Room FAQ

Will I get a single?
Unfortunately, the college does not have singles available for first and second year students.  As a new student, you should anticipate living in a double, triple, or quad room configuration.

Will I have a roommate?
All new students, sophomores, and some juniors are paired with a roommate(s). These matches are based on living preferences you provided us on the Housing Assignment Form. Contact information for your roommate(s) is provided in your housing assignment email. We encourage roommates to touch base before arrival to get to know each other and coordinate large items such as refrigerators, televisions, and stereo equipment. This is also a great opportunity to talk about living preferences such as bunking the beds, intended class schedule or majors, and living patterns. The Office of Residential Life provides a roommate starter kit to aid in the discussion.

When will I find out about my room assignment?
Housing assignments for all new fall semester incoming students will be emailed to your Mount Holyoke email account in early August.  For all spring admitted students, housing assignments will be emailed during January.

How are rooms and roommates assigned?
Students are housed using the preferences you provide on the Housing Assignment Form.  This is a manual process in which the staff reviews the information on the form to make roommate matches. Students are matched as closely as we can in the areas room environment, study habits, cleanliness, noise, and guests. 

In many cases, it’s not possible to make an identical match in all areas.  In these instances, we prioritize compatibility with rest/room environment over study habits and social life.  We strongly recommend honesty when completing these forms. The Office of Residential Life does not factor in personal values or demographic information such as race, religion, sexual orientation, etc when making housing assignments.

We do our best to place students in their building of choice; however, space in the residence hall may not be available.  Once roommates are matched, the housing forms are grouped in building/campus area of preference.  Rooms are then filled at random from the grouping. This process is repeated until all students are housed.

What should I do if I am not happy with my housing assignment?
There is no space for change after the housing assignments are processed.  The residence halls are usually at capacity until the middle of the semester.  We encourage all students to engage in conversation and compromise as they adjust to their new roommate and living situation.  Should a living situation become extremely difficult, residents should speak with their floor Student Advisor to discuss mediation strategies.  Students should contact their building Assistant Director if the matter is not appropriate for a peer mediator.  All residents have the opportunity to complete a room change for the next semester.  These assignment changes are completed in between semesters through the room change request process.

What does my room come with?
Each student is provided a desk, desk chair, bureau, bookcase, standard twin bed, and a mirror. The College requires all room furniture, except the student bed frame and mattress, to remain in the student room.  Please plan accordingly when purchasing larger items to personalize your space.  Student rooms also come with a closet and/or wardrobe. There are several instances students are asked to share closets.

What size is my bed?
All beds are standard twin. Mount Holyoke College does not provide extra long beds.

What should I do if my overhead light is out or a piece of furniture is broken in my room?
The Office of Facilities Management works to preserve the campus facilities while creating and sustaining an environment that will support the best and brightest students. You should complete a service request form whenever you have a maintenance issue in your room or residence hall. Service requests can be completed online using the MAXIMO work order system. In an emergency, contact Facilities Management by calling 413-538-2012 during normal business hours. Contact the Office of Public Safety by call 413-538-2304 for after hour, weekend, and holiday emergences. Service requests usually take 48 to 72 hours to complete.

Are there curtains in my room?
Students must supply their own curtains and curtain rods with the exception of those students living in MacGregor and Ham Halls. Clutch shades are provided in all halls. Regrettably, we do not have detailed information such as window size for each residence hall room.  Many students will wait until their arrival to purchase decorative items. There are several local discount retailers in the area.  During the academic year, the college  provides a weekly shuttle to area shopping centers.

Is my room carpeted?
Residence Hall rooms are either hardwood floors or linoleum. If students wish to have a carpet in their room they must bring one with them. Regrettably, we do not have detailed information such as open floor area for each residence hall room.  See our online floor plans for a rough idea of your room dimensions

What should I bring?
Mount Holyoke encourages all students to make themselves at home.  Students should feel free to personalize their space.  We do have a suggested list of essential items students should bring to campus.  Please refer to our packing list of room essentials and our fire safety policies on fire hazards to avoid bringing to campus.

What is not allowed in my room?
Because of fire laws, students may not have electric blankets, air conditioners, space heaters, candles, lofts, or incense to name a few. Please refer to the packing/shopping list for a list of prohibited items.

Is there storage on campus?
The College provides storage for the academic year only.  These storage spaces are our trunk rooms in the residence hall basements. The trunk rooms are designed to provide storage for those extras in one’s room that make it too close for comfort. Trunk room space is available to all current Mount Holyoke residential students. Trunk room space is a community resource and available on a first come – first move basis. Access to the trunk room can be arranged through your Hall President. In cases where the hall president is not available, contact the Office of Residential Life. There is no over the summer storage at Mount Holyoke.  The College is working with several local storage companies to provide accessible and affordable options for our students.

We encourage students to seek off-campus options, as our storage facilities are not secured or climate controlled. The College does not have property insurance for student possessions. The College accepts no responsibility  for anything stored in the basements, and things may be inadvertently removed and discarded, misplaced, stolen, or subject to other accidental damage or loss.

Can I get cable in my room?
Every residence hall room has a cable television outlet. Students can apply for service through the MHC Auxiliary Services at 413-538-2828.

Is there internet access in my room?
All residence hall rooms have internet access. Students should contact the Mount Holyoke College Help Desk at 413-538-2600 for specific details.

How do I find out my phone number?
You will receive your phone number when you receive your room assignment during the summer (or in Januay for spring admits). You can also determine your phone number by logging into your Mount Holyoke email through the web, choosing Webshell from the top menu and doing a phone directory search for your name.  It will show your phone number, residence hall, and room assignment.  It is important before setting up your room that you find out which jack has your phone number programmed into it. Plug a phone into one of the jacks and dial x3060 to see which jack has the correct phone number. Each jack has a phone line connection and a data connection.

Can I have a pet?
For the health and safety of all residents, we only allow aquatic animals (e.g. fish, frogs, turtles) that can be safely and humanely contained in a tank/bowl of five gallons or less in the residence hall. Any other pet or aquatic animal requiring a tank/ bowl larger than five gallons are strictly prohibited.