Mission of Residence Life
The Mission of Residence Life is to create a residential community that supports the College’s mission and Catholic identity, and encourages academic achievement and personal growth within the community formed by the Benedictine Hallmarks. The Office strives to foster a welcoming, diverse, and supportive living and learning community which facilitates and edifies mutual respect, responsibility, integrity, compassion, and generosity as residents develop as holistic citizens.
Why is Residence Life so Amazing?
As a residential student, you are part of a rich community. Living and learning together, you will become aware and appreciative of the needs, lifestyles, cultures and diverse backgrounds of others. Life is strengthened and sustained by the connections and contributions generated through your day-to-day interactions within The Abbey community. Living with your peers on campus is one of the most important growth opportunities provided by Residence Life and the Student Life Staff. You will make friends and develop relationships that last a lifetime. While becoming a part of The Abbey’s traditions, you will help each other transition into college life and become successful community members. We organize and reinforce social relations and establish common values that maintain our rich academic environment while focusing on the mind, body, and spirit supported by the Benedictine Hallmarks. These common values and goals characterize the distinctiveness of the community in which students identify themselves as Abbey students.
Adapting to Residence Life
The time leading up to check-in will be filled with anticipation, excitement, and some fear. This is completely normal. Our staff is here to assist you any way we can. You will find basic information about life in our residence halls which will be a vital part of your college experience. Please read all the information carefully and do call if you have any questions.
All incoming students must submit a Verification of Immunization Form and medical history prior to arriving on campus in August. Please see the Health Center section of this website for forms and more information.
To guard against theft, record serial numbers of your personal property and mark all items such as laptops, stereos, cameras, etc. with your name or college ID number. Also, if you notice anything or anyone unusual in your building, please report this immediately to a staff member or Campus Safety and Police. In the event that you are the victim of a theft, please notify Campus Safety and Police immediately.
Please remember you are also responsible for any damage done within your suite whether you are present or not. If you keep your suite door closed and locked, you minimize the opportunity for other students to cause damage or enter your room without your permission.
Lastly, all goods and property of students upon the property of the college shall be the sole responsibility of the students, and in no event shall the college be liable for any loss or damage to said goods or property for any reason whatsoever. Students are advised to check if their belongings are covered under their parents’ homeowners insurance while at college or to obtain personal property insurance for their belongings.
Should you have valid personality conflicts that cannot be overcome through mediation, a room switch may be considered. You will be required to attempt to repair the relationship through your RA and/or a professional staff member. Every effort must be made to find a resolution first.
Laundry facilities are located in the lower level of O’Connell, the back of the first Cuthbert Allen apartment, and in each Poellath, St. Benedict, and St. Scholastica halls. There is no need to bring quarters to operate the washers and dryers, just press start on the machines. You must bring/use your own laundry detergent.
At any time, students may use laundryview.com to monitor the status of washers and dryers. Students can also view when are peak use times in the laundry room and when usage is slow.
If you want to store your belongings locally during the summer months, please find self-storage locally. Many students arrange this with another student; please make those arrangements personally. SelfStorageFinders.com is the leading self storage directory on the web and is designed to be your one stop shop when searching for self storage or mobile storage throughout the United States. Click here for local storage options.
The Mail Room is located next to The Hub in the Student Commons building.
Mailroom Hours
8:30 am to 4 pm
Yes, bike racks are located around campus. You must register your bike by getting a parking decal from either the Office of Residence Life or Campus Police. If you choose to bring a bicycle to school, please be sure to lock it up when it’s not in use. For safety reasons, stairwells, hallways, corridors or other public areas may not be used for bicycle storage.
Most of our halls have XL twin mattresses, so you will need extra long sheets to guarantee that they will fit.
All students may participate in the “Residence Halls Linens and College Bedding Program” provided by a third party company. Please visit their website for more information and to place orders.
When you arrive on campus, your Residence Life staff will be able to answer any questions you may have. If they can’t help you, they will find the answer for you or put you in touch with someone who can. If questions arise before you arrive, please feel free to call, write or e-mail us:
Residence Life Office
Belmont Abbey College
100 Belmont-Mt Holly Road
Belmont , NC 28012
704-461-7371
e-mail: ResidenceLife@bac.edu
Mailing Address: 100 Belmont Mount Holly Rd. Belmont, NC 28012
- Alarm clock, radio
- Area rug, trash can, cleaning supplies
- Blankets, bedding, pillows
- Can opener, pots/pans, utensils
- Computer, TV, gaming systems
- Curtains with tension rods
- Dishes, cups, flatware
- Multi-outlet extensions — must have UL listed surge protectors with a self-tripping breaker
- Flashlight and batteries
- Iron, small ironing board, laundry supplies
- Microwave, small refrigerator — also available for rent as one unit. Please click here for more info.
