Returning Student Housing Selection Process
Choosing where to live is an important decision. Please take the time to thoroughly read this guide and each step of the process of housing selection for returning RWU students.
All aspects of the selection process are "Subject to Change". Changes communicated via email to appropriate and eligible students.
Returning Student Housing Selection Process
As you read the information provided, please be sure to let us know if something does not make sense, or requires further clarification. Direct questions to your Resident Assistant (RA), the Graduate Community Assistant or Area Coordinator of your residential community. You can also contact Residence Life and Housing via email at rwuhousing@ejly.net or call (401) 254-3161. It is important that you thoroughly understand the housing selection process in order to make the most informed choice based upon the options presented to you during your designated day, date and time of online selection.
Housing Contract
Once you electronically sign your housing contract (as part of your housing application), you will enter into a binding contract and you will be financially responsible for all costs associated with the 2025-2026 academic year: You cannot just move off campus. This is a binding contract, similar to that of a Landlord/Tenant lease agreement.
Housing Selection 2025 Process Timeline At-A-Glance
| STEP / PROCESS | STEP STARTS | STEP ENDS (DUE DATE) |
|---|---|---|
STEP 1. PAY $350 HOUSING DEPOSIT: The housing deposit must be paid on-line through the Student Accounts Center. Login for students via Roger Central. Select Financial Information, then RWU Student Account Center. Step-by-step tutorial on how to navigate the Student Accounts Center (Video) | Now |
March 17th (Priority Deadline)
|
| STEP 2. COMPLETE HOUSING CONTRACT:Sign the Housing Contract for the 2025-2026 academic year on Housing Self-Service. | Now | March 17th (Priority Deadline) |
| STEP 3. ROOMMATE MATCHING & GROUP FORMATION: Students have an opportunity to log onto Housing Self-Service to search for other students to form roommate groups to live with next year. If students prefer to go through the process individually/without a roommate, they can go “Solo”. | Now | April 1st (Priority Deadline) |
STEP 4. ENSURE NO BURSAR HOLDS ON STUDENT ACCOUNT : Review Student Account and ensure that any Bursar holds are removed. Holds can be viewed through a student’s Roger Central account. *Students with holds on their accounts after April 1st will be removed from the Housing Selection Process* | Now | April 1st |
| STEP 5. RECEIVE SELECTION TIME: Students will receive their selection time which indicates when they can log onto Housing Self-Service and select a space online for next year. Selection times are generated by class year and grouped according to contract completion date. | April 1st | Visible through selection dates. |
STEP 6. SELECT A ROOM THROUGH HOUSING SELECTION PROCESS: Students will logon to Housing Self-Service during their selection time to select their space for next year. A room selection guide and webinar will be developed by mid-April. | April 7th | April 17th |
Information Sessions
Area Coordinators will be hosting information sessions the week of March 17, 2025 via Zoom. These information sessions will be hosted for each residential community to provide detailed information regarding the housing selection process for the 2025-2026 academic year for the residential students in those halls.
Pay Housing Deposit & Clear All Holds
Before students can participate in the Housing Selection process, they must complete two important steps:
Step 1: Housing Deposit payable online through the Student Accounts Center on Roger Central.
Under the "Deposit" option, select the Fall 2025 term and "Housing Deposit Fall 2025" as the deposit type.
Instructional Video - How to make a Housing Deposit online
The priority deadline for Housing Deposits are due by Monday, March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
Families can submit a deposit for their student if they have been added to their student's account, Family SAC Login. Information on granting student account access.
Step 2: Be Financially Cleared & Remove All Bursar Holds
Students must be financially cleared by Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Financial clearance means that students do not have an outstanding balance on their student account.
Students will not be able to participate in Housing Selection if these two steps have not been completed.
Room & Meal Plan Rates
Students who complete a housing application and contract but either:
- Do not select a room during the Housing Selection time period
- Students will be automatically assigned by staff on April 18, 2025.
