Where do first-years live?
First-year students are assigned to one of three locations: Barclay Hall, Gummere Hall, or the Haverford College Apartments (HCA). Barclay Hall is a coed residence hall with single and double rooms. Some singles open directly onto the main corridor; others are grouped in three-person suites. Gummere Hall is a coed residence hall with single rooms. Most singles are located within a suite of four. Housing for first-year students in Barclay and Gummere is single-sexed by individual room or suite and coed by floor. Housing for first-year students in the Haverford College Apartments (HCA) are single-sex by individual apartment and coed by floor. First-Year students are housed in doubles in two-bedroom apartments. Each first-year apartment has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a common room, and a kitchen (equipped with a stove and refrigerator). Four first-year students are assigned to an apartment. All first-year students are required to be on the full meal plan for the entire year.

Are first-year students housed on a first come, first served basis?
No. All first-year students complete the Housing Questionnaire form, in June. Then, the Housing Director and the upperclass student summer interns (Customs Program leaders) assign students to their customs groups and then place the groups in one of the first-year areas. There are six (6) customs groups in Barclay, nine (9) in Gummere and seven (7) in HCA. The emphasis is on the make-up of the customs group.

Why can't I request to live in a particular residence hall?
This is a popular question every year. While we understand there are numerous reasons students might want to request a specific residence hall, we place a greater value on the people who will shape your community rather than the building in which you will be living.

How and when will I get my housing assignment? And the name of my roommate or the other students sharing my suite or apartment?
First-year students will receive their housing assignment letter in mid- to late July via email to your Haverford College email account. The name and address of your roommate or the other students sharing your suite or apartment will be included in this letter.

Can I contact my roommate? Can I contact other first-year students? And how do I?
Yes. The College will provide a class directory, listing the names of all first-year students and contact information they have given permission to be included. The directory will be sent electronically to all first-year students.

Can I come by in the summer to see my room?
Unfortunately, no. Haverford College's residence halls are in use throughout the summer by Conference Services and so we are unable to allow students access to their room before the residence halls open for first-years on Wednesday, August 27th.

When can I move in?
First-year students may arrive and move in on Wednesday, August 27 starting at 8:30 am.

Can I arrive early?
Generally, no. However, there are a few exceptions. If you are arriving early for athletics, you will receive information from your coaches about when you should arrive on campus and how to check in. First-year students who are traveling directly from the West Coast or from out of the United States, to Haverford may request permission to arrive a day early (Tuesday, August 26). Please contact the Housing Office (610-896-1298 or housing@haverford.edu), no later than August 8th to request permission.

I am a first-year student participating in the Tri-Co program, when can I move in to my room? Students participating in Tri-Co will be housed at Bryn Mawr College during the program and will be able to move into their rooms at Haverford on Sunday, August 24th. The program will coordinate this and will provide transportation from Bryn Mawr to Haverford.

Can I ship things to myself at Haverford prior to my arrival?
Yes, but packages may not arrive at Haverford earlier than August 22th. You may ship things to yourself at the following address:

What is provided in each room in Barclay or Gummere?
The College provides each student with the standard bedroom furnishings - a bed*, desk, desk chair, desk lamp, small bookshelf, and a dresser. For those rooms without closets, a wardrobe is also provided. All windows have shades. (*mattresses measure 36" by 6" by 80" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets.)

What should I bring if I am living in Barclay or Gummere?
Students need to provide their own bed linens (mattresses measure 36" by 6" by 80" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets), towels, pillow(s), waste basket and telephone. Beyond this, the answer to this question varies between individuals. There are pre-made lists available out there as revealed by a quick internet search and are often published by magazines and newspapers at this time of year. One of many useful sites is CollegeBoard.com. Basically, think about what you use and ask yourself if you will need that item when at college.

What is provided in each room in the HCA?
The College provides each student with the standard bedroom furnishings - a bed*, desk, desk chair, desk lamp, small bookshelf, and a dresser. All windows have shades. The living rooms are furnished with seating for three or four, a coffee table and a lamp. In the kitchen, there is a full-sized refrigerator with a freezer, a stove, a sink with a garbage disposal, and storage cabinets. Vacuum cleaners are available for use through the HCA office. (*mattresses measure 36" by 6" by 80" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets.)

What should I bring if I am living in HCA?
Students need to provide their own bed linens (mattresses measure 36" by 6" by 80" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets), towels, pillow(s), waste basket and telephone. Students in the apartments are also expected to supply their own dishes, utensils, pots and pans, etc. There is plenty of room for plants and extra furniture. Beyond this, the answer to this question varies between individuals. There are pre-made lists available out there as revealed by a quick internet search and are often published by magazines and newspapers at this time of year. One of many useful sites is CollegeBoard.com. Basically, think about what you use and ask yourself if you will need that item when at college.

What are the things I should NOT bring?
Our residence halls are not designed to handle high-wattage appliances. Prohibited from College residences are hot-plates, large refrigerators (in dorms without kitchens), space heaters, halogen lamps, and other major electrical appliances that can easily overload the electrical system or are known fire hazards and a source of serious college fires. Only safe low-wattage appliances may be used in College housing.

Students are prohibited from having any fur-bearing animals in the residence halls. Exceptions are made for animals needed by those with disabilities. It is a good idea to leave your pets at home, however if you must have a pet, you are permitted to have fish, birds, and small reptiles as long as roommates and/or suitemates do not object. Keep in mind that you will be very busy throughout the year and that it will be a burden to take care of a pet.

