Returning Student Housing: Housing Selection

Returning Student Housing | How to Apply | Room Changes | FAQs
Upper Class Housing | Housing Selection

Important Dates to Remember
Selection Process and Procedures
Selection Time and Place
Crowded Housing
Building and Floor Information
Housing Proxy Form
Meal Plan
FAQ
Special Needs Housing Information
Other Important Information

Important Dates to Remember: 2008

April 3
Apartment Applications Due by 4:30 PM ->Residential Life Office

April 8
Apartment Selection-12:15 PM -> Kearney Lounge

April 9
Special Interest Hsg. Applications Due - 4:30 PM ->Residential Life Office
ALL Singles Applications Due -- 4:30 PM ->Residential Life Office

April 11
George Halls Singles Selection- 2:30 PM ->George Hall Lounge

April 15
General Singles Selection-12:15 PM ->Kearney Lounge

April 16
General Housing Applications Due-4:30 PM ->Residential Life Office

April 18
General Housing Selection -- 2:30 PM ->George Hall Lounge

Selection Process and Procedures

Please read this information completely and carefully.

Housing Selection materials are being mailed to all current resident Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen as well as resident Seniors who have not been here 3 1/2 semesters.
Only full-time students are eligible for Housing Selection. Students currently enrolled in Study Abroad Programs and on Leave-of Absence or Study Leave and planning to return in the Fall are eligible for Housing Selection as long as the Office of Residential Life is notified in writing prior to the beginning of Room Selection on March 23, 2007.
A housing deposit is not required. Financial Services will mail a voucher to all eligible students. All outstanding balances must be paid in full at Financial Services in order to obtain a voucher. Students must present a voucher when submitting a room contract. Please note: If a check used to obtain a voucher is returned for insufficient funds, the room selection is immediately invalidated.
There is a $250 NON-NEGOTIABLE cancellation fee for any student who breaks the room contract once it is submitted.
Class standing is determined solely by the Registrar's Office records as of January.
The class standing on the lottery label is the information to transpose into the box on the contract. First or second semester status does not count in class standing. If a student feels that the class designation is in error, please contact the Residential Life Office and they will have the Registrar's Office give written verification. Class standing changes must be done at least 72 hours prior to the lottery the student expects to enter.

Selection Time and Place

Apartment Selection
Applications are due Thursday, April 3, 200 by 4:30 PM in the Office of Residential Life. The Apartment Lottery will take place Tuesday, April 8 at 12:15 PM in Kearney Lounge.

Singles Selection
Contracts and vouchers for Singles are due Wednesday, March 28, 2007 by 4:30 PM. The selection for singles takes place on two separate days. Students may select singles in George Hall: Friday, April 11, 2008 starting at 2:30 in George Hall Lounge. You can select singles in other areas on Tuesday, April 15 starting at 12:15 in the Kearney Classroom. A listing of single rooms will be available in the Residential Life Office. The exact rate for a single room has not been determined at this time, however the additional charge is approximately $500.00-$600.00 per semester depending on location. Specific time blocks for the Singles Selection will be listed on the door of the Residential Life Office the day before each lottery.

General
All other spaces (suites, doubles, triples, quads) will be selected on Friday, April 18, 2008 beginning at 2:30 PM in the George Hall Lounge. Contracts, vouchers, cover sheets, etc. are due on or before Wednesday, April 11, 2007 by 4:30 PM in the Office of Residential Life. More specific time information will be posted in the Office of Residential Life prior to the drawing to assist you in avoiding unnecessary waiting.

Special Interest Housing Selection
Special Interest Housing applications are due Wednesday, April 9 by 4:30 PM in Residential Life. There are separate applications for the Choice Living, Community Service and Quiet Floors. Students interested in these options should pick up applications in the Office of Residential Life. Some special interest housing requires prior faculty approval. Please refer to the section on Buildings and Floors for more specific information. Students receiving Special Interest Housing will be notified by mail and a list will be posted outside the Office of Residential Life.

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Building and Floor Information

If you wish to select a suite in O'Connor, the two options are: four students who wish to form a suite may indicate their choice of building/floor/suite from the options available; two students who wish to be roommates may select O'Connor but will be required to fill the next available half space.

If you wish to select an apartment in Breen, Lyons or Portka Apartments, the only option is a group of four. You must be at least a current sophomore to exercise this housing option.

If you wish to select a double room, you must have a roommate. Residential Life will pair single students who need a roommate. You must notify us in person by noon, April 10, 2007 of your need to be paired for the upcoming lottery. We cannot guarantee a match for a person without a roommate. In the event that other students remain unpaired, you will be required to fill the next available half double.

If a serious medical reason exists which necessitates special room consideration, the student should come to the Office of Residential Life with documentation before April 9, 2008. Students with current Medical Placements who want to retain that space should also come to the Office of Residential Life with updated documentation, voucher and application-contract prior to April 9, 2008.

Floor plans of the residence halls will be posted for inspection during the Selection Process. Rooms will be identified with an "S" for singles, "D" for doubles, "T" for triples and "Q" for quad.

