Student Housing Information

Residence Halls

Bennett Hall | Brown Hall | Martin Hall | Download Residence Life Form | FAQ's

Life in one of our three residence halls will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!  Plan to take advantage of every opportunity to make as many friends and learn as much as you can. You will meet people from all over the United States and around the world, giving you the chance to learn about new cultures and customs and to share ideas.

Bennett Hall

Bennett Hall is a three-floor coed residence hall that houses 152 students. It opened in 2000 and was named in 2003 to honor former Ottawa University Trustee Ransom Bennett. This residence hall offers suite-style living. Each suite has a common living room and double bedrooms. The hall also has three first-floor apartments for upperclassmen. A common laundry facility is located on each floor, study areas and lounges are located throughout the building. Bennett Hall has a resident director (RD) and six resident assistants (RA).

All Rooms in Bennett Hall Feature:

  • Blinds
  • Air conditioning, with individual suite thermostats
  • High-speed wireless internet access
  • Cable TV access
  • Bed
  • Mattress
  • Desk
  • Desk Chair
  • Built-in Closet
  • Suites furnished with a sofa, loveseat, coffee table, dining table with four chairs, end table, and a bathroom

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Brown Hall

Brown Hall is a three-floor coed residence hall that houses 158 students in traditional residence hall rooms. This residence hall has community restrooms located on each wing. The building has a common lounge area for programs and hall meetings. Students may also use the lounge to watch TV, play pool or ping pong, or study. Laundry facilities are located on each floor. A resident director (RD) lives in Brown Hall, and six resident assistants (RA) live in the hall also.

All Rooms in Brown Hall Feature:

  • Blinds
  • Air conditioning, with individual suite thermostats
  • High-speed wireless internet access
  • Cable access
  • Bed
  • Mattress
  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Free-standing closet
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Martin Hall

Martin Hall is a three-floor female residence hall that houses 72 women in three types of suite-style arrangements. Each suite has a common living room with single and double bedrooms, a kitchen and common living area. The American Baptist Women of the Central Region provided furniture for the O'Dell Lobby area on the first floor. There is a laundry facility and vending area located in the hall's basement. A resident director (RD) lives in Martin Hall along with five resident assistants (RA). Martin Hall opened in 1947, closed in 1993, and re-opened in 1999 after extensive renovations. 

All Rooms in Martin Hall Feature:

  • Blinds
  • Air conditioning, with individual suite thermostats
  • High-speed wireless internet access
  • Cable TV access
  • Bed
  • Mattress
  • Desk
  • Desk Chair
  • Built-in closet
  • Suites furnished with a sofa, loveseat, coffee table, dining table with four chairs, end table, and a bathroom
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Student Housing FAQs

Q. Do students have to live in the residence halls? 
A. Yes. All full-time students who do not have senior standing (at least 92 semester credit hours), who are single, under 21 years of age, without dependent children, and not living with a parent or legal guardian who lives within one-hour of OU-Ottawa must live in a campus residence hall and participate in the student meal plan. Living on-campus provides students with an opportunity to make friendships with people from many places. This is an important part of the college experience. Living within the residence halls also allows students the convenience of utilizing the services provided. Students must request and complete an off campus application and the "Parent Verification Form" if commuting from the parents' or legal guardians' home. Transfer students who meet age and/or semester credit hour requirements to live off campus may request an off campus housing application from the Office of Student Affairs after filling out the standard housing preference form.

Q. What does it cost to live in a residence hall for a year? 
A. Housing costs for the 2009-10 academic year are as follows:
 

  • Brown Hall: Double - $1,260 sem/$2520 yr
  • Brown Hall: Single - Currently not available fall 09 ($2,000 sem/$4,000 yr)
  • Bennett Hall: Double - $1,535 sem/$3,070 yr
  • Bennett Hall: Single - Currently not available fall 09 ($2,250 sem/$4,500 yr)
  • Martin Hall: Double - $1,535 sem/$3,070 yr
  • Martin Hall: Single - $2,250 sem/$4,500 yr (limited availability)
  • Martin Hall: Small Double - $1,435 sem/$2,870 yr
  • Martin Hall: Super Single - $2,350 sem/$4,700 yr (limited availability)
  • Bennett Apartment: $1,850/$3,700 yr (5-meal plan required)
  • Martin Apartment: $1,850/$3,700 yr (5-meal plan required)

Q. If a student does not get his or her preferred hall, and/or roommate preferences, what can he or she do? 
A. Assignments are made in the order of the date that we receive the contract and deposit. The earlier a student contracts for housing and pays the $150 deposit, the greater their chances of being assigned to the residence hall of their preference.

