Frequently Asked Questions
Facilities
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 accessible. The college is continuously working on increasing accessibility on campus.
What about security in the residence halls?
Luther College has professional security staff member on duty 24 hours per day, 365 days each year. There is also a telephone operator at the Union switchboard 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.
Is there a data outlet in each room?
Each room is equipped with a data outlet that allows students to be on both the phone and the campus data network at the same time. Ylvisaker, Brandt, Olson, Larsen, Farwell, and Baker Village provide data outlets for each resident. In the other halls, students may check out a modem from the library 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.
Are the residence halls air conditioned?
The residence halls which house first-year students (Brandt, Olson, and Ylvisaker halls) do not have central air conditioning. Students may cool their rooms through the use of window fans. Students requiring air conditioning for clearly documented health reasons (e.g., severe allergies) will be housed in Olson Hall in triple-occupancy rooms containing a fitted window unit purchased by the college. Air conditioning is available in all upperclass halls except Larsen Hall.
Are there computer labs in the building?
Dieseth, Miller, Larsen, Farwell, Ylvisaker, Brandt, and Olson feature a computer lab that is open 24 hours a day, except during break periods. Main and Olin halls have computer labs accessible to students who enter the labs before midnight each weekday.
What are the cable T.V. options?
Cable is provided in each room as part of the room and board costs. Service is provided through Mediacom. Cable service provides over 50 local and cable channels (including Discovery©, TLC©, BET©, ESPN©, ESPN2©, TCM©, History©, Golf©, Comedy Central©, CSPAN©, CSPAN2©, and several foreign language channels, to name only a few). Students may also purchase premium channels by contacting Mediacom at (563) 382-3560.
What are the long-distance calling plan options?
Local phone calls are free. All outside calling plans and cards will work on Luther phones. Increasingly, students opt to call long-distance using their cellular phone plans.
Do I need an answering machine?
No. Luther has Call Pilot, an automated voice mail system. When a student arrives on campus, he or she is assigned a phone number that remains active during their entire stay in the residence halls. Students also get their own electronic voice mailbox to send and to receive telephone messages. For more information read the Call Pilot instructions for students.
Is there storage on campus?
The college does not maintain storage unless a student lives farther than four hours from the college. Long-term storage units are available in the Decorah area. Area storage facilities include:
- Arend's MVG & Storage LC (563) 382-9527
- Store-It Storage (563) 382-2211
- Viking Safe Store (563) 382-8453
There are numerous secure racks on campus for bicycle storage. Students may keep bicycles in their rooms, but this practice is discouraged for safety reasons and because of the potential for damage.
May I park a car or motorcycle on campus?
Students are permitted to park vehicles on campus. There is adequate parking on campus, however, the lots are not necessarily close to all of the residence halls. A parking permit costs $75.00 for each academic year. For more information, contact the Office of Security at (563) 387-2111.
Where can I do my laundry?
Each residential area has its own laundry facilities. All appliances are coin-operated. Washing costs $1 per load and drying costs $.50 cents per load. Bring quarters with you; it is difficult to find change on campus.
Are there vending machines in the hall?
Yes. Each residence hall has a snack machine and several beverage vending machines. Pepsi products are sold in the residence halls. Other beverages are sold in the Union.
Roommates
How many students live in a room?
The number of roommates you have depends upon the hall in which you live. Brandt and Olson Hall have mostly triple rooms; a few quadruple rooms are available in Brandt as well. Brandt, Ylvisaker, Farwell, Larsen, Miller, and Dieseth have double rooms. Single rooms are not available for first-year students; only Farwell and Larsen halls have single rooms. Singles are drawn based on seniority, and are only available to seniors and students with approved housing accommodations. Accommodations can be arranged through Raymundo Rosales, Director of Disability Services at (563) 387-1270.
How are roommates matched?
For incoming first-year and new transfer students, the housing assignments coordinator makes roommate matches based on information in the housing application. Respond to the questions honestly! The more information applicants provide, the easier it is to make suitable matches. The housing application is sent as soon as the college receives the student's enrollment deposit. Housing applications may also be completed on the web after the deposit has been paid.
Can I choose a roommate?
Yes. If you have a friend coming to Luther whom you want to live with, and both of you state on your housing applications that you would like to live together, we will honor your requests. We encourage hometown friends to live apart their first year at Luther in order to broaden their friendship base.
What happens if I don’t get along with my roommate(s)?
When we are informed of a roommate conflict, we urge them to talk about the problems and try to find reasonable solutions. We provide residents the tools and strategies for developing a successful conflict resolution. If the residents make a good-faith attempt to solve their problems, and after a reasonable amount of time things are not better, then staff members will facilitate a roommate mediation. Most often, the mediation is successful and problems are resolved.
We believe that residents need to work through roommate conflicts and not move rooms in order to avoid confronting problems. Learning to compromise and how to live in community with other students is a valuable life skill. If a professional staff member then decides that a roommate conflict is irreconcilable, then a room change may be approved.
Policies
When are quiet hours in the residence halls?
Between 11 p.m. and 11 a.m., quiet hours are in effect in the residence halls. Residence life staff enforce this policy in order to ensure that each floor environment is one that promotes healthy living and effective learning. In addition, the college maintains courtesy hours, a practice that shields residents from excessive noise when quiet hours are not in effect.
