On-campus living

Learn to thrive and honor God through community with your peers. Residence Life pursues five themes: Jesus, Neighbor, Community, Disciple and Accountability.

Living on campus provides experiences that include making new friends, facing new challenges and developing memories that will last you a lifetime. Living within the campus community is an important aspect of a student’s personal development and education. Research continues to demonstrate that students who live on campus benefit in a number of ways. In fact, students who live on campus beyond their freshman year*:

  • Are more likely to persist and graduate
  • Gain more interpersonal contacts with faculty and peers
  • Experience greater personal growth and development
  • Have higher academic engagement and grade point average
  • Have higher social-interpersonal engagement
  • Participate more in out-of-class activities
  • Have more positive and inclusive attitudes and openness to diversity
  • Find more satisfaction with their undergraduate experience

*Source: How College Affects Students: A Third Decade of Research by Ernest Pascarella and Patrick Terenzini. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2005

Requirements

Charleston Southern requires all students under 20 years of age who are enrolled as full-time students, do not live locally, and are classified as a dependent (except veterans and married couples) to live on campus. Students must reach the age of 20 prior to the start of a major semester to reside off-campus. Students over 20 years of age, who have not previously been a resident, must have the Dean of Student’s approval to reside on-campus. We make every effort to house students who desire to reside in the residence halls.

Your room sign-up indicates tentative approval to reside on campus, and your place is reserved. However, please be advised that in the event we have a shortage of housing for students under the age of 20, it may be necessary to adjust the number of students over the age of 20 we are permitting to live on-campus.

For further questions about this policy, contact the dean of students office at 843-863-8008.

What to expect

We strive to make the transition into campus housing as smooth and comfortable as possible. On move-in day, our friendly community leaders and resident assistants will welcome you into the community. 

When you arrive at CSU, you will check-in and move into your assigned room. This is a great time to meet your RA, your roommates, and neighbors. College is an exciting opportunity to build lifelong friendships and wonderful memories, get involved early and immerse yourself in the CSU experience!

At the end of your first day, your RA will conduct the first community meeting. During this time they will discuss community guidelines as well as roommate and suitemate agreements. 

Ready to Move In?

Summer 2023 Move-In is Sunday, May 7 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. in the lobby of the New Residence Hall.

Fall 2023 Move-In for New Students is Thursday, August 17 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. New student orientation will be held on Friday, August 18. Move-In for Returning Students is Saturday, August 19 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Essentials

  • Flashlight 
  • Bed Sheets 
  • Towels and Wash cloths
  • Toilet Paper 
  • Cleaning Supplies (Non-Bleach Clorox wipes, toilet bowl cleaner, cleaning sprays, sponges) 
  • Laundry Basket and HE Detergent
  • Low amp Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Prescription medicines and first aid supplies. 
  • Surge protector power strips 
  • Toiletries:
    • Shampoo & conditioner
    • Body wash
    • Shaving supplies 
    • Toothbrush & Toothpaste
    • Shower caddy*  
  • 3M Command strips and hooks* 
  • Trashcan
  • Hand soap
  • Face Coverings

Talk with your roommates about who is bringing:

  • Shower Curtain
  • Bathmats
  • Low amp microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Television & Gaming Systems
  • Bathroom Trashcan

Optional Items

  • Extra set of sheets 
  • Extra Towel and Washcloth 
  • Drying Rack*  
  • Large trashcan  
  • TV and cable cord* (not Dynex or Westinghouse) 
  • Game Console 
  • Airtight containers for snacks 
  • Small sewing kit* 
  • Desk Lamp* 
  • String Lights 
  • Laptop or tablet and chargers 
  • Microwave safe dishes* 
  • Towel hooks 
  • Paper towels 
  • Housing Approved bed risers* 
  • Mattress cover and/or mattress pad 
  • Batteries for electronics 
  • Hair straighteners and/or curlers WITH heat protection mat 
  • Hair dryer 

Prohibited Items 

  • Pets other than fish (Fish are allowed in up to 10 gal tanks)  
  • Hot plates 
  • Air Fryers
  • Toasters and toaster ovens 
  • Crockpots and slow cookers 
  • Any type of grill 
  • Any object that could be used as a weapon, including- guns, bb guns, air-soft guns, paintball guns, metal darts, knives
  • Electric Blankets 
  • Electric Heaters 
  • Lighters 
  • Candles/Incense 
  • Tobacco paraphernalia (Juuls, and E-Cigarettes included) CSU is a tobacco-free campus.

The Res Life Staff is unable to allow early check-ins unless required by the university. Special groups who are required by the university to move in at a time different from the times listed on our website should contact their program lead. Moving into a residence hall without going through the proper procedure will result in a $100 fine. Keep in mind to:

  • Bring your CSU student ID with you to check-in.
  • Read the Student Handbook. Make sure to review items to bring and items to leave at home lists. All of the Residence Life policies and procedures are found in the handbook. Residents are encouraged to contact their RA if questions or concerns arise.
  • Know your room assignment and move-in location.
  • Be on time. Early and late check-ins are unacceptable. If for any reason a resident is unable to check in on time, he/she must inform the Residence Life Office at least 48 hours in advance for arrangements to be made. Please email Residence Life at reslife@csuniv.edu.
  • Resident Contract. Every resident completes a binding contractual agreement. Parents, friends, and other parties may not obtain keys or access to the residence on the resident’s behalf. A copy of the housing contract can be found on MyCSU.

