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

Getting Your Contract In

Future Panthers, please note that the priority deadline to turn in your 2014-2015 University Housing Contract is May 1. This date is four weeks away, so circle it on your calendar and submit your contract on time!

Remember there are six room types available to first year students:

1. Cambridge Commons Double
2. Cambridge Commons Double Upgrade
3. RiverView Double
4. Traditional Sandburg Single
5. Traditional Sandburg Double
6. Traditional Sandburg Triple

You need to indicate your top three room preferences on the online contract so that after the May 1 deadline you can be assigned to your building, suite, and room through a randomized lottery system that will look at which type of room you would prefer. If you do not get your contract in by May 1 you can still apply for University Housing, however, you will be placed in another lottery at the beginning of summer.

Other parts of the contract that are important to take a look at:

• Living Learning Communities are floors where residents and their Resident Assistant all share a common major or interest so residents can make connections in the classroom and bring that network back to the residence halls. For more information visit the LLC Website.
• Inclusive Housing offers an inviting, welcoming space for students who self-select and self-identify as gender non-conforming or who have other cultural or identity considerations related to living in the residence halls at UW-Milwaukee and students who identify as allies. University Housing will have some suites where students may request any roommate without regard to gender identity or physical sex. Students interested in Inclusive Housing should contact University Housing or the LGBT Resource Center, or email inclusive-housing@uwm.edu.
• Roommate Assignment is based off of a personal habit quiz that will assess your living and study habits to ensure a good match between randomized roommates. If you already have a roommate in mind, make sure you put each others' Student ID Numbers in the preferred roommate section of the contract. If you need to share your UWM ID number with your preferred roommate so they can request you, your number can be found at the top of the myHousing page, once you've logged in.
• Meal Plan fees are separate from University Housing, but can be found on the same contract. Just pick one of three levels so that at the beginning of the semester you try out the food available through Restaurant Operations.

There will also be a $100 pre-payment/deposit required after you submit your contract. If you change your mind about living in University Housing prior to June 1, part of this fee will be refunded to you.

This is a lot of information to process, so if you have any questions feel free to ask!

- Kenlei

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

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