Prairie Hall Newsletter

Prairie Hall will close for the summer at 5:00 pm on Friday, May 7, 2021.  Residents are expected to properly checkout (see below) within 24 hours of their last final exam.  Residents who need to stay later than 24 hours after their last final exam or past 5:00 pm on Friday, May 7, must submit a late stay request form to their Community Director no later than noon on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.

To submit a request for a late stay, please contact:           

                Lizz Bishop

                elbisho@siue.edu

                618-650-4652

Respect 24-hour quiet hours.

Twenty-four-hour quiet hours begin on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 5:00 pm and will continue until 5:00 pm on Friday, May 7.  During this time, no noise should be heard coming from any room or common area at any time, day or night.  Students who do not follow these expectations may be asked to leave before the end of the semester.  It is expected that you take great care to limit the amount of noise you make when moving out during 24 hours quiet hours.

Complete a Cleaning Contract.

You will receive a Cleaning Contract from your RA at the April Community Meeting.  Complete this document to ensure all necessary cleaning is done with the appropriate division of responsibility, especially if one roommate/suitemate is leaving earlier than the others.  This will help ensure that the proper individual is held responsible for damages, etc.    Return the Cleaning Contract to your RA by 4:00 pm on Friday, April 30, 2021. 

Provide mail-forwarding information.

Please check your SIUE e-mail account for information about how to provide Housing with a forwarding address.  Your mail will not be forwarded if you do not provide us with this information; it will be returned to the sender.  If you have provided a forwarding address, please make sure it is correct to avoid any misdirected mail.

Clean your living unit. 

Living units should be clean and sanitary and absent of personal property. Residents will be held responsible for damages resulting from negligence, abuse, or misuse. 

• The bedroom should appear as though it was thoroughly cleaned within the past week. 
• The bathroom should appear as though it was thoroughly cleaned within the past week
• Walls should be clean and free of holes, food debris, etc.
• All items removed from the bedroom and bathroom (personal items, trash, shower curtain, etc.)
• You will receive a Cleaning Contract from your RA in mid-April.  Complete this document to ensure all necessary cleaning is done with the appropriate division of responsibility, especially if one roommate/suitemate is leaving earlier than the others. 

Residence Life staff members will walk-through your living unit to assess for damages and cleanliness.  If damages or unclean conditions are found, you may be assessed repair and cleaning charges.  You will be notified of any charges via your SIUE e-mail account. 

Damages/Repairs

Students should submit a work request to University Housing Facilities Management if there are any issues in the living unit. UHFM staff will make an assessment when they respond to the work request, and if the damage does not fall under normal wear and tear, the student may be charged for the cost of the repair.

University Housing Facilities Management staff are the only ones approved to make repairs in University Housing. Students who attempt to “fix” things themselves will be charged for the cost of UHFM staff to go back and properly repair the issue.

Return your keys to the Front Desk. 

When you are ready to leave, stop by the Front Desk to return your keys.  Failure to return your keys will result in a re-core charge of up to $123.

Need Help Moving Out?

Beginning Saturday, May 1 at 8 am, residents are permitted to check-in up to 2 guests to assist with the moveout process.

• Guests will be allowed in the building for three hours to assist with move out. 
• Residents will be required to check-in all guests at the front desk to receive wristbands. 
• All guests will be required to follow University Housing guidelines related to personal distancing and face coverings. 
• All guests will also be required to follow 24-hour quiet hours.  Any guests who violate University Housing policies will be asked to leave the building. 

Take your Bike home

If you have a bike, please make sure you take it with you when you leave. Any bikes that are left will be collected by UHFM staff after closing.

Recycle unwanted clothing

Instead of throwing your unwanted clothes in the trash, please bag them up and drop them in the large cardboard USAgain boxes in the lobby of your residence hall starting Monday, April 26. Bags are provided and can be found by the donation boxes.  Please visit http://www.usagain.com/  to learn more about USAgain. 

