Category Archives: Announcements

Millersville University Residence Hall Semester Break 2020-21 Closing Bulletin

The residence halls will close for the semester break with residents expected to move out of the residence halls. Residents who do not have extenuating circumstances and are not approved for break housing are expected to remove all belongings, return the residence hall key and properly checkout of the residence hall no later than Noon on Saturday, November 21, 2020.

Residents requesting housing during the semester break must apply for and be approved for Semester Break housing as directed below. Resident Students requesting Academic Semester Break Housing for the period of November 21, 2020 through December 13, 2020 — or — Continuous Semester Break Housing for the period of November 21, 2020 through January 24, 2020 must have an approved reason for and apply no later than Friday, October 30, 2020 by 4:00 PM. Break approvals will be limited to those who have a credit-bearing requirement through December 13, 2020, those who have international student status, or are of independent status as recognized by the Office of Financial Aid. Notification of approval or denial will be made by e-mail on or before Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

Academic Semester Break Housing starts Saturday, November 21, 2020 through the end of the academic fall semester at 6:00 PM on Sunday, December 13, 2020. Approved students must fully move out and check out of the residence hall by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday December 13, 2020.

Continuous Semester Break Housing starts Saturday, November 21, 2020 through the opening of the residence halls for Spring 2021, on Sunday January 24, 2021. Approved students must be registered for on-campus housing for Spring 2021 prior to requesting unbroken semester break housing. Those few that are approved for Continuous Semester Break Housing will be required to relocate to South Village for the duration of the break and through the Spring 2021 semester. This is due to the maintenance and housekeeping responsibilities performed over semester break and limited amount of staff that will be available.

To request Semester Break Housing please follow these instructions:

  1. Open MAX (for best results please use Google Chrome, or Firefox; do not use Internet Explorer.)
  2. Log into your “My Housing” account.
  3. Select Application from the menu in black and then choose Break Housing 2020 on the drop-down menu.
  4. Select Academic Semester Break Housing: This is housing that ends at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13, 2020.
  5. Or select Continuous Semester Break Housing: This is housing continuing through Sunday, January 24, 2021.
  6. You must select a reason for requesting break housing from the drop-down menu.
  7. If you chose “Other” please specify your reason.  Maximum of 160 characters with spaces.
  8. Select “Continue” to submit your application.

Semester Break Housing Information:

  • The residence halls will be closed during Semester break except for students approved for Academic or Continuous Break housing.
  • Building card access for all resident students will be discontinued during the Semester break. Only students with extenuating circumstances who are approved for Semester Break housing will have card access privileges.
  • Guests and Visitation will not be permitted during Semester Break housing.
  • Residence Hall Offices will have limited hours of operation during the break. The information will be posted at the South Village front desks for contact information.
  • See Dining Services and Health Services web sites for hours of operation.
  • Non-urgent police calls dial (717) 871-4357.
  • Fire, Police and EMS Emergencies dial 911 at all times.
  • The Housekeeping and Facilities Management Staffs will be working in the campus residence halls to perform maintenance tasks during the break that may require entrance to occupied resident rooms. The Housing Staff may post a courtesy sign on occupied suite doors indicating that the suite is occupied during the semester break. This sign will ensure that workers will not enter without knocking. Please leave it in place for the duration of the semester break.

Semester Break Checkout Procedures

Prior to the start of the Semester break, all resident students MUST:

  • Dispose of all trash by removing it to the dumpster in the parking lots outside your residence hall.
  • Clean the room/suite including sweeping the floor and wiping down furniture.
  • Clean your bathroom and report any issues with constant run toilets, sinks, showers to the residence hall staff.
  • Remove all belongings from your suite, properly checkout and return your room key to residence hall staff as directed.
  • Turn off the lights.
  • Set the thermostat to 70 degrees.
  • Close and lock your room window (Villages).
  • Lower the blinds halfway but leave them open (Villages).
  • Lock your bedroom door and your suite door.

