Card Access: All buildings are locked 24/7 and your student will be issued a card access to gain entry. Loss of this card is $25.

Visitation: Members of the opposite gender may visit in the residence halls between the hours of noon and midnight Sunday through Thursday. Extended visitation of 1 a.m. is offered on Friday and Saturday.

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are in effect between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. However, it is understood that at any time of the day or night, students should be able to sleep or study in their residence hall room. This is known as "courtesy hours" and it is strictly enforced.

Mutual Respect for Diversity: Students living in the residence halls come from all states and countries and represent a multitude of cultures. Although cultures may be different, there is an expectation that students will learn to appreciate each individual for who they are without regard to race, religion, or national origin. Hate speech or acts of intimidation toward another individual will not be tolerated.

Student and full-time security during the evening hours in each area: Each residence hall desk is staffed during visitation hours. After midnight, there are security patrols located in each housing area checking to make sure doors are secure and all is well in exterior areas around the buildings.

For more information for all security features and future security updates, click here.

Assistant Directors: Master's degree professional staff who are responsible for the smooth operation of each area of campus. There are two assistant directors taking care of one of two areas - Upperclassman Halls (Elam, Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Wilbur, Scott, Vann and Hillcrest Halls), Freshman and Special Interest Halls (Bond, Pulley, Roberts, Bolton, Jones, and McCarty Halls). Both assistant directors can be located in Hickman Hall, 601.266.4783. They are available if a situation cannot be handled at the floor or hall level.

Hall Directors: Graduate Students, many of whom are studying to be professional university administrators. There is a graduate student in all large halls and it is their responsibility to make sure the hall is running smoothly. They supervise all resident assistants and desk assistants. They also conduct disciplinary meetings with students.

Resident Assistants: Upper-class students who are responsible for the development of community on the floor. These students have been trained in conflict mediation, para-professional counseling, roommate mediation, and community development. This is the staff person that your student will most likely know the best.

(P.S. It's always the roommate's fault). This problem is quite common and happens often as people are living in close proximity to one another. If your student is having difficulty with their roommate, the resident assistant is the first person he/she should contact. More often than not, difficulties with roommates can be settled with a little help from the Residence Life staff.

There is a checklist located here with items that would be helpful within the residence halls, as well as a list of items that are prohibited from the halls. Items that are not permitted in the Residence Halls are halogen lamps, pets, drugs/alcohol, weapons, extension cords, "George Foreman" type grills.

This is a very common complaint from parents. Often, students get so involved with activities and studying, they forget to call home. You may want to develop an understanding with your student that on a particular night, the student will "checkin" to let you know that they are alive and well.

All students living on campus have the freedom to come and go at their own discretion. There are no check-in or out policies.

• Renters insurance
• Surge Protectors/Power strips
• Extra long sheets (matresses are 80 inches long)- The Residence Hall Association, made up of students who plan activities for residence hall students, conduct a linen sale each year as a fund-raiser. Brochures are mailed directly from the linen company describing the products for the sale. However, you may also purchase linens at most department stores.
• A dolly - University organizations will provide assistance on move-in day, but parking close to buildings during check-in can often be a challenge.

• Desk Assistants
• Residence Assistants
• Residence Hall Association

Consolidation: If your child finds himself without a roommate in the middle of the semester and does not wish to pay for a private room, he/she can be consolidated with another student in the same situation. Students who do not wish to comply with this policy will be billed for a private room (1.5 times the price of a double room).

Room/Hall Assignments: Initial assignment to residence halls is done by date of completed application (Housing application, $75 application fee, and signed housing contract). Returning student preference for assignment is done by date of completed reapplication (reassignment application, application fee, and housing contract).

Private Room Fee: A private room fee will be issued to all students in a room without a roommate, unless there is no other student with whom to consolidate. This fee equals 1.5 times the rate of a double occupancy room.

Academic year rental agreement: The Housing Contract is a legally binding agreement between the student and the university for both the fall and spring semester term. If a student wishes to move off campus in midyear, they may break their housing contract by paying half of the length of the contract. Fraternity housing is not exempt from this agreement.

Reassignment: Reassignment takes place around February 1 of the following year.