Residence Hall Safety
Please Note: Though some of the information and guidelines below are specific to the beginning of each semester, it is a valuable resource for understanding student expectations regarding residence hall safety, comfort and community living. Check out the Guide to Community Living for additional information.
Property Insurance
Neither Wake Forest University nor the Office of Residence Life and Housing can or will assume responsibility for theft, loss or damage to your personal property. Most thefts occur when residents leave their room door unlocked and/or their property unattended. Keeping your room locked at all times is your best defense against theft. The University does not cover property loss for damage due to unforeseeable facility incidents which may occur.
Before coming to campus, you should determine what it would cost to replace belongings such as your stereo, television, camera and laptop computer (issued by Wake Forest). Check your family’s property insurance policies—many policies will cover loss or theft even if the policy is in your parents’ name(s) and you are living on campus. If not, we suggest you purchase some type of renter’s insurance.
The Student Personal Property Plan, offered by National Student Services Inc., offers a competitive policy for personal property insurance. A pamphlet with an application for insurance is available at the Office of Residence Life and Housing. (Note: National Student Services Inc. is an independent organization and Wake Forest University is not affiliated with this company nor does the University receive income by providing this service for students.)
Building security
After checking in to your residence hall, you must obtain your student ID card, if you do not already have one, at the Deacon OneCard Office in Room 101 in the Benson University Center. Your ID card is used to gain access to residence halls on the key card access security system (exterior building doors on Babcock, Bostwick, Collins, Efird, Huffman, Johnson, Luter, Martin, North Campus Apartments, Palmer, Piccolo, Polo, and South halls), to suite doors on Davis, Kitchin, Poteat and Taylor houses, and at 109-111 Rosedale and 1210 Polo Road.
All doors on this system are locked 24 hours a day, but all students have access between 7 a.m. and midnight daily by using their ID cards. At midnight, these doors are programmed to allow access only to residents of the building or particular suite. Therefore, if you are visiting a friend, you should call ahead to gain access into the building or suite.
If you lose or damage your card, please come to Room 101 in the Benson Center to obtain a new one. There may be a charge for all lost, damaged or broken cards.
*Any suspicious activity witnessed on campus should be reported immediately to your Resident Adviser or Campus Police.
Keeping Rooms Safe & Comfortable
Each residence hall room has an extra-long twin bed (36” by 80”), a dresser, a desk and desk chair, and a Micro-Fridge® Appliance (except in the Polo Road area houses, campus apartments and Martin Hall). Each room also has window blinds and a closet or wardrobe unit.
How you make your room your home is one of the first topics you and your roommate will likely discuss. Make your room as comfortable as possible, but use common sense when adding those extra touches; keep safety in mind.
You may rearrange the furniture, but do not obstruct smoke detectors, sprinklers or heating/air conditioning vents, and do not rearrange furniture in a way that will impede a quick exit from the room in case of an emergency. You may not remove, or request to have removed, any University property from your room. If you want to bring additional pieces of furniture, these items must fit into the existing room setup. Large pieces of furniture that cannot be incorporated into the current room arrangement are not allowed.
When affixing wall hangings, do not use materials such as nails, glue, wall hooks, or masking or double stick tape which can damage the walls. “Hold-It” and push pins work well in keeping wall hangings in place and the walls intact. Wall coverings, such as wallpaper and contact paper, are not allowed. Overhead lights cannot be covered with any materials (e.g. flags, fabric, etc.).
Extension Cords are Prohibited
Fire regulations prohibit the use of extension cords in all residence halls and campus houses. Extension cords may be confiscated by staff, and students using them will be fined. UL-approved (Underwriters Laboratories) power strips with a circuit breaker are allowed. You must plug refrigerators directly into wall outlets without the use of a power strip.
Lofting Beds
Wake Forest partners with Collegiate Concepts to provide students with a loft rental program. Renting a bed loft is an easy, affordable way to create additional living space in your room. Students may preorder a loft at www.loftconcepts.com and have the loft delivered to their room before move-in. Lofts may also be rented on move-in day, but quantities will be limited. Futons are also available for purchase. Please read the information below before ordering your bed loft. You must have a residence hall and room assignment before orders are made.
- Collins and Luter Residence Hall residents – The student room furniture in both Collins Hall and Luter Hall allows for students to gain floor space by bunking the beds.
- Babcock Residence Hall residents – This residence provides beds that are adjustable up to 36″ high, therefore a loft is not necessary for gaining extra space under the beds.
- Bostwick and Johnson Residence Hall residents – Only one loft per room is permitted. Please speak with your roommate before purchasing a loft.
- Polo Residence Hall, North Campus Apartments, and South Residence Hall residents – These residences are already supplied with a loft as part of their current student room furniture.
- All other residence hall residents – Please talk to your roommate(s) before deciding to order a loft. To have your loft in place on move-in day, you must place your order by Friday, August 17. All lofts ordered after that will be installed after move-in day.
- To place your order, go towww.loftconcepts.com and select Wake Forest University from the “Select Your School” drop down menu.
Checklist
This is only a guide; the Guide to Community Living includes a complete list of allowed/prohibited items.
What to bring to campus:
- UL-approved power strips (with a circuit breaker)
- Soap, toiletries, shower bucket
- Towels, washcloths
- Bathrobe, slippers
- Hair dryer
- Twin sheets (long), blankets
- Mattress pad, bedspread
- Pillow and pillowcases
- Wastepaper basket
- Desk lamp
- Dictionary, stapler, pens, pencils
- Stationery, stamps
- Memo board for door
- Camera
- Detergent, iron, laundry bag, clothes hangers
- Alarm clock
- Television, with coaxial cable (HDTV or receiver optional)
- Flashlight
- 900 Mhz cordless or traditional telephone (voice mail is provided)
- Radio, stereo
What you cannot bring:
- Extension cords
- Plug-in air fresheners
- Multi-plug adapters
- Halogen lamps
- Candles (including those that are decorative)
- Fireworks or weapons (including paintball guns)
- Microwave ovens
- Toasters or toaster ovens
- Electric grills or George Foreman grills
- Hot plates or electric skillets
- Crockpots; waffle or crepe pans
- Electric/space heaters
- Any coil appliances
- Kerosene lamps or appliances
- Waterbeds
- Pets and animals
- Black lights
- Additional air conditioners
- Non UL-approved lighting
- 2.4 Ghz or 5 Ghz cordless phones
- Wireless computer access points (the University will provide connectivity)
- Candle warmers
- Cinder blocks