1.      How are housing assignments made?

First-time freshman students live together in the residence hall. Women live in North Hall and men live in Memorial and Hicks Halls. Upperclassman transfer students will be placed with other upperclassman students in other residence halls. Beginning in June you will have the opportunity to have a hand in choosing your own roommate. To do this, you will need to sign in to myGCC (https://my.gcc.edu), join the “New Students-Fall 2009” Group, and click on “Roommate Finder” on the left-hand side of the page. Please note that roommate requests must be mutual in order to be assigned. If you prefer to have the College match you with a roommate, please follow these instructions and complete the Lifestyle Preferences portion of the Roommate Finder tool. This information will be used to find the most compatible roommate for you. Grove City College does its best to accommodate housing requests but cannot guarantee them.

 

2.      How and when will I find out who my roommate(s) will be?

You should complete Roommate Finder information and begin corresponding with potential roommates at the beginning of June. The final deadline for submitting roommate requests is Friday, July 10. Housing assignments will begin to be distributed in mid-July via your Grove City College email account. These assignments are subject to change through the beginning of the school year because of student attrition.

 

3.   I am having trouble locating "Roommate Finder" on myGCC. Where is it?

Log into myGCC. On the main page, on the left-hand side about half-way down the screen, you should see "Quick Links" in white letters on a red background.  Under this you should see "My Groups".  Click on this. Click on "New Students - Fall 2009". On the left-hand side of the group main page, about 3-4 inches from the top of the screen, you should see a link to "Roommate Finder".

 

4.      Is it possible that I will have more than one roommate?

Yes, it is. Grove City College freshman housing includes double rooms, triple rooms, and even a few quad rooms. Unless a student requests more than one roommate, rooms are assigned according to random numbers generated by computer for each student. Single rooms are usually reserved for students with documented medical or special housing needs. In order to keep housing costs as low as possible for all of our students, there is no difference in housing costs for different types of rooms. 

 

5.      May I room with a friend or someone I know?

Yes, you may, but keep in mind that freshman students must room with other freshmen, except in extenuating circumstances. These roommate requests must be made in writing or through the Roommate Finder on myGCC, and must be mutual.

 

6.      What happens if my roommate and I don’t get along?

As a Christian college, GCC believes that learning to live in peace with others is both an important life skill and important in learning to follow Christ. When a roommate conflict arises, students should first attempt to reconcile the issue in an open, honest, and caring manner. Often simply communicating directly about an issue will lead to resolution of a problem. If the students themselves are not able to resolve the conflict, they should involve the Resident Assistant and/or the Resident Director to mediate the situation. There should be an honest attempt on the part of the students to meet the conditions of the compromise, should one be attained. If the situation is still not able to be resolved, with the support of the Resident Director, the students may petition the Student Life and Learning Office for a housing change at the semester break. Only in extreme situations will housing changes be considered during a semester.

 

7.      May I live off campus?

Grove City College is a residential college.  The College’s residence halls are meant to foster social unity and to enhance the total learning environment and experience. Therefore, all students, except commuter students who reside with their families, are required to room and board in College residence halls. Commuter students at Grove City College are full-time students who live with their parents, legal guardians or spouses, normally within a 35-mile radius of campus. Permission from the College must be granted for students desiring to live with relatives other than parents or legal guardians. Veterans and those returning to college from the working world may qualify for approved commuter status if there is a significant age difference between them and students in their class living on campus. Normally, students who would be twenty-five years of age during their senior year would be considered in this category. Certain students, for medically documented reasons, may be considered for commuter status. When living space on campus is limited, students attending beyond their fourth year may need to live off campus in the community of Grove City. All off-campus housing for full-time students must be authorized by the College. The College does not provide housing for part-time, post-baccalaureate, or special status students.

 

8.      What furniture is supplied for me?

Each student is supplied with a bed, a desk, a desk chair, a dresser, and a closet. Each room also has at least one mirror. 

 

9.      How do I know the dimensions of my room?

The email you will receive in July with your room and roommate information will also include the dimensions of your room. These values are approximate.

