Frequently Asked Questions


Table of Contents
  1. Which halls have air conditioning?
  2. What size are the mattresses?
  3. Which halls have bunkable beds?
  4. Are lofts allowed?
  5. Can I bring a computer?
  6. What should I bring?
  7. Is there cable in the residence hall rooms?
  8. Which buildings have elevators?
  9. Are there smoke detectors in the rooms?
  10. What are the dimensions of the rooms?
  11. What size refrigerators are allowed?
  12. How much does it cost to wash and dry clothes in the residence hall machines?
  13. Are coffeepots, hot plates, toasters, and microwaves allowed in the rooms?
  14. Do I need to bring my own telephone and answering machine?
  15. How do I make long distance telephone calls?
  16. Are vacuum cleaners available?
  17. Are the rooms carpeted?
  18. What color are the rooms?
  19. Can I park my car on campus?
  20. How can I get a single room?
  21. Are bathrooms cleaned daily?
  22. Can I bring my own furniture?
  23. What residence halls are co-ed?
  24. What are the visitation hours for persons of opposite sex?
  25. When will I get my hall and room assignment?
  26. When do I find out who my roommate is?
  27. Is housing available during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break?
  28. Is housing available in the summer?
  29. Where can I get the rest of my questions answered?

Which halls have air conditioning?

All of our halls have air conditioning. Students can control the room temperature by using the individual controls in their room.

What size are the mattresses?

All mattresses are twin size, regular lengths.

Which halls have bunkable beds?

All of our residence hall rooms are equipped with beds that can be bunked.

Are lofts allowed?

Some students may want to construct loft beds. There is no storage space for bed frames of any other furniture so all lofts must incorporate the bed frame. The Area Coordinator must inspect all lofts within 24 hours of construction.

Can I bring a computer?

Yes. Students can bring computers for their rooms and access the campus computer network system providing they have an ethernet card.

What should I bring?

When students pack for their first trip to Columbia, they should remember that there will be a break at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and in the spring.  As a result, there is no need to bring a year's supply of clothing.  Students should consider bringing the following:

Is there cable in the residence hall rooms?

Yes. Limited cable service is available in all rooms at no extra charge to the students.

Which buildings have elevators?

None. All of our buildings have three floors. The first floor of Banks and the main floor of Miller are accessible for students with disabilities.

Are there smoke detectors in the rooms?

Yes.

What are the dimensions of the rooms?

The rooms in Banks are approximately 13' x 15'. The rooms in Hughes are approximately 13' x 15'. The rooms in Miller are approximately 12' x 14'.

What size refrigerators are allowed?

Refrigerators 4.6 cubic feet and smaller are permitted in the residence halls.

How much does it cost to wash and dry clothes in the residence halls?

It cost 75 cents per load to wash and 75 cents per load to dry.

Are coffeepots, hot plates, toasters, and microwaves allowed in the rooms?

No. Residential Life allows no open-flame appliances in the halls. Microwaves are not allowed in the rooms due to the electrical strain. However, there are microwaves available in each residence hall for the students' use. There are also kitchen facilities available.

Do I need to bring my own telephone and answering machine?

No. The College provides two telephones in each residence hall room. The telephones are equipped with voicemail.

How do I make long distance telephone calls?

Students may contact Technology Services to request a FAC (telephone access code) which enables him/her to place long distance calls from his/her room telephone.

Are vacuum cleaners available?

Yes. Vacuum cleaners can be checked out from the RA on duty.

Are the rooms carpeted?

No. If students want carpeting, they will need to purchase their own area rugs.

What color are the rooms?

All of the rooms are white.

Can I park my car on campus?

In order to park on campus, students must purchase a parking permit from the Security Office for $25. The permit is good for one year.

How can I get a single room?

No single rooms are granted until the second week of classes. Singles are granted on a space available basis and are issued based on seniority (credit hours completed). It costs $500 additional per semester for a single room. Requests for single rooms should be submitted to the Area Coordinators.

Are bathrooms cleaned daily?

The community bathrooms in Banks Hall are cleaned daily, Monday through Friday. The suite-style bathrooms in Hughes and Miller Halls are cleaned once per week.

Can I bring my own furniture?

College issue furniture must remain in the room at all times. The College furniture cannot be removed because there is no storage space. Students can bring their own furniture, but it must fit in the room with the College issued furniture.

What residence halls are co-ed?

Banks and Miller Halls are co-ed, while Hughes Hall is all female.

What are the visitation hours for persons of the opposite sex?

Columbia College residence halls have an open visitation policy, meaning guests can visit 24 hours a day, with the consent of the roommate.

When will I get my hall and room assignment?

No hall/room assignments can be made until a student submits a signed housing contract to the Residential Life Office. Students are notified of their hall/room assignment for the fall semester by July 25.

When do I find out who my roommate is?

At the time at which you are notified of your hall and room assignment, Residential Life also notifies you of your roommate. You are provided your roommate's home telephone number so that you can make contact with him/her.

Is housing available during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break?

Yes, however it does cost extra. A student needing housing over break periods must sign-up for such housing in the Campus Life Office one week prior to the respective break period. The cost is approximately $15.00 per night and is charged to the student's student account.

Is housing available in the summer?

Yes, providing the student is enrolled in summer classes at Columbia College. Rates are announced in April for the following summer period.

Where can I get the rest of my questions answered?

You can call the Residential Life Office at (573) 875-7450 or the Campus Life Office at (573) 875-7400 to get any of your questions answered.