Living On Campus

The Office of Residence Life offers a unique experience for students. Each member of the residential community engages in intentional learning outside of the classroom and is given the opportunity to provide feedback and participate in assessment of the program. Through this process, each student becomes a partner and facilitator, assisting each student in becoming an integral member of the Western New England University community.

Our educational priority is direct and pointed. Upon completion of residing on campus, the student will demonstrate personal responsibility and engagement within the community. This is achieved with the following outcomes in mind:

1. The student will foster their role as a citizen.

Students will recognize that responsible citizenship includes a personal commitment to respect others and actively engage in their community. The student will develop and practice skills essential for productive living as a community member. Through these experiences, the student will be prepared to craft their role as a citizen in order to positively contribute to the betterment of society.

2. The student will be able to think independently and make decisions for themselves.

The student will compare and evaluate various thoughts, opinions, and beliefs in order to continuously develop their personal value system. The student will be able to articulate this value system and the perspectives it generates in order to participate in meaningful discussions in which individual viewpoints are treated with respect.

3. The student will participate in experiences that foster academic achievement and stimulate intellectual activity.

The student will engage in opportunities to capitalize on academic success while also recognizing learning is more than classroom performance. In doing so, they will gain the ability and desire to seek out knowledge for both its practical implications and intrinsic value. Utilizing the resources to support lifelong learning, students will be positioned to succeed in the global workforce and as contributing members of society.

With independent goals based on class year, residents will engage in well-developed and intended programs, discussions, and opportunities (independently and in groups) to develop and further enhance their personal character and identity.

Yes, if you are going to be an exchange student at Western New England University for a semester or a year, you are required to live on campus.

The policies developed by the University exist to provide students, individually and collectively, as members of a larger community with a frame of reference and specific expectations to promote good judgment and informed decision making. These policies are not simply a list of necessary restrictions or limitations on behavior or use of physical space; they exist to inform students of both their rights and their responsibilities as resident students. Policies are designed to help ensure personal safety, care of University property, and the development of an orderly and respectful environment conducive to academic achievement and personal growth. Resident students should refer to the 2023-2024 Resident Student Housing Agreement and other information distributed throughout the year for a full description of all relevant guidelines, policies, and procedures. Behavior contrary to University policies and/or local, state, and federal laws and ordinances are addressed through established discipline review processes. Refer to your Student Code of Conduct, found in the Student Handbook, for clarification. An additional resource includes the Definitions and Appeal brochure for the student judicial system.

In the case of emergency, be sure that you are familiar with the evacuation plan for the residence areas and the Emergency Assembly Points.

Is smoking allowed in student housing?

We have a smoke-free policy in all residence areas. Smoking is not allowed in all public/commonly shared space as well as individual student rooms, suites, apartments, and townhouses. Smoking is also not permitted within 25 feet of all University buildings. We cannot guarantee, however, that any resident (as a roommate, suitemate, etc.) will be a non-smoker, only that smoking is prohibited within the living environment. The same policy applies to e-cigarettes and vaping.

Are there curfews for students?

There are no curfews in student housing. Residents have around-the-clock access to their assigned building through their student ID card and are fully responsible for anyone visiting them. There are also no pre-determined time limits for visiting in student housing. However, visitors should not interfere with a resident’s right to reasonable privacy and legitimate use of their living space. Students should discuss guest policies with their roommate(s) once they’ve moved in.

What about overnight guests? 

A resident (host) may have a visitor spend the night, with the knowledge and consent of the roommate. Residents are responsible for the conduct of their guests, who must abide by all University policies. In addition, the presence of a guest should not inconvenience the roommate. Students should think carefully about who they invite to visit, and monitor visitors’ actions carefully. The University also reserves the right to require a guest to depart at any point in time.

Is this a dry campus? What about other illegal or controlled substances?

Students of legal age may consume alcohol (responsibly) if assigned to Southwood Hall, Evergreen Village, or Gateway Village, which are of-age residence areas. Students who choose to drink in an underage residence facility or public area of the campus should be prepared to be held accountable. Illegal substances are obviously prohibited and prescription medication must only be used as directed. While taking an educational approach, dependent on the circumstances, drug-related behavior (possession, use, sharing/distribution) is taken seriously within the University judicial process. 

