Housing Reservation Process Overview

Transcription

1 Housing Reservation Process Overview The Housing Reservation Process selection begins in March. We recommend that you begin thinking seriously about where and with whom you would like to live next fall. To help you prepare, we provide some important points. The Housing Office strongly encourages you to participate AND secure a room through one of the phases of the Housing Reservation Process. For students not obligated to the two-year housing requirement, failure to participate and select a room or apartment result in your not securing University housing for the coming year. Upon completion of the Housing Reservation Process we will know if we will be able to accept housing applications from returning students. NEW Features Slocum Heights One-Bedroom Apartments allocated to undergraduate housing will expand and now include buildings 101, 560, 570 and 580. Opt-Out of participation in the Housing Reservation Process. Upperclassmen who have fulfilled their University housing requirement at the end of spring 2010 and know they will not require University housing for the academic year can Opt-Out of participation in the Housing Reservation Process on-line through MySlice. See Opt-Out for details. Gender Neutral Roommate selection will be allowed during Phase 3: 2-Person Apartments and Suites. See: Gender Neutral Housing Option for details. Lawrinson Hall Renovations This summer the 12 th through the 15 th floors will be renovated similarly to the 16 th through the 20 th floors 1-person bathrooms replacing group bathrooms. This allows for coed floors replacing the single-gender floor arrangement. There will also be laundry facilities on each renovated floor. Updated floor plans will be provided at before the start of the reservation process. Two-Year Housing Requirement Ramifications for Failure to Select a Room Syracuse University first-and second-year students are required to live in University housing. A limited number of exemptions are allowed for those moving to fraternities and sororities in fall Information about this process is available from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. If you have lived with us for less than three semesters, you have a housing requirement for an additional year. You are expected to participate in the Housing Reservation Process. If you fail to select a room during the Housing Reservation Process and register for classes for the coming year, you will be assessed the residency requirement fee - comparable to a two bedroom apartment rate for EACH OF THE REMAINING SEMESTERS OF YOUR TWO-YEAR HOUSING REQUIREMENT.

2 Road Shows Housing Office staff will make a presentation and answer your questions related to the HRP on the evenings of February 15 th through the 18 th at the following locations and times. Monday, 2/15 Boland Hall main lounge 6PM-7PM Tuesday, 2/16 Flint Hall main lounge 6PM-7PM Wednesday, 2/17 Ernie Davis Hall main lounge 6PM-7PM Thursday, 2/18 Lawrinson Hall penthouse 6PM-7PM Tuesday, 3/23 Graham Dining Center 12PM-1PM Wednesday, 3/24 Ernie Davis Dining Center 12PM-1PM Thursday, 3/25 Shaw Dining Center 12PM-1PM *Please note that we will also have a HRP resource table set-up outside our office in the 2 nd floor Steele Hallway where staff members will answer questions at various dates/times throughout the process. Times will be announced in January. Importance of Your University Syracuse University s policy requires that all official University communications be sent to your syr.edu address. You are personally responsible for maintaining your account within the allotted space quota. If you exceed your quota all of your incoming mail will be bounced back to senders. You are expected to maintain your account and check your daily so new mail is properly received and read. Your failure to receive and read University communications mailed to your official address in a timely manner does not absolve you from knowing and complying with the content of such communications. notification will be used extensively (25+ s) during the Housing Reservation Process. Therefore we must emphasize your responsibility to monitor your s quota, ensuring receipt of all official . For information on monitoring your s quota, visit: Opt Out Not planning to participate? Don t want a bill for $400 sent home? Don t want to receive all those s? Opt-Out! Upperclassmen who have fulfilled their University housing requirement at the end of the spring 2010 semester and know they will not require University housing for the academic year can Opt-Out of participation in the Housing Reservation Process. By opting-out you remove your name from eligibility for participation in the Housing Reservation Process and all Housing Reservation Process mailings ($400 advance housing payment billing sent to your billing address in late January, and ings (25+) sent to eligible participants throughout the process). HOW TO OPT-OUT : Student s eligible to opt-out of the Housing Reservation Process will be identified and notified via to their syr.edu when the on-line opt-out process is made available in January. The opt-out process will be accessed through MySlice-Housing and Meal Plans. Eligible students will simply select Opt-Out from the MyHousing page index. A confirmation of your opt-out decision will be ed to your syr.edu address. PLEASE NOTE: This feature is disabled during each phase s roommate and room selection period.

