Coastal Carolina University Freshman Dorms: A Comprehensive Guide
Coastal Carolina University (CCU) provides a comprehensive educational experience, including a significant residential component. For many new students, living in University Housing is a requirement, and navigating the options and regulations can be overwhelming. This guide aims to provide a detailed overview of freshman dorm life at Coastal Carolina University, covering everything from application procedures to what to pack.
Who is Required to Live on Campus?
Coastal Carolina University requires all degree-seeking, full-time, first and second-year students who graduated from high school within two calendar years prior to enrolling to live in residential communities operated by University Housing and purchase a meal plan. Exemptions are possible, and the process for requesting them is outlined in the university's policy. Note that even if a student is automatically or manually marked as exempt, they can still choose to apply for housing and enter into the annual license agreement or purchase a meal plan.
Applying for Housing
The housing application is typically available on specific dates:
- Fall: February 1
- Spring: November 1
- Summer: April 1
Once a student applies for the fall semester, they do not need to reapply for the spring semester, as the application covers both semesters. Students living on campus for the summer will need to complete a separate application for the term(s) they are attending.
Where to Apply
You will apply through MyCoastalHome.
Read also: CCU In-State Requirements
Room Selection
Students applying for the academic year before the published room selection deadline will select their space. Those applying after the deadline or for spring only will enter their community preferences on their housing application.
All students who complete their housing application by the published room selection deadline will have the opportunity to select their space online. The application date does not affect the time slots for room selection. For instance, a student who applies on February 5 and a student who applies on April 30 would both be eligible to receive a random time slot for room selection, provided the deadline is, for example, May 15.
Roommate Requests
Roommate requests must be mutual within MyCoastalHome. This means that the person you requested must also accept your request. Several reasons may explain why a roommate request isn't successful:
- The requested person did not accept your request.
- They did not pull you into the space with them during Room Selection.
- They did not complete the housing application.
- Students accepted into a Special Interest Housing community are permitted to live only with other students accepted into that same community.
- Your preferred roommate would not be eligible to participate if they did not complete their application by the published room selection deadline.
You cannot change the room assignment of any roommate. However, you can change your room through the room change process through your housing application. To do so, you will go back to your housing application and click on the Room Change step. Pre-fall moves are permitted until July 31.
Housing Release and Cancellation
If you are not attending Coastal Carolina University, you can request release from the license agreement and cancel your housing any time prior to move in. Cancellations may be made online in MyCoastalHome by clicking on the "Cancel Application" button. Note that the $50 application fee and $150 advanced prepayment are non-refundable.
Read also: Choosing a Diploma Frame
Room Change Process
Once room selection is complete, changes are limited. Prior to fall move-in, you may go to MyCoastalHome to search for other spaces. To do so, you will go back to your housing application and click on the Room Change step. Pre-fall moves are permitted until July 31. After which all room changes are put on hold until the third week of the semester. Any unassigned spaces will be available for any student to select or be assigned to at any time. The Application Summary page on your housing application will have the most current information.
Available Amenities and Furnishings
Each room is furnished with:
- Beds
- Desks
- Desk chairs
- Chest of drawers
- Closet space
- Central heat and air-conditioning
- Window coverings
- Internet port
Suites and apartments will have additional furnishings in the kitchen, living room, and dining room areas. Residents are responsible for the furniture in their bedroom and any common area space. All of the furniture that is in a space at check-in must be there at check-out.
Bed Sizes
University Housing has two different bed sizes, extra-long twin and full. Your assignment determines which size you will have. All Township Circle and Elvington Loop living spaces (Chanticleer, DeCenzo, Eaglin, the Gardens, Ingle, Singleton-Young, Tradition, and the Woods) and all double occupancy bedrooms at Grand Strand have extra-long twin beds (36” x 80”). Single bedrooms in University Place (Blue Ridge, Grand Strand, Low Country, Piedmont, Sandhills, and The Cove) have double-size beds. Before purchasing bed linens, make sure you confirm the right size.
In Eaglin and Ingle, triple occupancy rooms will come with one bed lofted and two beds bunked prior to your arrival. Otherwise due to the design of our buildings, residents are not permitted to loft or bunk their beds. The extra-long twin beds provided are adjustable to allow ample storage underneath.
Read also: Premier CCU Student Housing
What to Bring (and What to Leave Behind)
University Housing provides a comprehensive list online of recommended items to bring and items you should leave at home under the Living Options menu.
Kitchen Items
- Allowed: General utensils and supplies (cups, plates, silverware), microwave (less than 1,000 watts), single-serve coffee maker, refrigerator (4.6-cubic-foot limit and UL approved).
- Not Recommended: Small kitchen appliances with open heating elements (e.g., deep fryers, toaster ovens).
Full-size residential refrigerators are provided in each unit at Blue Ridge, the Gardens, Grand Strand, Low Country, Piedmont, Sandhills, The Cove, and the Woods. Each apartment at Blue Ridge, Grand Strand, Low Country, Piedmont, Sandhills, and The Cove have microwaves already installed in the kitchen area. Residents living in other spaces are allowed to have a UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certified microwave provided that it is less than 1000 watts.
