Residence Life

Residence Life at Erskine

Erskine College is a residential campus. In order to provide the experiences and opportunities for growth to meet the mission and goals of Erskine College, it is important that the Erskine student live, study, exercise, worship, and socialize in the atmosphere expressly created for that purpose. To promote this end, all Erskine students are expected to reside in the Residence Halls and eat in the dining hall during normal academic terms. All students will automatically be charged a room and board fee by the Business Office unless a statement is received from the Office of Student Services indicating a change in this situation.

Erskine College’s Residence Life Program is dedicated to providing safe and comfortable residence hall environments that encourages Christ-centered communities that support the holistic development of students.

We believe...

Students benefit most when exposed to programs and services presented from a Christian perspective and designed to help them develop holistically.
Students learn better, both inside and outside the classroom, if they are challenged and supported in every aspect of their development.
Students are better prepared for responsible citizenship as a result of living in a comfortable, vibrant, secure residential learning community.
Students should be provided with opportunities to develop strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Students should be provided with opportunities to strengthen their understanding of and appreciation of Christian values.
Students should be urged to be active participants in the educational process, both inside and outside the classroom.
Students benefit most when Student Services professionals work in partnership with other functional areas of the institution.
Students should be provided with guidance and support by competent professionals who model Christ-like behavior.
Students should be treated as individuals and encouraged to treat others in the same manner.
Students should be treated with grace, respect and compassion and encouraged to treat others in the same manner.
- Students should be strongly encouraged to get involved in community service projects.
- Students should have an appreciation for the importance of setting and striving toward goals.
- Students should be challenged to explore global topics from a Christian perspective.
- Students should be held to a standard designed to strengthen character development.
- Students should be encouraged to explore a variety of vocations.

Residence Halls

All undergraduate residence halls are equipped with a direct line to Erskine’s LAN computer network, which includes free access to the Internet and contains wireless study areas. All halls are also equipped with central air and heat, laundry facilities, and a kitchen.

Four residence halls are grouped together around an attractive area on the East Campus called the circle.

Carnegie Hall, a three-story residence hall for freshman women, built in 1907, was completely restored and renovated in 2002.
Kennedy Hall, built in 1960, is a two-story residence hall housing men. It was completely renovated and restored in 2003.
Robinson Hall, a three-story residence hall for women, was constructed in 1922 and restored and renovated in 1995. It was completely renovated and restored in 2003.
Bonner Hall, a three-story residence hall for women, was opened in 1970. It was completely renovated and restored in 2001. It replaces the original Bonner Hall, the main building of the Woman’s College, which was built in 1860 and destroyed by fire in 1964.

Two men's residence halls are grouped in a residential area on the West Campus.

Grier Hall, built in 1956, is a modern building in the colonial style, housing 106 men. It was completely renovated and restored in 2001.

Pressly Hall, built in 1959, in the same style of architecture, houses an equal number of men. It was completely restored and renovated in 2002.

Policies

Alcohol
The possession of alcoholic beverages by any Erskine student or guest of any Erskine student anywhere on the Erskine campus or at any function sponsored by any College organization. This includes all residence hall rooms. A residence hall resident is responsible for any violation of the alcohol regulations, including underage possession or consumption that occurs in his or her room while he or she is present. Public display of any alcoholic beverage, drunkenness, or alcohol related misconduct in any area of campus is a violation of the Code of Conduct.

Breaks
The residence halls will be closed during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, the Christmas Holidays, and Spring Break. Students will not be able to remain in the halls during these breaks. Students who feel they have extenuating circumstance should contact the Office of Student Services at least one week in advance of the halls closing. They will need to fill out a form and receive permission from the Office. Students should pay attention to their email accounts, the message board, and flyers for specific information related to breaks.

Damage Charges
A Room Inspection Form is completed by residence life staff prior to check-in. Students will have the opportunity to review the document and make comments prior to signing it. Students will be charged for any changes to the room that occur during the year. It is imperative that students make SLAs or the RD aware of problems in the room so work orders can be filed. Unreported problems may result in damage charges at the end of the year. The following incidents may result in substantial damage charges; the list is not exhaustive:

Removing shelves or furniture, attempting to rewire any outlets or lighting, sawing doors to accommodate carpeting, installing water filters or other specialized plumbing fixtures, etc.
Painting and/or repainting a room. Painting will result in charges from the college for the cost for materials and labor (which may be outsourced) to repaint the room.
Using nails, putty, or two-sided tape to hang posters, picture frames, bulletin boards, etc.
Decorating with contact paper or ìglow-in-the-darkî stars.
Failing to remove personal furniture, carpeting, belongings, or trash upon check-out.
Failing to sweep/vacuum room upon check-out.