Will parents/guardians be notified if their student is held accountable for a policy violation? 

If University records indicate that a student is a dependent, or if authorization has been given by the student to share information, we may communicate with parents/guardians. If misconduct is such that the outcome is censure, disciplinary probation, or removal from housing, we will send parents/guardians a copy of the decision letter addressed to the student (with a courtesy cover letter of explanation.) This approach is intended to give the student time to communicate with parents/guardians first. The decision letter also explains the appeal process. If a parent/guardian would like additional clarification after they have discussed the matter with the student, they may contact the individual who rendered the decision. We know this is a stressful experience and we do our best to ensure conversations are meaningful and productive.

Each residence area has quiet hours, beginning at 10:00 p.m. on weeknights and at midnight on weekends. Given the number of students living on any given floor, quiet hours are intended to promote an environment conducive to study and rest. This is a group responsibility, in that each resident has an obligation to monitor themselves and confront others who may be too noisy. If a resident attempts to ask a neighbor to respect quiet hours and is unsuccessful, they can contact a Resident Advisor for assistance. There are also extended quiet hours during finals week.

If you lose your key, all you have to do is log in to the work order system in Connect2U and click on Facilities. When the new work order opens, select Locksmith in the “Request Type” menu and then you’ll be able to complete the work order and submit it. The work order will then be sent to the Locksmiths who will respond to it in a timely manner (they are in the office Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). This process should be used for any non-emergency lost key.

If your key is stolen, that would qualify as an emergency and should be reported directly to Campus Police immediately so that they can take your report and change your lock. Please be advised that a lost key will cost you $100, so please be sure that your key is lost before you submit your work order. If you find your key after your lock has already been changed, it will be too late and you will still be responsible for the $100 charge.

Western New England University provides XFINITY ON CAMPUS as our campus television service. XFINITY ON CAMPUS lets students watch live TV and thousands of Xfinity On Demand selections on their laptops, desktops and mobile devices, as well as on traditional flat screen televisions. In order to use a traditional flat screen television to use this service, you must either have a Roku enabled television, or a Roku device that works with your television.  Below you'll find a document with more specific information on Roku devices and instructions for how to access XFINITY ON CAMPUS with different devices.

If you're having trouble with the network or logging in to XFINITY ON CAMPUS, you can place a work order with OIT or contact the OIT helpdesk at 413-796-2200. Once you have successfully logged in to XFINITY ON CAMPUS, if you have any issues with the service itself, you'll be working directly with Comcast customer service. There's a support tab within the platform which should be able to help you, but if you cannot find it or are having trouble with it, you can also call their customer support at 1-800-XFINITY.

Heating and cooling seasons

Depending on the time of year, the University is either in a heating season or a cooling season.  Except for where window AC units are installed, we cannot instantaneously convert from heating to cooling (or vice-versa). It takes some time to transition the residence hall HVAC systems. When the conversion occurs is determined by Facilities Management and depends on actual and forecasted outside air temperatures. 

Temperatures rise and fall

The residence halls are well insulated and retain temperatures. Unexpected heat waves or cold spells may take a little while for inside temperatures to respond and adjust. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the time of year and individual comfort levels. In general, when outside temperatures drop and consistently remain below 60 degree during heating season, heat will be on.  When outside temperatures rise above 60 degrees during cooling season, AC will be working.  Remember, lighting, electronic equipment, open or closed windows and doors, and body heat all have an impact on inside temperatures.

Close that window

Leaving windows open during heating season as an attempt to moderate room temperatures may be counter-productive and actually call for more unwanted heat in the room or elsewhere in the building. Likewise, opening windows during cooling season to get fresh air causes HVAC systems to work harder and contributes to humidity issues. Please do not leave windows open.

Let it flow

Do not block HVAC units and radiators. Heating and cooling systems require good air flow and circulation (convection) to work effectively. If possible, avoid placing anything over or against HVAC units or radiators. Leave space for Facilities Management staff to access the units as necessary for ongoing maintenance and filter replacement (where applicable).

Submit work orders

A work order should be submitted anytime there is a concern that heating/cooling systems are not working properly. Instances of NO HEAT during heating season should be reported to staff and called in to Facilities Management (413-782-1737) or to Public Safety after hours (413-782-1207).

