Housing
On-Campus Housing
On-campus housing in the residence halls is administered by the
Office of Residence Life located in the Office
of Student Services in the Student
Union (extension 5275).
A
detailed explanation of the policies, procedures and rules of living in
the residence halls can be found in The
Student Handbook.
If
you have any questions about living in the residence halls, contact your
residence hall staff or stop by the Office of Residence Life. The Office
of Residence Life also oversees various student activities.
The International Student Association works with the Office of
Residence Life to plan programs for international
students.
Meal Plans/Meal Cards
Students who live in the residence halls must participate in a Meal
Plan.
There are three types of Meal Plan offered, with varying prices.
These are explained in the Course
Schedule book each semester.
The student will be charged for the Meal Plan chosen, and given
a card with the amount credited.
This card may be taken to the Dining Hall and the Flyers' Den and
used for the cost of meals.
On-Campus Food Service
Food service for Lewis University's Dining Hall and Flyers'
Den is provided by Sodexo Food Services Office.
You may call the Menu Hotline at 815-838-3663.
Dining
Hall
Dining Service is located in the Academic Building.
Meals are a part of your housing contract for the academic year,
except during break periods, if you live on-campus.
Telephone
- 815-836-5387
Flyers Den Snack Bar
Located
in the lowest level of the Student Union, the snack bar, known as “The
Flyers’ Den” is open daily.
A
selection of fast food/take-out items such as burgers, pizza and chicken
are available.
A variety
of salads, entree salads and freshly made deli sandwiches are also available.
Students may use their meal card in the Flyers’ Den at any time.
Telephone
- 815-836-5387
Meals During Holiday Breaks
The main Dining Hall is usually closed during holiday breaks;
however, the Flyers’ Den is generally open at announced hours.
You may use cash or your meal card to obtain food.
Flyers' Den hours will be posted prior to each break period.
On-Campus Telephone Service
Resicom, a private utility company, provides
telephone service in the residence halls. Each residence
hall room is assigned a telephone number and each student is
assigned an authorization code. You will receive your
authorization code and instruction booklet in the mail or from
a Residence Life staff member.
If you do not receive an authorization code, you should
stop by the Office of Student services to request a code.
Your authorization code will allow you to make local, long
distance and international telephone calls for which you will
be charged.
On-campus
calls are free of charge. It is wise not to allow others to use
your authorization code.
Housing During Semester Breaks
Housing is provided for international students who are unable
to go home during school holidays and breaks (Fall Break, Thanksgiving,
Winter Break, Spring Break, Easter and Summer Break).
There is an additional charge for housing during Winter, Spring, and Summer
Breaks.
Contact
the Office of Residence Life for the cost and procedures for staying
on campus during these breaks.
Short
Term Accommodations
Name
| Address
| Locations
| Description
|
Country Inn and Suites
(3
Types of Suites Available) |
1265 Lakeview Drive, Romeoville |
630-378-1052 |
Pool, Jacuzzi, exercise Room, Free
Continental Breakfast From 6am - 10:30 am, Shuttle
Service to and from university
is available.
Guest Laundry, free local calls, data ports on phones. |
Extended Stay America |
1225 Lakeview Court, Romeoville |
630-226-8966 |
Kitchenette in Rooms, Guest Laundry |
La
Quinta Inn Bolingbrook |
225 W. S. Frontage Road, Bolingbrook |
630-226-0000 |
I-55 & Rt. 53 |
Holiday Inn |
205 Remington Blvd., Bolingbrook |
630-679-1600 |
1/4 Mile west of Rt. 53 on Remington Blvd.
Full Service Hotel, Pool, Business Services, Meeting
Rooms |
Ramada Inn Limited |
520 S. Bolingbrook Drive, Bolingbrook |
630-972-9797 |
I-55 & Rt. 53, next to Union 76 |
Comfort Inn |
3235 Norman Avenue, Joliet |
815-436-5141 |
Pool, Close to Lewis and Mall |
Comfort Inn |
135 S. Larkin Avenue, Joliet |
815-744-1770 |
Pool |
Fairfield Inn |
3239 Norman Avenue, Joliet |
815-436-6577 |
Close to Lewis and Mall |
Fairfield Inn |
1701 Riverboat Center Drive, Joliet |
815-741-3499 |
Close to Empress Casino, Off I-80, Exit 127 |
Ramada Express |
3231 Norman, Joliet |
815-439-4200 |
Close to Lewis and Mall, off I-55 |
Super 8 Motel |
3401 Mall Loop Drive |
815-439-3838 |
Very Nice Super 8, Pool, Close to Lewis and Mall, off
I-55 |
Empress Hotel |
2200 Empress Road, Joliet |
815-744-9400 |
At the Empress Casino Complex |
Harrah's Casino Hotel |
151 Joliet Street, Joliet |
800-427-7247 |
Fitness Center, Attached to Casio, Close to Lewis, 4
Kinds of Suites |
Long
Term Off-Campus Housing Accommodations
There are a large variety of housing options available to students
and scholars in the area. Living on campus provides you with
the
opportunity to meet and socialize with other students. Relatively
inexpensive housing is, however, available both on-campus and
within walking or driving distance to campus.
Most
international students live in apartments, flats, or houses which
they share with other students in the vicinity of campus. Generally,
students prefer to rent the less expensive unfurnished apartments
and then buy in-expensive second hand (used) furniture.
It
is important when renting an apartment or house to ascertain which
utilities, if any, are included in the rent such as water, heat,
and/or electricity. Phones are never included in the price of
the rent, although cable television may be. The ISSO can provide
you with information about signing up with utility companies if
they are not included in the rent, although the landlord will
generally have this information as well.