Common Space Damages
If damage occurs in common space in a residence hall and the person responsible for the damage cannot be identified, the cost will be shared by the residents of that building or that specific floor. Residents are encouraged to show respect for the community in which they live and work to hold others accountable. The following incidents may result in substantial damage charges; the list is not exhaustive:

Broken windows in stairwells
Broken ceiling tiles
Broken lobby furniture
Large amounts of trash in lobby areas

Damage Charges and Billing
Actual billing for damages occurs at the beginning of the summer with the aid of the Aramark staff. Billing for room damages ordinarily appears in the June billing from the Business Office (January for those students who move out in December).

Housing Policy
Erskine College is a residential campus. In order to provide the experiences and opportunities for growth to meet the mission and goals of Erskine College, it is important that the Erskine student live, study, exercise, worship, and socialize in the atmosphere expressly created for that purpose. To promote this end, all Erskine students are expected to reside in the Residence Halls and eat in the dining hall during normal academic terms. All students will automatically be charged a room and board fee by the Business Office unless a statement is received from the Office of Student Services indicating a change in this situation.

Exemptions to Live Off Campus
Every Erskine College student is required to live in a campus residence hall unless the student is granted an exemption. Exemption requests will not be considered unless they meet one of the following criteria:

Student is legally married
Student is legally responsible for someone else (caregiver, parent, guardian, etc.) and has documentation demonstrating this responsibility
Student resides with an approved blood relative and must
- Live within a 50-mile radius from the campus
- Notify the Office of Student Services that he/she wishes to commute. A Commuter Certificate will be sent to the legal guardian
- A Commuter Certificate must be on file in the Office of Student Services prior to the beginning of the semester the student becomes a commuter
Student is at least 22 years of age and must:
- Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and not be on Academic Probation/Suspension
- Have no significant judicial history (verified by Dean of Students)
- Have the approval of the Athletics Department (if the student is an athlete)
Student has a documented medical exemption. Appeals to live off campus on the basis of a medical need must meet the following criteria:
- The medical need must be compelling, such as post-hospitalization with ongoing care
- Requirements for special medical equipment which cannot be met in campus housing
- The need for special care attendants to help the student

Issues such as social anxiety, mild depression, and cognitive impairment typically are not considered to be compelling reasons to gain approval to live off campus. Requests for residing off campus due to asthma/allergies are typically not granted. Students wishing to pursue this avenue need to include letters from treating physicians and/or other medical professionals. They must also agree to full medical disclosure with The Office of Student Services.

Exemption Requests
If a student wishes to request an exemption from the on campus requirement, he/she must submit the following documents to the Office of Student Services by the last day of classes in the spring semester:

A letter from the student in which he or she details the exemption criteria that is met in his/her situation
A letter from his/her legal guardian showing support of the on campus exemption
Pertinent supporting documentation.

Once all information is received by the Office of Student Services, the request will be considered by the Housing Appeals Committee. The student should receive a decision letter in his/her Campus Post Office Box within five (5) to ten (10) business days.

A student may appeal the decision of the Housing Appeals Committee to the Vice President for Student Services. The appeal must be received in writing within five (5) days of the Housing Appeals Committee’s decision. The decision of the Vice President for Student Services will be final.

Once an exemption has been approved, a student must provide the Office of Student Services with a current address at the beginning of each semester.

Inclement Weather
Students should enroll with Codespear, a countywide information alerting system used by Abbeville County to inform residents and businesses of weather warnings, school emergencies, and road hazards. If a student has questions about Codespear, he or she should contact the Office of Student Services. A tornado watch is a forecast of the possibility of tornadoes in a large area. A tornado warning means that a tornado has been sighted and may be approaching. In the event of a tornado warning, students should immediately go to one of the following shelters and remain until they are given the all clear signal from a Erskine College staff or faculty member.

Applied Art Building - center of building away from glass

Belk Hall - basement and first floor (hallway)

Bonner Dormitory - first floor hallways, basement

Bowie Art Center - classroom on first floor and storage area on first floor

Bowie Divinity Hall - basement and interior hallways on first floor

Daniel Moultrie Science Center- first floor corridors away from windows

Erskine Building - Hangar area and basement hallway

Galloway Center – lower level interior hallways and shower areas

Grier Dormitory - basement and interior hallways on first floor

Kennedy Dormitory - first floor corridors and basement

Literary Societies - center of buildings, basement if available

McCain Library - basement, away from the book stacks

McQuiston Dormitory - first floor corridors away from glass and the basement

Memorial Hall - basement level

Moffatt Dining Hall - main dining area, private dining area well away from glass

President’s Home - basement

Pressly Dormitory - basement and interior hallways on first floor

Reid Science Hall - basement

Resident Homes - center hallway away from windows and glass doors

Watkins Student Center/Snapper’s - basement

Younts Infirmary - interior corridors away from windows - basement area

** Note: All Carnegie and Robinson residents are to evacuate to the Bonner basement during any tornado warnings.

Insurance
The College will not be responsible for any personal property of the students, nor does it carry insurance for that purpose. Please reference your homeowner's/rental insurance policy for information regarding coverage available for property away from the main residence.

Lost Key or Key Fob
If you lose you key or access fob, please notify the Office of Student Services immediately. The fob will need to be deactivated to assure security of campus buildings. Replacement keys cost $28 and replacement fobs are $10.

