Rooms

Telephones

As a residential college, Davidson is able to house roughly ninety-six percent of its student body. First year students are guaranteed on-campus housing, and upperclass students obtain rooms through an open lottery.

The first year experience is one of the hallmarks of Davidson College. Two student hall counselors reside on each hall and serve as mentors, friends, guides, big brothers or sisters, social programmers, and ready ears to their first year students. Strong and fast friendships form on these halls through intramural teams, group dining, social activities, and time spent getting to know each other. First year students are provided a place where they can share the excitement and anxiety of being new.

Roommates
First year students are paired together by the Residence Life Office; however, a few request to live with entering first year students they already know. Single rooms and off-campus housing are not permitted for first year students. The pairing process is based on several sources of information. First, students are grouped into manageable sections using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Then, the roommate preference card and admissions application information are used to actually pair individuals. The goal of the pairing process is to put together compatible types, not necessarily lifelong friends. It is also expected that each roommate will bring characteristics and experiences to the pairing that will help each student develop new perspectives.

The care involved in pairing first year students at Davidson yields positive results: forty to fifty percent of first year students keep the same roommate into their sophomore year. The process is not foolproof, of course, and roommate conflicts are addressed by hall counselors, and, if necessary, the Residence Life Office or Dean's Office. In all cases, students are encouraged to work through such difficulties.

Lottery
After the first year, a student's housing options are determined by lottery. Class status determines from which group of numbers a student will be assigned: senior numbers are first, followed by junior numbers, and then sophomore numbers. The number of students given permission to live off campus is determined by the number of students required to fill all on-campus facilities. In all cases, students must request and be granted permission to live off campus.

Housing Options
Residence halls offer a wide range of living options. While some are traditional corridor buildings with double rooms on each side, many buildings offer single rooms or two-person suites. There are also four-person and five-person apartments that include kitchens, living rooms, and cable TV. Common areas in each residence hall also have cable television. All residence halls are air-conditioned.

Resident Advisors
On upperclass halls, resident advisors work to foster a community of mutual respect and cooperation. These men and women are chosen from among upperclass students and provide guidance, administrative support, and programming for their residents. One responsibility is to insure that each student's individual rights are respected. In the event a student is unable to respect others' rights in the residence hall, that student may forfeit his or her right to live there.

The college's professional staff works in conjunction with the student staff to provide an environment for students that supports and advances academic performance, provides co-curricular learning activities, and encourages individual social development.

Rooms
Student rooms include a bed, mattress, desk, desk chair, dresser, and closet or wardrobe. It is not uncommon for students to "personalize" their rooms with posters, stereos, flags, and other items. Stereos, microwaves, televisions, and other appliances are found in many rooms. Before packing or buying any appliances or other objects not already addressed in literature from the housing office, (1) check with your prospective roommate, and (2) consult the Residence Life portion of the Red Book available on the Web for guidance. Of note, waterbeds, refrigerators over six cubic feet, open coil cooking units, and any appliance involving rewiring of electrical equipment (ceiling fans, light dimmers) are not allowed. Students will receive information in July that more specifically addresses restricted items for rooms, as well as information on combined microwave/ refrigerator units that can be rented.

The college provides lofts in most residence halls. Individually owned/built lofts are forbidden.

 

Telephones
Local service is included with room rent charges to each on-campus student. Students should provide their own tone phone. Voicemail is provided free of charge to students and may be accessed from both on and off campus.

Long distance service may be purchased from the college at discounted rates. Students are assigned a personal authorization code so individual bills may be rendered each month. The student is responsible for the bill. Late or unpaid bills will be subject to a termination in service. As an alternative, students may use calling or pre-paid cards through 800 access.

The college also provides call waiting on each student's phone. For more information, visit www.davidson.edu/computing/network/telecom/ or call 704-894-2500 with questions.