Bluff Hall Newsletter

Bluff Hall closes for Fall Break at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 22^nd, 2019.

You do NOT need to take everything home with you!

If you need to leave later than 5pm, you must contact Bluff Hall Community Director, Garrett McAlister, by noon on Wednesday, November 20^th.  Garrett can be contacted in the Bluff Hall Office, at gmcalis@siue.edu, or (618)650-0579.

Before you leave, don’t forget to:

• Clean your room and your bathroom.
• Unplug everything except your refrigerator.
• Take all trash to the Trash Room (including food that may spoil in your refrigerator).
• Close and lock your window.
• Close your shades: Lower them half way down the window.
• Turn the heat on low.
• Turn off room/bathroom lights.
• Due to the power outage please take your pet fish home for break.
• Shut and lock your room and bathroom doors.

The residence halls will reopen at 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 1^st, 2019.

The 2020-2021 Resident Assistant application is now open. The RA application can be found online. 

If you have questions, please contact Sarah Kirkpatrick at skirkpa@siue.edu or (618) 650‑4629.  

Optional Information Session Dates

Monday, November 18, 2019	5 PM Woodland Hall MFR
Monday, December 2, 2019	9 PM Evergreen Hall MFR

RA Qualifications

• Turn in a completed application by the appropriate deadline: Wednesday, December 4, at 11:59 pm.
• Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA by the time you assume the position (RAs are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA).
• Cannot be graduating before May 2021.
• Cannot be involved with a full-time internship/co-op, student teach, or enrolled in the School of Pharmacy program during the 2020-2021 academic year.
• Have lived in University Housing for at least two full semesters by the time you would begin as an RA (summer is counted as a semester).
• Be in good financial, academic, and behavioral conduct standing with the University.

Running out of Meal Plan? Use Cougar Bucks!

It is fast and easy to set up and use.

Go to siue.edu/cougarcard

Click on “Add Money to Cougar Card”

Login to GET with your e-ID and password

Under Quick Links click “Add Funds”

 If you are running out of your residential meal plan as the end of the semester nears, you can add Cougar Bucks to bridge the gap between now and the spring semester. In addition, Cougar Bucks can be used for laundry, vending machines, printing, and more.

 Questions may be emailed to cougarcard@siue.edu

Close your Windows!

Please keep windows closed while the air conditioning is on.

Open windows increases the humidity level in a space which may result in excessive condensation dripping out of vents or from the ceiling.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Toilet Clogging?

To reduce the occurrence of your toilet clogging, University Housing Facilities Management recommends to only flush toilet paper.  Even though wipes, toilet cleaning wands, and personal item packaging states flushable, it is causing clogging issues. Paper towels should NEVER be flushed down the toilet.  

The next meeting of Kaleidoscope will take place on Wednesday, November 13^th from 5-6 pm in the Cougar Village Commons Multifunction room. Food and beverages will be provided!

What is Kaleidoscope?

Kaleidoscope is a new University Housing initiative. Kaleidoscope is a network for LGBTQIA+ residents who come together to support the experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals in University Housing and on campus. This space is designed by and for LGBTQIA+ individuals but is not a space for our allies. While allies play an essential role, this space is meant to be a place where LGBTQIA+ community members can gather to:

 Create a safe place in University Housing for LGBTQIA+ students to connect;

• Encourage overall student success for LGBTQIA+ students;
• Promote positive, healthy relationships amongst LGBTQIA+ students;
• Facilitate culturally relevant discussion and reflection;
• And to increase awareness of campus resources.

 Please contact Rex Jackson, rjackso@siue.edu, if you have any questions about this initiative.

Reserve your space in University Housing for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021!

Current students can reserve their space on-campus for fall 2020 - spring 2021 during the housing reservation process. The online application for space will be available online from October 28, 2019 - February 7, 2020. Current residents will have to complete the online application for space and pay the $200 advance payment by February 7, 2020. Current residents should not complete a new student application.

If you have any questions, please contact the Central Housing Office at (618) 650‑3931 or housing@siue.edu.

Hydrant Flushing

As part of ongoing maintenance of hydrants and the water system, Facilities Management will be flushing hydrants over the next month.  Occasionally, this process results in brown water in fountains, sinks and toilets.  Allowing the water to run for a minute or two will clear it out; the water is safe to drink and use.

Pest Control

SIUE is a beautiful campus surrounded by woods and nature.  It’s that time of year when we see an increase in stink bugs.  They have been bad this year with the warmer temperatures.

 While there is no way to 100% eliminate all bugs in order to reduce pests in your unit, here are some steps you could take.

• Remove food source – take out your trash each day , empty your sink each night, and make sure all open food is sealed or keep in the refrigerator.
• If your windows are open, ensure your screens are securely in the windowsill.  If not, open a work order maintenance request and University Housing Facilities Management will make the repair. 
• Frequently vacuum your unit.
• If you see stink bugs in your unit, immediately vacuum them.  Empty your vacuum and discard in trash.
• Pest Control visit campus weekly (typically on Wednesdays) if you need your unit sprayed, please complete a work order maintenance request.

Need to open a work order maintenance request, click HERE.

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!!!

Come to the Tutoring Resource Centerfor help with your math, science, and business questions!

Regular Tutoring Resouce Center Hours are:

Monday through Thursday         8am – 7pm

Friday                                      8am – 3pm

Saturday                                  9am – 12 noon

Sunday                                     4pm – 7pm

Please stop by and check out the Career Development Center located in the basement of the Student Success Center, room 0281.  We can help you with your resume, cover letters, job search, LinkedIn accounts, graduate school personal statements/application, mock interviews, and much more.

Upcoming Fall Events

Financial Matters: Ask an Expert

Tuesday, November 12

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

2^nd Floor MUC, Mississippi/Illinois Room

This is a round table event that you can come and go as you wish.  Talk to the experts of your choice with no obligation to buy any products. Examples of topics in the past are: work benefits, salary negotiations, insurance basics (home, auto, renters, professional), paying off student loans, budgeting and prioritizing financial goals, mortgage and car loans, wise use of credit cards, identity theft, life insurance, investments, banking basics, and credit reports.

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.