Residence Halls

There are four residence halls – Oak Street, Shepley, Erlang, and Monument.

Incoming BFA students are required to live in on-campus residence halls for their first year at MECA&D. Oak and Shepley are first-year residence halls. To request an exemption, please visit here.

There are four live-in Professional Staff Members and ten Resident Advisors (RAs) to support students. The Resident Advisor (RA) role is an undergraduate paraprofessional position. RAs are assigned a specific floor and building and are responsible for being available to their residents as needed. They are role models, educators, administrators, mentors, policy enforcers, student leaders, and event planners. Their job is to serve the needs of residents while ensuring a vibrant and safe community. RAs are also part of a rotating on-call schedule; two RAs are available from 7:00 pm-8:00 am each night of the week and are on-call 24/7 on the weekends.

Unfortunately, we do not permit spouses to live in our residence halls. You are eligible to live off-campus as a married student. See the Incoming Student Live On Exemption Request Form for details.

As a part of your Admissions process. Contact your Admissions Counselor.

MECA&D does not provide parking. With numerous amenities within walking distance (shopping, pharmacy, art mart, grocery store, convenience care), a car is not recommended. There are several public and private parking garages throughout Portland. Cars are discouraged as the College does not provide parking. Parking garage prices vary and depend on vacancy.

There are a limited number of singles available on campus. If there are no single rooms available, students will be placed into doubles, triples, or quads.

The Student Life Office will select a roommate for you based on your Housing Application, unless you specify a roommate, and your roommate also specifies they would like to reside with you.

Yes. If you require ADA-based housing accommodations, please visit this page or contact disabilityservices@meca.edu. Early communication is essential in requests for specific room assignments or modifications. You can also visit this page for more detailed information, including the student application and provider forms.

Yes.

The housing deposit is $100, and there is a $100 placement fee that is non-refundable.

BFA tuition for the Fall Semester payment is due in July.

Housing for first-year students is based on the date the housing deposit is paid and the date the housing application is submitted. Returning Student housing assignments are determined by a lottery number based on credit hours completed and conduct issues.

Generally, mid-July, depending on a variety of factors. We do our best to send out assignments only when we are reasonably sure we won’t have to make changes by move-in day. Your patience provides you with the best possible roommate and room assignment outcomes.

The Academic Calendar provides move-in dates, and your housing assignment letter provides your move-in time. Be sure to also check the Academic Calendar for other dates throughout the year, such as when halls close for breaks.

Residents are expected to be respectful and live in a community. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 8 am every day.

You can view photos and information about our residence halls here.

Residence halls are locked 24/7 and accessible only with a valid MECA&D student ID.

Our beds are a standard twin bed size.

Yes, bunking beds are allowed, but contact Facilities to bunk the beds. Do not bunk the beds on your own. They may also raise the bed so the dresser fits underneath it for more space and storage.

No, the beds can only go so high, so they can be raised to the height of the dressers provided for storage.

No pets are allowed except fish in a 3-gallon tank or smaller.

No.

Yes, at least 60% of the wall must be uncovered. Residents are to use small hanging items (small tacks, small command stripes) that cause minimal damage to the walls. No extension cords, no hanging items from the pipes, smoke detectors, or sprinklers.

There is absolutely no smoking or vaping on campus. Smoking and vaping are not permitted on campus property. If you do smoke or vape, however, make sure you are 50 feet from any MECA&D entrance.

Oak Residence Hall offers free access to community washers and dryers located on the first floor. Shepley Oak Residence Hall offers free access to community washers and dryers in the basement. Monument and Erlang residence halls provide a combined washer and dryer installed in each room.

No. MECA&D offers you 24/7 access to the Porteous Building.

All residential units are to be cleaned by the residents of the unit. All units need to have clean floors in case of an emergency, regular cleaning of the kitchens to deter pests, and meet health and safety requirements. For more information, please review the Guide to Community Living. MECA&D does clean each room before residents move in, and may charge an additional fee if a unit is excessively dirty or has items left behind. Health and safety inspections occur throughout the academic year.