Items that can be donated:

• Clothes: t-shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, pants, jeans, coats, sweaters, bras, underwear, etc.
• Footwear: sneakers, boots, sandals, leather shoes, socks, etc.
• Accessories: hats, handbags, gloves, belts, scarves, backpacks.
• Linens: bedding (sheets, comforter, pillowcases), blankets, towels, drapes, etc. (NO CARPETING PLEASE)

Donate unwanted food

NRHH Donation boxes will be available for you to drop off food items that you no longer want in the lobby of your building starting Monday, April 26. The food will be donated to the SIUE Cougar Cupboard food pantry.

Avoid Abandoned Property

University Housing is not responsible for any property left by residents when they move out. During closing inspections, University Housing staff will attempt to recover and inventory abandoned property. Abandoned property is defined as state/federal documents or individual property over $75.00. Examples of abandoned property that University Housing staff could recover include, but are not limited to, electronics, jewelry, a drawer full of clothes, a set of pots and pans, etc. This does not include a single piece of clothing, cleaning supplies, dirty clothing, shampoo left in the shower, food items, etc.

Textbook rental property should be collected and returned to Textbook Rental by taking the books to the textbook rental office or calling textbook rental to have the books picked up.

When items are deemed abandoned property, they will be stored for 30 days. If the abandoned property is found in your living space, you will be notified and charged $25 per bag. Any abandoned property left after 30 days will be destroyed or donated. To avoid any abandoned property charges, check your apartment and bedroom before checking out. This includes commonly missed spaces such as closets, cabinets, drawers, and common areas.

Staying for summer?

If you have a University Housing May Term or Summer housing contract, you will receive correspondence via your SIUE e-mail address confirming your assignment and outlining move-in details.  If you wish to add the May term to your summer contract, please contact the Central Housing Office at housing@siue.edu.

If you do not have a May term housing contract, you must check out of your residence hall by 5 pm on Friday, May 7.

Questions?

Please contact your Resident Assistant or your Community Director in the Front Office.  Best wishes for a successful and enjoyable remainder of the semester!

HVAC Update

There is only one HVAC system at each residence hall. At any given time the system is either in “heat” mode or “cool” mode. The system works by circulating heated or cooled water throughout the building to individual rooms where fans are used to move the warm or cool air into the room. To switch the system from one mode to another mode takes about a week’s work, so the switch is made only once in the fall and once in the spring.

At this time the system is set to “heat”, so no cooling is available. If your room is uncomfortably warm, make sure your thermostat is set to “heat” and the temperature is turned down low. If you put the thermostat on “cool”, the system thinks there is cold water in the system and runs the system more, which is exactly the opposite of what is wanted. Open a window, if needed, to let out the excess heat and then allow the system to reset to the new thermostat setting.

Your understanding during these temperature swings is appreciated.  Should you have any questions, please contact University Housing Facilities Management at 618-650-2070. 

Package Reminder

Please make sure packages are addressed to you and your full name.  All packages that cannot be easily identified as a resident of Prairie Hall will be sent back to the shipper.

Join Area Council! 

Area Council is the representative and programmatic board of your community.  If you’re interested in joining or would like more information, complete the “Area Council Application” in Roompact.

Sign Up Here!

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=IX3zmVwL6kORA-FvAvWuz4t5vy1MIFxDvgAbIR2nO0BUNkJTSzgzMzlaTFAzVEZFNUFIUlE3M0NVMy4u

It’s Canadian Geese Nesting Season!

Some things to know about the Canadian Goose… 

• Resident Canadian geese are well-adapted to human dominated landscapes.
• They nest in a variety of locales – some in very close proximity to people.
• Goose nests occur near:
  • Sidewalks
  • Entryways of homes and buildings
  • Adjacent to paths and roadways
  • Balconies, porches and rooftops
  • Nesting season occurs as early as late February through mid-may
  • Both birds of the pair attend to the nest
    • A single goose that appears to be “patrolling” an area may indicate that a nest is in the vicinity

The behavior of nesting geese to humans varies tremendously.  Some nesting geese readily flee when approached by humans whereas other geese will stand their ground to defend the nest.  Some geese will actually attack approaching humans by running or flying at them.