These are important steps to ensure everything goes smoothly as you transition into college life.

After Move-In

Living on campus is a unique, once in a lifetime experience that you’ll remember forever! Plan to face challenges and to learn and grow, not only academically, but personally and socially. The Department of Residence Life is here for you – reach out to your RA, RLC, or our office in the Student Center 2nd floor if you ever need us! Welcome home!

Every resident has a resident assistant (RA). Residents will have a Welcome Home Community Meeting the day of, or shortly following move-in. Please talk with your resident assistant for more information. Community meetings are the first Monday of every month.

This form needs to be completed by all roommates in a room and turned into the resident assistant within 24 hours after move-in. Check your room to ensure there are no missing items, nothing is broken, and report anything that is not up to par in your room.

Roommate and Suitemate Agreements are filled out by every resident. Communication is the single most important factor in building good relationships. Every year, residents come to the Residence Life staff with issues, and more often than not the issues could have been resolved through a simple conversation. We recommend taking this opportunity to get to know one another and express concerns and reservations regarding sharing space. Take your time filling out these forms and use open, honest communication and listen to one another. These agreements will be completed during a meeting with your RA three weeks after move-in.

Health and Wellness Inspections are designed to identify health and wellness threats and the general condition of dorm rooms. All residents are required to have a monthly room inspection. Follow-ups will be made as necessary.

During Health and Wellness Inspections, the Resident Advisor will check for overall cleanliness of the room. It is each resident’s responsibility to maintain a clean room and bathroom. Some items and areas that will be checked during these inspections are:

  • Floor
  • Trash
  • Mirrors
  • Furniture surfaces
  • Clothing not put away
  • Bathroom (sinks, shower, toilet, trash cans, floor)
  • Damages
  • Maintenance issues

Items that are prohibited in dorms will be identified and confiscated. They are:

  • Pets
  • Hot plates or any open burner device (including cookers, toasters, toaster ovens and grills)
  • Guns, metal point darts, knives, or any object that could be used as a weapon
  • Drugs or drug paraphernalia
  • Tobacco products
  • Electric blankets
  • Electric heaters
  • Flammables (including lighters)
  • Candles or Incense
  • Paintball guns

Ready to Check Out?

All students are required to move out within 24 hours of their last exam each semester. For example, if final is at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, you must checkout BEFORE 9 a.m. Thursday. All residents must be out by noon the day after exams end. Residents should sign up for a checkout time with their RA. Moving out of a residence hall without going through the proper procedure will result in a $100 fine. All students must be properly checked out 24 hours after their last exam. Additional information pertaining to specific semesters is below.

Roommates/ suitemates should begin cleaning prior to the day of checkout. Returning residents should complete the Room Confirmation prior to checkouts. Confirmed residents should empty and defrost their refrigerator, and the room should meet the White Glove Inspection requirements. Residents who have not completed a room confirmation prior to their checkout time must remove all items from the room belonging to him/her. Any items left behind when a student checks out, when not returning for the next semester, or when student has not completed a waiver, will be considered abandoned and discarded. The university will not be accountable for these items. Any questions should be directed to the resident’s RA.

  • Residents have 24 hours after their final exam to check-out of the Residence Halls (all students should review their exam schedule and start planning ahead).
  • All residents must sign up for a time to check-out with their RA (specific instructions will be given at hall meetings).
  • Before residents leave for Christmas break, anyone who is returning to live on campus for the spring semester must confirm their room through their MyCSU account. To confirm your room, you must be registered for a full time schedule and pay the $100 room deposit. Transfer and freshman students do not have to pay this deposit.

Roommates/ suitemates should begin cleaning prior to the day of checkout. All residents should remove all items from the room. Any items left behind when a student checks out will be considered abandoned and discarded. The university will not be accountable for these items. If a student is required to stay on campus for commencement, he or she must sign up with the Residence Life Office prior to commencement to check out before 5 p.m. the day of commencement. Any questions should be directed to the resident’s RA.

  • Residents can check back in to campus on Saturday, January 7 or Sunday, January 8 from 1-5 p.m.
  • Check-ins will take place in the parking lot behind the Wingate hotel with Residence Life staff.
  • If residents are not able to make this check-in time, they should email the Residence Life office at reslife@csuniv.edu as soon as possible. This should only be for emergency situations.

Summer residents may only remain on campus as long as they are enrolled in an on-campus course of at least 3 hours. Each resident must properly checkout 24 hours after his/her last final. All items belonging to the resident who is checking out must be out of his/her room before the checkout process begins. Since roommates/suitemates may not move out at the same time, residents are responsible for their area within the room and the bathroom. Any items left behind are considered abandoned and will be discarded.