Residential Life

The Residential Life Team is committed to making your experience within the residence halls a safe, student-centered, and memorable part of your time at Martin Methodist. By living on campus, our residential students are in the center of campus life with easy access to student organizations, sporting events, and on-campus resources.

Click here to sign the Residential Pledge before you move in!!

The health and safety of our residential students is our top priority in Residential Life. Residential Life has increased frequency and thoroughness of cleaning (including the thrice-daily cleaning of doorknobs and bathrooms) and the installation of additional alcohol-based hand cleaning stations, and we will continue to closely monitor the situation and our facilities.

While the Martin Methodist remains open, residential halls will remain open but will observe strict physical distancing protocols.

Residential students will not be allowed to host guests in their residential facilities (including overnight and guests from other residence halls), and are are encouraged to regularly clean their personal space and belongings. Any residential student exhibiting symptoms during their stay on campus should alert Residential Life immediately.

Please click here for additions to the Student Handbook in regards to Residential Life and COVID-19.

Resident Assistants are the engine that keeps Residential Life running! Resident Assistants are students that live in an assigned residential hall and support the functions of the hall and its residents.

Resident Assistants receive a discounted housing rate (RA’s pay $7,000 for the academic year, regardless of location), free cable, a free designated parking spot outside of residence hall, and preference of a single room in assigned hall. RA’s may remain on campus during breaks at no additional cost. RA’s also receive leadership training and experience, conflict resolution and mentoring training, and individualized support from the College.

Resident Assistants must be full-time students with a cumulative 2.25 GPA. RA’s should have lived on campus at MMC for at minimum one full semester, and all RA’s must be in good standing at MMC.

Resident Assistants help with Move In Days and Welcome Week, along with Closing procedures for breaks and at the end of the year. RA’s rotate On Call Duties, both on regular weeknights and weekends (usually 1/month). RA’s create and implement programs for their residents, and support the needs of their residents through conflict mediation, mentorship, and general availability to answer questions and be a friend. Additionally, RA’s respond to resident needs like lost keys, maintenance questions, and more. RA’s are responsible for the enforcement of College policies within the residence halls to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all residents.

To apply for a Resident Assistant position for 2021-22, students should complete the RA Application before February 17. Returning RA’s should complete a Returning RA Application.

Housing Selection is a process for returning students to select their own rooms and roommates for the upcoming year! The process takes place in two steps:

Step One: Housing Application –

• Returning students may select up to three roommates to apply with. You can apply alone, as 2 students, as 3 students, or as 4 students.
• Each student must complete their own application, but if you have roommates you wish to live with, all roommates must be listed within the application. Students will be put in a group together based on their application.
• Applications are based on your 2021-2022 classification (senior, junior, or sophomore). Each student should complete the appropriate application for themselves, and the group’s classification will be based on the majority. For example, to enter the process with an application for seniors, at least 2 of the students applying must be seniors in the Fall.
• Students should complete one application.
  • Housing Application for Seniors – Opens MONDAY, MARCH 1, 12:00 PM CST. (Closes 3/7)
  • Housing Application for Juniors – Opens TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 12:00 PM CST. (Closes 3/8)
  • Housing Application for Sophomores – Opens WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 12:00 PM CST. (Closes 3/9)
• Applications will be processed based on the order which they are received.

Step Two: Housing Selection –

• Based on the order that applications were received, students will be invited to attend a selection meeting. If students are grouped with roommates, the entire group will be notified of their group selection number.
• During selection meetings, students will choose where on campus they want to live.
  • Housing Selection Meeting for Next Year’s Seniors: Monday, March 8. 4:00 PM CST.
  • Housing Selection Meeting for Next Year’s Juniors: Tuesday, March 9. 4:00 PM CST.
  • Housing Selection Meeting for Next Year’s Sophomores: Wednesday, March 10. 4:00 PM CST.
• Only one person from each application group needs to be present to select the rooms for their group.
• If none of the students from an application group can be present, the group can appoint a proxy. A proxy is a person the group authorizes to select rooms on behalf of the group. The group must appoint a proxy via email before the selection meeting so that Residential Life knows that the person is authorized to select for the group. This is only necessary when none of the group applicants can be present at the selection meeting.
• If none of the students from an application group, or an individual applying alone is present, the number will be skipped. The number will be recalled at the end of the Selection Meeting.

