Carleton College Housing FAQs

Is my personal property insured anywhere on campus (your room or storage)?

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 09:00:19 -0500

Carleton College does not insure and is not responsible for loss or damage from any cause to the personal property of students (including items in storage). Students are encouraged to explore insurance coverage with your family insurance agent or through Sallie Mae Insurance Services.

www.salliemaeinsurance.com/protectmystuff

Can I move in any earlier than 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4?

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0600

We are able to accommodate first year students who must arrive early because of travel difficulties or family conflicts. However, the earliest we can provide housing is Monday, September 3, at noon. There is a nominal fee of $30 which includes the cost of your room and meals for September 3. The charge will be applied to your student account in the Business Office. If you would like to reserve housing , please complete the Early Arrival Request for First Year Students form. We are very sorry but we cannot accept any reservations after August 15.

For available transportation options, please visit the "Arriving on Campus" site for transportation options.

Are there laundry rooms in the halls and houses? How do you pay for laundry?

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:40:33 -0500

Each hall and most campus houses have laundry facilities on the main floor or in the basement. The laundry machines in the residence halls accept OneCards. Laundry machines in the houses still use quarters.

Drying racks will be available to use for free for anybody living on the floor, and will be kept in a common area (usually a storage closet or lounge). The drying racks were made possible by the Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment and the Sustainability Revolving Fund as part of an effort to reduce dryer usage and campus-wide energy consumption.

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

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 02:40:39 -0600

All rooms are furnished with a bunkable bedframe, 80" (extra long) twin mattress, desk, desk chair, wardrobe or closet, trash can, mirror, and overhead light. Please note that lofts are not permitted. You are welcome to bring a few additional items to personalize your room: a small comfy chair, a desk lamp, etc. If you choose to bring a lamp, avoid halogens. During the past few years, halogen lamps have caused a large number of fires in residence halls across the country due to the intensity of heat they generate, and they are prohibited at Carleton. 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 a 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.

How does Carleton encourage sustainable living and what can I do to help?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Sustainability is becoming more and more important on Carleton’s campus. For example, Carleton students are encouraged to be conscious of their energy use by setting computers to energy-saving modes, turning off extraneous lights, using power strips that can be turned off at night, using energy-maximizing CFL (compact fluorescent) light bulbs, being conscientious about shower time and water use, using energy-maximizing settings on washers, thinking about air-drying clothes and minimizing wintertime heat loss by keeping windows closed and adjusting the heat to comfortable levels.

Currently, drying racks are available to use for free for anybody living on the floor, and will be kept in a common area (usually a storage closet or lounge). The drying racks were made possible by the Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment and the Sustainability Revolving Fund as part of an effort to reduce dryer usage and campus-wide energy consumption.

Sustainability is about creating and maintaining a long-lasting, healthy community and well as minimizing impact on the environment. The many student and campus-sponsored activities, programs and organizations at Carleton create a healthy, happy, sustainable community that is also sustainable in its low impact on the environment.

We encourage you to be conscientious of the environmental impact of your purchases as we move towards being a more sustainable campus community.

For example,

Where was the product made? What were the environmental costs in transporting it?
Is the package recyclable? Is the product made from recycled materials? Can the product be recycled?
Do cleaning and toiletry products include toxic chemicals? Are they biodegradable?

Are refrigerators available in the residence halls?

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:59:19 -0500

Refrigerators are available in every floor lounge. Many students enjoy having small refrigerators in their rooms, but they are by no means necessary since there is space in the floor refrigerator.

Small residence hall or apartment-style refrigerators (no greater than 3.6 cubic feet) are permitted in the student rooms.

What are the policies regarding alcohol and drugs?

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 03:43:34 -0600

Students are expected to make responsible decisions concerning the use of alcohol. The College recognizes and abides by all state laws, and will cooperate fully with civil authorities. Alcoholic beverages may be possessed and consumed (not sold) by anyone of legal drinking age (21). Alcohol is not allowed in public areas except at registered events. Alcohol may be served at registered events where a carding system, food, and alternative beverages are present. The illegal use, sale, distribution, or possession of drugs is prohibited anywhere on the Carleton campus. Education and counseling on alcohol and drugs is provided by staff members in Student Health and Counseling.

