Frequently Asked Questions About Housing

Residents may not move into the halls until we officially open the buildings on Move-In Day. The only exceptions made are for those students required to be here early for school-related reasons such as athletics or orientation.

We will have orientation leaders for First-year students living in the Residence Halls on the August move in day! If you arrive before or after your scheduled freshmen move in time we unfortunately do not have the staff to help you move into your room. Please look for communications from New Student Programs!

Due to security and logistical reasons, you will not have access to your room before you check in. We prepare for your arrival right up until we open the buildings on Move-In morning. Individual requests to store belongings in your room deter us from being ready for Move-In Day.

The university mail room will accept resident mail a week prior to Move-In Day, but no earlier.

All apartment buildings and residence halls have central air-conditioning.

You do not need to bring a computer to campus. There are numerous computer labs available for you to use on campus. Many students choose to bring their own laptop and printer but it is not necessary. Contact Technology Services for more information.

If you are bringing a computer, be sure to bring all the drivers, software, cables, power cords and Ethernet cords that came with your computer.

The decision to bring a Macintosh or Windows computer is a personal preference.  If you bring a laptop, bring a lock to secure it. 

Internet and cable are available in each residence hall room. For more information, please see the Amenities page. Phone service is not available in campus housing.  

Please refer to the housing options page to find floor plans and dimensions. Please note that your assigned room dimensions may vary slightly from the information provided.

Residence hall rooms and apartments (except those in Wallace) are painted either a warm beige or “Drury White.” We do not allow students to paint their residence hall rooms. Floor material and color varies in all buildings.

We recommend no more than one vehicle-load of personal belongings—students who pack more than this often send most of it home. Below is a list of recommended items.

• Move-in dates & information

The student must be present to check-in. To avoid crowding the check-in table, please ask your family members to remain in the vehicle in a designated unloading zone while you check-in at your hall desk. Check-in before you start unloading.

Fall move-in – Residence hall students:
During the scheduled move-in times, please check in at your residence hall lobby. You will receive your room key after you return the required paperwork at check-in.

If you check-in after the scheduled move-in time, you will need to check-in at the Security Office (FSC 101). LOCK YOUR DOOR each time you leave the room unattended. It’s usually a good idea to keep one family member in the room and one outside with your belongings until everything is moved in.
 
Spring move-in – Residence hall students: 
Go to the Security Office (FSC 101) to pick up your key at check-in.

Fall & spring move-in – Apartment residents: 
Go to the Security Office (FSC 101) to pick up your key at check-in.

Residence hall students:
Check-in BEFORE you unload your entire vehicle onto the lawn/sidewalk to make sure your housing assignment has not changed. Expect a lot of traffic around the residence halls when you arrive during move-in. Once your car is unloaded, move your car to a different lot to allow others access for unloading their belongings. Residential Life staff appreciates your compliance with the unloading and parking procedures. Following these rules helps the move-in process go more smoothly for all residents.

• DO NOT pull into a circle drive if it is full of cars. Blocking drives is a traffic violation and you will be asked to move immediately.
• DO NOT pull up in a handicapped space, onto a sidewalk, or onto the grass to unload. Vehicles in fire lanes or handicapped spaces (without a permit), on the grass, or blocking driving lanes will be ticketed and TOWED.
• You will not be able to pull your vehicle up to the door of your building. Plan to unload your items onto the sidewalk or grass as near the building as possible and move your vehicle immediately after it’s unloaded to make room for another vehicle to unload. Have a family member stay with your belongings while you move your vehicle.

Apartment residents: 
You may unload your car on the street nearest your apartment or from the nearest College Park parking lot. Vehicles may not be on curbs, sidewalks, or the grass.

Find out where parking is available on campus.

Lydy Suites is a three-story building that does not have elevators. None of the apartment-style housing units have elevators. Sunderland Hall and Wallace Hall do have an elevator, but we recommend you take as many items as possible up the stairwells, in order to reduce the wait time for the elevator. Plan to take your heaviest items on the elevator and lighter items on the stairs. PLEASE DO NOT OVERLOAD THE ELEVATORS. We recommend bringing a dolly/luggage cart to assist you with boxes.

