Personalize your Space:  Choose whether to loft your bed or leave it on the lowest settings, depending on your comfort level.  If you choose to loft it, we provide all the necessary materials as well as a video about how to do it.  You can also hang pictures and posters to reflect your personality (please observe decorating guidelines).  View room dimensions online.

What to Bring?  Check out lists of items you should bring, items you should leave at home, and items that are provided in the rooms.  If you choose to buy a social fee card, you are also entitled to check out various supplies such as pots and pans, outdoor recreational equipment, pool table equipment, movies, games and more from the front desk of their residence hall.

Variety of Options Available:  All of our residence halls are coed, but there are many community options available.  Most new freshmen are placed into First Year Communities or Learning Communities.  Students who are committed to a healthy lifestyle can also request to live in a Substance-Free Community where students sign a contract to commit to abstaining from alcohol, drug and tobacco use.  It's important to sign your housing contract early if you are interested in one of these communities, as spaces are assigned based on date you sign your contract.

Be part of the 66%!  Sixty-six percent of students choose to stay on campus at least two weekends per month.  Between Falcon Programs' weekend events, campus organizations events, athletics and concerts, there's always something going on!

Your residence hall is designed to provide you with everything you need to be successful in your "home away from home."

Front Desk: Staffed by a friendly desk assistant every afternoon and evening, the front desk is where residents can go to for many general services including mail delivery and equipment check-out.

Printer on Demand:  No need to bring a printer.  All halls have a printer in the lobby available for you.  We provide the printer and ink - you provide the paper!

Sporting Areas:  Open spaces for Frisbee, basketball courts, and volleyball nets are located in close proximity to residence halls.  In addition, there are many other campus recreational facilities that provide students access to ice skating; broomball; an indoor track; basketball, tennis, racquetball and volleyball courts; batting cages; a rock climbing wall; and soccer, football, softball and lacrosse fields.  And don't forget the miles of trails for walking, running and biking located around campus.

Blu-Ray Rooms and Cable TV: All traditional halls have Blu-Ray entertainment rooms where students can watch TV/movies or hook up their own Wii, Xbox or vintage gaming systems.  The two suite-style residents halls (Jesse H. Ames Suites for sophomores and George R. Field South Fork Suites for juniors/seniors) have different entertainment options.  All halls have digital cable TV with access to over 180 channels, including over 40 HD channels.  

Bike Lockers:  In addition to bike racks, there are a limited number of bike lockers which may be rented.  These lockers protect your bike against theft and the weather.  

Wireless:  Installation of wireless access is planned to be completed in the east-side residence halls (McMillan, Grimm, Parker, Crabtree, Jesse H. Ames Suites and George R. Field South Fork Suites) by the end of Fall 2012 semester.  Installation of wireless access in the west-side residence halls (Hathorn, May, Prucha, Stratton and Johnson) is planned to be completed by the start of the 2013-14 academic year.

Microfridges:  Microfridge units are provided in each residence hall room (excluding George R. Field South Fork Suites where each suite's kitchenette includes a full-size refrigerator and microwave).  The microfridges units have a 5.6 cubic foot refrigerator component and a 0.9 cubic foot microwave (850 watts).  The shelf in the door is large enough to accommodate half-gallon or 2 liter containers.  The unit also includes a charging station so students can easily and safely re-charge their cell phones or other electronic devices.  

Lofting Beds:  All beds (excluding those in George R. Field South Fork Suites) are loftable, and all materials to loft beds are provided.  There's even a video on our website to show you how to loft your bed.  If you're moving into the residence halls for the Fall semester, you can pay to have an outside company (Bedloft) loft your bed for you (not available for students moving into the halls beginning in the Spring semester).

Laundry Included:  Laundry facilities are located in each hall, and are available for resident use at no additional cost.  Residence hall students must provide their own detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets .   A computer-based app (also accessible via smart phones) allows students check to see if a washer/dryer is available, and also alerts students when their laundry is done.

