Williams College Information for Returning Students 2009-2010
CALENDAR
2009-2010
Calendar on-line at: http://www.williams.edu/Registrar/calendars/09-10.html
COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION on-line at: http://www.williams.edu/home/commencement
TRANSPORTATION http://www.williams.edu/home/visitors/transportation/
College Council Motor Coach Service – a Williams student-run bus service http://motorcoach.williams.edu
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Shipping Trunks and Packages
Starting August 18, 2009 forwarding of all 1st class mail will cease, and all mail received after that date will be distributed to your campus mailbox. As of this date we can begin to receive packages for the fall semester. You will be notified by e-mail when your packages arrive. PACKAGES SHOULD ONLY WEIGH 25 POUNDS. Check with Connors Brothers, Mullen Mayflower or Mailboxes Etc on shipping heavier packages. Because of limited storage space, we are unable to accept packages before August 18. If shipping large items (TV, sofa, refrigerator, ping-pong table) by a freight company, the freight company will only deliver to the dock area in Paresky. We are unable to secure these items, and storage at the dock can only be temporary. You must include a contact name and phone number with the package so that someone can be advised that the package has arrived and that it must be immediately picked up. We take no responsibility for receiving or for the security of these large items.
Mail and most packages are received in the morning. In the afternoon we send E-mails to students verifying package receipt. If you are using the internet to track your package and you are told the package has arrived, please wait until you receive e-mail confirmation from us before asking for the package. We have steps in place to record receiving packages that help us maintain security.
All of last year’s returning students will have the same mailbox number and combination. Remember. The USPS states that the mailing address must be exact, or mail will be delayed considerably.
The correct address form to use for USPS is
YOUR NAME (example John Doe)
BOX NUMBER PARESKY CENTER (example 1313 Paresky Center)
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA 01267
When using UPS, FEDEX, DHL, etc. packages must be addresses
YOUR NAME
BOX NUMBER
PARESKY CENTER
39 CHAPIN HALL DRIVE
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA 01267
Please note that when using carriers other than the United States Postal Service, you must add 39 Chapin Hall Drive as the street address as required by them.
Direct Deposit
The Controller's Office of Williams College offers the option for students to receive reimbursements or payments for services directly into their bank accounts. Instead of receiving a check from the Controller's Office, a deposit will be made directly to your authorized bank account for the submitted amount that the College owes you.
To participate in this program please fill out the Direct Deposit Authorization Form listed below. The form can be found on the Controller's Office web page, the web address is as follows: http://www.williams.edu/admin/controller/dd/vendorddauthorizationform.doc
There will be email notification that a payment is pending, and should be received within 24 to 48 hours. Please supply an email address to which the payment advice will be sent.
If at any time, the bank account or the email address changes, you will need to submit the form again with the change to insure that payment is not delayed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 413-597-4002 or email at lisa.a.gazaille@williams.edu
Long Distance Calling
Students will continue to use the personal authorization codes issued during their first year to make long distance calls. Questions concerning telephone codes may be directed to the Student Telephone Office x3097, open weekdays 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Facilities Office.
http://www.williams.edu/admin/facilities/phones
Voice Mail
Williams has a voice mail system which is available to all students. You simply dial into the system to retrieve your messages. You do not need an answering machine.
Travel Plans
The College calendar will help you plan your travel to and from Williamstown this year. When planning your travel at holidays or vacations, please bear in mind that you will not be excused (by your teachers or the deans) from classes or exams to accommodate early departures or late arrivals. If in doubt, schedule your departure for after the last exam period.
http://motorcoach.williams.edu
http://www.williams.edu/home/visitors/transportation/
Enrollment
Enrollment information for fall semester can be found on the Registrar's Office website at http://www.williams.edu/Registrar/. Students should check PeopleSoft for any holds on their record.