- Should be unable to select due to limited options available in the portal
- Students will be placed in a "HALL TBA" assignment and will have multiple opportunities over the summer to assign themselves to a space. This process typically begins in early June and runs through Opening. Should you end up in this category, Residence Life & Housing Staff will reach out to you with instructions and guidance.
Please refer to the following Rates & Fees pages for the room and meal plan rates: 2025-2026 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees.
Student's living in traditional halls are required to be on a full meal plan. Meal plans are not required but are optional for those areas designated as apartment style (Bayside, Almeida, or the apartments in the North Campus Residence Hall). Please refer to the Campus Dining page for more information.
Potential Housing Assignment Relocation
If your current unit is needed for other housing needs, the Department of Residence Life and Housing will assign you and your requested roommates to another room/unit that is comparable to your current room/unit.
Online Housing Selection
Please review the below information regarding the online housing selection process:
- Remember, you must pay a housing deposit, sign your contract, submit your application, and be financially cleared (no outstanding balance with Bursar hold) in order to be eligible to participate in the Housing Selection Process. Spaces will not be held.
- You will receive important housing selection information via your university email account. As outlined by the university, students are responsible for checking their RWU email account for important university information.
- Your selection time will be based upon your class year according to university records. This means that residents who are Rising Seniors will choose first, then Rising Juniors, then Rising Sophomores.
- If you know the person or persons you want to live with, you will form a group during Roommate Matching and Group Formation.
- If you successfully matched with your group prior to April 1st, the Group Leader's selection time will be the selection time for the entire group- please be mindful of this when selecting roommates from different class years.
- If you successfully match after April 1st, you will need to wait until all roommates' selection times are active to choice a space.
- Once your group is confirmed, only one group member will need to sign on to the system during Housing Selection to select your room for next year.
- Please refer to the Bursar's Office Rates & Fees pages for the room and meal plan rates.
- Remember that singles cost additional money.
- If you are interested in a single room, you will need to follow the Single Room Selection Process; outlined in timeline above
- If you are interested in a triple room, you will need to follow the Triple Room Selection Process; outlined in timeline above.
Partially filled apartments or rooms
If an apartment/room is not at full occupancy after the CO process, the space(s) will be the first to be occupied at Housing Selection. Students who are looking for one space or going through housing selection on their own will not be able to sign into a completely empty apartment/room as long as there is a similar space available in a partially occupied apartment/room. The same is true for a group of students that are not completely filling a room/apartment. Students are directed to these partially filled rooms/apartments (e.g. two Juniors CO’d into a Bayside apartment by themselves because their two roommates graduated - two other students are looking for a Bayside apartment – they will automatically be directed to this apartment).
General Housing Selection Process Information
Here are a few things to note about the General Housing Selection Process
- LLC, Specialty Housing, Triple Selection, and the Almeida Upperclass Placement will pick or receive placements before general priority selection, allowing you to still participate if you do not secure a space.
- All non-general housing selection materials must be submitted by the priority deadline of March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm. Late submissions will result in application denial.
- Detailed information about each process is provided below
It is important to note that your selection in your application will determine your housing selection process, so please make sure to answer questions carefully!
All below processes require submission of ALL housing selection materials by the priority deadline of March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm for eligibility. This applies to everyone in your group. You may participate in one of the below processes only. Please read all of the below information about each process to ensure you are aware of all deadlines and eligibility requirements.
The Almeida Upperclass Student Placement process allows rising juniors and seniors to be placed in the Almeida Apartments without going through the standard housing selection process. This option provides a streamlined way for upperclass students to secure housing while ensuring groups are placed together.
To be eligible, at least one member of your group must be a rising junior or senior. Groups must consist of either two or four students, with all placements being in four-person apartments with two double bedrooms. If you are in a group of two, you will be paired with another group of two to fill an apartment. This process is only available for Almeida Apartments and does not include townhouses or flats.