Goose behavior during nest defense consists of geese standing erect and/or spreading their wings to make themselves appear larger while loudly hissing.  The defense behavior can be daunting.  Attacking geese will often try to strike their perceived nest predator with their wings and/or will bite.

Here are some helpful tips regarding geese:

• DO NOT FEED THEM.
• DO NOT THROW ITEMS AT THEM – they my see this as a threat and attack.
• Do not be afraid of them.
• Continue to face them.
• Never turn your back on them or run away from them.

What to do if you come across aggressive geese:

• Call UHFM (University Housing Facilities Management) Office at 618-650-2070 to report it.
• Be specific with date/time/location of incident..
• If an issue appears to be an emergency and/or someone is injured, call 911 or contact the SIUE Police non-emergency number 618-650-3324.

IF A GOOSE IS ATTEMPTING TO NEST ON YOUR BALCONY OR PATIO – PLEASE CONTACT UHFM IMMEDIATELY (618) 650-2070.

University Housing will work closely with Facilities Management regarding aggressive geese around housing facilities.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact University Housing Facilities Management at 618-650-2070.

COVID Self-Reporting Form

You should complete this form if you are aware that you:  

• Have been tested for COVID-19, with or without symptoms  
• Have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been given a diagnosis of presumed positive by a health professional  
• Have symptoms, but not yet tested positive 
• Have had a CLOSE contact with an individual who has been tested and diagnosed with COVID-19

In alignment with the Centers for Disease Control's definition of CLOSE contact, reporting is necessary if you are someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

Your identity will not be disclosed to anyone other than SIUE employees responsible for maintaining your health and safety, or Health Department officials as required. You may voluntarily share your information with whomever you choose.

Policies – YOU NEED TO KNOW!

As a resident of the Cougar Village, you are responsible for knowing the information, policies, procedures, and deadlines that are contained in the University Housing Living Guide.  To access the living guide, go to:  http://www.siue.edu/housing/pdf/SIUE-Housing-Guide-Final.pdf

Facilities Issue?  Put in a workorder!

University Housing Facilities Management (UHFM) is the unit assigned to the development and maintenance of University Housing facilities and grounds. UHFM is responsible for repairing housing units, care of the grounds surrounding housing facilities, performs snow removal, maintains the cleanliness of common areas and offices in University Housing buildings, oversees pest control and much more.

In the event of any building or grounds related issues, Students need to initiate the repair by submitting a Maintenance Request to University Housing Facilities Management (UHFM). UHFM responds to student-initiated repair requests as a first priority.  To complete a work order, click HERE!!!

Get protected!  Insure yourself and your belongings!

University Housing does not insure the personal property of residents. Residents are strongly encouraged to insure their personal belongings while living in University Housing. Students can look into renter’s insurance or their parent/guardian homeowners’ policy for potential coverage options.

SIUE is Smoke-Free, Tobacco Free, Nicotine Free

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has implemented the Illinois law that prohibits smoking and all tobacco related products into its policies and procedures. The Smoke Free Campus Act means that there can be no smoking or tobacco products of any kind on any State-owned University property.

To view SIUE’s Smoke-Free Campus Policy, click here.

Visit these sites for more information, Smoking Cessation Program, American Cancer Society and Centers for Disease Control. 

Register for the Summer session!

Registration opens on March 29 for summer classes. Take advantage of nearly 1,000 summer courses, including on-campus and online options. Study on campus, or take an online course while working at home.

Summer session is a great way to complete an extra course—saving money by staying on track to graduate. Many summer classes meet for five weeks or less.

If you choose to study on campus, SIUE provides discounted housing rates. Choose from comfortable apartment-style options for the entire summer semester, a five-week session, or May term.

siue.edu/summer

summersession@siue.edu

 

Tutoring Resource Center

For Tutoring Schedules, or to sign up for individual tutoring, please go to www.siue.edu/lss/tutoring-resource-center/

Career Development Center

The Career Development Center is open for virtual or in-person appointments. You can make your appointment through your Cougar Jobline account or call our office at 618-650-3708. The Career Development Center can help you with your resume, cover letters, job search, LinkedIn accounts, graduate school personal statements/application, mock interviews, and much more. Our office is located on the lower level of the Student Success Center in room 0281. 

