Adjustment Issues
Is your student struggling to find his/her place having a hard time
in the classroom? Encourage them to talk to their Resident
Assistant, Peer Academic Leader, or Residence Director. They can
offer a wide variety of on-campus resources including: student
organizations, in-hall programs, as well as academic and social
support services, to assist them.
Hall Council Elections
Resident students have successfully completed Hall Council
Elections, and new executive boards have taken office. Hall
Councils are the programming body and administrative body of the
residence halls and each building (DaSilva, Century, etc.) has its
own council. The Staten Island campus has one Hall Council
executive board for the campus. Your student does not have to
be on the executive board to participate. If they are looking for a
way to get involved, or to have their voice heard, tell them to
speak with their Senior RA or Residence Director for more
information.
Roommate Conflicts And The Room Change
Process
While we hope all of our roommates got off to a good start
that is not always the case. Residence Life is prepared to
assist our students in making the transition to sharing a room and
suite with other students, which may be a new experience for them.
Resident Assistants (on each floor) are trained to assist students
as they negotiate living conditions, such as sharing items in the
room, quiet times for studying, cleaning schedules, and other
concerns. If your student is struggling with their roommate(s), we
recommend they take the steps below to remedy the situation:
- Talk to the roommate(s). Develop a roommate agreement (RA
can facilitate) to negotiate the living conditions in the room. On
the Staten Island Campus an RD will facilitate the roommate
agreement.
- Talk to a Resident Assistant. The RAs can help mediate a
conflict, or empower students to air all the issues at hand.
- Discuss a possible room change with the Residence Director
- Complete a Room Change Request form
Room Changes can happen as early as September 10. Paperwork to
request a room change is available in the Office of Residence Life,
pending space and approval by the Residence Director of their
building. Though room changes are not always the best
solution, we will work with students as best we can to improve
their situation when we are clear this is the best course of
action.
Thanksgiving Break Is Not Far
Away
The residence halls do not close for Thanksgiving Break. However,
during that time the meal plan is suspended while the University is
closed. Students should begin planning now if they intend to stay
on campus over Thanksgiving Break and should make alternative meal
arrangements.
Learning Communities Socials
Each freshman residence hall on Queens campus will host a welcome
social with faculty, administrators and students for their Learning
Community during the first three weeks of the semester. These
socials provide students with a chance to network with faculty
members in their areas of interest and programs of study, and begin
forming relationships to further their academic and social
transition.
The Office of Residence Life is available to field any
additional questions you may have. Please call (718) 990-2417 for
the Queens campus or (718) 815-3407 for the Staten Island
campus.