No Panther Left Behind

This was an exciting weekend for many new Panthers as contract access was rolled out and they were able to take one more big step in the process of coming to UWM! However, there are undoubtedly a few  students out there who are having trouble finding the e-mail with the instructions. This e-mail could have been sent to your personal e-mail address or your new UWM e-mail address. If you think you should have received the e-mail detailing how to fill out your contract, but you did not, the first two places you should check and your "Junk" and "Spam" folders in your inbox. If it's not there go ahead and shoot us an e-mail at university-housing@uwm.edu or call (414)229-4065 and we'll figure out any problems you're having!

Once your contract is completed please allow 3-5 business days for the deposit charge to appear on your PAWS account.

If you think you should have access to the contract, but have not received the e-mail you can always log in to MyHousing@UWM to check whether or not the contract link is there. If it is, it will be a blue link towards the bottom of the page (above the Kenilworth Square Apartments header). Make sure to check out University Housing on Facebook for even more tips and tricks about housing contracts and so much more!

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

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! 

Preparing for Winter Break

Deck the Halls and ride a one horse sleigh to Grandma's house, but before you can do that you need to make sure you're prepared for winter break.   Students need to attend their house meetings to know how to prep their room for winter break.  You are welcome to stay over winter break no matter what residence hall you live in.  There is no extra cost for any student to live in the residence halls over break.  However, students should definitely check out our website with information on how to prepare your room according to which residence hall you live in.

Next, you should know RiverView will be closed for winter break, and there will be NO ACCESS for anyone. Students in RiverView will be asked to move to a Cambridge Commons room if they need housing over winter break. RiverView residents need to fill out a a request form to receive a winter room in Cambridge.  More information can be received from your resident assistant.  The forms are due no later that DECEMBER 6.

And last of all, for any students who are completing their time at UWM, you need to make sure you speak with your RA prior to your desired move out date.  You will need to schedule a move out appointment, so they can properly check you out of your room and avoid an improper checkout fee ($75).  You can visit our website to find this great checklist to help you avoid that fee.  Students, you will also need to fill out a termination form to end your housing contract with UW-Milwaukee.  We wish you the best on where ever your path will take you next.

Whether you are planning on staying or leaving over break, it is important most of all to attend your house meeting.  This has all information you could ever need....oh and make sure you clean!! 

Enjoy your break and congratulate yourselves for a semester completed!!  RiverView opens back up on January 19th and classes start the 22nd!