10 Tips for Roommate Success

All students living on campus have received their housing assignments — a major milestone! It's both an exciting and anxious time.

We encourage you to read through these tips before move-in day and keep them handy during your first few weeks living together.

• Don't judge a roommate by their social media: Social media is a highlight reel, not a complete picture. The person you live with may be very different from the version you see online. Give yourself time to get to know them in person before deciding what they're like. Some of the best roommate matches look nothing alike from the outside.

• First impressions aren't final impressions: It is normal to feel nervous about starting college. An awkward text, delayed response or quiet first conversation doesn't predict your entire year. Relationships take time to develop.

• You don't have to be best friends: Great roommates respect each other, communicate and share a space well. Some become lifelong friends, others simply become great co-livers. Both outcomes are OK.

• Communicate early and kindly: Talk about sleep schedules, visitors, studying, cleanliness and shared items sooner rather than later. Honest conversations prevent misunderstandings. You'll also put these expectations in writing when you complete your roommate agreement with your Resident Assistant (RA) during the first week of classes.

• Expect differences: Your roommate may come from a different background, region, culture or family environment than you. Approach those differences with curiosity rather than judgment.

• In a quad, relationships take time: If you're living with three roommates, remember that four people won't instantly become one friend group. Some connections may form quickly, others more slowly — and that is normal. A shared group chat for logistics like grocery runs or quiet hours can help, even before you all feel close.

• Address small issues before they become big ones: Annoyances happen. If something is bothering you, talk directly with your roommate(s) respectfully rather than venting in group chats or to everyone else first. If a direct conversation does not resolve things, your RA is trained to help mediate. Reaching out to them is a normal and expected part of the process, not a last resort.

• Give people room to grow: College is a major transition. Everyone is figuring things out, including you. Extend grace to your roommates, and yourself, as you all adjust to a new environment and new responsibilities.

• Put your expectations in writing: Rather than assuming everyone has the same standards, discuss them. A simple conversation about quiet hours, guests, cleanliness and shared space can make a huge difference. Writing these agreements down, rather than just talking about them, makes them easier to revisit if a disagreement comes up later.

• Remember, it's only day one: Many of the best roommate stories start with uncertainty. Give the relationship an opportunity before deciding whether it's a great fit. The first few texts, photos or social media posts don't tell the whole story.

Your housing assignment isn't a prediction, it's a starting point. Approach your roommate(s) with an open mind, patience and a willingness to communicate. You may be surprised by the connections that develop when you give people the opportunity to show you who they really are. Give it time, communicate often, and remember that Residential Life staff, including your RA, are always here to help if you need support along the way.

Your Community's Move-In Date and Time

International Students
Monday, August 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Honors and Living Learning Communities (LLCs)
Wednesday, August 19, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Transfers and August Orientation Participants
Wednesday, August 19, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Grove Residents
Thursday, August 20, 7 a.m. to noon

Non-LLC Participants
Thursday, August 20, 1 to 4 p.m.

Next Steps

Log in to MyHousing and sign up for your move-in time slot. This step is required.
Watch for a detailed move-in email during the week of August 3. It will include full instructions for the day.

If you have questions before then, please email residentiallife@qu.edu.

Residential Life Mandatory Community Meetings

All first-year residents are required to attend their building community meeting on Thursday, August 20. Meetings will be held in the SITE 201 Auditorium according to the schedule below.

The Commons
6 to 7 p.m.

The Ledges and Mountainview
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Irma, Dana and The Grove
9 to 10 p.m.

Please plan to arrive on time and attend the session listed for your building.

Get to Know Your Residence Hall

All of our first-year residence halls are located on the Mount Carmel Campus along Bobcat Way. You’ll be close to everything you need — including the Carl Hansen Student Center, dining options, the Recreation and Wellness Center, academic buildings and the Arnold Bernhard Library. Learn more about each first-year residence hall.

Miss our Residence Hall-Specific Webinar This Week?

Check out the webinar on demand here:

​The Commons

Dana/Irma

​Ledges

​Mountainview

​The Grove

Take a video tour of your residence hall

​The Commons

​Dana

​​The Grove

Irma

​Ledges

Room Change Requests Available Beginning September 8

Room change requests will be available for submission beginning September 8. Because our ability to make changes is dependent on occupancy and available vacancies, submitting a request does not guarantee that a move will be possible. Our team will carefully consider each request and work to accommodate students whenever circumstances allow.

