KSI Housing Information
The Hong Kierkegaard LibraryFor KSI 2026, housing is available:
- Research Fellows: Tuesday, June 2 – Friday, July 31
- Junior Research Fellows: Wednesday, July 1 – Friday, July 31
The earliest arrival date is June 2 for Research Fellows and July 1 for Junior Research Fellows; all participants must move out of campus housing by the end of the day on July 31. We cannot accommodate early arrivals or late departures outside of the program dates specified above. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to/from campus; please plan your travel accordingly.
RESIDENCE HALL FOR KSI RESEARCHERS
Summer 2026: All KSI Researchers will be housed in New Hall.
New Hall is a suited building whereby two rooms are connected by a bathroom. The suites are designed as semi-private; residents in one room can walk through the bathroom and enter the next bedroom. The bathroom facilities (shower and toilet closets) are single user facilities which support the rooms/suites to be gender inclusive upon request.
Upon arriving to the St. Olaf College campus, scholars should first visit the Mohn Hall front desk to pick up their OLE Card (ID card)* and dorm room key.
The Mohn Hall front desk will be staffed daily from 8:00am until 11:00pm and we strongly encourage you to arrive during those hours. If you are arriving after hours, you will need to call the Public Safety office by phone (507-786-3666) and ask to be connected to Residence Life staff to request check-in assistance; it is recommended that you call Public Safety approximately 15-20 minutes before you arrive to campus so that they can be ready to assist you.
Please note that Mohn Hall is located across campus from the dorm where scholars are housed: New Hall. You will need to walk across campus to access your dorm room. You will pass by the Kierkegaard Library (Steensland Hall) on your way from Mohn to New Hall. Linens will be waiting for you in your dorm room at New Hall.
* See the next drop down menu for more on the OLE card.
Each KSI participant is issued an OLE card (a personal ID card with your photo), which is used to access your dorm; it can also be used to pay for printing and on-campus meals.
Instructions for setting up an OLE card are sent to participants prior to your visit. It is vital to follow those instructions to ensure smooth check-in upon arrival. Participants receive the OLE card at check in, along with the dorm room key.
If you already have an ID card from a past visit: be sure to bring it with you. There is a $25 fee to replace ID cards that were issued in the last five years.
If a temporary ID card must be issued due to failure to set up an OLE card, a $25 fee will be issued; the temporary ID must be returned to staff at the Kierkegaard Library as soon as you have been issued an OLE card.
Junior Research Fellows will be housed in double rooms, sharing a bathroom between up to four participants.
If you have a preferred roommate you will be able to indicate that on the housing form. We will attempt to assign you together only if both individuals indicate one another as preferred roommates.
Research fellows will be housed in single rooms, sharing a bathroom between up to two participants.
Each guest will receive two sheets, one pillow with pillow case, one blanket, one washcloth, and one bath towel to use during their stay. Guests are responsible for washing their own linens, as needed.
In addition to the combo refrigerator/microwave included in each dorm room, there are kitchens located on each floor in New Hall for guest use. The kitchens contain a full-sized refrigerator, sink, stove/oven, and microwave. Limited cookery (e.g., pots/pans) are provided; if you are missing any items, please inquire at the Kierkegaard Library — we have items you could borrow from a storage space on the lower level of Steensland Hall.
Guests are responsible for keeping the kitchens clean by cleaning up after themselves.
- Put food away
- Wipe down counters
- Confirm dishes are washed and put away
Please note that cooking appliances with an open element (e.g. toasters, hotplates) are prohibited in bedrooms.
A laundry facility is located on each floor of New Hall.
- There is no cost to use the machines.
- Guests must provide their own detergent.
Guests may utilize the common areas, such as the computer room, closed study rooms, and formal lounges (including televisions and pianos).
All summer scholars must check out from their St. Olaf dorm room by the end of the day on July 31, 2026. After the checkout date the St. Olaf accounts used for KSI will expire and scholars will no longer have access to St. Olaf computers, printing, internet, etc. Any items borrowed from Rolvaag Library must be returned when the program ends.
Each room must be completely stripped to its original state – bed sheets removed, bed frames returned to original un-lofted position, etc. Kitchen items borrowed from the Kierkegaard Library or the New Hall front desk should be cleaned and returned before check-out. When your room is cleared, you will then take both your St. Olaf ID card and room key back to the front desk of Mohn Hall for drop off before leaving campus.
