Housing FAQs

Housing FAQs

Expand all Collapse all

• When will my son/daughter receive his/her room assignment?

  Possibly during Summer Orientation, depending on the date of the application.  Students applying for the fall semester will be notified of their specific room assignment, mailing address and roommate contact information towards the end of the third week July.  This information will be posted on your son’s/daughter’s myGate account.  Your son/daughter will receive instructions through the mail on how to access this information from their myGate account.  New applicants for the spring semester will receive their assignment during the first week in January.

• What can my son/daughter do to decorate the room?

  We encourage students to personalize their rooms. There are many ways to make residential college rooms more like a home away from home. One of the first steps is for both roommates to take time to decide how they would like their room to look. Coordinating bedspreads, rugs, throw pillows and plants are ways to begin. There are a variety of ways to arrange the furniture in the room; creativity may be used.
  
  All rooms in Murray State University's residential colleges are painted on an as needed basis, with the Office of Facilities Management making the decision of where to paint. Students who think that their room needs painting may contact the Residence Director.
  
  Each room is furnished with beds, desks, closets, drawer space and study lamps. You can add approved furniture to your room, BUT YOU CANNOT REMOVE FURNITURE FROM YOUR ROOM. Students are charged the replacement value for any items missing from their room when they check out. If you would like more information about room sizes and floor plans or decorating examples, check out the Residence Hall Details links from the Housing Home Page.

• Can I loft my bed?

  Yes!  Murray State University partners with Bedloft.com to provide students with a loft rental program. (Please note that these loft units cannot be used in Lee Clark, James H. Richmond and Elizabeth)  This is the ONLY approved loft allowed at Murray State. Renting a loft is an easy, affordable way to create additional living space in your room. Students may preorder a loft at www.bedloft.com for easy pick-up on move-in day. Lofts may also be rented on move-in day, but quantities will be limited. Futons are also available through Bedloft.com.  To place your order today, visit www.bedloft.com.  

• What about telephones?

  Residents may use cell phones in the residential colleges, however, we cannot guarantee the quality of reception. Each room has a modular phone jack, but residents must supply their own touch-tone phone. There is one phone line per room. Local service is provided; cost is covered in the room rent. If long distance service is required, students must contract with any of the long distance carriers and obtain an access number. Bills for long distance service will be sent to the address provided by the student. Another option is calling collect. Students will receive their phone numbers when checking into their rooms.

• How does my son/daughter receive mail?

  Mailrooms are located in each residential college. Mailbox assignments and combinations will be given out when students check into the college.
  
  To send a letter or package to a student, address it to:
  Student's Name
  Box Number, College (building) Name
  Murray, KY 42071
  
  All students receive a Murray State e-mail address when they come to school. This is also an excellent way to communicate with your son or daughter.

• How much is the housing deposit? Do scholarships cover it?

  No.  All students who live in a residential college must pay a $150 deposit.  We also cannot waive this fee.  This deposit is a security/damage deposit for the room. The deposit may be paid for in cash, check, money order, or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, Discover/Novus). The deposit is refundable upon students’ leaving the residential college and canceling their reservation with us (on-line or in writing) prior to the deadline (June 1^st for the Fall Semester and December 1^st for the Spring Semester).  Once we receive both the deposit and the housing application, the new student is assigned a priority number which is used to make assignments.  All assignments are made in order of the priority number, so we cannot make an assignment until we have the deposit and application.  (Remember: The sooner the students apply, the better the chances their college and room requests will be granted.)

• Are all the colleges/buildings coed and what does that mean?

  All colleges are coed except Springer College, which is an all female building. At Murray State University, coed living is defined as a situation where men and women live in the same building but on different floors. On our campus, in six buildings, the males live on the lower floors and the females live on the upper floors.  In Lee Clark and James H. Richmond, the buildings are co-ed by wings.  This means that, for example, on the 1^st floor, one wing of the building will house women and the other wing on the first floor will house men. 

• What if my son/daughter wants to room with someone they met at Summer O?

  We cannot make any changes unless both students have a deposit and application on file. Both students need to put the request in writing to us. We will strive to grant the request before August and the opening of school, but because of space limitations, we may not be able to grant this request. If we are unable to grant that request before school begins, we will conduct over 600 room changes after the start of the semester.

