As a returning student, how can I secure campus housing for 2013/2014?

Current campus residents who wish to return to campus housing in 2013/2014 must complete the online housing application between January 2 and February 1, 2013. The initial application only indicates interest in campus housing. Your application fee, prepayment and contract will not be submitted until spring 2013, when Housing and Residential Communities can confirm that we will have space available for you. Demand for campus housing will likely exceed supply, and some students who wish to return to campus housing in fall 2013 will not be able to. Students who can complete the entire application process by submitting the contract, application fee and prepayment will be notified shortly after the February 1 deadline, and they should be prepared to pay their $250.00 housing application fee and prepayment within the next week.

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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 year.

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When should I apply for campus housing for 2013/2014?

To be eligible for housing for 2013/2014, you must complete the online application between January 2 and February 1, 2013. In the event that not all returners who want housing can receive it, students will be prioritized by classification and application date. So, rising sophomores have priority over rising juniors, and they have priority over rising seniors. Within the group of rising sophomores, students will be prioritized by application date, so students are encouraged to submit their application as soon as it becomes available on January 2. If there is sufficient campus housing available to allow you to complete the contract, application fee and prepayment portion of the application, you will be contacted by e-mail right after the February 1 application deadline. Your application fee and prepayment will be due within approximately one week. Please note, we anticipate that some students who submit the initial housing application will not receive on-campus housing.

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What is the schedule for online room selection for next year?

Students who are able to complete the recontracting schedule and are eligible for online room selection will follow this schedule:

"Stay Put" (you wish to remain in the exact same space you live in now and are eligible to do so): 8:00 a.m. February 20-8:00 a.m. February 21. *If you wish to pull a roommate into any vacant space in your room or suite, you must stay put yourself on this day. If you do not choose this space, another student will be eligible to select it.

"Stay Put" roommate pull in (you chose your exact same space yesterday, and you will now pull a roommate into any vacant space(s) in your room): 8:00 a.m. February 21-8:00 a.m. February 22

Different Room, Same Community (you wish to move to a different room within your residence hall or related residence halls, e.g., change to another room in your building or move from one room in Highlands B to another room in Highlands C. During this room selection phase, Ridgecrest South Tower and Ridgecrest North Tower, all Highlands buildings, and all Bryce Lawn buildings are considered the same community.): 8:00 a.m. February 25-8:00 a.m. February 26

Rising Seniors, Different Room, Different Residence Hall:
8:00 a.m. February 26-11:59 p.m. March 1

Rising Juniors, Different Room , Different Residence Hall:
8:00 a.m. February 27-11:59 p.m. March 1

Rising Sophomores, Different Room, Different Residence Hall:
8:00 a.m. February 28-11:59 p.m. March 1

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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 an eligible roommate, you must have that student's Roommate Proxy Code, found on his/her housing application.

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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 search page.

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Why are returning students not guaranteed campus housing?

Demand for campus housing has grown over the last few years, with the growth in enrollment and greater appreciation of the convenience of campus housing. HRC is responding to campus growth with the construction of a new residence hall, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2014. The Tuscaloosa community has also responded to growth in the University's enrollment with many new apartment properties in the community, and HRC is supporting students' efforts to learn about off-campus housing and make educated decisions if they are choosing off-campus housing. Off-campus housing fairs will begin in October 2012. Please take advantage of these great opportunities to learn more about off-campus housing.

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Can I live anywhere I want next year?

The residence halls for which you will be eligible next year are determined in part by your gender, college, and where you live now. In order to select Honors Housing when you recontract, you must be living in Honors Housing, or Harris or Blount Halls, at the time of room selection in February. Additionally, because of space that must be maintained for incoming freshmen, only current residents of Presidential Village, Bryant, Ridgecrest South, Ridgecrest East and West, Lakeside and Riverside will be able to select those residence halls during room selection. As a freshman living-learning community, Harris Hall residents cannot return to that building next year. 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.

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Can I cancel my housing contract before school ends in May?

Housing contracts last from move-in, in August, through the end of the semester, in May (Bluff contracts last through July 31). The only reason we will cancel your contract is for withdrawal from school; 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.

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What happens if demand for housing exceeds available space?

If more students apply for housing by the application deadline than there is space available, some students will not be able to complete the recontracting process. If students must be "bumped" because of excess demand, those students will be placed on a waiting list for housing and accommodated in housing is space becomes available at a later date. Students who have housing scholarships or special medical need will not be removed from the recontracting process. Priority for on-campus housing is based on application date and classification, so rising sophomores will receive housing priority, beginning with those who submitted their housing application the soonest, followed by rising juniors and rising seniors, in application date order.

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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, must be submitted by February 1 for fall 2013. You must also meet all application and payment deadlines in order to be eligible for housing.

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What if I have a scholarship that covers my housing?

HRC will accommodate your need for housing, if you have a housing scholarship, but you must still meet all HRC application deadlines and you must pay the $250.00 housing deposit.

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What is the priority for online room selection?

Students who are eligible for housing for next year will receive the room selection schedule by e-mail, and it will be available on the HRC web site after the Winter Break. After allowing students to remain in their same spaces, if eligible, and allowing students to move around within their current building, priority to pick a room goes to rising seniors, then rising juniors, then rising sophomores.

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How do I recontract if currently doing a co-op, internship or study abroad experience?

You may still apply for housing for 2013/2014 online, but you must contact the HRC office to let staff know you wish to do so. Students in this situation must meet all HRC deadlines and will not receive greater priority for housing than other students. Room assignments for eligible students will be made by HRC staff in the spring.

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