Laundry on campus is included with your housing charge and does not require any additional payment with coins or your student ID card. If you live in Evergreen, Gateway, or Southwood, you can use Laundryview to see if machines are available before you go to your laundry room.

What size are the mattresses?

The traditional corridor-style halls (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Windham) which accommodate first year students, Commonwealth Hall, Plymouth Complex, Evergreen Village, Southwood Hall and LaRiviere Living and Learning Center have twin extra long mattresses in student rooms. Gateway Village has twin regular mattresses the student rooms. Pillows and linens are not provided, however, you may purchase linens from the Residence Hall Association here.

Can room furniture be rearranged?

Yes. Furniture is free standing and can be modified in a number of ways–such as loft-style, where the desk and dresser are situated below an elevated bed frame and mattress, or with the bed near to the floor, traditional style. Tools such as a screwdriver and adjustable wrench may be required if parts are involved. In whatever manner a room is set up for student use; all University owned furniture and personal belongings must be kept there. Storage space is not available during the academic year. Students will be billed for any missing or damaged parts, so care should be taken when rearranging or modifying the design or set-up of room furniture.

Do I need to buy curtains and/or carpeting?

No. Bedrooms in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Commonwealth, and Southwood have window shades. Windham, LaRiviere, and Evergreen have curtains. Gateway bedrooms have frosted/privacy windows. Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, LaRiviere, and Gateway have tile floors in the bedrooms. Commonwealth and Evergreen bedrooms are carpeted. Students may bring area rugs if they wish. Students may not install curtains except in Gateway bedrooms using fire resistant curtains.

Are any pets allowed?

Fish, in a 10 gallon tank or smaller, are the only type of pet allowed. Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals are permitted. ESAs must be approved through Student Accessibility Services.

What about personal computers?

All of our residence hall rooms provide both hard wired and wireless internet access.

Are students allowed to bring furniture? 

We provide ample furniture, so students should think carefully about bringing any additional items, and should definitely communicate with their roommate before doing so. Personal furniture may be added on a limited basis. In all housing areas except Gateway Village, the student is permitted to bring single-seat supplemental items which meet the standard of California Technical Bulletin 117 (CAL 117). In Gateway Village, single-seat personal furniture must meet the standard of California Technical Bulletin 133 (CAL 133). The University reserves the right to limit the amount and size of supplemental seating students may bring into the room or apartment. Halogen lamps and air conditioners are not allowed in student housing. Note that fines may be implemented for the presence and/or use of prohibited items. These may be billed to a specific individual, or may be billed to both roommates (regardless of who owns the prohibited commodity) as a collective responsibility in shared living space. Detailed information is in the Resident Student Housing Agreement.

Are residence halls air conditioned?

All main campus residence halls are centrally airconditioned except Plymouth. All Gateway apartments have window-mounted air conditioning units in living rooms.

Can I dispose of my electronics on campus?

As part of the University’s commitment to sustainability, we ask that you not dispose of electronics, or anything with a power cord, on campus. Electronic devices (most notably televisions) contain hazardous materials. We ask that you take your electronic devices home with you. If you are planning to dispose of these devices, your home town most likely has a recycling program for such materials. 

Students who leave electronic devices behind will be subject to cleaning and disposal fees, as you would be with any trash or items left behind after you check-out. Additionally, if electronic items are found in a dumpster, and the student(s) responsible can be identified, that student or students will also be subject to fines for disposal. 

Please help us maintain our commitment to sustainability, and thank you for your cooperation.

Procurement Services oversees the vending machines throughout the campus. Our vendors are Coca-Cola (soda machines) and Aramatic Coffee Service (snack machines). Please call 413-782-1237 to report a problem with a machine or to request a refund.

Many programs and events occur throughout the academic year, sponsored either by student groups or departments like Student Involvement and Connections, Residence Life, and Diversity Programs. We also work to ensure that activities occur on weekends. The most successful students are those who seek out opportunities to get involved, and students who make an effort to stay on campus on weekends.

We strongly encourage students to attend events and join a club or organization. One such organization on campus is the Residence Hall Association (RHA). Students can get involved with RHA by joining the Hall Council in their building.