Returning residents that do not wish to participate in the selection process and wish to be randomly placed by Residential Life staff should complete the Returning Housing Application.

Students applying to live at Martin Methodist for the first time should complete the New Student Application beginning February 1, 2021.

New students must pay a $150 application fee and provide proof of meningitis immunizations. These can be completed in the online application or over the phone via 931-363-9819. No new students will be allowed to move into residential facilities without receipt of the application fee and proof of meningitis immunizations.

A list of what to bring is available here. New students may want to consider purchasing bedding through our partnership at OCM. OCM bedding is guaranteed to fit Martin Methodist’s beds.

New students wishing to live off campus should complete the Off Campus Application beginning February 1, 2021.

Students wishing to commute to campus, or live off campus, for 2021-22 should complete the Off Campus Application beginning February 1, 2021.

Failure to accurately complete this application and provided any necessary supporting documents will result in the student being in violation of the Residential Requirement and fined.

To determine if you are eligible to commute/live off campus, please review our Residential Requirement below. If a student decides to commute or live off campus but does not meet the exceptions in the Residential Requirement, the student will be fined as being in violation of the Residential Requirement.

Martin Methodist offers summer housing facilities to students, regardless of whether or not students are enrolled in summer courses. Students can live on campus during the following periods:

• Spring Transition (May 1-9)
• Summer S1 (May 10-June 24)
• Summer Transition (June 25-27)
• Summer S2 (June 28-August 5)
• Fall Transition (August 6 – Fall Reopening Date, TBD)

Pricing:

For Summer Sessions, summer housing fees, regardless of location, are $600 per session. Students taking 9 or more hours throughout the summer will receive a 50% discount off housing fees ($300 per session). For Transition periods, summer housing fees are $100 unless the student is taking courses in the adjacent summer session. Please note that Dining facilities are closed for the majority of the summer, so students should be prepared to utilize common cooking spaces to make their own meals (available in Student Life House and Criswell and Upperman Halls).

Application:

To apply for summer housing, please complete the online application after April 1, 2021.

• New Student Application – To be used for new residential students for Spring 2021 only.
• Returning Housing Application. – To be used for returning residential students for Spring 2021 only*
• Off Campus Application. – To be used for commuters for Spring 2021 only

*Student Apartments for 2020-21 are currently full. After the Returning Housing Application is complete, if a student wishes to be placed on the waiting list to live in Student Apartments, they may add their name to this Waiting List. The Waiting List will be approached by a combination of first-come, first-served, and seniority.

All full-time students under the age of 21 and enrolled in at least 12 hours of coursework each semester are required to live on campus or at home with a parent, legal guardian, sibling (over the age of 25), or a grandparent within a 40 mile radius of campus.

Exceptions to the Residency Requirements:

1. Student is 21 years old and in good academic and student conduct standing prior to August 1 of the academic year.
2. Student has acquired 90 credit hours prior to August 1 of the academic year.
3. Student lives at home with a parent, legal guardian, sibling (over the age of 25), or a grandparent within a 40 mile radius of campus. Documentation may be required to demonstrate the relationship in addition to a copy of the current driver’s license of the parent, legal guardian, sibling, or grandparent with whom the student will reside. The student must live in the residence with the stated family member full time. The parent, legal guardian, sibling, or grandparent must have lived in the area for at least one year preceding the date of first enrollment.
4. Student has a documented disability, with a corresponding Reasonable Accommodation on file with the Vice President of Student Affairs.
5. Student is a military service veteran.
6. Student is legally independent, with documented proof provided.
7. Student is married or has dependent children.
8. Student is enrolled solely in online courses.

If a student believes themselves to be in an exceptional circumstance, the student may submit a petition for an exception. Contact Residential Life for more information. If a student decides to move off campus and does not meet one of the above exceptions, they will be charged a fee.

To petition for an exception to our residential requirement, a student must write a letter to the Housing Appeals Committee.

The letter should explain the exceptional circumstances that the committee should consider. Please be as detailed as possible. Petitions should explain in detail the reason an exception is needed and what solutions the student has tried to make on-campus housing work. If the reason for petitioning is medical, the student must have a Reasonable Accommodation Request on file before including this as reasoning in an exemption petition. With this, the student must provide current medical documentation, and a clear explanation of this reason must also be included in the petition.

Petitions should be submitted by July 1, 2020 to Director of Student Life, Sarah Catherine Richardson (scrichardson@martinmethodist.edu). Petitions will be presented to the Housing Appeals Committee for a decision.

