Information on the New College Residence Halls:

New College has residence hall capacity for approximately 460 students in several different kinds of living situations. Pei residence halls, opened in 1965, accommodate 252 students in double residence hall rooms with private bathrooms. Public rooms and community space in the Pei buildings are limited; the outdoor Palm Court around which the rooms are grouped is a focus of New College student life. B-Dorm, the only letter building still conforming to its original use houses 32 students in single bedrooms with common lounges and bathrooms. It is popular because of the community spirit that develops among its residents. Viking, built as a Howard Johnson motel in the 1950s, houses 27 upper level students in private rooms with private baths. It is popular with thesis students seeking a quiet and secluded environment. Dallas and Elizabeth Dort Residence Hall opened Fall of 1998 with space for 74 students in apartment style suites. Ann and Alfred Goldstein Residence Hall is a mirror image of Dort and opened Fall of 1999. Groundbreaking for the construction of five new halls took place October 2006. Based upon the needs expressed by students and faculty during the Design Charrettes, the new residence halls will bring together the best of what New College already offers, in the form of two-story blocks divided into “neighborhoods;” groupings of four quad-occupancy apartment-style rooms surrounding a large open-air common space. The “shotgun” style living quarters will be designed to provide a balance of private, public and semi-public space, while maximizing the flow of pedestrian traffic to ensure that the abode serves as not only a living space, but as an educational space as well. Once completed, they will provide spaces for an additional 207 students. The Office of Residence Life, 941-487-4259, is located in HCL 003. 

To reach information on checking-in/out, contract releases and room damage charges specific to the residence hall click here.

Other topics pertinent to residence hall life follow.

Table of Contents

Air Conditioning and Heating

All rooms are air conditioned or heated, according to season. December through March, temperatures can change from cold to hot and back again in a matter of hours. Unfortunately, the Pei AC/heating plant cannot change back and forth in a few hours. Thus Pei residents usually endure a day or two of less than ideal temperatures every year. If it seems an intolerable burden, just check the newspaper for the weather up north. Go back to Table of Contents

Balconies/ Roofs/ Ledges

Many rooms have balconies. Climbing over them, standing or sitting on the ledges, or climbing on the roofs is dangerous and not permitted. Go back to Table of Contents

Cleaning/ Maintenance

All roommates/suitemates are responsible for the care of their room and its furnishings. There are trash bins, emptied daily, in each court. A limited housekeeping service is provided on approximately a three week rotation. Students should not deny entry of housekeeping staff.

To avoid a cleaning or repair charge when vacating the room, leave it in good condition, with all furnishings in place. If furnishings or appliances are moved from rooms without authorization, the students assigned to the room accept responsibility for damage or loss. Please clean up after using kitchens and other common areas. Go back to Table of Contents 

Cooking  

Kitchenettes are available to residents in Pei, B-dorm and Viking. Because of fire hazard, open-element appliances and devices using an open flame are prohibited in residence hall rooms.Go back to Table of Contents

Cohabitation

New College does not restrict the hours when students may visit each other in their rooms. But students are not assigned, do not draw, and may not otherwise arrange to live in a room with students of the opposite sex, unless, of course, they are married to each other. Go back to Table of Contents

Emergencies

Accident, crime, life-threatening, medical, fire: Get the campus police, 487-4210 or at the Cop Shop, west of the Bookstore. Open 24 hours.

Maintenance problem, inter-personal problem, noise, rule violations, etc.: Monday-Friday, 8-5, contact the Office of Residence Life, HCL 003, 487-4259. All other times, contact the RA on duty, via the RA cell phone number: 780-8441. Non-emergency maintenance problems should be handled with a work order. Go back to Table of Contents

Facilities Coordinator

The Coordinator of Residential Facilities processes all housing assignments and facility issues. Questions related to room assignments or special housing needs generally should be directed to this person prior to actual check-in. Once you have moved in, questions and concerns can also be directed to your resident advisor (RA) or residence life coordinator. Go back to Table of Contents

Guests

Periodic visits from a non-student guest or guests are permitted only at the request of a resident, who then becomes responsible for each guest's conduct. A guest's presence shall never be used to deny access to the room by a roommate, nor shall guests be permitted to cause any undue hardship on a room resident or be disruptive to the campus.  Go back to Table of Contents

Housing Contract

Read the housing contract, preferably before signing it. Know its provisions. It is a legally binding agreement for the entire academic year. Requests to be released to move off-campus will be considered but permission is not automatically given. Students who will not be attending New College on the Sarasota campus during Semester II must notify the residence life office in order to be released from their contracts. If they vacate their rooms prior to winter break, they may be entitled to a refund of a portion of their housing fees. Failure to notify the residence life office may result in a charge for second semester fees. Students who are released from their contracts to live off campus will not receive a refund. Current housing contract. Go back to Table of Contents

Housing Fees

Housing and board charges are set by the Office of Student Affairs in consultation with the dean and warden and student government. Housing charges take into account debt service, enrollment, operating costs, and scheduled maintenance costs, while board charges reflect enrollment, market factors and labor and management costs.