 

Resume Workshops throughout the semester – Check our website for a full schedule of the workshops.   

Career Development Center 

618-650-3708 

Email: careerdevelopment@siue.edu 

Website: siue.edu/cdc 

Student Cougar Jobline Link: https://siue.12Twenty.com/

Spring 2021 Group Fitness Schedule 

View the Spring 2021 Group Fitness Schedule at www.IMLeagues.com/SIUE to register for a Fitness Class.

Men’s and Women’s Club Soccer Home Games, Sunday, April 11^th. Location: RECPLEX

Men’s Club Soccer plays at 1:00 pm and Women’s Club Soccer play at 3:00 pm. Come to the games to cheer on and support your SIUE Club Sports Cougar Athletes!

Club Sports Game Day t-shirts will be given out and Food for attendees from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. (while supplies last). Please bring your SIUE ID Card.

A Reservation is required, please make your reservation HERE.

14^th Annual Cougar World Games. Thursday, April 8^th at the Outdoor Recreation Complex (RECPLEX) from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm.

 

Engage in various recreational activities, meet members of various Club Sport teams, and enjoy some Food and receive an event T-shirt (while supplies last). If you are not able to make the in-person event, please reserve a time on Friday, April 9^th to pick up your Event t-shirt. A Reservation is required, please make your reservation HERE.  Activities will include playing Quidditch, Spikeball, a Large Soccer Target, Archery, Giant Chess, Giant Connect Four, Corn-hole, 4-Square Volleyball, and Yard Pong.

Mini Health Assessments. Wednesday, April 7^th at the Student Fitness Center, from 11:00am-1:00pm and 4:00pm-6:00pm.

Make an appointment by clicking this link HERE and discuss your nutrition, fitness and health goals during your appointment time.

April Lunchtime Walking Group

Join Campus Recreation through the month of April on Thursdays at 12:00 pm for a light walk on the trails through Campus.

Register in advance to secure a spot and to be informed of any location changes or cancelations due to inclement weather.

April Lunchtime Walking Group LINK

Morning Yoga Classes

The last Two Dates for early morning yoga are scheduled for Monday, April 5^th at 8:30 am and Wednesday, April 14^th at 9:00 am.

Register via www.IMleagues.com/SIUE to secure your spot. Class size is limited to 17 participants.

Sign up for e-Lert today!

What is e-Lert? SIUE's e-Lert is a text messaging service that will be used to quickly notify faculty, staff and student cell phones when an urgent situation, such as a bomb threat, severe weather, hostile intruder, or when the University closes due to inclement weather. There is no cost to register for the alerts; however, standard rates may apply if your cell phone plan does not include text messaging.

Rave Guardian

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) now offers the Rave Guardian app for its students and their families. Rave Guardian is one of the best ways to not only improve personal safety, but also protect your friends by building a private safety network. This app provides instant communication with friends, family, campus safety, and even 9-1-1.

SIUE encourages all students throughout campus to utilize the app to network with friends and help increase overall safety and security of the entire student body. An important part of the Guardian app is that students can use it not only to keep themselves safe, but to help protect others. Even students who may not feel as if they need others to help keep them safe can utilize the app to be a guardian and help protect their friends.

Download Rave Guardian and Become a Guardian on Your Campus

Download Rave Guardian for Free The app is available for free on the Apple or Google app store.

Use Rave Guardian to Protect Yourself and Others

Set a Safety Time – Notify people you trust to check in on you if are alone or in an unfamiliar place.

Manage and Message Your Guardians – Invite family, friends or others to be your Guardian, and communicate with them within the app as needed.

Easy Emergency Communication – Call safety officials directly for help if you are in trouble and send text tips – including photos – if you see something suspicious.

Rave Guardian is a proven personal safety solution used on campuses across the country. To learn more, visit siue.edu/emergency.