Satellite dishes are not permitted in or around any of the residence halls, including HCA.

Students may not have air conditioners unless there is a documented medical need. Portable air conditioners are not allowed.

What is the size of the mattress?
Mattresses measure 36" by 6" by 80" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets.

Are there places to do laundry?
There are laundry rooms in both Gummere and Barclay basements. Each apartment building at HCA has one washer and one dryer in the basement.

What kind of telephone service does Haverford provide in the residence halls?
Haverford provides telephone and vociemail service to all dormitory residents. For detailed information, please visit Telephone Services. Each incoming first year student will be assigned to a jack in his or her room with their own telephone number. Students are responsible for providing their own telephone.

Should I bring my own landline phone?
Yes.

Can I just use a cellphone and not a landline?
Many students only use their cellphones.

What kind of internet connection does the college provide?
Each student is assigned an individual high speed ethernet connection jack in the dorm or apartment room. You will need a computer that has an ethernet connection and an ethernet cord in order to get on the internet. For more information about using computers on campus, visit the Academic Computing Center's website.

Can I have a television in my room? What about a satellite dish?
Yes, students may have televisions in their room. However, cable television is not available in Barclay or Gummere. Students living in the apartments are permitted to contact the local cable company if they would like cable television in their apartment. Satellite dishes are not permitted in or around any of the residence halls, including HCA.

Can I purchase cable tv?
Students living in the apartments are permitted to contact the local cable company if they would like to purchase cable television in their apartment. Cable television is not available to students living in Barclay or Gummere.

Are the residence halls air conditioned?
No.

Can students have room air conditioners?
Generally, no. The College does accommodate students with a documented medical need for air conditioning. If permission is granted for an AC, the Housing Office will give you further information about AC and installation requirements and charges. Students must provide their own AC window unit.

If I have a medical need for an air conditioner, what type of medical documentation is required?
Every year a current letter from your physician, specifically stating the medical need for air conditioning must be filed with the Housing Office by July 25th. Only the windows in Barclay and in the apartments (HCA) can accommodate an air conditioner.

Can I use a portable air conditioner?
No. Portable air conditioners are not permitted in the residence halls.

Are bathrooms coed in the residence halls?
Most of the bathrooms in Barclay and Gummere are coed. During Customs Week each customs group makes a collective decision regarding the showers and bathrooms on the hall. Many halls have more than one bathroom/set of showers and some customs groups choose to designate one bathroom for males and the other for females. If the hall has only one set of bathrooms/showers other alternatives can be arranged such as specific bathroom hours for each sex. In essence, the customs group works as a hall community in order to arrange a situation that fits everyone's level of comfort.

Does Haverford have Resident Assistants?
No. First-year students living at Haverford rely on the Customs program for academic, social, and moral support. Each hall or apartment floor of first-year students is assigned a team of upperclass students consisting of Customs people, Upper Class Advisors(UCA), Honor Code Orienteers (HCO), Peer Awareness Facilitators (PAF), and Ambassadors to Multicultural Affairs(AMA). Customs people always live on the same hall or same apartment floor. In most circumstances, the UCA also lives on the same hall or in the same apartment. For further information, see the Customs Program website.

What is Haverford's policy regarding overnight guests?
Students living in college housing are permitted to have guests stay in the residence halls but they must check with all roommates/apartment-mates and have their consent before inviting anyone to stay. Students are responsible for their guests at all times and must be sure they know and are willing to comply with all rules, including the Honor Code.

What is Haverford's smoking policy?
The College has designated all non-residential buildings as "smoke-free areas". Students' Council has determined that smoking should be permitted in residence halls not designated as smoke-free, so long as no other resident(s) object. Smoking is a privilege, not a right and smokers must respect the rights of others who want a smoke-free environment. The full policy can be found at http://www.haverford.edu/housing/roomdraw05/smoking%20policy.htm.

What is Haverford's alcohol and drug policy?
Haverford complies with all federal, state and local laws. The use of alcoholic beverages by students under 21 years of age and the use of illicit drugs are prohibited on campus and at campus-sponsored events. Specific guidelines are provided to students at the start of each fall term. Also, educational programs about drug and alcohol abuse are presented during new student orientation each year. For more information, please visit JSAAPP.

What is Haverford's Honor Code? Where can I read the entire Honor Code?
For more information on the Honor Code, please see http://www.haverford.edu/hcweb/hchonor.html and http://students.haverford.edu/code/code.html

How do people send mail to me at Haverford?
Campus mailboxes, located in Whitehead Campus Center, are assigned to all Haverford students. The mailing address is:

Please note: Your address only requires your name (not your mailbox number or your dorm name).

What meal plan options are available ?
All first-year students are required to be on the full meal plan, which provides 3 meals/day during the week and 2 meals/day on the weekends. The Dining Center caters to many dietary needs including kosher, vegetarian, and vegan. While the Dining Center does its best to cater to all needs, it can not guarantee that it will always be able to accommodate 100% of specific dietary needs. If you feel you have special dietary needs that will not be accommodated by the Dining Center, please contact them at 610.896.1108.

Can first-year students have a car on campus?
No.

Do I need to register my bike?
Yes, students bringing bicycles to school are required to register them, free of charge, with Safety & Security.