Graduate Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the hours of the La Aldea Office?

The office is open each weekday from 9 AM - 1 PM and 2 PM - 8 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays the office is open from 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM and 4 PM - 8 PM.

2. Who can I find in the La Aldea Office, and what do they do?

The La Aldea Office Manager works weekdays from 9 AM – 5 PM (except for a 1-hour lunch break), and handles all issues pertaining to housing applications, room assignments, and general building issues.
 
The Coordinator of Graduate and International Student Housing is also available on weekdays between 9 AM and 5 PM, and is the direct supervisor of the Office Manager as well as the CRA staff. The Coordinator handles wider building issues, hears La Aldea-related conduct cases, and meets with residents individually as needed or requested.

Desk Assistants are student employees who sort the mail and keep the office open in the evenings and on weekends. They can check out equipment to residents, give building tours, and answer basic questions about graduate housing.

3. How can I make an appointment with the Coordinator?

If you would like to arrange a meeting with the Coordinator of Graduate and International Student Housing, you may either come in to the La Aldea Office during normal business hours, or email the Office Manager at laaldea@life.arizona.edu. If the Coordinator is not in the front office when you come visit, the Office Manager can help you schedule an appointment for another day.

4. Who are the CRAs and what do they do?

There are seven Community Resident Assistants (CRAs) who live in the La Aldea community. A CRA is on duty every night of the year. Each resident has a CRA assigned to their particular area of the building. The CRAs work to implement events and programming for the community. They assist with check-ins and check-outs of apartments, health and safety inspections, and roommate mediations upon request. They are friendly and experienced graduate students who act as great resources for our residents in a variety of ways.

5. What if I need help when the La Aldea Office is closed?

There is a CRA on Duty every night between the hours of 8 PM and 8 AM. They can be reached by calling (520) 307-2092. Call the CRA on Duty for noise complaints, lockouts, or other emergencies. Please note that the CRA on Duty cannot get your packages from the mailroom after hours.

If you have a medical or otherwise potentially life-threatening emergency, please dial 911. 

For other non-emergency needs, you may contact the University of Arizona Police Department at (520) 621-UAPD (621-8273). This is a good resource for reporting theft or suspicious behavior around campus. The UAPD website can provide additional information.

6. What if I lock myself out of my apartment?

If you are locked-out during regular office hours, please go to the La Aldea office to receive a lockout key. Each resident receives two free lock-outs for the entire time they live at La Aldea. After your first two lock-outs, you will be charged a $20 fee for each subsequent lockout.

If you are locked out after hours, you can call the CRA on Duty between 8 PM and 8 AM.  The CRA can let you in to your apartment using a master key, but they cannot issue you a lockout key. If you have lost your keys, you will need to go to the front office when it opens to receive a spare key.

If you lose your keys for any reason, the corresponding locks will be changed at your expense and new keys will be issued ($75 per lock).

7. How do I get my mail and packages?

Each apartment has one mailbox. You will be issued a mailbox key upon check-in. Mail is delivered, sorted and, placed in mailboxes each day (except for Sunday). We work with the schedule of the US Postal Service and do our best to be timely in sorting and placing mail in mailboxes.

Packages that are too large to fit in your mailbox are logged and kept in the front office. A Delivery Notice slip will be placed in your mailbox to let you know that you have a package. To retrieve your package, please bring your Delivery Notice slip to the office during business hours with your CatCard. You can only sign for your own package—not your roommate’s. Please do not ask for mail that has not been sorted; you can only pick up packages once you have received a Delivery Notice.

8. What if something breaks in my room?

La Aldea has its own team of custodial and maintenance staff. They are responsible for keeping La Aldea safe, clean, and beautiful. If something in your apartment or in the community needs any kind of routine maintenance work, please fill out an Online Maintenance-Custodial Request. An Online Maintenance Request grants staff permission to access apartments to complete the work request. Residents need not be present at the time of work. Staff will usually leave a note and respond within 48 hours, if not sooner.

9. What do I do if I am having trouble with my cable, Internet, or phone?

If you are having issues with your cable television reception, please call Cox Communications directly at 884-0133.

If you are having problems with WiFi reception or telephone service, please call University Information Technology Services (UITS) at 621-TECH (621-8324).