QHow do new students get involved with activities on campus? 
A. New students can get involved in a variety of ways. Resident assistants are a good starting place to getting advice on how to become active. Each RA has good resource information that can help point students in the right direction. There are plenty of opportunities on-campus to get involved.

Q. What is an RA? 
A. Resident assistants are student leaders who are ready, willing and able to be resources to their peers. We select them each spring and they receive training in the fall and throughout the year. Our resident directors (RD) are full-time professional staff members who are readily available to assist students, as well as RAs with a multitude of concerns. Each residence hall has two (2) RAs on each floor and a full-time live-in RD.

QWhere can students do laundry, and what does it cost? 
A. Laundry facilities are available in each of the residence halls. Martin Hall has one laundry facility, which is located on the lower level of the building. In Bennett and Brown Halls, laundry facilities are located on each floor. It costs $1.50 to wash and $1.25 to dry. Students must bring their own laundry detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets. The machines only accept quarters.

Q. What should a student bring for the room? 
A. Students should bring all of those special things that will make their room feel like home. Personalizing the room is strongly encouraged, and we suggest that students bring their favorite things. Pictures and posters may be hung on the walls white sticky tack only. Other things students can bring include:

  • Small Refridgerator (4 cubic ft or less)
  • Television (with cable cord)
  • Hair Dryer
  • Curling Iron
  • Sheets (extra-long twin)
  • Towels and Washcloths
  • Trashcan
  • Microwave
  • Bathroom Caddy
  • VCR/DVD player
  • Area Rugs or Carpeting (no foam backs)
  • Pillow Cases
  • Pillows
  • Power Strips (extension cords are not allowed)
  • Bookbags/Supplies
  • Alarm Clock
  • Personal Computer
  • Radio/CD Player
  • Mattress Pad
  • Blankets/Comforter
  • Cleaning Supplies
  • Planner/Calendar

Q. What size linens should a student bring? 
A. Students need to bring sheets, pillows, pillowcases, and blankets to accommodate an extra long twin mattress. Regular twin sheets will work, but they will be snug.

QAre single rooms available? 
A. A limited number of single rooms are available. Returning upper-class students usually receive these rooms. If a student decides he or she is interested in a single room during the academic year, he or she must fill out a room change request form and indicate a single room preference. These forms can be picked up in the Office of Student Affairs. Single rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

QWhat if a student wants to make a room change? 
A. Room changes can be made during room change week (approximately 2 weeks after the 1st day of school) after the halls open. Visit the hall's Resident Director (RD) to find out about the room change process.

Q. Can students remove University furniture from their rooms if they do not need/want it?
A. No. All furniture must remain in the student's room.

Q. What is a student not allowed to bring to furnish the room? 
A. Residents may not have halogen lamps, hotplates or candles/other incendiary items. Candle burners are also not allowed. Students may contact the Student Life Office if they are unsure if an appliance is allowed. Other items that are not allowed in the residence halls include: painting and/or loft construction; pornographic posters or images; alcohol beverage bottles, cans, and containers (either full or empty); any posters placed on the inside of doors; elevating floors; additional wiring for electrical equipment or lighting effects; construction and decoration that obstructs a 90-degree swing of the room entrance door; construction and decoration that obstructs the air circulation of the heating/cooling unit; furniture obstructing full view of room from entrance door; furniture from lounges or lobbies; as well as foam-backed carpet and rugs, and adhesives on the floor.

Q. If a student does not have a roommate preference, what factors will be used to select a roommate for him or her? 
A. We assign rooms based upon the preferences indicated on the housing preference form. We make assignments on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Q. Are there places available in the residence halls for students to cook their own meals? 
A. Yes, each residence hall contains a shared community kitchen area. Kitchens include counter space, a range/oven, a sink, and a microwave.

Q. What if I do not own a computer? 
A. No problem! Computer labs are also in the academic buildings open for student use on a daily basis in the Vera Wise Technology Center and in Myers Library.


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