Mingus Smoke Detectors

A Mingus Smoke Detector

To the Freshmen of the Mingus Mountain Complex. In each and every room of every suite, of every building you will see circular objects attached high on the inside wall. These are smoke detectors. There are some things you need to know about these before you arrive so you don't find out how they work the hard way.

These smoke detectors are extremely sensitive and not just to smoke. These sensors detect smoke by using a small laser beam which can detect increases in particulates in the air. This means that anything that creates a cloud sets off these detectors. That includes steam, deodorant, and cleaning spray.

So, with that being said, take precautions. If you are taking a shower in a suite please close all interior doors so that the steam cannot waft into rooms and set off the fire alarms. If you are cleaning, open a window and give a wide berth around the detector, and finally for those who sleep next to a detector, because they have a lofted bed, try not to bump it too often as this could also set off the fire alarms.

These sensors are nice to you if you are nice to them. Just remember that they are there whenever you are about to make a cloud of something or are about to have a pillow fight. If you do not you will end up out on the sidewalk at 3:00 AM with a lot of angry people around. And did I mention that there is a possible fine of $100 for an accidental tripping of a smoke detector.

Note: Burned Popcorn is the number one reason for these detectors to be set off. Please stand by the microwave when making this snack and maybe open the bag outside of the suite to let all of the steam out.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND THE SMOKE DETECTORS BY COVERING THEM. THIS IS A VIOLATION OF UNIVERSITY POLICY AND REALLY DOES VERY LITTLE TO STOP IT GOING OFF.

Much-Needed Links

ERNIE Links Page
This is very similar to this page without the sorting

Software Downloads
If you didn't know you get free computer Microsoft software and OS's for being a student at ERAU.

The Bookstore
Use this link to search for and and purchase required books for classes. But please visit the Buying Books post first

Register a Vehicle
You have to do this if you have a car on campus.

Laundry View
This will let you track and view the time on washers in any of the washing machines on campus. It is great for making sure there is an open washer before you walk across the campus with a load of laundry.

ERAU Prescott Campus Directory
Here is a list of contact information and resources for the many departments and offices around campus.

ERAU E-mail
Its just easier to go straight to the e-mail app instead of going through ernie first

Ernie
If you haven't gone here already you really need to start

Control Tower
Control Tower controls all student activities. Events will be posted here and if you become a part of a club or organization everything will be managed through here. You need to create a user profile for this as soon as possible.

Student Services Ernie
This is difficult to find if you are new to Ernie. It is where you have links to meal plans, your eagle card, and housing applications in future.

Student Employment
This is within the student services page but a more direct route is always better. Most on campus jobs will be posted here. You have to check it often before each semester to catch open positions. But really, just network on campus, it is a more reliable way of finding a campus job.

Catalogs
The catalog of your year of entry is the "contract" of what classes you have to take in order to obtain your degree. This will be really important if you decide to change majors or are going to play with your class schedule.

Faculty Directory
Here is a list of all active faculty members at ERAU Prescott

More Links will be added as needed.

The RA

When coming in as a freshman you are usually not aware of the term RA. So here is what it is.

An RA is a Resident Assistant.  In the Mingus Complex (Halls 1-5) The RA is a Sophomore or better that lives on each floor of every building in one of the suites. In Village and Thumb Butte complexes there is typically one RA per building.

You can find an RA near you by the large labels all over their door that say "RA Dave", or "RA Jen" or whatever. They also will be one of the first random people to walk up to you the day of orientation and introduce themselves.

The RA job is a weird combination of just about anything you can imagine. We are supporters, leaders, policy enforcers, mentors,cruise directors and a general all around resource. We exist to help students get through their campus living and Riddle experience.

A fair analogy for an RA would be that of an older brother. The cool guy that has already done everything before you and whom you look up too. He is the person that will give you rides and come up with the cool ways to spend time. But at the same time he is also the guy that gets to babysit and enforce the rules when Mom and Dad are gone.

The RA's put on programs and events that are meant to enhance the experience of living on campus. We work to build communities on our floors and just have fun. If you have a question about anything we can typically answer it or find someone who can.

RA's are one of the best resources available to any incoming student. Use them and come to them whenever something comes up and you want help or advice. We are here to help you succeed with your roommates, classes, or anything.

With that all being said. Please respect your RA. We have to deal with some of the best and the worst on campus. We are the ones up at 3:00 A.M. responding to fire alarms and might be the ones to call 911 for you. It makes our life so much easier if you don't abuse what we are providing. We are still students and still have lives just like you.