• What if my son/daughter does not receive one of their requested colleges or roommate?

  We will do our best to place your son/daughter in one of the three choices listed on their application. Due to factors such as the date we receive applications, changes in original preferences, and changes in roommate choices, we cannot guarantee that we can grant their requests. If, however, we are unable to grant that request before school begins, we will conduct more than 600 room changes after the start of the semester. PLEASE NOTE: We cannot guarantee building preference or roommate preference for students applying after January 1st .

• Can my son/daughter cook in his/her room?

  No. We are concerned with fire safety. The fire codes are very strict. We do have kitchenettes and microwave ovens in all the residential colleges. Microwave ovens no larger that 700 watts are allowed in the rooms. Appliances with exposed heating elements (i.e., hot plates) are not permitted. Please note that only one microwave is permitted per room.

• What about refrigerators in the rooms?

  Refrigerators are permitted in the rooms. However the refrigerator cannot exceed 4.6 cubic feet.  Please note that only one refrigerator per room is allowed. 

• Why can’t we have two microwaves per room?

  Unfortunately, the delivery system for electricity to each room is the same now as when the buildings were first built.  At that time students did not bring anywhere near the amount of electrical appliances that they do today.  In most cases, there are two rooms that are on a 20 amp breaker, which means that if the total amps used at any time exceeds 20, the breaker trips and leaves both rooms without power. 

  
  

  A 700 watt microwave uses approximately 5 amps, while a 1200 watt hair dryer uses approximately 10 amps.  A computer with printer uses between 7 and 9 amps and a TV or stereo can use between 1 and 1½ amps.   For example if room A is using the computer and printer while listening to the stereo (for an approximate total of 10 amps in use), and room B has the computer on without the printer and has the TV on (for an approximate total of 8 amps in use), the room is okay, but if room A or B turns on the microwave, the breaker will trip.  This is why we have limits on the electrical items used in the buildings.

• What about TV and cable?

  Basic television service (approximately 22 channels) is included in the Housing Fee.  The cost of extended basic cable is set by the cable company vendor and is the responsibility of the residents. We currently have a contract with Time Warner Cable for our cable service.  They will have a distribution center on campus during Great Beginnings and for the first week of school.  You can also visit the TWC office in Murray.  TVs are provided in a lounge in each building. 

• Can my son/daughter bring pets?

  No. The only pets allowed are fish in an enclosed aquarium. Considering health, safety and comfort of all the residents, pets found will be removed immediately at the expense of the resident.

• What are the standard bed sizes?

  The mattress size in all the colleges, except Elizabeth, Lee Clark, and James H. Richmond, is a standard 75” long.  These beds will accommodate the regular size twin and bunk fitted sheets.  Elizabeth, Lee Clark and James H. Richmond have 80” mattresses. 

• May my son/daughter bring a computer and what about internet service (RESNET)?

  Yes, but you may wish to contact your son's or daughter's academic department for more specific guidelines. Please make sure that your homeowners policy covers loss or theft of this equipment, as MSU cannot accept responsibility. Computer labs are available in some of the residential colleges and on campus for those individuals who do not have a computer.
  
  RESNET is the computer network that brings Ethernet-based computer connections to residents residing in the residential colleges of MSU. Every student who lives in the Residential Colleges has an outlet to connect their computer equipment for Internet access. Student computers will need to have a Network Interface Card and a patch cable to connect to the Internet.

   

  Please refer to the 'Bringing a Compter to Campus' section of your Summer O' booklet for specific information on connecting to our campus network.

• May my son/daughter bring a car to campus?

  Yes. There is a fee for parking, and specific areas are designated for parking in close proximity to the residential colleges. Freshman residents must park in the stadium parking lot unless they live in Regents College or White College . Please encourage your son or daughter to lock his/her car.

• Can I bring my favorite candle from home?

  The use of candles and incense is prohibited in the buildings. Students may possess candles for decorative purposes only if the wicks have been cut out or if the candles remain in the original cellophane wrap. Candles that do not meet this criteria are removed from the student’s room.