 

10.      What size sheets should I buy?

If you are living in Memorial, Hicks, or any other men’s residence halls, you will need extra-long (80 inch) twin sheets. If you are living in Mary Ethel Pew Hall (MEP), you will need standard (75 inch) twin sheets. If you are living in Harker, West and South Halls, you will need extra-long (80 inch) twin sheets. If you are living in a double room in North Hall, you will need standard (75 inch) sheets. If you are living in a triple in North Hall, two of the beds (bunked) require extra-long (80 inch) sheets and one bed requires standard (75 inch) sheets. If you are living in a quad in North Hall, all beds are bunked and require extra-long (80 inch) sheets. If you will be living in a triple, we recommend corresponding with your roommates before arriving on campus to determine who will need to bring what type of sheets.

 

11. What items should I think about bringing?

·      Alarm Clock

·      Bedding—sheets, pillow, pillowcase, blanket (mattress pad provided)

·      Caddy to store/carry shower items

·      Desk lamp

·      Desk supplies

·      Fan

·      Hand soap

·      Hangers

·      Headphones

·      High-efficiency laundry detergent

·      Iron

·      Laundry basket/bag

·      Microwave

·      Power strip with a surge protector

·      Quarters for laundry

·      Refrigerator (less than 4.0 cubic feet)

·      Sewing kit

·      Swimsuit

·      Telephone

·      Towels and washcloths

·      Umbrella

·      Wastebasket

 

12. Is there anything I cannot bring?

The following items are not permitted in the residence halls and may be confiscated if found:

·        Additional curtains and draperies

·        Alcohol and illegal drugs and narcotics

·        Candles

·        Coffee pots with a hot plate

·        Cooking & hunting knives with blades longer than four inches

·        Empty alcoholic beverage containers and glassware commonly used to serve alcohol

·        Halogen lamps and multi-arm lamps with plastic shades

·        Heaters, air conditioners and ceiling fans

·        Incense/potpourri

·        Items/posters advertising alcohol

·        Live Christmas trees

·        Obscene or pornographic posters

·        Pets (other than fish)

·        Refrigerators larger than 4.0 cubic feet

·        Road signs without proof of purchase

·        Satellite dishes

·        Toasters, toaster ovens, and other cooking appliances (popcorn poppers and hot pots with heavy duty cords are permitted)

·        Weapons, including water balloon launchers and airsoft guns

 

13. Are my personal items insured?

Please check your parents’ homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to see if it covers your property while you are away at school. The College does not take responsibility for students’ personal belongings.

 

14. How much freedom do I have to decorate my room?

You may decorate your room any way you’d like, within the following guidelines:

·      Walls and ceilings may not be painted.

·      College-issued draperies may not be removed and additional curtains may not be hung.

·      Due to fire hazards, fabric may not be hung on the ceilings or walls or around the doorway.

·      Shelves may not be placed above the door or beds.

·      College furniture should not be marred in any way.

·      Only white mounting putty and Scotch 3M Command Adhesive may be used to attach things to walls.

·      Posters and other items must be in good taste without containing references to alcohol or obscenity.

 

15. Are there items I can rent on campus rather than purchasing myself?

Small refrigerators may be rented from Men’s Activity Board. Rugs may also be purchased from an external company. Information about these items is contained in your Orientation packet.

 

16. Are there kitchen facilities available? Irons? Vacuums?

There are kitchen facilities for student use in Ketler Rec and South Rec. If you plan to do much cooking or baking, you may want to bring some of your own supplies. A student should bring his or her own iron. Vacuums are provided in common areas for student use. 

 

17. May I bring an air conditioner?

Air conditioners are not permitted in the Residence Halls.

 

18. May I ship my belongings to the school?

Boxes may be shipped to your campus mail address and picked up in the mailroom in the Breen Student Union.

