Student Communication

Subject:  Residence halls close for holiday recess

The residence halls close for holiday recess 7 p.m. Friday, December 16. They reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 7, and food service resumes Monday, Jan. 9. WMU and the housing office closes 5 p.m. December 22 and reopens 9 a.m. January 4, 2023.

If you are coming back this spring:

You do not need to move out of your room. Take home the things you will need over break and secure your room. To prevent pests, take out your trash and recycling, remove food that will spoil, clean dishes left in the room, and close and lock your windows. Unplug non-essential electrical items. Access to your hall will not be available Dec. 17 to Jan. 6.

Staff will be doing supervised room checks beginning 7 p.m. Dec. 16. The checks are for maintenance and safety inspections, and they are done while still respecting your privacy. 

Residence halls reopen Saturday, Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. You may return then or any time thereafter.

If you are not returning to WMU:

1. Request to cancel your housing contract.  Sign into the housing portal and fill out the cancellation request.  You will receive an email regarding your cancellation status. The portal is located at https://hms.reslife.wmich.edu/Page/Portal.
2. Empty, clean and wipe down your part of the room as well as the bathroom (suites). Return your bed to itsoriginal set-up position.  
3. Make arrangements with Bedloft to return any MicroFridges (bedloft.com/).
4. Return your room key via the established process in your hall.  The hall office or your RA can give you information.
5. Change your mail forwarding information on GoWMU.

6.     Click here for more information.

If your roommate moves out:

If your roommate leaves, please keep the second half of the room open for new students joining us in January. They will move in starting January 7. If you get a new roommate, you will receive an email right before the residence halls reopen.

Employment opportunities:

Applications for 2023-24 staff positions are live (resident assistant, resident manager). Contact your hall’s graduate assistant to inquire about desk staff vacancies. 

Change your meal plan for Spring:

Students can change their spring meal plan once between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31, 2023.  Changes are done via the housing portal located at https://hms.reslife.wmich.edu/Page/Portal.

If you have questions, please contact us at WMU-housing@wmich.edu or 269-387-4735.

Good luck on your finals and enjoy break!

Subject:  Thanksgiving Break Reminders

All residence halls remain open during break.  See below to register if you are staying for all or part of break.  Reduced services over break include:

• No mail delivery Thursday, Nov. 24 to Monday, Nov. 28
• Front desks close at 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22 and reopen at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27
• Hall offices close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 and reopen Monday, Nov. 28
• Dining closes at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 and reopens at breakfast Monday, Nov. 28

Staff are not doing room checks. However, they will enter a room if a window was left open. If staff then notice, in plain sight, any evidence of a violation of university policies, federal, state or local laws, staff will file the appropriate report and may confiscate the item(s). Concerns about health hazards in a room/bathroom will also be documented.

If you are staying for part/all of break:

Register online so we know when you will be here. Go to residence halls >>Thanksgiving break.

A staff member will be on duty at all times during the break and will be available to assist you. Information on how to contact staff will be posted in the main lobby of your building.

If you are leaving for break:

• Close and secure windows; close blinds. If you are on a ground or roof level room, insert the wooden security in the window track (if you do not have one, see your hall office).
• Take out all of your trash to the dumpster and recyclables to the appropriate bin outside.
• Shut off and unplug all unnecessary appliances (TV, computer).
• Clear your heat register of any obstruction.
• Take home any valuables.
• Clean and lock bathrooms.

Please contact hall staff if you have any questions. Enjoy your break!

Subject:  Fall Break Information

Fall Break begins Wednesday, Oct. 19. While classes are not in session Wednesday through Friday, residence halls and dining remain open with reduced service. Click here for full details.

Staying for Break Leave for Break

No action needed. Take out trash, unplug unnecessary items, and secure your room.

Room Checks

Staff will be doing supervised room checks beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18. The checks are for maintenance and safety inspections, and they are done while still respecting your privacy. If you have questions about room checks, please see hall staff.

Things to know during break

• Front desk will close at 11 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 and reopens at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23.
• Hall offices will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Oct. 21.
• Packages may be picked up during those times only.
• Mail will only be delivered Wednesday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Oct. 21.
• VDC will be open but with limited hours and menus - click here for details.

Subject: Housing Updates for Fall

We hope you are getting excited about fall semester.  Our staff is finalizing plans for a smooth move-in and creating welcoming, engaged communities. 

