ID card to gain access to their individual hall. Only students living in a particular hall have access to that hall.

• What is the College’s policy on smoking?
  Smoking or the use of tobacco products, including vaping, is not allowed on campus grounds. Smoking or vaping in the residence halls can lead to suspension from the halls or the College.

• Are there designated quiet hours in the halls?
  Sunday – Thursday quiet hours begin at 10 pm and end at 8 am. Friday and Saturday quiet hours begin at midnight and end at 8 am. At specific times of the year, such as Finals Week. quiet hours extend for 24 hours. During the year, an individual floor may make the decision to change their quiet hours if all members of the community agree to do so.

• Can students have guests visit?
  Guests are welcome to visit, provided that their presence is not constant and continuous and that all roommates agree to the arrangement. Students living in the halls must escort their guests throughout the buildings and are responsible for the actions and behaviors of their guests. Guests under the age of 18 must sign-in with the RA on the floor they are staying.

• When and how do students receive their room assignments?
  Incoming students are assigned based on the living preferences indicated on their Community Living Agreement, available to them after they submit their matriculation deposit. Students beginning in the fall are notified of their room and roommate assignments via email in June. Students beginning in the spring are notified in January.
  Currently, returning students attend an event in the spring of the previous year called “Room Draw” and choose their room through a lottery system.

• I am gender non-conforming or identify as non-binary or I am interested in gender-inclusive housing; how should I choose a room?
  Please complete the Gender Inclusive Housing Application Form available in the Forms section below.

• How are roommates assigned?
  Roommates for new students are assigned based on their answers to the Roommate Questionnaire portion of the Community Living Agreement. Residence Life attempts to match those students who appear compatible.

• What is Room Draw?
  Students sign up for housing during a process referred to as Room Draw. Students register for Room Draw by submitting their names to the Office of Residential Life. These students are then grouped based on a point system which is structured mostly around the terms each student has been a full-time college student. Within each group, student names are randomized and then assigned a number. At Room Draw, students select a room in the order in which their name is listed. This process has been designed with student input. Students may sign up their prospective roommate(s) when their name is called (and vice versa).

• Can students change rooms if they don’t get along with their roommates?
  If conflicts occur between roommates, the students’ RA and/or Hall Director will typically schedule a mediation with the students. If problems persist, students have the option of changing rooms, provided that alternate spaces are available. Students should contact their RA and/or Hall Director to explore options.