Please check your Etown email for COVID-19 Updates regarding campus closure and departing campus.
Living at Etown
Elizabethtown College is a residential campus. More than 85% of our 1,900 students live on campus in residence halls, townhouses, apartments, and on-campus houses. Here is a look at some important elements of living at Etown.
Live Etown Blueprint
The Office of Community Living invites you to Live Etown! Live Etown is our blueprint for cultivating inclusive and vibrant communities, fostering a sense of belonging, and inspiring meaningful learning. Throughout your residential experience, you will have the opportunity to participate in exciting events and engaging discussions around four themes (we call them Learning Blocks): live well, live connected, live with purpose, and live beyond.
Check out the Live Etown blueprint here!
Community Standards Model
We foster a sense of community in the residential areas through the Community Standards Model. Each floor comes together within the first month of the academic year to collaboratively craft the “standards” for their floor which outline how the community would like to handle issues such as floor cleanliness or how to approach one another for noise during courtesy hours. When a situation arises that is not in line with the floor’s standards, the students come together to discuss their standards and decide whether they want to change them or reaffirm them. The Community Standards Model helps floor-mates learn to talk to one another and prepare for life after Etown.
Consolidation Policy
As stated in the College Residency Agreement, the Community Living staff reserves the right to make changes in room assignments, which could occur at any time. It is understood that the Residency Agreement is for room space without regard to a designated residence hall, townhouse or apartment, Student Directed Learning Community (SDLC), or specific room. Generally, consolidation of students into a double occupancy room does not take place until fourteen (14) days after classes begin. For more specific information about the consolidation policy, you may contact the Office of Community Living.
Guest & Visitor Policy
Elizabethtown College students who sponsor a guest must accept full responsibility for the guest’s behavior. If the guest violates the Student Code of Conduct or other College policies, the student host will be held responsible. Students must have approval from their roommate(s) prior to inviting a guest. A student‘s privilege to have a guest is, in all cases, superseded by the roommate’s right to the uninterrupted use of the room. Overnight guests are permitted to stay a total of three nights during a one-month period.
Guests from off campus must be at least 18 years of age or enrolled at a college or university. Students may petition the Office of Community Living for special permission to host a guest who does not meet these criteria. This petition must be made in person by the EC student host to the Director of Community Living at least three days in advance of the visit. See the Student Handbook for more information.
Moving In
As you begin to plan for check-in day, think carefully about what you plan to bring and how you will keep yourself organized. It is not necessary to bring everything you will need for the entire year if you are able to visit home on breaks throughout the year. You may reference our "suggested items list" as well as the floor plan for your room in your planning. Etown students definitely personalize their rooms and make them their own. Curtains, posters, funky comforters, and photos really help transform the room into your unique home away from home.
Room Assignments
A certain number of rooms within each residence hall floor community are dedicated solely to new students. Returning students may select any available room by following the room selection procedures. These procedures are reviewed and revised annually, and traditionally involve selection based on a random lottery system. All room assignments are made without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin.
Room Changes
Room assignment changes may be made only with the approval of the Office of Community Living. As part of their education, students should learn to work out differences through compromise and logic rather than avoiding concerns and problems. Should students desire a room change, they should consult with the Resident Assistant (RA) or Assistant Director (AD).
Final approval of a room change is rendered by the Office of Community Living. A student who changes a room must obtain and return a room change form. A $50 fine will be charged to students who fail to follow proper room change procedures, and/or their request may be denied.
Safety on Campus
Safety and personal accountability are important here at Etown. All residential areas are locked 24 hours a day. We require that all guests register with Campus Security. Students are expected to follow the Student Code of Conduct outlined in the Student Handbook. The College maintains yearly Campus Crime Statistics, which are available through Campus Security.
Summer Housing
The College offers housing in the summer for current Elizabethtown College students. The summer housing priority is given to students employed by the college and those taking classes at the College. Summer housing may be given to those students taking internships for College credit. Students must register the internship for credit with the Office of Registration and Records before the Summer Housing Application can be submitted. Housing for students with credit bearing internships will be granted only if there is availability after student employees and those taking classes are placed in housing. Summer housing is not given to students whose sole reason for needing housing is for off campus employment or for paid internships (not for College credit). Summer residents must be approved by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Summer residents must uphold all College policies.
During the summer months, students can expect that cleaning will begin immediately after the buildings close and preparations to begin for the summer conference season. The services, amenities, and conveniences that students have access to during the academic year are significantly limited in the summer months. This includes, but is not limited to, shower curtains being removed and construction beginning in early morning hours. Community Living professional staff are not available to assist in situations that require intervention after business hours. Counseling Services are not available during the summer or between semesters.
Transitional Housing
Occasionally it is necessary for some first year students to reside in transitional housing. The size of the incoming first year class may exceed the number of available residence hall beds on campus. When this happens students are assigned a transitional, or temporary, housing room for a period of time. For more specific information about transitional housing, please contact the Office of Community Living.