Housing Zoom Open Forums – Spring 2021 Housing

Housing and Residential Programs staff understands that students and parents have questions regarding Spring 2021 housing. We highly encourage students and parents to join us for our open forums we will be holding via Zoom. Before attending a forum, please check that your question has not already been answered in our FAQ post.

Zoom Open Forum Schedule:

  • Tuesday October 13, 2020 from 10:00am-11:00am
  • Thursday October 15, 2020 from 10:00am-11:00am
  • Tuesday October 20, 2020 from 10:00am-11:00am
  • Thursday October 22, 2020 from 10:00am-11:00am

Please visit the following link at the scheduled time and date of the open forum you’d like to attend: https://millersville.zoom.us/j/95434605528. Or, type the following Meeting ID into Zoom to join: 954 3460 5528

We look forward to hearing your questions and helping provide you with more information about Spring 2021 Housing!

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Housing & Residential Programs Offers New Virtual Tours

Millersville University’s Department of Housing & Residential Programs (HARP) is proud to offer a new virtual tour option of all of our campus residence halls.  HARP partnered with Vivid Media in order to develop an immersive, virtual tour experience for current and prospective students to view what the residence hall room options look like on our campus.

Through this new platform, Millersville students and their families can explore the residence hall rooms in more detail to see the various amenities and conveniences that are offered to them prior to arriving on campus. Chris Jachimowicz, Director of New Student Programs notes, “Unfortunately the current health crisis means that we are unable to share MU’s fantastic residence halls with visitors in person. The new virtual tours, combined with our “walk through” display in the Lombardo Welcome Center, will ensure that prospective students and their families will get a good feel for what living in our halls will be like.”

The virtual tours feature each building with the option to explore each room type as well as the common areas, including study lounges, recreation rooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. In each specific building tour, visitors can click into a menu in the upper left-hand corner of the viewer to choose what type of area they would like to explore. Each room type and area is specifically listed. Additionally, there are four different viewing options to use, including the following: Explore 3D Space, Dollhouse View, Floorplan View, and Measurements. These options can be toggled by clicking on the corresponding icons on the bottom left-hand corner of the viewer. Hovering over each icon with the mouse arrow will indicate what each icon represents. The menu options will change dependent upon the current view that is showing.

Explore 3D Space | Dollhouse View | Measurements

Dollhouse View | Floorplan View | Measurements

Explore 3D Space

In this view, you can literally explore the area by clicking and progressing throughout the room as if you are actually there. Also, if you left-click and hold on the mouse, you can spin the view in all directions. The faint circles on the floor indicate the vantage point from that particular spot.

Dollhouse View

The Dollhouse View permits you to view the areas as if it were an dollhouse model. Again, if you left-click and hold on the mouse, you can spin the view in all directions. This is beneficial because it gives you a sense of the spaciousness of the room.

Floorplan View

The floorplan view gives you a simplistic overhead shot of the room that is being explored. This view can be used in conjunction with the Measurements option to manually click on any two areas to take a measurement. While we have various important measurements already listed for each residence hall, this is another option that can be used. Those measurements are listed under each residence hall‘s corresponding “Room, Bed, and Window Dimensions” section.

We hope that you will explore all of the residence hall buildings and see the features that each offer. You can see each particular building by clicking on the “Virtual Tour” links under the general information listed for each area listed here:

East Village

Reighard Hall

Shenks Hall

South Village

West Village

A special thank you goes out to Ms. Rita Miller, one of the Associate Director of Housing & Residential Programs, and the Vivid Media crew for putting together a wonderful offering for our Millersville University community! Another thanks goes out to Matt Rutkoski for assisting Rita in the set up process. Additionally, thank you to Chris Jachimowicz, Director of New Student Programs, and his team for coordinating the room display for our visiting guests.

Spring 2021 Housing FAQ

We have compiled a list of questions and answers regarding important information about housing for the Spring 2021 semester. This information only applies to campus housing, which includes East, South and West Villages along with Reighard and Shenks Halls.

This page will be updated with new information once it is released. Please check this site, the Millersville University website, and your Millersville University email regularly for important updates regarding the Spring 2021 semester.