Meetings
Attendance may be required at residence hall or floor meetings. Failure to attend a mandatory residence hall is a violation of the Code of Conduct.

Smoking
No smoking is allowed in any building on the Erskine College campus, including, but not limited to, residence halls. This rule forbids smoking in residence hall hallways and personal rooms as well. Students are expected to only smoke outside and away from main entrance and exit doors.

Visitation
Except during visiting hours, students are not permitted in residence halls housing members of the opposite sex. Students of the opposite sex are permitted to visit rooms (during visitation hours) if the student whose room they are visiting signs them into the residence hall. Visitation may occur 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Students are permitted to assist members of the opposite sex in moving belongings in or out of residence halls during non-visitation hours provided a resident director is contacted for permission. Students should announce that a member of the opposite sex is on the hall. All persons of the opposite sex must enter and exit the residence halls through the front door only. If a member of the opposite sex is helping the resident to move belongings, they may enter and exit through the other doors at the discretion of the RD. During fire drills, the front door policy is not in effect. Each student is responsible for the conduct of their guest or guests. The RD or SLA may require a guest to leave at any time.

What to Bring

Please realize this is only a suggested list of needs.

Here are a few helpful hints for move-in day:

Keep computer boxes for transporting computers to and from school.
Consider having a bank account in your hometown and at school for emergency money needs.
Keep Permission and Doctors Information Sheet in case of emergencies.
You should only use easily-removable adhesive (e.g. 3M) for wall decorations. Nails or tape should not be used. Students will be responsible for any paint damage on walls.
Students are not allowed to paint their residence hall rooms.
Telephone Service is not provided in residence hall rooms. If students wish to have phone service in their rooms, they should contact West Carolina Telephone at 864-446-2111.

Class Supplies

Paper Clips
Magic Markers
Highlighters
Composition Notebooks
Stapler, Staples, Stapler Remover
Calendar/Daily Planner
Hole punch
White Out/Correction Tape
Ruler
Envelopes
Stamps
Wrapping Paper (for gifts)
Desk Organizer
Home Town Address Book
Poster Paper
Plastic Paper Protectors
Tape
Pencils & Pens
Index Cards
Folders
Glue
Dictionary/Thesaurus
Pencil Sharpener
Subject Dividers
Desk Lamp and Bulbs
Calculator
Rubber Bands
Scissors
Stationary
Computer
Printer
Surge Protector (Small gauge extension cords should not be used.)
CDs or Flash Drives
Ink Cartridges
Installation Drivers
(included in computer purchase)

Laundry Supplies
(Laundry is free at Erskine.)

Detergent
Bleach
Spot Remover
Spray Starch
Lysol Spray
Laundry Basket
Iron

Financial Items

Small File Box
Birth Certificate
Insurance Cards (Automobile & Health)
Quarters for Drink/Snack Machines
Social Security Card
Safety Box with keys

Checks and/or Debit Card

Residence Hall Items

Clock/Radio
Stereo, speakers, headphones
TV with DVD Player
Movies
Refrigerator
Power Strip/Surge Protector
Small Vacuum
Microwave
Under the Bed Boxes
Bedspread/Comforter
Pillows/Pillow Cases
Blankets
Sheets (2 sets – extra long)
Towels and Washcloths
Towel Rack (over the door hanger)
Plastic Crates
Clothes Hangers
Nightlight

Food and Kitchen Supplies

Plates and Bowls
Snacks
Dish Detergent
Trash Bags
Juices
Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate
Bottled Water
Glasses and Mugs
Paper Products
(plates, napkins, paper towels)
Pitcher and Plastic Containers
Utensils
Can Opener
Microwaveable Meals
Instant Soup Mixes or Canned Soup
Water Bottle

First Aid Supplies

Cold Medicine
Cough Medicine
Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin
Allergy Medicine
Aloe/Sunscreen

Band-Aids
Thermometer
Chapstick
Peroxide/Rubbing Alcohol
Cotton Balls
Q-Tips
First Aid Kit
Neosporin

Toiletries

Shampoo and Conditioner
Feminine Products
Prescriptions for Glasses and Contacts
Razors and Shaving Cream
Hair Dryer
Hair Accessories
Combs/Brushes
Tweezers
Polish Remover and Nail Polish
Toothpaste/Toothbrush
Curling Iron
Flip Flops/Shower Shoes
Soap
Contact Lens and Solution
Lotions and Creams
Deodorant
Cosmetics
Nail Clippers/Emory Boards
Plastic Caddy for Bath Items
Dental Floss
Mouthwash

Do Not Bring

Weapons, firearms, bb guns, slingshots, airsoft guns, dart boards,
Knives with blades longer than three inches,
Fireworks
Candles, incense, potpourri burners
Appliances with exposed heating coils (space heaters)
George Foreman grills, toasters and toaster ovens, hot plates
Halogen Lamps
Pets
Alcohol/Drug paraphernalia