3 Gender Neutral Housing Option Effective fall 2010, Syracuse University will pilot gender neutral housing for returning second, third, and fourth year students. This means students may select roommates of the same or different gender as their roommate during the roommate selection period for Phase 3 of the Housing Reservation Process. This opportunity will be limited in compliance with the following conditions: Gender-Neutral Housing Policy This will be offered as a choice for students participating ONLY during the roommate selection period for Phase 3: 2-Person Suites and Apartments. Students must be eligible participants in the Housing Reservation Process (HRP) Students must meet all scheduled deadlines for Phase 3. Gender neutral roommate selection will NOT be offered after the completion of the roommate selection period for Phase 3: 2-Person Suites and Apartments. A mutual roommate selection (matching roommate choice) between students of opposite genders and the selection of a room or apartment during Phase 3 of the Housing Reservation Process acknowledges that both students agree to abide by the gender-neutral housing policies as stated here. If unassigned at the end of Phase 3, roommate selections will be reset and students will no longer be allowed to select gender-neutral roommates for the remainder of the Housing Reservation Process. ONCE ASSIGNED to a gender-neutral apartment or suite: If, after selecting a room with an opposite-gender roommate, a student cancels their housing or moves from the assigned room or apartment, the remaining student has the opportunity to identify a friend to fill the vacancy. The remaining resident must communicate with the Housing Office the identity of their friend in a timely manner. The timetable for this will vary, dependent upon the time of year and housing priorities in effect at that time. In the event the remaining student does not identify a roommate of their choice in a timely manner, the Housing Office will reassign the vacancy to a student of the same gender as the remaining resident. Students are encouraged to communicate their decision to live in gender neutral housing with their family.

4 Eligibility to Participate The Housing Reservation Process is a privilege afforded to residents of University housing and students returning from SU Abroad programs and COOP/Internship meeting the qualifications listed below. Eligible participants choose their housing for the upcoming academic year ahead of applicants. Students residing off campus, or not attending (on leave of absence) during spring 2010 are not eligible to participate. Four conditions must be met to qualify for participation in the Housing Reservation Process. Failure to meet all criteria and the deadlines associated with them prevents access to the on-line Housing Reservation Process: 1. YOU MUST BE A CANDIDATE: Candidates are from three possible groups A. Spring 2010 registered University housing residents B. Spring 2010 participants in SU Abroad programs/coop/internship who resided in University housing in the semester immediately preceding their SU Abroad/COOP/Internship semester. Fall 2009 residents who cancelled their spring 2010 housing to participate in their program away from campus were asked to identify their desire to participate by checking the appropriate box on the housing cancellation form completed prior to their departure. If they did not check the box on their cancellation form, they must housing (housing@syr.edu) to request participation. The Housing Office will confirm eligibility and they will participate along with current residents. They must also complete step 2 and step 3 below. C. Fall 2010 new SU student. You may name a specific incoming SU first-year, or SU transfer student as your roommate. SU first-year students may NOT be indicated as future roommates in Walnut, Washington Arms, Watson, South Campus apartments, Ernie Davis, or Skyhalls. You may include an SU transfer student in your roommate groupings in any undergraduate student housing. New students (incoming freshmen and transfers) must submit an to housing@syr.edu indicating their preference to reside with the returning student. They must include their SUID number - or the last for digits of their social security number if they do not know their new SUID number, your name and your SUID number. Housing Office staff will act as their proxy and be responsible for making their roommate selection(s) on-line and making them eligible for you to select as your preferred roommate. HOWEVER If you are anticipating requesting a room with additional roommates, (i.e. a 4-person suite or 3-bedroom apartment) they (your new student) must also the names of the other individuals in order for us to select them on your new student s behalf as preferred roommates. You must come to the Housing Office and complete a pull-in information sheet instructing us which phase(s) you will participate and with whom. Roommate requirements vary among the phases so you must provide the names and SUID numbers of all possible roommate combinations you wish to have us request on your new student s behalf.

