Move In!

We posted the first round of assigned move-in times to your MyHousing accounts today! (this only applies to incoming first-year students). With the high volume of students moving in, this is important information to know because each resident will be getting a specific time slot when they will be allowed to be in the parking garage to move their items into their room. When you arrive in the parking garage at your assigned time, there will be a multitude of housing employees and volunteers around to help make moving in as easy as possible. To prepare yourself for move in day, pack in a manner that will allow you to stack your belongings vertically on our carts. These carts will be available for your use, so then we can plasticwrap everything together so you can move your items in to your room in as few trips as possible!

Before you get all your items loaded into your vehicle, make sure to take a look at the list of What to Bring to make sure that you aren't packing any prohibited items! Also you can use this list as a checklist and make sure you have everything you need packed up and ready to go! It is also a good idea to read through the Move-in Guide so you know the ins and outs of moving into your new residence hall room! The guide is accessible via the link and each resident will receive a hard copy in the mail around the middle of July.

If you are already familiar with the Guest Pass system you may be wondering if your parents/helpers will need to be swiped in with you every time you bring another load up to your rooms. The answer is no. Due to the high volume during move-in hours, this is the one time where you will not need to swipe in to get past security. Once move-in is completed for the day (about 7 PM), guests will need to have their passes and be swiped in.

Once you are all settled in go check out all of the fun-filled Fall Welcome Events and meet some of your fellow Panthers before classes begin! Hint: if you do you will be rewarded with free food and Panthers swag!

If you have any questions regarding move-in please direct them to the University Housing office via phone (414) 229-4065 or e-mail university-housing@uwm.edu.

Have a great rest of the summer!

Eric

Res Hall Recap: Cambridge

Since its opening in 2010, Cambridge has been the newest building on campus and will retain that title until the Kenwood Interdisciplinary Research & Development building is complete. In UWM's efforts to help create a more sustainable world, Cambridge boasts a LEED (Leader in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold Certification due to its many eco-friendly features including green roofs on the north and south wings of the building, high efficiency washers and dryers, and full size fridges in every suite!

Located at 2323 N Cambridge Ave, on the northwest corner of North Ave and Cambridge Ave, Cambridge is just over one mile away from main campus. The 6 floors of Cambridge are home to 700 students annually, with an underground parking structure capable of holding over 50 cars. In addition to the University Housing shuttles which pick up and drop off right outside of the building, several Milwaukee County Transit System bus routes have stops easily within walking distance.

The majority of the amenities in the building have their home on the first floor. Residents have access to the ReStor convenience store where they can grab a quick snack or enjoy some late night tacos, a beautiful courtyard to get some nature even in the middle of the city, ping pong and fooseball tables, two fully equipped recording studios, the cafeteria, fitness center, laundry room, and two classrooms. From the first floor residents and guests will also have access to wireless internet and all of the resources available at the service desk.

Elevating to floors 2-6 where the majority of the residents stay, located on each floor will be a kitchen lounge which is fully furnished with major kitchen appliances and a large flat screen TV. Each floor also has two Link Lounges which are great study rooms whether you're working by yourself or with a group.

Standard Suite Layout

In regards to suites, there are two types in Cambridge: Standards and Upgrades. All of the individual bedrooms in the building are double rooms and all of the suites will have two bedrooms for a total of four residents per suite, with the exception of six upgraded suites which have three bedrooms and will therefore have six residents in those suites. The biggest difference between the two suite types is the presence of the fully furnished kitchen and common space/lounge room that are included in the upgraded suites, but not the standard. However, even the standard suites will have a full size fridge in each suite! As for furniture within the bedrooms, each resident will receive a desk and chair, large 3-drawer dresser, small 2 drawer filing cabinet, as well as a bed and mattress. The closets will vary depending on standard or upgrade, but will come with a shelf lining the wall with a hanging bar. Each room will have one cable jack and one ethernet port per person. Cambridge does have air conditioning and a temperature control dial can be found in each and every bedroom!

Being such a new building it is no surprise that the interior of the building is very modern and aesthetically appealing. However, after calling Cambridge home for a year that part is not what made me love living there so much. For me, it was all of the amazing professional and student staff members I had the chance to meet and grow with throughout my time there and all of the memories I will cherish for a long time to come. Now it's your turn; go make some memories of your own!

