FAQs
Why should someone live in on-campus housing at North Park University?
Being in college can be a wonderful, exciting, and overall rewarding experience for students. They have the opportunity to meet life-long friends, learn how to work well with others, come to understand themselves in a greater way, and discover more of what it means to be independent. Another aspect of college life is that students have the opportunity to learn from those around them—discovering how to value the differences that exist in each person. There are also challenges that exist from living on campus that bring a lot of growth to students as they learn how to interact with their peers (examples including: living with a roommate who may be quite a bit different, understanding new perspectives, talking with those from differing backgrounds, etc.) Living on-campus at North Park University can provide the opportunity for students to learn so much about themselves and others while experiencing the community of living among their peers!
What is Residence Life?
Residence Life exists to help students in their overall transition to college by directly walking alongside of them through the transition, offering opportunities to learn from various events and programs, allowing students the freedom to ask questions and get involved outside of the classroom experience, being present and available when crisis moments happen, and so much more. We are a department that LOVES to hang out with students—simply getting to know who they are and meeting them where they are at in life. We see the good and the bad, the struggles and the joys that many students experience. We also often bridge the gap between what happens in class and out of class—we believe fully that the out-of-class learning a student experiences during college is just as important to their development as what happens in the class setting.
Below is a quote that encompasses much of what the Residence Life department is working to instill in the students of North Park as we work with them…we believe in their potential and want to encourage them in their journeys.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” Marianne Williamson
What living areas exist on North Park University’s campus?
Anderson Hall—All women; 228 bed spaces; mostly freshmen and some sophomores.
Burgh Hall—Both men and women; 202 bed spaces; a variety of students from various classes.
Ohlson Hall—All women; 136 bed spaces; a variety of students from various classes.
Sohlberg Hall—All men; 105 bed spaces; a variety of students from various classes.
Park North—Both men and women; 69 bed spaces; a living-learning community focused on
leadership development; students apply to live in this area and commit to participating in the program.
Sawyer Court—Both men and women; 100 bed spaces; a living-learning community focused on
life skills; students apply to live in this area and commit to participating in the program.
Apartments and Houses—Both men and women; 292 bed spaces; mostly juniors and seniors.
Who works in Residence Life and Housing?
Who are RAs, RDs, and the Director of Residence Life and Housing?
Resident Assistants (RAs): RAs are students (usually sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who work in the campus living areas directly with the students; they live on the floors, wings, and apartments close to the students. The RAs plan events (both educational and social), hang out with residents, help with roommate mediations, handle conflicts, and do many other random projects! The RAs are supervised by a full time, professional staff member called a Resident Director.
Resident Directors (RDs): RDs are the full time professionals (yes, they really do work at least 40 hours a week!) who live in the various living areas with the students. They supervise the RA staffs, oversee the living area (anywhere between 100-300 students), are responsible to manage the living area, provide students with support and counseling referrals when needed, create educational and social programs for the entire living area, respond to crisis moments, and help to enforce the university’s policies. The North Park RDs all have at least a bachelor’s degree, but many also have an advanced degree that relates to their work with students. If you ever need to get in touch with a professional staff member who works directly with your student, the RD can be contacted. Feel free to call the RD if you are worried about your student, want the RD to have a heads up about something going on, etc. If you are a parent of a commuter student, please encourage your student to talk with those in residence life about programs occurring on campus; you are also welcome to call the residence life office if any questions you have as well.
Director of Residence Life and Housing: The Director of Residence Life and Housing oversees the RDs, RAs, housing assignments and process, oversight of the Desk Managers and Desk Attendants, and provides guidance for the department as a whole. Please feel free to contact the Director with any questions or concerns you may have regarding housing or residence life; the Director can be reached at 773-244-5555 or by e-mail at housing@northpark.edu.
When can students move in?
The Opening and Closing Dates change every academic school year. There is a general “threshold” week in which the majority of new and transfer students arrive as well as many of the returning North Park students. All early arrivals to campus must be pre-approved through an advisor as well as the Office of Residence Life and Housing; early arrivals are generally only permitted for students participating in athletics and those helping with threshold activities.
What type of security is provided in the residence halls?
In addition to North Park’s Campus Security department, the traditional residence halls (Anderson, Burgh, Sohlberg, Ohlson, and Park North) have 24 hour Desk Attendants who monitor all people who enter and exit the building. Every student is required to show an ID upon entry, and every guest must be checked in at the desk prior to entry.
Are single rooms available?
There are a limited number of single rooms available in Sohlberg Hall, Ohlson House, Burgh Hall, and Anderson Hall. These rooms cost an additional $500/semester for students to live in them. Because of the small number of available singles, the rooms are assigned first based on need (medical, psychological, etc.) and then based on credit seniority.
Can students decorate their rooms?
Students can decorate their rooms as long as nothing is in violation of campus policies. Please remember the following when decorating:
• Do not use anything that will put holes in walls or tear paint off the walls (i.e. nails, tacks, masking tape).
• Candles
• Incense
• Drug and Alcohol Paraphernalia
• Posters displaying nudity and(or) racially offensive language and images
Note: For a more extensive list, please refer to the student handbook.
Are phones supplied?
Phone service is not offered in undergraduate housing.
Can students bring their pets?
Students are not allowed to house pets except for small fish.
What if students do not get along with their roommate(s)?
First, we encourage students to communicate the issues with their roommate to see if a compromise can be reached. We believe in and encourage students to bring concerns to the person they directly involve.
Second, if the issue(s) cannot be handled between roommates, we encourage students to talk with their Resident Assistant as soon as possible so that the Residence Life staff can become involved in helping to create a workable solution. The Resident Assistant will inform the Resident Director of any roommate conflicts, and the Resident Director, the Director of Residence Life and Housing, and the Director of Student Care will become involved as needed.
Unless extenuating circumstances arise, room changes will not be allowed until the end of the current semester or unless all parties involved agree to the change. All room changes have to be approved by the Resident Director prior to residents switching rooms.
Can students have guests in their rooms?
All residents are allowed to have guests in their rooms during visitation hours.
Visitation hours are as follows for the Residence Halls:
Sunday-Thursday 12:00pm-12:00am
Friday-Saturday 12:00pm-2:00am
Visitation hours are as follows for the Apartments and Houses, Park North, and Sawyer Court:
Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-12:00am
Friday-Saturday 10:00am-2:00am
For overnight guests, the maximum length of a visit is 3 nights unless other arrangements have been made through the Resident Director.
Are cooking facilities available in the residence halls?
There are kitchens accessible in the lobby of every Residence Hall. The kitchens are equipped with a stove/oven, sink, and microwave.