Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for New Students

The Office of Residence Life and Housing is always available to answer your questions regarding campus life and housing. Below are questions frequently asked of our staff by incoming first-year residents and their families.

Housing Assignment Questions

  • When will I find out my room assignment?
    Information on specific room assignments and roommate information will be available in mid July.

  • Can I request a specific roommate?
    Yes, you may request a specific roommate. Requests may be submitted on the Personal Preferences section of the Residence Hall License Agreement and must be mutual.

  • Can I change my room assignment once it has been made?
    Yes, if you are assigned to an additional occupancy room, you will receive special instructions regarding the additional occupancy shuffling process in mid-September. If you are not in an additional occupancy room you may submit an online room change requesting during the room change period.  Room change requests are honored on a first come, first serve basis. Every effort is made to accommodate requests, but there is no guarantee that your request will be honored.

  • What is a "permanent" or "design" room?
    A "permanent" or "design" room is a room that is always intended to house a designated number of students.  For example, a permanent triple room is always intended to house three students and has furniture for all three students.  In some buildings, larger built-in closets are shared by the residents.

  • What is "additional occupancy"?
    "Additional occupancy" is a temporary situation where an additional student is placed in a design double or triple room. An additional bed is placed in each of these rooms to accommodate the additional occupant.  For new students assignments into additional occupancy are made according to the date of  application to the University (the earlier the application, the less likely you will be placed into additional occupancy). Approximately one third of our resident students are placed into an additional occupancy space. Students assigned to these spaces receive a 20% rebate on the housing costs for the period of additional occupancy. For more information about additional occupancy, see the Living in Community section of the RLH website.

  • How long do students have to live in "additional occupancy" spaces?
    Through experience we know that a number of students will not arrive at opening or will leave during the first semester. As design spaces become available, students living in additional occupancy rooms are offered permanent spaces. Assignment into available space from additional occupancy space is made based on date of application to the University. Traditionally all students in additional occupancy rooms have been offered permanent spaces by the beginning of the second semester.

  • What if I decide that I do not want to live on campus?
    If a student decides not to live on campus, they should notify our office. Students who choose to withdraw from housing will forfeit their $300 deposit, but will have their housing charges credited to their account. Students who leave after the first day of classes will receive a partial refund. Please refer to the student handbook for specifics.

  • How much does it cost to live on campus?
    • Click Here to view the residence hall living costs.
    • Students living in the residence halls are required to have a meal plan. For more information about meal plans or to choose/change your meal plan, click here. Apartments residents are not required to have a meal plan.
    • Residents are also required to pay a ResNet fee and a Resident Student activity fee each semester. A complete list of fees and the refund policy are available in the student handbook.

Student Room Questions

  • What are the dimensions of the rooms?
    Most rooms in Shea and Durgin Halls are approximately 15 feet by 11 feet. Most rooms in Woodward Hall are approximately 14 feet by 14 feet.  If you plan on bringing a rug it should be small enough to not interfere with the sweep of the door. We recommend purchasing a 6' x 9' rug.

  • What is provided in a room?
    Each room is furnished with extra-long twin beds, dressers, desks with chairs, closets and bookshelves. Rooms designated as "additional occupancy" have one extra bed. Additional furniture may be provided at student's request, based on availability.

  • After I receive my assignment, can I come and see the room?
    Unfortunately, this cannot be arranged. There are summer programs that use the residence halls during the summer months.

  • How do I arrange for telephone, cable TV, and internet services?
    All three services are part of the ResNet (Resident Network) program. A fee, separate from a resident student's housing fee, provides unlimited local dialing, call waiting, voice mail, reduced long-distance charges, cable television, premium sports, music, and movie channels, Residence Life Cinema, high speed internet access, and wireless internet access (additional hardware required). Information about ResNet will be provided with your assignment information. Specific questions can be directed to the ResNet Hotline at 508.531.7999 or E-Mail at resnet@bridgew.edu. The ResNet website has more information about the program.

  • When will I know what my mailing address will be?
    Mailboxes are maintained by Mail Services. Resident students may view their mailbox number and combination by logging into MyHousing once they  have received their assignment. Their mailbox number will also be included in their assignment e-mail. All correspondence sent to resident students must be addressed in this way:

    Sally Student
    Name of Hall, Box 999
    Bridgewater State University
    Bridgewater, MA 02325

Student Services Questions

  • How can I be sure I will be safe in the residence halls?
    Twenty-four hour security is provided in Woodward, Shea and Durgin Halls as well as the Great Hill Student Apartments. Other halls have student security officers staffing the entrances to the halls from 7 PM - 3 AM daily. Additionally, all residence halls are equipped with a card access system which only allows access to the residence halls by the residents of that hall. Residents will present their ID, known as the Connect Card, upon entering the building, ensuring only authorized persons gain entrance.

  • If I am having a problem once I arrive to campus, who should I contact?
    The Resident Assistant or RA is the first person a student should contact if they are having problems on campus. Resident Assistants are student leaders who live with the resident students and are selected and trained to help establish a healthy residence community. They either assist directly or provide referrals for questions or concerns with academics, safety and security, physical or mental health, and other topics which are a part of living on-campus. The next level of support is the resident Director or RD. Resident Directors are full-time, professional staff that live in the building. They supervise student staff and are responsible for the overall management or the residence hall(s) to which they are assigned. Students having difficulty on campus can also come to the Office of Residence Life and Housing, located in DiNardo Hall, Room 100. The telephone number is 508.531.1277.

  • How do I change my meal plan?
    You will select your meal plan each semester and have the first five days from the official first day of classes of each semester to change your meal plan selection if you choose to do so. Only one change allowed per semester.



    • Last Modified: March 25, 2013