Placement in Almeida is pending availability, and spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the earliest full submission of all required materials by each group. If demand exceeds spaces, later submissions may not be accommodated. This is a great opportunity for upperclass students who want to secure housing in Almeida without the stress of selection, but it is crucial to meet all deadlines to remain eligible.
Please follow these steps to Participate in the Almeida Upperclass Student Placement Process for 2025-2026:
- Pay your $350 Housing Deposit and Complete your Housing Contract (Fall 2025) through the Student Account Center by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
- Complete your Housing Application AND indicate interest in the Almeida Upperclass Student Placement process by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
The CO Process will allow rising seniors to lock in their current double room for the 2025-2026 academic year.Below are a few key details to know regarding this process:
- CO is only available for rising seniors.
- Only double rooms can be CO'd.
- You will not be able to CO singles, triples, quads, quints, or full suites/apartments.
- You can pull in one roommate into your direct room (they do not have to be a rising senior).
- No other room sizes or group sizes may CO.
- Residence Halls not eligible for the CO process.
- Cedar, Maple, Willow, and Almeida Flats/Townhouses.
Please follow these steps to Participate in the CO Process for 2025-2026:
- Pay your $350 Housing Deposit and Complete your Housing Contract (Fall 2025) through the Student Account Center by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
- Complete your Housing Application AND indicate interest in the CO process by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
Failure to meet either requirement will result in you being ineligible to CO and will participate in the general housing selection process.
If it is determined that the CO process is being completed in an effort to manipulate the housing selection process (i.e. the student who CO's the room withdraws, etc.) then the entire room may will be relocated in any available space(s) after the housing selection process concludes. Residence Life & Housing also reserves the right to deny any space for CO. CO housing assignments will be emailed before general housing selection begins.
You may apply to one of the below communities only. Please read all of the below information about each process to ensure you are aware of all deadlines and eligibility requirements.
Applying for an LLC or Specialty Housing requires two steps. In addition to your general housing application, you will need to submit a separate application for each community you are interested in on HawkLink. Links to each LLC or Specialty Housing application can be found below:
Black & Latinx Living Community
Queer & Trans Living Community
Honors Living Learning Community
Sustainable Food Systems Living Learning Community
Substance Free Living Community
For those with ESAs or service animals, please register with SAS, not pet-friendly housing. This is for students bringing pets to campus, not ESAs or service animals.
Please note: LLC and Specialty Housing coordinators review applications and make final decisions. Decision notifications will be released to students who have applied by April 1, 2025. You will find out if you have been accepted, waitlisted, or denied, along with the LLC or Specialty Housing location, your LLC selection timeslot, and the option to decline and participate in general housing selection instead.
Please follow these steps to Participate in the LLC and Specialty Housing Selection Process for 2025-2026:
- Pay your $350 Housing Deposit and Complete your Housing Contract (Fall 2025) through the Student Account Center by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
- Complete your Housing Application AND the appropriate LLC/Specialty Housing Application by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm
This process is only applicable to students who are applying for/auto-renewing SAS Housing Accommodations. If you are looking to do so, please read the below information. It is your responsibility to adhere to the below deadlines and process. Failure to adhere to this process may result in being waitlisted for housing spaces, such as singles, as those who meet the deadline and follow the process are prioritized. All SAS auto renewals or new housing accommodations are due by the priority deadline of March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
Submissions after this deadline will be prioritized after whose who submit by the priority deadline.
Request for Accessible Housing Accommodations & Treating Practitioner's Verification.
Current SAS Approved Housing Accommodations
You will be able to auto-renew your current SAS approved housing accommodations. You may do so by following completing the SAS Housing Accommodations Renewal 2025-2026 Google form. As a part of this process, you may opt to stay in your current space for the 2025-2026 academic year, also know as continued occupancy (CO). If you are CO'ing a double room (meaning a bedroom with two beds in it), you may also opt to pull in one direct roommate. Those CO'ing single rooms, including suite or apartment singles, and triple, quad, or quint spaces are not able to pull-in a roommate. If you are wishing to add new housing accommodations to your current approved SAS housing accommodations, you must follow the below steps for new accommodations as well as auto-renewing your current accommodations.