-Eric

Open Mind, Almost Time!

As the New Student Orientations fly by and we rapidly approach the time of room assignments many students are anxiously awaiting the defining moment they see their roommates’ names and head straight to Facebook to take a closer look. BUT WAIT! Let’s all take a step back and think about the impressions Facebook can give off.

Sometimes we all take goofy pictures with our friends and post them on Facebook to show how much fun we have. Sometimes our friends do it without us knowing about it just to be funny.

“Yeah, I get it Eric. I’m funny. What does this have to do with my new roommates?”

Everyone has a different image they try to project on their social media accounts. However, it is extremely important to understand what you see or post on a social media profile can only be a snap shot of the complex personality everyone has. There’s no possible way to decide if you will get along with someone or not solely based off of his or her profile picture or his or her latest tweet.

When the fateful moment comes and you figure out who you’ll be living with all year, send them an e-mail through your myhousing website and get to know them before you immediately jump to conclusions! You just might be surprised with the new friends you make this year; I know I was.

Eric

New Students!!

Incoming Panthers!

First of all I want to extend a big congratulations to all of you on your acceptance to UW-Milwaukee! We can't wait to have you join us on campus. In fact, we aren't even going to wait all summer! Before you begin your collegiate journey, all incoming freshman are required to attend New Student Orientation.

NSO is a two-day, overnight glimpse into the coming year where you will become familiar with campus, register for classes, be introduced to the multitude of involvement opportunities available and so much more! In addition, you will all spend the night at RiverView Residence Hall where you'll get to experience first hand the residence hall lifestyle as well as meet other incoming Panthers!

Before you're able to register for your NSO the following tasks must be completed:

1. Pay at least $100 towards the $235 New Freshman Fee (either before or after taking the placement test)

2. Take Placement Tests - Register for testing here

3. Submit the University Housing Contract or an Exemption Form

4. Pay the $100 housing deposit (only if you completed a housing contract)

Once all of these steps are completed you will receive an e-mail invitation to register for your New Student Orientation! Parents are encouraged to accompany incoming students to NSO so make sure you coordinate schedules with them! There will be a lot of information delivered to you quickly and parents are great for helping remember and understand everything happening during this exciting process. There will also be special informational sessions for parents throughout the day. Parents are not required to stay overnight, but there is space available in Kenilworth at a cost of $40 per person per night which can be reserved during registration. Several hotels are also close-by if they prefer.

By completing all necessary steps to register for NSO and registering you will be all ready to come learn more about what it means to be a Panther! I would like to leave you with one tip though; most first year students take a lot of the same classes so they tend to fill up very quickly. The earlier New Student Orientation session you attend the more options you will have when selecting classes and setting up your schedule exactly how you want it!

Have a great start to your summer and I'll see you soon!

Eric

The Time is NOW!

This Sunday, March 2nd, not only marks the special occasion of the day I was born, but it is the deadline for submitting your housing contracts to make sure you get the perfect room on campus next year! As I mentioned in my last blog, returner self-assignment is a special time where current residents can come pick out exactly where throughout University Housing you will live for the next chapter of your career at UWM.

The actual process of self-assignment will be taking place March 4th and 5th in Sandburg. A letter went out to your campus mailbox February 21st explaining the details of the self-assignment process. Make sure to check your mailbox for this letter which will indicate your scheduled self-assignment appointment. If you want to live in the same room you are currently in, select that option when you fill out your 2014-2015 contract and you will not need to take any further action! That is only applicable if you complete your contract before March 2nd!

Part of self-assignment includes picking your roommates and suite mates. When you come to pick out your room you can pencil in the names of your desired living mates to reserve their spot in your room. However, in order for them to be placed in the same room or suite they must also attend their assigned self-assignment appointment and confirm the room selection! If they do not confirm their reservation their names will be erased and anyone will be able to claim that space so make sure you are communicating with each other!

"Eric, I really want to live in housing again next year, but I have class during my scheduled self-assignment appointment! Does that mean I won't be able to participate?!"