5 2. YOUR $400 ADVANCE HOUSING PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010: With the exception of candidates who indicate they wish to Opt Out of participation, notices are mailed in late January to the billing address of each eligible candidate. Payments received by the Bursar Office are recorded by the Housing Office the following morning. Friday payments are recorded on Monday. See below for alternate payment options. 3. YOU MUST AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STUDENT HOUSING: This is a one-time requirement done on-line through MySlice. You will have access to this screen once you are a confirmed candidate. When you agree, the date and time is recorded. Each phase of the process has an associated deadline for agreeing to the Terms and Conditions. There is no exception to posted deadlines associated with each phase. 4. YOU MUST NOT ALREADY HAVE A ROOM ASSIGNMENT FROM AN EARLIER PHASE: Once assigned to a bed, you are no longer eligible to participate. $400 received by March 2 to Participate During the third week of January a bill for the $400 advance housing payment will be sent to the billing address of each University housing resident and those eligible participants in SU Programs Abroad, on COOP or Internship who, prior to their departure, indicated they wished to participate. The advance housing payment must be posted to your MySlice account, or your deferment request (see below) must be approved by the Housing Office, NO LATER THAN MARCH 2 to allow participation. It s important for you to communicate your housing plans to the person responsible for paying your University bill to ensure receipt by the deadline. We encourage you to check your MySlice account online for confirmation of receipt of the fall 2010 housing advance. The University reserves the right to restrict or withhold participation in the Housing Reservation Process to any student whose payment is received after the payment deadline of March 2. Deferment: An approved deferment of your advance housing payment means you are 70% financially supported with grants, loans or scholarship and are not required to make the advance housing payment of $400. In addition, you agree to abide by deferment and cancellation conditions as explained on the request you will submit. Housing Reservation Process candidates whose financial aid awards total 70 percent of their University room, board, tuition, and fees for spring 2010 may request a deferment of the advance housing payment on-line through MyHousing, accessed via MySlice. Requests for a deferment are verified for qualification. You are sent an confirming or denying your eligibility within 7 business days of receipt of your request. If you are unsure of your eligibility, you should plan to submit a deferment request at least seven business days prior to the payment deadline. This will allow sufficient time to meet the payment deadline in the event your request is denied.

6 Credit: If you have a credit balance on your SU Bursar account which you would like to apply towards the advance housing payment you must: (1.) YOU MUST: Request, through the Bursar Office, that a credit on your account be applied to the fall 2010 semester s advance housing payment. Your request is subject to Bursar Office confirmation a credit exists and they must authorize its allocation for the fall 2010 housing advance. (2.) THE BURSAR OFFICE notifies the Housing Office via of an approved credit allocation for the advance housing payment. Prior Semesters in Housing Determines Lottery number A random lottery number will be generated for eligible participants based upon the number of prior semesters (fall or spring) the student resided in University housing. To have a semester count toward prior semesters in housing, a student must have resided in University housing for a minimum of 85 percent of the semester. The following DO NOT COUNT toward prior semesters in housing: Spring 2010 semester ASummer sessions Semesters where residency terminated before satisfying the 85% residency requirement The range of numbers associated with prior semesters in housing will be as follows: 8 or more prior semesters prior semesters prior semesters prior semesters 801-2,100 4 prior semesters 2,101-2,350 3 prior semesters 2,351-5,350 2 prior semesters 5,351-5,650 1 prior semester 5,651-9,650 0 prior semesters 9,651-10,050 Lottery numbers are recorded in the Housing Office and are not transferable to another student. Your lottery number will be displayed on the HOME/OVERVIEW page. Keep in mind that the lottery number of one participant may provide a minimal advantage since the reservation process gives priority to filling rooms by averaging lottery numbers of roommates. Seven Opportunities to select: The Housing Reservation Process consists of learning community and six-person suite placement, followed by six on-line phases. Before the start of the reservation process and based upon the Office of Admission s projections, rooms are set aside for new students.

