FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are looking forward to your arrival on campus. As you begin to prepare to move into the Residence Halls, you will discover that you may have some unanswered questions. Please use this page of frequently asked questions to help assist you with your planning.

1. How do I become a Resident Student?
Simply call the Lesley College Admissions Office at (617) 349.8800 or the Art Institute of Boston Admissions Office at (617) 585.6600 to obtain a Residence Application Form. A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required to reserve a room for on-campus housing.

2. When may I move in to the hall for Fall semester?
New students will be able to move in on Sunday August 31, 2008. The Student Activities Office will be sending Fall Orientation information, including move-in times, in early August.

Returning students may move in on Monday, September 1, 2008 beginning at 10:00 a.m.

3. Where do first year and transfer students typically live?
First-year students live in the residence halls throughout the main campus, among upper-class students. First-year students are grouped together in each of the halls to foster friendships and community. Transfer students will live with upper class students in Lawrence and Winthrop Halls, on the EDS Campus or on the Cambridge Campus.

4. Will I have a roommate? How do you match roommates?
All new students will have one, two, or three roommates. Roommate matching is based upon the information provided by you on your Residence application Form.

5. May I request a specific person to be my roommate?
Yes, if you already know who you would like to have as your roommate, you may request that roommate on your Residence Application Form. You will also have the opportunity to request a roommate during the June Orientation program. We must have a request form from both you and your prospective roommate in order to accommodate your request. Your request will be honored based on availability of space

6. When will you send roommate information and housing assignments?
All new students who live in residence halls will be notified of their hall, room assignment, and their roommate information during the week of Monday, August 4, 2008

7. What happens if I don't get along with my roommate?
We ask that roommates try to communicate with each other first before asking to be placed with a new roommate. If this is not successful, the roommates should speak with their Community Advisors about having roommate mediation.

8. What are the Residence Halls like?
Most Residence Halls have a kitchenette, lounge area with television, and a laundry room along with student rooms. Each room features a single bed, mattress, window shades, desk, chair, dresser and a wardrobe or closet space for each student who lives in that room. We offer Special Interest Housing such as: The Arts, Wellness, Recreational, Community Service, Quiet Living, and Scholarly Living. Two of the residence halls on campus are substance free and all are smoke free. All co-ed residence halls will have gender specific bathroom facilities.

9. What is the Wellness House?
The Wellness House is located in Wendell House at 63 Oxford Street. It is a theme house, in which the residents participate in programs, and activities that are centered around holistic and wellness themes.

10. Where are Lawrence and Winthrop Halls?
Lawrence and Winthrop Halls are located on the historic Brattle Street on the Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) campus. It is a short five-minute walk from the Cambridge campus. Lesley University operates a shuttle service between the Fenway, Cambridge and EDS Campuses.

11. What do students need for their rooms?
Each student at Lesley University is provided with a single bed, mattress, desk, chair, dresser, window shades, and a wardrobe or closet. Students may not remove this furniture nor are they allowed to substitute their own furniture. Students will need to bring their own desk lamps, wastebaskets, linens, towels and bedspreads. Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms. A limited supply of vacuums are available for students use. All other cleaning supplies are to be provided by students. Please see our "what to bring" page for more ideas.

12. What items are not permitted in the Residence Halls?
In order to maintain safety in the residence halls, we ask that you not bring halogen lamps, lamps with multiple heads/light bulbs, paper lantern lights, candles, incense, hot plates, space heaters, and bed raisers. Also, air conditioners and pets are not allowed in the halls. We do allow mini-refrigerators and strongly discourage microwaves.

13. What size are the rooms?
Due to the different housing styles (i.e. traditional residence halls or houses), room sizes may vary.

14. What size are the mattresses in the residence halls?
The majority of the mattresses in the residence halls are considered extra long twin size and are approximately 36 inches across and 80 inches long. Many students choose to purchase a set of extra long twin size sheets, which will accommodate all of our mattresses.


15. Will I have Internet access in my room?
Yes, each resident will have access to the Internet in his or her room. In order to access the Internet, you will need to provide your own Ethernet cable and make sure your computer has an Ethernet card.

16. How are the residence halls staffed? What is a "CA?"
The residence hall staff includes professional live-in staff and Community Advisors commonly referred to as CAs. The CA is an upper-class student who develops a true sense of community in the hall by sponsoring both social and educational programming. Your CA is an advisor, mentor, and a resource person. They are also trained to respond to different types of emergency situations.

17. What are the residence hall regulations?
Lesley University students are members of a community that is guided by a Community Standards and Conduct. A definition of this statement and a complete listing of rules and regulations can be found in the Lesley University Student Handbook and/or in the Room, Board, and Medical Services Contract. These documents are distributed to each student and are also available at the Office of Residence Life.

18. Where do I do laundry?
Each residence hall has washers and dryers for resident use. All washers and dryers are coin (quarters) operated.

19. How does my room get cleaned?
Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms. Housekeeping cleans hallways, bathrooms, and common areas daily.

20. Is there storage available at Lesley?
No, Lesley cannot provide extra storage for residents, but there are storage facilities throughout the Cambridge/Boston area.

21. Can we have pets?
No pets are allowed in the residence halls. This includes fish, reptiles and hamsters.

22. What kind of meal plan will I have?
All resident students are required to have a University meal plan. Lesley students enjoy a large dining hall located on the first floor of White Hall as well as three cafes (Charlie's on the main campus, the coffee shop on the 3rd floor of University Hall and the AIB cafe). Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the dining hall as an all you can eat buffet Monday through Friday with brunch and dinner on the weekends. Vegan and vegetarian selections are available and the food service manager works with students to meet any special dietary needs. All residents have meal plan options to choose from. You will get additional information when you arrive to campus and will be able to choose an option that meets your needs.

23. How will I get mail?
Each resident student is assigned a mailbox when they arrive to campus in September. Mailboxes are located at the entrance to Doble Hall next to the library. The mailing address is:

Lesley University
c/o Students Name
Box #
47 Oxford Street
Cambridge MA 02138

24. What if I live far away and need to ship my belongings before move-in?
Due to lack of storage space, Lesley University cannot accommodate any packages delivered prior to the specified check-in date. If you need to send personal belongings prior to your arrival, please have it arrive at the University as close to your check-in date as possible.

25. Can you tell me something about campus security?
Lesley University has 24-hour Public Safety. Our officers are always on campus and available to respond to questions or emergencies at any time. Public Safety is also available to escort students between Lesley building and offices, including University Hall, during evening hours. Shuttle service is available between the main campus and University Hall buildings as well as between the main campus and Lawrence Hall campus. Students and staff work together to continue to keep our campus a safe place to live and learn.

26. Should personal belongings be insured?
Lesley University assumes no responsibility for loss of, or damage to personal property. It is strongly recommended that students insure their personal property either by a personal or family insurance policy. We encourage students to engrave valuable property with their names and/or alternate form of identification. Students must always lock their room doors and carry their keys with them.