Residence Life FAQ

The residence program is set up to support you in your time at Ambrose. Each pod has either a male or a female Residence Assistant who gives leadership to the pod. They are responsible for assisting the Residence Director (RD) in creating and maintaining a living-learning environment in which you and your fellow students can experience the greatest emotional, social, physical, spiritual and intellectual development.

A RA is an upperclass-student who has taken on the responsibility of being a supportive leader to the members of his or her pod. RAs lead floor meetings every Wednesday night. These meetings are a time for the students on the pod to study the Bible, pray, share about their lives and spend quality time together. Also, RAs are available to meet with individual students for times of prayer, encouragement and conversation.

Residence move in is typically the first weekend in September for fall semester. Check the Events Calendar for specific dates. 

Residence rooms include

• Twin mattress and bed frame
• Armoire
• Desk
• Desk chair
• Window coverings
• Garbage can
• Vanity with mirror

We recommend that you bring

• Toiletries
• Twin size bedding
• Computer and necessary school supplies
• Desk lamp
• Hangers
• Some basic dishes (bowl, spoon, cup) for snacking
• Hook for your door
• Shower mat

Yes! There is a section on the residence application form that asks if you have a friend you would like to live with. Both of you need to request each other for the request to be considered.

Living together can be challenging and conflicts and difficulties can arise.  As a community we also value being able to work to resolve conflicts and restore relationships. You and your roommate will participate in a roommate workshop at the beginning of the year to help discuss important topics for living together. Your Resident Assistant (RA) and other Residence Life staff will work with you and your roommate to encourage resolution, if none can be reached other options can be pursued.

There are three floors in the residence. Each floor is divided into two pods. One is a women's pod and the other is a men's pod. Each pod is secured and the rooms of each pod border a common area that has soft seating and a small kitchenette. Lounges and common areas are located in the basement where there are also laundry facilities, a small kitchen and a storage space. In the student lounge there is a foosball table, a ping pong table, computers, and a TV and DVD player.

If you’re going to live in residence, you’re required to buy a meal plan for the campus cafeteria. You can use the kitchenette in your pod to store and prepare small snacks like cereal and popcorn. There is also a small kitchen in the residence basement that you can use for special occasions (like making your roommate a birthday cake).

There are six sets of high-capacity machines available for you to use at the rate of $2.00 per session per machine. You can pay with coins or you can load your access card with money for laundry at the finance office.

We promote safety for residence and across campus in the following ways:

• 24 hour security patrol of all public buildings and campus grounds
• Security cameras located across campus
• Safe walk is provided
• All doors to residence buildings are locked at all times and require activated campus cards to access
• Every pod has a Residence Assistant (RA) who is responsible for student safety

Although mini fridges are allowed, they aren’t recommended. They tend to take up too much space, heat up the room from their exhaust, and overload electrical outlets. Personal microwaves are not allowed. Each pod has a small kitchenette equipped with two fridges, a microwave, a sink and cabinets for small snacks such as cereal or popcorn. There is generally plenty of room in the kitchenette fridges, and you won’t need your own microwave.

You can bring your own TV for your room. 

No. Computers are available in the library. Check out their hours of operation.

No. Most students use a cell phone while living in residence. The residence does not have standard phone jacks, but uses Cat-5E data lines that can be used for Internet or phone service.

The whole residence has wireless internet access. 

When a student signs up to live in residence they click to agree to live by the Ambrose Community Life Standards and the Residence Life Community Standards.  A hard copy of these rules will be provided to students at the beginning of the year but it's important that students review these before moving in to residence.

Yes! You simply have to sign out if you’ll be away overnight. This is a safety measure; residence staff must know who’s in the building in case of an emergency.

Small fish are the only pets permitted in the residence. Fish tanks no larger than 25 litres are allowed.

There are 75 parking stalls available in the residence parking lot for students who live in residence. Parking fees apply.

Reserve Your Residence Parking Spot

Yes.  There are bike racks on campus. There is also a bike storage unit located outside of the residence building that has a locked door.  It is highly encouraged that bikes are locked.

The campus is located only minutes from a major bus terminal and C-Train station. See the Calgary Transit website for more information.

Each pod has emergency procedures and phone numbers. There is 24 hour security on campus. In an on campus emergency you will call security or 911 depending on the situation. It is imperative that your Resident Assistant and/or Resident Director are informed immediately.

You are responsible for cleaning your room and bathroom. The facilities staff will clean the main pod area, except if students have made an excessive mess.

You should report maintenance issues to the RD via a damage report form or an e-mail. Damage report forms are available on the residence bulletin board. Students are responsible for any damages caused to their room that goes beyond normal domestic wear and tear. Light bulbs will be replaced by facilities staff.

Students are encouraged to provide their own personal tenant insurance or come under their parents' insurance policy. The campus insurance does not cover personal property, and Ambrose is not responsible for the loss of personal property in the residence or in the parking area due to fire, theft, water damage, interruption of utility services or other causes.

All mail goes through the Reception desk in the Main Academic building, and you will receive a notification email if you have a letter or package to be picked up.  All mail is to be addressed to you by using your name followed by the main campus address.

For example:

Jane Doe
150 Ambrose Cir. SW
Calgary, AB T3H 0L5

Check with the Residence Director for move-in and residence closing dates by emailing residence@ambrose.edu.

Note: The residence halls close at the end of each semester, including Christmas break.

If you want to stay past the official residence move-out day, you can discuss continuing rental fees with Campus Services.

We highly recommend all first year students under 21 years of age to live in Residence. We believe it is your best options for a smooth and supportive transition into university life and to experience all that Ambrose community has to offer.  Studies show that living in residence has a positive impact on student satisfaction and degree completion, plus who can beat the commute?

Note: Every student who intends to live in residence must submit a completed Residence Application to reserve a spot.

* Ambrose reserves the right to modify this information at any time without notification.

Have a question we haven’t answered here? Contact the Residence Director.