Q: When does the spring housing application open?

  • A: The application opens October 1, 2020. To find the application, login to your MAX account > Student Services > Housing and Dining > myHousing > Applications.

Q: Who has to fill out the spring housing application?

  • A: Any student looking for housing for the Spring 2021 semester. This includes current residents and students who did not live on campus in the fall but would like to live on campus in the spring.

Q: When does the application close?

  • A: The spring housing application will close on January 15th, 2021 though this date may be subject to change.

Q: Can I fill out the application and opt-out of housing later if I change my mind?

  • A: Yes, we will be accepting cancellations.

Q: Will I be able to request a specific room through the application?

  • A: Filling out the application guarantees you a spot in the residence halls but not a particular room/suite type or building.

Q: Can I pick a suitemate?

  • A: Yes, we will try to accommodate as many requests as we can.

Q: Will I be in my current assignment for the spring semester? (applies to current residents only)

  • A: We cannot guarantee that at this time due to the evolving COVID-19 environment, but we will try our best to accommodate specific room requests.

Q: Will I be sharing a room?

  • A: Students will share a suite, but each student will be placed in their own bedroom at the listed rate for that particular type of unit.

Q: When is the bill due?

  • A: Housing assignments and bills will be released on November 13, 2020.

Q: When is move-in?

  • A: Move-in for the Spring 2021 semester will take place Monday, January 18th and Tuesday, January 19th. Students must sign up for a move-in date and time. The sign-up can be accessed by logging into MAX and going to Student Services > Housing and Dining > myHousing.

Q: Do I need to get tested for COVID-19 prior to moving in?

  • A: Yes. Health Services will be on campus to administer the rapid COVID-19 test (free of charge) in Susan P. Luek Hall (24 Pucillo Dr., Millersville, PA 17551) before students receive their room keys. Students living in the residence halls will need to present to Housing staff proof that they have tested negative before they can receive their room key. If a student has proof of receiving a negative test that was administered within 48-hours prior to arriving on campus, they may present this to Health Services in lieu of on-campus testing. Students who do this will still need to schedule a day and time with Health Services as part of the move-in process.

Q: What do I need to know about the move-in process?

  • A: Students will receive their room keys once they show proof of a negative test to Health Services. To maintain a safe and socially distant move-in process, students will be required to sign-up for a specific day and time through myHousing. Students will be permitted to have two (2) family members or friends to help with moving in. Students and families are responsible for providing their own personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves to use inside the residence hall along with any disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. Please note, the use of facial masks is required while on the Millersville University campus. All students and move-in helpers are required to wear a mask while inside the residence halls. Those who do not have a mask will not be permitted inside the building. There will be no moving carts available, so students should prepare accordingly to bring hand carts/hand trucks/dollies. There will be no volunteers assisting with carrying student belongings to the rooms.

Email housing@millersville.edu with additional questions or concerns. Subscribe to this blog for email notifications whenever we share a new post, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter for updates.

Spring 2021 Housing Application Information

The Spring 2021 Housing application will open on October 1, 2020.
You can access the application by logging into your MAX account and following this path: Student Services > Housing and Dining > myHousing > Applications.
Students will be placed 1 student per bedroom.
Email housing@millersville.edu with any questions, and subscribe to this site for email notifications whenever we share an update. Follow us on our Twitter and Instagram accounts for updates as well!

Affinity Group Courageous Conversations

Engage in meaningful dialogue by attending one or more of the sessions included in the Fall 2020 Courageous Conversation Series! See flyer above for more information. All of the sessions are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Listed below are the dates for each session:

  • September 24th
  • October 8th
  • October 22nd
  • November 19th

You must register by September 18th to receive Zoom links for each of the sessions. Click here to register.

We hope to see you there!

Fall 2020 MU Academic Resilience Speaker Series

This fall, Dr. Ann Gaudino and Dr. Margaret Mbindyo have organized an Academic Resilience Speaker Series which features great speakers on topics surrounding how and why students can develop academic resilience. Academic resilience is the ability to overcome challenges and grow from them. Academic resilience is especially important now because of the challenges and disruptions brought about by the pandemic.