Of course not! You will still get the same priority as everyone else! You can have a proxy come and reserve your space for you. All you have to do is fill out a proxy card, which you received as an email attachment on February 26th. If you need another they are available at the service desk.

In addition, if you lived in and loved your LLC or didn't live in one this year and want to next year you will be able to self-assign into an LLC! Take a look at all of the options and pay special attention to HH2, S'MORE, and Future Fraternity and Sorority Leaders. Those three are all geared towards returning students!

Now it's up to you! Get those contracts filled out by 11:59PM March 2nd and show up to your appointment for the most hassle free living selection process you will ever have!

Happy Self-Assigning, Panthers!

Eric

Cool New Phone! How's it Work?

Not surprisingly, androids and iPhones were among the best selling items over the holiday season. For some students this will be the first semester with a phone capable of virtually anything, for others this is the next upgrade in a long line of technological disappointments. Regardless of your scenario, there are a few ways you can make the most out of your phone to try to make this semester even better than the last! Next I'll outline a few different apps that I have found to be a huge help staying on top of everything from day to day.

One of the best apps around if you're interested in taking notes digitally. Featuring cloud storage, superior organization, and an incredibly easy user interface, Evernote is every college student's best friend. Notes are easy to create and edit, but my favorite part is the notebooks to sort notes, pictures, and other files. Simple organization is a seemingly minuscule feature a lot of other note-taking apps I've used in the past lacked. Cloud storage allows for access to your files anywhere, so you're no longer stuck to one device!
Dropbox and Google Drive are a couple alternatives also worth mentioning!

Ever feel like you're on a social media Ferris wheel with all of the different sites you use? Buffer brings it all together in one app so you can spend more time catching up or staying current and waste less time switching between every account. Buffer will work with just about any other app and even has to option to schedule your tweet updates and posts so you can stay active without even being on your phone!

In my opinion, the biggest contender to Pandora for streaming music. Instead of listening to just a genre or station based off of certain artists, with Spotify you are able to create a library, playlists to share with others, access your music from multiple devices, and play specific songs you're looking for. My favorite part about Spotify is that streaming music from your mobile device is now free! A recent change that has kept my headphones rockin'. Whether from your phone or computer, Spotify is a great way to get in the zone with whatever music you desire.

If you're reading this first sentence to decide whether or not to keep reading or skip the boring finance part, do yourself a favor and keep reading. Even to an accounting and finance major like myself personal finance isn't exactly my idea of a fun time. However, it is an extremely important lesson that is better learned while we're young! Toshl Finance combines animation and practicality to start forming the right habits to ensure financial well-being later on in life!

The technology available is our ticket to an endless supply of resources to make our lives better. Instead of using your new phone as the fuel to your Candy Crush addiction (...not that I would know anything about that), try something new to help yourself out. Maybe you'll even be able to keep your new year's resolution!

Hungry Hungry Residents!

With contracts coming out soon I'd like to take a minute to explain the meal plan in more depth to clear up or prevent any confusion that may be surrounding the topic. Any resident that does not have a kitchenette in their suite is required to have a meal plan. When filling out a housing contract, three meal plan levels will be available to choose from. Level 1 is the lowest dollar amount and level 3 is the highest. Anyone assigned to a room which requires a meal plan but selected a no plan choice will default to level 2, if necessary. Each plan also includes (within the cost posted) a Dining Administration Fee which traditionally has been equal to the base amount of meal plan level one. This fee enables Restaurant Operations, who controls and coordinates all food related efforts, to provide the great service and convenience our residents become accustomed to throughout their time in University Housing.

The best place for residents to use their meal plans is in the cafeterias (Cambridge, RiverView and Sandburg plus Palm Gardens in Sandburg) because food purchased with a meal plan at those venues gets a 50% discount! Spending the meal plan money in the cafeterias is the best value for the price and helps you recoup the admin fee.

Everything available for purchase in the cafeterias being a la carte, so each transaction is only for the exact food purchased. There are no buffet-style cafeterias in University Housing (and you don't swipe or pay just to be able to enter the facility).

It is unlikely anyone will spend their entire meal plan in the cafeterias, but this is good information to be aware of and take into consideration when trying to budget out how to spend the meal plan.

