Do I need to purchase my own printer?

No. Printers are available in the library and the many computer labs located around campus. For more information visit Printing Services website.

Is cable TV available in the residence halls?

There is cable TV available in the TV lounges of the residence halls. Cable TV is not available to the individual student rooms in the residence halls. See the Conditions of Occupancy for more information on cable.

How can we decorate?

We encourage you to decorate your room so that your room feels like your home. Please do not use nails, tacks or duct tape. To avoid damage to the walls and woodwork in your room, use the removable adhesive poster strips that are available in stores.

Please review the Student Storage Guidelines prior to bringing items to campus such as personal mattresses, futons, sofa chairs, etc. as furniture is not permitted in on-campus storage facilities.

May I look at my room during the summer?

Carleton College's halls and houses are occupied during the summer months by summer program participants. We are sorry but you'll need to wait it out with your fellow classmates until the residence halls officially open. You can view the residential building pages which have floor plans, photos, and more information about each location.

When will I know what my housing assignment is for the fall and who my roommate will be?

Residential Life staff complete housing assignments for new students in mid July. As soon as all new students are housed, Residential Life will send an email with the website where new students can find their room assignment and the name, address, phone number and e-mail address of their roommate(s). We hope that when you receive your assignment, you will contact your roommate(s) to become acquainted.

Does every floor have bathrooms? What about gender neutral bathrooms?

Most floors have two bathrooms (male and female) but some floors have three or more. If there are more than two, the third bathroom may be designated all-gender. Depending on the building and the types of bathrooms in that space, bathrooms may be gendered and/or gender-neutral. Most bathrooms have showers and a few also have bathtubs. Residents of rooms with private bathrooms are responsible for keeping the bathroom clean.

Are there kitchens and lounges on each floor? What equipment do they have?

There is a kitchen and lounge area on most floors. The kitchens have a sink, stove/oven, microwave, and refrigerator. Students who use the facilities are expected to clean the kitchen.

What type of cleaning is provided in the residence halls and houses?

The residence hall public areas (lounges, hallways, kitchens and bathrooms) are cleaned daily (Monday through Friday). Private areas (apartments, private bathrooms, adjoining bathrooms, common areas of a private room) are the responsibility of the residents of the room. Only during winter, spring and summer breaks will Custodial staff do a thorough cleaning of the private and adjoining bathrooms in the residence halls and the bathrooms, kitchens and main living areas in the apartments. Custodial Services provides vacuums and other basic cleaning supplies for student use. If limited cleaning is provided, Custodial staff clean the public areas of the houses on a bi-weekly, weekly or daily basis. Residents of the houses are responsible for keeping the houses clean. Questions or concerns regarding cleaning can be referred to the Maintenance and Custodial Office 507-222-4133.

I lost my key(s). What do I do?

If you lose your room key or house key, Residential Life can issue you a temporary key by visiting the office at Sevy G10 Monday -Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm. A temporary key can be used for up to 3 days, allowing you time to look for the key(s).

If you lose your key after regular business hours, contact your RA, another RA, or Security Services who can let you into your room. Visit the Residential Life office the next business day to get a temporary key.

If you have not found your room or/or house key(s) after three days, a new lock is put on your door. A room lock replacement will be billed to your student account at a cost of $40. A house exterior replacement will be billed to your student account $100. You and any roommates or housemates will be issued new keys and will need to return any old keys.

I lost my OneCard. What do I do?

Visit the OneCard for instructions.

How are fees assessed for room or floor damages at the end of the year?

Residential Life Staff and Facilities Staff inspect all public and private rooms and bathrooms in the halls and houses at the end of the year to determine if there are any damages. All residents of a floor/house will be charged for cleaning, damages or missing furnishings in common areas. There is a minimum charge of $5 per resident of a hall/house/house apartment for cleaning, repair or replacement of furnishings in a common area.

All occupants of a room/house/apartment are held equally responsible for returning the room to move-in condition when they move out (remove all personal items, remove trash, and thoroughly clean and vacuum room, bathroom, kitchen, lounge, etc.). All occupants are held equally responsible for any charges incurred for cleaning or repair with a minimum charge of $25 per resident of the room/house apartment for excessive cleaning.

Charges can be appealed by filling out the Housing Damage Appeals Form.

I have additional questions about residential policies, problems, etc. Who can I turn to for answers?

The Residential Life staff oversee the residential facilities at Carleton. Area Directors and Resident Assistants are the first line of support for students within their residential environment.

Can I host guest or visitors in my room?

