These questions are often asked by current residents as they make decisions about housing for the next academic year:
As a returning student, how can I secure campus housing for 2018/2019?
Information about the availability of on-campus housing for current residents for the 2018-2019 Academic Year will be emailed to students via their Crimson email accounts. Housing is not guaranteed for students who are not incoming freshmen or do not have a housing scholarship which must be used on campus. Demand for campus housing may exceed supply. Students who are eligible to live on campus for the 2018-2019 Academic Year will be notified with instructions to complete the entire application process by submitting the contract, application fee and prepayment in mid-February via Crimson email, and they should be prepared to pay their $300.00 housing application fee and prepayment within the next week.
Do I have to reapply for housing to stay in my room spring semester?
No, your housing contract is for the entire academic year. If you live on campus in the fall, you should not reapply for the spring. Also, you may leave your belongings in your room during Winter Break. Because your housing contract is for the entire year, you will not be released from your contract to move off campus or to move into Greek housing during the academic year.
When should I apply for campus housing for 2018/2019?
Initial housing application for current residents will open at 9 a.m. on December 4, 2017 and have a priority deadline of January 10 at 5 p.m. This initial housing application will not require a housing pre-payment and gives current residents the opportunity to indicate their interest in returning to on-campus housing in 2018-2019. Residents who meet the January 10 priority deadline will be notified on January 17 if they can pay the $300 deposit or if they should looking for off-campus housing. Housing deposits will be due on February 5 at 5 p.m.
HRC will continue accepting applications until all spots are filled, which typically occurs in early summer. For more information, see our application page.
Apply for HousingWhat is the schedule for online room selection for next year?
Online room selection for current campus residents who are allowed to complete a housing application for 2018/2019 will begin in March. Students who complete the deposit by the deadline will be able to participate in room selection. Additional details regarding returner room selection will be available in February 2018 and will be sent to the Crimson email accounts of those current students who have a completed 2018-2019 application.
Can I pull in a roommate during online room selection?
You can pull in a roommate if your potential roommate 1) completed the recontracting process and is eligible for campus housing and 2) is eligible for the same community as you are. For example, if you are eligible for the business community in Friedman Hall but your roommate is not in C&BA, you cannot pull that student in as your roommate.
In order to pull in a roommate, the roommate request must be mutual and confirmed.
Am I guaranteed housing after my freshman year?
No. Housing and Residential Communities tries to accommodate students returning to campus housing, but demand may exceed supply. HRC will not allow you to pay your application fee and prepayment in the spring if there is no housing available. If you wish to explore off-campus options, please visit our Off-Campus Resources website.
Why are returning students not guaranteed campus housing?
The demand for campus housing has grown over the last few years with the growth in enrollment of each freshman class, while the overall number of bed spaces on campus has decreased. The Freshman Residency Requirement for incoming freshmen has also increased the demand for on-campus housing.
Can I live anywhere I want next year?
More information about eligibility for each residence hall will be available here in November 2017. You will also receive this information via Crimson email before recontracting begins in December.
Please check with HRC to help you determine exactly where you can live next year, before you submit your contract, application fee and prepayment, because once you have signed the contract, you are expected to live on campus the next year.
If I change my mind about returning to campus next year, what is the last day I can cancel my contract?
If you change your mind about living on campus for another year after completing your recontracting application, you can receive a refund of your $275.00 prepayment by cancelling with HRC by May 1, 2018. Students who cancel their on-campus housing between May 2 and June 1 will receive a refund of $175.00. To submit a cancellation request, please fill out the form online. (update link to https://housing.sa.ua.edu/apply/contract-release/)
Once you move in for the academic year, the only reason we will cancel your contract is for withdrawal from school; graduation; marriage; study abroad; or internship/student teaching/coop. Moving into an apartment, or into a sorority or fraternity house, is not grounds for contract cancellation. Those with valid reasons to request a contract cancellation must do so before the deadline designated by HRC; those requests should be submitted through the online form. (update link to https://housing.sa.ua.edu/apply/contract-release/)
Once I move in, can I cancel my housing contract before school ends in May?
Housing contracts last from move-in, in August, through the end of the spring semester, in May. The only reason we will cancel your contract is for withdrawal from school; graduation; marriage; study abroad; or internship/student teaching/coop. Moving into an apartment, or into a sorority or fraternity house, is not grounds for contract cancellation. Those with valid reasons to request a contract cancellation must do so before the deadline designated by HRC; those requests should be submitted through the online form. (update link to https://housing.sa.ua.edu/apply/contract-release/
What happens if demand for housing exceeds available space?
If more students apply for housing by the application deadline than there is space available, interested students will be placed on a waiting list for housing and accommodated in housing as space becomes available at a later date. Students who have housing scholarships that only pay for on-campus housing will not be removed from the recontracting process, but these students must adhere to all HRC application deadlines and must pay the $300.00 housing deposit.
What if I have a medical need that affects my housing?
HRC will try to accommodate your medical need, but the request, along with documentation of your condition via Medical Accommodation Request Form, must be submitted by February 1, 2018 for the 2018/2019 academic year. All medical requests will then be reviewed by committee to determine whether the request will be granted or not. If granted, students must also meet all application and payment deadlines in order to be eligible for housing.
(update link to form to https://housing.sa.ua.edu/apply/medical-requests/)
What if I have a scholarship that covers my housing?
HRC will accommodate your need for housing, if you have a housing scholarship that only pays for on-campus housing, but you must still meet all HRC application deadlines and you must pay the $300.00 housing deposit. If your on-campus housing scholarship is provided by a non-UA entity, please contact HRC to notify staff about the scholarship by February 1, 2018.
