Orientation FAQs

How will my son or daughter receive mail? How can they send mail?
The University maintains a campus mailbox for each resident student at the Campus Mail Center located on the ground floor of the J.C. Williams Center. Mail is delivered to student mailboxes Monday-Saturday, except for holidays. Packages and express items (FedEx, etc.) are delivered to the Mail Center and notifications are put into the student mailbox when the package is ready to be picked up. Box numbers can be obtained upon arrival at the Campus Mail Center. Students may purchase stamps and mail letters or packages, including U.S. Postal Service express and overnight, from the Campus Mail Center in the J.C. Williams Center. If you have additional questions regarding mail services, please visit the Campus Mail Center during Orientation.

Can I send my belongings to the University before I arrive?
You can send your belongings to the University two weeks before your orientation arrival. The boxes will be placed in your dorm room as they arrive. 

Below is an example of how to address packages/boxes:

Student’s Name

New Fall Student

1235 University Blvd

Steubenville, Ohio 43952

Where can my son or daughter receive medical care?

The Wellness Center, located on the lower level of the Finnegan Fieldhouse, features two branches of medical care- the Health Service and the Counseling Service. Our Health Service is staffed by a Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse, M – F, 9 am-12 pm & 1-4 pm, providing primary medical care. Appointments cost $10, but no student is turned away based on inability to pay. Specific lab tests and immunizations must be paid by cash/check/debit or credit card at the time of service.  

Regarding prescription medications, off-campus pharmacies deliver to the Wellness Center on weekdays; prescriptions may be retrieved during regular office hours. The Wellness Center assists in transmitting health insurance to off-campus pharmacies. Prescriptions must be paid in full prior to release. 

Regarding medical emergencies, all emergency care is referred to Trinity Health Systems or Weirton Medical Center. Both are local hospitals within a 10-minute drive from campus. 

Our Counseling Service focuses on emotional and psychological wellness. Licensed mental health counselors are available by appointment during normal business hours Monday- Friday 9 am-12 pm & 1-4 pm.  There is a $10 charge for each appointment which can be paid by check/cash/debit or credit card, though no student is turned away based on inability to pay.  

Upper and lower campus have wireless internet connection and no phone lines in the rooms. 

How are housing assignments for new students made?

At Franciscan University, our goal is to assign you the best possible roommate.

Admitted students are given access to MyFranciscan and should complete their New Student Housing contract as soon as possible. This form will provide you the opportunity to request a roommate by name or to prioritize a type of roommate you would like to have (e.g. morning person, needs quiet to study, etc.) 

Roommate assignments will be based on the date your non-refundable enrollment deposit is received. The earliest deposits will have the best chance to have their priorities met.

Our goal is to house new freshmen with new freshmen. Transfers may be housed with transfers or returning students or freshmen. New students (freshmen or transfers) with late deposit dates may be assigned with an upperclassman. 

Those new students attending one of our Baron Day events in June will receive their roommate assignment at that time. You may be able to make changes to your roommate assignment during the roommate switch period at the beginning of the semester.

Is it possible to change my housing assignment once I have received it?

Once the assignments are made, it is not possible to make a change prior to the start of school.  After students arrive and check in to their assigned spaces, we allow a two-week period where students can change rooms with the permission of their Residence Director. Please check with your Residence Director for the dates that this will take place if you desire to change rooms.

Can my son or daughter change roommates if he or she is not getting along with his or her assigned roommate?

Living in a Residence Hall brings some challenges for many students. If there are roommate conflicts, we encourage the residents to communicate with each other and their resident assistants to resolve the situations. However, if residents feel it necessary to change rooms they may do so ONLY during the room change period at the beginning of the semester. After this period is over, residents with concerns are encouraged to speak to the Resident Assistants (RA) or Residence Director (RD).

Can I move off campus if I change my mind?

The Residential Living Contract is binding for the entire academic year.  Franciscan University of Steubenville requires that all full-time students who are candidates for an undergraduate degree must live in University housing while enrolled at Franciscan University of Steubenville unless they meet one or more of the following conditions: 

1.     They reside with a parent or guardian in the immediate area, or 
2.     They are at least age 21 prior to September 15 of a given academic year and have more than 88 credits, or 
3.     They have reached age 22 prior to September 15 of a given academic year.
   
   Students may apply for a release during the academic year; however, only extenuating circumstances would warrant a release of contract. Contract cancellation fees also apply. 

What types of rooms are available?

We offer double room accommodations.  Triples are available in St. Junipero of Serra Hall.  Triple and quadruple rooms are charged at the same price as a double room. Apartment style housing may be available to upperclassmen and non-traditional students in Assisi Heights.  Please see the Student Life Office in the J.C. Williams Center for more information.

If there is a high request for housing, the latest deposits received may be placed in temporary housing.

What items are supplied in the room?

Rooms are approximately 10’x14’. Generally, each student will have a twin sized bed, a desk with bookshelves, a chair, and a wardrobe (27 ½ deep x 42 ½ wide) with storage space above. The room also includes a towel rack, a mirror, and draperies. 

Can I arrive before the designated time or stay past my last final exam?

Early arrivals are not permitted due to staff training and preparations for the new students. Late departures are also not permitted. Students must check out within 24-hours after their last exam.  Exam schedules are usually distributed during the first week of classes.  Please do not make travel plans or flight arrangements prior to receiving your exam schedule.

Are Residence Halls closed over Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring breaks?

Residence Halls are open for Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break with no additional fees. However, dining services are not available during Thanksgiving Break, and students that are staying for Thanksgiving Break must sign up beforehand. Residence Halls are closed during Christmas Break and all residents must vacate the premises during this break. Students wishing to stay in the Residence Halls during any portion of Spring Break must sign up beforehand and pay an additional fee. Dining services are not available on campus during Christmas Break and Spring Break.

Can I store my personal belongings in the Residence Hall over the summer break?

There is no storage on campus during the break.  Below are several self-storage units in the area. 

Steubenville, OH locations

AAA First Class Storage                             375 Bantam Ridge Rd                                (740) 264-6712        

Bantam Ridge Self Storage                       2060 Bantam Ridge Rd                              (740) 264-4458        

Giannamore’s Self-Storage                       131 Ward Dr                                                (740) 264-4601        

Rice’s E Z Storage                                       50 Maplewood Dr                                       (740) 264-6665

Weirton, WV locations

Palamino Self Storage                                Palomino Drive                                            (304) 723-1124        

Space Place (7 locations)                           Weirton, WV 26062                                   (304) 723-9782                          

Wintersville, OH locations

Rt 43 Self Storage                                       303 Canton Rd                                             (740) 264-5097        

Wintersville Self Storage                           RR 43                                                             (740) 381-0829