Signing a lease does not exempt a student from financial responsibility for an assigned space in campus housing. Students are recommended to refrain from signing an off-campus lease or make other contract obligations until they hear back from Residence Life.

Students petitioning for an exception to Residential Life policies are recommended to consult with the Financial Aid office to determine how living off-campus may affect the student’s financial aid package.

Assignments are always subject to changed based on the needs and capacity of the College. Housing assignments for the 2021-22 year have not yet begun.

Returning students are invited to select their own assignment through the Housing Selection process. New students will be assigned based on preferences noted in the New Student Application and availability.

Returning students can expect to be assigned by May 2021.
New student assignments will not begin until June 1, 2021.

Residential Life prioritizes the best fit for a student in terms of roommates, conditions, etc. over specific locations, and we do not take requests to live in specific buildings outside of the Housing Selection Process.

Students can view their assignment, when available, by accessing the Housing Portal.

How to Access Your Housing Portal:

1. Go to Portal: Access Student Account 
2. In the very top center of the new webpage, hover over a tab labeled Student Portal. Click On a Computer (even if you’re using a phone!) when the window appears.
3. You will be taken to a new page where you will need to enter your personal Martin Methodist credentials. 
4. After signing into CAMS, on the far-left side, under Administrative Services, there will be a tab labeled My Housing.
5. Click on My Housing, and you will be taken to a page that will have your housing information posted!

Residential:

Residential meal plans are included in each student’s Room and Board charges. Residential students may select one of the following plans, and selections must be made within the first 2 weeks of the Academic Term (semester):

• 19 meals per week, plus $50 Flex to use at RedHawk Cafe
• 15 meals per week, plus $75 Flex to use at RedHawk Cafe
• 10 meals per week, plus $100 Flex to use at RedHawk Cafe

Commuter:

All commuting students have $25 Flex to be used in the RedHawk Café or Dining Hall. Non-residential meal plans are also available for commuting students, and should be purchased through contacting the Dining Manager Pedro Reyes (preyes@martinmethodist.edu).

• 25 meals for $185
• 50 meals for $300

Residents may opt to purchase cable television access for their residential room for the year through PES. Cable is $80 for the year. (Residents must provide their own coax cables and televisions.)

To connect cable services, residents should contact Crissy Jordan (1^st floor of Reveille House) at cjordan@martinmethodist.edu or 931-363-9882.

We have four on-campus residential halls:

Student Apartments, consisting of two multilevel structures, house 116 students; each apartment has four single bedrooms, two full baths, a small kitchen and dining area, and washer/dryer facilities.

Criswell Hall, a traditional dormitory-style building, provides comfortable living quarters for female students. This building has a guest lounge, a resident lounge for the private use of the students, a laundry room, the resident counselor’s apartment, and a chapel. Located in an elevated position, it commands a panoramic view of the campus and provides easy access to the Student Union.

Upperman Hall is a traditional dormitory-style residence hall for both men and women. This building is conveniently located in the heart of campus life with easy access to offices, academic buildings, and the Student Union.

Oakwood Apartments for Academic Excellence, located on West Flower Street, are apartment-style units with two bedrooms with a closet, bed, chest of drawers, and cable connections. Each apartment also has one bathroom, washer and dryer, and a kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator and stove. To be eligible to live in Oakwood, students must have a cumulative collegiate grade point average of 3.30 or higher.

To tour a residential hall, please contact the Director of Student Life, at scrichardson@martinmethodist.edu!

The Residential Life Staff consist of an Assistant Director, 3 Hall Directors, and 14 Student Resident Assistants. Our staff host programs within the residence halls to build community and encourage student involvement. Please reach out if you have questions!

• Joe McNairy – Upperman Hall Director & Security Officer-in-Residence: 
  jmcnairy@martinmethodist.edu, 931-309-9506
   
• Dr. Stanton Belford – Oakwood Honors Director & Faculty-in-Residence: 
  sbelford@martinmethodist.edu,931-424-4621
   
• Skylar Lovvo – Criswell Hall Director: 
  slovvo@martinmethodist.edu, 931-478-0369
   
• Kaelin Dawson – Student Apartments Director:  kdawson@martinmethodist.edu, 931-309-5643

Residents needing assistance within their Residential Hall should contact the On Call Phone for their building. Emergencies should be directed to Security at 931-309-7502.

