FAQs
Commonly Asked Questions for New Students
As a new resident student, you may have questions regarding a variety of issues. We have attempted to answer some of those questions; but if you don’t find an answer to your specific question here, please e-mail us at reslife@merrimack.edu.
When will students find out where they are living and who their roommate(s) are?
What if I meet someone at June Orientation and we want to live together?
What are the dimensions of my room?
What furnishings does the College provide for my room?
Do I need to provide my own carpeting in my room?
What laundry/vending services are provided for residents?
What Meal Plan options are there?
Will I have access to the Internet from my room?
What is Wellness housing?
What is the Austin Scholars Community?
What can I bring to my room? Are there things that are not allowed?
What will be in my room when I move in?
What are the specifications to bring a refrigerator?
What banks are nearby?
What if I forget something on move in day?
Once you move-in
Can I have friends visit me in my residence hall?
What if my guest wants to stay overnight?
What is Merrimack College’s policy on damage in the residence halls?
What is Merrimack College’s policy on my personal items being damaged or stolen while I live in the residence halls?
What if I am not happy with my roommate?
I want to send flowers to my son or daughter for a birthday/special occasion - how do I do that?
What are my housing options?
Please check out our Housing Options page to see the different types of housing available on campus. As a new student, you will fill out a roommate/hall selection form and rank order your building/room type preference. Assignments are made based on the date you deposited to the college and you are able to request 1 roommate.
How do I secure a housing assignment for my freshman year?
A student who accepts the College’s offer of admission as a “resident student” must complete their Roommate and Hall Selection Form, choose a meal plan, and e-sign their Residency Agreement to secure a room assignment. New resident students will be able to complete their Roommate and Hall Selection Form online beginning May 9, 2013 and must be completed by June 28, 2013. Meal plan selection and e-signing of the Residency Agreement occurs online through myMack; students will receive directions on how to complete this during June orientation. Students are able to rank-order their building preference and we utilize the student’s date of deposit to the college in making housing assignments.
When will students find out where they are living and who their roommate(s) are?
Roommate information is sent out at the end of July via your Merrimack email account. The e-mail will contain your room assignment (building and room number), on-campus mailing address, roommates’ name(s), home addresses, and phone numbers.
What if I meet someone at June Orientation and we want to live together?
A roommate request form is available during Orientation for students to fill out. You and your requested roommate(s) will be able to turn the form in before you leave orientation. If you miss this form, students can e-mail us detailing their request. All roommate requests need to be mutual. The deadline for submitting the request is June 30. We will do our best to assign students who have mutually requested each other as roommates.
What are the dimensions of my room?
In Deegan Hall, the average room size is 17’x10’10’ with a window that is 6’x2’8”. In Ash Centre and Monican Centre, the average room size is 10’x14’ with two windows that are 5’7”x3’7”; the average suite bedroom sizes are 11’x9’ or 14’x9’ and the common room size is also 14’x9’. In O’Brien Hall, the room size is 11’x16’. Townhouse bedrooms are 15’x11’. If you are bringing curtains for your windows, you should plan to use a spring rod to hang them.
What furnishings does the College provide for my room?
Students receives a bed (the bed sits 30” above the floor for storage space), a desk (3’ 6.5” long by 2’ wide,) desk chair, dresser and wardrobe. We have extra long mattresses (36x80x6 inches) so be sure to bring extra long bed sheets. There is very little room for other furniture, and all upholstered furniture brought to the room must meet California Code 117.
Do I need to provide my own carpeting in my room?
Most rooms have tile floors (Deegan, Ash, and Monican). If you wish to bring a carpet, it is recommended that the carpet be cut smaller than the room to make laying it easier. Rooms in the apartments, townhouses and O’Brien Hall have carpet.
What laundry/vending services are provided for residents?
Each residence area has a laundry room, but you must provide your own detergent. Laundry services are free across campus! If you ever have an issue with the machines, you can log in here and use the password mcwarriors to report a concern. Additionally, you can check out Laundry View to see how many machines in your (or another) residence hall are available at any one time.
In our traditional residence halls there are vending machines that sell soda, juice and snacks. Students have the option to put money on their Mack Card called “Mack Bucks.” Students may use their Mack Bucks at the Warriors Den, the bookstore and at vending machines around campus. Mack Bucks are also accepted at a variety of off campus locations including Bertucci’s, CVS and Fuddruckers.
What Meal Plan options are there?
Every resident student must be on a standard meal plan, however, there are three options to choose from: 19 meal plan (every meal that is served in the dining hall), 13 plus meal plan (13 meals per week with a block of 8 meals to share with family or friends and $100 in Den Dollars) or the 9 plus meal plan (9 meals per week with a block of 8 meals to share and $150 in Den Dollars). All standard meal plans are the same price. The majority of students have the 13 plus meal plan. Students living in the apartments must maintain at least the 5 meal plan.
Will I have access to the Internet from my room?
Yes. All our residence halls and apartments are wired for data; all residence halls and outdoor common areas are wireless.
