IUP Punxsutawney Residence Life FAQs

 

v    What are the housing options at IUP Punxsutawney?

 

The IUP Punxsutawney Living Center is a 194-bed facility that opened in Fall 2005. There are three options available within the Living Center: (1) four-bedroom suite in which each student has his/her own bedroom, (2) two-bedroom suite in which two students share each bedroom, and (3) single-bedroom suite in which one student occupies the suite. Please note: the 4-bedroom suites are the most common type of suite in the building. There are only 6 two-bedroom suites in the building so this option is limited. The single-bedroom suites are extremely limited with most of these suites being occupied by the Resident Assistant staff and those students who pay for a single suite on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each suite has a common area and two bathrooms (the single suites have one bathroom). All suites are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis dependent on when a housing deposit is paid.

 

v    What amenities are offered in the suites?

 

Bedrooms

o       Bed, desk, dresser, and chair for each occupant

o       One closet

o       Internet and cable access

o       Door locks with separate key from suite door

Bathrooms

o       Shower and toilet

o       Double sink vanity and storage spaces outside each bathroom

Common Areas

o       Couch, armchair, TV stand (TV not provided), end table, coffee table

o       Full-size refrigerator, microwave, cupboard space

o       Internet, cable and telephone connections

o       Central air conditioning and heat

 

v    What size are the beds?

 

The beds are twin size. They are not extra long.

 

v    If I would want to bring curtains with me, what size are the windows?

 

All the windows in the Living Center have mini-blinds. Students are encouraged NOT to hang hooks or anything that would cause damage as the students are charged for repair and painting.

 

v    Do I need to bring carpeting?

 

No. All suites are carpeted.

 

v    What do I need to bring to school?

 

Twin-size sheets, blankets, towels, alarm clock (either battery or battery back-up in the event of a power outage), clothing, toiletries, school supplies, food items, and any other personal items that you would need. You are encouraged to discuss items such as TVs, computers, telephones, etc with your suitemates before you bring them to avoid bringing unnecessary items. A computer lab and TVs are located within the Living and Learning Centers. Please note: The University is not held responsible for the theft of your personal belongings.

 

v    What appliances can I bring? Are there items that are not permitted?

 

Each suite is equipped with a full-size refrigerator and a microwave. However, students are permitted to have a small refrigerator that is not bigger than 1.5 cubic feet. A limited number of small refrigerators are available to rent for $45 for the year with a $10 refund upon return. Please ask a staff member on check-in day for more information. Microwaves are not permitted within student bedrooms.

 

Permitted Items

o       Small refrigerator

o       Clocks

o       Computers/monitor

o       Curling iron

o       Electric blanket

o       Fan (portable)

o       Hair dryer

o       Heating pad

o       Printer/scanner

o       Stereo (amplifiers and excessive bass not permitted)

o       TV

o       VCR/DVD players

o       Video game consoles

o       Coffee maker

 

Items Not Permitted

o       Air conditioner

o       Ceiling fan

o       Electric potpourri burner/candle warmer

o       Electric space heater

o       George Foreman or similar grill

o       Halogen lamp

o       Hot plate

o       Hot pot

o       Iron (not permitted in student bedrooms but allowed in common areas and laundry room)

o       Popcorn popper

o       Toaster

o       Toaster oven

o       Amplifiers

o       Weapons and firearms of any kind, including BB guns and “look-alike” weapons

 

v    Is the residence hall co-ed?

 

Yes, the building houses both males and females on each floor. Each suite is single-sex.

 

v    Who manages the residence hall? What kind of staffing is there?

A full-time professional Residence Director manages the Living Center with the assistance of a part-time Graduate Residence Director. Residence hall floors are staffed by first-year Resident Assistants (RAs). RAs are responsible for working with students to create and maintain a floor community conducive to academic, social, and personal needs.  RAs are expected to confront violations of university policy, act as role models, encourage residents to take responsibility for their own actions/choices, and encourage respect and appreciation for each other.  The Living Center office is staffed by student workers who are responsible for checking out recreational equipment, issuing spare keys, sorting mail, answering questions, and attending to administrative tasks assigned by the building director.

v    What about security?

 

University Police officers patrol the campus from 8:00PM-7:00AM each night. The University Police office is located on the first floor of the Living Center near the main doors. The officers are fully commissioned police officers with arrest powers and they work closely with the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department. The University Police officers are now armed. The officers work with Residence Life staff to provide programming, safety and security resources and services.

 

v    What is the visitation policy?

