Policies & Procedures: Frequently Asked Questions about First-Year Housing at Haverford
Click a question to reveal the answer. If you cannot find the answers you are looking for, please contact Office of Residential Life.
hc-reslife@haverford.edu
Chase Hall, Suite 213
Telephone: 610-896-1298
Fax: 610-896-4960
First-Year Housing
- Where do first-year students 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 rooms and a few open directly onto the main corridor. The Haverford College Apartments (HCA) are coed by floor and each apartment is single sex. 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. First-year students are required to live on campus so that they may fully take part in all of the First-Year programs and become acquainted with the Haverford community. Additionally, all first-year students must be on the full meal plan.
- How are first-year students housed? Are they housed on a first come, first served basis?
Students are not housed on a first come, first-serve basis. All first-year students fill out and submit the Residential Life Questionnaire forms in early June. The Director of Residential Life and two upper-class students who are affiliated with the Customs Program, using the information students provide us about themselves on their questionnaire, seek to create diverse and compatible customs groups and then assign roommates, and apartment/suite-mates. The emphasis is on the make-up of the customs group. There are a total of twenty-two (22) customs groups - six (6) customs groups in Barclay, nine (9) in Gummere and seven (7) in HCA.
- 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?
First-year students will receive their housing assignment letter in late July via email to their 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. While first-year students are allowed to submit names of people they would like to live with, there is no guarantee that such requests will be honored, especially for students from the same hometown.
- Can I contact my roommate or other first-year students? And how do I?
Yes. The College will provide a class directory that lists the names of all first-year students and contact information of students who have given permission to be included. The directory will be sent electronically to all first-year students. There are many resources that provide helpful tips and advice about being and having a roommate, (see College Board's "Roommate Rules" for one such resource).
Arrival Dates & Visiting Residence Halls
- 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 24th.
- When can I move in?
First-year students may arrive and move in on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 starting at 8:30 am. Information about the Arrival and Non-Academic Registration* process will be available soon. * Non-Academic Registration is our "Welcome" and "Check-In" process.
- 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 a long distance (e.g., the West Coast) or out of the United States to Haverford may request permission to arrive a day early. Please contact the Office of Residential Life (610-896-1298 or pharris@haverford.edu), no later than Friday, August 12th to request permission.
- I am a first-year student participating in the H-Co program. When can I move in to my room?
Students participating in H-Co will be receiving further information about this from Raisa Williams, Dean for First-Year Students.
- Can I ship things to Haverford prior to my arrival?
Yes, but packages may not arrive at Haverford earlier than August 19th. You may ship things to yourself at the following address:
(YOUR NAME)
Haverford College
370 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA 19041-1392
Please note your campus mailbox number and your room number are not part of your address.
Room Amenities
- 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, small bookshelf, and a dresser. For those rooms without closets, a wardrobe is also provided. All windows have shades. Each Barclay and Gummere room is carpeted. Learn more about Barclay & Gummere.
(* mattresses measure 36" x 80" x 6" 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" x 80" x 6" 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. We have compiled a brief list of things to consider bringing, to be found here, and a more exhaustive list can be found at CollegeBoard.com. Basically, think about what you use and ask yourself if you will need that item when at college.
- Should I bring furniture if I am living in Barclay or Gummere?
Generally the College discourages first-year students from providing additional furniture if living in the residence halls due to the small size of the rooms. Most singles have enough space for the student to provide an additional small chair. Some doubles in Barclay however are large enough for some extra furniture, but students should consult their roommate beforehand. First-year halls have a common room with furniture and lounge space.
- What is provided in each room in HCA?
The College provides each student with the standard bedroom furnishings - a bed*, desk, desk chair, small bookshelf, and a dresser. All windows have shades or blinds. Each bedroom has an attached closet. The living rooms are furnished with seating for three or four, and a coffee table. 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. Apartments are either fully carpeted or have hardwood floors with area rugs. (* mattresses measure 36" x 80" x 6" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets.)
- What should I bring if I am living in HCA?
Aside from a few essentials, such as bed linens (mattresses measure 36" x 80" x 6" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets), the answer to this question varies between individuals. However, students in the apartments are also expected to supply their own dishes, utensils, pots and pans, etc. We have compiled a brief list of other things to consider bringing, to be found here, and a more exhaustive list can be found at CollegeBoard.com. Basically, think about what you use and ask yourself if you will need that item when at college.
- Are there vacuum cleaners available for students to use?
Yes. Vacuum cleaners are available for use in the dorms and at HCA.
- What are the things I SHOULD NOT bring?
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. Our residence halls are not designed to handle high-wattage appliances. Only safe low-wattage appliances may be used in College housing.
Students are also prohibited from having any fur-bearing animals in the residence halls. 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. Policies concerning animals needed by those with disabilities can be obtained by contacting the Office of Residential Life or the Office of Disabilities Services.
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. More information can be found below (FAQs #20-22).
- How can I decorate my room?
