Welcome to your new home! We want you to feel comfortable in your new room, apartment or house.  We also want to make sure your living environment is safe and secure.  Before you do anything in your room, look over the guidelines, tips, and ideas for turning your room into your new home!!

Can I decorate my room, apartment or house?

Yes!  Students are encouraged to personalize their rooms to make them more like home.  There are various things that can be done to accomplish this. Here are some basic guidelines about what to bring and what not to bring.

Area Rugs:  Although all of our halls, apartments, and houses at Simpson are fully carpeted, rugs are a great way to personalize your room.  Consider bringing carpet or rugs from home.  Nylon, Antron, and Sisel carpet are the most durable types of carpeting.  Consider putting down a layer of padding for noise reduction and increased comfort.  Do not use adhesive tape to hold down carpets.  Our experience is that it does not come off the industrial carpet after removing the carpet/rug.

Furniture:  Furniture that is not affixed to the floor may be moved and arranged as you like as long as the door is not blocked.  You may add items such as a chair or TV; however, furniture may not be removed from your room.   At the end of the year, you will be responsible for seeing that all furniture is in the room, assembled, and in the same condition as when you moved in.

Posters, Pictures, Flags, Etc.:  Other ways to personalize your room include putting up posters, pictures, flags, and other items on your walls (not the ceiling). Blue painter’s tape is the best way to put up wall hangings without the risk of damage!

Plants:  Plants can add color and cheer to any room and they can help reduce odors.  Some of the best plants for your room are closet or spath plants, philodendrons, spider plants, peace lilies, and golden pothos.

Pets:  Pets are not allowed in any of the residential facilities, even to visit, because of health, sanitation, and noise concerns.  The only exceptions are fish (in a tank less than 10 gallons) and registered guide dogs accompanying sight-impaired persons. Violation of this policy can result in a minimum fine is $50. In addition, a special cleaning charge of $150 can be assessed to any residents who violate this policy as a general precaution to eliminate any allergens, deep clean, and/or to remove any smells.

Christmas Decorations:  To avoid fire hazards, live Christmas trees are not permitted in residential facilities. Low-heat bulbs and flame-retardant materials may be used to decorate. However, all decorations should remain interior to your room.

Flammable Items: Candles, incense, anything with open coils, and halogen lamps are prohibited in the residential facilities. They present serious fire hazards and may produce an odor that may be disturbing to other residents. Flammable items such as fishnets or flags should not be hung from the ceiling. Do not hang anything on or over ceiling lights, sprinklers, or smoke alarms. Choose and place your decorations carefully in your room.

Repairs & Maintenance

All repair and maintenance needs should be reported to the Physical Plant (Campus Services).  Please call 961-1622 (x1622) or email (facil@simpson.edu) to turn in a work order.  Emergency repairs occurring outside the hours of operation (7am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday) should be reported to a staff member for further action. Repairs will be completed based on a campus wide priority including urgency, type of repair and date received. Unless it’s an emergency, five (5) working days should be allowed for repairs.  If repairs have not been made within this time, check with your student staff member, Area Coordinator, or directly with the Physical Plant by calling 961-1622. 

Students will be charged for any damage or corrective actions taken due to failure to adhere to the room personalization specifications.  A student may be required to pay any charges assessed in order to return a room to good condition if the conditions of that room resulted from a student’s actions.