ROOMMATES AND ROOMMATE CHANGES

ROOMMATES
The Office of Housing and Residential Life coordinates room assignments based on the information each student provides in their housing application. Every effort is made to accommodate the preferences of each individual student; however, we cannot guarantee that your preference will be accommodated. Therefore, living successfully with roommates requires flexibility and the willingness to communicate in an honest yet constructive manner. As individuals sharing a space can schedules, personalities, habits, stresses, and lifestyles, it is important that you approach every roommate situation with an open mind and willingness to collaborate to make the relationship positive and meaningful.

ROOMMATE AGREEMENTS
During Welcome Week and any time during the academic year you receive a new roommate, you and your roommates should discuss your expectations of living together and complete a Roommate Agreement form (to be given out by your RA, but also available on line on the housing web-page). By establishing ground rules early, roommates increase their chances of having a positive experience.

Take some time to discuss issues and get everything out in the open. By sharing your feelings and reactions on these topics, you will be ahead of the game in understanding and empathizing with each other during the ups and downs of everyday college life. When conflicts arise, reflecting on these topics and communicating openly can help resolve disputes before they become unsolvable. If you find yourselves faced with a particularly difficult situation, talk with your Resident Assistant, Hall Coordinator or Area Coordinator of Residential Education.

Things you and your roommates should talk about include:
• Cleanliness and cleaning schedules
• Locking windows and doors
• Whether or not to share food/cooking/shopping
• Use of or borrowing of each other’s personal property
• Sleeping and studying hours
• Having guests

In Serrano Village, residents are also asked to get together and complete suite agreements. Like the roommate agreement, suite agreements are intended to help residents make their living experience a positive one by having them discuss key issues.

Roommate/Suite Agreements

- Arrowhead and University Village Roommate Agreement

- Serrano Village Roommate Agreement

- Serrano Village Suite Agreement

FILLING VACANCIES IN EMPTY ROOM OR APARTMENT
It is the goal of the Office of Housing and Residential Life to fill vacancies immediately. Residents do not have the authority to refuse potential roommates. The Office of Housing and Residential Life will make every effort to notify you in advance (usually 48hours) of a new assignment to your room. Once notified, residents will be expected to clean the shared spaces (bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms, balconies) and make room in the refrigerator, kitchen and bathroom so that it is hospitable for a new roommate. Residents may be charged for unclean and unprepared common space, as well as, use of a vacant rooms.

ROOM CHANGE REQUESTS
Room and apartment changes are made only under exceptional circumstances. If a conflict arises within a living situation, all those involved are expected to make their best efforts to resolve the problem. Resident Assistants, Hall Coordinators and Area Coordinators are available to assist residents with roommate issues. Housing reserves the right (as per the license agreement) to temporarily or permanently relocate a student if deemed necessary to resolve a conflict. If a student is experiencing exceptional circumstances and wishes to change their housing assignment, the following guidelines apply:

Individuals interested in a change must first communicate existing issues to their respective RA, and with his/her assistance, work toward a resolution. Normally the RA will evaluate the situation and talk to residents involved in conflict. If needed, a mediation will be done with the RA and a roommate contract may be established.

A roommate contract is different from a roommate agreement in that items agreed and specified under contract are subject to judicial and administrative action under housing policy. Should a resident violate the contract administrative action, including but not limited to monetary fees, administrative relocation and/or housing removal can occur.

If after mediation and contract it becomes clear that conflict cannot be resolved, a room change request (link to room change request form) may be filed and a referral will be made to Area Coordinator of Residential Education for room change.

Things to Know:
• Room changes will be done between the start of the 3rd and the end of the 8th week of each quarter.
• Unauthorized room changes are not permitted. Residents in violation of this policy will be required to move back to their original rooms and are subject to disciplinary action and/or financial assessments (see “Policies” section in this handbook.)
• Individuals interested in a room change should note that there is an administrative fee for room changes. In addition, housing fees could increase / decrease based on new location.
• First Year students in SV will not be allowed to do room changes into non-first year student apartments in AV and UV until the 3rd week of their second quarter living in housing. Room changes will be done based on space availability and may be denied if student is not in good judicial standing.