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

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:20:52 -0500

Residential Life staff complete housing assignments for new students in mid July. As soon as all new students are housed, the class dean 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.

What meal plan are first year students on?

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:09:32 -0500

First year students are assigned to the 20 meal plan. The 20 meal plan is Carleton’s full board plan. This plan offers 20 guaranteed meals per week in either Burton or East Dining Hall, three per day Monday through Saturday and two on Sunday, with $75 in dining dollars that may be used in the Sayles Café or the dining halls.

A unique feature of the 20 Meal Plan is the meal equivalency. THIS IS NOT AVAILABLE WITH THE 5 or the 12 Meal Plan. Meal equivalencies are intended to provide more choice options for the 20 Meal Plan user, especially if all $75 dining dollars have been exhausted.

A meal equivalency allows you to buy food in the Sayles Café by using one of your weekly meal plan meals. The 20 meal plan allows the use of 1 meal per week as a meal equivalency. If you use a meal equivalency in a given week, then you have 19 meals available to use in the dining halls. If you don’t use a meal equivalency in the Sayles Café in a given week, then you have 20 meals available in the dining halls. There is no carryover of meal equivalencies that don’t get used.

All first-year students are automatically assigned to this plan for the year, but may choose the 12 meal plan for winter and/or spring terms. Unused meals do not carry over to the next day, week, or term. Unused dining dollars are also not carried over from term-to-term.

Further information on the meal plans is available on the Dining Services site.

Is housing available during the winter and spring breaks and during the summer months?

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:56:43 -0500

Limited housing is available during the winter and spring breaks and during the summer months at a nominal fee. Housing is only available for international students and students who live at least 450 miles away; students taking courses at St Olaf and students who have 20 hour per week jobs on campus. Applications for break housing are available online and in Residential Life about six weeks prior to the break. During the winter and spring breaks, students who wish to remain on campus will need to locate a permanent resident of Burton or Davis (winter) and Myers or Watson (spring) who is willing to "sublet" their room for the break. During the summer months, off-campus houses are used for housing. The dining halls are not open during the breaks. The break housing fee is for room only.

How are first year student room assignments determined?

Thu, 17 Mar 2005 03:21:01 -0600

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 identitical 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 hall director.

How can I reserve Commencement Housing?

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 09:04:57 -0500

All parents of seniors receive a mailing about Commencement Housing in January. Parents who wish to reserve commencement housing should fill out the Commencement Guest Housing reservation sheet by the stated deadline and mail it, with payment, to the Business Office. Any questions, feel free to call or email Res Life (x4072), ResLife@carleton.edu.

What is an RCR and why do I need one for my room?

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0500

For your protection, as well the College's, your Resident Assistant/House Manager completes the RCR (Room Condition Report) to check the condition of your room when you move and and again when you move out of the room. It is important that you also check each item listed on the RCR as you are responsible for the condition of everything in your room. Review the RCR prior to moving in and note any discrepancies that you see. Please note all existing conditions and date them when you move in to avoid charges at the end of the year. Changes in the checkout condition of the RCR result in charges to your student account.

If there are items that need repair when you you move in or at any time during the year, please complete a Facilities Work Request at go.carleton.edu/wk_order.

See the Room Check Procedures for specifics.

What size are the beds in the halls?

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Carleton College uses bunkable beds with an 80" (extra long) twin mattress. 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.

Is there a place to store trunks, giant pieces of luggage, bikes and boxes?

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:55:25 -0500

Yes, Carleton has limited storage available. Storage tickets can be purchased from the Bookstore. Contact Custodial Services or your building custodian to make arrangements to get into the secure storage area. We recommend that you confirm with your home owner's policy will cover any valuable items left in the storage areas. Storage insurance is not provided by the College.

Custodial Services manages storage in the residence halls. The Storage Policy provides details about the types, size and cost of storage available. Student belongings remain in their rooms during the winter and spring breaks if they will be returning to campus the following term. Storage is available for students during the summer months, for those who will be on off campus study programs and for those who are taking extended leaves from campus.

There are also self-storage units in the Northfield area:

Greenvale Mini-Storage, 507-645-2332
Northside Self Storage, 507-645-8814
Self Storage, 507-645-8888
Southgate Mini Storage, 507-645-4547