Living on Campus

What are the advantages to living on campus?

  • Based on years of statistical data, students who live in the residence halls at Centenary get better grades and are more likely to stay in school and graduate—they perform even better than students who live at home with their parents! Although every building that houses a large number of college students will get loud from time to time, making the on-campus living environment conducive to academic success is one of our staff's top priorities.
  • All of our residence halls are conveniently located within easy walking distance of the Fitness Center, Student Union Building, Library, and all academic buildings.
  • Our residence halls are extremely safe. Police Officers and Residence Life Staff are on duty and patrol every night, 7 days a week. It is still important for residents to take common-sense precautions such as locking their doors.
  • Living on campus is FUN! There is almost always something going on, from informal get-together's to educational and social programming. The Residence Hall Association and its associated Hall Councils provide hall and campus-wide activities regularly. The RA Staff plans over 150 programs a year, most of which are educational in addition to offering a good time and a chance to interact with other residents.

Who is required to live in the residence halls?

  • All full-time undergraduate students are required to reside on campus during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year unless they meet specific criteria. A committee reviews requests for special exceptions.

Do I have to have a meal plan?

  • All students who live on campus or in a fraternity house are required to purchase a meal plan. Commuting students may also purchase a meal plan or put "declining balance" dollars on their ID cards to purchase food and other items. For more information and meal plan options, or to request special meal accommodations or exceptions, please see our section on Dining Services.

What are the requirements to live off campus?

  • Incoming students must submit exception requests prior to the deadline listed in their new student housing mailings. Approved exceptions after the deadline will be charged a $200 breach of contract fee. Once the semester has begun, room fees are not refundable for any reason.
  • The following are approved exceptions:
    • Students who are seniors or who are 21 years of age or older before the beginning of the fall semester of the academic year are eligible to seek exception to the residency requirements through the Exceptions Review Committee.
    • Students from the Shreveport/Bossier area who wish to reside at home with their parents or legal guardians. The student must submit their home address and letter of confirmation from the parent or legal guardian in residence at that address.
    • A specified number of Greeks (determined by the Dean of Student Life) wishing to reside in their Greek house.
    • Students who are married, divorced, or a parent.
    • Students who need special medical accommodations must submit a medical request form signed by a physician prior to the exception deadline or within two weeks of the diagnosis of a new condition.
  • Exception Review Committee:
    • All requests for exceptions will be directed to the Assistant Director of Housing. The Assistant Director may authorize exceptions if approved by the Director of Residence Life and Housing and a representative from the Business Office. Appeals will be directed to the Exception Review Committee, which is organized by the Director of Residence Life.
  • Please see this section in the Student Handbook for more details.

How many people live on campus?

  • Each semester there are anywhere between 550 and 600 students who live on campus at a time. That is roughly 70% of Centenary's total undergraduate student population.

What is a Floor Meeting? Do I have to go?

  • At the beginning and end of each semester (and occasionally at other times as needed) each RA calls a Floor Meeting. These give the community a chance to come together as a group, and an opportunity for the staff member to explain policies and procedures. Students who miss floor meetings are fined an amount set by their peers in their elected Hall Council. If a resident will not be able to attend a meeting, they must contact their RA in advance to make other arrangements.