Checking In

Please contact Elizabeth Fehsenfeld, Graduate and Theological Residence Director to set up a check-in appointment.  Email is the easiest at efehsenf@drew.edu or by phone at 973/408-3055. To expedite your check-in please make sure you are clear for check-in from the following offices:
Business Office
HealthServices
Campus Web (Log in and click on “My Check-In Status” in the menu on the left side of the website.)

Check-In Dates:

  • International Students: July 23, 2012
  • New Grad/Theo Students: August 20, 2012
  • Returning Students: August 24 and 25th and 26th

Contact Elizabeth Fehsenfeld for more information.

ResLife and University Policies

Please refer to Daniel’s Dictionary for any policy questions.

Also, look over the “What to Bring to the Residence Halls” page to see the prohibited items list.

Mail

Resident mailboxes are located in the University Commons.  To get your box number and combination, go to the Commons mail-room desk.  You will need I.D.

Your mailing address will be:
(YOUR NAME)
Drew University
CMB (your campus mailbox number)
Madison, NJ 07940

Property Insurance:

Please view the “Safety of Possessions” page to learn more about how to protect your personal belongings.

Laundry

There is a laundry room located in the basement of all residence buildings (under section C in both Wendel & Tipple).  Washers and dryers are $1.00. per load, the machines only take quarters, you will need 4 quarters per wash or dry load.

If there is a problem with the machines please contact the business office, ext. 3114, immediately with a description of the problem.  Personal washers and dryers are prohibited in private living areas and storage areas.

Telecommunications

Each bedroom is equipped with one phone line.  Students who wish to use the phone system must bring their own phones and notify telecom, 973/408-3333, that you want your phone line activated.  During orientation week, students will receive an e-mail with their authorization code for making off campus phone calls.  To reach someone on campus, dial their 4-digit extension number.  To make a call to an off-campus number, you will need to dial 9 first, then 1, then the full 10 digit number.  You should hear two beeps, after which you must enter your authorization code.  If the code is valid, you will hear 3 more beeps and the call will be connected. Drew provides cable television and internet service in Wendel/Tipple units.  You should find a cable jack and an internet jack in your apartment. There is a monthly fee for your telephone service that will be charged to your monthly billing statement.

Facilities

All residents are responsible for contacting facilities in the case of emergencies, such as a toilet clogged or overflowing or if an alarm is going off.
Call facilities Monday – Friday between 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m., 973/408-3510. On weekdays, after 5:00 p.m. or on weekends call public safety all other times, 973/408-3379.

Living on campus

Living on campus as a graduate or theological student means you  will live in “apartment style housing”  it is important to recognize that this style of housing is not quite the same as living in an apartment, say in Madison.  The space you will have will be crowded no matter how simply you live or how organized you are.  Please consider the following tips:

  • Decide what is most important to you and bring only those things with you.  If you find later that you have extra space, it is easier to open a storage unit and find the correct box rather than crawling over them in a tiny overcrowded apartment unit.
  • Invest in some organizational units.  Bookshelves, or stackable crates help find a home for papers and school work.
  • Remember that storage space on campus is limited and not guaranteed.  It is understandable that students will have a need to store some of their belongings the longer they live on campus and acquire new things, but the storage space available doesn’t change.

Roommate Considerations

1. Wipe down kitchen counters, table stove, and sink after every use.  Wash your dishes after every use.  Clean food out of kitchen sink drain after washing your dishes
2. Clean up after yourself; think of the others that have to use the areas after you do.
3. Check supply list to see who is responsible to buy what. Try not to run out of supplies, especially toilet paper.

  • No Door Propping: For security reasons, please do not leave outside doors propped open.  Also, always lock your own apartment door and the doors of the building.
  • Hallways: In accordance with local fire codes, hallways must be kept clear of all items except doormats and shoes.  Three (3) pairs of shoes may be left near your door in the hallway away from stairs. It may be useful to purchase a shoe holder to place near the apartment door to hold shoes for the household.  Other items left in the hallways are likely to be removed.  These include but are not limited to: toys, bikes, roller blades, strollers, umbrellas, books, plants, etc. this is a matter of public safety.  Please be courteous of your neighbors and facilities staff who are going up and down the stairs often carry groceries and other items.
  • Cleanliness:

When living with so many others in a small space it is inevitable that issues of cleanliness need to be addressed. Because of close quarters, the way in which you live can directly affect those around you. Here are some of the tips that the affiliate offices of Residence Life and Facilities have discussed as good ways to keep it clean and avoid fines:

  • Keep shoes, toys, bikes, and other personal items out of the stairwells and landings.
  • To avoid mold, wipe down damp walls in your shower and bathroom.  Use an anti-bacterial or mold remover such as, Clorox clean-up, Fantastic, etc. once a month to manage and maintain the bathroom area.
  • Use small trash bags and throw out garbage often.  Also, remember to recycle to reduce trash and be eco-friendly.

Children’s Safety 

Many families with young children live at Tipple and Wendel Halls, so children’s safety is of special importance.
Young children must never be left unattended. Children under 10 years old should always have adult supervision.  Parents should also watch that their children not wander into outdoor renovation areas on campus. EVERYONE should be careful of children when driving, especially when backing in and out of parking spaces in the parking lot behind Tipple and Wendel.

Pets

There are NO pets allowed in the apartments with the exception of non-meat-eating fish  Possession of a pet will result in a fine, the immediate removal of the pet, and the possible loss of housing.

Garbage and Recycling:

You are responsible for emptying all garbage and recycling from your room and the apartment. Do not place your garbage in the hallway nor leave it in the laundry room.  Please do not leave garbage bags on the ground. Failure to do so may result in the entire community being charged for garbage removal.

Please put all garbage and recyclables in the appropriate bins and close bins.

Recyclables may be co-mingled. Please refer to the following webpage:  Drew Recycling

Wendel/Tipple: There is a large metal garbage bin and a recycling bin in the back of Tipple between section Tipple D and Wendel D. .

Townhouses: There is a wooden shed in front of Townhouse #28 that had containers for garbage and recycling.

Loantaka: There are garbage and recycling bins near the garage.

Public Transportation

Madison Avenue Direct—a commuter van takes students to train station and local business and back to campus. There are signs and benches for pick-up near Simon Forum and near McLendon. The shuttle costs $1.50 per ride. Check the website for the latest schedule:
Madison Avenue Direct Schedule 2012

Bus (from the Drew main gate)
Local-stop service from Morristown to Short Hills or to Livingston Mall. NJTransit

Train (from the Madison train station)

Directions on how to get to the train station in Madison:
Walk to front of campus (Madison Avenue/Rte 124) turn right. Go to Madison Ave/Kings Road intersection–turn onto Kings Road. Stay on Kings Road all the way to the train station. You will cross Green Village Rd and Waverly Place. There are stairs just after you cross Waverly Place that will take you up to the platform to go to New York. Or you can walk to the front of the Train Station directly across from City Hall (otherwise known as the Hartley Dodge Memorial). The platform next to the train depot is the one going into New York City.
Stay on the train until you reach New York City. You will arrive at Penn Station.

Once at Penn Station you can exit the building, or stay inside the train station and transfer to the Subway’s to get to your destination. If you need help, the subway staff wear MTA uniforms and you may ask policeman for assistance.

Helpful Transportation Websites

New Jersey Transit Train Schedules (New Jersey’s commuter railroad)

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York City subways and buses, Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road commuter railroads)

NYC WorldWeb Travel Guide (New York City Sights & Attractions)