Residence Life
The residence life program provides students with an opportunity to live with students from diverse backgrounds, encouraging them to learn from others’ experiences. Living in the residence halls helps students learn communication, negotiation and conflict management skills.
There are five traditional-style residence halls on campus (Coblentz, Coblentz Memorial, Meyran, Shriner and Smith) that house between 100 and 145 students each. Smaller language housing options for between five and 12 students each attract students who are interested in a French, German or Spanish living experience. One faculty member from the Department of Global Languages and Cultures serves as the language house coordinator. A native speaking student lives in the residence full time. Upperclass Honors Program students are also eligible to reside in Hood’s Honors House, a small community of six students.
Traditional-aged first-year students and sophomore students are required to live on campus and have roommates unless they are commuting from their parents’ home within a 30-mile drive from campus. Juniors and seniors are eligible for singles on a space-available basis. Students may apply for a housing accommodation based on medical, psychological, disability, religious, cultural, ethnic and/or gender-related needs. Instructions for requesting such accommodations can be found on the residence life portion of the Hood website.
During the summer prior to their arrival, first-year students are assigned a roommate based on a preference-questionnaire. First-year students may request a specific roommate if they know someone else coming to Hood with whom they would like to live. During the spring semester, all current resident students select their rooms and roommates for the upcoming academic year.
Hood’s residence halls are part of a shared governance system and residents elect representatives to House Forum through their individual house councils. Students decide when their quiet hours will be and when visitors may be in the halls (within certain minimum guidelines). In addition, the governing bodies of the halls work to provide educational and social activities for their residents.
Resident assistants live on each residence hall floor and are available to students who have personal or academic concerns, are having problems with their roommates or just need advice, guidance or a referral. They plan programs, disseminate information and work to build a positive community on their floor by enforcing College policies. The RAs are supervised by professional staff members who live on campus full-time. Responsibilities of the professional staff include community-building, shaping positive student behavior, programming, student support and supervision of building staff.
For further information about the resident experience at Hood, please contact the Residence Life Office at residencelife@hood.edu