frequently asked questions

• Q. What do students need for their rooms?
  Each student is provided with a single bed, mattress, desk, chair, dresser, window shades and a wardrobe or closet. It is not permitted to remove any of the included furniture or to substitute with personal furniture. Students will need to bring their own desk lamps, wastebaskets, linens, towels and bedspreads.  See list of "WHAT TO BRING" for more information.
• Q. How will students’ rooms get cleaned?
  Students are responsible for cleaning their own rooms. There is a professional thorough cleaning of each room prior to opening day and after graduation closing. Students provide all cleaning supplies including vacuum cleaners.
• Q. How often are public areas cleaned?
  A housekeeper cleans all bathrooms, hallways, and lounge/kitchen facilities every Monday through Friday. She is also responsible for re-stocking toilet paper, soap, and paper towels in the bathrooms. The primary goal for this cleaning is to keep the residence halls sanitary, if students make a mess in public areas they are expected to pick up after themselves. If there is biohazard waste (vomit, urine, blood, etc.) in the evenings or weekends, students are responsible to report it to the staff member on duty as soon as possible.  Students are expected to remove their own bulk trash to the designated outside bins.  Bulk trash is removed by the University 6 days per week.
• Q. What size are the rooms?
  Due to the Victorian style houses room sizes vary.
• Q. What size are the mattresses in the residence halls?
  Due to the various styles of furniture in the residence halls, mattresses are either extra long or standard size twin. Many students choose to purchase a set of extra long sheets, which will accommodate both size mattresses. Upon moving into their rooms, many students purchase additional linens.
• Q. Are laundry facilities available?
  There are washers and dryers in the residence halls. They are operated by coins; students should have quarters readily available. We also recommend that students take their laundry to Oxford Laundry for larger, more readily available machines or to take advantage of the wash-and-fold option.
• Q. How are the residence halls staffed?
  A Resident Director and three Graduate Resident Assistants live in the residence halls at Threshold. The staff members work with the students to sponsor a number of programs within the halls and strive to develop a true sense of community. In addition, the staff members act as peer advisors, resource people, and referral agents.
• Q. What are the Community Standards of Living?
  Threshold students are members of the Lesley University community that is guided by a set of core values. This document is distributed to each student and is also available at the Threshold Offices. In addition students are expected to abide by the terms of the Room, Board, and Medical Services Contract.
• Q. Will I have to pay a damage deposit?
  Yes. A security and key deposit of $300.00 must be paid prior to the specified check-in date. At the completion of your stay, an assessment of any damage incurred will be calculated. Damage can be incurred on an individual or community basis. Community damage means there was beyond normal wear and tear in a public area and the party responsible is unknown. In the case of community damage, the charge will be divided up among the residents of that building. Depending on the type of damage (i.e. chipped paint, broken furniture, permanent or difficult to remove stains, graffiti, etc.), additional charges may be determined. After damage assessment is completed, depending on the amount of damage, a refund, either in part or in full of the security deposit may be awarded.
• Q. May I request to arrive prior to the specified check-in date?
  Although Threshold would like to honor early arrival requests, we cannot accommodate them due to staffing of the halls and allotted preparation time for opening. The official check-in date for new students is Monday, September 14, 2009.
  
  Please see the Opening Day Mailing for more move-in information. The check-in schedule is as follows:
  -- First Year students check-in between 9am-11am
  -- Second Year students check-in between 10am-12pm
  -- Bridge students check-in between 10am-11am
• Q. Can personal belongings be stored?
  Unfortunately, there is no storage space available on campus. However, we will provide you with information pertaining to rental storage space within the local area, upon request.
• Q. What appliances may be used?
  There is an endless list of appliances that are frequently used in residents' rooms. Computers, hairdryers, curling irons, etc. are permitted. Televisions, radios, and stereos, without the use of any amplifiers are permitted so far as their use does not interfere with other residents. Headphones are always encouraged. You may bring a small, 1.7 cubic foot, refrigerator. The standard compact (2x2) refrigerators are generally allowed provided they do not overload the electrical circuits. Students are discouraged from bringing microwaves. However, there are microwaves located in the common areas of the residence halls. Note: there are a number of appliances that you might like to coordinate and share with your roommate(s). Please see the What to Bring page for more information.
  