"Eric! Help! There's still a month left in the semester and I don't have any more money left on my meal plan! Do I have to starve for the rest of the semester?!"

Absolutely not! Residents can add money to their meal plan online at Managemyid.com or in person at the cafeteria Cash Value Center located in Sandburg. On the other side of the fence, there is no penalty for not using the entire meal plan amount. Any balance at the end of Fall semester is carried over into the Spring semester, and the balance at the end of the contract (end of Spring semester) is refunded back to the resident, less a ten dollar processing fee.

If you have any questions about meal plans or if you would like to change your meal plan level, you can call or email our office at university-housing@uwm.edu.

Hopefully everyone understands meal plans a little better now!

Eric

Give Back on Thanksgiving!

For anyone living far away from home the holidays have potential to be a great time to go back home and see all your friends and family, but for anyone unable to return home it can be an unfortunately sad and lonely time. I have news for you though; it doesn't have to be! If you're not going home to be with family this Thanksgiving I highly suggest checking out a volunteer opportunity somewhere close by. There are too many people who will be cold and hungry this Thanksgiving and volunteering is a great way to do something nice for someone else that will probably elevate your mood a bit as well! To make it easy for you to find a volunteer opportunity I found you this website with contact information for 5 great places to spend one day or start getting involved on a more consistent basis!

 The holidays are a time where we often reflect on how blessed and grateful we are for everything and everyone we are fortunate enough to have in our lives. Not everyone can relate to that feeling and a few hours of your day could mean the world to someone else. Who knows, you might even make a few new friends along the way!

For everyone traveling home this weekend , have a safe journey and enjoy the short break before finals come! I'd also like to remind everyone University Housing is currently in the middle of a food drive so bring some nonperishable food items back to school with you and for every 5 items you donate you'll get a coupon for FREE FOOD from Noodles & Co. The next day for the Noodles' coupons is December 3rd in Sandburg from 11:30AM - 1:00PM.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Eric

I promise I've been good this year

Parents,

Let’s be real, I’m getting old. In just one short year I’ll be a high school grad and livin’ it up in college! With the holiday season approaching, I've been thinking a lot about what to ask for this year. I want to continue my life long tradition and ask for the newest video games and the other “cool” stuff I fantasize about having with my friends. But this year something is different. This year I want to set myself up for a great year away at college. I know that I’m going to need a lot of stuff that I won’t be able to afford myself, but maybe if I asked for a few of those things now it will make the transition into college a bit easier for both of us!

I’ve been talking to my friends that went to college this year and compiling a list of the things they think have helped them out the most. From my research, I've gathered that I need to be able to stay entertained in my room when there is nothing going on, I should have ample storage for all my belongings as well as my food and drinks I want to keep in my room, and I guess I should make sure I have everything I need to set myself up for academic success as well. Browsing through the University Housing website I found this list of Items to Bring that looks like a really good outline for what to bring and what not to bring. Just to make it easier for you, I also created a wishlist of my own. I know it looks long, I just want to be sure I’m as comfortable as possible!

Wishlist:

-Mini Fridge

-Video game(s)/Console

-Clothes

-Headphones

-Gift cards for nearby restaurants

-Shower caddy/Other toiletry related items

-Room decorations

-Organizers for all my stuff!

-Sporting Equipment

-Board games

-Alarm clock

-Laptop

-Camera

-Wireless Router

-Keurig

-Cleaning supplies

-Futon

-Minimal dishes for in my room

Hopefully these lists give you some guidance in your holiday shopping! 

A Greek System You Might Not Expect

Spring semester 2013 I rushed, accepted a bid, pledged, and got initiated into the Sigma Chi Rho Fraternity on campus. I have several friends in fraternities throughout the country and even though I never really thought Greek life was for me I decided to go to one of the rush events. It was not what I was expecting. The brothers were all welcoming and engaging, even in the simple setting of a video game night in the Union. And that was just the beginning.

Throughout the semester, Sigma Chi helped me grow as an individual, a team member, and a leader. Fraternities and Sororities here at UWM aren't what you might expect. We don't have the crazy parties, huge houses, and the inevitable drama that stems from what you've probably seen on TV and in the movies. The organizations here focus on the core concepts that are the foundation of Greek chapters, like leadership and volunteering, and give the members endless resources and connections that will undoubtedly help as we all get our careers and futures started.