Residence hall students: 
As soon as you unlock your room door to move in, you’ll notice a packet of materials for each resident. The residence hall staff placed these items in your room prior to your arrival. Be sure not to lose this paperwork in the shuffle of moving into your room. This information will be helpful as you settle into campus.

When you check in to your housing, you should take note of the condition of the room or apartment and the shared bathroom. Report ANY problems (broken items and cosmetic issues) to facilities@drury.edu or via the work order system. Be sure to note everything that would be considered “damage” to the room above normal age and wear and tear. If you’re unsure if an issue should be reported, feel free to attach a photo or check with your Resident Director or Hall Coordinator. 

We do not permit students to paint their rooms.

Only use 3M Command adhesives to hang posters and message boards. There are different varieties of these products. Be sure to use the removable ones and not the permanent products. Other putty-like substances can leave an oily residue and may result in damage charges. Residents may not puncture their walls with tacks, nails or other instruments that will cause damage. Ceiling decorations of any kind are not permitted (this includes paint, tacks, screws and adhesive stars and moons).

TIP: Buy approved adhesives before traveling to Springfield for move-in. Springfield stores sell out of these items around move-in time.

University-owned room furniture must remain in the resident’s assigned room during the entire contract period. Any missing pieces of furniture at any time will be considered missing and the resident will be charged accordingly.

No. Students must keep all of their belongings and all assigned furniture in their rooms during their contract period. Students may not leave items in the room at the conclusion of their contract period. 

Please contact the Technology Services or call them at (417) 873-7300 for questions about your technology needs.

Please refer to the Technology Services website or call them at (417) 873-7300 for questions about your technology needs. Depending on your campus address, you may use the Drury WiFi or Apogee’s ResNet.

Technology Services provides assistance for students and parents who are experiencing problems while installing computers. Students may call the Help Desk at (417) 873-7300, or visit the Technology Services website. Additionally, they can tell you if your address uses Drury internet or Apogee’s ResNet. 

Moving is not always an option. One of the first things you will do with your new roommate/suitemate is to fill out a roommate agreement form. This opens communication lines and helps facilitate a healthy living environment for everyone. Your RA/CA will provide you with this form. If a student is having conflicts, a Residential Life staff member will try to mediate between the roommates. In some instances, it may be prudent to reassign students. Residence hall students will work with their Resident Directors if reassignment is necessary. Apartment residents should contact their Area Director for reassignment only after mediation with a CA has failed.

Please visit our Amenities page.

Please visit our Amenities page.

Residence Halls: Smith Hall is the only residence hall with a community kitchen. We do provide one mini-fridge/microwave combo unit per Sunderland suite, and a combo for each room in Smith & Wallace.

Apartment-Style Housing: Please see the Apartment-style Housing page for information about the kitchen amenities in the different apartment types.

You and your roommate/suitemates have that responsibility. Discuss a cleaning schedule with your roommate when completing your roommate agreements. Decide who will purchase replacement wipes, sprays, etc. Our custodial staff keeps community bathrooms, lounges and hallways clean; however, Smith residents should clean up after themselves in the community kitchen.

In suite-style housing, you and your roommate/suitemates have that responsibility. We recommend developing a rotating cleaning schedule shared by all suitemates. Common area bathrooms are cleaned by custodial staff.

If you notice a problem with your room that needs maintenance, please visit www.drury.edu/facilities & click “Submit a Work Order.” Students may also log in to MyDrury and click ‘Facilities Services Work Request’ in the red Home menu on the left of the screen. From this link, you can submit Facilities Services work orders online, and track the progress of your maintenance, grounds, and custodial work orders. This same link is also available on the Student tab in MyDrury. If you have a maintenance emergency after 4 p.m. or on a weekend, such as leaking pipes or no heat, contact your RA, Resident Director, or Drury Safety and Security immediately so they can page the on-call maintenance staff.