Please note: if you are departing campus outside of the Mohn Hall staffed hours of 8:00am to 11:00pm, you will instead need to drop off your ID card and room key in the Key Drop Box in the Ytterboe Hall first floor entrance.
The Hong Kierkegaard Library’s KSI Research Fellowship Program recognizes the importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative environment for our fellows. We understand that academic partnerships can play a vital role in the success of research and scholarship. As such, we are pleased to offer fellowship recipients some options for bringing along their spouse or partner.
When the accompanying person is also a researcher in a relevant field and wishes to fully participate in the program, they must submit a separate fellowship application to be considered for participation. The spouse/partner must meet all eligibility criteria for the program and demonstrate their intention to engage fully in the fellowship’s activities and research environment. Applications from spouses/partners will be reviewed in the same manner as those of individual applicants.
Alternatively, a spouse or partner who will not be participating in KSI’s programming may receive on-campus housing. Housing fees for non-participating guests are paid by the participant in advance and are nonrefundable. Requests for non-participant housing are considered on a case-by-case basis; please inquire at the email below for more information.
The Hong Kierkegaard Library’s KSI Research Fellowship Program is committed to supporting academic collaborations and enriching the fellowship experience. If you have any questions regarding this policy or the application process, please email KSI-Application@stolaf.edu.
CAMPUS POLICIES
KSI researchers wishing to purchase meals on campus have two options: a campus cafe called the Cage or a cafeteria called Stav Hall. Menus can be viewed via the provided links; the average cost per meal in the cafeteria is around $13. Both options are located in Buntrock Commons.
KSI researchers wishing to dine on campus can use the “Ole Dollars” debit feature to add money to their St. Olaf ID card; doing so will help save 10% when purchasing meals on campus. This feature has been set up for all KSI researchers and you can “deposit” money to these accounts by visiting the campus Bookstore or Business Office.
The possession, distribution, or consumption of alcohol and THC products and associated paraphernalia is prohibited on the St. Olaf campus, on land owned by the college, and in student residence halls and houses. St. Olaf prohibits the unlawful possession, distribution or use of illicit drugs and/or controlled substances on any property owned by the college or in any program or activity sponsored by the college in any location.
Anyone violating college policy regarding alcohol, illicit drugs and/or controlled substances may be dismissed from the program.
view policy on alcohol & other drugs
Our campus is a smoke-free environment.
view smoking policy
Researchers living in summer housing may retain an automobile on campus, but must obtain a parking permit which can be picked up at the Kierkegaard Library during your check-in. Please indicate on your housing form if you are planning to bring a vehicle to campus.
For more information see the St. Olaf College Parking Policy.
Please note that all campus mail should be sent to the campus post office in Buntrock; USPS and other couriers do not deliver to individual dorm rooms.
If you receive a package the campus post office will notify you by email; if you receive a letter they will deliver it to the Kierkegaard Library.
The campus mailing address is: 1520 St Olaf Ave., Northfield, MN 55057
SUMMER COMMUNITY RESOURCES
KSI researchers are encouraged to bring their own laptops; there are no public computer terminals in Steensland Hall. Information about public computer terminals located elsewhere on campus can be found online.
Please note that the Library is unable to provide computer charger power adapters to scholars; international travelers are advised to purchase this in their home country before arriving in the US.
Information about connecting to the campus WiFi network can be found online.
The recreation facilities are available to KSI participants, but there is a summer pass fee of $50 and guests must complete an online waiver. When completing the waiver, select “Kierkegaard Scholar” as your membership type and “yes” to confirm you have an ID card.
Hours for the fitness center are limited during the summer:
Monday-Thursday 11:00am-7:00pm
Friday 11:00am-3:00pm
Participants who wish to check out books from Rolvaag library must register for a community library card at their service desk.
view Rolvaag Memorial & Halvorson Music Library Hours
Hiawathaland Transit provides daytime transportation services to locations within the city limits of Northfield. Please see this map for route stop locations and times. Normal route service is free with a St. Olaf ID.
More information regarding local transportation can be found here.
Here you will find a list of restaurants, cafés, movie theater, and more to help you explore Northfield.