Housing Invoices: Housing and meal plan contracts are mailed to incoming students prior to their arrival. Returning students are not mailed invoices or billing information. Before the end of the academic year invoices are prepared for the students who participated in room draw. These invoices are put in the students' mail boxes. It is the responsibility of the students to forward the invoices to the appropriate party for payment by the deadline. Semester II invoices will be prepared upon request. Current housing and meal plan fees. Go back to Table of Contents

Internet Access

Internet access and access to campus e-mail is provided in the residence halls. Using the Ethernet connection requires specialized hardware and software. Residents' computers will need to have Ethernet cards (provided by the resident) installed. Macintosh users will need to provide appropriate hardware and software for Ethernet connections. For more information, click on the connectivity button on the top of this page. If you experience any problems with your Internet connection, contact Campus Computing, 487-4350.  Go back to Table of Contents.

Keys

Each student receives a room key at check-in. If it is lost, come to the Office of Residential Life and request a replacement. Replacement keys are $24. There are additional charges if a lock change is required. Fail to return all the keys issued at the end of the year - pay up to $196 in lock change charges.

Lock the room when no one is in it. Secure doors while sleeping, as well. If the lock doesn't work, tell the residence life office immediately and fill out a work request form Go back to Table of Contents

Laundry

There are coin operated washers and dryers in the Pei complex, and in each of the other residence hall areas. There is a change machine in the Pei complex laundry. Go back to Table of Contents

Lounges

There are two student lounges in the Pei complex. Both have a kitchen. Each of the other residence halls has at least one lounge. All common areas are smoke free. Go back to Table of Contents

Mail

Each student is assigned a mail box with a combination lock in Hamilton Center upon enrollment. Student Affairs recommends that mail boxes be kept locked at all times. Mail is delivered to student boxes Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. If a package is received that is too big for the mail box or mail that requires a signature, a delivery slip will be placed in the student's box informing him/her where the package may be retrieved. The mail room/central receiving can not accept any COD deliveries.

All intra-campus mail and mail addressed c/o New College is delivered to students' boxes. Boxes must be checked regularly, even those for students who live off campus. 

Mail should be addressed as follows:

Your Name
5800 Bay Shore Road, Box [Your Box Number]
Sarasota, FL 34243-2197

Outgoing mail for campus offices can be left in the outgoing box at any campus office; no postage is necessary. Mail going off campus may also be placed in the outgoing mail boxes if proper postage is affixed. A full-service stamp machine is located in Hamilton Center.

Mail will continue to be delivered during fall, Christmas and spring breaks. Mail will not be forwarded to another address during these short breaks. To receive evaluations during Christmas or summer break, contact division offices for instructions. Usually students may leave self-addressed, stamped envelopes with the division offices and they will mail the evaluations. Evaluations received by the student mail room for closed student boxes will be returned to the divisions. Go back to Table of Contents Go Back to Residence Life HomePage

Messages for Students

The student affairs office, 941-487-4250, will take messages to put in students' boxes. We are unable to give out student room numbers. Go back to Table of Contents

Noise

Students have the right to reasonable quiet in their room. If a student is unable to study or sleep because of noise, attempt first to resolve the matter directly with the person(s) causing the problem. If this doesn't work, try mediation, for example, by a resident advisor (see below).

Students must cooperate to achieve a reasonable balance among life styles. Sensitivity, respect, consideration for others, and talking it over help a great deal.

Local residents should not have to tolerate excessive campus noise and deserve equal consideration by our community. Go back to Table of Contents

Pest Control

Housing staff treat all rooms as needed with pest control chemicals. If the room still has insect problems, or if a student has allergies to the chemicals, tell the residence life office, 487-4259. Go back to Table of Contents

Pets

Fish are allowed in proper aquariums, but no other pets, animals, or insects may be kept in rooms, in and around housing areas, or on the campus. Go back to Table of Contents

Privacy

It is highly valued at New College. Unless officials have evidence of misconduct, health or fire hazard, endangering others, or self-destructiveness, a student's room is her/his castle.  Go back to Table of Contents

Refrigerators

Refrigerators up to five cubic feet are allowed in the residence halls. They can be rented from local vendors, buy new from an appliance dealer, or buy used. Often, students have them for sale. Go back to Table of Contents

Resident Advisors (RAs)

RAs are students on the residence life staff. They live and work in the residence halls. Go to them for information, academic or social guidance, help with court activities and social events, even for toilet paper. RAs go through rigorous screening before they get the job.

