1. Do I have to live on campus?

First- and second-year students are required to live on campus in one of our residence halls. Please see our Residency Policy for further information.

2. How do I get an application for on-campus housing?

When you are admitted to the university, the Office of Admissions will send your acceptance materials along with instructions on next steps for admitted students. After paying your enrollment deposit, you can select your housing preferences by logging into myACU and accessing your Housing Portal under Quicklinks. For additional information contact your Admissions Counselor.

3. What can I use to decorate my room?

Since nails, screws, drilling and many adhesives (e.g., double-stick tape, carpet tape) are damaging to the walls and floors, we ask that you use only removable, non-damaging adhesives (e.g., 3M Command) for attaching items to the walls and doors. Painting and wallpapering (including wallpaper borders) are not allowed.

4. Can I bring homemade lofts, cinder blocks, or stilts to raise the height of the beds?

For safety reasons all such bed raisers are not to be used in the residence halls. Some residence halls are equipped with self-lofting beds and others are not. All residence hall beds can be bunked.

5. Do you provide storage?

Storage is not provided for our residents. Please be prepared to keep all items you bring with you in your room, including boxes and luggage. Also, remember all items brought into the hall must be taken out of the hall when you move out. Any personal items left in a room will be discarded or given to area charities with a fee charged to the resident for removal.

6. Are there places in the residence halls where I can study?

Quiet hour policies in each residence hall are intended to provide opportunities for intensive study for all students. You are welcome to study in your room or the hall lobby. Some residence halls have study rooms provided.

7. When will I receive my room assignment?

Students will receive an email to their ACU email account notifying them of their roommate and residence hall assignment by June 1st. The enrollment deposit must be paid in advance. Any students who are admitted, pay their enrollment deposit, or sign their Housing Agreement after June 1st will receive an email directly from Residence Life with their housing assignment.

8. How are assignments made?

For first-year students, residence hall assignments are made based on their application and enrollment deposit dates with hall preferences taken into consideration. Second-year assignments are made through a lottery system during the spring semester.

9. May I have the roommate of my choice?

If you know with whom you'd like to room, you may indicate his or her name on the housing application. Roommate requests must be mutual to be granted.

10. May I request a particular residence hall?

You may submit your residence hall preference on your housing application. However, students are not guaranteed to receive placement in the hall of their choice.

11. What is provided in each room in the residence halls?

Each residence hall room is provided with twin XL beds, desks, chairs, dressers, closets/wardrobe, and window blinds. Some rooms also have bulletin boards, sinks, private baths, and kitchenettes. Please see the information sections of the residence halls for specifics as to what each residence hall provides.

12. Are there any extra-long mattresses?

All residence halls utilize extra-long twin mattresses, which are 80”. A limited number of 90” mattresses are available upon need and request.

13. Are laundry services available?

Laundry facilities are provided in each residence hall free of charge.

14. What if I need technology help?

Team55 is the on-campus technology support for students at ACU. Team55 is committed to providing support for students’ technology-related needs, including personal computer support, mobile device support, and more. Please see the Team55 website for additional information.

15. What cooking appliances can I have in my room?

You may have the following cooking appliances in your room: pop-up toaster, coffee maker, and microwave. Devices that do not automatically turn off (i.e. crockpots, indoor grills, toaster ovens, etc.) are not allowed for safety reasons. No open element appliances are allowed.

16. May I have visitors in my room?

You may have guests of the opposite gender in your room during specified open house hours. Residence halls have open houses at scheduled times, as well as special open house times such as during Sing Song, Homecoming, and other times as approved by the Department of Residence Life. You will be notified of open house times through your residence hall staff.

17. Can I change roommates?

For each fall semester, we will accept roommate changes until July 31. Following this date, no roommate changes will be made until after the second week of classes. During these two weeks it is suggested that you and your roommate resolve any issues by talking with your Resident Advisor (RA). Roommate conflicts needing further resolution can be discussed with your Resident Director (RD) on a case by case basis.

18. What if I don't go home during the holidays?

Residence halls are closed during Christmas break, other than Smith-Adams for sophomores and the University Park Apartments for upperclassmen. Although our halls are open for Thanksgiving, Easter, and fall and spring breaks, it is strongly encouraged that residents spend this time with their family and friends.

