Living On-Campus
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Sonoma State University
Housing Services
1801 East Cotati Ave.
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Tele: (707) 664-2541
Fax: (707) 664-4158
Taking Care of Business During Occupancy
While a student resides on campus there will be various types of business that he or she will need to handle. Our desire is to work with the student in order to better prepare them for the transition from campus housing to the local community. We have provided this information so you can be familiar with these concepts and encourage your son or daughter to try to be personally responsible for their own matters. There are two areas - emergencies and moving out - that require more detail than a paragraph; therefore please visit those two pages which are listed under the Highlights section on the right hand side.
Moving In
Information about checking into the Residential Community is provided with the student's Room Assignment which is mailed mid July for Fall term or late December for Spring term. The majority of our Opening Weekend information is posted on-line at the Room Assignments link under the Resource Center. Please be aware the information published may be for the current semester and not the upcoming term, but it will provide the student with a general overview of how to prepare for Opening Weekend and what services to anticipate. Students are advised to go back once they receive their room assignment packet to visit the website again for the correct information.
Room Condition Form
One of the first things we suggest a student does upon moving-in is complete a Room Condition form. A Room Condition form is for the student to record any existing damage or cleanliness issues at the time when they check-in. This will protect them from being charged for pre-existing conditions when the student checks out at the conclusion of their occupancy. Normal "wear-and-tear" is expected during the occupancy period, but the student will be financially responsible for damages and excessive cleaning when they check out. If the student does not return the form, then it is assumed that there are no pre-existing conditions to report.
FERPA
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law protecting the privacy of a student's education records. According to FERPA, once a student turns 18, information from his or her student record cannot be shared with others - including parents - unless the student gives written permission. The law does allow an institution to disclose student information without consent in some special cases involving heath and safety emergencies.
The following information, designated as public or discretionary information, may be disclosed at the University's discretion: name, address, dates of attendance, full-time/part-time status, degree awarded, major field, and date of graduation.
Financial and Payment Information
General payment information can be found on the Housing Payment web page under the Resource Center. Rate schedules, credit card slips, payment coupons, and how to use financial aid disbursements to cover housing expenses are all located there. Information about individual student accounts can be obtained from Customer Services at (707)664-2308 or can be accessed by the student logging into PeopleSoft. PeopleSoft will also allow continuing students to view their financial aid awards and documents needed for their funds to be disbursed.The navigation is Peoplesoft: Home >SA Self Service > Learner Services > Finances > View My Financial Aid.
Insurance: Health and Personal Belongings
During the period covered by the License Agreement, the student is encouraged to obtain health and accident insurance. Many dependent students are covered under their parents or guardians insurance. However, if you are interested in purchasing health insurance please visit the CSU Health Link site which is a program affilitated with Sonoma State's Associated Students. The Associated Students can be reached at (707) 664-2815.
The University has no insurance to cover the personal or property damage of students. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain such insurance, such as a renter's policy. Sometimes this will be covered under a parent's homeowner's policy, but you will want to check with your insurance agent about the details. CSI Insurance Agency and National Student Services, Inc specializes in providing renter insurance policies at reasonable rates.
Intersession Housing
The License Agreement does not grant the resident permission to live on-campus during the break between the Fall and Spring semesters, which is called Intersession Break. Residents continuing from the Fall semester to the Spring semester can apply to live on-campus in their Fall assignment at an additional cost. Intersession Housing is not available to new students taking occupancy in the Spring semester or for those students who have Petition to Vacate at the end of the Fall semester. More information is available in our Current Resident area of our website under Intersession Housing.
Maintenance and Facility Issues
Maintenance Assistance: To report a maintenance issue, residents call Customer Services at x44021. Customer Services submits a work request to the University's Facilities Services staff who then responds to the issue. For status updates or follow-up on requests, residents can again contact Customer Services.
Computer & Phone Assistance: Residents call the Information Technology Help Desk at x44357 to receive assistance with their computers and the computer and phone networks.
Lost Keys: Residents contact Customer Services at campus extension x44021 to report and secure replacements for lost keys.
Lockout Assistance: Residents obtain lockout assistance from the Zinfandel Housing Office during weekdays and from Police Services, located in Verdot Village, during nights and weekends.
Residency Limit
Campus housing is not guaranteed for multiple years of residency. Priority for returning is determined on a lottery basis with first consideration given to the residents who have lived on campus for one year or less.
Room Changes
Residents desiring to change rooms must meet with their Residential Life Coordinator (RLC) to request a change. Residents must bring the approved room change form to the Housing Services Office in Zinfandel Hall; the housing staff then provides a list of the currently available spaces. The resident checks out these options to decide which one best suites their needs and notifies Housing Services of their choice. Keys are then exchanged and any necessary billing changes completed.
Roommate Conflicts
Residents experiencing living conflicts with their roommate(s) are encouraged to speak directly with the offending roommate to resolve the situation or to their Community Service Advisor (CSA) if they are not comfortable directly engaging their roommate. The CSAs are student peer advisors who live in each area of the Residential Community. The CSA will help troubleshoot solutions to the conflict. If the situation is beyond the CSA's level of responsibility, the CSA will recommend that the student speak with their Residential Life Coordinator (RLC). The RLCs are full time professional staff members who live in each of the villages. The RLC will decide the best course of action including identifying behaviors that need to be changed. They also can approve room changes as a way to resolve the situation.