University Police: The campus employs full-time, certified police officers who are on duty 24-7, patrolling the campus by foot, bike and vehicle in order to assist and protect all members of the campus community.  They also provide basic tips to help students be responsible and safe.

Hall Staff:  Hall staff are available to assist residents with any questions or concerns regarding safety/security.

Access:  Safety in the residence halls is everyone's responsibility, and one of the ways the university is able to promote a safe environment is by limiting access to the halls.  Residence halls are locked 24 hours a day, with access limited to those who live on campus.  

Parking:  While many students find they do not need a car when living on campus, there are options available.  Residence hall students can purchase a parking permit for a lot near their residence hall (2012-13 rate: $277.00/year), in Ramer Field (2012-13 rate:   $157.00/year), or  park on city streets where permitted.  

Events:  There is always something going on!  In addition to events in your hall or wing community, there are MANY options available through the Student Life office.  A few examples are the Falcon Film Festival, Finals Fest, Freeze Fest, Homecoming, the RADD Jazz Series, the Summer Concert Series, Weekend Programs and the Wyman Series.  

Employment:  The Residence Life Office offers a variety of positions during the academic year (Hall Managers, Resident Assistants, Resident Hall Desk Assistants, Area Desk Managers and Custodians)and summer months (Resident Assistants, Conference Assistants and Custodians).  

Hall Council:  Each residence hall has its own Hall Council Board which is elected by the community members.  These students plan events, using monies raised through fundraising efforts, and set standards for hall space and equipment usage.  Any resident hall community member is welcome to participate.

Staff: There are a variety of hall staff available to support students living in the resident halls.  Resident Assistants (RAs) act in a mentor capacity, talking individually with students to see how they are doing academically, socially and emotionally.   Depending on each student's needs, RAs offer advice and encouragement as well as direct them to appropriate campus resources.  Hall Managers (HMs) and Area Coordinators also live in the halls and are available to assist students and ensure that all hall communities are safe and supportive for all residents.  

Satisfaction:  Students' needs can change, so the Department of Residence Life uses annual surveys conducted by Educational Benchmarking, Inc. (EBI) to identify any areas where staffing/programming/policies should be adjusted.  Our results from the 2011 academic year show the vast majority of students were satisfied with their hall staff and the level of safety and security in the halls.  In addition, the majority of students expressed satisfaction with the sense of community, personal interactions and diverse interactions in their resident halls.

School of the Year:  A group of UW-River Falls students put together a bid highlighting all of the great new and existing happenings at UWRF (such as opening the Jesse H. Ames Suites, the strong community development and sustainability efforts) and submitted it to the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (GLACURH).  A group of students from the entire region voted UW-River Falls the 2012 School of the Year.

Learning Communities:  First year students have the opportunity to be part of a small, supportive learning environment where they take a few classes with their floormates.  Some of these communities are designed around a common academic theme, while others are for students of any major.  Regardless of which community you choose, you'll benefit academically and socially from activities, both in the classroom and the halls. 

The Department of Residence Life is passionate about leaving a positive mark on our earth and is investing in minimizing our energy costs - resulting in minimizing the costs for students living in the halls.  Students are encouraged to participate fully in our energy conservation initiatives and educate themselves about living a greener life.

Recycling:  A recycling container is provided in each residence hall room and recycling dumpsters are located on each end of campus.  Recycling is single sort (everything in one container) to make it easy for students.  In years past students have recycled over 200 tons of paper and cardboard along with aluminum, glass and plastic containers.

Hall Council:  Each hall council selects one student leader to guide community residents in efforts to live greener.  These students work to educate others about sustainability and how each of them can make a difference on our campus.

Carbon Offsets:  100% of the energy used in the residence halls is offset with blocks of renewable energy.  By purchasing blocks of renewable energy, the campus is reducing the amount of coal, oil and natural gas that is burned; contributing to the development of new energy-efficient alternatives; and increasing our energy independence.

Examples of Building Design and Operational Items that Contribute to Sustainability Efforts:

• Solar thermal panels on Jesse H. Ames Suites
• Green cleaning materials
• Conscientious effort during J-term to turn back thermostats to conserve energy