Technology work requests can be submitted to Drury’s Help Desk. Residential students experiencing issues with the cable television service can find helpful information on the amenities page.

No. Tobacco/nicotine use is prohibited on campus. Students found in violation of the tobacco policy will be subject to the disciplinary sanction process.

Yes, all residential students may bring cars to campus. You are required to get a free parking tag from the Safety and Security office and follow all parking regulations. You will need to bring a copy of your car’s registration with you to get your permit.

Residential students park in designated lots. See posted signs in parking lots or pick up a map in the Safety and Security Office. Violators are subject to tickets and/or towing. See the Safety and Security site for additional parking information.

You can pick up your free parking permit from the Safety and Security office on Move-In Day. To get your parking permit, please provide your car’s make & model and bring your current vehicle registration papers. You can also preregister on your MyDrury and your permit will be with your keys on Move-in Day.

Any questions regarding a parking ticket received on the Drury University campus can be directed to the Safety and Security Office at (417) 873-7400 during business hours. To dispute a ticket, visit the Safety and Security office, located on the bottom floor of the FSC.

For more information on meal plans and services provided by our food service provider, visit the Fresh Ideas site.

Drury requires all full-time day school students to live on campus unless they meet specific exemption criteria. One of those exemptions is living at home with a parent within 30 miles of campus. Even if you meet the criteria, you must apply to live off-campus in order to receive your exemption. 

If the Housing Office received your contract & deposit on May 1st or earlier, your housing assignment will be emailed to you the first full week of June. We initially send the assignment to both your Drury email and your personal off-campus account. If your contract & deposit were received after May 1st, you will get an assignment as soon as we have a room & a roommate match for you. The Housing Office makes assignments/changes daily throughout the summer. Even after you receive your initial assignment, you may be reassigned to a different room or receive a new roommate due to the constant changes. Please check your Drury email account regularly for updates.

If you submitted your housing contract, deposit, and were accepted to Drury before May 1 (Dec 1 for spring admittance) and you did not receive a housing assignment, please call or email the Housing Office. If you finished this process after May 1 (or Dec 1 for spring admittance), your email will be sent at some point before Move-In Day. If you don’t have an assignment the week before Move-In Day, contact housing@drury.edu for more information.

To read details about the facility you will be living in, visit the housing options list in the left-hand column and select your housing style. Each hall page provides a list of amenities, a general description of the hall, and a link to the virtual tour.

Your roommate’s name and Drury e-mail will be in the housing assignment e-mail. Be sure to have a conversation with your roommate about who is bringing large items like the TV, rug, or stereo.

Drury’s food service provider, Fresh Ideas, is happy to accommodate our students’ medical needs. Students can provide a doctor’s note & meet with the Director of Dining Services to discuss reasonable accommodations. Additionally, Fresh Ideas offers vegetarian options for each meal and can share which items are vegan or gluten-free.

Students may ask the cashier when they swipe in. Students may also download the FreshX app to see their balance at any time.

If students run out of meals, they can pay for each meal with cash, credit, or debit card. They can also upgrade their meal plan on their MyDrury at any time during the semester.

Use the call box outside your housing facility to contact Safety and Security or use your cell phone to call them at (417) 873-7400.

It is very important that you are in possession of your Student ID card at all times. NEVER lend it to anyone (even a friend) or leave it lying around due to the potential for theft. Your ID is a precious commodity! If you lose your ID or think it has been stolen, report the loss immediately to Drury Safety and Security at 417-873-7400. You will need to purchase a new ID card for a fee that will be posted to the student’s Drury account.

If you or your roommate loses your room key, you must report the loss to the Safety and Security Office (417-873-7400) immediately. Facilities will put a new lock on your door and the Safety and Security office will issue you and your roommate new keys. The charge for replacing a core and lost key is $50.00. The student should pay the $50.00 charge at the Business Office and bring the receipt to Security in order to pick up his/her new keys. Under no circumstances may a Drury housing key be duplicated.

