Living on Campus FAQs

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions on what it's like to live at Gwynedd Mercy University. From how your roommates are selected to what type of food we offer, we've got you covered!

Helpful Guides

FAQs

It’s super easy! Simply fill out GMercyU’s Housing Application. In addition to the application, you’ll also need to complete the housing deposit via Self Service.

The vast majority of Loyola residents are first-year students, though some transfer and upperclass students may reside there, too. Upperclass students, with limited transfer student availability, live in St. Brigid and Siena Halls.

Visit our Residence Halls page to learn more about your housing options. 

Loyola Hall: Traditional double rooms, community style living, communal bathroom

St. Brigid and Siena Hall: 4-person suites with 2 double rooms, shared bathroom

Visit our Residence Halls page to learn even more about each residence hall!

 

The vast majority of Loyola residents are first-year students, though some transfer and upperclass students may reside there, too. Upperclass students, with limited transfer student availability, live in St. Brigid and Siena Halls.

Siena and St. Brigid are identical in style (4-person suites with semi-private bathrooms), so there is no need for you to give us a building preference.

Many factors go into determining how students are housing in the residence halls, which is explained below under the "How will I be assigned a room and a roommate?" question.

Housing assignments are made based on a variety of factors including class year, gender identity, lifestyle preferences, roommate requests, space availability and the date by which you send in your housing deposit and complete your housing application.

As on-campus housing is not guaranteed, the earlier your housing application and deposit are submitted, the more likely it is that your preferences will be met. 

We believe that living on campus is an integral part of the total university experience and that our purpose in the residence halls is to help you thrive academically, socially, and personally.

All residents are supported on their college journeys by our Resident Assistants (trained student leaders), who are there to guide, motivate, and engage you. In addition to all of the activities and initiatives they carry out, the RAs are there for you when you need them. Our Residence Life Staff are here for you, too! Everything we do is to support our residents' path to success, with the whole person in mind.

One of our RAs can share a bit more about this...

While we have a rolling application process, the preferred deadline is generally May 1 each year.  Students can apply after this date; however, we assign housing based on availability.

The earlier the application and deposit are received, the more likely housing can be secured and preferences accommodated. 

Housing assignments will be emailed to your GMercyU email address in late June/early July. The email will contain your building, room, and any roommate contact information, move-in details, and a list of what to bring or not bring. If you applied and/or deposited after this date, we will continue to e-mail this information leading up to move-in.

The annual Room and Board Contract is a binding, annual contract that is required to be signed before moving into the residence halls. The contract and signature area is located on page two of the housing application. If you are under 18 at the time of your application, you will also need the signature of a parent or guardian. Contact our office directly if you are not sure about housing for the full academic year so we can discuss the options available.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, there are three meal plan options available: 15 meals per week, 10 meals per week, or the 100 block plan. On a block plan, there are no weekly meal use restrictions. If you run out of meals on the block plan, you can purchase more in 10 or 15 meal increments. Any meals unused at the end of the semester will not carry over to the next.

All residents will be required to choose on of these meal plans. In addition, MERV bucks are included with each meal plan, which can be used at all dining locations on campus in place of cash. MERV Bucks carry over from the fall to spring semester but will expire at the end of the spring term. Additional money (Flex dollars) can be added to a card by going through Self Service.

Specific information about dining hours can be found on GMercyU's dining services page.

All residents are required to have medical forms completed and on file with the Health & Wellness Center by August 1. Information on completing the Health Forms can be found here: Health & Wellness Center. 

Students who do not submit the required health information will have their housing eligibility put on hold. This is for the health and safety of all students living on campus.

GMercyU's move-in day for fall athletes is Friday, August 16, 2024. The residence halls will open for new students on Thursday, August 22, 2024 and returning students will be moving in on Sunday, August 25, 2024. The first day of classes is on Monday, August 26, 2024.

The following is a list of all the residence hall closings and openings for the 2024-2025 academic year:

Fall Break: 
Monday, October 14 and Tuesday, October 15
Residence halls do not close

November Break:
Halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27
Halls reopen at noon on Sunday, December 1

Winter Break:
Residence halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2024
Residence halls open at noon on Sunday, January 12, 2025

Classes begin on Monday, January 13, 2025.

Spring Break:
Residence halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7
Residence halls open at noon on Sunday, March 16

Easter Break:
Residence halls close at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16
Residence halls open at noon on Monday, April 21

The residence halls will close at the end of the academic year at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025.

 

The housing assignment email will include a full list of recommended items to bring as well as items that are not allowed. A downloadbale list of what is recommended to bring and not bring is also included at the top of this page.

Micro-fridges will be provided to residents living in Loyola Hall. Loyola Hall residents cannot bring their own additional refrigerators or microwaves.

In Siena and St. Brigid Halls, each resident may bring their own refrigerator that cannot be larger than 4.0 cubic feet. Microwaves are not permitted in student rooms in Siena or St. Brigid Halls. They are, however, provided in lounge and kitchen areas throughout the residence halls.

Not only are washers and dryers located in each residence hall, they are FREE to use!

For the washers, it is highly recommended that High Efficiency (HE) Pods or HE liquid detergent be used. At no time should powder detergent be placed into the washing machines.  

All of the residence halls have WiFi throughout the buildings. There is also wired access in lounge areas through the use of an Ethernet cord. Cable TV is only offered in the lounges throughout the residence halls. Students are recommended to bring a Smart TV to stream television in their rooms.

You will receive a mailbox in your residence hall to retrieve normal mail and very small packages. Any package that connot be placed in your maibox will be available in the mailroom. You will receive an email or text message notifying you of your package to pick up. If someone would like to send your mail, please use the following address:

Name
GMercyU Box #
1325 Sumneytown Pike
PO Box 901
Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437

GMercyU email is the official form of communication, and you should be checking it on a regular basis. Our office, as well as other offices and departments on campus, will consistently send out information to your GMercyU email account. 

We'd love to help! Just email the Office of Residence Life at reslife@gmercyu.edu or call us at 267-448-1305.