What is Wellness Housing?
As a resident of the Health and Wellness floor, you will have the opportunity to live and learn with like minded individuals. As a member of this floor, you will have the ability to participate in an active lifestyle, along with ways to improve on balancing academics and your social life. Contact reslife@merrimack.edu if you are interested in applying for Wellness Housing.
What is the Austin Scholars Community?
The Austin Scholars Community is based on the ideals of St. Augustine and supports Merrimack College’s mission. The Austin Scholars Community supports the College’s mission that “before all else our college is a community of scholarship and service whose members support and challenge each other in a wholehearted pursuit of knowledge, holding one another to the highest intellectual and ethical standards.” First year students participate in this living learning environment and will live in Ash Centre. Contact reslife@merrimack.edu if you are interested in applying for the Austin Scholars Community.
What can I bring to my room? Are there things that are not allowed?
Students typically bring the following items with them: bedding and towels; toiletries; laundry bag/basket; laundry detergent; alarm clock; waste basket; desk lamp; fan; telephone; cable cord; shower caddy and flip flops.Find out what else to pack!
Items that students cannot bring include, but are not limited to: Electrical appliances such as microwaves, Foreman grills, hot plates, hot pots, coffee pots (unless it has automatic shut off), toasters, toaster ovens, halogen lamps, and electric frying pans; fireworks; incense; firearms (including paintball guns); pets; candles; and alcohol bottles used as decoration.
Any refrigerator larger than 5 cubic feet is not allowed. The MicroFridge unit, which is a combination microwave, refrigerator and freezer, is allowed due to its ability to not overtax the outlet. The only microwaves that are allowed in the residence halls are part of the MicroFridge unit. MicroFridges can be rented for use during the year. Please refer to the enclosed brochure and order form, or visit the rental website at www.rackraiser.com. Rented units will be dropped off in your room before your arrival to campus in the fall.
If you are living in a townhouse or suite (designated by the letter A, B, C, or D after your room number) you will also need to bring items for your own bathroom. Residents living in suites are responsible for cleaning their own bathrooms and providing toilet paper.
What will be in my room when I move in?
Each room is furnished with a desk, desk chair, wardrobe, dresser, and bed. The bed has a twin extra-long mattress so be sure to bring extra-long sheets.
What are the specifications to bring a refrigerator?
If you choose not to utilize the MicroFridge option (see information above), and want to just bring a refrigerator, it can be no larger than 5 cubic feet. Given the space limitation, we recommend one refrigerator (or MicroFridge) per bedroom.
What banks are nearby?
The following banks will be on campus during first-year move in: Salem 5 Bank, Merrimack Valley Federal Credit Union, Bank of America, Citizen’s Bank, and Danver’s Bank. In addition, there is a Century Bank ATM located on the first floor of the Sakowich Campus Center and Volpe; this ATM makes withdrawals only and does not accept deposits.
What if I forget something on move in day?
We will have a listing of local stores and directions during check-in.
Can I have friends visit me in my residence hall?
Yes! As a resident of the building, you may sign in up to two guests at a time. Your guest must be 18 years or older, have a photo ID, and be signed into your room. It is important to communicate with your roommate before hosting a guest. Your guest will need an ID and car registration (if they are driving to campus). Register your guest HERE!
What if my guest wants to stay overnight?
You can host an overnight guest for no more than 4 nights during the course of the month. Students hosting overnight guests of the opposite sex are responsible for arranging appropriate accommodations. Appropriate accommodations are defined as a room with all occupants the same gender as the guest and where all roommates have agreed to the guests presence. Don’t forget to register your guest by clicking HERE!
What is Merrimack College’s policy on damage in the residence halls?
It is the policy of the College to charge all students who are responsible for avoidable damage and losses that occur in the residence areas. Avoidable damage is defined as damage that is the consequence of careless, willful, or malicious actions, including the consequences of horseplay and indoor sports. When individual responsibility for damage and loss in public areas cannot be determined, a charge will be made to all students within a reasonably defined area. Common area damage assessments cannot be appealed.
What is Merrimack College’s policy on my personal items being damaged or stolen while I live in the residence halls?
Merrimack College is not responsible for personal items which are damaged or stolen while you live in the residence halls. We strongly encourage you to purchase insurance for your belongings through your own insurance or your parents’ insurance policy. You may purchase insurance through National Student Services by contacting them at 800-256-6774 or at www.nssinc.com.
What if I am not happy with my roommate?
Room changes are permitted after the first week of school. Students should contact their RA or RD/AC if having a roommate conflict.
I want to send flowers to my son or daughter for a birthday/special occasion - how do I do that?
The Sakowich Campus Center is open 24/7 and accepts deliveries of flowers, balloons, Edible Arrangements, etc. at the Information Desk. Please have the flower shop/delivery company deliver the item to the Information Desk in the Sakowich Campus Center - the Campus Center staff will send an email to your son/daughter notifying them of the item to be picked up.