Residence Life FAQs

Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive. Don’t see  your question? Email us at residencelife@duny.edu or give us a call at (845) 848-7601.

When will I receive my housing assignment?

Housing assignments are sent in the mail after the second week in July as long as we have received your housing deposit in the business office and your housing information packet before then. Get your housing packet in as soon as you can, as we do honor requests for room types and roommates in the order we receive them! A good date to make sure you get your paperwork back to us is July 1st.

Can I  live with a friend?

Yes! Although we see value in a new living experience, especially in the freshman year, we do allow students to mutually request each other. It is important that the request is noted on both students housing habit questionnaire and sent in at similar times. It is hard for us to honor a request when we receive one roommate’s habit questionnaire early in the process and the other roommate’s later in the process.

What if I don’t get along with my roommate?

The Residence Life Staff make every effort to help resolve roommate issues through mediation and roommate agreements.  If these fail to resolve the problem then we will try to accommodate a room change.  However, we do not permit room changes until after the second full week of the semester and can only honor request when space is available.

What does a freshman room look like? What is already in the room?

There are a couple different room types for freshmen. Take a look at the sample room layouts in our buildings to see what the possibilities are. Freshmen are either assigned to singles, doubles, or triples in Hertel Hall or Rosary Hall. Each student is provided with their bed, a desk and chair and dresser/bureau combination for storage. In Rosary Hall the storage and desks are built into the wall.

What about Freshman bathrooms?

In Hertel Hall, each floor has several private bathrooms with a shower, toilet, and sink. In Rosary Hall, there are community bathrooms at the end of the hallway with showers, bathroom stalls, and many sinks.

What if I need special accommodations for medical reasons?

Any requests for special consideration goes through special services. Please contact Margaret Giuliano at  845-848-4035 or email margaret.giuliano@duny.edu.

Are the buildings co-ed?

Each floor, room type, and bathroom are single-sex, but all buildings are co-ed.

Can my bed be lofted or raised?

The beds we use are not loftable, but have adjustable height settings from about a foot off the floor to over three feet off the floor. Often times facilities is available on move in day to adjust your bed to your desired height.

Can I ship my belongings early?

Unfortunately, because of limited space we are unable to accept any packages prior to move-in.  Please do not ship anything until after the official move in date.

What should I bring with me? (and what I leave at home?)

We have been doing this for a while. Please see our “What to Bring to Campus” section for our suggestions and a list of prohibited items! In general, we suggest you bring a few things to make your room homey, but don’t bring everything. Leave some seasonal things at home. It will give you more living space and an excuse to go home to swap out some shorts for sweaters!

What size sheets should I bring?

Twin extra-long sheets are your best option, but sometimes deep pocket twin sheets work too. The mattresses in the Residence Centers measure 36”x 80”.  All of the bedding sections at most home stores carry university sheets during the university prep season.

Can students bring appliances?

All of our Residence Centers have microwaves available in the common lounges of the building. Students living in Hertel Hall and Rosary Hall are not allowed to bring personal microwaves for their room. Residents of Guzman Hall quads are provided with a microwave and Guzman Hall double occupants are permitted to bring a personal microwave for their common space. We do allow every student the option to bring a 2.9 cubic feet refrigerator and a television for their personal use. Oftentimes, roommates will discuss who will bring what after receiving their room assignments. We do NOT allow coffee makers, hot plates, George Forman grills and similar appliances in our Residence Centers. Reference our prohibited items list for more information.

What will move-in day be like?

Due to the large number of students moving in, you will be able to park your car in front of your residence hall for a short period of time.  Then you will be directed to park in our main parking lot (a half block distance) and return to bring your belongings to your room.  We recommend that you bring your own hand truck or dolly.  We are only able to provide a limited supply.

How do students do laundry?

Every Residence Center has a laundry facility for students to use. The cost is $2.00 to wash and drying is free. Students can pay with their DC-1 cards to use the equipment.  We ask that students purchase high efficiency detergent and moderate the amount of detergent to a quarter cup per load. It’s always a good idea to have someone show you how to do laundry before you come to live on campus; everyone knows to separate lights and darks, but there is so much more to know!

What furniture is provided in my room?

Every room comes equipped with a bed, a dresser, a desk, and a chair and window blinds.  We do not permit any additional furniture to be brought in.

Are cable and internet provided?

All of our resident bedrooms have an Ethernet port and a cable jack. In addition, all of the Residence Centers have Wi-Fi throughout the building. Any suite also has a cable jack in the common area living room. This service is provided for you in your room and board fees. Students just need to provide the Ethernet and cable cords to connect.

What happens if I get locked out of my room or lose my keys?

A Residence Life staff member will let you into your room.  Lost keys must be reported and replaces.

Do I need to move out during breaks?

The residence halls officially close during holiday breaks.  Please plan accordingly.  The dates for the breaks can be found at www.duny.edu.

Is there security in the Residence Centers?

All three residence halls have a 24 hour security guard who monitors resident access and facilitates day guest sign in. We ask all students to swipe their ID at the security desk every time they enter the building. If there are any issues outside of the Residence Centers, students can call the security rover at (914) 403-7531.

Who else works in the Residences Centers?

Every building is staffed with an Assistant Director (AD) and there is a Resident Assistants (RA) assigned to every module in the building. RAs are in charge of creating programming activities, enforcing university policy, and offering support to their residents. You can always go to any available RA that you are comfortable with for support.

The RAs of each building also have a rotating duty schedule so there is an RA on call every night of the semester from 5 p.m. until 9 a.m. in the morning and 24 hour coverage from 5 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Monday. RAs are responsible for signing in overnight guests from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. and sit for office hours from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. every night of the semester.

Can I smoke in my room?

Smoking is not permitted in any Dominican University Residence Center. If you are a smoker, we do offer an option on the Housing Habit Questionnaire to let us know and opt to live with another smoker.

What meal plans are offered to students?

There are three different meal plans offered to our students. The freshman options include $1750 meal plan dollars or $1900 meal plan dollars. The cost of these meal plans are the dollar amount you pay for in your room and board fees.

Upperclassmen have a third option of $1750 plan to be split into $1300 meal plan dollars and $400 “DU Dollars” to be used at off campus vendors.

What are my dining options on campus?

Dominican University Dining by Chartwells is our food service provider and they strive to provide fresh, healthy, and fun options in the dining hall located in the Granito Center. There is a hot station, pizza oven, deli counter, grill, and an excellent salad bar in addition to a “Grab and Go” for a quick meal. With daily specials, soups, and fun demonstration days, it is a great food option on campus. Dominican University Dining by Chartwells also offers a smaller grill and “Grab and Go” in Casey Hall if you don’t have time to get over to the Granito Center.

If you feel like something different from the on-campus options, the university has many contracts with local food vendors where you can use your “DU Dollars” to have a meal out! This includes Pizza joints, Chinese food, Sushi, even CVS Pharmacy, and Applebee’s.

Can my friends visit me?

Yes! We allow two day guests to be signed in per resident student from 8 a.m. until midnight every day. Overnight Guest (same gender only) sign-in between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Residents are able to sign in one overnight guest. Overnight guests are limited to 15 sign-ins a semester, seven within a month, and not more than three consecutive days.

Can freshmen have cars on campus?

We allow freshmen to have their cars on campus. Freshmen register their cars in the parking office in Casey Hall and are able to park in the large Rosary parking lot. This lot is very close to other buildings where freshmen live.

Can I bring my pet to campus?

Residence Life allows 10 gallon tanks for fish or aquatic animals able to sustain life under water for at least 24 hours. We do not allow any other type of pet.