Classes and Drop/Add
Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 10 th. SELFREG will open for drop/add on Tuesday evening, September 8th through Friday, September 18th Please remember that instructors may drop from their courses any preregistered student who fails to attend the first class meeting and may refuse permission to add any student who has not attended the first class meeting. http://www.williams.edu/Registrar/
ID Cards
Lost or damaged Student Identification Cards are reissued in the Campus Safety & Security Department, located in the basement of Hopkins Hall. Campus Safety & Security will provide extended office hours for card replacement as follows: Thursday, September 3, 8:30am – 8:00pm. Campus Safety & Security will be closed Saturday, September 5 & Sunday, September 6. Monday, September 7 office hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm. Replacement charge for lost ID card is $10.00. At the discretion of the CSS staff, a $10.00 replacement fee may be assessed for cards damaged as a result of negligence or abuse. http://www.williams.edu/admin/security/
Motor Vehicle Registration
The regulations of the College and the laws of Massachusetts require that all students have their vehicles registered with the College. This is mandatory whether you are residing on or off campus. Student vehicle pre-registration for the 2009-2010 academic year will be done electronically. You will be able to access the form at: http://www.williams.edu/admin/security/rules/vehicle/registration.php. Students wishing to pre-register their vehicle for the 2009-2010 academic year must fill out the form completely. Students will not be able to submit the form until it is complete. All vehicles must be registered and parking decal affixed to the vehicle by Thursday, September 10. The fee for vehicle registration is $120.00. PLEASE NOTE: TO RECEIVE YOUR PARKING DECAL, YOU WILL BE REQURED TO PRESENT YOUR VEHICLE REGISTRATION CARD TO CSS STAFF FOR VERIFICATION OF VEHICLE INFORMATION. http://www.williams.edu/admin/security/
Bicycle Registration
You should register your bicycle with the College and the Town of Williamstown. This service is provided by the Campus Safety & Security Department. The fee charged by the town is a quarter. Campus Safety & Security will offer bicycle registration at various locations on campus in September. More information will be available when you return. http://www.williams.edu/admin/security/
Meals
The first Board Plan meal will begin with dinner on Wednesday, September 9th in the following dining locations: Dodd, Driscoll, Mission Park and Greylock. The regular dining schedule will begin on Thursday, September 10th and will be posted on the dining website http://www.williams.edu/admin/dining/
Dining Services provides the following meal plans: 21 meals, 14 meals, 10 meals, 5 meals, 50-meal block , or a points plan. First-years are required to purchase and remain on the 21 meal plan. Sophomores, and juniors on campus must purchase either the 21, 14, or 10 meal plan. Seniors living on campus also have the option of the 5 meal plan. Students living off campus or in co-op housing, have the option to purchase any or none of the meal plans offered. Board Plan changes for the fall semester will be accepted the week of September 14th - 18th and for spring semester the week of February 8th - 12th.
Health Center
The Health Center will open on Wednesday, September 2nd at 1:00 pm with our nurse practitioner and registered nurses available. Psychological counseling services begin September 8th, physician medical clinics September 8th, and Orthopedic clinics September 10th.
http://www.williams.edu/admin/health/
Student Health Insurance Enrollment/Waiver Forms
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires health insurance for all full-time and three-quarter time students. The Student Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan available through Williams offers coverage that meets and in areas exceeds Massachusetts mandates. You will be receiving written information regarding the plan and instructions regarding the online enrollment/waiver process within the next two weeks. The deadline for submitting your online Enrollment/Waiver is August 15 th . Questions: call 413-597-2206 http://www.williams.edu/admin/health/
Alcohol
The legal drinking age in Massachusetts is 21. The College and its members must abide by all state laws governing the serving and consumption of alcohol. Only students of legal age may consume alcohol at College sponsored functions or at The Log. The Party Policy is available in the Student Handbook, and at Campus Safety and Security. http://www.williams.edu/admin/security/
Housing
All upperclass housing opens on Thursday, September 3rd. This year, keys for upperclass students will be put in mailboxes in Paresky.
Storage
Storage space is available in all residence areas during the academic year only. There is no storage available during the summer except for financial aid students and international students with need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. It is important to label all items clearly and securely with your name and class year. The College is not responsible for items lost or damaged while in storage. Students will have access to storage rooms from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. between September 3rd and September 10th and hours will be posted on each storage room door. If you must have immediate access to storage, please plan your arrival to coincide with these times. Students on financial aid and those international students with need who are eligible to store on campus may pick up their belongings on week days only from 9a.m. to 10a.m. or from 12:45pm to 1:45pm, September 3-4 and September 8-10.
Room Furniture
Student rooms are furnished with a bed, desk and chair, bureau, bookshelves, and mattress. As space permits, College-owned furniture may be stored in storage rooms. You are responsible for returning such furniture to its original position in your room when vacating. In addition, you will be responsible for any damage to the furniture while in storage.
In MORGAN, SAGE, WILLIAMS, TYLER, TYLER ANNEX, EAST, FAYERWEATHER and MISSION PARK HOWEVER, THE FURNITURE CANNOT BE MOVED EASILY THROUGH THE BUILDING, SO IT MAY NOT BE REMOVED FROM ROOMS. If it is removed, the student responsible will be advised to return the furniture immediately. If it is not returned you will be assessed a fine of $100. By September 22nd, students are responsible for reporting to the Facilities Services Office any non-College furniture found in their rooms or suites that they would like removed. After this deadline, students become responsible for the furniture, and for its removal at the end of the academic year.
Bedding
Mattresses used at Williams measure 36" X 80" (twin extra long). Students may provide their own linen or arrange to use a linen exchange service provided by a local firm. Williams does not supply pillows, you must bring your own.
Waterbeds
Waterbeds are not allowed in student residences.
Laundry
The cost of laundering clothes will continue to be $1.25 for each wash cycle and $1.25 for each dry cycle.
Insurance
Williams does not carry insurance on personal property. Check with your parents to see if their policy covers you. If not, you may want to consider purchasing your own policy, as Williams is not responsible for loss or damage to your things.
Lost Keys
Lost keys should be reported to the Facilities Services Office and a replacement key may be obtained for a charge of $25 to your student account. Students who do not return their keys at the end of the academic year or when they vacate a room are charged $75, which is not refundable.
