Housing

Housing & Residence Life

One of the most exciting and memorable aspects of the collegiate experience is the opportunity to live and learn with other students. Eastern Kentucky University Housing and Residence Life believes a student’s residential environment is an integral component of their education. As such, EKU requires all freshman and sophomore students to reside within University housing facilities. The residential experience complements the academic mission by providing a dynamic environment where living and learning interconnect. Furthermore, students are progressively empowered through the nurturing, supportive, and challenging opportunities offered through the various components of our residential curriculum.

Many students have never lived away from home or shared a room before coming to College and are anxious about how the experience will be. Adjusting to residential life means establishing new ground rules, negotiating different standards of sharing and fairness, and learning to respect others’ priorities and opinions. It is important that you think about your priorities and how you might accommodate your needs and those of your roommate(s) in a new environment. A support network is available to help you through the transition. Our halls are staffed with both Residence Hall Coordinators (RHCs) and Resident Advisors (RAs) to help you transition in and navigate during your time at EKU.

Living on campus and away from home is a big decision for you and your family. However, in doing so, you have increased your opportunities to learn, grow and make lifelong connections and memories. You are already a member of your first EKU club. All residential students are members of our Residence Hall Association (RHA), a student organization that coordinates events for you and advocates for your needs. We hope that you take advantage of all that we have to offer from RHA, RA events, and our National Residence Hall Honorary (for the top 1% of leaders among you). If you have a question about the campus, our staff are a wealth of knowledge. We look forward to meeting you during move-in as you begin this exciting next chapter of your life.

University Behavior Policies


Living on campus is an important part of the learning experience at Eastern Kentucky University. On campus residents have the opportunity to meet new people from a wide range of backgrounds, share a living space, participate in activities, and truly find out what it is like to be independent.

By living on-campus, a student is a member of the university residential community. As a member of the University residential community, residents are bound by all policies and procedures including, but not limited to, the Student Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, and Residential Community Guide. Students are responsible for knowing the University’s regulations, disciplinary procedures, and penalties.

Mission, Vision & Values


Mission
EKU Housing and Residence Life fosters the holistic development, engagement, and success of our residential community by providing an inclusive home that enhances the collegiate experience.

Vision
EKU Housing and Residence Life strives to be a leader in collegiate student housing by providing safe, desirable and affordable housing. Through our residential curriculum, students have the opportunity to grow and share perspectives in a supportive environment that creates resourceful, independent, and engaged individuals.

Values
Service Excellence: We will meet student needs through dedication to student success, customer service, and continual improvement.

Integrity: We will be intentional, fair, and consistent with a commitment to student development and fiscal responsibility.

Accountability: We will be responsible for our actions and their effects on others as members of the university community.

Experiential Learning: We will develop students by encouraging academic success and life-skills to help students thrive throughout their collegiate experience.

Inclusion: We will celebrate diverse backgrounds and individual identities in our staff and students, while dedicating ourselves to ongoing discussions of respect, privilege, and cultural competence.

Relationships: We will forge campus and community partnerships that will benefit the student experience.

Fun! We will provide an environment where others enjoy and appreciate their collegiate experience as we work towards making a positive impact together.

FAQs

No, the room must be in the same condition when you check out that it was in when you checked in.

Some Residence Halls have Living Learning Communities (LLCs) that require you to participate in programs and meetings if you would like to stay in that hall. This is part of a separate community contract that you sign when you move into that hall. For more information about the LLCs, visit here.

Both Grand Campus and South Hall have restrictions based on classification. South Hall permits only students who have completed their first year of coursework at a College/University. This would include Transfer students with a full year’s coursework completed and all 3rd-semester freshmen or sophomores. Grand Campus permits only students who have completed their first two-years of coursework at College/University. Residents at Grand Campus must have 60+ credit hours before the first day of the Fall Semester.

Only fish are allowed in the Residence Halls. They must be kept in a tank smaller than 10 gallons.

It is always possible to receive a new roommate. For this reason it is imperative that half of the room is kept clean and ready to receive a student.

Outside of the hall, sports are encouraged; however any sports in the hall pose a danger to the residents who live in the building as well as the building itself. Someone could get hurt or the building could get damaged (i.e. busting a sprinkler head, breaking ceiling tiles, broken windows, etc.) Students responsible for damages resulting from hall sports will be charged financially and possibly judicially for the damage.

No, we do not have adequate storage space for this to happen and if the item(s) were to be lost and not returned to the room, you would be charged to replace it. Therefore, all items in the room must stay in the room.

Maintenance issues can be reported online using the WebTMA which connects directly to Facility Services. For additional assistance, you may also speak with your Residence Hall Coordinator (RHC).

This is done for the safety and security of the residents in the building and their belongings to make sure those entering the building actually live in the building.

This is another safety precaution that helps the desk worker keep track of who enters and exits the building so that no one enters the building illegally and without the knowledge of the Housing staff.

Students who wish to apply for an early release from their signed housing contract may submit a request. The Request for Release or Exemption form may be found on our Important Forms page. Students interested in seeking an early release are encouraged to read Section VII of the housing contract.

You will need to move everything out of the room first. Then notify the front desk that you need to check out of your room. They will call the RA or RHC who will escort you back up to the room to check for any damages. You will then sign your Room Control Inventory (RCI) form, fill out a checkout card, and then turn your key and FOB into the RA or RHC checking you out. Failure to follow this protocol will result in charges being placed on your account. Also, checking out of housing does NOT equal a release from your contract. Checking out of a room without being released from the housing contract will result in charges remaining on your account.

Guides & Resources


Housing Calendar


Halls Open

Residence Halls Open for the Spring 2025 semester. Front desks begin normal operating hours.

Check-In Deadline

Check-in deadline for all returning and new students for spring 2025. For late return/check-in, contact our office at 859-622-1515.

Halls Close

Halls close for Spring break. Front desks are closed for the break.

Halls Open

Halls Open from Spring break. Front desks resume normal hours.

Finals Week-Quiet Hours

Finals Week – 24-hour quiet hours are in effect. Students are expected to leave for summer 24 hours after their...

Contact Information


Housing & Residence Life

Whitlock Building
Room 552

859-622-1515
housing@eku.edu