Parents FAQ

Are freshmen required to live in campus housing?

The University of Alabama is committed to providing its students with a comprehensive educational experience.  Research has shown that for most first-year students, on-campus living has numerous educational and social benefits.  In recognition of the value of the living-learning experience associated with on-campus living, effective Fall 2006 the University will require all freshmen enrolled for nine or more hours to live on campus, unless exempt from that requirement. Click here for more information on the Freshman Residency Program.

 

How does an incoming freshman apply for housing for 2008/2009?

The application for housing for 2008/2009 is available online. At the time that your student applies for housing, s/he will select a residential community, give a residence hall gender preference, if any, request a roommate, if s/he chooses, and select a meal plan. After completing the application, your student will be asked to agree to the housing contract and to make a payment of $250.00. That payment consists of a $25.00 application fee and a $225.00 prepayment toward the fall rent. If you student decides not to attend The University of Alabama and cancels by July 1, 2008, the $225.00 prepayment will be refunded to you.

 

 

Can an incoming freshman pick a specific residence hall on the incoming student housing application?

On the housing application, your student will be able to select a residential community, which consists of several residence halls grouped together by location or environment.  Residence halls within a community may differ by room type, gender, and rate.  If your student is interested in a living-learning community, s/he will be able to select that particular program and will be linked to the online living-learning community application. 

 

What is the deadline for incoming freshmen to apply for housing?

The priority deadline for students who select a living-learning community, including Honors Housing, and students with special needs is March 1.  The preferred deadline for other incoming freshmen is April 1.

 

What should a current student do to return to campus housing the following year?
A current resident who wishes to return to campus housing should recontract for housing by March 1, 2008.  The housing application for current residents will be available online from approximately January 30-March 1.  The $250.00 deposit is due at the time the student recontracts.  The online room selection process will be available only for students who have recontracted by the deadline.  More information will be available for current students beginning in November.

When will incoming freshmen receive their housing assignment?

Incoming freshmen will receive notification of their building assignment in June.

 

What should I do if my student plans to move off campus next year?

If your student will not live in campus housing next year, s/he should not participate in the online recontracting process. You do not need to inform Housing and Residential Communities.

 

Is a Meal Plan required for students living on campus?

The Freshman Dining Program requires that freshmen living in campus housing have a Dining Option.  Upper-class students may purchase a Dining Option is they choose.  For more information about Dining Options, go to www.bamadining.com.

 

How do students living on campus receive mail?

Our residence halls do not have mailboxes, so students who wish to receive mail should rent a mailbox at the Ferguson Center.  The Ferguson Center Post Office is a full-service location offering complete mail services, post office box rentals, mail orders, and express shipping.  Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For information about sending a package to your student, click here.

 

What should my student do if he or she has a maintenance request?

Students should submit maintenance requests through http://housing.ua.edu.  The work order request is accessed from a Quick Link on the Home Page.

 

Why is my student’s residence hall room hot or cold?

Most University residence halls operate on a two or four pipe system for heating and cooling.  Two-pipe buildings include Burke, Parham, Paty, Somerville, Palmer, Friedman, Harris, and Tutwiler.  The Blount Living-Learning Center is a four-pipe system.  Other residence halls and apartments have heating/cooling units.  Buildings on the two-pipe system are cooled and heated by large fans that blow air across these pipes, which are circulating water.  When the buildings are being cooled, the water inside the pipes is chilled.   When the building is being heated, the water inside the pipes is heated by a large boiler.  Because of the time and expense involved in switching between cooled and heated water, the switch is made a very limited number of times, based upon weather forecasts.  For more detailed information on heating and cooling, click here.