Parent Guide

Residence experience is designed to help students build community, make meaingful connections and develop a strong sense of belonging. Through the support of our professional staff, student leaders and our intentional Residence Curriculum, students are encouraged to live independently while developing essential life skills, engaging in co-curricular learning and participating in residence programming.

We empower students to take ownership of their success by:

• Attending floor meetings and information booths
• Participating in residence or campus-wide events
• Navigating everyday living with kindness and resiliency

Residence Neighbourhoods

Western's residence system is organized into three distinct neighbourhoods:

• South Neighbourhood: Essex Hall, London Hall, Ontario Hall and Perth Hall
• North Neighbourhood: Bayfield Hall, Clare Hall, Lambton Hall and Saugeen-Maitland Hall
• East Neighbourhood: Alumni House, Delaware Hall, Elgin Hall and Medway-Sydenham Hall

View Map

Residence Life Staff

Our dedicated professional staff and student leaders work together to create a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

• Dons: Live on every floor in first-year residences and play a key role in building a supportive and connected community for students throughout the year.
• Residence Education Advisors (REAs): Live off campus and work to create a community in residence that supports students' academic success and leadership development.
• Sophs: These are engaged upper-year student volunteers who act as a connecting link for students beginning on move-in day.
• Residence Safety Assistants (RSAs): Are a team of dedicated individuals who support the safety and care of students during the overnight hours.
• Residence Life Management Team (RLMT): Is the professional Housing team that supervises student staff/volunteers and provide student support, community standards and programming across all residences.

Meet Our Team

Preparing for Residence

Use this checklist to help your student prepare for a successful transition to residence life.

Your student accepts their residence offer or joins a waitlist.  

Remind your students to follow the key steps to secure their residence spot  

Attend Western’s Overnight Experience program in July or August. 

Parents and family members are invited to join their student in London and spend a weekend on campus during the summer.  

 

You’ll stay in one of our first-year residences and have the chance to learn more about the student experience at Western, explore how you can best support your student throughout their university journey, and connect with other parents of incoming students. 

Understand your student's privacy rights. 

Students can list up to two emergency contacts in their residence application. 

 

Emergency contacts will only be contacted in extenuating circumstances or with student consent. 

 

Students may complete an information release form to specify what information can be shared with their emergency contacts. 

Create a communication plan  

As your student navigates this new chapter in their life, they may become busier than usual and their communication patterns may change. Creating a communication plan with your student gives both parties some assurance as to when you can expect to hear from each other. Review this regularly as students' schedules change throughout the school year. 

Help your student to create a budget.  

Living in residence may bring some financial changes in you and your student’s lives. Creating a budget will help determine: 

1. If they need to apply for financial aid 

2. Get a part-time job 

3. What their spending should look like  

Use this Domestic Financial Resource Workbook as a template for the academic year  

Talk about what success looks like. 

First year of university can be a drastic change of pace for your student. Help your student define realistic goals and what valuable lessons they should learn. 

Familiarize yourself with campus safety practices.  

We encourage you to have conversations about safe substance use, healthy relationships and maintaining safety in social gatherings. Our moto at Western is to take care of yourself, take care of each other and take care of this place.  

 

Westerns campus also offers a variety of Campus Safety Services   

Learn about campus resources.  

You are often the first point of contact when your student needs help. With that, they may find making initial contact with resources to be overwhelming. Therefore, it might be helpful to support them in making that initial reach out to resources. 

 

A quick and handy guide to supports on campus. 

Encourage involvement on campus and in London.  

Your student's university experience will be shaped by much more than their academic journey. Encourage them to explore the many extracurricular opportunities available on campus or to venture out into the vibrant city of London to find volunteer or employment opportunities. 

Keep the academic calendar handy.  

The Academic Calendar is your go-to resource for everything you and your student need to navigate their academic journey at Western. It includes important dates, program requirements, policies and more