For damaged telephone or Ethernet jacks, or problems with Ethernet connection, please call Residence Life Technology Services at 621-8222.

10. What phone lines are activated in my apartment and how do I dial long-distance?

La Aldea provides one local phone line per apartment. You can plug any telephone in to the white phone jack in your living room for immediate service to any 520 or 1-800 number. You can also receive calls to this line from anywhere. For long-distance calls, you can use any toll-free calling card, or acquire a personal cell phone.

11. What community spaces can I find at La Aldea, and how may I access them?

Community Room: All La Aldea residents have access to our beautiful Community Room. This room is a great place to study, watch TV, and socialize. The CRA staff also uses this space to host community events. You may reserve the Community Room for a personal event by speaking with our Office Manager in the front office and completing a reservation form. The doors of the Community Room are locked, but both your CatCard and your apartment key can be used to open them.

Fitness Center: All La Aldea residents have access to the fitness center. This room is located on the Southwest side of the Community Room, and can be accessed be entering the Community Room and heading down the hallway to the right.

Study Room: There is a small Study Room located by the mailboxes. This space is great for quiet studying or small group work. Your apartment key opens the door to the Study Room. We do not offer reservations for this room—it is available on a first come, first served basis.

12. When is my rent due each month?

Your rent is billed each month to your Student Account and is due according to the Bursar’s deadlines. You may pay rent directly online by logging in to your UAccess Student Center.

13. How do I check-out of La Aldea?

You must contact the La Aldea Office Manager to discuss your intent to vacate La Aldea at the end of your contract term. Failure to make the necessary arrangements at the end of the term, or leaving La Aldea in the middle of the term, may result in penalty fees.

14. Does La Aldea close during University breaks?

Unlike our undergraduate residence halls, La Aldea remains open during all University breaks and closures. You are not required to leave your apartment during Winter Break. The La Aldea front office, however, does periodically close or alter its operating hours during certain holidays—any changes to office hours are announced to residents in advance.

15. Is the water from the faucets in La Aldea safe to drink?

Yes. If you do not like the taste of the tap water, you can purchase a variety of water pitchers with filters which can ameliorate this problem. However, we caution you against the more expensive filtration systems that attach directly to the faucet. Over time, hard water can cause them to calcify, making them very difficult to remove at the end of the year and possibly resulting in damage to the faucet (for which you can be charged).

16. What if I don’t like my apartment or bedroom? Can I switch?

As noted in the License Agreement, you can arrange to switch to a new apartment or to a different bedroom in your current apartment if there is space available. There is a Transfer Fee of $100 for switching your housing assignment in the middle of a contract term. Residents who are planning to renew their contract with La Aldea for the next academic year are permitted to pick a new apartment or bedroom for free if the switch is completed after the current contract has expired.

17. What happens if my roommate and I don’t get along?

It is always best to handle even seemingly minor disagreements with your roommate as soon as they occur by exercising good communication skills. At the beginning of the year, we provide you with a Roommate Agreement to help you facilitate early discussions with your roommates regarding mutual expectations you have for living together. If a conflict arises that is too difficult to handle yourself, please speak to your CRA and/or the Office Manager. The Office Manager can help you schedule mediation between you, your roommate/s, and one or two members of the CRA staff, who are trained to help you navigate such issues.

If you notice that your roommate is engaging in behavior that is in violation of our Community Standards, or could be harmful to themselves or others, please notify a staff member immediately. 

18. Does La Aldea recycle?

We most certainly do! On the first floor of La Aldea, there are green segmented bins designated for recycling. These are located in the main courtyard, in the mail area, in the hallway near the Gate D trash room, and adjacent to Gate B. You can use these for paper, plastic (#’s 1 and 2), tin cans (e.g. tuna and soup), aluminum (e.g. soda), and paperboard (e.g. cereal boxes and similar). No need to sort—just throw them in! We also have designated spots for plastic grocery store bags. Corrugated cardboard (the kind packages are mailed in) needs to be recycled in the trash rooms (located near gates D and C)—there is a designated area on the ground near the dumpsters. Finally, in the front office, you will find a spot to recycle batteries and ink cartridges.