Overnight guests are permitted as long as the appropriate form is completed and contains the signatures of ALL suitemates. Overnight guests are limited to two per resident and may not remain for more than three consecutive days. Overnight guests cannot stay on campus for more than nine nights during a 30-day period. Guests include off-campus students and non-students. The suitemates’ rights to sleep, study, and have privacy supersede visitation privileges. Guests entering the building must be escorted by their host/hostess at all times when they are in the building.  Residents are directly responsible for the actions of their guests.  Residents may face disciplinary action and be held financially responsible for any behavior of a guest that results in property damage.  The university reserves the right to deny access to any guest if it has been determined that he/she has disturbed, endangered, or disrupted residents. (Office of Housing & Residence Life – http://old.www.iup.edu/house)

v    What is the policy on alcohol and other drugs?

University regulations prohibit the possession, sale, and/or consumption of alcohol within university residence halls. In addition, alcohol beverage containers, advertisements, or neon signs may not be placed in student room windows or displayed in other areas of the residence halls (including suite doors). Further, alcoholic beverage containers (full or empty) may not be displayed at all in student rooms. Violators are subject to disciplinary action. Students found within a residence hall who are excessively intoxicated are subject to disciplinary action. (Office of Housing & Residence Life – http://old.www.iup.edu/house)

v    Can I smoke in my room?

 

University policy prohibits smoking in ALL residence halls. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in any building on campus. Smoking areas are outside with proper receptacles for cigarette butts.

 

v    Can I be as loud as I want?

Residents are responsible for maintaining reasonable conditions for study and sleep in our residence halls.  Quiet hours are in effect Sunday-Thursday from 10:00PM-8:00AM and Friday-Saturday from 12:00AM-10:00AM. A twenty-four-hour quiet period goes into effect prior to and during final exam periods. Courtesy hours, in effect twenty four hours a day, require students to be considerate of the needs of others at all times and to comply with requests for maintaining a reasonable level of quiet.  Quiet hours cover specific evening hours and require that noise be reduced so that nothing can be heard from within rooms when doors are closed. 

Students are expected to confront individuals who infringe upon their right to study or sleep.  Resident Assistants are available to help maintain a reasonable level of quiet on the floor; however, they are not expected to be the sole policy enforcers on the floor.  No staff member can be available twenty-four hours a day to address every situation that may arise.  At the same time, students are encouraged to practice the skills they will need to be self-sufficient adults.  When asked to settle a noise situation, an RA is likely to ask the resident if she/he has made any attempt to resolve the situation.  If the resident has made an attempt and did not receive an adequate response, the RA will assist in intervention.  If the resident has not made an attempt, the RA is likely to encourage her or him to discuss the matter with the student in question before seeking intervention.

Students who continually show disrespect for the rights of others and/or refuse to cooperate with requests to keep the noise level down are referred to the building director for disciplinary action.  Repeated violations could lead to a student’s loss of eligibility for campus housing. (Office of Housing & Residence Life – http://old.www.iup.edu/house)

v    Are candles or incense permitted in the residence hall?

 

Any items that have any kind of heat source, including candles and incense, are NOT permitted within the Living Center.

 

v    Can I have a pet in the suites?

 

Students are only permitted to have fish in a 10-gallon or smaller aquarium. No other pets are allowed. Please note: Residence Life staff will not be able to care for fish during break periods and during long breaks (a week or more) all appliances including fish tanks must be unplugged.

 

v    Can I bring my car to school?

 

Yes, students at IUP Punxsutawney are permitted to have cars on campus. However, it is recommended that students wait and see if they will need to have a car before bringing one. If you do choose to bring a car to campus, it must be registered with the IUP Police and you must have a parking permit. IUP Punxsutawney students who need parking permits would be considered Commuters and can get permits online. Please be aware, however, that if you get a parking permit online it will be sent to your home address. (IUP Police – http://old.www.iup.edu/police)

 

v    Where would I park my car?

 

Students are permitted to park in the large lot outside of the main doors of the Learning Center. Students are NOT permitted to park behind the Learning Center (near the dumpsters) or in the small lot near the main doors of the Living Center. These are staff parking areas and students found parking in these areas can face tickets, towing, or the University judicial system.

 

v    Where would I do my laundry?

 

The laundry room in the Living Center is located on the 2nd floor of the building. There are several washers and dryers that are operated with the use of your student I-card. You can add money to your I-card through a machine located on the first-floor of the Learning Center and then use your I-card in the machine in the laundry room. No change is needed.

 

v    What health care services are offered on campus?

 

All IUP students are eligible for health care through the Pechan Health Center on the Indiana campus. However, in the event of an emergency, students are encouraged to go to the Punxsutawney Area Hospital. Ambulance service is provided to students. Students should have an insurance card or any necessary insurance information before going to the hospital or doctor’s office. See the hospital’s website at http://www.pah.org. 

 

v    What if I don’t get along with my suitemates?