19. May I bring a bicycle?

You are welcome to bring a bicycle to campus. Bicycle racks are provided outside of each residence hall. We recommend that you purchase a lock for the security of your bicycle. Bicycles may not be stored in your room or anywhere else inside the hall.

20. May I bring a pet?

Residents may have fish in up to a 5 gallon tank. No other pets are allowed.

21. What about a TV or gaming system?

Each hall has a television in the lobby for your use, but you may bring your own TV and gaming system. You may want to coordinate with your roommate(s) so that you can utilize your room space well. Consider bringing headphones if you use your TV or gaming system loudly. Lobby TVs are equipped with cable, but there is no cable in residence hall rooms.

22. How do I connect to the ACU network?

Please see the Team55 website for additional information.

23. May I have a refrigerator in my room?

Only one refrigerator per room is permitted, and it must require no more than 1.5 amps in order to protect the electrical systems in each residence hall.

24. What personal items should I bring?

• Mattress cover
  
• Sheets
  
• Blanket, bedspread, pillows, pillowcases
  
• Towels, washcloths
  
• Soap, toiletries, shower caddy
  
• Laundry basket / detergent
  
• Clothes hangers
  
• Umbrella
  
• Hairdryer
  
• Alarm clock
  
• Desk supplies
  
• Stationery, stamps
  
• Trash can
  
• Flashlight
• Tension rod for curtains
  
• Bicycle and strong lock
  
• Small area rug (5' x 7' or less)
  
• Personal computer
  
• DustBuster/vacuum, cleaning supplies
  
• Refrigerator (max of 1.5 amps) - only 1 per room
  
• Iron/desktop ironing board
  
• Stereo, headphones
  
• Pop-up toaster
  
• Blender
  
• Coffee maker
  
• Vacuum (not provided in halls)
• Power outlet strip (UL-approved)
• Television
• Microwave

25. What items are not to be brought?

• Air soft guns of any kind
  
• BB or pellet guns of any kind
  
• Candles, wax warmers, incense, multi-plug covers (e.g., 3-way plugs)
  
• Toaster oven, electric skillet, indoor grill, crockpots
  
• Objectionable materials, including sports magazines, catalogs and other advertisements that do not meet ACU's minimum standards for dress code.
• Steel-tipped darts and dart
• boards
• Outside antennae
  
• Traffic signs
  
• Wallpaper (including borders)
  
• Homemade lofts, stilts, or cinder blocks
• Halogen lamps
  
• Products that could damage paint/wall surfaces (e.g., nails, screws,
  drilling)
  
• Smoking, tobacco products
  
• Alcoholic beverages or containers
  
• Posters or other mediums that promote illegal drugs and alcohol
  
• Large exercise equipment (e.g., treadmill, stairmaster, Bowflex, etc.)
  
• Fireworks, weapons and/or ammunition
  
• All pets (other than fish up to a 5 gallon tank)
  
• Space heaters

26. Is there housing for upperclassmen, graduate students, and/or married students?

University Park Apartments is our on campus housing for all upperclassmen, graduate students, and married students. See here for more information.

27. Can I live off campus? What if I'm a transfer student?

All first-year and second-year students are required to live on-campus, regardless of the number of hours earned. The only exceptions to this requirement are as follows:

• A student’s parents are Abilene residents and he or she will live with his or her parents in the family’s primary residence. (Students whose parents own property in Abilene are not exempt from this policy. Parents should plan to lease this property until their student is eligible to live off-campus.)
• A student is 21 years of age prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
• A student has graduated from high school more than two years prior to the beginning of the fall semester. (Home schooled students and high school students enrolled in college classes earning dual credit are not exempt from this policy.)
• A student is married and files a marriage license with the Residence Life Office.
• A student is enrolled in less than 12 hours at ACU.
• (First and second-year students enrolled in less than 12 hours at ACU and taking additional hours from another college or university in Abilene or the surrounding area are not exempt from this policy.)

Please email the Residence Life Office at reslife@acu.edu for information on how to request an accommodation.

ACU offers freshman and sophomore halls on campus.
For upperclassmen wishing to live on campus, please contact University Park Apartments for further information.

When making decisions with respect to off-campus petitions, the Office of Residence Life and University Access Programs will consult with various ACU officials, as well as with any person submitting supporting documentation. The decision of the Director of Residence Life and University Access Programs will be final.

Any concerns or questions concerning ACU residence life philosophy, policies or process should be directed to the Office of Residence Life.