The primary purpose of Residence Life is to create a sense of community within the residence halls and greater campus by valuing, supporting, challenging, and empowering traditional students to discover their unique potential and celebrate human differences through their relationships with others in accordance with the Salem College mission.

The Salem College residential experience requires students to explore balancing their individual needs with those of a larger group and to become aware of their role in the greater Salem College community. Salem College will expose students to many people who are different than themselves, culturally, ethnically, and socially.

With the decision to not open as a residential campus for fall 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, by the commencement of Orientation, incoming students will be paired with a potential roommate and a Resident Assistant (RA) with whom they can build relationships. There will also be many additional opportunities for incoming students to create community with other Salem students during fall 2020. 

Students Will Learn:

• to explore their personal identity through recognition of the similarities and differences in others through guided experiences with residence life staff (i.e., personal communication, mediation, and the participation in residence life programs).
• to articulate residence life and College policies and understand how their behavior affects both themselves and the surrounding community through the participation in residence life programs.
• to integrate the principles of wellness in their daily lives as a method of discovering individual self-care needs through the participation in residence life programs.

Resident Assistants (RAs)

Resident Assistants (RAs) are a group of trained student leaders that make up a part of the Residence Life staff. RAs are supervised by Area Coordinators (ACs). The Residence Life staff strives to provide programming and events that help students connect classroom learning with their living environment. RAs also provide programming aimed at developing students socially and building community within the residence halls and greater campus community. RAs are an additional resource for academic, personal, and social concerns.

Area Coordinators (ACs)

The Area Coordinators are Salem College professional staff members who live in the residence halls. Their role is to holistically support academic and social success by connecting student experiences, residential and commuter, with personal development. The ACs will challenge and support students through the practical application of college student development theory.

Programming

Residence Life plans events and programs that range from fostering social interaction and development to educating all students about multicultural awareness and life skills. From dance parties and ice cream socials to service projects and leadership training, Residence Life provides social interactions that appeal to many personalities and interests. 

Living On Campus

As a residential campus, all traditional undergraduate students must live in College residence halls on campus unless they make their home with members of their immediate families or legal guardians. Students living in College residence halls must be full-time students. Students must submit a residency requirement waiver to the Director of Residence Life in order to be approved to live off-campus.

• Residence Requirement Waiver

Visitation

Residential students are able to invite guests on campus for overnight visitation. Upper-class students have 24-hour visitation privileges and must register guests in their residence halls. First-year students and upper-class students living in Clewell Hall will have extended visitation privileges on weekends and must register guests in their residence halls.