Of course you can host visitors! When inviting or hosting guests, please be considerate of your roommate(s) and members of the community. Visitors are expected to follow the same expectations as residents. We suggest that roommates discuss guidelines for their own rooms in terms of guests, activities, and privacy. As with anything in this communal environment, study, rest, and privacy take precedence over visitation, guests, and recreation. Guests are not allowed to stay for more than three nights in a row. Learn more about the guest policy by visiting the Student Handbook: Guests in Residential Spaces.

Rollaway beds can be requested from Custodial Services by completing the Rollaway Bed Request Form.

What furnishings are provided in the rooms? What should I bring myself?

All rooms are furnished with a bunkable bedframe, 80" (extra long) twin mattress, desk, desk chair, wardrobe or closet, trash can, recycle bin, mirror, and overhead light. Please note that personal lofts are not permitted. You are welcome to bring additional items to personalize your room: a small comfy chair, a desk lamp, etc. If you choose to bring a lamp, avoid halogens. To protect and maintain the furniture for future residents, all room furniture must be kept in the room, and all lounge furniture must be kept in the lounges.

Students must provide their own linens which may be ordered from our partnered linen company. The extra long twin size linens are also available at most major department stores. Our student staff have developed a listing of useful items to bring with you to campus. We encourage you to coordinate with your roommate to avoid duplicates.

There is a mixture of carpeted and non-carpeted rooms.

What is the “housing freeze?”

Although the Housing Freeze sounds like something related to cold months in Minnesota, it actually occurs during the first and last two weeks of each term. During the Housing Freeze no room changes can occur. The Freeze is designed to allow time to get settled into your room and get to know your roommate(s), to respect academic efforts at busy times of the term, and to give Residential Life staff members time to evaluate occupancy levels for the term.

How are first year student room assignments determined?

Remember that Roommate Preference Questionnaire you completed? Residential Life staff read each and every Roommate Preference Questionnaire and match students based on responses to the questions on the form. They take into consideration your habits and patterns. Students are sorted based on the main issues that tend to cause conflicts in roommate situations (room cleanliness, noise/activity levels in the room, and bed times). Once students are put into those broad categories, we look at their academic and extracurricular interests and the other personal information they share. We work to put students together who have some overlapping interests, but who are not identical matches. We believe that part of the learning that takes place at a residential college is meeting and living with people who are different from you. Because of this philosophy, we strive to not place people from the same state or schools in the same rooms. Siblings are not placed together as roommates and we try not to place siblings in the same buildings together. We typically don't honor roommate or specific dorm requests either. We also don't place athletes from the same team together as roommates. We believe that all of our communities are great places to live and that each student will have a fulfilling experience in the living environment that they are assigned to.

In mid July, you will receive an email from your class dean with the website address where you can find your room assignment and roommate(s). After your first year at Carleton, you will be able to select your own room and choose your roommate(s) via a housing selection process that occurs every spring. If for some reason during the year, you would like to petition for a room assignment change, talk to your area director.

Where can I return my room key and/or house key?

When you are moving off campus or to a different room on campus, please return your room key (and house key if applicable) to any of these Express Check Out Box locations.

  • Allen House, living room wall
  • Brooks House, Apartment 100
  • Burton Hall, main entrance
  • Cassat Hall, Northwest entrance
  • Colwell House, Apartment 100
  • Davis Hall, South entrance
  • Eugster House, Apartment 100
  • Faculty Club, near door labeled 721
  • Goodhue Hall, across from AD apartment 158
  • Huntington House, main entrance
  • James Hall, Northeast entrance
  • Musser Hall, main entrance
  • Myers Hall, to the right of the 108 apartment
  • Nourse Hall, outside the main lounge
  • Parish House, Lobby
  • Rice House, main entrance
  • Severance Hall, across from the elevator on 2nd floor
  • Watson Hall, main entrance.

You can also return your residential keys to the Residential Life Office or to the Night Drop Box located outside the Residential Life Office door. 

Can I get a loft kit for my room?

Some rooms on campus are equipped with loft kits. These are spaces that warrant them due to space restrictions. We are unable to distribute additional loft kits. You are able to bunk beds using pins provided.

Where should I have my mail sent?

Carleton has centralized Mail Services located in Sayles-Hill. Information about sending/receiving mail and packages can be found at Mail Services.

What size are the beds in the halls?

Carleton College uses bunkable beds with an 80" (extra long) twin mattress. Most of our mattress dimensions are: 36"x80"x8". When students arrive, the beds will not be bunked, they will be positioned at about 19" above the floor. If students would like to bunk their bed, the pins are stored in the top drawer of the dresser. Custodial staff in the buildings may have some in storage if there are no pins in the room.