- Poster putty, removable wall hooks; products that won’t damage the walls
- Posters, family pictures
- Plants, small fish tank
- Shower caddie, toiletries, towels
- Study lamp
- Umbrella, rain boots
Please keep these fire and safety regulations in mind
- Microwave ovens cannot exceed 700 watts
- Small refrigerators cannot exceed 2.5 amps
- Microwaves and refrigerators must be plugged directly into the wall outlet
- Microwaves and refrigerators must maintain reasonable standards of sanitation and cannot be placed in a closet or other enclosure
- There must be 24 inch clearance between the ceiling and anything near it.
- All surge protectors must be 18 inches off the floor.
- Radios, stereos, computers, desk lamps, small televisions, and other small appliances must be kept in safe operating condition
- All approved combustible materials (paint, paint thinner) must be stored in a metal box in a well ventilated area
- Sprinkler pipes and heads can not have anything hanging from them and must have a 24 inch clearance.
Prohibited Items
- NO extension cords
- NO open element appliances (i.e., hot plates, broilers, space heaters, immersion heaters, ovens, toasters, “George Foreman”-type grills, or kerosene heaters)
- NO power tools
- NO sun lamps
- NO outside antennae
- NO tampering with electrical systems
- NO placing cords under an item (like a rug) or taping them across the floor
- NO candles
- NO incense
- NO halogen or touchier lamps
- NO lava lamps
- NO paper lamps
- NO Christmas tree lights unless LED
- NO cords across floors or under rugs
- NO Kerosene lamps or any gas powered appliance
- NO firearms and other dangerous (knives with a longer than 2 inch blade, dangerous weapons, slingshots, explosives, air guns, paintball guns, unapproved inflammable fluids and materials, kerosene heaters, dangerous chemical mixtures, fireworks or propelled missiles or any item which is used in a threatening manner)
- NO painted walls or wallpaper
- NO nails, screws, or hooks into woodwork, walls, or ceilings
- NO contact paper, decals, and bumper stickers affixed to university property.
- NO personal lofts, waterbeds, and/or wood paneling
- NO items hanging from ceiling – including plants, netting, blankets, etc
- Ceiling tiles can not be removed
- Window screens can not be removed. At least one window cannot be blocked. There must be a clear space on the floor to get to the window without moving items out of the way.
- NO drug paraphernalia (this can cause removal from campus housing)
- NO alcohol, alcohol containers in Poellath, O’Connell, St. Scholastica, and St. Benedict
- No personal handheld vaporizers (this is different from e-cigs)
- NO alcohol or drug related décor or games
- NO open flame or ember devices such as candles, incense, hookahs or oil lamps
- NO trash or dirty clothes piled on the floor
- NO pets or pet paraphernalia (except fish)
For full policies of the Residence Life office, please refer to our student handbook: 2020-2021 Student Handbook
Each student is provided with a copy of these Residence Life Emergency Guidelines. Emergency Residence Life Guidelines – Flipchart
Visit their website to shop special collections and guarantee that your new linens are the right fit for our college furniture.
Belmont Abbey is pleased to offer students a convenient way to equip your residence hall room with a compact refrigerator/freezer and a microwave oven. Roommates can split this cost by arranging with one another. Units are delivered to students rooms before classes start in August. Belmont Abbey encourages students to use only energy efficient Energy Star rated appliances when living on campus. Therefore it is recommended that our students rent a MicroFridge unit which is a combination refrigerator/freezer/microwave oven that features SafePlug technology.
Click here to download the Brochure (PDF)
Click here to visit the Standards for Living web site for more information and to place an order.
Office of Residence Life
Belmont Abbey College
100 Belmont-Mt Holly Road
Belmont, NC 28012
704-461-6893
residencelife@bac.edu
laundryview.com
Belmont Abbey has partnered with Laundry View to provide students with helpful tools for laundry. Students may use laundryview.com to monitor the status of washers and dryers. Students can also view when are peak use times in the laundry room and when usage is slow.
Laundry facilities are located in the lower level of O’Connell, the back of the first Cuthbert Allen apartment, and in each Poellath, St. Benedict, and St. Scholastica halls. There is no need to bring quarters to operate the washers and dryers; simply press start on the machines. You must bring/use your own laundry detergent.
For all Maintenance issues, please contact your Resident Assistant or the Office of Residence Life immediately to have the repairs addressed. You can also report a problem at laundryview.com.
Our Residences
Belmont Abbey College has six residence halls (Poellath, O’Connell, Raphael Arthur, St. Benedict, St. Scholastica, and the New Hall) and four apartment buildings (Cuthbert Allen).
The residence halls are module-suite style. Each apartment houses four students.
Please review the Residence Life FAQ » for more information about living on campus.
After choosing your preferred hall, go to the Room Selection page.
Poellath Hall (men only) and O’Connell Hall (women only) are suite-style residence halls and have rooms for double occupancy. Alcohol is not permitted in Poellath and O’Connell Halls. The dimensions for Poellath and O’Connell rooms are listed in the chart below.