Webinar meetings run every other Wednesday from 12:00pm-1:00pm between September 9th-November 18th. Click here or here to register, or scan the QR code in the graphic above.

We strongly encourage you to attend these webinars to learn how you can achieve academic success and to receive support!

6 Helpful Websites for College Students

There are lots of helpful websites out there that you can access for free which may help you with studying, learning, and navigating college life. Here are 5 of the best websites that students can take advantage of:

1. Quizlet: Every student probably already knows and loves Quizlet, but may not be taking advantage of everything it has to offer. For example, you can turn your online flash cards into an actual sample test with multiple choice, true or false, matching, or short answer questions. I strongly believe that if I hadn’t done this for my biology class, I would’ve never gotten an A. You can also organize your flash cards into folders and share them with your friend.

2. Google Digital Garage: Google Digital Garage is a free online learning tool offered by Google. They offer some free online webinars on topics like staying productive while working remotely and writing a strong cover letter and resume. They also have free online courses you can take in the following categories: Data & Tech, Digital Marketing, and Career Development (great for college students; courses in this category include tips on how to get a job, learn how to network, improve public speaking skills, and so on).

3. Habitica: Habitica is a website and mobile app that helps you keep track of tasks and establish better habits. You can manage any habits you want to work on such as procrastinating less or studying more. You can also manage daily tasks and create a to-do list where you can check off assignments once you’ve completed them. This will help you stay organized and encourage you to improve your habits. The purpose of Habitica is to “gamify your life”. It transforms tasks into “monsters” you have to conquer. The better you are at improving your habits, the more rewards you receive, such as gear for your avatar. This is a fun way to increase productivity and encourage self-improvement.

4. Millersville University Housing Blog: Okay, so maybe I’m a little biased, but the blog site you’re on right now really is a great resource for students. There are all kinds of posts on here, like ones teaching you about self care, how to succeed in college, information about Millersville University and student life, motivational posts, and so much more. They’re easy to read and the site is updated with new posts each week. You can also subscribe to this blog to get notifications about new posts and links to the posts sent straight to your email.

5. Slader.com: Slader is a website you can use when you’re having trouble in a course. You can search for your textbook and find step-by-step solutions to textbook problems. You can also ask questions in the Q&A section of the site and get help with problems from other students. They offer textbook solutions for a variety of subjects. The website is free, but you can upgrade to the college plan for a few dollars per month. 

6. TalkTyper: You can simplify the essay-writing process by using this website to translate your spoken words into text. This is really helpful for when you don’t feel like typing and find it easier to say what you want typed and have it typed for you. It’s also helpful for when you’re rushing to meet a deadline and can speak faster than you can type. Then, you can just copy and paste the text into a Word or Google document, edit it, and turn your paper in. Note: this will only work on your laptop if your laptop has a microphone function.

There are lots of websites that exist for the purpose of making student’s lives easier. Are there any that you recommend that we didn’t list? Let us know in the comment section!

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Fall 2020 Housing Student Move-In Process Information

Millersville University has initiated plans to have students move into the residence halls over the course of a week starting on Monday, August 17th at 8:00 AM and concluding on Sunday, August 23rd at 8:00 PM. We want to provide you with direction related to moving in to your residence hall in the safest and most orderly manner possible. We do understand this is going to cause various logistical hardships, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work through this stressful time.