Students are encouraged to bring pictures, posters, and other decorations to personalize their dorm rooms. Students should attach memo boards, posters and similar items to walls or doors using poster putty only. Students may not write, paint, or otherwise mark on any surface inside of or on the outside of any residence hall or campus building, including HCA. Students may not use nails or any other item that would harm the any surface inside of or on the outside of any residence hall or campus building, including HCA. The room must be returned to its original state by the end of the year.Any costs involved in the restoration of these areas or furnishings to their original condition will be billed to the student. In those cases when individual accountability cannot be determined, all residents of a floor or building will be billed. If you are not sure about something, contact the Facilities Management Dept. beforehand (facilities@haverford.edu).
- What is the size of the mattress?
Mattresses measure 36" x 80" x 6" and need EXTRA-LONG sheets.
- Are there places to do laundry?
There are laundry rooms in in the basements of Gummere,Barclay, and HCA buildings.Change machines are available in the Campus Center. Students may place money on their OneCards to use with laundry machines, for more information on this function please see the OneCard FAQ page.
- What kind of telephone service does Haverford provide in the residence halls?
Haverford College provides telephone and voicemail service to all dormitory residents. Please view Telephone Services for further information. Students are responsible for providing their own landline telephone.
- Should I bring my own landline phone?
Students who wish to use a landline are responsible for providing their own telephone.
- Can I just use a cellular phone and not use a land line?
Many students only use their cellphones.
- What kind of computing services and internet connection does the College provide?
- Is Wireless Internet available in the residence halls?
- 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 students' rooms 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 prohibited in or around any of the residence halls, including HCA.
- If I am living in the apartments, can I purchase cable television service?
Students living in the apartments are permitted to contact the local cable company if they would like to purchase cable television service in their apartment. However, there are a number of lounges around campus with cable or satellite TV, including in the first floor lounge of Barclay, in basement lounge in Gummere, and in Ryan Student Center.
- Are there any places on campus where I can watch cable television?
Yes. Premium television services are provided at specific locations on campus. Cable television is available in Barclay Hall in the 1st floor lounge, Comfort Hall in the basement lounge, in Gummere Hall in the basement lounge, in the Ryan Student Center, and in the COOP. Satellite television is available in Stokes Hall in the Language Learning Center, the Audio Visual Department, the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship (CPGC), and the Multicultural Center (MCC).
- Are the residence halls air conditioned?
No, the residence halls are not air conditioned.
- Can students have room air conditioners?
Generally, no. The College does accommodate students with a documented medical need for air conditioning. Students with a documented medical need for air conditioning who have requested, supplied the appropriate documentation, and have been given permission from the Office of Residential Life to have an air conditioner in their dorm rooms are responsible for providing his/her own air conditioner. S/he will receive further information about AC requirements, installation procedures and charges from the Office of Residential Life. Please note that not all of the residence halls can accommodate air conditioners due to the kind of windows they have. First-year residence halls Barclay Hall and the apartments (HCA) can accommodate air conditioners but the windows in Gummere Hall cannot.
- If I have a medical need for an air conditioner, what type of medical documentation is needed ?
Every year a current letter from your physician, specifically stating the medical need for air conditioning must be submitted to the Office of Residential Life. Please submit the necessary documentation by the end of July. No AC installations will be authorized until the documentation is received and permission granted.
- Can I use a portable air conditioner?
No. Portable air conditioners are not permitted in the residence halls.
Residence Hall Living & Social Policies
- Are bathrooms coed in the residence halls?
In Barclay and Gummere, most of the bathrooms are coed. However, 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.
In the first-year apartments at HCA, the apartments and thus the bathrooms are not coed.
- Does Haverford have Resident Assistants (RAs)?
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 upper-class students consisting of Customs people (CP), Upper Class Advisors(UCA), Honor Code Orienteers (HCO), Peer Awareness Facilitators (PAF), and Ambassadors of 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. Guests may stay no more than one week and repeat visits by the same guest are strongly discouraged, in fairness to roommates. A listing of area accommodations can be found at Visiting Haverford: Lodging. Guests are expected to pay for all meals. In the event that a guest causes damage to College property and refuses to accept the responsibility, the student host(s) will be held responsible. 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. Please read the full Smoking Policy 
.
- 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 and policies 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.
- What is Haverford's Social Honor Code?
Other Questions Related to Living at Haverford
- 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
(YOUR NAME)
Haverford College
370 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA 19041-1392
Please note: neither your campus mailbox number nor your dorm name/room number are part of your address.
- What meal plan options are available to first-years?
All first-year students are required to be on the full meal plan. Please see the Dining Services website for information. Dining Services caters to many dietary needs including kosher, vegetarian, and vegan. While the Dining Center does its best to cater to all needs, it cannot 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 dining services, please contact Dining Services at 610-896-1108.
- Can first-year students have a car on campus?
No, first-year students may not have a car on campus. At Non-Academic Registration you will be asked to sign a statement verifying that you will not bring a car to campus.
- Can I bring a bicycle to campus?
Yes. Students bringing bicycles to school are required to register them, free of charge, with Safety & Security. Students are responsible for providing their own bike lock. There are a number of bicycle sheds and "ribbon" bike racks located throughout the campus.
Please also see the First-Year FAQs for answers to some other FAQs questions.
