Residence Life

    > Building a Roommate Relationship

    > Residence Hall Community

    > Valuing Diversity

    > Disability Accommodations

    > Sexual Harassment/Assault Statement

    > Safety

    > Residence Hall Councils
 

Welcome to Residence Hall Living

We are glad to have this opportunity to welcome our new students to Concord University's residence hall community and to help prepare you for life in a residence hall. One meaningful part of a University education is the learning that comes from living with others. A good deal of adjustment occurs in the transition from high school to University and from home life to residence hall life, and sometimes even from freshman to sophomore year. Concord's Residence Life Program is designed to help you make personal, social and academic adjustments in as healthy a way as possible, and to make your living experience both educational and enjoyable.

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Building a Roommate Relationship

One of the first people you will meet after moving into your room will be your roommate. If you did not preselect your roommate, you might be curious about the way you were matched. Room assignments for new students are made based on the date that the Room Reservation Form, $50.00 room deposit and Interest Survey are received and date stamped by the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Our Housing Assignment Coordinator makes every attempt to honor mutual roommate requests whenever possible. If you did not seek a specific roommate, we have attempted to match you with someone based on a practical combination of the answers you provided on your Interest Survey coupled with the arrival date of your Room Reservation Form at the Housing Office.

Having a good roommate is often as easy as being a good roommate. Perhaps the best advice ever given to roommates can be summed up in just one word: communication. Each roommate should share feelings, habits, attitudes, ideas, moods, and backgrounds. We understand living in close quarters with a person you do not yet know can be somewhat frightening and challenging. But, it is also an opportunity to build a relationship based on mutual respect, appreciation for individual differences, and the commitment to discuss the day-to-day issues and problems that arise. There is no such thing as a "perfect roommate" or a person who is a clone of you. You do not have to be best friends to be successful roommates.

In order to reduce potential friction and unexpected (and disappointing) surprises, vast experience in this area reinforces that you immediately sit down with your  roommate(s) upon arrival and discuss all of the following:

While most roommates succeed in resolving their differences, there are times when outside help is needed. If you are unable to study or sleep because of your roommate, let your Resident Assistant know as soon as possible.

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Residence Hall Community

The residence hall is a community in which students are the main ingredient. We believe a residence hall is more than a place to relax between classes. Ideally, it is a vibrant and active community, the center of student life. The residence life staff encourages you to develop an awareness of the many opportunities that this special living arrangement presents daily, and challenges you to utilize this setting to increase strength in citizenship and leadership.

To make a community function, it is very important to ensure that the rights of individuals are respected. We urge each resident to act responsibly toward the rest of the community as well as to himself or herself. It is important that each person's actions contribute to the development of a strong, balanced community within the residence halls.

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Valuing Diversity

The Office of Housing and Residence Life cannot and will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. Beyond the law, we are strongly committed to providing an environment free of discrimination, prejudice, or harassment. In order to grow and develop, students must be respected and valued by other members of their community for the person they are and what they want to become.

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Disability Accommodations

If you have a diagnosed condition covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and which warrants special housing accommodations, you are strongly encouraged to notify the Director of Housing and Residence Life as soon as possible after you have been officially accepted to Concord University.

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Sexual Harassment/Assault Statement

It is policy at Concord University that sexual harassment or assault, or any other form of harassment or assault, will not be tolerated. The University affirms that students have a right to study in a positive atmosphere free from sexual harassment and abuse.

Sexual Assault Prevention Tips:

(Prevention Tips provided by Connie Kirkland, Director of Sexual Assault Services, George Mason University)

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Safety

Concord University and the Offices of Public Safety and Housing and Residence Life take great measures to build on the safety record of the community of Athens and the State of West Virginia. The University believes that members of the Concord campus community can assist in keeping themselves from harm by utilizing prescribed safety precautions and by educating themselves about the frequency and type of security breaches which occur on University property. Public Safety will record and annually publish statistics on crime.

Campus Crime Report

* offenses for which state tickets were issued.

(Statistics for the Fall 2003-Spring 2004 academic year will be available at the end of September 2004. Crime Statistics are provided by The Concord University Office of Public Safety)

For additional Concord University Crime Statistics Information go to
http://www.ope.ed.gov/security/search.asp

Students are encouraged to exercise common sense regarding personal safety. Each student must take an active part in his or her own personal safety and the safety of other community members.

Public Safety Officers work closely with professional and paraprofessional Housing and Residence Life staff personnel. Both the Officers and the Student Life staff members on duty are available to receive emergency telephone calls from anyone on campus or associated with the University. All Public Safety Officers have direct radio contact with local law enforcement agencies. To encourage accurate reporting of crimes and incidents, a formalized "Incident Report" is completed after each known event (when the victim allows us to report the crime).

What YOU can do to enhance YOUR OWN personal safety.

Personal Safety :
1. avoid walking alone, especially at night
2. walk in well lighted areas
3. walk clear of any area with heavy foliage
4. be alert and aware of your surroundings
5. refrain from propping open locked residence hall doors
6. use the viewing porthole provided in each residence hall door
7. have strangers identify themselves before unlocking any room door
8. keep your room door locked at all times

Vehicle Security :
1. remove property from plain view
2. roll up vehicle windows
3. remove keys
4. lock all doors
5. park in a well lighted area whenever possible

Personal Property Safety :
1. secure valuables left in your room
2. engrave all valuables with your social security number
3. print your name on valuables when appropriate
4. remember to lock the door(s) and window(s) to your personal room each time you leave and when you     are sleeping
5. lock your room door when you are in the bathroom (traditional halls)
6. pre-plan a course of action in the event of lost or stolen credit cards, checks or money

The most recent comprehensive data concerning crime rate statistics for West Virginia was disclosed to the public by the West Virginia State Police. According to State Police officials, West Virginia has the second lowest crime rate in the United States.

Though these statistics are reassuring, Concord University and the Office of Housing and Residence Life encourages students to take all precautions toward their own personal safety and the security of their possessions.

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Residence Hall Councils

The residence halls, and College Court Apartments, each have their own Hall Council. The Hall Council consists of student officers and other interested residents of that housing area. The purpose of Hall Council is to promote the well being of residents and to provide programming and other important services to students, and allow resident students the opportunity for some aspects of self-governing. The Housing and Residence Life staff strongly encourage all resident students to get involved with governing the residence hall through participation in Residence Hall Council.

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