KEARNEY
1st West: Coed
1st Center: Coed
2nd Center: Coed
2nd West: Coed
3rd West & Center: Female

LOURDES
1st: Male - Triple with bath: 122
2nd: Female - Quad: 203 (female)
3rd: Female

FRENCH HOUSE: Rooms 1-5 Coed Admission permission required

MEDAILLE: All Female

FOUNDERS: Coed

APARTMENTS: Coed

O'CONNOR I
1st: Coed
2nd: Coed
3rd: Female

O'CONNOR II
1st: Coed (Substance Free)
2nd: Coed
3rd: Female
4th: Coed (Quiet Floor)

O'CONNOR III
1st: Coed
2nd: Coed
3rd: Female

NEW RESIDENCE HALL : Coed

GEORGE HALL
1 South & 2 North:Male
1 North: Female
2 South: Female
Ground-2 West: Coed

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Housing Proxy Form

Students are not to miss class or academic commitments for the Housing Selection Process. Students with prior commitments may obtain a proxy form in the Office of Residential Life at least two days prior to the date of selection for the space desired. Please be certain that your proxy knows the designated time and place of selection. All students acting as proxies must bring his/her ID and a copy of the proxy form of the student for whom you are choosing a space to the appropriate Room Selection.

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Meal Plan

A Meal Plan is required in every area except the apartments. Please be certain to complete that portion of the Room Contract. Meal Plan costs are still being decided at the time of this printing. Food Service will have brochures and share information on the exciting new options available to students. Please look for information shortly.

If you choose a meal plan and want to change it, you can still do so at the time of the lottery in which you select a room. You can also change your meal plan on line or call (585)389-2527 during the first two weeks of any new semester.

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FAQ

What if I do not plan to live on campus? What do I hand in then?

If you do not plan to live on campus simply recycle the information you received regarding campus housing. That's all you need to do. You DO NOT need to notify us of your plans to live off campus, but you do need to change your address with the Registrar's Office.

I'm not going to use my number and it's a good one. Can I give my lottery number to another student?

Sorry, no. Lottery numbers are randomly assigned to specific students. The number remains your number regardless of how many different lotteries you enter.

My prospective roommate has the best lottery number, but I have the higher class standing. Which do we use?

Use the number of the person with the highest class standing. A junior with #999 chooses a space before a freshman with #300.

I want to live in one of those adjoining singles in George Hall. What should I do?

Complete the appropriate cover sheet and turn in with both of your contract and vouchers. This information is due April 9 by 4:30 PM.

I have an outstanding balance with the Financial Services Office and cannot get a voucher. What do I do?

Try to get the matter cleared up by the time your paperwork is due in Residential Life. We are sorry, but students who do not have financial clearance are NOT ELIGIBLE to enter the lottery.

Can I live in O'Connor and not have a meal plan?

Sorry, no. The only buildings on campus where you do not have to have a Meal Plan are Lyons, Breen and Portka. This housing option is open only to Juniors and Seniors.

I'm a second semester sophomore (freshman or junior), does that give me a leg up in the lottery?

First or second semester status does not count in class standing. Class standing is determined solely by the Registrar's Office. It is based on records as of January 15, 2007.

I want to try for a suite in the General Housing Lottery. Can I apply with three people?

No. You must have two or four. We cannot make up a suite; you need to have a cover sheet with vouchers and contracts for two or four people who have agreed to live together. We keep a list of people who are looking for someone to share, but we do not coordinate getting the two or four of you together.

Can two of us try for an apartment? We don't know two others to live with.

We are sorry, no. You must have four students to try for an apartment. The four of you must be at least sophomore status currently.

Can I choose a space in O'Connor with an incoming freshman?

Incoming students only live in O'Connor in Special Interest Housing. You can choose to live with an incoming freshman in Lourdes, Medaille or Kearney only.

How do I find out how much it costs for room and board?

That information has not been decided upon. The Board of Trustees and the Sr. Staff will meet in early April and rates will be announced after that meeting. Keep a look out for the actual rates when announced.

I heard something about 5th Year students not being allowed to live on campus. What's that all about?

Fifth year students are allowed to select in the Housing Lottery like all other students.

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Other Important Information

Students remaining unassigned after participating in a particular selection process may enter subsequent selections. Students maintain the same lottery number throughout the Room Selection Process.
Persons not present at the time their lottery numbers are called will forfeit their turn and will be placed at the bottom of the drawing order for their particular time slot.
Following completion of the Housing Selection Process, students may request changes in room assignments. Room Change Request Forms may by obtained from the Residential Life Office. Completed forms may be submitted to the office on or after May 1, 2008. Change requests received between May 1 and May 7 will be randomly ordered and separated by class. Those received after May 7 will be placed at the end of the appropriate class as they are received. Please refer to the form for more specifics.
Students not receiving a change prior to August 15, 2008 should plan to move into the space assigned this spring. There is a room change freeze from Aug. 15 - Sept. 15, 2008.
The College reserves the right to change room assignments if deemed necessary. Students should expect new roommates/suitemates/apartment mates should the person (s) with whom the space is originally selected withdraws from housing.
Students who will be Abroad, on Leave of Absence, on Medical Leave, etc. for the first semester of the 2008-2009 academic year are not eligible to participate in the Housing Selection Process.
Those students will be assigned in December to available spaces in the residence halls. Such students may wish to leave a forwarding address with the Department of Residential Life. You will be mailed the necessary contracts and forms in late November.
Residence halls are closed during Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Recess. The Room Contract does not cover housing during these periods. Vacation housing will be provided for student teachers, international students, approved in season athletes and student interns. Said housing will be announced prior to each vacation period.
Adjoining singles in Medaille and George Hall can be selected by two people when the person with the best lottery number and seniority is called. Both students must be present at the lottery or one student must have a proxy form for the other. The person with whom you are selecting must have the same class standing or be only one class standing below you. Students selecting adjoining singles must complete a cover sheet and submit contracts and vouchers together.
Students who are interested in crowded housing may choose spaces in any building except the apartments, George and French House.