The following information guide has been made to help answer questions about the apartment building and unit features.

***In addition this document, The Apartment Guide to Community Living section of the Student Handbook is located at the following location: http://www.meredith.edu/handbook/apartments.htm. Information about parking, guests, acceptable and unacceptable items to have in the apartments, and information about ways to get involved in this new living community are located in this document.

IMPORTANT QUICK TIPS

Access

Students living in The Oaks will need to have their CamCard and apartment key with them at all times. Both the East and West Wings can only be accessed with a CamCard.

Apartment doors will lock automatically when exiting the apartment. It is important for residents to have their apartment key with them at all times.

For the apartment key to work properly, the key needs to be pushed entirely into the lock. Turn the key as far as possible to the right and there will be an additional click. The door can then be opened while the key is engaged.

The lock should align with the outside section of the lock. If it has rotated off track, try partially inserting the key into the lock to turn the outside section of the lock itself to realign the key slots.

Parking

Apartment parking stickers are to be located in the top corner of the vehicle windshield on the driver’s side of the vehicle. This will allow students to park in the designated parking lots for The Oaks. These permits are ONLY acceptable in this area and students will be given a ticket if the vehicle is found parked in other locations on campus.

Guest(s) do not need a parking pass to park in the designated apartment visitor spots located at the end of the P4 parking lot.

Low emissions vehicle parking spots are located near each entrance for vehicles that are classified as low emissions.

Temperature

Residents have control of the air in their individual unit. There is one thermostat per unit, so temperature is something that should be discussed by apartment mates. The thermostat is located on the wall of the main living area. There is a flip panel on the right side to open the unit. Once opened, adjust the temperature by sliding the control up and down.

Sensors for the unit cannot be blocked by hanging anything from the unit or around the unit. Lamps should not be placed next to the sensors as they cause inaccurate readings. This will disrupt the airflow for your apartment.

Each individual apartment has its own Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) unit. This space is ONLY for the installed unit. NOTHING extra may be placed inside of this closet for storage. Anything inside is a fire hazard.

If there is an issue with the apartment temperature, check to see if there is any water in the drip pan under the HVAC unit. If this is the case, the unit may shut off until it is fixed. Place a work order for Facilities Services to come and check the unit. Work orders can be submitted at the following website: http://www.meredith.edu/service/facserv/facserwo.htm.

APPLIANCE ISSUES

Dishwasher

For the dishwasher to work, the switch on the backsplash needs to be in the on position. This switch controls the power to the dishwasher. It should be kept in the on position, but in the event that your dishwasher needs repair, the power will be turned off by a professional who is assisting with the repair.

Toilet

Is the toilet overflowing? The water supply to the toilet can be turned off by turning the knob at the base of the toilet. Turn it completely off and call Facilities Services at 760-8560 or Campus Security at 760-8888.

Washer and Dryer

If there is water coming out of the washer, please turn the handles behind the back of the washer to shut the water off.

If the front seal on the washer is leaking, please DO NOT use the washer and place a work order with Facilities Services for repair. Using your washer with a leaking seal will cause damage to the apartment.

For both of these situations, call Facilities Services at 760-8560 to place a work order or Campus Security at 760-8888.

Sink

If the water to the sink needs to be turned off, the valves under the sink can be turned off by turning them clockwise. To turn the water back on, turn the knob counterclockwise.

Please contact Facilities Services at 760-8560 for assistance in the event of severe blockage or leaks that have lead to the water being turned off in the apartment.

Power Issues

If the power to an outlet goes out, check the breaker box located in the kitchen area or on the wall near the main entrance. Read through the labels to confirm which area in the apartment is currently without power. To ensure that the switch will lock back, flip the selected switch entirely to “OFF” and listen for it to click into position. It can then be turned back to the “ON” position and it should lock back into place. If this does not work, contact Facilities Services at 760-8560. The breaker box is to remain closed out all times other than resetting a switch.

Fire Safety

Apartments are equipped with several sprinkler heads and smoke alarms. If a smoke alarm in a unit is activated, Campus Police will be notified. If two smoke alarms in an apartment are activated, the Fire Department will be notified.

The fire sprinkler heads (with the red bulbs) should NEVER be touched. Nothing should be hung on or near them, thrown past them, etc. The red bulbs will break at 150 degrees and this will cause water to continuously pour out of that sprinkler unit.

Careful attention should be paid while cooking in the apartment kitchen. This is the most important safety tip- cooking items should never be left unattended.

An important note about grease fires is that water is not to be used to extinguish this type of fire. This cannot be stressed enough. Pouring water on burning grease or oil will not extinguish the fire. It will only cause the burning oil to splash, spreading the grease fire around. The easiest way to extinguish a grease fire is with a metal pan lid. Once the lid is over the pan, let it sit. Check it after 20 minutes to make sure all signs of fire are gone. You may use a Class B fire extinguisher, but it will ruin any food or eating utensils on which it’s used. If hair or clothing catches fire, remember to stop, drop, and roll, preferably on the tile, and not carpet, so as not to cause fire to spread further.