The Office of Residence Life has compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions by both students and parents. If you are unable to find the answer to your question(s) please feel free to email the Office of Residence Life at reslife@montclair.edu and one of the staff members will answer your question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is campus housing available for freshmen?
Housing for new first time freshmen enrolling for the academic year is guaranteed for those who meet the below criteria:
- Have been fully accepted to the University
- Submit all enrollment confirmation forms and fees by May 1
- Submit a $300.00 non-refundable housing application fee by May 1
- Complete the online housing application no later than our department’s designated dates.
All items are required in order for your housing application to be considered complete. Please note that our housing process is done completely online and there is no paper application to complete or submit; a student must go online and complete the process as noted above. For those who do not meet the above criteria, including students who may be accepted to the University after these dates, every effort will be made to accommodate students in this category as space becomes available.
Is campus housing available for transfer students?
Housing for new first time transfers enrolling for the academic year is guaranteed for those who meet the below criteria:
- Have been fully accepted to the University
- Submit all enrollment confirmation forms and fees by May 1
- Submit a $300.00 non-refundable housing application fee by May 1
- Complete the online housing application no later than our department’s designated dates.
All items are required in order for your housing application to be considered complete. Please note that our housing process is done completely online and there is no paper application to complete or submit; a student must go online and complete the process as noted above. For those who do not meet the above criteria, including students who may be accepted to the University after these dates, every effort will be made to accommodate students in this category as space becomes available.
Can I stay inside my room during the holiday breaks?
All of our residence halls remain open during breaks. Students may be required to notify us that they will be using the space via RMS. If needed, students will be notified to indicate they are staying.
Do students have to remove all their belongings from their rooms during breaks?
At the end of the fall semester (December), students are required to leave the residence halls, but do not need to remove their belongings. If you are not returning to the residence hall in the spring semester, you must remove all belongings prior to the break. However, students are encouraged to take an expensive property home with them. Clothes and other belongings can be left at the student’s own risk.
Is the Campus Safe?
The University provides a safe environment for community members. Police Officers patrol the campus parking facilities, academic and residential buildings 24 hours/7 days a week. In addition, there are 150 blue light emergency phones on campus which put callers in direct contact with University Police. Interested community members should refer to crime statistics posted on the Montclair State University website for crimes affecting this community. Community members are encouraged to use the Rave Guardian feature which is a service provided to you by Montclair State University. It is to help improve your safety and peace of mind on and off-campus. To use Guardian, you must first fill out your Guardian profile in the RAVE application. Use the Guardian Timer whenever you’re out alone, in an unfamiliar area or would like Campus Police to check on you if you cannot deactivate your timer. You can also sign up to get text Alert messages on your mobile phone and can use RAVE E-TIPS to text a message to the campus police.
Are there any employment opportunities in the residence halls?
If you are interested in working in the residence halls, please review our webpage on student employment.
Who can I ask for help in the residence halls?
Our Office of Residence Life staff is available to provide assistance and leadership in the residence halls. In our larger buildings, there is both a Community Director and an Assistant Community Director. In our smaller buildings, a Community Director will be present. Community Directors are full-time staff members, while Assistant Community Directors are specially trained graduate students. Community Directors and/or Assistant Community Directors are on duty in each residence hall area during evening and weekend hours. In addition, there is one live-in Resident Assistant for every wing/floor. Resident Assistants are trained undergraduate students who are carefully selected and will provide you with assistance during your time at Montclair State University.
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What if I lose my keys/ID?
If you lose your keys you must report it to your Community Director immediately. You must also meet with your Community Director to fill out the proper paperwork to request new keys and a lock change. There is a fee associated with losing your keys, no matter the circumstance.
Can I have overnight guests?
Yes. As long as you follow the guest policy and have your roommate(s) consent.
Can my brother, age 4, come and visit me at my room?
Yes. Minors under the age of 16 are allowed to visit in the residence halls if accompanied by their legal parent/guardian at all times or approved by the Office of Residence Life prior to their visit. Guests must be 16 or older to be registered independently or to stay overnight. Before inviting any guests into the building, residents should make sure their roommates agree to the visitation.
What about meal plans?
All students residing in Bohn, Freemen, Russ, Sinatra Hall and The Heights are required to have one of the traditional or Unlimited meal plans. For information about the various plans, please visit Dining Services. Residence hall dining facilities are located in The Heights and Freeman Hall. Your meal plan may be used at the Student Center food court and the Rathskeller through the Cash Equivalency Program. Any student who requests a change in the meal plan must submit a “Change of Meal Plan” form to the Meal Plan Office located on the 1st floor of the Student Center or visit the Dining Services website to submit an on-line form.
Can first-year students bring their cars to campus?
Parking can be very challenging on a campus our size so to assist those who do not live on campus with parking, resident students with less than 30 credits are not permitted to register a car on campus. Montclair State offers an extensive shuttle service to assist students to get around.
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How do I report repairs needed in my room?
Find more information about submitting service requests.
May students choose where they want to live? Can they choose their roommates?
Returning resident students participate in the housing selection process during the Spring semester for the following academic year. New incoming students also complete a housing selection process in June.
What happens if I don’t like my roommate?
A major component of your daily living experience centers around your interaction with your roommate(s). We encourage you to discuss your likes and dislikes in order to set ground rules and reasonable expectations. Your Resident Assistant is a great source of mediation for any problems that may arise. We also encourage you to contact the Mediation Resource Center.