They are on staff because they understand New College, and care about the residential students' welfare. Approach them with confidence. An RA is on duty whenever the residence life office is closed -- just dial the RA cell phone number (it is posted on the RA Duty List by the Office of Residence Life door).  Go back to Table of Contents

Resident Directors

The three Resident Directors are professional staff who live on campus. Specific responsibilities include supervising resident advisors, advising programs, assisting students with individual problems and addressing behavioral problems. Each RD has a specific area of concentration - Health and Wellness, Gender and Diversity, 1st Year Programming. Your resident directors are an invaluable resource. Go back to Table of Contents

Rooms

The Pei complex offers five different room plans. Upstairs double balcony and garden balcony rooms are considered prime real estate. Single balcony rooms, on the first floor, are popular among students who don't like to climb stairs. There are rooms without balconies on the first floor, commonly called "fishbowls" (rooms with picture windows but without sliding glass doors). Second floor rooms with sliding glass doors but without balconies -- there is a 3-foot barrier railing -- are also available. Pei rooms are normally double occupancy, but are tripled if extra space is needed, and each has a private entrance and bathroom.

B-dorm offers single rooms in a corridor-style residence hall. The privacy afforded by a single creates a demand for these accommodations, even though the rooms are small. 

The Viking has single rooms with private baths. This is designated a "quiet" residence hall.

The Dallas and Elizabeth Dort Residence Hall and the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Residence Hall are our newest additions to residence life. Mirror images of each other, each suite in the apartment style residence halls has four single rooms, two bathrooms, a kitchenette and living area. Each hall provides housing for approximately 72 students. Residence hall tour. Go back to Table of Contents

Room Changes

When roommates find it impossible to co-exist, they may change rooms and/or roommates as space allows. The resident advisors or other residence life office staff will be glad to help. Changes must be handled through and approved by the residence life office.

Remember, students are accountable for the condition of the room which is on record as theirs. And, although no one wants to intrude on students' privacy, we need to know where they are living in event of an emergency. Go back to Table of Contents

Room Damages

Upon leaving, students will be charged for damages to their rooms. These charges include damaged or missing furniture, marks or holes in the walls, stains or other damage to the carpet, extra pest treatment, unreturned keys, trash removal, etc. Charges for room damages. Go back to Table of Contents

Room Draw

Each spring, students planning to live on campus the following fall can select their new room. The most tenured residents have priority in the selection process. To participate in room draw, students must turn in a completed room draw application packet and then pay a deposit toward next year's housing fee. This is the only way in which a room can be reserved for the following year.   New College of Florida Room Draw  Go back to Table of Contents

Roommates

Sharing a few square feet of space can create tension even among the best of friends. Some survival hints:

• Communicate clearly.
• Be assertive, but willing to compromise. Set the tone so as to solve a problem; avoid "zero sum" (I win/you lose) games.
• Remember that you are not your roommate's keeper. Your ideas about nutrition, exercise, study techniques, and the like don't necessarily work for another person.
• Appreciate your roommate. Common courtesy and a few words of support or praise can help any close relationship.
• There is no perfect roommate. Concentrate on making this roommate relationship work.
• Ask your resident advisor to help mediate conflicts you haven't been able to resolve. Remember, having a roommate builds character!

Go back to Table of Contents

Security

New College is a relatively safe place, but bear in mind that it is vulnerable because of its open borders, exposure to a major highway and tolerant social atmosphere. Campus police are always on duty to protect and assist you. Student patrols of the residence hall area in the early morning hours sometimes supplement the police patrols.

Your best protection is your own awareness and use of good security measures. You can help yourself and the campus community if you observe the following guidelines.

• Report all suspicious (unknown) persons and activities to the campus police immediately.
• Lock your room when no one is in it and when you are sleeping.
• Lock your bike and your car.
• Don't talk with strangers about your state-of-the-art racing bike, stereo or computer.
• Politely confront strangers in the residence hall area.
• Report burned out lights and non-functioning doors or locks.
• Don't invite strangers to the residence halls. If you encounter homeless peers, seek professional help for them.
• Exercise reasonable caution when you move around the campus and vicinity. Go back to Table of Contents

Solicitation

No solicitors or door-to-door salespersons are allowed. Report violations immediately to campus police. Often door-to-door sales are a scam to "case" the residences. Go back to Table of Contents

Telephone Service

Basic local telephone service is included with your residence hall fee, but your must provide your own telephone. Long distance service may be set up with the carrier of your choice. HOWEVER,  you must have the service billed to you directly using an outside access code. In other words, it can not be billed to your telephone number.  If you experience any problems with your local service, contact Information Technologies: http://intranet.ncf.edu/ then click on "Computer Help Desk"(4350 from a campus phone). Go back to Table of Contents

Work Orders

The preferred method of reporting maintenance or custodial problems in the residence halls is to use the online work order form: Work Orders for Room Repairs. Work order forms are available in the residence life office if you can not do an on-line request.  Go back to Table of Contents

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