South Carolina State University

July 14, 2008



Dear Returning Undergraduate Students,

Residence Life and Housing (RL&H) is thrilled about your return to campus. As you may well realize at this point many policies and standards have been modified to increase effectiveness so that the University as a whole can better serve you. With this new state of mind, your total cooperation is also necessary because you are the most integral part of our community! Residence Life and Housing will provide priority service to students who have complied with the entire housing process.

We do realize that there are some students who at certain key points of the process did not complete the process in its entirety. For this very reason, it is crucial that students attend to their responsibilities well in advance of all published deadlines to avoid errors and have the opportunity to ask staff questions and get assistance as necessary. University deadlines that are not classroom related are just as important as class assignment due dates and times and operate along the same manner. Although your instructor may give you an assignment and tell you that it is due in two days or the next class meeting, you should not take your two days for granted. You should immediately begin your assignment and complete it prior to the due date and ending time. Henceforth, if you have any questions, need troubleshooting and clarity, or need to redo your assignment you have provided yourself ample time. Residence Life and Housing, like all other university departments such as Financial Aid, Accounts Receivable & Cashiers, Brooks Health Center, and Student Success and Retention to name a few, provide external classroom learning. Poor time management and irresponsibility in these areas will result in your failure to advance as necessary through the outlined process just like unsuccessfully performing on a test or in a class to advance in your curriculum.

In the coming days, RL&H will post a notice of available spaces on the Residence Life and Housing Website. Due to an outstanding response during the confirmation process by those students who completed the selection process, we DO NOT anticipate many vacancies. However, should vacancies become available on campus; priority will be given to rising sophomores who have made ALL financial arrangements with Accounts Receivable then juniors and seniors in Extended Campus who have complied with the process thus far. Students who have completed the Room Selection process and received and confirmed their assignments will not be affected by aforementioned information. To receive a quick and thorough response to commonly asked questions, please check the website. It may also save hold-time due to high call volume. Furthermore, the RL&H call representative provides information that is standard and consistent with the information on the website.

We understand that many times instant results are wanted, however Housing is not an instant process and for this very reason we communicate all information in a timely manner and are only able to best assist those who comply. It is important that it is understood that Housing on no campus is a process based ultimately on seniority, preference, or desire-the process is based upon need of the overall picture. There will be certain times when the process will seem to totally accommodate your preferences and there may be other times when the process will not accommodate your wants. With this in mind, in future academic terms it is necessary that you consider all viable living arrangements.

Below we have included a few pieces of important information. For a comprehensive overview of new and revised policies, procedures, and standards please go to the RL&H website http://www.scsu.edu/studentaffairs/residencelifeandhousing.aspx. 

July 31st, 5pm

* Last day to transact all financial arrangements and obligations with Accounts Receivable & Cashier Offices

Immunization

* All immunization records must be updated prior to check-in
* If you have submitted this information to Brooks Health Center prior to the Fall 2008 school term (ex: during freshman year enrollment), then you should not be affected by this.

Registration Information (see Registrar’s Office for more information)

· August 1, 2008-Late Registration ($100 fee)

· August 3-19-Validation of Official Enrollment-Bulldog Connection (Only students w/ zero balance)

Check-In

* Upperclassmen Check-In/Move-In Days are August 17th –August 19th
* Check-In time will be done by a staggered process this year
* Please see the website for your specific check-in time
* Failure to arrive during your scheduled check-in time may result in your inability to check-in in a smooth and expeditious manner
* Failure to check-in by August 19th 9pm will result in cancellation of room assignment and fall room rate charges will not be refunded

Welcome Back/Fall 2008 Kick-Off Meeting

* All upperclassmen must attend (in your respective residence hall) to be considered fully checked-in, avoid assessment, and possible assignment cancellation
* The time and location will be announced

Roommate/Suitemate Information

* Coming via email late July/early August
* Several factors such as failure to meet financial obligations and other institutional policies may alter this information
* Also, if you completed the “email my roommate/suitemate” section during room selection process, this may be a quicker avenue

Room Changes

* There will be no room changes until Open Room Change period pending availabilities.

Numbers you need to know…

Housing- (803)536-8560/(803)533-3675/(803)516-4928

Financial Aid-(803)536-7042/(803) 536-7067

Brooks Heath Center-(803)536-7055

Registrar’s Office-(803)516-4518

Campus Police-(803)536-7188/(803)516-4111

Accounts Receivable-(803)536-8534/(803)536-8991

Cashier’s Office-(803)536-6885 / (803)536-8529

Student Success and Retention – (803)536-7142