We are so excited to move you in, new Eagle! You’ve been working on taking the next steps, and now you’re trying to figure out what First Year Seminar (FSEM) to take and where you will live. We’re here to help you understand your housing options. Although at UMW we do living learning communities for our First-year residents, we want to share with you a bit about each hall. Here are some details along with a few photos from each of the residence halls reserved for first-year students. You may even find inspiration for how to decorate and arrange your room this fall!
Mason:
- Bathrooms: Suite
- Classes: First-year
- Sex: Mixed-Sex
- Rooms: Doubles
Mason Hall was named for Ann Thomson Mason, whose son George authored the Virginia Bill of Rights. Mason is centrally located on campus, close to Combs, Trinkle and George Washington Halls. It is also connected to Randolph Hall by “The Link”. “The Link,” is a shared hallway space that has study rooms, shared living room spaces, and student’s even live in the portion below it. There is a kitchen on the 3rd floor, next to Mason’s main lounge. The 2nd floor of Mason features a second study lounge, interior bicycle storage, and the laundry room. Another perk? There are sunrooms in Mason that overlook Campus Walk.
Randolph:
- Bathrooms: Suite
- Classes: First-year
- Sex: Mixed-Sex
- Rooms: Doubles
Randolph Hall is a freshman residence hall named after Martha Jefferson Randolph, daughter of President Thomas Jefferson and wife of Virginia Governor Thomas M. Randolph. Randolph Hall is a mirrored replica of Mason Hall and is located across from George Washington Hall. It is also connected to Mason by “The Link”. “The Link,” is a shared hallway space that has study rooms, shared living room spaces, and student’s even live in the portion below it. There is a kitchen on the 3rd floor, next to Randolph’s main lounge and at the end of the hallways there are sunrooms featuring large windows to let in the light where students can relax and study. Student rooms are connected by suite bathrooms. Sound familiar?
Willard:
- Bathrooms: Hall
- Classes: First-year
- Sex: Mixed-Sex
- Rooms: Doubles
The oldest residence hall, Willard is named for Frances Willard, a well-known temperance leader remembered for her involvement with the prohibition movement. Completed in 1911, Willard was the first hall built and once contained a dining hall and a post office. Renovated and restored in 2019, the large community space on the first floor is designed to capture the essence of the original 1911 dining hall while simultaneously providing modern, functional spaces for 21st century living and learning. Equipped with a 16-seat seminar room, two group study spaces, a large kitchen, a modern media room, and two movable glass walls, Willard Hall’s community space enhances the first-year experience by providing a flexible floor plan for intellectual and social engagement among students, faculty, and staff.
The renovation of the residential spaces also blends Willard Hall’s rich history with research and student survey data to maximize student success. Willard’s heritage is captured in the wide, bright hallways, the classic molding and trim, and original hardwood floors. Willard is centrally located between Virginia Hall and Woodard Campus Center, and faces the Palmieri Plaza fountain. Willard houses 168 students in double-occupancy rooms and features hall bathrooms.
Marshall:
- Bathrooms: Suite
- Classes: First-year
- Sex: Mixed-Sex
- Rooms: Single, Double
Marshall Hall was named for Mary Marshall, the wife of U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall. It is located at the bottom of “the hill” on the south end of campus near Russell Hall. Although you may be thinking to yourself, “That’s far from the rest of campus,” nothing on our campus is more than about a 15 minute walk. Marshall’s location definitely has its advantages. It is the closest residence hall to the Battlefield athletic complex and fields, closest to downtown, newly renovated, and has the easiest move-in access. The second floor lounge even features a balcony!
Russell:
- Bathrooms: Hall
- Classes: First-year
- Sex: Mixed-Sex
- Rooms: Doubles
Russell Hall is a first-year residence hall named for Edward H. Russell, the first president of Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington). When the hall was first opened, it contained a spacious library and a garden room behind the main lobby.
Today, Russell is home to approximately 173 residents and features a large split-level lobby, and hall bathrooms. There are eight kitchenettes and lounge areas in Russell, one located at each end of every floor. The bottom half of the split-level lobby features a TV lounge, complete with a big screen TV! Russell is neighbors with Marshall and a five minute walk from Hyperion, the local Fredericksburg coffee house, as well as all the other wonderful downtown Fredericksburg stores and restaurants!
What Every Hall Has in Common
You’ll find that your residence hall offers just about everything you’ll need. Every room has a bed, a closet/wardrobe, and a desk with a chair for each resident, and all residence halls have cable television, wireless internet, and AC. Rooms are also available to accommodate students with accessibility needs.
In real estate, they say location is everything. Our residence halls are within easy walking distance to all our campus amenities, including the University Center, academic buildings, and the gym . Curious where each first-year residence hall is located on campus? Check out this helpful map!
Always keep your EagleOne Card handy. You’ll need it to enter your residence hall, to eat on campus, and to use the laundry facilities – no quarters needed. Also, we recommend doing laundry with friends – it’s loads of fun!
Hall vs. Suite-Style Bathrooms: What’s the Difference?
Hall style bathrooms: Residence halls with hall bathrooms have a large common bathroom that is shared by residents of the hall. Floors often have multiple bathrooms to ensure that all residents have convenient access. Hall baths feature individual shower stalls for privacy and are cleaned daily by custodial staff, so that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about.
Suite-Style bathrooms: A suite-style arrangement shares one bathroom between two rooms. For example, in a suite-style residence hall, you and your roommate would share a shower,sink, and toilet with two other residents in an adjoining room. Some students prefer the privacy of a suite-style bath, but just remember – this means you, your roommate, and your suite-mates will be responsible for cleaning and providing TP for your own bathroom.
Still Have Questions?
For more information, visit the Residence Life and Housing website. There you’ll find a variety of resources, including FAQs, policies, rates, and room measurements and diagrams for each residence hall. https://www.umw.edu/residencelife/