When
renting an apartment or flat, it is also important to promptly
complete the checklist of defects, if any, so you are not charged
for any damage to the apartment when you are moving out. You should
also read carefully and thoroughly any lease you are asked to
sign. It is also a good idea to obtain renters insurance, particularly
if you intend to purchase a computer.
When
looking for an apartment or other unit to rent, keep these things
in mind:
- Consider the convenience of the location to the
Lewis campus(es), to neighborhood stores.
- Look at the neighborhood; will you feel comfortable?
- Look carefully at the rental property.
- Is it in good repair?
- Does it have an air conditioner? (summers are hot in this
area)
- Is it clean
and are the building and grounds well-tended?
- Are pets permitted?
- Is there a swimming pool?
- Ask whether there are laundry machines to wash and
dry your clothes.
- If
not, is there a commercial laundromat nearby?
- If you choose to rent a unit, you may ask to speak
to references - that is, people who have lived there before and
would be willing to recommend the place.
- It is customary for a manager or landlord to require
a deposit equivalent
to one month's rent.
- This
deposit will secure the place until you move in, and can be used
to pay for any damage you have caused when you leave.
- If you have cause no damage to the property, the deposit
will be returned to you.
- You will be asked to sign a rental contact.
- Read your contract carefully and make sure you understand
everything in before you sign it.
Off-Campus Housing Information
A good source of information about off-campus housing in
the area is through the free bi-monthly publication called "Apartment
for Rent." This publication is a comprehensive
guide to apartments and other rental properties in the area.
Many
students chose to live in apartments or houses off-campus. Often
students enjoy sharing living space with other students and it
also helps them to save on their expenses.
Apartments
and houses are rented either furnished (with furniture) or unfurnished
(without furniture). Unfurnished ones are more common and cost
less than furnished ones. It is easy to rent an unfurnished apartment
and then to obtain inexpensive used furniture.
Renters
or "tenants" gnerally have to pay for their own utilities
(electricity, gas, water and telephone), although the monthly
rent may include some of these. The owner (called a landlord)
or manager will provide you with information about obtaining utility
services.
In
order to find an apartment, you can surf the web, look in some
of the free apartment finder magazines, inquire through a real
estate agent, or read the classified advertisements ("want
ads") in the Oakland newspaper, The Oakland Press.
Another easy way to find an apartment is to simply walk or drive
around the area and look for "apartments for rent" signs.
Renting
in the U.S.
Usually, when you rent an apartment or house in the U.S., you
will be required to sign a lease. A lease is a written agreement
between a tenant and a landlord describing the rights and responsibilities
of each. This is common in the United States as Americans like
agreements reduced to writing so there is no misunderstandings.
A
lease is a binding legal document which, among other things, makes
the tenant responsible for any damage to the rental property.
The lease also specifies the landlord’s responsibilities for maintenance
and repair of the unit. The lease will explain how much rent is
due for each month, the date it is due, and the penalties if it
is not given to the landlord on time. A lease may or may not contain
provisions concerning its early termination.
When
you sign a lease, you will usually have to pay a "security
deposit" which may amount to as much as two months’ rent.
The landlord is required to return the deposit after you leave
the apartment/house if you have paid your rent, left the apartment
clean and undamaged, and have not been evicted (asked to leave
by the apartment manager). If all of your deposit is not returned,
the landlord should give you a written statement explaining why
some or all of the deposit was withheld.
You
should read the lease completely before signing. There are certain
sections that require special attention. Make sure the lease runs
for the length of time which you will need the apartment, but
not longer. Ask if the lease can be renewed yearly or monthly
when it expires and if there are options to sign the lease for
shorter periods of time in case you find an accommodation which
better suits your needs.
It
is also important to find out what the conditions are under which
you can "break" the lease (move out of the apartment),
how much prior notice (usually one or two months) you have to
give the landlord, and what the penalty is if you break the lease
early. If you cannot break the lease, you may be required to pay
rent until the end of the lease period even if you move out and
live somewhere else. Ask if you may "sublet" (have another
tenant rent the apartment in your absence) or if you can share
the apartment with another. This can be helpful if you spend a
semester away on an internship.
It
is also important to check which utilities are included in the
rent and which ones are not. If heat is included, this may save
you as much as $75 to $100 a month in utility bills. You can ask
the landlord or the utility company what the average utility bill
is. These costs can vary significantly from one place to another.
If you make any special agreements with the landlord concerning
repairs or alterations, make sure those agreements are written
into the lease, signed, and dated. (Americans consider it essential
to have important agreements written down and signed.)
Finally,
consider any restrictions and exclusions. For example, are children
or pets allowed, can you barbeque near the building, hang paintings
on the wall, paint the walls a different color, play music after
9:00 at night, etc.. Some landlords do not allow any of these
things.
It
is also a good idea to purchase "renter’s insurance"
(also called "homeowner’s insurance") to protect against
losses caused by fire, theft, or vandalism. This kind of insurance
covers personal belongings in your house or apartment. It may
also cover theft to items left in your car if you have one. It
also covers damages for which you would be legally liable if a
fire or other accident that was your fault damaged the apartment
building and/or the property of other renters.
The
cost of renter’s insurance varies depending on the value of your
personal possessions, but is relatively low. When buying insurance,
get rate information from two or three different insurance agents.
The names of insurance agents’ and their telephone numbers are
in the telephone directory yellow pages under "insurance."
Your landlord may also have information about insurance agents
who provide rental insurance.
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