Are the residence halls coeducational?
All of the halls are coeducational (mixed gender) by floor, wing, cluster, or apartment. Coeducational housing is sanctioned for Farwell Hall center clusters only.
May I smoke in the residence halls?
All of the residence halls are nonsmoking. Students may smoke outside in designated areas away from the residence hall access doors.
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. For more information see Dining Services or call (563) 387-1030.
Staff
Who directs the residence halls?
A professional staff member manages each residence hall. Brandt, Olson, and Ylvisaker halls each have a hall director who works and resides in the building. Hall directors are trained professional staff members who manage resident assistants, adjudicate disciplinary conduct issues, act as a liaison with facilities management, and promote positive living-learning environments. Dieseth, Miller, Farwell, Larsen, Baker Village, Prairie Houses, and the College Apartments are upperclass residence halls managed by area coordinators—professionals who oversee more than one building. Area coordinators are assisted by hall managers, trained student staff who live in each upperclass hall and assist with administrative tasks as assigned by the area coordinators.
What are the resident assistants?
Resident assistants (RAs) are selected and trained student leaders who assist residents by peer counseling, advising, resolving conflicts, providing programs and assisting in orientation to collegiate life. RAs play a key role in creating an environment for students that is conducive to academic, personal, and social growth and development. RAs are friends, resources, mentors, role models and community leaders.
Programs
Are there special first-year and second-year living programs?
In first-year halls, Luther provides the opportunity to live on a wellness floor or a quiet floor. In Miller Hall, you have the option to live on a wellness floor.
Is there exercise equipment?
Exercise facilities are located in the Regents Center. The Regents Center's newest addition, The Legends Fitness Center, has cutting-edge strength and fitness equipment, in addition to a 30-foot rock-climbing wall. For more information, read about Luther's wellness program.
What are the social activites available in the hall?
Each resident has numerous social opportunities available to him/her: 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 Sports 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. Each hall also has recreational equipment (ping-pong, foosball, billiards, board games, etc.) unique to each hall.
Does the hall offer tutoring opportunitities?
All residents are encouraged to utilize the tutors and resources provided by the Student Academic Support Center, as well as the guidance of their RA.
Arrival & Moving into the Residence Halls
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 during one of the check-in times on the Sunday prior to the first day of classes (12-2 p.m. or 7-10 p.m.). The first day of classes is usually the first Wednesday in September or the final Wednesday in August. Specific arrival dates will be sent in housing assignment letters 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. Students not approved to arrive before the official arrival dates will not be issued keys to their rooms. Check-in for early arrivals is in the Dahl Centennial Union.
If you arrive at a time other than your designated check-in time, you may check-in by finding the resident assistant on your floor. If you cannot locate a staff member in the hall, contact security at (563) 387-2111.
Mid-year Housing
What if I am returning from being gone fall semester?
Students who are off campus for the fall semester and are returning for J-term or spring semester should have filled out a form before they left campus stating their housing and roommate requests. While the student is away from campus, the housing assignments coordinator will be in contact via their Luther e-mail address. By the end of November or beginning of December, housing assignments are made and e-mails are sent to returning students with their current assignment and roommate name(s).
What if I am leaving after fall semester/J-term?
Notices are sent to students who are "leaving" requesting verification of their absence and the exact term they will be leaving. If a student plans to return the following fall semester they are asked to designate a proxy who will complete room draw for them. The housing assignments coordinator will keep in contact with the student via Luther e-mail during the student's absence.
I am a nursing student and will be returning for J-term. Is there anywhere I can stay?
Nursing students who need housing during J-term are sent e-mails requesting their housing preference and, if possible, the names of those they'll will be staying with. The housing assignments coordinator will house the nursing student in a room that has a vacancy. The housing coordinator will also provide the current occupant of that room with the nursing student's name and e-mail address.
My current roomate is leaving. What do I have to do?
A memorandum is sent to all students who have, or may have, a vacancy in their room. This is sent to remind the student that their room must be prepared for a roommate to move in. Assignments will be made at the end of November or beginning of December. An interests form is attached to the memo so that an appropriate roommate can be matched with the current resident(s) of the room.
I have a vacancy in my room currently. Will I be getting a roommate?
All rooms are expected to be filled to capacity; therefore if you have a vacancy in your room you should expect to have a roommate. Notices will be sent to all students who will be getting a new roomate. The notice will include their roomate's name and the date they will be moving in. The new roommate will also receive a notice as to their housing assignment and the date they can move in.
J-term Housing
I am going to be here for J-term. Will I be charged for room and board?
J-term is a "tuition-free and room-and-board-free" term. There is no charge for J-term tuition for full-time, degree-seeking students paying the full-time tuition charge for either fall or spring semester. There is no charge for J-term room as long as the student lives in the residence hall for the entire fall or spring semester. There is also no charge for J-term board as long as the student participates in the full board plan for the entire fall or spring semester.
I am going to be gone for J-term. Am I eligible for a food cost rebate?
Only the following students, who have a full board plan for fall semester, are eligible for a food cost rebate for J-term:
- Students who participate in a Luther-sponsored J-term trip
- Students who enroll for credit in an internship that does not allow them to live on-campus due to the distance from Decorah
- Students who participate at an Education 115-A (Clinical Experience in Schools) location that does not allow them to live-on campus due to the distance from Decorah