Housing

It’s that time of year again, folks. It’s time to figure out where you’re living in the fall.

If you’re going to be a junior or a senior, your options are bountiful. You can live on campus again, rent an apartment or rent a house. A good idea might be to contact Student Legal Services when looking for a place to live. They can inform you of tennent rights and help you navigating through contracts. You pay $9 a year for this service (it’s part of your tuition unless you waived it) so making an appointment and seeing them won’t cost you a single cent more. You don’t have to do anything with the university if you’re not coming back to campus, just check out at the end of the semester. You’ve fulfilled your living requirement.

What living requirement?

As an incoming freshmen when you register for housing the first time, you sign a contract stating you will live on campus for two years (your freshmen and sophomore year.) The only way you can get out of the contract is if you have more than 30 credit hours. Residence Services also has a few options in case your finances change, you have a medical condition or are becoming a commuter, but you must prove that to Residence Services before you will be allowed out of the contract. Be very weary of these rules. This contract is legally binding, and you can be sued for breaking it, especially if you lie. DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING BEFORE TALKING TO RESIDENCE SERVICES FIRST. Just because you think you can get out of something doesn’t mean you will. You’ll be stuck having to pay for both a dorm room and an apartment if things don’t go the way you planned.

If you are not eligible to live off campus, you must register to live in the dorms again. You must pay a $200 matriculation fee before you pick your room. This $200 comes off your bill for the fall semester, so you’re not paying anything extra. It’s sort of like a security deposit to hold your spot. Once you pay, you just have to register for a room.

The time to do Same Room/Same Hall if over, so you need to follow the schedule set by Resident Services. They’ll tell you when you can register on the website after you pay your matriculation fee.

Of course we want you to live in the Commons again, but you don’t have to. When choosing another hall, make sure you look at their rules. Some are only for upperclassmen. Some dorms are wet dorms, so they have an age requirement. You cannot live at Eastway if you’re not an incoming freshman, Lake if you’ve declared a major or Stopher-Johnson unless you’re honors. Also be aware certain halls, such as Centennial C and Englemen, fill up really fast. Consider having a back up plan. You can look at all the dorm options on the Resident Services website. They also have mock rooms set up over at Eastway.

 

Happy home hunting!