 

19. Where do I receive mail?

The mailroom is located in the Breen Student Union. Each student has his or her own mailbox and box number, which remains the same for all four years. Your mailbox number will be sent to you with your housing information via your campus email account. Your address will be:

          Your Name

          GCC # (your box number)

          200 Campus Drive      

          Grove City, PA 16127-2197

 

20. Where do I do my laundry?

Each residence hall has a laundry room in the building. The washers and dryers are front-load Maytag washers and high-efficiency dryers. The machines are coin-operated; a washer is $1.00 per load, and a dryer is $.75 per load. The washers require high-efficiency detergent. Regular laundry detergent creates too many suds.

 

21. Is there storage available during the school year or for the summer?

Some of the female residence halls have storage rooms to be used during the school year. Items permitted to be stored are limited to suitcases (and other luggage items) and plastic tubs with lids. Depending upon available space, the number of items to be stored may be limited per student. There is no summer storage available on campus. Items left at summer break will be donated or discarded.

 

22. May I come to campus early or return early after breaks?

No. The residence halls are closed and therefore unsupervised during campus holidays. Because of this, students are not permitted to return early. In the fall, students participating in certain campus organizations and activities may be permitted to return early, as requested by the organization adviser or activity sponsor and approved by the Office of Student Life & Learning. Individual request to return early will not be granted unless the returning student is a sibling of a freshman who is required to return early. All such requests must be approved by the Director of Residence Life.

 

23. Where do I go when I arrive on campus?

Freshman men living in Memorial should enter through the main entrance on East Main Street (Rt. 58). Freshmen men living in Hicks should turn at the flashing yellow light from East Main Street (Rt. 58) onto Madison Avenue and enter though the first parking lot on the left. Freshman women living in North should enter the campus from Pine Street. Follow the signs, and Orientation Board staff will be on hand to direct you and help you move into your room.

 

24. Where do I pick up my room key?

Men: Your RA will be on hand to give you your Room Condition Inventory (RCI) sheet and key. RCIs should be completed immediately. Women: Report to the reception desk in the lobby to pick up your RCI and key.

25. What is the schedule for move-in day?

Move-in takes place from 8:00 – 10:45 a.m.  After you receive your room assignment, you will be sent information about the specific time that you will need to move in, according to the floor plan of the building in which you will live.  At 11:00 there will be a welcome meeting for all new students and their parents in the arena in the Physical Learning Center. You will be sent a brochure in the summer with details of other Welcome Week activities.

 

26. What are an RA and an RD, and what is the difference?

RA stands for Resident Assistant. An RA is a full-time student in a leadership position in the residence halls. The primary role of an RA is to build a sense of community among his or her assigned residents, serve as a resource and support to residents, and to assist in the spiritual and personal development of residents. Your RA will plan activities and programs throughout the school year that are designed to aid in your social, spiritual, and life skills development. An RA is on duty in each residence hall from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. every day during the academic year for emergencies or other student concerns.

 

RD stands for Resident Director. An RD is a professional staff member employed full-time by the College. He or she lives in an apartment within the residence hall. The primary role of this position is to foster a positive living and learning community among the residents in an assigned residence hall. The Resident Director is responsible for the care of all individuals and activities that take place within their respective building. There is always one male and one female RD on call, 24 hours, during the academic year to address emergencies or other student concerns.

 

27. What lodging is available for parents on campus or in town?

There is no lodging available on campus for parents at any time. There are a number of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the surrounding community.

 

28. What kind of television service is available in the residence halls?

Television reception without cable service is very limited in the residence halls. Cable service is provided by Armstrong Cable Services, and can be purchased from the College. More information will be available when you arrive on campus.

 

29. What do I need to know about telephone service?

Long distance service is not provided by the College. Campus and local service is free, but you will need to provide your own telephone. We recommend a cell phone or calling card for long distance calls. If you do not have a phone in your room, please give your cell phone number to Student Life & Learning so that you are able to be contacted in the case of an emergency.

 

30. What cell phone service is recommended?

Grove City College does not endorse one particular cellular phone service over another. There are Cellular One, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint (Radio Shack) stores in town. 

 

30. May I have an overnight guest?

Yes. Overnight guests are permitted to stay for a maximum of two nights and must be registered with the Resident Director for emergency and safety reasons. All guests of the student should be the student’s peers and friends. Parents and other adults should not be invited to stay in College housing. No overnight guest of the opposite sex is permitted at any time.

