Since Milligan is a residential college, the Residence Halls and other campus housing options are the main source for community life and social involvement. The Residence Hall staff works hard to maintain and promote all areas of student development within the residence halls. Each Residence Hall has a Resident Director (RD) and Resident Assistants (RA) on staff to help residents with academic, housing, and personal problems, and to handle all emergency situations relating to life in the Residence Hall. To assist their efforts and to promote a thriving living environment, it is important for all residents to agree to live within certain guidelines. Each student is responsible for reading and being familiar with all college regulations, including those in the Milligan College Student Handbook and the College Catalog. Included below are several items that are often the topic of frequently asked questions about the Residence Halls. More information will be provided at check-in and registration.

Electrical Appliances. The electrical service in the rooms will allow for small appliances, such as hair dryers, electric razors, computers, stereos, TVs, and radios. Room air conditioners are not permitted without express permission from a physician and the Dean of Students. You are permitted to have a small dorm-sized refrigerator (max. 2 cu. ft.) and small microwave oven (700 watts maximum) in your room, with a limit of one each per room. No indoor grills, hot plates, toasters, or open coil heating units.

Keys. The Residence Halls are locked from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Your room key will open the doors of your residence hall. Keys will be issued at the completion of check-in and must be returned at time of room check-out in the spring. Room keys may not be duplicated or given to other students.

Laundry. Laundry facilities are located on the lower levels of Hart, Sutton, Webb, and Williams. All washers and dryers use special debit cards that may be purchased from the campus Bookstore. Value may be added to the cards at anytime using the Wash Card machine in Sutton and Webb lobbies. If a machine malfunctions, put an out-of-order sign on it and notify the Business Office of the machine location and nature of problem.

Room Personalization Guidelines. The college will furnish each room/apartment with an appropriate number of single beds, mattresses, desks, dressers, chairs, and closets. Students must provide their own sheets, towels, and other furnishings. Do not bring a loft. All residence halls have beds that can be stacked into bunk beds if desired. (Pegs to secure the beds may be obtained from your RA.) Within certain guidelines, you are encouraged to make your room a comfortable living environment. You may bring plants, posters, chairs, small tables, etc.

Storage. Residents may utilize the limited residence hall storage rooms during the academic year and summer on a space-available basis in designated areas only. Students placing items in storage at the college do so at their own risk. Non-college furniture may not be stored on campus. Furniture or carpets may not be stored on campus.

Trash. All residents are responsible for the cleanliness of their own room and bathroom. All trash must be taken out regularly and deposited in a college trash dumpster - never leave trash in the hall. Scheduled room inspections are held monthly by the Residence Hall Staff to ensure proper health and safety standards are being maintained throughout the residence halls. Unscheduled room inspections are held as directed by the Residence Life Staff. A minimum of one unannounced inspection will be held each semester.

New student room requests arrive throughout the school year and are handled on a first come, first serve basis. Upperclassmen have the choice of rooms for the next year, so no assignments are made for new students before the end of the preceding semester. If your request comes in early enough, you will be notified as to which residence hall you have been assigned by the first week in July. However, due to last minute changes in students' plans, you may not be informed of your specific roommate until arriving on campus. If you have requested to room with a certain student, every effort will be made to honor that request, and that request will take priority over residence hall choice. In other words, if you wish to live with an acquaintance and there are no double rooms available in the residence hall you prefer, we will place you both in another hall if there is a double room available there.

Below is a listing of items you may need in your room. Please be aware that you may not remove any furniture from your assigned room. Please only bring items that will fit into your room. Rooms in Hart and Webb measure 11x17, and in Sutton Hall rooms are 10x17.

1. Linens for bed and bathroom. Beds are standard length.
2. Bedding: two blankets should be enough, depending upon your own personal need
3. Bedspreads: you may want to plan your bedspreads with your roommate once here.
4. Window curtains and bathroom curtains will need to be provided. You may want to wait and plan these with your roommate and suitemates once you are here.
   
   Hart Hall windows : room 53”H x 41”W & bathroom 45”H x 32”W
   Sutton Hall windows : room 60”W x 43 1/2”W & bathroom 42”H x 36”W
   Webb Hall windows : room 55”H x 40”W & bathroom 43”H x 30”W
5. Study lamp – each student has a desk with a top that measures approximately 3'4”W x 2'5”D with 3 shelves and 1 drawer.
6. Wastebasket
7. Cotton scatter rugs, room area carpet is permitted but may not be permanently installed.
8. Luggage storage is limited, so do not plan to have excessive luggage. We suggest that you have only your seasonal clothing with you and when spring comes send your winter things home.
9. A drying rack for clothes for each room is helpful. Laundry facilities are located in each residence hall. Ironing may be completed in the laundry area.
10. Personal bathroom products and cleaning supplies
11. Dust mop, dust cloth, broom, dustpan, and a mop for each room.
12. Raincoat, umbrella, (unpredictable weather)
13. Other small items may need to be purchased after your arrival, e.g. extension cords, pictures, etc.
14. Window or room fan. Hart Hall is air conditioned.
15. Refrigerator (2 cu.ft.) 1 per room; microwave ovens (700 watt maximum) 1 per room. These must be connected to a power strip with a self-contained circuit breaker. Indoor/Outdoor grills, hot plates and toasters are NOT permitted.
16. Telephone
17. Do not bring a loft. Beds in the dorms are of a newer construction and may be configured as twin beds or bunk beds.

