Residence Hall Frequently Asked Questions

Please use one of the following address formats, depending on where you need to send your items:

• Department

• Person's Name
• Department Name
• 1400 Townsend Drive
• Houghton, MI 49931-1195

• Douglass Houghton Hall

• Person's Name
• Room #___ Douglass Houghton Hall
• 1700 Townsend Drive
• Houghton, MI 49931-1194

• McNair Hall

• Person's Name
• Room #___ East McNair Hall
• 1801 Townsend Drive
• Houghton, MI 49931-1195
  
• Person's Name
• Room #___ West McNair Hall
• 1801 Townsend Drive
• Houghton, MI 49931-1195

• Wadsworth Hall

• Person's Name
• Room #___ East Wadsworth Hall
• 1701 Townsend Drive
• Houghton, MI 49931-1196
  
• Person's Name
• Room #___ West Wadsworth Hall
• 1703 Townsend Drive
• Houghton, MI 49931-1193

If you do not receive the hall you requested, it is because that hall was already full when it was your turn to be assigned a room. Assignments are determined by the order in which we received each application for housing.

The number of students living in University Housing sometimes exceeds the number of regular spaces available. When this is the case, regular rooms are converted to accommodate one extra person. Be assured that we move rooms to regular occupancy as soon as possible. All residents in converted rooms have been given a reduced room rate and will have a complete set of their own loftable and movable furniture. Occupancy numbers tend to decrease as we move toward residence hall opening and through the academic year. This means you or one of your roommates will have the opportunity to move to another room as space becomes available. Your room has been assigned a priority number based on the earliest completion date of housing contracts for all occupants of the room. This priority number is used to identify the order in which we move rooms to regular occupancy. Once your room is in regular occupancy status, your room rate will be changed to reflect the regular room rate for the remainder of the semester.

If your roommate request canceled with Michigan Tech you will be assigned a new roommate.

Your Resident Assistant (RA) will help resolve roommate conflicts or, if necessary, assist with room changes to solve problem situations.

If your roommate moves out during the term, you have a couple of options. You may be able keep your room as a single and pay the additional cost of a single room if the halls are not in a converted status. You may move to another room with someone living there or you can work with your residence hall staff to find someone to move into your room. You can stop by the Housing office, located in 153 Wadsworth Hall, to see if we have any students that have requested a roommate.

You just register your guest at the Reception Desk and notify your Resident Assistant (RA) and they can stay with you in your room. Ask your RA for details.

You must live in one of the Residence Halls, Hillside Place, or Daniell Heights Apartments. This is a separate organization so there is a membership fee of $40 per year plus a $10 membership card.

Yes. About a week before your expected arrival, pack your belongings securely and address them with your residence hall address. (see FAQ #1)

Most students at Michigan Tech dress casually-jeans, sneakers, and sweatshirts are common. A light jacket will suffice for most of fall and spring. Toward the end of fall term, however, you will want to have a warm winter jacket. Although winter temperatures in Houghton are fairly moderate, warm boots with good traction, a hat, and gloves or mittens are recommended. You might also wish to bring some sweats for lounging or working out, shorts for warm weather, and a swimsuit for the pool or sauna. For more information visit Michigan Tech Admissions "What to Bring" page.

Having your own computer is not necessary. Computer terminals are available in each academic department. But if you choose to bring a computer, visit the Housing Welcome Page (Internet) for more information.

During Thanksgiving and Spring breaks, residents may stay in their room and there are no additional charges. There is no food service operation during breaks, so residents would need to eat at the Memorial Union Building or cook in the kitchenettes.

During Winter break, there is no food service on campus. Students may stay in the residence halls for an additional fee. Students must register in advance if they will be staying.

There is no mail service at the reception desks during breaks.

Actual assignments are made during the month of June. Assignments letters will be mailed by late July. If you are arriving in the spring or summer, you will receive a letter approximately two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.

You will receive a map to show your check-in location. You may park in one of the Residence Hall parking lots to check-in and unload. To permanently park your vehicle on campus while living in the residence halls, you must register for residence hall parking online.

Yes. You may apply for part-time employment online here or when you arrive on campus. Many residents are hired in the dining hall or on the custodial crews. Applications will be available during the week of Orientation. Watch for postings. In addition, the University Career Center posts other jobs that are available to students.

The University does not assume responsibility for or carry insurance covering the personal property of students. Students are advised to check the coverage provided by existing family policies or make arrangements to purchase their own policies.

Learn more about Michigan Tech's Learning Communities.

This is a good question and asked on occasion. The reason it is not exactly 1/2 the cost is because for fall semester students are billed for 16 weeks and in the spring they are billed for 15 weeks. The halls are open one additional week in the fall term for Orientation and upper class students returning and settling in.

In most cases, you will know who your roommates are before the beginning of the academic year. You may wish to contact them to discuss what items can be shared. For more information, visit Michigan Tech Admissions "What to Bring" page.

Refrigerators are provided for residents that live in rooms with private baths in Wadsworth Hall. If you are not assigned to this area, you are welcome to bring a refrigerator with you, but it must not be larger than 25" wide x 25" deep x 35" high. All non-University-owned refrigerators must be removed from the hall at the end of the academic year.

Each residence hall has several washing machines and dryers. Using the washing machines is free of charge. Using the dryers costs $.25 per cycle and each cycle lasts approximately twenty minutes.

Please visit the Dining Services website  to view the posting policy.

If you are a Michigan Tech Organization, each item must be addressed with the full address which includes name and room number. If you wish to do this, you will need to contact Student Activities to gain permission from them to get this list and work with the mail room using their postal soft software for imprinting on postcards or create labels. If you are an organization outside the University, you must contact the Registrar's Office to request a mailing list and send the mailings via the Post Office.

Mattresses in our residence halls are extra-long (36" x 80"). The Housing and Residential Life Office has partnered with Residence Hall Linens to provide our students and families with a convenient option for ordering all of your campus living needs. The Housing and Residential Life Office has partnered with Residence Hall Linens to provide our students and families with a convenient, affordable option for purchasing extra-long sheets and bedding items, as well as other campus-living necessities. People who have taken advantage of this option in the past recommend ordering early, as popular patterns and colors can sell out quickly.  Proceeds from this program go tot he Housing and Residential Life Office and are used for programming in the residence halls.  Please visit the RHL website: www.rhl.org/mth 

AlcoholEdu is one of three components in a federally funded, high-risk drinking prevention initiative at Michigan Tech.  All first year students and transfer students with fewer than 30 credits are required to complete this online program prior to the fall semester.  For more information about AlcoholEdu, visit the COMPASS website at http://www.mtu.edu/compass/.