If you wish to stay in your hall during breaks when halls close, please contact the Student Life Office for more information. Anyone not approved to stay in a residence hall over breaks must leave by the time residence halls close, or a fee will be billed. Visitors are not permitted in the residence halls over breaks.

Yes.

If you have issues with your WiFi in Oak, Shepley, or Monument, please contact the Technology Help Desk at helpdesk@meca.edu. If you have issues with your WiFi at Erlang, please contact Student Life at studentlife@meca.edu.

MECA&D does not provide a TV or cords for cable services.

Yes. A guest is defined as any person not living in the residence halls. Guests must adhere to the following policies at all times in addition to all other MECA&D policies:

• Residents must accompany their guests at all times and are responsible for their guests’ behavior.
• Guests may not be in any room, common room, or other part of campus without a host resident at any time.
• All residents of the room must agree to have guests stay for any period and may request the guest leave at any time.
• No more than one overnight guest is permitted per resident at a time. Overnight is defined as 10:00 pm - 8:00 am.
• No more than one overnight guest per room or apartment is permitted per night. Exceptions to this must be approved by the Assistant Director of Housing at least a week in advance.
• Residents may have overnight guests stay no more than two (2) consecutive nights. Residents may have overnight guests for no more than four (4) days in a 30-day period. Guests staying longer than two consecutive nights must be approved by the Assistant Director of Housing at least a week in advance.
• Residents may not share their keys or student ID (access cards).
• Guests may be asked to leave at any time by any Professional Staff Member.

If the issue is an emergency, please call the RA On-Call so they can notify facilities. For non-emergency issues, please email Facilities at facilities@meca.edu with a description of the issue, your building, and room number.

MECA&D does not provide rental insurance and is not responsible for student items. Students are encouraged to purchase rental insurance or check with their parents/guardians to see if a homeowners policy covers their items.

No. MECA&D is about learning how to manage your time and make good choices with your lifestyle to ensure your academic success as an adult. There are quiet hours for each residence hall.

If you lock yourself out of your room, you may contact the RA On-Call. The first lock-out is free, but for more than one lock-out, you will be charged a $25 fee.

The Housing Contract is a legally binding contract between MECA&D and the individual student residing in the residence hall. The contract is for the entire academic year or whatever portion remains at such time as the student enters into the contract. Signing the Housing Contract is just like signing a lease for an apartment. Once you sign, you are making an academic year-long commitment to pay the room and board fee.

No, the contract is for the time signed and only for the resident on the Housing Contract. (e.g., full-year, 10 months, 12 months)

Students must pay for all contract costs unless they withdraw from the College according to the withdrawal period or are released from the contract. Students who choose to withdraw from MECA&D will forfeit their deposit unless released by the Dean of Student Life.

Students with extenuating circumstances who want to be released from their Housing Contract need to submit a written request to the Assistant Director of Housing. The Assistant Director and the Dean of Student Life will review the request and make a decision. The student will be notified in writing within 7-10 business days of the initial request. If the request is approved, the student forfeits their $100 deposit. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision, they can make a final appeal to the Executive Vice President. This appeal must also be made in writing and must be received within five business days of the decision. The Executive Vice President will provide the student with written notification regarding the appeal within 5 business days.

Yes, BFA residential students are required to have a meal plan. Oak provides 17 meals per week. Shepley, Monument, and Erlang provide 12 meals per week. Meals are all-you-can-eat and include MECA&D bucks for grab-and-go, or bringing a friend to eat. Meal plan information can be found on this page.

Upon being accepted to MECA&D, you will receive a housing form sent via mail. During the school year, there will be a housing selection process for all returning students. During your enrollment, Student Life will notify you of the Housing Selection.

There will be a housing selection process for all returning students during the school year. During your enrollment, Student Life will notify you of the Housing Selection.