Roommates

The foundation of a residence hall community is built from positive roommate relationships. Good roommate relationships require common courtesy, consideration, understanding, and the time that any friendship requires. Roommates who are not accustomed to sharing a room or whose live styles are completely different can live together happily as long as they are willing to communicate, compromise, and respect the other's space.

Tips for cultivating positive relationships and resolving problems include:

• Complete the "Roommate Agreement"
• Openly communicate concerns
• Give constructive criticism
• Be willing to hear constructive criticism
• Be willing to meet halfway/compromise

A roommate relationship is a shared responsibility, with both individuals positively contributing to the relationship. If a problem occurs and cannot be resolved between roommates, it is recommended that a neutral party be asked to mediate the situation. RAs or other staff members may serve as mediators, allowing roommates to resolve differences. In the event a mediator is unable to assist in resolving a conflict, a room change may be granted.

Room Consolidation

When vacancies occur in double occupancy rooms during the academic year, the university reserves the right to reassign residents in order to consolidate occupancy. Residents wishing to retain private rooms should notify the Resident Director, Area Coordinator or Assignments Coordinator. Residents are required to sign a Private Room Contract and pay the additional private room fee. Residents who are not interested in obtaining private rooms may be assigned a roommate or be assigned to a new location.

Residence Halls

There are ten (10) buildings that make up the Western Carolina University residential campus. Each building has its own special appeal, offering a different community and amenities based on building structure and student experiences or needs. Learn more about Western's Residence Halls here.

Room Decorating

While we understand that decorating the living are is an enjoyable part of residence hall life, it is everyone's responsibility to ensure that the residential community remains a safe and hazard-free environment. All decorations must comply with regulations governing fire safety for residence halls. Please follow these decorating guidelines:

• Decorations, such as trees, paper, etc., that may cause an obstruction to traffic should not be placed in hallways.
• No decorations may be hung from the ceiling.
• Burning candles or any open flames are not allowed in residence halls.
• Excessive decorations(e.g. pumpkins, Christmas trees, evergreen bough, paper or plastic trash bags and decorative sprays) may not be placed on hallway walls, and resident room door coverage (inside or out) should not exceed 50% of the door space.
• In the hallways, decorations may be place only on the doors, bulletin boards, or staff approved space and should never cover safety devices (i.e., fire extinguishers or pull boxes).
• All Materials used must be treated with a fire retardant.
• No decorations, including colored bulbs, should be place over or near lights, electrical outlets, or heaters.
• All lobby decorations must be coordinated through the building Head resident or Resident director.
• Only "Cool," U. L. approved lights are authorized for use and only within the residence hall students rooms. Lights should be checked for wear and tested before installation, and care should be taken to insure that lights do not come into contact with draperies, curtains, etc.

Room Furnishing

All rooms are furnished with two bunkable beds with extra long twin mattresses, two desks and desk chairs, two drawer sets and closets, a phone jack, two computer jacks/Ethernet connections, overhead lights and window blinds. We encourrage students  to decorate their rooms to make them more personal and "homey." However, certain items cannot be allowed in the residence halls, for more information concerning these items can be found here. Some residents choose to build lofts or loft beds in their rooms. More information concerning lofts and loft constructing can be found here.

The Honors College

The Residential portion of the Honors College is housed in Reynolds and Buchanan Residence Halls, which are evolving in the hub of the Honors College and the Teaching Fellows Program at Western Carolina University. Students seeking a richer, more rewarding academic experience in the residential setting will have the opportunity to experience this be living in Reynolds and Buchanan Halls. Students will experience in-hall faculty interaction and the opportunity to engage in the expanded programs and activities that will take place in the comfort of their residence hall. Student who are no longer members of the Honors College will be asked to relocate to another building.

Special Interest Floors

The Department of Residential Living recognizes that residents have individual lifestyles. To help accommodate this, we offer the following options for residence hall living:

• 24-Hour Quiet Floors: Reynolds 1st North, scott 2nd East, 7th east and 9th west, Buchanan 3rd West, Albright 3rd floor and Harrill 4th floor. Students living in these areas sign a Quiet Floor Agreement, which outlines 24-hour quiet guidelines.
• Non-Smoking Floors: Walker and Reynolds Halls are entirely smoke free. Harrill Hall 1st through 7th and 9th floors, Helder 1st and 2nd floors and Leatherwood 1st and 2nd floors. Students living in these areas sign a Non-smoking Agreement, which outlines guidelines for residents, visitors and guests to the non-smoking floor. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on that floor or wing.
• Alcohol-Free Floors: Located in Buchanan Hall in 2nd north, Harrill 7th Floor and Walker 7th floor. Students living in these areas sign an Alcohol-free Agreement, which outlines guidelines for residents, visitors and guests to these floors.

Residents who cannot abide by the guidelines for special interest floors may be relocated to a different floor or residence hall.