The relationship between roommates often impacts one’s satisfaction with college life.  Components of a positive relationship are the assertive expression of one’s needs, the recognition and respect for the unique needs and lifestyles of others, and the positive management of conflict. Students are expected to take primary responsibility for insuring the development and maintenance of a positive roommate relationship.  Students are strongly encouraged to invest themselves fully in working together to resolve differences by speaking directly to roommates, sharing concerns, expressing feelings in an honest manner, and jointly resolving conflict. In some cases a roommate may be unresponsive or difficult to approach. In either situation, the student should seek help from his/her RA or Residence Director. Residence hall staff members can assist students in expressing themselves to their roommates or in negotiating a living agreement. (Office of Housing & Residence Life – http://old.www.iup.edu/house)

Room changes are not granted during the first and last three weeks of each semester. Room changes will only occur, if space permits, at other times if all other procedures have been followed and a resolution does not occur.

v    What if my suitemates don’t lock the door?

 

Suite doors automatically lock and cannot be left unlocked. However, the doors can be propped open. We encourage students NOT to prop doors open as it leaves the suite vulnerable to theft and damages. Residents should talk with their suitemates if this becomes a concern. IUP Punxsutawney is not held responsible for any missing or damaged items if the door is left open. Individual homeowner’s policies should be consulted for theft and damage coverage.

 

v    Where can I study?

 

First and foremost, students have the right to be able to study in their own rooms. If a student does not wish to study in his/her room or find too many distractions there, study lounges are available on each floor of the Living Center. The library in the Learning Center is also a good option.

 

v    What is there to do in Punxsutawney?

 

IUP Punxsutawney contracts with the Punxsutawney Area Community Center (PACC) to use its facilities including the gym for basketball and volleyball and fitness center. Also, PACC provides newly released movies every weekend to the public for a small fee. See PACC’s website at http://www.punxsutawneyphil.com/commcenter.

 

The Mahoning Shadow Trail is available for walking, biking, running, and (in the winter) cross-country skiing. See http://www.punxsutawney.com/trail/ for more information.

 

Indiana is located 27 miles from Punxsutawney and Dubois is approximately 20 miles away. Each place has a mall and other shopping and dining opportunities.

 

v    Are there clubs or organizations I can get involved with on campus?

 

Student Activities Board – open to all students to plan activities on campus

 

Residence Hall Council – open to all residents as well as any off-campus students who are interested; serves as the student government of IUP Punxsutawney and provides opportunities to plan activities

 

Service Learning/Volunteering – students in certain classes will be required to participate in service learning opportunities within the community but students are encouraged to volunteer and get to know people in the community even if it’s not a class assignment

 

Other Opportunities – students are encouraged to talk with faculty and staff if there are any activities or volunteer opportunity he/she is interested in

 

v    I’m a musician. Are there any facilities on campus for me to use to practice?

 

There are no specific areas for music practice. However, a piano is available for student use on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as it does not interfere with any other classes or activities. No instruments are permitted to be played within the residence hall unless it is not amplified and the sound cannot be heard outside of the suite.  For example, you can bring your guitar and play it as long as it is not hooked up to an amplifier and you follow normal quiet and courtesy hours.

 

v    What if I want to go to Indiana for an activity or for the weekend?

 

Students can sign up (first-come, first-serve) in the Administrative Suite in the Learning Center to ride the campus van to Indiana for the weekend. The van leaves campus on Fridays at 5:00PM and picks students up in Indiana at the HUB on Sundays at 6:00PM. The van will NOT run in the case of inclement weather. Please note: Students must find their own places to stay for the weekend. IUP Punxsutawney only provides transportation to and from the Indiana campus.

 

v    I need transportation to Wal-Mart or a doctor in town. What do I do?

 

If you need transportation to a doctor’s appointment or other necessary location, you must contact a Residence Life staff member to see if someone is available to drive you in the campus van. You must provide at least one day’s notice.

 

If you need transportation to Wal-Mart or other location for shopping, a minimum of six (6) people is required before the van can be used. Again, see a member of the Residence Life staff for assistance.

 

v    When will I find out my housing assignment and contact information for my suitemates?

 

Payment of your housing deposit is required before you will be put on the Housing List. All students attending Summer Placement Testing on the Indiana campus in June will have an opportunity to meet other students and choose suitemates if desired. Housing assignments will be decided in July and will be mailed to students in late July/early August. Contact information for suitemates will be provided so that residents can communicate with one another about items to bring to campus and start getting to know each other.

 

v    If I decide I don’t want to live on campus, can I move out anytime?

The Residence Hall Housing License Agreement and Dining Service Contract is a legal agreement and, once signed, is binding for the academic year (fall and spring semesters).  Students are financially responsible for both semesters unless they participate in a university-sponsored program that takes them away from the Indiana area or if they terminate their enrollment.

Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis for students who want to cancel their housing contract in the event that there is a waiting list for on-campus housing.