Questions that may be on your mind...

• What is residence life like?
• If something goes wrong, where can my daughter or son turn?
• How much studying gets done in residence?
• What if my son or daughter doesn't get the residence s/he requested?
• How safe are the residences and the campus?
• What is the food like?
• Will my son or daughter have trouble meeting people?
• What if my son or daughter doesn't get along with his/her roommate?
• What about insurance?
• Can students stay in residence after their final exams are over?

What is residence life like?
While we provide quality rooms and furnishings, academic and personal growth workshops, clean and well-maintained buildings, an excellent meal plan, and many more amenities, it is your son or daughter who really creates his or her own residence experience. At Western, we maintain the importance of adhering to residence policies, we encourage a supportive academic environment and we expect all of our residents to behave responsibly and respect others. We also know that starting university is a big step-and we are here to help. The residence staff work hard at organizing several different academic and social programs and activities to help residents in their academic studies as well as get acquainted. So, encourage your son or daughter to get involved-his or her residence experience will be that much more enjoyable and rewarding.

If something goes wrong, where can my daughter or son turn?
Should the need arise, residence staff are on hand 24 hours a day. There is a residence don or residence advisor living on each floor of every residence. In addition there are residence clerks managing the front desk who are just an intercom phone call away. In the event of an emergency, the University Police Department provides emergency and routine response on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, Western has a full Student Emergency Response Team-a group of 60 volunteers who are trained to provide first aid to any person on campus.

How much studying gets done in residence?
The residence environment is designed to provide as much quiet and study time as your student needs. There are quiet hours for sleep and study, study rooms on most floors, and a shared understanding among all residents to maintain an atmosphere conducive to sleep and study. Stricter 24-hour quiet hours are maintained during examination periods. If there are any noise disturbances, students are encouraged to contact the front desk for assistance.

What if my son or daughter doesn't get the residence s/he requested?
We believe very strongly that all of our residences are equally good facilities with strong staff support and programs. Although we do our best to place students in residences based on their indicated preferences, we are not able to fulfill requests for relocation to other residences. Our experience with many thousands of students is that they end up satisfied with their assignment, even if it was not among their initial selections. We encourage students to remember that their chances for academic success are the same no matter which residence they live in. If they work hard at their studies and take advantage of the many opportunities for academic support in residence, then they will enjoy a successful academic experience in any of our residences.

How safe are the residences and the campus?
Western strives to provide a safe and secure environment and is dedicated to promoting safety in all the residences and throughout the campus. Front desk staff are available in various residence during the day, and are accessible by telephone on a 24-hour basis. Residence front doors are locked 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Access is by student card (student areas in Elgin Hall are locked 24 hours, while the front doors are open during business hours to allow access to the Housing office). Guests may enter the residence provided that they are accompanied by a host. On weekends, guests must show valid photo ID and be signed in at the front desk upon entry to the residence. On a rotational basis, our live-in residence managers and other residence staff are available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies and disturbances within the building. In addition to the University Police and the Student Emergency Response Team, Western's Foot Patrol Service is an organized "safe walk" program that is available to escort interested students safely to and from their university and affiliated college campus destinations. We take these measures not because Western isn't a safe place, but because we want to keep it safe.

What is the food like?
There is something for every taste offered through Western's convenient meal plan. We are proud to say that ours is one of the most varied and flexible residence plans offered by any university. There is a wide selection of quality and nutritional menu choices in our residences, or if your son or daughter prefers to eat out or order in, they can do so using their meal plan at a number of local, off-campus establishments (of course, alcohol is not permitted to be purchased using Western's meal plan). Menu choices in our dining halls range from salad, deli bars and fast food to home-cooked hot meals and delicious vegetarian dishes. An assortment of pastas, sandwiches, pizzas, fresh fruits, baked goods and beverages is always available so that your student can never go hungry! Ingredient listings of each item are available if your son or daughter has any allergies or dietary concerns.

Will my son or daughter have trouble meeting people?
Along with having in common the new experience of studying at university and living in residence, there are many opportunities for academic and social interaction that help ease the transition and bring people together. Study groups, academic workshops, and recreational activities are organized throughout the academic year to give students support in their studies, as well as opportunities to have some necessary "down time." It's important for students to get involved so that they can meet people and get the most out of their residence experience.

What if my son or daughter doesn't get along with his/her roommate?
Sharing a room with someone is similar to other relationships-to be successful it requires openness, flexibility, and respect. Right from the beginning, it is very important for roommates to communicate openly with each other. Although there are residence staff members available to help in mediation, we encourage students to first try and work out their differences on their own by discussing a number of issues at the outset to avoid misunderstandings. These topics include use of personal items, study time in the room, sleep schedules, visitation and guests, cleanliness of room, use of stereo/TV/telephone and a number of other issues. A "roommate starter kit" is available to facilitate this discussion. Learning to live with another person, to acknowledge and respect each other's differences, and to allow one another the space to grow are some of the most valuable parts of the residence experience.

What about insurance?
Students are strongly advised to carry insurance protection against loss or damage of their personal property. The University is not liable, directly or indirectly, for theft or loss of personal property by fire, water or any other cause, whether the items are placed in a student's room, in storage or in other areas of the residence. Many companies offer the option of adding a rider to a parent's policy, which should confirm that the definition of "dwelling" found in that policy can be extended to include a student's room in residence. Where no coverage is provided for possessions housed at an off-site location, it may be possible to add a rider to the existing policy. The best protection may be achieved through a standard tenant's policy.

Can students stay in residence after their final exams are over?
In order to ensure that the residences remain quiet, and conducive to sleep and study during the final exam period, all students are expected to vacate their residence rooms within 24 hours following the date of their final examination or class assignment (whichever is last), as recorded by the Office of the Registrar at the end of each term or by noon on closing day (in both December and April), whichever is earlier. If their behaviour is called to Housing´s attention during this 24-hour period, they may be asked to vacate the residence before the 24 hours have passed.

Under exceptional circumstances, students may request the written permission from their residence manager to stay later than the dates noted above. If permission is granted, they will be subject to an additional charge of $50 per day for each extra day of accommodation. There is a $100 fine for each night spent in residence beyond their official move-out date if they have not received the written permission outlined above.

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Western's residence life program is one of the most extensive and comprehensive of its kind in Canada!