Luther College Residence Life FAQs

Can I stay in my room during campus breaks?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:00:00 -0600

Students are not permitted to remain in the residence halls during the two official college breaks (Christmas break and spring break). For the safety of students, the buildings are locked during these breaks and students do not have access to their rooms or possessions.

Students who need to be on campus at any time during these two breaks are expected to register with the Residence Life office and to make their own arrangements for housing in one of the following buildings: Miller Hall, Dieseth Hall, Baker Village, College Apartments, Norby House, the Sustainability House and all three Prairie Houses. Students who live in these buildings may stay in their own rooms. All other students approved to remain on campus must find someone who lives in one of the named buildings to stay with.

During all other academic breaks, residence halls will remain locked for student safety, but will be accessible at all times to residents assigned to those buildings with their building access key or ID card swipe.

What is NordiCash?

NordiCash could be considered similar to a debit card but can only be used at specified locations on Luther’s campus for "cashless" purchases. Students pre-deposit money onto their account at the Financial Services office which is located in Main. By using their ID card, students can make purchases in: Marty's, Oneota, Sunnyside Café, Marty's C-Store, the cafeteria, Book Shop, Document Center, Mail Center, and Luther's box office. Students cannot withdraw any cash from NordiCash. Any unused funds are returned to the student when they graduate or withdraw from Luther.

Where can I store my bike?

Bicycles may be kept in the bicycle racks located outside of each hall; bicycles should not be stored in student rooms. To help promote the use of bicycles as an alternative forms of transportation, Luther offers free winter storage for bicycles. Bikes are placed in secure, dry storage in the Ashmore-Jewell Barn. The barn will be open for two day in November to accept bikes. Students can retrieve bikes on fall semester reading day or two days in spring yet to be determined.

How can I get around Decorah if I don't have a car?

The Decorah Shopping Shuttle provides a bi-monthly service for students to complete their shopping needs without having to use a personal vehicle. Each month, one weekday evening and one weekend afternoon shuttle will take students to downtown Decorah and Wal-Mart and return to Luther approximately one hour later.

For complete information, including shuttle schedule and on-line registration, visit the Decorah Shopping Shuttle page.

When can I move into my residence hall?

First year and transfer students may arrive on campus between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the Saturday prior to the first day of classes. Returning students may arrive on the Sunday prior to the first day of classes. The first day of classes is usually the first Wednesday in September or the final Wednesday in August. Specific arrival dates and times will be sent to students each August.

Students who participate in athletics, Residence Life staff members, international students, and approved student employees may arrive on campus early if they have the approval of their coach or supervisor. Specific information about early arrivals such as date, time, and check-in location, will be sent to students by their coach or work supervisor. Students not approved to arrive before the official arrival dates will not be issued keys to their rooms.

For more information, please see the early arrival policy.

What are the meal plan options?

Students who live on campus are required to purchase a campus meal plan. Dining Services offers a wide variety of meal plans that allow students to select a plan that works best for them. For more information see Dining Services or call (563) 387-1030.

Can I rent a refrigerator on campus?

The Entrepreneurship Club offers a rental service of refrigerators for $35.00. These are Luther approved fridges (3.2 cubic feet). Students are allowed to have one refrigerator per room. If you are interested in renting, please fill out the online form on the Luther website. http://www.luther.edu/business/ The link to the rental form will be located on the left of the page under Entrepreneurship Club. If you have any questions feel free to contact eclub@luther.edu

What are the social activities available in the hall?

Students have numerous social opportunities available to them: RAs provide monthly activities to build community and friendships among floor members; Student Activities Council offers films, comedians, concerts, dances, and lectures each weekend; Recreational Services offers countless intramural sports activities for all levels of competition. And the Performing Arts Committee presents a full-year concert series with traveling professional artists. Residence halls also have recreational equipment (volleyball court, ping-pong, foosball, billiards, air hockey, board games, etc.) unique to each building.

Is there a data outlet in each room?

Students with wireless capabilities on their computers may receive the Internet in all residence halls on campus. In addition, each room is equipped with data outlets that allows students to be on both the phone and the campus data network at the same time. Ylvisaker, Brandt, Olson, Larsen, Farwell, Baker Village, and Norby House provide data outlets for each resident. In the other halls, students may check out a modem from the library at no cost to allow for multiple connections in one room. In order to use Luther's data network (Resnet), your computer must have a network card installed. More information is available from the Help Desk.

How does the bike share program work?

The Luther College Bike Share Program provides 5, single-speed coaster brake bikes and 3 multiple-speed bikes free to the Luther community. Bikes and helmets may be checked out at the Circulation Desk in Preus Library for up to four hours per day. Bikes must be returned to the library by closing time; the regular operational hours for the library vary.

May I park a car or motorcycle on campus?

Students are permitted to park vehicles in designated lots on campus. There is adequate parking on campus, however, the lots are not necessarily close to all of the residence halls. There is limited remote parking for free; a parking permit is required for all other lots and costs $100.00 for each academic year. For more information, contact the Security Office at (563) 387-2111.

Do I need a phone or an answering machine?

Each residence hall room has a shared telephone and telephone number which will allow for free incoming and local outgoing calls. Students desiring an individually-assigned number and voice mail box may request one via the LIS website.

Luther does not provide a long distance calling plan for student phones, but phone cards may be purchased in the Book Shop. Increasingly, students opt to call long distance using their cellular phone plans.

What about security in the residence halls?

Luther College has professional and trained security staff members on duty 24 hours per day, 365 days each year. The campus switchboard is manned from 7 a.m. to midnight each night of the week. Residence Life staff lock the residence hall access doors at 10 p.m. and unlock them at 8 a.m. Resident assistants perform duty rounds in their halls to ensure safety in each building. Students are strongly encouraged to lock their room doors and carry their room and access keys at all times.

Are any of the buildings handicapped accessible?

Farwell, Baker Village, Ylvisaker, Brandt, and Olson halls are ADA (American with Disabilities Act) compliant. Other residence halls are not handicapped accessible. The college is continuously working to increase accessibility on campus. Students who have questions or concerns about housing accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office at 563-387-1270.

My current roommate is leaving. What do I have to do?

An email is sent to all students who have, or may have, a vacancy in their room. This is sent to remind the student that the vacancy in their room is available to all students at any time during the year and refusing to have a new roommate is not an option. Students with a room vacancy must be prepared to receive a new roommate upon notice from the Residence Life office. Every effort is made to make roommate matches based on mutual interests.

If the spring semester enrollment allows, students with an anticipated vacancy in double rooms in upper class halls will be notified of a buy-out program. This program allows students in double rooms to "buy-out" the vacant space in their room. The Residence Life office will have final say on which rooms and how many rooms on campus will be eligible for the room buy-out program each year. This program is not available in first-year halls.