I hope this clarifies what an RA is for those that do not already know. But make sure you get to know your RA personally when you arrive at Riddle. It will be to your benefit.


Side Note: If you want to be an RA at Embry-Riddle Prescott applications are made available in the spring semester of every year. You must have a 2.5 GPA and have completed you freshmen year. To get more details about the day-to-day life of an RA talk to yours.

The Mail Room

We have received several questions about the mail room and mailing procedures. So I am going to attempt to answer them.

You have or will be given a mailbox number before or during orientation. This should have been mailed to you before orientation began, but you will definitely will be given it again when you arrive. If you have your address and wish to ship stuff to yourself before you arrive you may do so. During orientation you will be given the key to your mailbox.

The mailbox number is typically four digits and will be the address that friends and relatives can send parcels through. You will use the university address but insert your name and mail box number. Your address will look like this.

John Smith

Box XXXX

3700 Willow Creek Road

Prescott, AZ 86301

Note: You mailbox will be the same the entire time you stay at the Prescott campus. You will never have to return the key until graduation. If you lose a key or need a replacement you will be charged. The fee is typically around $50.

All student mail goes to the Mail Room, it does not go to dorm rooms or anywhere else. In the Mail Room all letters will be put into you box. If you receive a parcel that is too large a package slip will be in your box. You must present this slip and your Eagle Card inside of the Mail Room in order to receive your package.

If you wish to mail a letter or parcel the Mail Room has all of the necessary shipping supplies and payment options. It also is the location of some the nicest employees at Riddle.

The Mail Room is in building 11 which is North of the Bookstore, west of the Hunt Student Union, and south of the Cashier's Office. See Campus Map

That should cover just about everything that is important about the Mail Room

Special Note: Amazon has a distribution center in Phoenix which ensures that nearly anything ordered form them will arrive within 2-3 days regardless of shipping method.

Buying Books

Buying books is one of the most easily reduced costs of attending college. You simply need to work a little harder.

First of all you need to know what book is "expected" in a class. At Riddle you can go to the bookstore site and find the book you need by selecting your term and then the classes that you are taking.

Professors will also post syllabuses on the Ernie Blackboard when your courses are activated. These will have a list of books needed for the class, if any are required at all.

Now once you know what books you need they will be expecting you to pay 200$ a piece for them. Instead of doing that, just write down the titles.  Then go find a used copy on Amazon or some other cheap textbook site. These usually run $20-30. Add the ones you think you need to the cart and wait a little while. To cut the cheap price even more maybe check with your professor by e-mail to see if you need the most recent edition or can use an older one.

In many classes there will be textbooks listed on the bookstore site, but they will never be used in class, except as a study guide. In this case you don't need to buy the book at all. You can borrow from a friend or something else. The trouble is that you might not find this out until you show up in class. But that is OK. Most of the Professors on campus don't expect students to have the textbook until about a week into the semester.

Once you find out from the professor, on the first day of class, what they expect about the textbook you can decide if you want to order it. If you don't need it don't order it. If you do, order it and, while its shipping, borrow a copy from the library, a friend, or ebrary if

And that is how you can generally go about saving over a thousand dollars on textbooks. (Note: the expected cost for textbooks is $1400 but I never spent more than $250 and have never had a problem)

Notes for Packing for Riddle

Hey Guys,

Here is some general advice for how to go about packing for Riddle

1. Coordinate with your roommates
• Assignments have been sent to your Riddle e-mail. Check this and get in contact with suitemates so that you don't end up brings a hundred pots and four TV's
2. Do not bring a car-load of stuff and expect to keep it all in the room
• The rooms become very small very fast if you bring a lot of lamps and knick-knacks
• Get a list of top things you have to have and be ready to send anything extra back if the room is getting crowded
• You are going to accumulate a ton more stuff as the year goes by so don't plan to fill your room on move-in
3. Do not bring cruddy Tee-Shirts
• We are going to give you all the Tee-Shirts you can stand after just a few weeks
4. But make sure you are comfortable
• You are going to live here after all

In case you guys never had a tour of the Mingus Complex here is a video for you to watch and see what the Suites are generally like so you can plan ahead a little better. (Note: I made this video with a tablet and five minutes so I apologize for the quality)

Welcome to Eagle RA

Hey Guys,

Congratulations for making it to Riddle. Here on this blog myself and other RA's are going to be giving you info about happenings on campus and just shooting the breeze about some things.

Students can get info here, contact the RA's anonymously and maybe have some fun.

I hope RA's from other schools will get ideas from this site and hopefully be able to implement some of them where they are.