Student Services

Student Housing

Residence hall living provides the student the opportunity to further individual educational development through social interaction with fellow students. The college maintains its residence halls in the belief that the experience in group living and self-discipline which they afford is wholesome, contributes to academic achievement, and helps materially in the development of a mature responsible person.

All Non-Howard County students enrolled at Howard College Big Spring or SWCID in nine hours or more are required to live in college residence halls unless they meet one of the exemptions established. Release from living in the Residence Halls is not automatic. All students meeting one of the exemptions and wishing to live off campus must submit a completed Request for Exemption Form to the Dean Student Services Office prior to making arrangements to live off campus.

Room furnishings include beds, mattresses, chairs, wastebaskets, study areas, cabinets, mirrors, closets, and storage compartments. All student rooms have cable TV and phone service, all at no additional cost to you. Lobby areas have color televisions and vending machines. If money is lost in a vending machine, do not try to retrieve it. Report losses to employees in the building, and they will try to collect your money from the vendor.

Students pay only for long distance calls and need to use some form of calling card or long distance account of their own.

Internet services in the resident's room may be accessed by one of two methods. The resident may choose to utilize the Howard College Dial-Up system free of charge or the resident may choose to purchase high speed internet service from Cox Cable at the student's expense. Students electing to use the dial up system should contact the Howard College Computer Services Department.

A computer lab is located in each residence halls are for residents and staff use only. Computers are to be used for educational purposes only. Web activity may be monitored.

Each hall is equipped with coin-operated laundry machines in the laundry room.

Turner Hall is equipped with a kitchenette.

Decorating: With little creativity and a little effort, you can quickly and inexpensively transform your room into "your space" a "home away from home". We encourage you to personalize your room however you like. While you may decorate the inside of your room to suit your taste, the outside of your door and window(s) are considered available to public.
Electrical Appliances: Certain types of electrical appliances are permitted in the residence hall rooms provided they carry the Underwriters Laboratories approval on both the appliance and the cord; they do not cause disruption to the electrical circuits by overloading, shorting, or creating line disturbances; and they do not disturb other residents.; Approved items include stereos, alarm clocks, radios, televisions, irons, tape players, hair dryers, heating pads, fans, hot rollers, small refrigerators (not to exceed 6 4.3 cubic feet in size), and electric blankets. Except for coffee pots, crock-pots, and popcorn poppers with self-contained heating units, cooking appliances are not allowed. Two appliances (microwave and refrigerator) will be allowed per room (four per suite). The residence hall directors must approve all appliances.
Payment on Account: A Howard College Residence Hall application along with $100.00 room deposit must be submitted to the Dean of Student Services Office before a room reservation is made. It is not applied toward room and board payments. This deposit must be maintained in your account at all times, and damages/fines may not be charged against it unless you are leaving the residence hall.; Each student resident must sign a Room and Board Housing Contract prior to moving into the residence halls. The contract will outline the cost of living in the residence halls. Charges are based on an academic contract approximately 9 months and do not cover official holidays shown on the college calendar.
Room Assignment: Returning students have the option of selecting roommates and rooms before the end of the year. All efforts will be made to honor roommate requests, and the student services office will place residents based on information from the coach, advisor, and/or sponsor (if applicable) and from information indicated by the student on the housing applications when no roommate preference has been listed. No resident will room alone unless there are odd numbers and/or the resident wants to pay double the room cost and space is available.
Residence Hall Directors: Residence Hall Directors live in the residence halls and are available to assist students. The RHDs will enforce college policies, monitor the conditions of the residence halls, and carryout intermediate discipline when necessary.; RHDs will let the residents know the hours they are "on duty" and will provide a telephone number where they can be reached after hours for emergency situations only. Students are encouraged to contact the supervisors for any concerns or needs. The supervisors will help or will refer the situation to appropriate personnel.
Mail Services: Residents must check with the Howard College mailroom located in the Student Union Building as soon as possible to activate your mailbox. The mailroom is open from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Fridays. Upon checking with the mailroom staff you will be provided with your mailbox number and combination.