Front Desk Operations
The Department of Residence Life at Lawrence University operates a front desk
in each of the seven Residence Halls. These front desks are the focal
point for the services that each Residence Hall offers. Located in the main
lobby of each of the seven residence halls, the front desk often becomes
a gathering area for residents looking to find others who are taking a “short
study break.” On occasion Residents Life Advisors (RLAs) will host
social activities while they are staffing the desk. Movies, board games,
study groups, and other random activities have been known to spontaneously
happen
at or near the front desk in the late evening hours.
Front Desk Hours Of Operation
Afternoon:
The desk opens at 12:30 pm and closes at 2:30 pm Monday-Friday. During these
hours, the Department of Residence Life hires Desk Clerks to staff the desk.
Desk Clerks are student employees, hired by the Residence Hall Director (RHD)
of each building.
Evening:
The desk reopens again at 9:00 pm in the evening and stays open until midnight
on both weeknights and weekends. During these hours the Residence Life Advisors
(RLAs) staff the desk.
Services Offered At The Front Desks
- Mail is sorted into each student's mailbox. The United States
Postal Service typically delivers mail each morning Monday-Saturday directly
to each front desk. Intercampus mail is also delivered to each Residence Hall
once a day. Students either have their own mailbox or they share a mailbox
with their roommate. A combination code, given to the student at check in,
allows the students to open their mailbox. Packages delivered to students can
also be picked up at the front desk. Students will be given a notice in their
mailbox when they have received a large package.
-
Laundry machines take quarters ($1.00 wash, $.75 dry) or Viking Gold. Change
can be made at the front desk.
-
Postage Stamps, of various denominations, are sold at the front desk for students
to use to send outgoing mail through the United States Postal Service.
-
Light Bulbs to replace university issued desk lamps and overhead lights in
student rooms can be picked up at each front desk free of charge.
-
Garbage Bags for students use can be picked up free of charge.
-
Students are also able to cash a check, made out to cash, for an amount no
larger than $10.00 a day as long as their checking account is in good standing
with the university.
-
Each front desk is stocked with various items, purchased by each Residence
Hall's Hall Council, that students can check out for free or a minimal
deposit. Hall Council typically determines what items require a deposit, which
can be borrowed for free, and how long items can be checked out for. If the
student returns the items by the deadline, the deposit is returned to the student
in full.
Typical Items That Front Desks Are Stocked With

Note: Since each Hall Council purchases different items, for their particular
front desk, this list can vary for each front desk.
- Vacuum (all front desks)
-
Various Board Games
-
Small TV Sets
-
VCRs
-
DVD Players
-
Various VHS and DVD movies
-
Various tools
-
Various sports equipment (balls, frisbees, etc.)