Semester after semester after semester, students know it is coming. Yet it seems there is not enough time to mentally prepare for spring semester after a month-long winter break.
Waking up for those early 8 a.m. classes -- okay, let’s be honest, even those 11 a.m. classes -- can be a struggle. Finally dressed and ready to go, next is the commute. And let’s not get into the parking situation.
But, there is a fix to all of those hassles: live on campus.
Denis Castanon, Director of Residential Operations and Facilities, outlined some of the benefits of being a Kean University residential student:
- Live Smart: over 50 percent of residential students that live on campus all four years graduate in four years
- Live Close: be anywhere on campus within 10 minutes
- Live Connected: get the opportunity to meet and live with people from different backgrounds
- Live Secure: residence halls have 24 hour security
- Live Supported: have access to emotional, social and academic support
- Live Involved: it is easier to get involved while living on campus
When a student is within reaching distance of the various elements of education offered by a university, he or she will likely succeed during their time before and after graduating. Living a few hundred feet from the hub of campus allows students to take advantage of their education in and out of the classroom.
Residential students can easily attend events on campus and also dedicate more time to their studies, since transportation and parking are not eating up time.
A requirement to live in one of the university’s residence halls is to take a minimum of 12 credits for the given semester. Also, the student must present proof of both health insurance and meningitis vaccination.
The process to apply is as followed:
- Log on to KeanWise
- Go to the “Student” tab
- Then click on the “Residence Life” tab
- Select “Housing Application 17/SP” and follow the presented instructions
- The last step is submitting the non-refundable application fee of $125. A student’s application will not be processed until the payment fee is submitted. The fee can be paid online or at the Office of Student Accounting, which is in the Administration Building third floor.
For current residential students, there are no extra steps required to continue living on campus in the spring. However, if a student wishes to change to a different room, he or she can attend Room Change Day on Monday, December 5, 2016. An email will to be sent out shortly with information.
If a current residential student wants to terminate his or her on-campus living agreement for the spring semester, then the Petition to Break Housing Contract must be completed, which can be found on the Residential Student Services (RSS) website. If the form is completed by Monday, November 21, 2016, there is no cancellation fee.
Hesitant about living in one of the residence halls? RSS will be providing tours of the living facilities throughout the week of Monday, November 14, 2016. The tour will allow interested students to see the different living situations between the various residence halls. Sign up for a tour by completing the form on the RSS website.
The fall semester is wrapping up, and spring semester is approaching. The countdown to winter break has begun and, soon enough, a countdown to the spring semester after the short time off. Why not make the transition into the new semester a smooth one and live on campus?
RSS is located in Whiteman Hall on the first floor. The office can be reached at reslife@kean.edu and 908-737-6800.