You may store your bike in any of the bike racks on campus. Smith Hall also has a bike rack inside the building at the bottom of the two stairwells. We recommend you lock your bike to a bike rack with a U-lock through the frame AND a tire. Chain locks or locks around tires can result in a stolen or damaged bike. Locking your bike to anything other than a bike rack (tree, handrail, street sign, etc.) may be subject to removal by Drury University Safety and Security.

First, keep your room door locked at all times, especially when you’re sleeping. Second, create a detailed, itemized list of the valuables in your room. Include brand names, model/serial numbers for electronics, original receipts and photos of your possessions. Keep the list and photos in a safe, secure place. If you are a victim of theft, this information will help Drury University Safety and Security identify your belongings if they are recovered.

Be aware that books are a valuable commodity on campus because they can be returned to the University Bookstore (receipt required) or sold to a private bookstore for cash. Keep track of your books and backpack at all times, and NEVER leave books unattended in study areas such as lounges or the library. Keep your books and receipts separate. Books are especially vulnerable to theft during the first few weeks of school and Finals Week. We recommend getting a personal property insurance policy.

We recommend students use common sense when walking around campus at night. Always walk with a friend on well-lit, well-traveled paths. If you are by yourself and need to return to the hall, call your roommate and see if a couple friends could meet you and return with you. If you are walking and feel that you are in danger or something doesn’t seem right, call Drury University Safety and Security at (417) 873-7400. Give them your location and where you are headed and an officer will be dispatched to your location.

Drury University has a cooperative agreement with Yellow Cab Company. Students can call a cab and the driver will accept a Drury University student ID number as payment at the time of service. Yellow Cab Company (417-862-5511) sends the bill to Drury and we place the fee for the cab ride on your student bill.

If the fire alarm goes off, all students must vacate the building and meet at the designated meeting area for the hall, regardless of time of day or weather. See the emergency instructions on the back of your room door for instructions. During a fire alarm, students should put on shoes, wear protective clothing and lock their door on the way out of the building. ALWAYS take the stairs; NEVER take the elevator during a fire. Students must follow directions of staff members during the fire alarm and may return to the hall only after receiving the “all clear” from Residence Life staff and fire department officials.

If you hear the sirens, go to your building’s designated evacuation spot (typically on the lowest level, away from windows, doors and exterior walls. Do not leave these protected areas until the danger has passed. Follow the instructions of hall staff.

If you live in an apartment you may check out weather radios from the Residence Life office. Apartment and Midtown residents should go to the bottom floor of the apartment complex or house. The safest place to take shelter is in a bathroom away from windows. The basement of the Kappa Alpha house, located in the Fraternity Quad, is also available for shelter. Please stay protected until the tornado warning has ended.

IF INDOORS: Stay indoors unless you are in immediate personal danger. Take cover under a desk or table, or brace yourself in a doorway. Stay away from windows. Protect yourself from objects that can fall on you or items that might shatter.

IF OUTDOORS: Move to an open area away from overhead hazards, like power lines or trees. Stay away from buildings, as bricks, glass or other objects might fall on you. Stay away from parking lots. Cars might be thrown into you by the force of the earthquake.

AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE: If significant damage is evident, evacuate the building and go to the designated assembly area for your hall. Wear sturdy shoes to protect your feet from broken glass. Do not use a land-line telephone. For information, listen to a battery-powered radio. Do not use the elevators due to possible damage or aftershocks. In the assembly area, check-in with the Resident Director (or wait until your name is called) and wait quietly for further instructions. There may be one or more aftershocks. Be prepared for them. DO NOT LEAVE CAMPUS WITHOUT NOTIFYING RESIDENCE LIFE STAFF.

Most of our classrooms have been outfitted with locks that allow faculty/students/staff to lock the room from the interior in a campus lock-down scenario.

The Security Office collects student, staff and faculty cell phone numbers so that a campus-wide text message can be sent in the event of a Drury-wide safety threat (like an active shooter). Submission of your cell phone number is optional. The information will not be used for other purposes. General safety announcements and recommendations will go out to the Drury community via Drury email.

Be cautious when you are using social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. You should realize that anyone can view these sites. Don’t post personal contact information, like your address or phone number.