• Does the heating and a/c work like my system at home?

  Probably not. We have what is called a two pipe system, which basically means that the entire building can either have heat or a/c. Each individual room can control the amount of heat or a/c delivered to the room, but the room can only receive the type of air provided to the entire building. NOTE: Because of the temperatures in our area, we usually convert the buildings to heat in mid to late October and we usually convert the buildings to a/c in mid April.  However, residents of Lee Clark and James H. Richmond have the ability to individually control their own heat and a/c.  For example: one room can have their heat running, while simultaneously the room next door can be using the a/c.  Please note that this feature is only available in Lee Clark and James H. Richmond.

• Who is responsible for my son’s/daughter’s personal property?

  Your son or daughter. Although precautions are taken to maintain adequate security, the university cannot assume the responsibility for the loss or damage to student possessions. We encourage you to carry appropriate insurance to cover student possessions.

• What about insurance for my son’s/daughter’s belongings?

  The university cannot purchase insurance for the students’ personal belongings. Check your homeowners insurance policy for coverage on rental proprieties. There are companies which offer insurance specifically for colleges and universities. Information on these companies will be provided during the August check-in.

• May my son or daughter have visitors of the opposite sex in his or her room?

  Yes.  In accordance with the visitation guidelines established for the residential college in which your son or daughter resides.  The policy can be found in the Student Life Handbook.  Guests must be signed in and escorted at all times. 

• If my son/daughter has a roommate conflict, what are his/her options?

  If your son or daughter has a roommate conflict, staff personnel are available to assist. Your son or daughter should first contact either the Resident Advisor or Residence Director, who will then arrange a meeting between the roommates. The goal of this meeting will be to have the students’ identify the issues and to move toward resolving them. If the issues cannot be resolved, then steps will be taken to enact a room change by one or both individuals.

• What is liquidation?

  Students who have accumulated at least 60 earned hours of academic credit (junior status) may LIQUIDATE their housing contracts at the end of the fall semester for the spring semester by agreeing to pay 25 percent of the current room rate or receiving a refund of 75 percent of the prepaid rent for the spring semester. This option is not available after the resident signs in or moves in for the spring semester. The liquidation option is only available for the spring semester.

• How can my son/daughter apply for a reasonable housing accommodation?

  A student with a documented disability or a parent or advocate on behalf of the student and with the student’s permission may make a written request for reasonable housing accommodation(s) or a housing exemption. Said request should include appropriate documentation of the student’s disability. The request for the housing accommodation or exemption form will be available online and in the Housing Office. 

  
  

  The request form shall be forwarded to the ADA Subcommittee of the Affirmative Action Committee, 423 Wells Hall, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071, for a determination. The decision of the ADA Subcommittee of the Affirmative Action Committee will then be mailed by the Office of Student Disability Services to the student. Please note that the resulting housing assignment, if any, will be made available on the student’s myGate account. It should be noted that requests for accommodations can be initiated at any time. However, it is recommended that requests for the fall semesters be received by May 31, for spring semesters by December 15 and for summer terms, one month prior to the first day of class. 

  
  

  Requests for accommodations or a housing exemption made after the start of any semester or term shall be processed in like manner. A determination shall be made as soon as possible but no later than two (2) weeks following the date the request is received.

• How can my son/daughter appeal the decision on their reasonable accommodation request?

  A student (or the student’s parent or advocate on behalf of the student) who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Subcommittee as to the requested accommodation(s) or housing exemption (i.e. does not believe that the housing assignment or denial of exemption accommodates the student’s disability or in some way endangers the student’s safety or health) may file a written appeal to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 103 Wells Hall, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071, along with any supporting documentation. Said appeal shall be filed in the Office of Equal Opportunity within ten (10) days from the date of receipt of the original decision by the Subcommittee as to the request for reasonable accommodation(s)/housing exemption. No one involved in the initial decision by the Subcommittee shall be involved in the determination on appeal which shall be made by the Office of Equal Opportunity. The Office of Equal Opportunity shall make a written determination within thirty (30) days from the date it received the appeal. The decision of the Office of Equal Opportunity shall be final.