Welcome Class 0f 2013
To our incoming students,
On behalf of the Residence Life staff, welcome to Biola University. We are glad that you have chosen Biola and that you will soon be a member of the residence hall community.
Residence halls at Biola are more than just a place to sleep and study. Living with others is exciting, and can be challenging as well. Residence Life believes in a developmental approach to learning that involves being challenged, being supported, and making choices. You will have the freedom to make choices and to explore the richness that the college experience has to offer, with the understanding that this freedom comes with accountability and responsibility... all the while learning how to live out your faith and contribute as a member of your community.
Learning how to live in and contribute positively to a community takes personal effort and time. Our staff is here to assist you in this process, and we encourage you to seek them out as resources. Living in a residence hall affords you many wonderful opportunities and we hope you will take advantage of them.
We hope this site helps answer your questions, and gives you at least a small taste of what living in residence at Biola is like. Please do not hesitate to contact us if there are any questions that we can answer regarding residence hall living.
-Beth Born, Associate Dean, Residence Life
-Rachel Clark, Director, Residence Life
Frequently Asked Housing Questions: Fall 2009 Incoming Students
Cost & Commitment
How do I sign up for Housing for Fall 2009?
How much does it cost to live in the residence halls?
When do I need to pay?
Can I stay for only one semester?
Are transfer students offered on-campus housing?
Rooms & Roommates
Can I request a specific person to be my roommate?
Can I change my housing preference?
How/when do I get my housing assignment?
What should I do if I have a conflict with my roommate?
After arrival, if roommates have differences that cannot be mediated, can room assignments be changed?
Questions about your stuff...
What size are the beds?
What do I need to bring with me?
Can I personalize my room?
Where can I buy things near campus?
Is there a telephone line in my room?
What about refrigerators and microwaves?
Will my room have cable TV service?
Do all the residence halls have air conditioning?
I'm bringing my computer. What do I need to connect to the campus network and what services are provided?
Can I bring a car on-campus?
Do I need insurance to cover my belongings?
Res Hall Living
What’s cooking in Dining Services?
What types of social activities and events occur in the residence halls?
What happens if I get sick?
Do the halls remain open during vacation periods?
Who can I contact for help or advice?
How do I sign up for Housing for Fall 2009?
Part of the application process is filling out the Housing Information Card. This card will be sent to you automatically by your Admissions Counselor, or may be downloaded here (PDF). This card must be filled out and returned to the Office of Admission with a $250 housing deposit and the required $300 enrollment deposit. No room can be reserved without these deposits.
The $250 housing deposit will be kept by the university to hold a space in on-campus housing until such a time as the student withdraws, graduates, is eligible to live off-campus and does so, or receives an exemption from the residence requirement. Applicants who have paid the $250 room reservation deposit but decide not to attend Biola [or else obtain exemption from the residence requirement] may request in writing a refund of this deposit from the Housing Manager.
How much does it cost to live in the residence halls?
Room costs vary from hall to hall, based on the age, size, and amenities of the hall, and range from $2050 to $3085 per semester. FULL RATE CHART.
When do I need to pay?
Biola offers three payment options: [1] Payment in full on or before the day of registration; [2] 60% payment due at registration; balance in full at first billing (no finance charges); [3] 60% payment due at registration, with balance spread over three payments (monthly finance charge assessed). Additional information is here.
Can I stay for only one semester?
Students starting in the Fall Semester sign a Housing Contract that is binding for the full academic year. Students starting in the Spring Semester sign a one-semester Housing Contract. A student with a qualifying reason may be released from the Housing Contract; please refer to Contract Cancellation in the Housing Handbook.
Are transfer students offered on-campus housing?
Yes. Transfer students are treated just like incoming freshmen, in terms of housing availability and process. During your Admissions process, if you indicate that you wish to live on campus, you will be sent the necessary forms and instructions.
Can I request a specific person to be my roommate?
Yes. On the Housing Information Card, there is a space to indicate "Roommate Preference." Both students must request each other on the application for the roommate request to be considered. Otherwise, our Housing staff carefully (and prayerfully) reviews the characteristics and preferences you list on your Housing Information Card, and matches you with someone they consider most compatible.
Can I change my housing preference?
Yes. Please email your changed preference before June 30 to undergraduate.housing@biola.edu. On the subject line, state “housing information card preference change request.” You must include your last name, first name and middle initial in the text in order for us to identify you correctly.
How/when do I get my housing assignment?
Your placement information and housing contract will be mailed out on approximately July 15.
What should I do if I have a conflict with my roommate?
You should contact your Resident Assistant if a conflict should arise between you and your roommate. Resident Assistants (RAs) are student members of the Residence Life staff that live in the residence halls. View your res hall's page to see your building's RAs.
After arrival, if roommates have differences that cannot be mediated, can room assignments be changed?
Students encountering difficulties with their roommate(s) should first discuss these problems with their Resident Assistant (RA) and be prepared to mediate a solution. Irreconcilable differences will be brought to the attention of the Resident Director (RD) by the Resident Assistant. More information on the Room Change process is here.
What size are the beds?
