Housing/Room & Board: Commonly Asked Questions
Is there adequate security on campus? Our campus is patrolled 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by a private security firm. Our campus is surrounded by an iron security fence, and access is limited to the front gate only after 6 p.m. daily and on weekends. There is always an officer stationed at the front gate of the campus, and one assigned to each of the dormitories. We are committed to providing our students with a safe environment in which you can live and learn without fear. Through our own efforts and now our joint efforts with the Little Rock Police Department, the use of drugs, alcohol or weapons by anyone on the Philander Smith College campus is inexcusable conduct and it will not be tolerated. Possession of any kind of weapon, alcohol, illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia on the PSC campus is strictly prohibited. Residence halls may be searched in accordance with the law at any time if there is reason to believe that such property is being used for an illegal purpose, for a purpose which interferes with college regulations, or in violation of health or safety regulations. Each student living in the dorm must sign a residential housing contract that states that the sanction for weapons and explosives or drugs is immediate expulsion without a hearing. Vehicles entering the campus may also be searched by security. Are all the residence halls co-ed? No. We offer halls that are all-female and all male. An Honors Dorm is also available to upper-class students who meet certain criteria. Contact the PSC Dean of Students at (501) 370-5354 for more information. Are there staff who live in the residence halls? Yes. Each dorm has a Dorm Director and each floor has a student hall leader who lives on the floor with the residents and is available to assist you as you adjust to living on campus. Are there curfews in the residence halls? Yes. The curfew is 12 midnight Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Sat, there is no curfew with the permission of the parents. Quiet hours are enforced every night 10:30 p.m. until 7 a.m. If you do not feel you can adhere to the curfew rules, you may elect to live off-campus. When will I find out about my housing assignment and what if I don't like it? Housing assignments for new students will be made upon check-in. If you have someone you would like to room with, please make that known during the check-in process. If you become unsatisfied with your arrangement during the semester, contact your Dorm Director for a reassignment. When do the residence halls open? Please check the Academic Calendars under "Students" to find the correct date. We've worked hard to design a move-in process that excels. There may be times during the day when there are lines, but usually the wait is not long. We'll try our best to make the process as easy as possible. Please note that dormitory students must maintain full-time enrollment at all times. What if I need to arrive before the dorms open? We are unable to accommodate early arrivals. If you must arrive early, there are several hotels conveniently located near the campus. However, dorms open at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 am on Sunday. Can I send belongings in advance of my arrival? We are unable to receive packages for students in advance of their arrival due to limited storage space and liability issues. What items should I bring with me to live in the dorm? Here is a sample list of the types of things you will need to live in the dorm:
Students may NOT bring: toasters, toaster ovens, coffee pots, hot plates, microwaves, George Foreman grills, electric skillets, blenders, hot pots, nor any other electrical appliance used for preparing food. Can furniture be removed from the room and replaced with my own? No. The furniture provided is permanent. The furniture can't be removed even if the number of students in the room changes. Is carpeting provided in student rooms? No, carpeting is not provided. However, you may feel free to bring rugs. What happens if my belongings are damaged or stolen while in the residence hall? While Philander Smith College has several security measures in place, the college is not responsible for your student's belongings. You should check with your insurance company about proper coverage. To minimize risk, we ask that you bring only one carload of personal belongings, leaving as many expensive items as possible at home. Experience has shown that when students bring more than this, they end up taking most of it back home again, or losing it to theft. Can I leave my belongings in the room during break periods? While student rooms are typically accessed for maintenance purposes only, to minimize theft, we do encourage students to take expensive property home with them during Thanksgiving and Spring breaks. Rooms must be cleared for Christmas break. Can I make long distance calls from my room? Yes, by using a calling card. Students may also place collect calls from their rooms. PSC provides local and operator access free-of-charge. Please note that only one jack is provided per room, so the phone must be shared with your roommate. Are there direct hookups in each dorm room for computers? Yes, there are appropriate electrical outlets for computers, but internet access is not available in the dorm rooms. However, the library as well as several other locations have computers with internet access for student use. Where will I be able to do laundry? Each residence hall floor is equipped with washers and dryers. Students can use cash to wash (75 cents per load) or dry (50 cents per load) their clothes. What should I do if I have roommate problems? Contact your dorm director or hall leader who will attempt to mediate and resolve the problems. If you, as a parent, need to find out how the situation is being handled or want additional information, contact the appropriate Dorm Director or contact the Dean of Students. Dorm residents automatically participate in the college meal plan which 3 meals a day during the week 2 meals a day on Saturday and Sunday. Special diet requests will be honored if made by a doctor and presented in advance to the cafeteria. Do missed meals carry across semesters? Unused or missed meals do not carry over from week to week nor from semester to semester. Can freshmen have cars on campus? Yes. Freshmen are allowed to have cars on campus. Can I bring a bike and where can it be stored? Yes. Bikes are permitted on campus and should be stored in your dorm room. We encourage you to purchase two sturdy bike locks just in case. Is there a campus bus service? No, but students have unlimited access to the "CAT" (Central Arkansas Transit), the local, off-campus bus service. What banks are available near the campus? Since the college is located near downtown Little Rock, a number of banks are conveniently located close to the campus. Regions Bank, Bank of America, Metropolitan Bank and Superior Federal Bank are the biggest. Philander Smith College banks with Regions Bank. What should I do if I get sick? You should contact the residence hall staff who are on-site and can readily respond in person to help meet your student's emergency needs. There are also emergency medical services available by dialing 911. If you have more questions or concerns, please contact the PSC Dean of Students at (501) 370-5354. |