Pets
Other than fish, pets are not allowed in student rooms. Students who have been advised to remove a pet, will be charged $100 per day for each day from the day of notification.
Damage Policy
Individuals, groups, or entire houses may be held accountable for damage to residential areas. The billing procedure for damage works as follows: If the student or students responsible are known, they are billed directly by the Facilities Services Office for repairs; if those responsible cannot be identified, the repair costs are divided among the occupants of the damaged area, whether a single room or a whole house. In all cases of damage, those responsible are subject to disciplinary action.
IMPORTANT FIRE SAFETY INFORMATION
on-line at: http://www.williams.edu/admin/facilities/sec
As we send along this information, I would like to draw special attention to the emphasis Williams places on fire safety. In housing nearly two thousand students, the College has the tremendous responsibility of providing living accommodations which are, above all, safe. Our intention in developing what may seem like very harsh policies is not to be unreasonably restrictive, but rather to keep the risk of a fire, injury or loss of life to the utmost minimum. It is important that students have the freedom to enjoy their rooms on campus with minimal interference from the College. However, in the interest of safety, the Safety and Environmental Compliance Staff and Security Officers may remove the items listed from student living areas in keeping with the room inspection policy outlined in The Student Handbook. Removed items will be discarded or donated to a local social services agency, and a fine will be assessed for each violation. Should you have questions about the acceptability of a particular item, please contact the Manager of Safety and Environmental Compliance at (413) 597-2406.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation. Please contact the Housing Office at (413) 597-2195 with any questions regarding this policy.
As part of our residential safety program,
Williams does not permit students to have the following items in student rooms:
coffee makers
* toasters * toaster ovens *
electric heaters * air conditioners
* electric woks * hamburger and sandwich makers
* electric fry pans * popcorn poppers (other than hot air)
* electric or gas stove
* crock pots *
beer coolers
* broilers
*
kegolators
* cup warmers
*
hot pots
*
bread makers
*
rice cookers
*
hot plates
* deep fryer
*s
torchiere lamps with a halogen bulb/pole lamps
*
other lamps with a halogen bulb greater than 60 watts
* any unit with a heating coil
*microwave ovens greater than 800 watts
*
incense
*
refrigerators greater than 5 cubic feet
*
candles (please note: the college does not allow any candles in student housing, including those used for religious reasons or for decoration. Please leave candles at home.)
Please contact the Chaplain’s Office at (413) 597-2483 with any questions regarding places where candles may be used for religious reasons.
Per Massachusetts General Law no person shall possess or explode any fireworks. Students found in possession of fireworks at anytime will be fined $100 per incident and referred to th Dean's Office.
SMOKING
Williams is a smoke-free campus. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in College buildings, including student rooms, or within 25 feet of a College building. Fire alarms that are activated due to students smoking will be considered tampering and students will be fined per the written policy.
MICROFRIDGE INFORMATION
REFRIGERATOR LEASING COMPANY
10 RAILROAD AVE. ONEONTA, NEW YORK 13820 607-431-9525 on-line at: www.rentalcompanyone.com
The Refrigerator Leasing Company has been selected as the authorized on-campus vendor for refrigerator rentals and Microfridges at your school. Many students have found renting a compact refrigerator or Microfridge for their residence hall room is very convenient. A cold drink or snack will always be available when you have a refrigerator in your room. Last year over 175,000 students nationwide used the Microfridge. Measuring 185/8'x I 9 1/2'x43 1/2", the Microfridge holds an ample amount of food. The attached microwave allows you to make hot meals in your room and the zero degree freezer will keep ice cream frozen. Please see our website for more information. We are offering two different refrigerator models to meet your needs. The larger Counter High model measures 35'x2l "x2O'. This model holds nearly as much food as the Microfridge, includes a compact freezer that will make ice cubes, and can be shared easily with a roommate. Our 'Cube' refrigerator is approximately 17'x I 9"x 19". It can hold several six packs of soda as well as sandwiches, and will also freeze ice cubes. All leased units are in excellent condition. If you would like to rent a unit, please fill out and return the order form by August 25. Signs will be posted on campus that will notify you of the times to pick up your refrigerator or MicroFridge. We will assist you to the room with a MicroFridge if you need help. Although it may be possible to order a refrigerator after you arrive on campus, it is more convenient to order one now. MicroFridges need to be ordered now in order to receive one. The beginning of the semester is a busy time, and there will be one less thing to do if you take care of this now. If you and your roommate each order one, we will assume that only one unit is desired. If you want your own refrigerator or MicroFridge regardless of whether your roommate orders one, please write that on the order form. Thank you very much, and have a great year at Williams. Order form available online at www.rentalcompanyone.com or by phone 607-431-9525
WILLIAMS COLLEGE HAS AUTHORIZED THE REFRIGERATOR LEASING COMPANY TO OFFER THE MICROFRIDGE TO STUDENTS. WILLIAMS COLLEGE IS NOT AN AGENT OF THE REFRIGERATOR LEASING COMPANY AND MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE REFRIGERATOR COMPANY.