How long are the beds? What kind of sheets will I need?
All of the beds are 80″ long twin size. You will need extra-long twin sheets, which are available at retail stores.
Can I connect my computer to the Montclair State University network?
A computer network connection is available in all residence hall rooms and University apartments, providing 24-hour access to services such as the Internet, Montclair State library and mainframe. You may also contact our Information Technology Helpline at 973-655-7971.
Who’s going to do my laundry?
You are! For your convenience, washing machines and dryers are located in every residence hall. Laundry machines are available to residence hall students, free-of-charge.
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How often are the rooms cleaned?
Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms. Housekeeping staff are responsible for cleaning public areas such as the hallways, lounges, public restrooms, and community bathrooms.
Are students allowed to smoke in the residence halls?
As of the Summer 2005, all residential facilities are non-smoking. Smoking is not permitted in public areas, stairwells, and elevators. This includes the use of e-cigarettes.
For more information on Montclair’s Tobacco Policy, please see our Tobacco Free Policy webpage.
Are there special events for residents during the weekend?
Staff and campus groups host fun events and programs all the time. Please check your e-mail for more information.
Is it fun to live inside the residence halls?
Absolutely! You will make many friendships that will last a lifetime.
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What items should a new student bring?
Each room within the residence hall is furnished with the basic furniture (bed, desk, and dresser/wardrobe). Students are responsible for their own personal items and will need to bring sheets, pillow, pillowcase, blankets, towels, etc. Other amenities such as a television, computer (if desired) are permitted. Small refrigerators up to 3.5 cubic feet and small microwave ovens of approximately 700 watts are allowed in the rooms. Refrigerators can be rented from Microfridge or 1-800-525-7307. Many of our residents also bring an area rug to give the room a personal touch. We encourage each resident to contact their assigned roommate(s) to work out who will bring what to prevent duplication and save space in the room.
What items am I not allowed to bring to my room?
Fire hazards, prohibited items such as weapons, halogen lamps, candles, any appliances with an open coil. Please refer to our list of What To Bring and What Not To Bring.
Can I have a pet?
Only fish in a 5-gallon tank or less are permitted. Service/support animals are allowed after the student has been approved by the Disability Resource Center.
What is the mailing address for my hall and how can I receive a care package from home?
Packages can be shipped through the U.S. Postal Service or commercial delivery service.
Packages and letters should be addressed using the following format:
Your Name
Residence Hall Name and Room Number
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07043
If you live in Hawk Crossings your packages and letters should be addressed using this format:
Your Name
65 Clove Road
Your Apartment Number
Little Falls, NJ 07424
Can I tour my room before moving in?
In order to maintain the security of our halls, we cannot grant access to the halls prior to move-in. Under the Residence Halls section of our website, you can view a typical set up in each hall. If you are trying to plan out what to bring, we post a list of recommended and prohibited items prior to move-in.
What is the difference between an Unlimited meal plan and a Block meal plan?
The Unlimited meal plan will grant you unlimited access into our Residential Dining Halls, located in the Machuga Heights and Freeman Hall. The Block plan has a finite number of blocks, and one block will grant you access one time to the dining halls. Block plans can also be used as cash equivalency in some of the retail dining locations, including the Student Center Cafeteria and the Rathskeller. Please consult with Dining Services to determine the cash equivalency value for one block.
I’ve heard of FERPA, what does that mean in terms of housing?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that says we cannot share any of your records with anyone other than you. This includes information about where you are living, who your roommates are, which meal plan you have, any charges on your account, or any other information about you. The only exceptions to this law is if the student is under the age of 18, or the person in question can prove to us that they claim you as a dependent on their taxes. You are allowed to waive your right to this law by completing a FERPA waiver in our office. More information about FERPA can be found here.
What type of rooms and buildings am I eligible to live in?
A full list of our buildings and room types can be found here. We will let students enter preferences of housing. Please note, your preferred building or room type may not be available, so we always recommend having a few different ideas of spaces you would be comfortable with! You can enter up to five (5) different preferences.
How do I log into your system? Is it the same place I pay my bill?
The Office of Residence Life uses the Residential Management System (RMS) to conduct housing assignments. This is different from NEST, which is where you can register for classes, pay your bill, etc. You can log into RMS with your NETID and password.
What are the current rates for housing on campus?
All of our rates are posted here! The rates are associated with the building and room type. Students are charged accordingly for the type of housing they select during the housing selection process.
What are meal plan options and how can I select one?
After you are placed into housing, you will receive a Housing Confirmation Notice. You will be directed to Dine on Campus, which is where you can register for a meal plan. All students in traditional style housing are required to purchase a meal plan. Students in apartment-type housing (Hawk Crossings and The Village) have the option to select a meal plan. For more information on meal plans, visit the Meal Plan website.
What if I decide I don’t want to live on campus? Can I cancel housing?
After you are placed into housing, you will receive your Housing Confirmation Notice. This notice will explain that you have five (5) business days from the receipt of that letter to cancel housing, no questions asked. Outside of that five (5) business day period, you will need to submit a cancellation request. Requests are NOT guaranteed. For more information on our cancellation policy, see here!
What can I bring to my residence hall?
We have an extensive list of items that you can and cannot bring with you to campus. See that list here!