Other Important Items
- Immunization Record: Every student entering a college or university in South Carolina is required to provide an immunization record prior to their enrollment.
- Laundry soap that is marked “HE” for our High Efficiency washers.
Technology
Wireless internet, in addition to hard-wired internet, is available in all University Housing spaces. The Gardens only has wireless internet.
Laundry Facilities
Laundry is free for all University Housing residents. Eaglin, Ingle, The Woods, The Gardens, Chanticleer, DeCenzo, Singleton-Young, and Tradition halls have laundry rooms available with multiple washers and dryers. Residents in Eaglin, Ingle, Chanticleer, DeCenzo, Singleton-Young, and Tradition halls can go to www.laundryview.com to see what is available and the status of your clothes. You can even set up text alerts to be notified when your laundry is done.
Safety and Security
For emergency purposes, residents need to know their physical building address to tell emergency personnel (i.e. Public Safety, police, 911, ambulance). This ensures emergency responders arrive at the correct location in a timely manner. Also family and friends can enter the address into their GPS system when coming for a visit.
The University does not carry insurance that will cover losses of your personal belongings you might incur from fire, theft, water, or other casualty.
Bicycles and electric scooters should be stored on the bicycle racks provided on the exterior of the residential facilities.
Residents are responsible for removing trash from their residences and placing it in the provided dumpsters.
Health and safety inspections are completed about three times each semester by a Resident Adviser (RA) and at least one other University Housing staff member.
Meal Plans
All first- and second- year students who are living in University-operated housing are required to have a full residential meal plan. New students can choose between the Unlimited Plus, Unlimited, or Basic Unlimited. Returning, transfer, and graduate students can choose between the Unlimited Plus, Unlimited, or Basic Unlimited or 175 Block. You will indicate your meal plan choice on your housing application.
All meal plan changes for on-campus residents are made in MyCoastalHome. Changes to your meal plan can be made during the first two weeks of each semester. No meal plan changes will be accepted after that date.
Students with a documented dietary need or food allergy should connect with the Registered Dietitian in Dining Services and Accessibility and Disability Services first. If the needs cannot be met within the dining facilities, they will work with Accessibility and Disability Services to issue a meal plan accommodation. During the housing application process, students can request a meal plan exemption if they have extenuating circumstances preventing them from eating successfully on campus.
Staying on Campus During Breaks
University Housing publishes the opening and closing dates for the year approximately a year in advance and will add them to the academic calendar. University-operated housing is open during the Thanksgiving Break and Spring Break. The Community Desks will be closed, but RAs will be on call. No guests are allowed on campus during the break period. All residential facilities close for Winter Break and you can view the opening and closing dates online. Residents who have extenuating circumstances and need to stay on campus for winter break should contact University Housing. Residents approved to stay on campus during winter break will be charged an additional fee per additional night.
University Housing allows residents to move in early or stay late for required University sponsored activities or significant circumstances. Contact our office directly to discuss next steps, preferably 30 days prior to the start/end of the semester. Residents planning to return to CCU for spring semester do not have to move out.
Resident Advisers (RAs) will have floor meetings prior to exams to review closing procedures. We encourage residents to take any valuables home and lock their windows, bedroom door and suite/apartment door before leaving.
Residents who are living on campus for Maymester will be allowed to remain on campus and move from their spring housing assignment to Maymester assignment when ready. We will contact the affected students prior to the end of spring semester with more details.
Policies and Regulations
- Tobacco/Vape-Free Campus: Coastal Carolina University is a Tobacco/Vape-Free Campus. Smoking and tobacco usage is not permitted on University property.
- Alcohol: Coastal Carolina University does not allow alcohol in any University Housing room where one or more resident is under the legal drinking age or 21. If the entirety of a room, suite, or apartment is above the legal drinking age, they may register for status as a wet suite.
- Lockouts: Residents who are locked out of their room may go to the community desk to checkout a loaner key. They must be able to show identification and proof that they live in the apartment, suite, or room. The loaner key should be returned within 30 minutes or the locks will be changed at the student’s expense. All residents will be provided two lock outs free of charge each year.
- Guests: Yes, as long as your roommate says it is okay. Overnight guests are not allowed for more than three consecutive nights and five nights in a month. Overnight guests are not allowed during the first and last two weeks of each semester. Guests are not permitted during Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks.
- Noise: Yes. However, courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day, and excessive noise will not be tolerated within University Housing facilities.
Roommate Agreements and Conflict Resolution
All residents assigned to a room, suite, or apartment have the option to complete a roommate agreement with their Resident Adviser (RA) at the beginning of the semester, which will help residents set limits and rules for their living space. University Housing staff will work to help resolve any conflicts or disagreements that occur between roommates.
Student Leadership Opportunities
The University is always looking for student leaders to be resources and role models for our residents. You can click on the Job Opportunities page to get more information about the position and application process. Our main recruitment process is typically during fall semester for the upcoming academic year, but there are times when we need to fill open positions during the current semester.
Accessibility and Disability Services
No specific groups receive priority over other students. You can begin the process by registering with their office and providing appropriate documentation, coastal.edu/disabilityservices.
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