Your Guide to On-Campus Living

The Housing and Residential Education team consists of a variety of staff members who are here to assist you in having a successful experience during your time at Berklee. You’ll get to know them throughout your first few weeks on campus.

Resident Director (RD) and Area Coordinator (AC): Each residential area is home to a Resident Director or Area Coordinator. These are full-time professional staff members who supervise the Resident Assistant team and oversee all aspects of their specific residential area.

Resident Assistant (RA): Each student living on campus has an assigned Resident Assistant, who is a current Berklee student. RAs provide support for residents in their communities, create engaging events for residents to participate in, and help enforce the policies of the department and college.

Lead Resident Assistant (HRA): Each residential area also features a Lead Resident Assistant. LRAs are experienced RAs who have been in the role for at least one year. They have additional responsibilities to make sure the Resident Assistant team and those living in the residence halls can create a thriving community.

Public Safety: The Public Safety office is located in the basement of 155 Massachusetts Avenue. You can reach them 24/7 at 617-747-2682.

Housing Office: The Housing Office is located on the 3rd floor of 150 Massachusetts Avenue, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Berklee Holidays). You can contact the housing office at 617-747-2292 or housing@berklee.edu.

RA Office: Each area has an RA office that is open from 7 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. You can go to these offices when they are open to speak to an RA and to rent various items. RA Office locations are listed below:

• 12 Hemenway: 1st Floor; Room 108
• 98 Hemenway: Basement Lounge, Room 1A
• 150 Massachusetts Avenue: 3rd Floor, Room 302
• 160 Massachusetts Avenue: 5th Floor, Room 505
• 270 Commonwealth Avenue: Lobby
• Fenway: 24 Fenway, Room 22

As a student living on campus, you are responsible for knowing the Housing policies in addition to those covered in the Student Code of Community Standards. These documents outline the behavior you are expected to uphold while you are a Berklee student, both on and off campus.

You must fill out a Residence Hall Guest Pass for any guest you plan to bring inside your residence hall.

Check the Move-In, Move-Out, and Break Information page for important dates and instructions related to move-in, move-out, and breaks.

If you are locked out or lose your key Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., you should visit the Housing Office on the 3rd floor of 150 Massachusetts Avenue. If you are locked out, they will loan you a key. If you lost your key, you will need to pay $25 to replace it. You can also call the Lock-Out Line at 617-747-UNLK (8655) for door-unlock services 24/7.

If something in your room is broken or not working properly, please submit a work order online. Once submitted, a staff member from Physical Plant will address your request.

All packages and paper mail will be delivered to the basement of 1108 Boylston Street. You should check with the Mail Center periodically to see if you have any mail. Students may pick up mail between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday. To make sure your mail gets delivered properly, use the following address. Packages addressed to the residence halls will be returned to sender.

[Student Name]
Berklee Resident
1108 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215

Each residential community is made up of students from all over the world. Everyone has their own story, which presents many opportunities for collaboration and connection. While this can be an exciting and creative time for residents, it can also present unique challenges.

To help students manage this, our RAs administer a roommate agreement to each room of residents on campus. A roommate agreement is a tool to help residents discuss their wants and needs while living together.

The RA helps each room review topics such as noise, cleanliness, methods of communication, and areas of compromise. Every resident in the space is encouraged to be honest about habits and be open and flexible to adjusting to each other.

Roommate agreements are living documents. They are used in conflict mediations led by the RA and are updated for any changes to room dynamics (new roommates, etc.). Residents can review the agreement at any time of the year.

Resident Assistant
Each community has an assigned Resident Assistant, who is a current Berklee student. RAs provide support for the residents in their communities, create engaging events for residents to participate in, and enforce the policies of the department and college. RA selection begins in November for the following academic year.

Being an RA allows our students to obtain experiences in many ways, such as:

• Public speaking and audience engagement
• Personal development
• Organizing large-scale events
• Understanding crisis management
• Working as a team

Hall Council
Hall Council is a student-led organization that focuses on community building, social events, advocacy, and recognition. Students in this volunteer leadership organization will learn valuable skills, such as:

• Learning how to work on a team
• Planning events for large populations
• Managing budgets
• Navigating advocacy efforts
• Collaborating with other organizations

Whether it's a roommate conflict, disagreement in the classroom, or an argument with your best friend, conflict is also an opportunity for learning and growth. The following tips may help you look at a situation from a new perspective and seek resolution before situations escalate:

• Acknowledge the conflict. Conflicts are a normal and natural part of life.
• Be an active listener. Conflict isn’t about winning. Listen to the other person to gain an understanding of that individual's point of view.
• Take your time and be intentional. Slow down and find the right words. Rushing to action may inadvertently escalate a situation.
• Be willing to let go of your assumptions. Many conflicts arise from a lack of communication. Take responsibility for your own
  assumptions and be willing to accept feedback.
• Ask questions. What is important to the other individual? What potential solutions exist to address the conflict?
• Find common ground. It’s okay if common ground can’t be reached on every point. Identify areas of agreement, as well as areas of disagreement. Agree to disagree on some points.
• Utilize your resources. Sometimes you do need a neutral person to help facilitate effective communication to address a conflict. If you live on campus, reach out to your Resident Assistant (RA) or another housing staff member. Reach out to the Office of Community Standards and Conflict Resolution for additional resources and support.