To learn more about our residence halls, go to www.milligan.edu/students/dorms.htm.

After a significant number of years seeing college students come and go (some with a diploma, some scratching their heads), we have compiled a list of suggestions that, if heeded, may help you avoid an early exit.

• Pack light! All of the big radios, televisions, DVD players, VCRs, your favorite recliner, and that solid oak bedroom suite are unnecessary. Each dorm has a television with cable in the lobby. If you are forced to journey to the lobby to watch the television, it may cut down on your viewing and increase your time spent studying. If you need a moving truck to get here, you have too much!

• Bring an umbrella! If you are coming from a state where it seldom rains, you will discover quickly that walking to class in the rain is not a pleasant experience. You rapidly can become a casualty of wet papers, dripping clothes, bad hair and a squeaky walk. A trip to the store and $10 can rescue you from this soggy experience.

• Be prepared to study! Start good habits early. Again, EARLY! With all the transitions necessary to come to college, your first year of classes can be a REAL challenge. The suggested study time is two hours for every credit hour you are in class. It works!

• Don't panic! The transition to college takes time. You may get a couple of poor test scores at the beginning and you may not make close friends in your first week. People adjust to college at different rates. If you're struggling in a class, find a tutor! If you're feeling lonely, join an activity until you find one that fits! And never hesitate to seek out a professor or member of the Residence Life Staff to talk.

• Make a budget! Unless you prepare a weekly budget, it is possible to spend all the money you saved for the school year in the first semester. Write your budget down and keep track of what you spend each week to ensure that you do not spend over your limit. Learn to say “no” to eating out too much, movies, or whatever. There are plenty of things to do on campus that are absolutely free or that are relatively inexpensive. We recommend that you do not apply for a credit card until your senior year, if then. Many credit card companies will offer pre-approved status and no annual fee for the first year. The temptation of having something to buy things with and not having to pay for them until the next month can be great. Don't fall into the trap! Students graduating with a $1000+ credit card balance pay dearly for it.

• Get involved! A recent Fortune magazine article stated that companies are looking for students who are well-rounded and are campus leaders. They specifically mentioned students with a liberal arts education. You have made the right choice of school; now it is time to take full advantage of what a liberal arts education has to offer. Student Government Association (SGA) offers a myriad of socialization and leadership opportunities. Too many students go through college without meeting new friends, without becoming a member of a social or service organization, and without an appreciation for their alma mater. Budget your time to include social events, church involvement, Bible studies, and physical exercise.

• Take pride in your school! Plan to see a few games while on campus. Soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and tennis are all on campus and are free. Your classmates appreciate your support. Milligan athletics are competitive and offer some exciting moments. They also offer you a time to see faculty and staff members in a more casual setting, cheering right along with you!

• Ask questions! When you need help, if you are getting behind in your studies, if you do not understand something going on in the dorm, ask someone about it. There is no such thing as a bad question. Do not draw your own conclusions until you know the facts.

• If you want to get good grades, hang around people who get good grades. If you want to get involved, hang around people who are involved.

• It is o.k. if you do not have a car! Some students survive four years without one. Cars are expensive to maintain and can quickly diminish your cash flow. Not having one forces you to meet other people by finding rides home for break, to church, the mall, etc.

• Phone home! Call home once in a while and keep the family informed about what is going on in your life. They want to know about grades, special friends, when you are coming home, how the food is, and if you have run into your neighbor's second cousin who used to come and visit every other summer and throw rocks at you. Buy a phone card to help budget your calling time.

• Video Games! Video games and the like can be addictive. These games can result in hours of wasted time which could be so productive if channeled to the right places. There is plenty to do even if you are not studying.

• Use coupons! Over the next few weeks practice cutting coupons out of the Sunday paper for things you will need at college such as toothpaste, laundry detergent and deodorant. Fifty cents here and there is a considerable savings over the course of a year.

• Go hiking, not shopping! The Appalachian region, of which Milligan is a part, is one of the most magnificent areas of the country. Don't waste it spending time at the mall. Get out and see what else there is to enjoy.