Housing and Residence Life

Welcome to your home away from home for the next four years! You’ll soon realize that it’s so much more than a place to lay your head at the end of the day - but somewhere you’ll make memories, host friendships and create space for you. That’s why our primary focus is on making every minute feel like home from the moment you step foot on campus.

Our staff values your residential experience and we’re equipped to offer a dynamic approach to living. Because Westminster College has a 4-year housing requirement, it is the mission of our staff to contribute to the development and education of our students. We hope that by living on campus, our students feel the foundation of safety and comfort so that they’re able to explore new ideas, relate to others with respect and compassion, discover who they are and solve problems autonomously.

Being rooted in the Westminster mission, the Residence Life program supports the academic endeavors of our students by creating an environment where learning can take place outside of the classroom. It is our goal that our students leave their residential experience at Westminster having gained knowledge application, felt called to civic engagement, have developed meaningful relationships, feel that they have gained an awareness around diversity through cultural competence, and have truly come to understand their own identity development.

Housing Opening & Closing Dates

Campus Housing

Browne Hall

Occupancy: 107

Browne Hall is a three-floor facility, each containing a large community bathroom as well as single, double, and triple bedrooms. It currently provides housing for first-year and upperclass women. It was built in 1928, and named for Dr. Robert A. Browne, Westminster's second president.

Special Features of Browne Hall

Immediately next door to Duff Dining Hall
Within a 2-3 minute walk to all classroom buildings
Centrally located on campus, and situated across from the library
Laundry facilities located on the ground floor
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

Eichenauer Hall

Occupancy: 256

Eichenauer Hall is a three-floor facility with both single and double bedrooms, joined by suites with semi-private bathroom facilities. It currently provides housing for upperclass men and women and is co-ed by suite. It was built in 1957, and named for John B. Eichenauer, a long time Westminster trustee.

Special Features of Eichenauer Hall

Within a 5 minute walk to all classroom buildings
Laundry facilities located throughout the building
Residents enjoy a greater amount of privacy and independence due to suite style living with semi-private bathrooms.
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

Ferguson Hall

Occupancy: 129

Ferguson Hall accommodates sorority women, each sorority chapter wing with single, double, triple and quadruple occupancy, along with a spacious community bathroom. Ferguson Hall was built in 1941, and named in honor of Dr. Robert G. Ferguson.

Special Features of Ferguson Hall

Within a 2-3 minute walk to all classroom buildings
Conveniently next door to the library
Laundry facilities located on each floor
Each sorority has a well-equipped chapter room for use of its members
Formal lounge area for study or social use
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

Galbreath Hall

Occupancy: 152

Galbreath Hall is comprised of three floors, each floor containing single and double bedrooms, and two large community bathrooms. It currently provides housing for upperclass men and women and is co-ed by wing. It was built in 1957, and named for Dr. Robert F. Galbreath, Westminster's seventh president.

Special Features of Galbreath Hall

The ground floor of the building houses Duff Dining Hall
Within a 2-3 minute walk to all classroom buildings
Centrally located on campus, directly across from the McKelvey Campus Center
Laundry facilities located on the ground floor
Kitchenette with stove/oven for student use
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

Russell Hall

Occupancy: 127

Russell Hall is a three-floor facility with options for single, double and triple bedrooms. All floors have large community bathrooms. This community houses first-year men and women and is co-ed by wing on the first floor and by floor on the second and third floors. Russell Hall was built in 1950, and named for Dr. Robert McWatty Russell, the fifth president of Westminster College.

Special Features of Russell Hall

Conveniently located next to the college athletic facilities
Within a 5 minute walk to the library and all classroom buildings
Laundry facilities located on the ground floor
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

Shaw Hall

Occupancy: 150

Shaw Hall is a three-floor facility, each equipped with single and double bedrooms, and two large community bathrooms. This community houses first-year men and women and is co-ed by wing. Shaw Hall was built in 1960, and named for Walter G. Shaw, a generous benefactor of the college.

Special Features of Shaw Hall

Conveniently located next to the McKelvey Campus Center
Within a 2-3 minute walk to all classroom buildings
The Westminster College Health Center is located on the ground floor
Laundry facilities located on the ground and first floor
All rooms have new loftable/bunkable beds
Kitchenette with stove/oven for student use
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

Thompson House

Occupancy: 15

Thompson House was built in 1887 by Westminster Professor of Physics, Samuel R. Thompson and was most recently home to Alumni Relations and the Celebrity Series. In 2006, the house was renovated and is now a thematic residence hall for upperclass men and women in the Honors Program. The building has been on the national historic register since 1985.