Dining Update
As an interim measure as we await the opening on the new student center, Dining Services will offer three service styles to meal plan holders during the fall 2022 semester. The following options will accept meal plan swipes, as well as Dining Dollars, cash or credit as payment:  

• Dining Center - Valley Dining Center is a dine-in, all-you-care-to-eat location open 7 days a week: 
• Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. 
• Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.    
• Grab'n Go & Late-Night - Cafe 1903 (campus cafe on the lower level of the Valley Dining Center) will offer grab'n go meals from 11:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Fridays until the new student center opens. Students are allowed to swipe for grab'n go once each meal period and are encouraged to use the green reusable containers. Cafe 1903 Grab'n Go meal periods are: 
• Lunch: 11:30 - 2 p.m. 
• Snack: 2 - 5 p.m. 
• Dinner: 5 - 7 p.m. (Mon - Thur)
• Additionally, a Late-Night option, 8 - 11 p.m., will be available Monday - Thursday
• Meal Exchange - In recognition of the distance between the Valley Dining Center and many academic classes, 5 campus cafes will temporarily offer a meal exchange option until the new student center opens. Meal Exchange allows students to use their meal plan swipes at a participating campus cafe to create a meal that includes 1 entree, 1 side, 1 beverage and 1 piece of whole fruit. The following Campus Cafes will offer Meal Exchange during the Fall 2022 semester: 
• Bernhard Cafe and Market (Bernhard Center)
• Flossie's Cafe (Sangren Hall) 
• Bella Vita Cafe (College of Health and Human Services, East Campus) 
• Parkview Cafe (Floyd Hall, Parkview Campus/Engineering)
• Bistro BTL (Aviation Education Center, Aviation Campus BTL) 

Dining Services is so excited to welcome students to campus this August! We are very appreciative of the patience and grace families and students have shown us as we pivoted to provide alternative options while we await the opening on the new student center. More information about the spring 2023 dining options will be shared after the September 2022 student center update is released.  

Mail and Packages
Each building processes mail and packages sent to students.  Mail is placed into your mailbox by 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  If you get a package, an email is sent to your WMU email with directions how to pick it up. You are encouraged to do so in a timely manner.  Packages that are unclaimed for 20 days are returned to the delivery company or forwarded if there is a new address (USPS packages only).  Unclaimed packages from Amazon cannot be returned to the delivery company. Housing will try contacting you again to pick up the Amazon package.  If you need it shipped to a new address, your student account will be charged for the shipping.

We know Amazon is a popular vendor.  They contract with multiple delivery companies to get you your items quickly.  Not all of the delivery companies are familiar with campus or our protocols. Some students may experience a delay in getting their items due to packages not being delivered to the correct building, not delivered to the hall office, or not delivered on time.  We are working with Amazon to try and alleviate these issues from happening, but we want you to be aware in case you order with Amazon.
Lets connect - social media
Ask questions, keep on top of things, and learn more about what to expect by following WMU Housing on social media.

• Facebook:  WMU Housing and Dining
• Instagram:  WMU_reslife

Summer Calendar

• July 28 - Carpet order deadline for in-room delivery
• Aug. 1 - Meal plan changes for fall begin – limited to one change 8/1-9/30
• Aug. 1 - Move-in information emailed
• Aug. 3  - System goes live for first-year students to pick their move-in day and time
• Aug. 14 - Microfridge and futon order deadline for in-room delivery
• Aug. 19 - Move-in final directions and pre-arrival form link

Subject:  Roommate information, room changes, rates

Roommate information and floor plans are live!

If you need your roommate’s contact information or a floor map to see where your room is located, the information will be live beginning 5 p.m. EST June 25.  Open an incognito window, log into the housing system via GoWMU, and choose View My Assignments. 

We are unable to share suitemate information.  You will meet your suitemates when you move in.

How do I Change My Housing?

If you would like to change your residence hall room, you may do so in the housing portal starting 10 a.m. EST July 1.  Because almost 3,000 students are in rooms, you may need to look at multiple halls or floors to find a new space.

• Roommate groups used during room selection are not used during room change. If you had a roommate group and both you and your roommate wish to change rooms, you must each complete your own room change. (You must both pick the same empty room, one at a time.)
• We do not condone asking your roommate to change rooms if you met someone you now want to live with.  You and your preferred roommate can look for an open double room you both can switch into for fall.
• Hint:  The building dropdown menu on the left indicates how many open spaces are in the hall.  Hit the down arrow by the hall name, and you will see the number of spaces on each floor in parenthesis.  Rooms with an open bed are outlined in green.

Room changes close at 5 p.m. July 31.

After the deadline, you will not be permitted to make room changes until mid-September.  During July, you are limited to 5 total changes and can make one change per 24-hour period.

Housing and Dining Rates

WMU’s Board of Trustees approved housing and dining rates yesterday.  Rates for 2022-23 will be posted on our website by 5 p.m. June 24.

Move-in Information

Click here for the full schedule and details about our move-in process. 

Upcoming dates

7/15     Email with summer updates

7/28     Carpet order deadline for in-room delivery 

7/31 @ 5 p.m. – last day to make room or roommate changes before move-in

8/1       Email to new students with directions on choosing a move-in day and time

8/9       Meal plan changes for fall begin – limited to one change 8/9-9/30

8/14     Microfridge and futon order deadline for in-room delivery 

8/19     Email with move-in final directions and pre-arrival form link

Helpful links:

• What to know over summer
• Housing supports all its students. Read our call to action.  Black Lives Matter.

If you have questions, please contact the Housing and Residence Life office at (269) 387-4735 or WMU-housing @wmich.edu. 