There are also business Fraternities, such as Beta Alpha Psi that I'm looking forward to getting more involved in this coming year. A lot of majors also have a professional Greek community that offer even more experience, resources, and experience focused on your major. For me, this means accounting. This year I'll get the chance to participate in numerous volunteer events and fun activities with other members of the accounting community.


No matter what level of involvement you're looking for, UWM Greek Life has something to offer you. Keep an eye out for rush events held at the beginning of each semester to give you a glimpse into what it's like being a part of an exclusive group of students that value highly ethical morals and values that can help shape the person you grow into as you go through your college years. There is no obligation for attending rush events, and it's a great way to meet people and have fun even if you don't find the right group for you. I found mine, now it's time for you to go find your own best fit!

Work Study 101

Why would anyone want a job where they have to study while they're still in school and have more than enough to study for already?

I think you're misunderstanding me. A work study is not a type of job, it's a type of payment for a job you have while enrolled in courses. Work study is part of Financial Aid that allows students to work for some of the money they receive from FAFSA, with a few special characteristics. Work study is available at UWM for just about every job offered to students. The process of finding the job, interviewing, the work you do, and most importantly getting paid works the same as getting a job without work study. The difference is the government pays approximately 75 cents of each dollar that work study participants receive, making work study an attractive option for employers. In addition to being attractive to employers, work study is a great option for students, financially speaking. The money earned in a work study does not count towards income earned on financial aid for future years so it won't hurt your financial aid potential.

Whether you choose to participate in a work study or not, there are plenty of option for employment around campus with more popping up all year long and they're all located in one convenient place: the auxiliary jobs website. From the aux site you can apply directly to as many jobs as you wish, get a lot of information about different jobs that are available, and get contact information to follow up the application with a phone call. Working anywhere on campus is a beneficial way to get involved in more than just the courses you're taking while you're at UWM!

But MOOOOOOOOM, I'm sooo bored!!

Long time no see! The housing office has been bumpin' the last couple weeks and I've gotten to speak to a LOT of you as we keep counting down to the start of a great year. As students start moving onto campus, there will be the inevitable barrage of organizations trying to grab your attention and show you all of the amazing opportunities they have to offer. And trust me, there's a lot to offer!

UWM has over 300 student-led organizations that offer opportunity for involvement on any level you desire, opportunities that can directly correlate to your major and give you a leg up when starting your career. Being involved in a student organization is a great way to develop your leadership teamwork skills.  

South End Carnival goer testing
his limits with chubby bunny

The one year I have under my belt at UWM led me to explore a multitude of these organizations from the events I went to (even if it was just for the free food) and the chance to join a couple different organizations. While living in Cambridge Commons I was the Treasurer for the South End Council, one of the many community councils within the Residence Halls, where I gained experience far beyond making budgets. I was able to coordinate many events, such as the South End Carnival to wrap up the year and give everyone a chance to have a little fun with their friends before finals. 

Getting involved may not have been the "cool thing to do" in high-school, but my friends, that's a thing of the past once you reach UWM. Joining any of our organizations is a fun, beneficial way to make your time here worth something a little bigger than yourself. So as this year gets started make sure to explore a few groups, maybe you'll discover a new passion or find your next best friend. At the very least, you'll probably get some free food!

Peace and Blessins'

Eric

Can I Get That To Go?

UWM Mobile home screen

Good afternoon everyone! At this point in the exciting process of coming to a new University I have a suspicion that everyone is being bombarded with new, important information from multiple departments. That's why I'm here to tell you all about the amazing UWM Mobile app you can all download for FREE! the UWM Mobile app is a great way to keep some important information right at your fingertips.

From the home screen, pictured on the right, you can navigate through several different menus that all have a lot of information about different aspects of campus and Residence Hall living.

As a resident in Cambridge last year, two of my favorite functions of the UWM Mobile app were the Laundry function and the Shuttles Function.