You will need to indicate your choice of bed configuration. Extra long (80”) beds can be requested for individuals who are taller than average and will be provided while supply lasts. All other beds are standard twin-sized (36x74).
What do I need to bring with me?
Moderation is a good thing; you probably can't squeeze a whole bedroom's worth of stuff into a res hall room with a roommate.
Some additional items that may be good for you to bring are: alarm clock, shower caddy, shower shoes, towels, bedding, flashlight, surge protector, Ethernet cord, hangers, and other day to day items. You may want to bring a small refrigerator, and a television w/DVD player or game systems; however, we suggest that you talk to your roommate first to see what they are bringing and what you could share!
A more complete list of recommendations is available here.
Can I personalize my room?
You room comes with a bed & mattress, desk, and dresser for each occupant, along with drapes/blinds, paint, carpet/floortile, wastebaskets, telephones and window sticks. Beyond that, you and your roommate can personalize your room, within these limitations.
Where can I buy things near campus?
As a city of 50,000 in the Los Angeles suburbs, La Mirada and its neighbors have an abundance of shopping and services. To help you find your way around, we've prepared maps of local supermarkets, retail centers, and banks.
Is there a telephone line in my room?
Yes, one phone per room. More information is here.
What about refrigerators and microwaves?
For safety and energy reasons, microwaves are not allowed in Res Hall rooms; cooking should only be done in hall kitchens (apartments of course have their own kitchens). Further, you may have a coffee maker, or popcorn popper, but they are to be used for their intended purposes and not for cooking any other food items. Also, hot plates, burners, toaster ovens, electrical skillets, rice cookers, and toasters are not to be used in the Res Hall rooms.
It is a good idea for students to contact their roommate(s) before move-in to coordinate use of larger devices such as refrigerators. Refrigerators in all residence hall rooms except Alpha Chi and Hart are limited to one 3.8 cubic feet refrigerator or two 1.8 cubic feet refrigerators per room. Due to electrical limitations in Alpha Chi and Hart Hall, each of the two (maximum) refrigerators can be no more than 1.8 cubic feet.
Will my room have cable TV service?
No. Res hall rooms at Biola do not have cable or satellite TV.
Do all the residence halls have air conditioning?
Most but not all residence hall rooms are equipped with air conditioning; check the status of your hall here. For fire safety and electrical-load reasons, students may not bring individual room or window air conditioners or space heaters to the residence halls. Fans are permitted.
I'm bringing my computer. What do I need to connect to the campus network and what services are provided?
All halls and apartments are provided with high-speed (usually wireless) internet service. While Biola's network is friendly to both PCs and Macs, every computer is configured differently and one solution may not apply to each and every case. For detailed instructions regarding computer use in the residence halls see the IT web site.
Can I bring a car on-campus?
All students are allowed to have vehicles; you must purchase a parking permit to park it on campus. All inquiries about parking should be directed to the Department of Campus Safety at ext. 4877 (562-903-4877). Click here for more information on parking.
Parking is tight at Biola and as enrollment grows, it is a possibility that the ability to bring cars to campus may be restricted in the future.
Do I need insurance to cover my belongings?
In accordance with the Housing Contract, the University is not responsible for the loss of personal property. Residents are encouraged to protect all valuables under their family’s homeowners insurance policy, or to obtain renter's insurance if additional coverage is necessary.
What’s cooking in Dining Services?
Biola has contracted with Bon Appetit, an award-winning caterer and food-service provider, to manage various dining facilities and other food services located around campus. These services are designed to ensure that students eat well. Visit the Dining Services web site for more information
What types of social activities and events occur in the residence halls?
Biola's professional Residence Life Staff works with students to organize Bible studies, provides peer counseling, offers training in interpersonal relationships and leadership, and generates lots of good clean fun. Some residence hall activities that are extremely popular are GYRADs (Get Your Roommate a Date), Brother/Sister Floors, and All Hall events.
What happens if I get sick?
If a student becomes sick, they can go to the Health Center on campus; a trained staff of RN's, NP's, and an MD will do their best to make the student as comfortable as possible. In the event that a student becomes too ill to make it to the Health Center alone, the RA, RD, or Campus Safety can be called to escort the student. In case of serious emergency, Biola is served by ER's at Whittier Hospital (3.8 miles) and St. Jude Hospital (5.0 miles). Also, a fire/paramedic station is across the street from campus.
Do the halls remain open during vacation periods?
Although residence hall and dining service operations are closed when the University is not in session, Residence Life will attempt to accommodate students who cannot leave campus during break periods. Depending on the length of the break period and the demand for housing, students may either be permitted to remain in their own room or asked to consolidate into another building for reasons of safety and security. Click here for more information on Break Housing.
Who can I contact for help or advice?
Students with problems or questions often turn to their Resident Assistant (RA) for help. Resident Assistants are students who live in the residence halls and have been specially trained to provide appropriate assistance to other residents. View your res hall's page to see your building's RAs.
Each hall is overseen by a live-in Resident Director, a trained professional who is available to help you by providing information, advice, counsel, referral or assistance in emergencies. For help with any other problems that may arise, visit the StudentLife web site and check out the many other support services Biola offers the community.