It is almost time to choose your room!

Your scheduled day and time to select a residence hall room and meal plan for Fall 2022/Spring 2023 is below. All times are EST.  Note: Roommate Groups must be completed prior to room selection.

Your Scheduled Start Time

You can select your room at or any time after your assigned start time, but not earlier.  Watch our short video[LLD1]  to get familiar with how to search and select a room.  If you do not select a room by July 15, we will assign you one and select the Gold Meal Plan. 

Take a tour:  

• Valley suite
• Western Heights house

Choosing your room:

• Open an incognito or private window on your browser and login to the housing portal: GoWMU >> Residence Life Housing >> Residence Halls. Click the link above if you need help with incognito mode.

• Open beds will be green or an open circle.  Occupied beds have an X or are a solid circle.  If you want to learn about who is already in the room, click on the X to see their age, college and roommate profile. 
• Decide what meal plan you want before beginning.  Once you choose your room, you have 10 minutes to complete the process and click submit. 

Roommate information:

• Roommate Groups must be completed prior to room selection. If you invited someone to be in a Roommate Group, they must accept before you select a room.  
• You will not be able to add a roommate after you select a room.
• Only one Roommate Group member will choose a room. The other person will automatically be assigned the same space. Talk beforehand about what meal plan each person wants. Whoever chooses the room will enter the meal plan preference for each roommate.   

Canceling housing:

Please see our cancellation schedule. Fees are dependent on when you cancel and if you are taking classes or not.

Spring break is almost here! Read below for key reminders about housing and dining during the break. 

Residence halls:  All buildings remain open; reduced services

• The front desk will be closed March 3 to 11. Information on how to contact staff will be posted.
• The hall office will be open March 3 and March 6 to 10.
• Mail will be processed March 3 and March 6 to 10. Mail and package services are suspended March 4 to 5 and March 11 to 12. Services resume March 13.

If you are staying for part/all of break:

Register online so we know when you will be here:  https://hms.reslife.wmich.edu/Page/Portal.  Go to residence halls >> Spring Break.

A staff member will be on duty at all times during the break and will be available to assist you.  Information on how to contact staff will be posted in the main lobby of your building.

If you are leaving for break:

ü  Close and secure windows; close blinds.  If you are on a ground or roof level room, insert the wooden security stick in the window track (if you don’t have one, see your hall office).

ü  Take out all of your trash to the dumpster and recyclables to the appropriate bin outside.

ü  Shut off and unplug all unnecessary appliances (TV, computer, stereo).

ü  Clear your heat register of any obstruction.

ü  Take home any valuables.

ü  Clean and lock bathrooms.   

Dining: Limited service

Dining hours and menus are modified during spring break. Please visit their website for details.  https://wmich.edu/dining/hours

Summer housing: 

Planning to stay this summer?  Sign up begins March 13 for summer residence hall housing in Ackley/Shilling (Valley 1).  Contracts are available for Summer I, Summer II or both sessions. https://wmich.edu/housing/summer.  Sign up for summer contracts at Stadium Drive Apartments and Spindler Hall is underway.

Please contact your hall staff if you have any questions.  Enjoy your break!

The end of the semester is approaching fast. Your residence hall will close at 7 p.m. Friday, April 28, but you may move out whenever your finals are done.  Information about moving out can be found on your floor bulletin board and will be discussed at your move-out floor meeting. 

Check out our video!

There are three key parts to checking out of your room:

·       Removing your personal belongings.

·       Cleaning the room and putting it back the way it was when you moved in.

·       Checking out with a staff member. Do not leave without seeing an RA.

All halls close at 7 p.m. Friday, April 28. You MUST be checked out of your hall by this time.

A detailed list of what to do to move out is online: wmich.edu/housing/new-students/moveout

Please see your RA or the hall office if you have questions about moving out and the halls closing.

Reminders:

·       Staying for summer school? Summer housing is available.

·       WMU Apartments are available. Sign up in the housing portal for two-bedroom studios in Arcadia Flats, two-bedroom units in Stadium Drive Apartments or Spindler Hall.

The semester is almost over!  Here are some reminders about finals week and moving out of the residence halls.

Tips:

·       LOCK YOUR DOOR when you are not home. There is a higher risk of theft during move out.

·       Avoid the move-out rush next Thursday and Friday.  If you finish exams early, you can leave at any time.

To check out of your room:

·       Remove personal belongings.

·       Clean the room and bathroom (suites).

·       Deloft your bed and set to the level indicated by staff.

• Check out with a staff member.  Do not leave without seeing an RA.

Parking:

Unlike August move-in, there are no reserved loading spaces around the buildings. Students move out during the entire week vs. moving in two or three days. Parking Services will enforce reserved and handicapped parking spaces.

A detailed list of what to do to move out is online:  wmich.edu/housing/new-students/moveout

Need summer housing?

Summer school accommodations are available in Hall-Archer-Pickard West.

Good luck on exams!