Please know that Housing and Residential Life is committed to supporting your success and well-being. We are here to help you navigate this transition and to ensure that every student has the opportunity to feel safe, supported and connected within our residential community.

We are excited to welcome you to campus and look forward to helping you make the most of your Quinnipiac experience.

Advice for Parents from The Learning Commons

Six Important Topics to Discuss Before Move-In Day

As parents prepare to leave their student on campus for the first time, conversations about packing and move-in logistics often take center stage. Yet some of the most important discussions happen before the car is unloaded. A few thoughtful conversations now can help set students up for a successful and supported transition to college life.

Have you updated your contact information?

Students should verify that their preferred name, cell phone number and emergency contact information are accurate in university systems. Keeping this information current ensures the university can reach out if support is needed, communicate important updates, and reach the right people when needed.

How will we communicate this fall?

Before move-in day, discuss expectations for staying connected. Tell them about what type of communication you need as a parent to feel comfortable and ask what they need to learn independence while also feeling supported. How often will you check in? Will you text, call, or video chat? Encourage honest conversations about both successes and setbacks. College is a time of growth, and students benefit when they know they can share good news, challenges, and questions without judgment. 

Have you set up and learned how to use your Quinnipiac email?

A student's Quinnipiac email account will be the primary way the university communicates important information about classes, academic support, billing, housing, campus events, and more. Encourage your student to set up their QU email on all of their devices and check it daily. Parents often have experience balancing a work and personal email account and can share valuable advice with their students. Staying engaged with email is one of the simplest ways students can stay informed and avoid missing important deadlines and opportunities.

Will you be setting up proxy access, and for whom?

Proxy access allows parents or other designated supporters to view important information such as midterm and final grades and, if authorized, discuss financial matters with the university. Talk together about who should have access and ensure those permissions are set up before the semester begins.  

How do you plan to use academic support resources?

Successful students use campus resources before they encounter challenges. Your student will likely be taking at least one course this semester that has built in peer support. They will also be receiving regular outreach from the academic coaching team. Encourage your student to explore the Learning Commons, meet with an academic coach, and utilize tutoring services early and often. Building these connections from the start can make a significant difference throughout the semester.Encourage your student to respond to their academic coach if they haven’t yet and introduce themself.

If accommodations are needed, have you submitted the required documentation?

Students who received accommodations in high school should connect with the Office of Student Accessibility as soon as possible. Some documentation may need to be gathered from previous schools or providers, and starting the process early helps ensure support is in place when classes begin. An easy way for your student to start a discussion about accommodations for the fall is to reach out to access@qu.edu and introduce themselves.

The transition to college is an exciting milestone for both students and families. By having these conversations before move-in day, parents can help their students start the semester feeling prepared, supported, and ready to thrive. The Learning Commons team is excited to welcome your student to campus this fall and would be happy to connect with them this summer.

Jumpstart Your Future in Behavioral Health

Are you passionate about helping others, curious about a career in behavioral health and looking for a way to gain real-world experience while you're still a student?

Quinnipiac and Hartford HealthCare's Behavioral Health Network are launching the Jumpstart Program, a new pilot opportunity designed specifically for eligible incoming first-year students who are Connecticut-based nursing, occupational therapy and 3+2 social work students.

Through six engaging sessions throughout the fall and spring semesters, you'll connect with healthcare professionals, explore behavioral health careers, build valuable skills, attend special leadership and networking events and gain firsthand exposure to one of the fastest-growing areas of healthcare.

Even better, Jumpstart is designed to help you move from student to professional.

Participants will have opportunities for shadowing experiences, paid work opportunities, career development programming and pathways to internships and future employment with Hartford HealthCare.

All students who complete the program will have the opportunity for a paid job during one of the next three summers, making this an incredible way to begin building your professional network and resume.

We already have 10 students signed up and are looking for 5 more participants to join this inaugural cohort. Interested? Contact Tom Ellett, chief experience officer, at cxo@qu.edu to learn more and secure your spot.

Be Sure to Visit Q-Start Often

The next few weeks will be busy and a little bit stressful — but that is where Q-Start comes in. It is carefully designed with you in mind. It takes the uncertainty away from the on-boarding process and will let you know what you will need to complete and when.

Email qstart@qu.edu with any questions.

Check Your Email Often 

There are a lot of exciting opportunities headed your way this summer — most of which will come through your Quinnipiac email. Be sure to set it up and check it often. We also recommend adding it to your phone.

Join the Conversation

Connect with @bobcatbound for timely updates and information.