New SAS Housing Accommodations
- Complete Initial Registration
- The initial registration form is located on the Clockwork portal. Use your RWU Microsoft email to log into Clockwork. Please upload documentation under question 9.
- Please complete the Residential Accommodation Request Clinician form if you are requesting a Housing/Residential Life Accommodation(s).
- Wait for Communication
- You will receive communication if you are all set to proceed to step 3, or guidance if additional documentation is needed.
- Enrollment Meeting
- Schedule an enrollment meeting with SAS to engage in an interactive process.
Have questions regarding the housing accommodations approval process, medical documentation, clockwork, and ESA registration, call SAS at (401) 264-3841.
Have questions about the SAS placement process, auto-renewal process, staying in your current space, and roommate pull-ins, call Residence Life & Housing at (401) 254-3161.
Please follow these steps to Participate in the SAS Housing Process for 2025-2026:
- Pay your $350 Housing Deposit and Complete your Housing Contract (Fall 2025) through the Student Account Center by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
- Complete your Housing Application AND indicate interest in the CO process by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm
Here’s what takes place once the documentation is reviewed and approved by SAS:
- Students receive an e-mail from SAS containing the specific accommodation(s) that has been approved.
- The approved accommodation information will be shared with the Department of Residence Life and Housing.
- Students will be placed in an assignment that meets the criteria of the approved accommodation.
- Students will receive an email from Residence Life and Housing notifying them of their assignment on a rolling basis beginning the week of March 22nd. Students will have the opportunity to decline the placement and at that time they will need to select a space through the Housing Selection Process or through the CO process (below).
- Students who are approved for a unit with a shared accommodations will be able to pull-in one (1) friend into their direct bedroom.
- In an effort to promote equity across the board, we will not be allowing students who are approved for a single room to pull-in any student into their unit. Guidance will be provided to affected students once assigned to the space.
The Single Room Housing Selection Process is for students who wish to see available single rooms during their housing selection timeslot. The Single Room Selection Process is no longer separate. If you select this option on your housing application, you will have access to view and select from any open single spaces during your designated time, along with all spaces available for general priority selection.
Please note: Single rooms are VERY limited, and there is a high chance that no spaces will be available when your timeslot opens. If you log into the selection portal and do not see any single rooms, that means they have all been taken. It is highly recommended that you have backup housing options in mind.
Please follow these steps to Participate in the Single Housing Room Selection Process for 2025-2026:
- Pay your $350 Housing Deposit and Complete your Housing Contract (Fall 2025) through the Student Account Center by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
- Complete your Housing Application AND indicate interest in the Single Housing Room Selection process by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
If these steps are not completed, you will not have access to single room options during selection.
The Triple Housing Selection Process is exclusively for groups of three students who wish to secure a triple room. Those who opt into this process will receive a housing selection timeslot before general selection, giving them an early opportunity to secure a triple space. If you are unable to secure a triple during this phase, you will still be eligible to participate in general housing selection, allowing time to explore other options.
Please note: Residence Life and Housing will determine which spaces are available for triple selection. Room density cannot be adjusted to accommodate groups of three, only designated triple spaces will be available.
Please follow these steps to Participate in the Triple Housing Selection Process for 2025-2026:
- Pay your $350 Housing Deposit and Complete your Housing Contract (Fall 2025) through the Student Account Center by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm.
- Complete your Housing Application AND indicate interest in the Triple Housing Selection process by March 17, 2025 at 5:00pm .
If even one person in the group does not meet these requirements, the entire group will be ineligible for triple selection.
Page last updated on February 25, 2025