  • Prior to moving in, all residential students will need to electronically sign the housing agreement and newly added addendum by logging into their MAX account and following these menu choices: Student Services >> Housing and Dining >> MyHousing >> Applications >> Fall 2020 Application.
  • Be sure to have a photo submitted for your Millersville University ID.
  • Upon arriving to campus, please go directly to your residence hall to check-in and retrieve your key. Signage will be posted throughout campus to direct you to your specific hall. For our new students moving in Monday – Thursday, there will be student leaders in front of the Student Memorial Center (SMC) to assist with wayfinding and answer general questions.
  • Once you have parked, the student should go directly to the front desk of their residence hall. Again, signage will be posted outside the residence halls directing you to the main entrance. All guests should remain outside and begin unloading items until the student returns.
  • No more than two (2) guests may accompany the student inside the residence hall during the move-in process.
  • Masks must be worn at all times while inside the residence halls.
  • In order to practice safe social distancing, we are staggering the move-in process to one-hour time blocks for each residential area. Students – please refer to the email that was sent to your MU Email account that contain the links to sign up for a time slot.
  • If you need to change your reservation, you can do so by referring to the “Edit My Sign-Up” instructions that will be included in your sign-up confirmation email from Sign-Up Genius.
  • Please understand that there will be limited University services open throughout campus for walk-in’s during any part of the move-in schedule.
  • We strongly encourage students to bring their own handcarts and / or carts as there will be none available to assist with moving-in. Unlike our past fall move-in processes, there will be no volunteers assisting with carrying student belongings to the rooms.
  • For a list of recommended items and belongings to bring with you, check out our blog post titled “Fall 2020 Move-In: What to Bring
  • You are required to bring your own personal protection equipment, such as masks and gloves to utilize inside of the residence hall along with any disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. Please note, the use of facial masks are required while on the Millersville University campus.
  • Students should also bring with them a personal thermometer for daily self-screening.
  • You may want to coordinate with your suitemates (if applicable) to coordinate different move-in dates and / or times in order to maximize social distancing efforts.
  • Dumpsters will be located outside of the residence halls so that you are able to dispose of any trash. Please breakdown all boxes before disposing.

We are working under federal, state and PASSHE guidance. Please continue to view the University’s Coronavirus page for updates as well as checking your student email account for ongoing information.

Fall 2020 Move-In: What to Bring

What should you bring with you when you move into the residence halls? We’ve compiled a list of essentials that you should bring with you on move-in day to help you answer that question. Feel free to print out this list and check off items as you get them to keep track of what you have/don’t have.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the current COVID-19 situation, we ask that you do not pack everything you own, and that you stick to bringing the absolute essentials. Examples are listed below. This will also expedite the move-out process in the case that we need to fully close the residence halls due to the changing COVID-19 environment. Additionally, on-campus housing will be closed for the remainder of the semester on November 21, 2020 at 5:00pm. We stress that you pack lightly in order to simplify the move-out process.

Please note that we will NOT provide hand carts/trucks/dollies, so students should prepare accordingly to bring their own. We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your continued cooperation as we navigate this challenging situation.

Essentials for your room:

  • Bedding (sheets, comforter, pillowcases)
  • Pillows
  • Plastic storage bins
  • Clothing (weather appropriate – short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, shorts, pants, shoes, socks and underwear)
  • Laundry basket (Tip: bring one that folds up for easy packing and moving)
  • Laundry detergent
  • Hangers
  • Small trash can
  • Dustpan and brush
  • Computer/laptop
  • Cell phone
  • Medication(s)
  • Desk supplies (pens, pencils, scissors, stapler, etc)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Masks
  • A personal thermometer for daily self-screening
  • Mini-refrigerator (The University contracts a third party for leasing refrigerator and microwave units which are leased on a yearly basis and will be delivered to your room. For more information, visit the MicroFridge website.)

Essentials for your bathroom:

  • Towels
  • Hand soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, etc.
  • Razor
  • Trash bags and small trash can
  • Toilet plunger
  • Toilet brush
  • Toilet paper (You must provide your own toilet paper)
  • Cleaning supplies, including toilet bowl cleaner, disinfectant cleaning spray, paper towels

Click here to learn more about what to bring and what not to bring with you. Keep packing hassle-free and eliminate the stress of move-in day by following our guide of what you should bring with you when you move into your residence hall. Remember: Students living on-campus for the Fall 2020 semester are strongly encouraged to pack lightly and focus on bringing essential items. Let us know if you have any questions about what you should/should not bring with you to move-in day in the comments!

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