Summary of Pre Arrival Webinar 2: Housing, Safety, and Getting to Know KC

Summary of "Pre Arrival Webinar 2: Housing, Safety, and Getting to Know KC"

Community Style Housing:
- Rooms with 2-3 people in one open space.
- Examples: Corlet and Ridgeway dorms.
- Includes bed, desk, dresser, chair, wardrobe.
Suite Style Housing:
- 4-6 individual rooms sharing a bathroom.
- Examples: Wy Hall (no kitchen), Thompson (includes kitchen, bathroom shared between two).
- Single room pricing applies.
Apartment Style Housing (Villa Ventura):
- 1-2 people per bedroom, with 2-bedroom apartments housing 4 people total.
- Options for single, double, triple occupancy.
Housing Duration Policy:
- Minimum stay for graduate students: one semester (~4 months).
- Undergraduates generally must stay at least one academic year unless exempted.
- Students living within 20 miles must still fulfill the minimum on-campus residency for the first semester.

Recommended to Bring:
- Cloth hangers (limited by airline luggage restrictions).
- Items to buy after arrival: dishes, silverware, wastebasket, lamp, items to make dorm more homey.
Prohibited Items on Campus:
- Pets, toasters, candles, clothing irons, hot plates, grills, incense, open flames, deep fryers, halogen lamps, martial arts weapons or replicas (fake swords, water guns, Nerf guns), hazardous materials, controlled substances.

Pricing varies by housing type and occupancy:
- Community style (Corlet, Ridgeway) with single, double, triple options.
- Suite style (Wy Hall, Thompson) with single rooms and shared facilities.
- Apartment style (Villa Ventura) with multiple occupancy options.
Meal Plan Options (required for on-campus residents):
- 7 meals/week (one meal per day, can use up to 3 meals in a day, resets weekly).
- 14 meals/week.
- 19 meals/week.
Fees:
- Housing damage deposit (refundable if no damage).
- Housing assessment fee (recurring, supports campus activities/events).

Campus Safety:
- Head of Campus Safety: Tommy Ramirez.
- Campus safety available 24/7 for emergencies and rule enforcement.
- Contact info provided (email and phone).
General Safety Tips for Kansas City:
- Travel in groups of two or more to reduce risk of crime.
- Inform someone of your whereabouts if traveling alone.
- Avoid staying out too late; be mindful of surroundings.
- Look out for others and watch each other’s safety.
- Consider carrying a personal safety device (e.g., mace), noting it’s for prevention, not implying inability to self-defend.
- Learn the city to avoid unsafe areas.
- Use locals as guides for safe and enjoyable places.
- Use common sense: keep phone charged, get a local SIM card, don’t flaunt valuables, never leave belongings unattended.
Emergency Contacts:
- Campus Security line (24/7).
- 911 for emergencies off-campus.
- Non-emergency Kansas City Police Department contact also provided.

Crossroads Arts District: Known for galleries, arts, and monthly “First Fridays” event.
Country Plaza: Spanish-style architecture, outdoor shopping, high-end stores, includes Nelson Atkins Art Museum.
Crown Center: Entertainment, shopping mall, Union Station, Lego Discovery Center, Aquarium.
Downtown (Power and Light District): Central plaza with events, concerts, sports arena (T-Mobile Center).
River Market: Farmers market, fresh produce, restaurants, City Market on Saturday mornings.
Other notable districts: 18th and Vine (birthplace of Kansas City Jazz), West Bottoms (historic area with fluctuating popularity).