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Returning Student Room Selection FAQ

Welcome to the Returning Student Room Selection FAQ page! Here, you'll find answers to common questions about the room selection process for returning students. Whether you're curious about important dates, eligibility requirements, or how to make the best choice for your living situation, we've got you covered. Our goal is to make your selection process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. 

If you don't find the information you need here, feel free to reach out to our office for further assistance. 

Can I hold a space for a friend that is transferring to OHIO?

Unfortunately, spaces cannot be held for students who have not yet been admitted to Ohio University. 

Can I select a room and pull in a first-year student?

Unfortunately, due to our first-year, second year, and upperclass hall configurations, incoming first year students are not eligible to be pulled in to a second-year or upperclass space.

Transfer students can be pulled in by returning students, if the transfer student is admitted and has completed their housing application and paid their deposit. You will be able to request the student as a roommate prior to selecting a room. As long as the roommate request is mutual, when you select a room, you will pull the new student into the space with you. There is limited availability in mixed student halls where first- and second-year students may reside together. For more information contact Housing and Residence Life at  housing@ohio.edu .

Can I select a room without a roommate request?

Yes, students can select into any room on campus with an available space. However, we do recommend that if you are selecting randomly into a double or suite style space, that you look for rooms that already have a student that has selected into the space. Housing and Residence Life will be actively consolidating students into same room type spaces to allow for roommate groups to remain together while selecting.

How are room selection dates and times determined?

Room selection dates and times are randomly assigned through a computer generated system. The decision to randomly assign selection dates/times was recommended by students and endorsed by Student Senate to ensure an equitable and bias free process for all students.

How does selecting a room with roommates work?

Students within a matched roommate group will each have a designated date and time to select a room. The student with the earliest date/time should complete the selection for the matched group. Once the student with the earliest selection date/time selects a room, all matched roommate(s) will be pulled into the room as well

It is the responsibility of all students to verify they have been pulled into the correct room after their roommate has selected a room.

I am interested in Gender Inclusive Housing or the Pride Experiential Living Opportunity, what should I do?

Students interested in expanded gender inclusive housing options should visit their   Housing Self-Service page and update their My Personal Information section. This section allows for students to designate interest in gender inclusive housing options. Students with desired roommates should also ensure that their roommates have updated their My Personal Information . All students who indicate interest in gender inclusive housing will be added to a separate room selection process.

Students interested in the Pride Experiential Living Opportunity must apply for an assignment within the community. Applications will open in the beginning of February. Applications for consideration are due prior to selection. After the initial deadline, we recommend you select a room elsewhere during room selection while your application is reviewed. If you do not participate in a room selection and are manually assigned, you will be able to remain in that space until your application is processed. If you are selected for the Pride Experiential Living Opportunity, Housing and Residence Life will complete a room change for you into a Pride assignment at that time.  

If you are wanting another student as your roommate, be sure to indicate this on your Pride Experiential Living Opportunity application. Housing and Residence Life will attempt to pair you with your desired roommate if possible. Roommates must complete an application as well.

Visit the Experiential Living Opportunities page for more information on Gender Inclusive Housing and the Pride Experiential Living Opportunity.

Should I select a room if I am applying to become a Resident Advisor (RA)?

Students applying to become an RA should complete a housing application, pay the deposit, and select a room. For those students who are hired, you will be reassigned into your staff room once you have officially been extended a position.

Should I select a room if I am interested in residing in a recognized fraternity or sorority?

No. Students wishing to reside in a recognized fraternity or sorority facility will need to complete a Sorority and Fraternity Life Exemption Request beginning December 2 to determine eligibility.

You can find the Sorority and Fraternity Life Exemption Request on your  Housing Self-Service  after completing a second-year student housing contract. Once Housing and Residence Life receives notice from the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life that you met the criteria for exemption, you will be released from the housing and dining contract to reside in the recognized fraternity or sorority house. Students seeking an exemption to reside in their Greek affiliated facility should not sign a lease until they receive approval of their request.

Students who complete a Sorority and Fraternity Life Exemption Request will automatically be removed from all room selection processes. Students can request to be re-added to the room selection process, however students who select or are pulled into a room will forfeit their $200 deposit if approved to reside in a recognized Greek facility.

Students who submit a housing contract, pay a deposit, and then decide to reside in a recognized Greek house will receive a refund of their $200 deposit as long as the request for exemption is made by February 26 and do not select or are not pulled into a room during selection. Exemption requests received after this date will not be eligible for a deposit refund.

What about roommate groups of four people total?

Four person rooms (Bromley, Carr, Luchs, Tanaka, and Sowle) typically will not remain available for selection past the first two days of the selection process. 

Mod style facilities consisting of adjacent singles and doubles will be available to accommodate roommate groups with four people. To select into this option, you will need to use the sub-grouping feature. 

Students residing in suite style facilities (Adams/Bromley/Carr/Luchs/Tanaka/Sowle) are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms. Additionally, privacy locks are located on the inner side of the bathroom doors, but not located on the exterior side of the bathroom door, which allows access from one room to another through the connecting bathroom.

What if I chose the wrong room?

Immediately after selecting a room, your fall semester room selection will be listed on your Housing Self-Service overview and will be sent to your OHIO email account.

Students who inadvertently selected the wrong room can contact Housing and Residence Life ( housing@ohio.edu ) on the same day to request their selection be cancelled (along with any roommates that were pulled in). Students will be entered back into the selection process and must repeat the process of adding/confirming roommates prior to selecting another room. 

Please note requesting to be removed and added back into the selection process can take up to 48 business hours and availability of rooms will change once added back in.

Why can't I see all the rooms available in Housing Self-Service?

Students will only be able to view those rooms available on campus that can accommodate their entire roommate group and rooms corresponding to their genders. Additional options can be viewed by sub-grouping during the room selection process or breaking up your matched group.

For example, a matched group of two will not see any singles on campus as these cannot accommodate two students.

Will there be different rates for the rooms available to returning, transfer, and upperclass students?

At Ohio University, we are committed to affordability, predictability and cost transparency through our OHIO Guarantee model. This model provides level-rate tuition, housing, dining, and fees that are locked in for 12 consecutive semesters. The OHIO Guarantee model is cohort based. For more information on your OHIO Guarantee cohort, view our rates webpage .

Please note that s tudents who choose to reside in River's Edge, River Gate, or River Park will be charged the super single rate based on their OHIO Guarantee cohort and apartment occupancy per bedroom. This charge includes all utilities and internet service. Charges will be assessed directly to the student’s account.   Students who are assigned into Housing master-leased spaces must also carry an associated residential meal plan.

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