• Upperman Hall: 931-309-1226
• Criswell Hall: 931-309-1023
• Student Apartments: 931-309-1012
• Oakwood Apartments & On Campus Houses: 931-309-0939

Violation of any residence life policy as outlined in the Residence Life Policies section of the Student Handbook and your Housing Agreement. These infractions are usually considered minor in nature, but will detract from the overall atmosphere of the community if they are repetitive. Please see the Residential Life section of this Student Handbook for Residential Life Procedures (i.e. guidelines and processes). ( Level 1 or Level 2)

Prohibited Items:

• Candles, incense, or any open flame (including possession of)
• Personal beds, including waterbeds
• Pets
• See the Room and Board Agreement for a list of prohibited items

Prohibited Behavior:

• Disabling/damaging any fire or safety equipment (including but not limited to the security camera system, smoke detectors, lights in hallway and fire extinguishers, evacuation maps)
• Failure to evacuate properly during an alarm or emergency evacuation of any kind (fire, tornado, active threat, etc.)
• Removal of any lobby, suite, or room furniture, including window screens
• Duplication or loaning of Martin Methodist keys
• Babysitting
• Playing sports
• Storage of any personal items or belongings in hallways or breezeways

Locking & Propping Doors

The outside door of all student apartments/ residential halls must be locked at all times. All students in an apartment suite or residential room are responsible for their door. Manipulating a door or the components of a door in any way that results in the inability of the door to lock will result in a fine. This includes outside doors and individual room. The student can also lose their right to live in campus housing if this behavior continues.

Quiet Hours

Students should respect other students at all times and not make excessive noise. Quiet hours are in effect daily from 11 p.m. until 8 a.m. In addition, a 24-hour “Quiet Hour” period will go into effect at 8:00 a.m. on Reading day for final exams and continue until the end of the exam period. Excessive or prolonged noise (including loud music) is prohibited at any time.

Lost Key

Any student that loses their key will be responsible for the cost of a new core and new keys.

Guests

Room Visitation Policy

• Under no circumstances are there to be visitors who are under the age of 17.
• Students who reside in Criswell and Upperman may have guests in their rooms from 10 AM until 12 midnight. Students who reside in the Student Apartments or Oakwood may have guests from 10 AM until 2 AM. Hall guests must be admitted to the residence hall by their host(ess) and sign the logbook upon admittance.
• Students are responsible for their guest’s conduct and adherence to the campus
  regulations.
• No person may be present in the room or hallway of the opposite sex unescorted.

Overnight Guests
Students who have overnight guests in campus housing are responsible for the conduct and behavior of those guests. Overnight guests are expected to abide by the campus housing rules. Students must secure permission at least 48 hours in advance from the Resident Director to have an overnight guest stay in the campus housing. All overnight guests must be of the same sex of the student. Overnight guests are limited to two nights a week, and excessive overnight guests will be
denied permission. Overnight guests are expected to abide by the campus housing rules.

Lobby Hours
Visitors are always allowed in the lobbies of Criswell Hall, and Upperman Hall and in the lounge of the Apartments (B203). Hall visitors must sign the logbook upon admittance, and students are responsible for their guest(s) conduct and adherence to the campus regulations.

Cohabitation
Cohabitation is not allowed within residential halls and apartments as campus housing is for contracted residents. Cohabitation is defined as providing housing or storage for persons who do not have a legal contract with the Residential Life Office.

Damages
Occupants of each room are responsible for its condition and contents. Damages to the rooms or contents will be charged to the occupants. Damages to common areas such as living areas, halls, baths, lobbies, and other areas of the housing units will be charged to all residents on a prorated or by-floor basis if it cannot be determined which resident was responsible. Final assessments of the damages are determined by Residential Life at the end of each academic year.

Residents wishing to remain on campus for any part of the Winter Break may do so at an additional cost. Break Requests usually open in early November and are due in early December. Occupying a residential space during Winter Break without authorization from Residential Life is against policy, and residents will be fined.

• To view the New Student Housing Application for 2020-21, please click here.
• To view the Off Campus Application for 2020-21, please click here.
• To view the Break Housing Request, please click here.
• To view the Immunization Requirements for 2020-21, please click here.
• To view a copy of the 2020-2021 Room and Board Agreement, please click here.
• To view a copy of the work order instructions, please click here.