Special Features of Thompson House

Directly cattycorner to the library
Laundry facilities located on the ground floor
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

Berlin Village Overview

Occupancy: 100

Berlin Village is a community of 25 townhouses. Each townhouse is equipped with a full kitchen with a dishwasher, full-size stove/oven, sink, dishwasher, washer/dryer; living area with a couch, chair, coffee table and end table; single bedrooms for all four occupants, which include a bed, desk, 3-drawer dresser and closet; two full baths (one upstairs, one downstairs) heat and air-conditioning provided by geothermal energy; internet (wired/wireless) and cable; and a dedicated parking lot. Each townhouse also has a porch area and carpeting throughout.

Special Features of Berlin Village

Increased privacy and independence for upperclassmen
Within a five minute walk to the library and all classroom buildings
Data connections to the college computer system in every room

The Essentials

What's in my room?

In Your Room:

Cable
Internet
Furniture (including a loftable/bunkable bed and mattress, desk & desk chair, closet/dresser)
Window Treatments

In Building:

Trash and Recycling
Laundry
Vending
Lounge Area with Recreational Equipment (in most buildings)

What should I bring?

Essentials

sheets-Twin XL (extra-long)
pillow
towels
study lamp
bath bucket or shower caddy for soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
cable cord (RG6 low loss black coaxial, 12-24 ft.)
fans (air conditioners are not permitted)
"stuff" to make your new room YOURS: pictures, posters, etc.
laundry products (washers require high efficiency detergent)
small trash bags

Optionals

area rug (not larger than 10’x10’)
microwave* (UL-approved, 1100 watts maximum)
refrigerator (UL-approved, 4.3 cubic feet maximum)
Keurig style coffee maker
memory foam mattress topper (XL twin length)
small aquarium for fresh water fish (all other pets prohibited)
TV (wall mounting is prohibited)
TV stand
DVD player
comfy chair. i. e., beanbag, Papa San
plates, bowls, cups, silverware
computer printer
small vacuum cleaner or Swiffer-type sweeper for tile floors
full length mirror

* All residence hall lobbies have microwave ovens.

Westminster Provides

modular extra-long, twin-size beds and mattresses (80 inches by 36 inches)
desks
desk chairs
fire-retardant curtains -- no substitutions permitted
closet/dresser/drawer space
wastebasket and recycling bin
washers (high efficiency) and dryers in each residence hall
ethernet and cable port

What to Leave at Home

candles and incense (including candles with wicks removed)
non-LED string lights, halogen lights
open element appliances, such as toasters, toaster ovens and George Foreman Grills, traditional coffee makers
air conditioners
curtains or window dressings
safety is also a prime reason for the prohibition of firearms, ammunition, weapons, fireworks, gasoline, flammable materials, and motor vehicles in the halls

What's my address?

A student’s room assignment will change over their 4 years while their mailbox information will never change. The room assignment (meaning hall name and room number) is a student’s physical location on campus, but their mailbox address, which family and friends (and Amazon!) may send mail to, can be sent in the following format:

Student Name
Box #
Westminster College
New Wilmington, PA 16172

Cars

Students must have a current parking decal in order to park anywhere on the campus of Westminster College. Parking decals are issued by the Public Safety Department Complete parking regulations can be found on the Westminster Web page under the Safety & Security section of Student Services.

Bank & ATM Locations

The local branch of Huntington Bank, 108 South Market Street, will cash personal checks in amounts up to $25 from out-of-town banks with the presentation of a student ID card. They will also cash College payroll checks and government checks, also with a College ID. Hours are Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – noon.

The local branch of First National Bank, 135 East Neshannock Avenue, will cash College payroll checks and government checks with proper identification. Hours are Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – noon. For your convenience, a drive-through ATM machine includes postage stamps for sale. Low cost checking and savings accounts are available at this branch, a member of the FREEDOM ATM ALLIANCE, a surcharge-free network of banks located throughout Lawrence, Butler, Mercer, and Allegheny counties.

The three closest ATM machine locations are at both local banks mentioned above and on the lower level of the McKelvey Campus Center (provided by Huntington Bank).

Checking and savings accounts are available at the local banks and at other banking institutions within a 15-minute drive.

Resident Assistants

Resident Assistants are upper class students who live within each residence hall community. They are available to assist you with any questions or problems you may have. In addition, they act in a counseling and an informative capacity and handle assigned administrative responsibilities. Their goal is to interact with residents, helping to build and maintain a sense of community within the residence halls. They also strive toward bridging the classroom experience with residential living through educational and social programming, and to nurture a sense of mutual respect and responsibility in the residence halls.

Meet the Staff

Graduate assistants and undergraduate staff members serve as supervisory staff in the residence halls. Supervisory staff oversee the community development efforts of the resident assistants, and ensure all health and safety standards are met. Residence Directors directly supervise the RA staff in their assigned residence halls. All supervisory staff work with students, resident assistants (RAs),and the Office of Student Affairs to provide an environment within which each student can reach his or her fullest potential.