  Appliances used for cooking or heating food, or which contain open flames (hot plates, electric pots, immersion coils, frying pans, Bunsen burners, candles, incense, hookahs, firecrackers, lava lamps, etc.), space heaters, air conditioners, and sun lamps are not permitted in the residence halls. Lesley University reserves the right to remove appliances or require students to remove items from any room that is determined to overload electrical circuits.
• Q. Are there restrictions on the lamps I can bring?
  Due to the fire safety risk resulting from the intense heat produced by the bulbs and wiring, we do not allow halogen, multi-head, or lava lamps in the residence halls. However, we do encourage you to bring floor and/or desk lamps that use standard light bulbs.
• Q. Do the residence halls have lounges?
  Each residence hall has a lounge equipped with sofas, kitchenette with a microwave, and cable television/DVD Player.
• Q. 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 personal or family insurance policy. We encourage students to engrave valuable property with their names and/or an alternate form of identification. Students must always lock their room doors and carry their keys with them. We also suggest that students bring home anything of value during extended breaks from school.
• Q. When and where are room keys and mailbox keys distributed?
  Room keys and mailbox keys are distributed as students arrive to check-in at Lesley. A security key deposit is assessed to all resident students on their term bill each year. In the absence of key losses, this deposit will be refunded to the students when all keys are returned at the end of the academic year.
• Q. How are lost keys and ID cards replaced?
  Upon misplacing keys or ID cards, students are first encouraged to retrace their steps or look in their room, then ask around to fellow students and faculty as well as check the dining hall and public safety offices.
  • Keys
    If students still cannot find their keys, they may replace lost residence keys at a charge of $25.00* per key (check or cash only). Students may obtain a Key Replacement Request Form from the Resident Director at the Threshold Office. The Resident Director will then order new keys for the student. Please allow 24-hours for a new key to be cut by the locksmith. In the meantime, students are expected to continue to close and lock their doors and either coordinate with their roommate or have public safety let them into their rooms.
  • ID Cards
    If a student loses his or her ID card and cannot find it within a few hours, s/he needs to go to public safety promptly to get it replaced and the lost card de-activated.
    *Subject to change.
• Q. Am I required to be on a meal plan?
  All resident students are required to subscribe to a meal plan. Upon arrival to campus, students will meet with the residence staff to receive additional information about dining services, including locations and hours.
• Q. Where can money be withdrawn and checks cashed?
  On Opening Day, a representative from Bank of America will be at Threshold to open students' accounts. There are a number of banks sites and ATM’s within walking distance of the campus, including Porter and Harvard Squares and ATM’s located in the Student Center and University Hall. It is generally recommended that resident students avoid having cash in their rooms.
• Q. Can I mail my belongings prior to my arrival?
  Due to a 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. For the purposes of move-in please contact the Resident Director for approval and shipping details.
• Q. How are mail and packages received?
  All resident students are assigned a mailbox and issued a mailbox key upon check-in. The mailroom is located on the ground level of Doble Hall.
  
  The mailing address is:
  • Name and Box #
    Lesley University
    47 Oxford Street
    Cambridge, MA 02138-1972

  Packages too large to place in individual boxes may be picked up during posted hours at the Package Room located in the basement below the Student Center.

• Q. Are telephones provided?
  Most students choose to use cell phones, however some resident students may choose to purchase private telephones for their rooms. All negotiations with Verizon Communications are the personal responsibility of each student. Lesley University assumes no responsibility for any private telephone installed in the residence hall. Installation agreements should be made once you move into your hall.
• Q. Are pets permitted?
• Due to health, sanitation, and study reasons, there are no pets allowed in the residence halls – including fish. Special exceptions would be considered for guide dogs.
• Q. Is on-campus parking available?
  On-campus parking facilities are not provided for resident students. It is nearly impossible to park a private vehicle in the Lesley University area. Resident students are advised to leave their cars at home. There are numerous methods of public transportation convenient to campus.
  
  On-campus parking for move-in, move-out, and Friends and Family Weekend will be arranged and families will receive information upon arrival. During the school year if family or friends want to visit, they may purchase a guest parking permit from public safety.
• Q. Can I bring my bicycle?
  Bicycle racks and an indoor bicycle storage area are provided.
• Q. Can I bring my own bed or mattress?
  Due to fire/safety reasons we cannot allow students to bring personal beds or mattresses to any of the residence halls. The University provides a bed and we encourage you to bring a mattress pad.