Laundry

This is not your parents' laundry. Once you select Laundry from the home screen you will come to the page on the left. From here, select the laundry center you will be using. Each laundry center has a break down by machine (pictured on right) of which machines are available, which machines are in use, and how long the machines in use have left in their cycle. You can also access this information at laundryalert.com if you do not have the UWM Mobile app. If you choose to access this information online, the password is: uwm8101.


Shuttles

Another of my favorite functions is the shuttle function. Selecting this option from the main menu allows you to access Shuttle Predictions for all of the routes that are currently running as well as a Real Time Map (pictured on left) that uses google maps to pinpoint exactly where the shuttles are on their routes. Especially for those of you in Cambridge Commons and RiverView who will be using shuttles frequently, the shuttle function can be awesome for navigating through your morning routine! I know it helped me last year.

Make sure to check the Calendar frequently during Fall Welcome to take full advantage of all the fun events going on!

I'll see you there!

New Students! Lookie Lookie!

June 3^rd kicked off the first of fifteen New Student Orientation sessions UWM will have this summer. I believe I can speak for everyone involved when I say that it was a pleasure to host all of the incoming students and their families!

By and large the biggest question I’m sure all of you have is, WHEN DO I FIND OUT WHERE I’M LIVING NEXT YEAR?!?? Fret not, the time is drawing close. The magical date of assignment is June 17^th. June 17^th. June 17^th. June 17^th. June 17^th. This date may change, but it will be close to the 17^th and you will all be able to view your housing assignments and new roommates on your myhousing website once they are published.

While we’re on the topic, I’d like to take a minute to remind everyone that on the second day of New Student Orientation the very last thing you have an option to participate in is taking a tour of Cambridge Commons and RiverView! Tours are a great opportunity to get a taste of what our different residence halls have to offer you no matter which hall you are assigned to.

Looking forward to meeting the rest of you new comers at the remaining New Student Orientations!

Eric

PS.                   JUNE 17^th!!!

Listening to Summer

One of the great things about Milwaukee is all of the music and festivals.  Many people know about Summerfest, but you don’t have to wait until Summerfest to groove to your favorite tunes.  There was a concert just last night through an event called Chill on the Hill.  Chill on the Hill is an outdoor, summer local music concert series that takes place on Tuesday nights at Humboldt Park.  This year's dates are June 4th through August 27th.  I am most excited to see the music towards the end of the summer accompanied by dancers!

If you are looking for a sweeter melody, you should check out Jazz in the Park.  Jazz in the Park started in 1991 and about 8000 people attend every week.  This music can be heard in Cathedral Square Park
Downtown Milwaukee every Thursday.

There is also a festival this weekend June 9th on Locust St.  Locust Street Festival  provides a variety of music, so there will be something everyone likes! 

These events are ongoing and a great way to get a taste of Milwaukee!!

Welcome Everyone!

Hey everyone! My name is Eric Sundquist and I am glad to be one of the new University Housing Outreach Assistants here at UWM! We’ve been working hard to organize the absolute best tours of our residence halls here and as the first few tours start I can tell it’s going to be a lot of fun meeting all of you and introducing you to our awesome facilities.

A little background about myself; I am a 21-year-old Accounting and Finance double major transfer student from Burnsville, MN (SKOL VIKES!) and the 2012-2013 school year was my first at UWM. I lived in Cambridge Commons last year and had a blast. I got involved with the South End Council, which governed Cambridge and RiverView, and got some really cool things accomplished through that like getting foosball tables in the residence halls and throwing a huge end of the year/pre-final carnival and grill out for residents to take a step back and relax before attacking their finals and also to have some more enjoyable time with all of the friends they made throughout the year.

I am also a part of the Sigma Chi Rho Fraternity on campus. Keep an eye out for our car smash during Fall Welcome to raise money for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and the UWM Scholarship Program!

This will be my first summer in Milwaukee and I could not be more excited! I’ll finally get to experience Summerfest as I’m sure many of you will. I also plan to spend a lot of time exploring the numerous festivals that will be occurring throughout the summer, specifically German Fest and the Fireworks Kite Festival, as well as touring the disc golf courses around the area.

I hope you all have an exciting and safe summer and I’ll be checking back in soon!

Eric Sundquist