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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about living in the dorms

Do all students live on campus?
      Most students live on campus and it's required for all students 23 years of age or younger unless they live with their immediate families.

How do I get a roommate?
      Our student life staff will work with your admissions counselor to assign a roommate for you or you can choose your own. Hesston's admissions counselors learn to know prospective students at a personal level. They have great insight into the personalities of students who plan to attend Hesston. You will also fill out a housing application that asks about your preferences about things like what time you like to go to bed or if you like to study with music/TV. Our goal is to provide you with an excellent experience and that includes matching you with someone with whom you can live comfortably and will also help you to grow.

What if I don't get along with my roommate?
      We will work with you first to resolve conflicts between you and your roommate, including mediation, if necessary. If reconciliation is beyond the possible, we'll work with you to arrange another option.

How big are the rooms?
      Rooms in Erb Hall are approximately 12' x 15'. Rooms in Kauffman Court are approximately 11' x 13'.

Do I need to bring my own linens? What size are the beds?
      Yes. The rooms in Kauffman Court and Erb Hall's east wing have extra long twin beds. All other rooms have standard twin beds.

What else should I bring with me?
      Towels, blankets, clothes hangers, wastepaper basket, alarm clock, and pillow. Items that are useful but not required include a sleeping bag, bicycle, iron, laundry basket, bedspread or quilt, and personal items to make your room feel like home. You or your roommate should bring a touch-tone phone. And while a computer isn't required, it sure is handy. (See below for information on connecting to the campus computer network, Internet, etc., from your dorm room.)

What can't I bring with me?
      Halogen lamps; guns of any sort (BB, paintball, firearm); pets (other than fish); fireworks or explosive devices; alcohol, illegal drugs, and items pertaining to alcohol or illegal drugs (including empty bottles or cans); microwave ovens, electric grills, fryers, and toaster ovens; electric heaters; ceiling fans

Do the dorms have cooking facilities?
      Each mod (what is a mod? see below) is equipped with a microwave. You may keep a coffee maker and/or a small refrigerator in your room. Beyond that, cooking is not allowed in the rooms.

Can I connect to the campus computer network and the Internet from my dorm room?
      Yes, any Ethernet-capable PC or Macintosh can be connected. Check your computer's specifications to see if it is has a built-in Ethernet adapter. You will also need a Cat5 Ethernet cable long enough to reach from the wall jack to your computer - 14' is long enough in most cases. Ethernet adapters and cables are available for purchase in the college's Bookstore. In addition to Internet access, computers running Microsoft Windows will have access to Network file storage areas.
      Hesston's Information Technology department opens a Computer Readiness Center at the beginning of each term and other times as needed to check students' computers for viruses and spyware and prepare them for connection to the campus network ($20 fee). This process is required of all dorm computers connecting to the campus network.

What is a mod?
      Hesston's dorms are broken into smaller units called mods (for modular living units). Each mod consists of five to eight dorm rooms housing nine to fifteen students. The college appoints a resident assistant to lead each mod, to serve as a communication link between students and the resident director, to direct mod activities during the year, and to assist the administration in the enforcement of college policies. That's the legalese. On a more informal level, your mod will become a core group of friends even if just for getting a pizza and watching a football game on a Sunday afternoon. Some mods have group Bible studies, some just have fun. Each mod has mod parents--a home away from home in the Hesston community.

Are the dorms coed?
      No. Men reside in Kauffman Court and Erb Hall's west wing. Women reside in Erb Hall's east and central wings. In addition Hesston College has established what we call "Open House Hours" during which men may visit the women's dorms and women may visit the men's dorms.

When do students move into the dorms?
      Students may move into the dorms on the Friday morning of Opening Weekend in mid to late August, though some come earlier if they are part of the soccer team, volleyball team, or Bel Canto Singers or are aviation students. Students who begin their Hesston studies in spring term move into the dorms in early to mid January.

Where are the laundry facilities?
      Each dorm has coin-operated laundry facilities.

Where do students eat?
      Boarding students eat in the dining hall in Bontrager Student Center. Off-campus students may also eat in the dining hall at a reduced rate or at the Larks Nest, Hesston's snack shop.

Questions about campus lifestyle standards

Is alcohol allowed on campus?
      No. Not even empty bottles or cans.

What about firearms?
      No. Note even BB guns or paintball guns.

Not that I would or anything but what happens if I break the rules?
      Probably a fine and lifestyle probation (during which another rule violation can mean suspension or dismissal). Some violations carry immediate suspension or dismissal. The Student Development Committee will hear the complaint and your response and decide consequences. The vice president of student life may choose to offer an option to address violations directly with you.

Other topics

What do students do for fun?
      Our Campus Activities Board plans an event each weekend and several special events throughout the year. These include late night roller skating, Palace nights at a nearby cinema (called The Palace), bowling, ice skating, coffee houses, the New Year's Pool Party, Chicken-Out BBQ, and Feast of Carols, Hesston's Christmas formal.
      The college also offers intramural athletics and the opportunity for you to compete against your fellow students in volleyball, tennis, racquetball, softball, indoor soccer, floor hockey, and basketball. Ultimate Frisbee is a campus tradition.
      Drubers (a donut shop) and Newell's (a truck stop) in Newton are favorite late night destinations for Hesston students
      Nearby, Wichita offers access to a broad variety of attractions and cultural events including concerts, museums, restaurants, sporting events, and ethnic festivals.

Is there a place on campus that I can work out?
      Hesston College has a weight room and facilities for basketball, volleyball, racquetball, indoor soccer, tennis, and sand volleyball. We also have a great campus for Rollerblading. Dyck Arboretum's half-mile paved path is great for walking, jogging, or Rollerblading.
       If you would like a more extensive collection of fitness and strength training equipment and classes, the Hesston Wellness Center at Schowalter Villa offers great facilities. It's just a couple of blocks from campus. All resident students receive full memberships to the Hesston Wellness Center.

What will my mailing and shipping addresses be while I live on campus?

      Postal Address       Shipping Address
  (student name)
Hesston College
Box 3000
Hesston, KS 67062
  (student name)
Hesston College
325 S College Dr
Hesston, KS 67062

 

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