• Do I get an I.D. card? Does it work for entrance into the residence halls, laundry, and food service?
• How do I get involved?
• How does the phone service work? Do I have long distance service?
• Is there cable in the residence halls? Is there a fee for cable?
• If I commute, is there a place to store my books and personal belongings?
• Can I change roommates after the semester begins?
• When should I purchase books for my classes?
• What resources should I familiarize myself with when I begin my course of study at Saint Vincent?

Yes, at registration your photo will be taken by Public Safety and an I.D. Card will be ready for you when you come to campus to begin the Fall Semester. Your I.D. card is called a Freedom Card, which allows you to deposit funds into the card at an automated teller machine in the Carey Center Student Union and the Saint Vincent College Library. The I.D. card will grant you access to your residence hall entrance. It will also serve you for operating campus copiers, select vending machines and for food service.

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There are many leadership opportunities and activities on campus.There are over 40 clubs and organizations you can join. Clubs are open to all students.  The club fair is held in the Carey Center Lounge on September 7th between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Each club has a table and you can sign up to be a member—it’s that easy.  Plus, there is the Student Government Association, which is always looking for students who want to help shape the quality of student life. There are opportunities to get involved in the residence halls. And if you have an interest that others will enjoy, you can start your own club. Just see Mr. Jym Walters, Director of Student Activities, in his Carey Center Office for more information.

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Students use a variety of methods for phone service. Some have cellular phones with their own service. Others use calling cards. Also, if you live in the halls you may be eligible to enroll in a long distance service plan. The College works with Resicom, a long-distance billing service. Information regarding Resicom's services will be made available to you on your arrival.

A phone jack is available for each resident. A standard phone purchased through your local retailer will be compatible with the campus phone system. The quality of a cordless phone’s reception may be compromised by a high concentration of cordless phones in-use. If you choose to bring a cordless phone to College, the “cross talk” you may periodically experience is normal. Saint Vincent College will not provide each resident with a phone.

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Your residence hall room is cable ready. The cost for cable is included in the room charges. You may add premium services by contacting the cable provider after you arrive.

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Yes, if you are a commuter, just sign up for a locker at the Office of Student Affairs. The lockers are located by the post office and the dining hall in Placid Hall. There is NO FEE for the locker, but you must provide your own lock.

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All freshmen must remain with their assigned roommate for the first 4 weeks of the semester. After those 4 weeks, freshmen can request a roommate change. The student must see the Residence Hall Director of his/her residence hall and state the reasons why a roommate change is needed. Requests are considered but depend upon availability of room spaces and if the switch is to the benefit of all parties involved.

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This largely depends upon your own circumstances and preferences. Some professors do not require you to have texts until after the first few classes. During this time, you may be able to purchase your required texts secondhand at a considerable discount. You will see many advertisements on campus to purchase used books during the first few weeks of the semester. Some students wish to purchase texts "new" in their major course of study and others like to purchase new books for all courses. You will need to make this decision.

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Obviously, you will have a wealth of information and resources at your disposal to assist you in your matriculation to Saint Vincent College. However, there are a few texts that will assist you throughout your academic and extracurricular endeavors at SVC. They are:

• The Student Handbook: This provides you with information relating to academic and non-academic standards and guidelines set forth by the College administration. It addresses various substantive issues including student rights and responsibilities, college services, campus organizations and clubs, and rules and regulations.You will receive a copy of the Student Handbook upon your arrival in August. This information is also available on our website, www.stvincent.edu.
  
• The College Bulletin: This details academic requirements and course descriptions and will be utilized when planning your course of study throughout your college career.
• The Calendar of Events: Published by the Orientation Program, this provides you with day-to-day information about campus activities and meetings as well as a directory of all new students, faculty, and administrators. You will receive a copy upon your arrival.
• The Rule of Saint Benedict: Available in a small pocketsize edition, this provides you with a basic understanding of the background, standards, and ethics upon which Saint Vincent College was founded. Written by Saint Benedict, it is a foundational text upon which the Order of Benedictine Monasticism was founded. The values set forth in The Rule have helped shape the Saint Vincent Community and establish Saint Vincent as a unique Catholic institution of higher learning.

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