Each double room contains:
- 2 standard or extra-long twin beds
- 2 mattresses
- 2 desks
- 2 chairs
- 2 dressers
- 1 cable TV outlet
- 1 A/C unit
- Mini blinds on all windows
St. Benedict Hall (men only) and St. Scholastica Hall (women only) are suite-style residence halls with two students in each suite. Each student has a private bedroom and they share a bathroom and common space. Alcohol is not permitted. The dimensions for St. Benedict andSt. Scholastica rooms are as follows: bedroom (approximately 9′ x 8′), wardrobe (36″W x 24″D x 78″H), window with mini-blinds (40″ x 48″), and common area (approximately 9′ x 12′).
Raphael Arthur Hall is a suite-style residence hall with rooms for single and double occupancy. Floors 1 and 2 are occupied by men and floor 3 is occupied by women. Alcohol is permitted in Raphael Arthur Hall for students who are 21 or older. The dimensions for Raphael Arthur rooms are as follows: bedroom (14′ x 10′), closet (4′ x 7′), and window with mini-blinds (72″ x 60″).
The New Hall is a 136-room residence hall. The first floor has meeting areas, social areas, offices, two classrooms, and a student lounge available to all students. The upper floors alternate between a men’s and women’s floor. Each floor has a kitchenette, study areas, a laundry area, and a gathering area on each side. It is a traditional style hall, with private double rooms and shared bathrooms on either end of each floor. The upper floors will only be accessible with a student’s magnetic ID.
Four students share an apartment in Cuthbert Allen. Each apartment features a large living room, kitchenette, private bedrooms, and a shared bathroom. Alcohol is permitted in Cuthbert Allen for students who are 21 or older. The dimensions for the apartments are as follows: bedroom (approximately 10′ x 10′) and living room (12′ x 22′).
2020-2021 Residence Life Staff
The Residence Life staff is made up of the Director of Residence Life, Assistant Director of Residence Life, 2 Resident Directors (RD), Coordinator of Residence Life, 5 Head Resident Assistants (HRA), and 21 Resident Assistants (RAs). The Residence Life staff works together to provide a positive residence life experience. The mission of the Office of Residence Life is to create a residential community that supports the College’s mission and Catholic identity and encourages academic achievement and personal growth within the community formed by the Benedictine Hallmarks. The Office strives to foster a welcoming, diverse, and supportive living and learning community which facilitates and edifies mutual respect, responsibility, integrity, compassion, and generosity as residents develop as holistic citizens.
The HRAs and RAs are available for assistance at all times. You will see them around campus at all hours of the day and night, conducting periodic campus rounds to ensure residents’ needs are met. They want every student to feel welcome, so do not be surprised when they stop by to say hello. In addition, while on duty, they perform administrative tasks, maintain lobby common areas, and handle policy violations. The RL staff are your greatest resource while living on campus and have been hired to enhance your experience, as well as support you when needed.
The professional staff (Director, Assistant Director, and Resident Director) are individuals who chose to work in this field for their career. They have several years of experience and advanced training in residence life. Remember that they were once where you are now, they were college students, too! The professional staff has a passion for residence life and strongly believes in what they do. They all came to the Abbey because they want to advance the College’s mission of educating students and fostering their holistic growth. They are here to serve you and make sure that your experience is formative, fulfilling, and fun. They will provide guidance and supervision to the HRAs and RAs, and are responsible for helping students connect to the campus. These professionals are responsible for management of the residence halls. They are happy to meet with students, so, if you have questions or concerns, just stop by! Their offices are located in O’Connell Hall in the Office of Residence Life.
HRAs and RAs are paraprofessional, current BAC student leaders who range from sophomores to seniors. All HRAs and RAs participate in an intense two-week training prior to students moving in, so they are prepared to handle a wide range of situations. Whether you need a shoulder to cry on, need to report a maintenance concern, or have a roommate problem, they are there for you. You will find them extremely willing to assist you in any way. They are student leaders, strong students, and believe in Belmont Abbey College.
HRAs and RAs live throughout the campus and are responsible for a certain number of residents. They provide peer support, community development activities, programming, and education on the intent behind BAC policies. Your RA is one of the most valuable resources for campus living at the Abbey.
Each residence hall and its RAs are supervised by a Head RA. The Head RA is a seasoned RA who oversees the hall’s RAs, programming, and support of the residents.
All of the RAs are supervised by the Resident Director (RD). The HRAs are supervised by the Director and Assistant Director. The professional staff are responsible for not only their supervision, but for the RA selection, training, RL programming model, and overall residence life management.
The Director of Residence Life provides overall management for the housing and residence life programs, ensuring that they advance the mission of Belmont Abbey College, and serves as a liaison between the Office of Residence Life and other campus partners. The Director also ensures that the RD, HRAs and RAs receive the support they need in carrying out their duties. Finally, the Director is responsible for overseeing the campus judicial process for policy violations.
The Coordinator of Residence Life is the general office manager who provides a warm welcome for all of our visitors and supervises work-study students.
The Residence Life Office can be contacted via email at residencelife@bac.edu or 704-461-7371.