 

32. May I bring my bike to school with me?

You may bring your bicycle. Bikes must be left outdoors on bike racks or kept in the student’s room. They cannot be kept in residence hall stairways or hallways due to fire and safety regulations. 

 

33. Are there times when the residence halls are closed?

Residence halls are closed for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter breaks. During these times all students must vacate the residence halls.

 

34. Can my parents send me a cake for my birthday or other special occasion?

Yes, they can! Point them to the following website for our dining services provider, Bon Appetit: http://www2.gcc.edu/bonappetit/Comforts.htm

 

35. Do I need to buy insurance for my college-issued computer?

Yes. Each student must have the computer system insured against loss, theft and damage. Such insurance coverage may be under a homeowner's insurance policy of the student, student's parents or student's legal guardians or under other insurance, such as a student's personal property policy. Regardless of whether or not a student has any such insurance coverage, the student is responsible for payment to College of the full replacement value or repair cost of the computer system in the event of loss, theft or damage to it.

 

36. What services can be paid for by credit card?

The College Bookstore accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover. Student accounts may be paid online through myGCC using Mastercard only.

 

37. How do I get to and from the airport?

The Myers Bus Line has service to Pittsburgh and Erie. Airport Orbit is a local shuttle company providing transportation to and from the Pittsburgh International Airport.

 

          Myers Bus Lines                      
                1-877-733-1045

          Airport Orbit                           
                1-800-443-8687

 

Students may also post notices on the electronic “Ride Board” on myGCC when they need a ride or can offer a ride to someone else.

 

38. What banking services are available on campus or in town?

There is not a bank on campus. Local banks will not cash student checks unless the student has an account at that particular bank. You may want to open a student account at a local bank. Many banks have special offers for GCC students. It is suggested that you contact the local banks to learn about their banking plans. 

 

          Citizens Bank                                      
               (724) 458-8350

          National Bank of Pennsylvania 
               (724) 458-0800 or (800) 555-5455

          Northwest Savings Bank                      
               (724) 450-1300 or (877) 672-5678

          National City Bank of PA                    
               (724) 458-9250 or (800) 352-0186

          Sky Bank                                            
               (724) 458-5611 or (800) 542-2657

 

The ATM on campus is a Citizens machine located in the Breen Student Union. There is a $.50 charge for ATM cards other than Citizens, and currency is issued in $5.00 increments.

 

39. What churches are in the Grove City area?

These are just a few of the churches located in town:

          Church of the Beloved Disciple (Roman Catholic)

          Church of the Epiphany (Episcopal)

          Church of the Nazarene

          Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church

          East Main Presbyterian Church (USA)

          First Baptist Church

          First Church of God

          Grace United Methodist Church

          Grove City Alliance Church
                (Christian & Missionary Alliance)

          Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

          Solid Rock Assembly of God

          Sovereign Grace Community Church
                (non-denominational)

          Tower Presbyterian Church (USA)

The churches in and around Grove City welcome students. Several churches provide transportation to church on Sunday mornings. Addresses and phone numbers will be listed on the online Crimson. Also see http://www2.gcc.edu/ReligiousLife for more information.

 

40. How do I apply for a job on campus?

 

41. Is tutoring available?

Tutoring is available for most of the classes offered. Contact the Office of Student Life & Learning to sign up for a tutor at the first sign of needing extra help. Group tutoring is $10.00 for a semester, and individual tutoring is $8.00 – 10.00 per hour. Kemikos, a chemistry honorary, provides free tutoring in chemistry, and Byte, a computer organization, provides free tutoring in computer science.

Grove City Colleges goal is to develop life skills in our students to prepare them for life beyond the borders of our campus. Our desire is to partner with parents in this effort, and as such, we encourage students to attempt to address issues themselves rather thank asking their parents to do so. If a student has a question, problem, or issue that arises, he or she should first contact the RA on his/her floor. If the issue needs further attention, the student should contact the RD of the building. If a resolution still has not been reached, the student should contact the Office of Student Life & Learning.