The views and opinions expressed in the Graduate and International Ambassador Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Arkansas.
By Alexa Styers
As a freshman, living in a residence hall was one of the best decisions I ever made. I continued to live with my Pomfret Hall roommate along with our other friends that we met in the Pomfret study rooms even when we moved to off-campus housing.
I still think about how we would eat an entire pan of chocolate chip cookies in the dining hall or the fact that I could shower for over forty-five minutes (I have very thick hair to detangle) and not run out of hot water. While I live in an apartment off campus now, I genuinely miss the times I spent in the dorms. Living in Pomfret hall was the best of times, the most hilarious of times, and–most importantly–they were the most ‘educational’ of times.
You’re probably wondering, what should I expect from living on campus as an international student? Well, don’t worry, I am about to break it down for you so that even before you arrive on campus, you’ll know more about student living than the domestic students!
Residence Halls
At the University of Arkansas, all undergraduate students below the age of 21 are required to live on campus during their first year of attendance. The U of A has a variety of different residence halls spread all over campus. The Quads, Maple, Reid, Humphreys, Yocum, Founder’s, Futrall, Hotz, Pomfret, and Adohi Hall are just some of the residence halls open to incoming undergraduate students–each one is a little different!
For upperclassmen students, Walton, Gregson, and Duncan Avenue Apartments are available. Also, Reid and Gibson Hall are exclusively for female students only. Most international students, however, will usually choose Holcombe and Futrall Halls (these are two of the best locations on campus, so you’ll never be late to class!).
Every residence hall has a Resident Assistant (RA). RA’s are upperclassmen tasked with ensuring the overall well-being of the students living on their respective floors of the residence hall. If you have questions or concerns about anything, they are there to help you! Even if you are just feeling lonely and want to talk–they are there for that purpose as well.
What Will My Room Look Like?
Like fingerprints, no residence hall room layout ends up being quite the same. All halls come furnished with a bed, desk, and wardrobe/closet. Beds can be elevated to create more space–just ask your floor RA first! Students can decide between a double room (2 people living in the room) or a single room.
The Quads and Maple Halls offer unique layouts that include private bathrooms, attics, and living rooms. In these halls, it would not be unheard of to have two to four roommates with a common living space.
Bathrooms-They’re Different Here
Most residence halls have communal bathrooms. “What are communal bathrooms, Alexa?” Well, I am so glad you asked! Each floor has two communal bathrooms on each side of the hall. These western-style bathrooms contain showers, toilets, and sinks that are shared among the students of that floor.
This does not mean you will be showering with all your new best friends; every shower has a separate stall with two curtains: one for the dry area outside the shower where you can leave your towel and a change of clothes, and one for the actual shower area.
The most difficulty I ever had with the communal showers was the music power struggle–everyone wanted to shower to their own tunes playing, and sometimes it was a battle between whose speaker was loudest! If this is not your cup of tea, some residence halls at the university offer en–suite bathrooms (AKA private bathrooms) in your room that your share with your roommates. These private bathrooms have one shower and one sink.
Dining Halls and Meal plans
At the University of Arkansas, we are dedicated to making sure you do not starve as a student. In every residence hall there are kitchens available for student use and utensils (pots/pans etc.) free to check out from the RA desk. If you’re like me and cooking is a health hazard (I get bored and forget, then my food burns), the meal plans offered by the University are a great option to students who would rather not cook!
These meal plans give access to the university’s three dining halls on campus and over 20 retail food stores such as Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, Slim Chickens and more. On-campus meal plans range from $1,270 to $2,185 per semester. The least expensive plan offers 10 meals a week, this can be upgraded to 15 or even unlimited if you prefer. If you do not have a meal plan, you can still buy a single meal pass to any dining hall on campus for under $10.
Off-campus meal plans are available as well, ranging from $349 to $798 a semester. Personally, I had the 10 meal a week plan and I never once ran out of meals for the week, even though I am pretty sure I ate nearly 5 times a day (the ice cream machines are addictive!).
On-campus Resources for International Students
Living far away from home in a foreign country can be scary–I mean, you’re only human! The University of Arkansas is dedicated to giving their students not only everything they need to succeed but also what they need to be healthy and happy.
The University offers discounted services at the Pat Walker Health Center where you can get regular check-ups, counseling, and psychological services. Near the Maple residence halls, there is a “Small-mart” (a one-of-a-kind miniature Walmart for all your shopping needs!), an eye-clinic, and more.
By the Gregson residence hall, you can find Class+, which offers tutoring, an essay writing center (get those comma rules checked!), and time management seminars for free. Getting around is also a breeze since free bus transportation services are available to all!
Be sure to follow the latest updates on move-in day and living on campus here.
I hope you found my overview of living on campus helpful and that it gets you excited for exploring the University of Arkansas while making new friends!
