Resources

- Read your email! Most important information about room deposits, closing (winter and spring), holiday decorations (what’s allowed, what’s not), etc. will be communicated through your Trinity account. University policy holds students responsible for all information distributed via email.

- Be very familiar with your  Student Handbook and the  Board and Residential Agreement. The Agreement contains May check out information and break period occupancy dates and times.

- To stay in touch with campus life, read the Trinitonian (weekly newspaper) and the LeeRoy (daily event listing available electronically).

Roommates

- Students are encouraged to be honest with their roommates and assertive about handling problems. Many times, minor issues grow into big deals because roommates feel uncomfortable confronting one another. The Residential Life staff will always ask students who are unhappy with their roommate this question first: "Have you talked to your roommate?"

- If residents are having problems with roommates with unwanted overnight guests, illegal drugs or alcohol, lax room security, or vandalism of University property, they should seek assistance from the Resident Assistant.

Money Savers

- The cost for replacing lost keys is $40.

- Windows cost a lot and usually get broken during horse play or athletic events not intended for residence hall rooms. Depending on the hall, some windows cost over $100 to replace.

- There is a check out charge for students who fail to check out properly - that is, don’t vacate the room on time for breaks and the summer, fail to return keys or to sign the room inventory when moving out in May.

- Parking tickets are costly, and even parking for one minute in a wrong space could result in a ticket.

- Budget food plan money; it’s typical for some students to run out early, and others to have a large surplus balance on their meal card that they lose at the end of the semester.

Room Maintenance

- Students’ rooms are cleaned once every two weeks on a published schedule. If floors are cleared, they will be vacuumed - if the sinks, counters and showers are cleared, they are easier to clean. If students want to sleep in and ask the custodians to come back later, they won’t - they have to follow their schedule.

- Students report maintenance problems by calling a Physical Plant hotline (x8413). If a reasonable time has passed waiting for that light bulb to be changed, residents should call that hotline again. You may also submit your request via email to service-request@trinity.edu.

- Putty and adhesive tabs work best for hanging posters and don’t damage the walls. Nails do.

- There is a hefty fine for borrowing lounge furniture. Students may not remove room furniture from the room.

Security

- Small valuables should be locked up. Better yet, they shouldn’t be around (jewelry, cash, small electronic equipment, cookies from home…).

- Students should always lock doors and secure their rooms. Going to sleep with the door unlocked because a roommate lost her keys is a bad idea - loaner keys are available at the Witt Center.

- Students should not leave clothes in a washer or dryer. It makes other students mad, and there is a good chance someone will walk off with the laundry.

- Contact the Department of Campus Safety to register valuable items such as bicycles. This practice greatly improves your chances of retrieving your property if it is stolen.

Check Out in May

- Finals week is crazy. Students should pack early and plan ahead; finishing exams, lining up jobs, saying goodbye, making travel arrangements, and storing items, are all very time consuming.

- Students should clean the room well. Most of our charges to students are for excessive cleaning, not damages.

- Students should report repairs early. If something is wearing out, the University will repair it, and a damage charge may be avoided.

- The day after students leave, a massive trash removal effort begins to prepare halls for conferences. Students leave some great stuff behind (some by accident, most on purpose), and sorting trash from treasure for the cleaning staff is impossible - it all is considered abandoned and gets tossed. Students should check drawers before leaving.

Finally

- Not satisfied? One of the Residential Life Coordinators is always on call, and these staff members are great at cutting red tape and tackling problems. (The Department of Campus Safety staff can contact them.)