Benefits of On Campus Living

Check out this video about living on campus!



shared by Office of International Students (OIS)

Protecting Your Identity

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Every student that attends EMU is given an Eagle OneCard. This card is not only your ID, it is also connected to a bank account, meal plans, refund deposits, student payroll, and more. You need it to sign into certain accounts and for staff and faculty to identify you. Your card and other information should be cared for properly so your information is not stolen or misused. Below are a few tips to keep your important information safe and secure.

Never send an email with your credit card information.

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Your credit card information should not be emailed to anyone. You never know who is on the other end reading that email. A bank would never ask you to submit that kind of personal information unless it is over the phone. You also should not email login information like user names and passwords. If the wrong person gets your information you could lose access and control over your accounts.

 

Do not take pictures of your Eagle OneCard and post it online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Your Eagle OneCard is physical proof that you are a student at EMU. Some students are so excited that they want to take pictures of their card to show their friends and family. You should never post a picture of your card online. The card not only has your student EID number on it, but it also has your debit card information on it. Not all sites are protected, anyone could see that information and misuse it.

 

Never leave your computer unattended while logged into any accounts.

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You should never leave your computer unattended while logged into accounts in public. EMU offers students an opportunity to use school computers but you have to be careful. If you print in one of the computer labs, make sure important information isn’t visible when you leave the computer to get your prints. If you still need to access the account after you print and do not want to close it, minimize the window so others around you cannot see your personal information.

 

Do not leave belongings containing personal information unattended.

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You should never leave your bag unattended, especially if it contains electronic devices, wallets, and other personal information. You also should not leave papers with personal information on them visible in public. If something is important to you then you should never leave it unattended in public, always take it with you or have someone you trust watch it for you.

I wanted to write about this because I see a lot of international students that are too trusting. I have seen a lot of students leave important things around like book bags, important documents, and electronic devices. I have also had a lot of students that have asked me for help and gave me their EID numbers or tried to send me their credit card information. You should not share that kind of information with other students. Faculty and staff can be trusted with your EID number, and will only request it for identification purposes. Some of the student workers that can request your EID number for identification purposes include Night Watch, SEEUS, and students working in offices that have agreed to keep your information confidential. Just remember that not everyone is as nice and trusting as you or the country you come from.

This is not a complete list of ways to protect you identity, so if anyone else has any tips or questions please leave them in the comment section below.

 

by Tyrie Adams

Places to Shop When Filling up Your Living Space

 

Image Source: http://www.wku.edu/housing/halls/images/keen_empty_room.jpg

Moving to a new country, or even a new state means leaving a lot behind. When you get to campus the first thing you might want to do is fill up your dorm or apartment. Filling up a room and decorating it with your own personality makes it feel more like home. Below I have several great places to shop that will fill up your room and your fridge!

Meijer

 

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Location: 3825 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti Township, MI 48197

Meijer is a store where you can buy everything from furniture to groceries. The school normally holds an annual event for students here called Meijer Mania during the first week of school. During this event students are taken to the store for free and can enjoy discounts, free giveaways, and more.  

Kroger

 

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Location: 3200 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Kroger is a large grocery store that has a wide variety of food. They have a lot more options than Meijer and have faster service. This store also offers a lot of discounts when you clip coupons and have a Kroger store savings card.

Farmer’s Market

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Location: Ferris Street, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197

The Farmer’s Market is a great place to get fresh local fruits, vegetables and vegan and organic products. Currently it is only open Tuesday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The Farmer’s market offers fresher produce for great prices and is a short walk away from campus.

Bed Bath & Beyond

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Location: 3645 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Bed Bath & Beyond is a good place to get everything you might need to fill and decorate your living space. You can order things online and either get it sent to your door or pick it up in the store. This store is great for college shopping because they offer products that are within the schools standards like extra-long twin sheets, mini fridges and non-halogen lamps.

IKEA

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Location: 41640 Ford Rd, Canton, MI 48187

IKEA is the farthest away from campus but offers a great selection of furniture, kitchen supplies and decorations. It may be far away but they have great prices and you can get stuff sent to your door. They even have a mini grocery store and restaurant if you get hungry while shopping.

I have personally been to all of these stores and highly recommend all of them. They are all on the bus line except for IKEA. If you’re living in an apartment it may not be furnished, so going to one of these stores can be very helpful. Also, even if you live on campus and have a meal plan, shopping at a real grocery store can save you a lot of money. I left a lot behind when I moved here from Ohio and I was able to find everything I needed at these stores.

If you have any questions leave them in the comment section below!

by Tyrie

Living on campus

Living on campus is another great housing option for students here at EMU. It is the best way to get the most college experience here at EMU. Also there is many options available no matter what your looking for.

There's two different types of housing options you can choose from, Residence Halls and University Apartments. Even within these options there's still many more because there are different Residence Hall options and University Apartment options. Within the Residence Halls there are 10 different options to choose from and within the University Apartments there are 4.

I have experienced both housing options here at EMU and enjoyed them very much. Some of my most memorable memories were made in the Residence Halls were I met my most closest friends whom I am still close with. My roommate that I had for the first two years here at EMU is now one of my closest friends and is like a sister to me.

So if you want to get the most experience out of your stay here at EMU then I think you should choose to live on campus. By staying on campus you can be closer to your classes, meet new people, and make memories that you'll never forget.

by Kemia
To learn more about housing visit www.emich.edu/ois/housing.
For a complete checklist, visit www.emich.edu/ois/checklist.

Living off campus

 

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Eastern Michigan University offers many on campus residence halls for students to live in while attending school. However, did you know you could also live off campus as well? There are many places to live in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area that cater to students who do not want to live on campus. Below are some of the benefits of choosing to live off campus.

More Privacy

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In the dorms on campus you will most likely have to share either your room or living space with someone. Unless you are best friends with your roommates and suitemates, this may make you uncomfortable. By living off campus you can have an entire apartment to yourself if you want. This also means more space. In addition to having a larger room and living space, you can also have a kitchen and full bathroom.

Save Money and Cook for Yourself

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Living on campus can be expensive depending on where you live and what type of meal plan you have. If you live off campus you are not required to have a meal plan. This means you can save money and grocery shop for yourself. Most of our international students don’t enjoy the food offered on campus, so this is a great opportunity to cook meals like you enjoy in your home county.

Personally Choose all Roommates

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If you don’t want to live alone you can choose to have a roommate. Our school has a system that helps pair you with roommates, and you can sometimes personally choose to room with someone. However, you are not always guaranteed to live with everyone you choose. By living off campus you can choose who you want to live with and meet them before move in day. Having a roommate can also lower the cost of living off campus if you split rent and bills. 

Less Rules

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In the dorms there are a lot of rules to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Sometimes all the rules can make your experience less enjoyable. Living off campus offers more freedom to do what you want. Depending on where you live you can do things like have pets, decorate, control the temperature, use all types of appliances, live with the opposite sex, and have as many people over as you want.

I have been living off campus now for two years and it has been a great experience. I think living off campus is convenient and saves a lot of money. I live close enough to walk to both the main campus and the College of Business. I like being able to cook my own food and not bother anyone if I decide to stay up late or get up early. However, living off campus is not for everyone. Take the time to do some research to see if living off campus is the best thing for you. If you have any questions about living off campus you can leave them in the comments. 

by Tyrie