Living on campus at Wellesley will provide you with a new family with whom you will learn and grow.
We look forward to welcoming all of you to our beautiful community. The Office of Residential Life fosters inclusive learning communities where each member contributes her own unique history, culture, perspective, talents and creativity, and where each member appreciates the contributions of other community members.
Wellesley's residence halls vary in size, and house students from all four class years in a combination of double, triple, and single rooms, as well as suites. First-year students and sophomores have one or more roommates, while most upper-class students are assigned single rooms. The majority of Wellesley students live in campus housing, and a team of professional and student staff members works to build a strong community within each residence hall.
Community
A strong community is a place that practices hospitality, holds all members to the same standard of accountability, and develops a trusting and respectful space that celebrates its members. Living in a community establishes a model of civic responsibility within the Wellesley community. The staff and students work together to create an environment where learning can occur. Slater Center provides a welcoming gathering place and resources for international students.
The residence hall staff includes a live-in professional area coordinator or resident director, a house president, and a team of resident assistants. The halls are governed by a house council, elected by the students living in each building. Also important to the community are the custodial and dining services staffs, whose efforts enhance the atmosphere in each living area.
To view a campus map, please click here .
Amenities
The College provides each student with an extra long twin bed and mattress, desk and chair, and a bureau. Students may bring small refrigerators and other electronic equipment such as stereos, hair dryers, and televisions. An electrical surge protector is required for such appliances. Additional lighting may be useful; however, please be aware that halogen lamps or 5-bulb/multiple head lamps are not allowed in the residence halls because they are a fire hazard. Students should plan to bring pillows, blankets, extra long bed linens, towels, and hangers.
Dining
All students are automatically enrolled in the meal plan. The major dining rooms are in Tower Court, Bates, Stone-Davis, and the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center. Students may eat in any of these dining rooms buffet style. There is one Kosher/vegetarian dining hall, located in Stone-Davis, and one peanut-free dining hall, located in Tower.
Study and Common Rooms
Many students study in their residence hall rooms or in one of our libraries . Common space is also available in each residence hall for studying and gathering with groups to work on projects. In addition to dining and study rooms, the halls have formal living rooms and smaller common rooms used for social gatherings, meetings, and parties. All halls also have a TV room with cable channels.
Computing & Phones
All student rooms in the residence halls have wireless Internet connections, and there are common phones on each floor for free campus and local calls. Students are forbidden from bringing personal wireless routers as they can disrupt the official campus network. Please see Library & Technology Services for more information.
Laundry
All residence halls are equipped with washers and dryers, ironing boards, and irons. There is a change machine in the Wang Campus Center, but these washers and dryers can be paid through an app.
Kitchens
All residence halls are equipped with one full kitchen in each building, and kitchenettes on each floor, though residents must provide their own pots and pans. Vending machines for beverages and snacks are available in all residence halls. For community safety reasons, students are NOT permitted to bring their own microwaves, hot pots, electric plates, or toaster ovens.
Campus Housing Assignments and Guidelines
The assignment of students to campus housing is managed by Student Housing. Each incoming new student is assigned to housing based upon the housing preference form they complete prior to their arrival. Incoming transfer students are assigned to available housing according to their class year. After the first year, students are housed through a campus lottery process which takes place during the spring semester.
The residence halls open for the arrival of new students in the fall for Orientation, and close 24 hours after the last scheduled final exam in December. Winter break is the only time the residence halls close during the academic year. Only approved students will be allowed to live on-campus during Wintersession. Students may live on campus while they take a language class, or are participating in winter varsity sports. Halls reopen the Sunday before spring semester and close 48 hours after the last final exam.
To learn more about housing policies and processes, please see the Student Housing site.
International Student Housing Options for Summer and Wintersession
Summer
International students may remain on-campus during the summer, paying a weekly fee for housing. Students may take classes, engage in research or internships, and/or work on-campus. Housing is limited to a few designated residence halls and is coordinated through the Housing Office.
Winter
International students may remain on-campus during the winter break (from the end of exams to the start of Wintersession) and during Wintersession, without charge provided they are registered for spring semester classes on-campus and meet the housing eligibility requirements for Wintersession:
- Students in programs that require their presence on campus (i.e. Madeline Albright Institute, Winter Theater, winter varsity athletic teams)
- Students whose current academic work requires their presence on campus (i.e. students enrolled in on-campus Wintersession classes, approved thesis students)
- Student employees in positions deemed essential to conducting business of the College
- International students needing housing for the entire period between the end of exams and the start of spring semester.
All other international students will be placed on a waiting list and housed as space becomes available. In the past, all international student requests have been accommodated. Housing is limited to a few designated residence halls and is coordinated through the Office of Residential Life.