Living on College: What you need to Know*

*Or your parents will pester you to find out…

Bicycle Shed

All colleges have bike sheds where students can store their set of environmentally friendly wheels. Excellent bike pathways link residential areas to all buildings on main campus and student are encouraged to use bikes as an alternative means of transport.

Cleaning

How clean your room is will depend only on how well you clean it. Keep this in mind before inviting guests back for food fights, finger painting or opening packages with Styrofoam balls.

Faxes

Faxes can be received and sent through the Administration Services office (located at Edwards Hall) for a nominal charge (Newcastle Campus). Faxes at the Central Coast Campus can be sent during business hours from the Student Support Unit.

Insurance of Personal Property

We encourage all resident to take out their own insurance policy to cover their personal belongings in the college. The colleges do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to personal property of college residents.

Laundry

All of the colleges have laundry facilities including automatic washing machines, tumble dryers and outside clothes lines for those delicate items. These facilities are free to use so there is no excuse to take your washing home.

Orientation Week

Orientation Week (O week) is held the week prior to the start of each academic semester, teaching students how to be students. It also provides an opportunity for new residents to meet each other as well as the residential staff. This week includes activities, talks and tours that help new residents familiarise themselves with the college and university environment. Orientation activities typically include beach tours, toga parties, mystery dinners, scavenger hunts, pancake dinners and games nights.

Residential Staff

All of the colleges employ residential staff who assist in the general administration of the college and act as college leaders, particularly for first year students. Residential staff members are classed as either senior residential assistants or senior resident mentors.

Security

In the event of an emergency, residents can contact on call residential staff that are trained to respond to and support students. For security reasons, all students are advised to lock their doors while absent from their rooms. For the added protection of students and their property, the campus grounds are patrolled at night on a random basis by university security officers. Be warned, propping open fire doors and leaving front doors unsecured may result in hard labour and costly fines.

Shuttle Service to Shopping Centre

Every Thursday evening during normal semester periods, a free shuttle bus operates from 5.30pm – 9.00pm between the colleges and the local shopping centre at Jesmond. The Central Coast Campus can organise weekly shopping trips to Erina Fair, timetable to be negotiated and depending on demand. Shop til you drop!

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted inside, or within 5 metres of any university building.

Sport and Culture

If you love sport, don’t miss your opportunity to become a college hero. The colleges face off in the intercollegiate sports competition across the sports of tennis, soccer, basketball, swimming and cross country running.

If you prefer to fight with the pen than the sword, there is an intercollegiate arts shield in which colleges compete in the cultural pursuits of debating, public speaking, art competitions and performance nights.

Telephones

All rooms include a telephone, telephone connection, voice mail system and internet connection. Telephone cards can be purchased from the Accommodation Services Office at Edwards Hall (Newcastle Campus). Telephone cards for the Central Coast Campus need to be purchased off campus.