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Important information
for Residential Students

Dear New Student and Family:

Congratulations on your decision to pursue a Norwich University education! Expect your first year at NU to be a rewarding yet challenging one…expect to grow academically and personally. I trust that you have accepted our invitation because you consider yourself a person of honor and integrity. Norwich students must always strive to do the “right thing” no matter how difficult or unpopular that course of action might be. Expect to embrace the Honor Code and the Norwich Guiding Values as your own.

As the Director of Residence Life and Orientation Coordinator at Norwich University, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our unique campus, one of the most beautiful in the eastern U.S.! I also wish to relay some advance information regarding Arrival Day, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008.

Most Important:

• Housing is at a premium

  Nationwide there is an influx of new students at the college level. At Norwich we are striving to have a bed for everyone and all freshmen will be housed in our residence halls. Our rooms are doubles, triples (usual for freshmen) and a few quads. You will receive information regarding your room assignment and roommates from the Housing Office in a separate mailing. If you do not receive your housing assignment by Aug. 6, please call the Residence Life Office at 802.485.2660.

• Check-in time

  New students should plan to arrive between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Wed., Aug. 20, 2008.; When you arrive on campus, follow the signs and directions for parking your vehicle and then check-in at Shapiro Field House. Admissions, Orientation Leaders and Residence Life staff will be on hand to greet and assist you. Note: Student athletes who have been invited for sports camps may need to arrive earlier…please follow the instructions provided by your coach.

• Lunch, Wise Campus Center, 10:30 a.m.–noon

  We invite you and your family and friends to attend lunch in the beautiful Wise Campus Center.

• Welcome, White Chapel, 1–2 p.m.

  President Richard Schneider, Brig. Gen. Michael Kelley, vice president for Student Affairs, and Karen McGrath, vice president for Enrollment Management and Communications, will welcome all new students and their families and friends into the University community.

• Orientation Week “Be a Part…From the Start” officially begins at 2:15 p.m.

  The Orientation staff has planned sessions, activities and social events to assist you with your transition into NU. Orientation also includes an orientation T-shirt, student planner and drawstring bag. There is an optional charge of $30, which covers an evening cruise on Lake Champlain aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen II with dinner, a deejay, dancing (optional) and beautiful scenic views. Please print and fill out the Orientation Events RSVP form and mail it and a check payable to Norwich University to the address on the form.

You will be living on campus and moving into the residence halls, therefore:

• Contact your roommate(s) as soon as you receive your housing information. The residence hall rooms are adequate but not spacious so it is best to coordinate who will contribute what items to your room, especially larger items. I encourage only one TV, microwave and refrigerator per room. There are televisions in the Crawford Hall lounge areas and in the Wise Campus Center. Each student should have his or her own computer, if possible.
• Realize that wardrobes are provided for clothing storage but they can only hold so much. Be reasonable when packing and remember you can exchange clothing by the season during breaks.
• Some common storage space is available, but we cannot store computer boxes or large pieces of luggage. Duffle bags and totes are great solutions or you can send boxes and large pieces of luggage home with whoever brings you to campus. If you travel to Vermont via public transportation, your Resident Coordinator will assist you with storing your luggage. Boxes that remain on campus must break down for flat storage.
• Be aware that fire regulations prohibit storing of bicycles in stairwells or hallways. The NU campus is small and comfortable for walking but, should you bring a bicycle, please also bring a heavy-duty lock. Bicycle storage can be arranged through Norwich Security but it is not near the residence halls.

Suggested items to bring.

If you like to listen to loud music, a set of headphones is essential. We have noise restrictions in the residence halls and a set of headphones will allow you to listen to music at high volume without disturbing others. I also suggest bringing several extra toothbrushes (discard old ones after an illness), two sets of extra-long twin size sheets, more winter than summer clothing and a good sense of humor!

Like all schools we have some restrictions. Sorry, we don’t allow:

• Cinderblocks

  I could tell some funny, and not so funny, stories concerning these handy and useful items. Mostly, we have found cinderblocks to be unsafe to humans and damaging to the buildings so we don’t allow them on campus for any reason.

• Incense and candles

  In a fire, wax acts as a long-burning fuel, and even if the wicks are cut off and the candles used as a decoration, candles are still a fire hazard. Students say they want incense to keep their rooms fresh and candles as a light source should the power fail. I suggest room freshener plug-ins for air freshening and, in the event of a power outage, a flashlight is more practical.

• Two-prong extension cords

  Only three-prong, heavy duty, surge-protected extension cords that are UL approved are allowed in the residence halls. We care about your safety! Do not bring non-surge outlet extenders or regular extension cords!

• Halogen lamps

  These lamps heat up to a dangerous temperature. For your safety and that of the rest of the community we ask that you do not bring these to campus.

• Room construction

  Get permission before you build anything in your room! This doesn’t mean that you can’t arrange your room with extras; just check it out with your Resident Coordinator before you construct anything. Permanently fixed items that are already installed, such as wall bookshelves, cannot be removed from the walls and new shelving cannot be attached to the walls or university furniture with glue, nails, or screws.

The Residence Life and Orientation Staff and I look forward to seeing you in August and assisting you to make your transition from home to Norwich as smooth as possible. Should you have any questions before you arrive, please contact me at 802.485.2660 or email at nureslife@norwich.edu.

Sincerely,

Iphagainia “Iphy” Tanguay
Director of Residence Life
New Student Orientation Coordinator