7 PAPER FORM: (non-web based) Learning Communities and 6-person suites - this is a manual (paper) phase. Learning community and lifestyle options and the two six-person suites in Watson Hall - are assigned first. Students interested in communities must apply and be accepted to their requested learning communities or the LIFE community before submitting a Learning Communities Placement Request Form. Information and applications for communities are available in January from the learning community s web site: lc.syr.edu. If approved for residence in a community, housing will be notified of your eligibility for submission of a Phase 1 Request Form, available only from the Housing Office. Eligibility does not ensure space availability. Learning communities and lifestyle option rooms are not available after this phase. WEB BASED: Phase 1: 1-person options Undergraduate Singles, 1-person apartments and 1-person suites Graduate 1-person apartments Phase 2: 4-person and 3-person living opportunities (must fill to capacity) Undergraduate 4-person suites, open quads, 3-person suites, open triples, and 3-bedroom apartments Phase 3: 2 person suites and 2-bedroom apartments (must fill to capacity) Undergraduate 2-person suites and apartments. NEW: Students will be permitted to select a roommate of the same or opposite gender during the roommate selection process for this phase only! Phase 4: Splits and Open doubles (must fill to capacity) Current SU first-year students obligated to the 2-year housing requirement ONLY. This phase allows CURRENT SU first-year students, who can fill rooms to capacity with other CURRENT SU first-year students, to select open doubles and split doubles ahead of upperclassmen to ensure fulfillment of their twoyear housing requirement. Phase 5: Splits and Open doubles (must fill to capacity) Students with roommates select from a limited number of remaining open doubles and split doubles. LIMITED AVAILABILITY Phase 6: Students without roommates (DO NOT have to fill) Students without roommates select from a limited number of remaining rooms. Students wishing to participate in this phase with a roommate can select roommates during the on-line roommate selection period for this phase. Lottery numbers are NOT averaged for this phase. If you wish to select with a roommate, your selection time will be determined by the lowest lottery number of you and your roommate(s) LIMITED AVAILABILITY

8 Averaging Learning Communities and 6-person suites For one-person accommodations, priority is given to lowest lottery number. For multiple-person accommodations, averaging of student s lottery numbers within the roommate grouping is calculated with priority given to lowest average. Student groups that can fill a room to capacity receive priority over groups or individuals who cannot. Phases 1 through 5 Phase 6 For one-person accommodations, selection times are allocated with earliest times going to lowest lottery numbers. For multiple-person accommodations, first, the average of the roommate grouping s lottery numbers is calculated, then, selection times are allocated with earliest times going to lowest averages. No averaging takes place for phase 6. Priority in selection times is given to lowest lottery number or lowest lottery number of you or your roommate if you identify a roommate during the roommate selection period for phase 6. How do friends select rooms NEAR each other? Students hoping to be placed in close proximity to their friends must coordinate their selection times. Each roommate pairing will have their lottery numbers averaged and a selection time assigned. Friends must share their selection times to determine an overlapping time when all are eligible to be on-line. Example: Group A wishes to live in a two-bedroom apartment on South Campus, as close as possible to Group B. Group A has a selection time of 10 p.m. on April 7 that runs until the end of Phase 3. Group B has a selection time of 9:30 p.m. on. April 8 that runs through the end of Phase 3. In this instance, everyone is eligible to select as of 9:30 p.m. on April 8. Both groups could then view and select from the same pool of available rooms.

9 Syracuse University Learning Communities You are invited to consider becoming involved in one of the limited number of special living opportunities for returning undergraduates designed to enhance your educational experience at Syracuse University. Learning communities and lifestyle options allow students with similar interests an informal opportunity to share their interests while living together. Detailed descriptions of the communities are available from the learning community s web site: lc.syr.edu. Virtual Tours A virtual tour of South Campus two-bedroom apartments (Winding Ridge Road), three-bedroom apartments (Small Road), open doubles (Sadler Hall), split doubles (Sadler Hall), large open doubles (Walnut Hall), two-person suites (Booth Hall), and four-person suites (Booth Hall), are available on our web site: housingmealplans.syr.edu. Roommate Finder Beginning Monday, February 15, 2010 the Housing Office will open and maintain a Facebook account entitled Cusehousing Roommatefinder. This site will allow students that do not have a roommate the opportunity to search on Facebook for a roommate before the actual phases of the reservation process begin. During phases 2 through 5 of the process, priority is given to those students that can fill a room/apartment to capacity. Therefore roommate(s) must be found and secured for participation in those phases of the process. In an effort to help students faced with the dilemma of not having a roommate for the academic year, they may log into Facebook and submit a friend request to Cusehousing Roommatefinder. Before accepting a friend request, Housing Office staff verify the student is eligible for participation in the HRP. Once accepted, students are able to chat with each other on the wall and send messages related to their housing plans with the hopes of finding a roommate. Prior Year s Results Annual changes make prior years results misleading. Therefore we do not provide them. For example: (1) The lottery number ranges change annually to accommodate varying group sizes. (2) New student hold space varies annually based upon Admission s projections. (3) Annual renovation/construction venues skew annual selection. (4) Learning Community locations fluctuate from year to year. Off-Campus Cancellation Students not obligated to the University s two-year housing requirement who reserve rooms during the reservation process may cancel their reservation to reside off campus through Monday, May 3. After May 3, the academic year housing commitment is financially binding regardless of class standing, unless a student withdraws from the University.