Incoming Student FAQ
Room AssignmentsWhat is my room assignment? When will I receive it?Room assignments are made in July, and written confirmation of your assignment will be made available on the Class website by the end of the first week of August. This confirmation information includes details regarding which residence hall and room you will be living in, your campus address, the name(s) of your roommates, and your meal plan. Who is my roommate? Can I contact my roommate before I move in?If you have one or more roommates, those names and postal mailing addresses will appear on your room assignment confirmation. We encourage you to contact your roommate directly to begin to get to know one another and plan for what kind of communal items you each may choose to bring (e.g. refrigerator, tv). If your roommate(s) has claimed their CNet ID (UChicago email account), we will also include that email address on your confirmation notice. It is our policy to not share phone numbers. Can I see my room before I move in?No - the residence halls are closed to students until the move-in date. Can I change my assignment before the move-in date?No. Students may not change their room assignments prior to the academic year, or for the first three weeks of Autumn Quarter. You can learn more specific information about the room change process after your arrival. Why wasn't I assigned to my first, second or third choice residence hall?The room assignment process was based on a combination of the date your housing application was received and a random lottery for those applications received on the same day. If you did not receive one of your choices of residence halls, there were no spaces left at the time that we made your assignment. While not everyone received their first choice of residence, every effort was made to accommodate your preferences. Additionally, if you and another student mutually requested one another as roommates, your housing assignment was made based on the date that the latest of the two applications was received. When will I be billed for my room and board?Late in August you will receive a bill for Autumn Quarter, which includes room and board fees. This bill is mailed from the Office of the Bursar. What is the Class Fee on my student bill?Please see the Office of the Bursar website for information about fees and charges on your student billing statement. Moving InWho is included in the term "new student"?A "new student" is any undergraduate student matriculating at the University of Chicago. New students include first-year and transfer students. For new students, what is the move-in date?For 2009-10, new students may move into their residence halls on Sunday, September 20 beginning at 12:00PM, noon. Can I move in early?No student may move into or occupy his or her assigned room before 12:00PM on Sunday, September 20. If you are planning to arrive in Chicago before September 20, please make appropriate lodging reservations in the city in advance. In advance of my move-in date, can I ship things to my residence hall?Yes. If you are planning to ship your luggage and belongings in advance, you may send them prepaid to arrive after September 8. If we receive items prior to September 8, they will be returned to sender. Please address all shipments to yourself at your residence hall address and mark them HOLD FOR ARRIVAL SEPTEMBER 20. Any items received after September 8 and before the opening of the halls will be stored in the storage room of your hall. When you arrive you may claim your belongings from the storage room. Residence Halls and FurnishingsWhere is my residence hall?For a map of residence halls, please click here. These pages include street maps, addresses, and details about your residence hall. What is my residence hall's address?Your residence hall's address is indicated on your room assignment. Alternately, you can find your hall's address using the residence hall map. What size is my room?The House System contains an amazing variety of room types. For this reason, we are unable to provide information in advance about specific rooms. For approximate room sizes, please see your residence hall's page. What will the University provide in my room?All rooms are furnished with a bed, dresser or equivalent, desk, chair, corded telephone, book shelving, and lighting. What about the window coverings?All residence hall rooms have some form of window treatments - blinds, shades or curtains. Will I have a private bathroom?Blackstone, Broadview, Max Palevsky, Stony Island and the student apartments in South Campus Residence Hall offer private bathrooms that are shared by up to a maximum of 4 people.,
What should I bring for my room?At a minimum, blankets, bed linens (to fit an extra-long twin mattress, 36" x 80" - Pierce only 36" x 75"), pillows, toiletries, and towels are required. For buildings with private bathrooms, students also need to provide toilet paper and non-abrasive cleaning supplies. Can I bring a small appliance like a microwave, coffee maker, or refrigerator?The University of Chicago has established policies regarding the use of heat-producing appliances. For safety and sanitary reasons, cooking appliances are not permitted in rooms not equipped with kitchens installed by the University (Blackstone, Stony Island and South Campus apartments). Refrigerators 4.0 cubic feet and under are allowed in all rooms. Microfridges (microwave/refrigerator units that are approved for our buildings) may be rented during the first few weeks. I would like to bring a computer. What will work in my room?For recommendations and specifications, please see the Orientation Information for New Students page. Can I stay in my room over the break periods?Only residents of South Campus Residence Hall may occupy their rooms during break periods (except summer). If you live in any other hall, you must plan to leave by the closing date and time as all the other halls are closed to residents during interim periods. However, non-South Campus residents may receive permission from South Campus residents to reside in their South Campus room during the interim periods while they are away. There is a form to complete. Resident Heads will announce the timeline/deadline several weeks prior to the end of each quarter. Dining and Meal PlansWhere will I eat?Each House has been assigned a House Table in one of the three dining commons. To find your dining commons assignment, view the House Tables page. Am I required to have a board contract?All residents of the House System are required to have a board contract. All new students are assigned the Unlimited Residential Meal Plan. For more information on our community based dining program and the board plan requirement, please see our dining page. Can I change my assigned board contract?There is only one meal plan for new students - the Unlimited Residential Meal Plan. What if I have special dietary needs?BusesI will be living in the Broadview. How will I get to campus?The University has a partnership with the Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) to provide buses that operate throughout the Hyde Park community in transporting University students, faculty and staff, free of charge with their University ID, all around the neighborhood and campus. For more information, see the Buses website. Is general transportation available to the main quadrangles and around the neighborhood?Yes. During the day, the University of Chicago and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) have partnered to provide neighborhood buses that are free to students with their University ID card. In the evenings, the University operates night buses from the main quadrangles, with routes serving all residence halls. For more information, please see the Buses website. Other ConcernsIf I have other concerns, whom can I call or email?If your question was not answered by this site, the Office of Undergraduate Student Housing staff is available to answer your questions. For contact information, please see the Contact Us page. |
