Residential Life Frequently Asked Questions

MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is the first-time freshman on-campus living expectation?
Research, both nationally and locally, continues to show that students who live on campus for at least the first year of their collegiate career transition more easily to campus life, are retained at higher rates than students who live off-campus, graduate faster, are more involved in co-curricular activities and are more connected to the university community. In accordance with those beliefs, Arizona State University has an expectation that first time freshmen live in ASU campus residential facilities.

Why is ASU adopting this policy?
Research shows that one of the key factors impacting a university student’s success is his/her living arrangements. Key results show that students housed on campus achieve a substantially higher grade point average, participate in more co-curricular activities on campus and in the community, have a higher degree of satisfaction with their college experience, are more likely to return to college the following year, and are more likely to persist through to graduation.

Why are students who live on campus more successful?
University Housing is committed to the academic and personal success of those students who live in the residential facilities. By providing welcoming and inclusive living and learning environments, we contribute to that success through increased accessibility to classrooms, faculty, advisors, upper-division mentors and peer groups, supportive living communities through residential colleges, specialized social and academic activities tailored to meet the needs of each specific community, academic support, tutoring, study groups, leadership and success coaching, opportunities to cultivate a sense of belonging, and to build lasting relationships with faculty, residence hall staff and peers, and other students who share academic and personal interests.

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CONFIRMATION OF LIVING AND DINING OPTIONS AND APPLICATIONS:

What is the Housing Living and Dining Options process for first-time freshmen?
Upon admission to ASU, new incoming freshmen are automatically defaulted to a basic housing living and dining option:

• Defaulted to a FYRE community living option
• Defaulted to Payment Plan 1 - two payments per academic year: 7/25 for fall and 12/25 for spring
• Defaulted to dining plan option of 14 meals per week plus $300 M&G (Tempe and Downtown) or $780 M&G per semester (Poly and West) *subject to change
  
  Additional housing information and next steps will be provided online directly through the student ASU email account to assist confirmation/modification of pre-selected options (see below).

The student will then need to:

• Authenticate ASURITE ID by logging onto www.asu.edu/myasu
• Go to www.asu.edu/housing to confirm and/or modify pre-selected housing living and dining options, add services, or request an exemption
• Pay Living & Dining Confirmation payment - $125.00, which will have been charged to the student’s account. This applies to students who confirm and modify their preferences. Students who apply for an exemption will not be expected to make payment. Students may choose to defer payment if receiving financial aid
• Look for the University Housing confirmation of options sent via e-mail and US mail

Is there any space left in the residence halls?
There is a high demand for university housing, and space is filling quickly, but we do have the capacity to house all first-year students. There is no guarantee of assignment for transfer or upper-division students..

Is there a Living and Dining Confirmation deadline?
No. As first year students are admitted by the Office of Admissions, a basic Housing living and dining option is created for each student. However, priority housing is provided to students who are admitted early.

On the Living and Dining Confirmation, what is a Community preference?
Residential Communities allow first-year students to live together in a designated floor or building of a residence hall with other students of their same major/interest, providing students academic and social support in their transition from high school to college through co-curricular programming.

I am a Transfer or Upper-Division student. How do I apply for housing?
Students admitted as a Transfer or Upper-Division student can apply for housing online at http://www.asu.edu/housing. There is a non-refundable confirmation fee of $125.00. Students may choose to defer payment if receiving financial aid.ly.

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CANCELLATIONS:

What if a student chooses not to attend ASU?
Any first-time freshman student that has been admitted to ASU and decides not to attend MUST notify University Housing directly in writing. This can be sent to housing@asu.edu from the student’s ASU e-mail account. Financial penalties may apply.

What is the Housing exemption process?
The University may make exceptions for the freshman on-campus housing expectation for certain categories of students based upon guidelines related to marital status, age, commuting from the primary residence of the student’s parent or legal guardian, and other pertinent factors. Any exemptions to the expectation for on-campus living must be approved in writing by University Housing prior to the beginning of the contract period for which the exemption is requested.

In order to be considered for a housing exemption, a student must do the following:

1. Download and complete the Housing Exemption form.
2. Submit additional required documentation (listed on the Housing Exemption form).
3. Await a formal decision.

What are the accepted reasons for a Housing exemption?
Students who will be 21 years of age prior to the first day of May of the academic year for which the student is requesting exemption, students who are married or who qualify under the university guidelines for a domestic partnership, students who are a parent or legal guardian caring for a dependent child, students who will be commuting from the primary residence of his/her parent or guardian. Possible consideration may exist for medical, financial or other special circumstance requests.

Students may request a housing exemption if they meet one of the above reasons for exception. Please note that each request will be evaluated on an individual basis and that additional documentation may be required for verification.

I am a Transfer or Upper-Division student who has applied for housing and decide that I do not want to live on campus/will not attend ASU, what do I need to do?
Prior to check in, cancellation of housing assignment must be submitted in writing and received by University Housing. If you wish to cancel your assignment, financial penalties may apply. Please refer to the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. Cancellations can be mailed, faxed, or emailed from your registered ASU email account.

After check in, students are required to submit a Request for License Agreement Release form to the Community Director of the hall at which they are assigned. More information will be provided by the Community Director at the time the student and the Community Director meet.

What is the duration of my License Agreement?
All housing agreements are for the full academic year. A Request for License Agreement Release (LAR) is required from any student who wishes to be released prior to the end of the academic year.

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RATES AND PAYMENTS:

How do I submit my $ 125.00 confirmation payment?
$125.00 confirmation payment will automatically be billed to your ASU student account. You may pay with a check, e-check, or through myASU.

If my payment is a few days late, will my assignment be cancelled?
No, your assignment will not be cancelled, but after 30 days you will begin to accrue late fees on your student account.

I have Financial Aid. How will this apply to my room and board costs?
Financial awards will cover your room and board payments as long as there are sufficient funds in your account. If you have funds leftover, please verify that your tuition, room and board, and other fees are paid before receiving these funds.

If all your Financial Aid awards will be disbursed at the beginning of the semester, University Housing recommends choosing Payment Plan 1 (one payment per semester). If your Financial Aid awards will be applied to your bill in installments, University Housing recommends choosing Payment Plan 2 (three payments per semester).

 

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ROOMMATES AND ASSIGNMENTS:

Can I request a roommate?
Roommate requests can be made on the online Living and Dining Confirmation. Each residence hall is co-ed by room. All suites (two rooms sharing a bathroom), apartments, and rooms are single gender. There are two all-female floors located on the 4th floors of Palo Verde East and Palo Verde West.

Though we can not guarantee roommate preferences, we will make every effort to accommodate your request. Roommate requests must be mutual between both students.

What if the student and their roommate request select two different residential colleges?
How will this affect their housing? In order for roommate preferences to be considered, the student and preferred roommate(s) must request the same hall and/or community on the Living and Dining Confirmation. All students must meet community requirements.

How are room assignments made?
The assignment process takes into account several variables such as date of confirmation, Residential College preferences, roommate and hall preferences. Some Residential Colleges require a separate application. If approved by the college and space is available, students will be assigned to that community.

When will I get assignment notification?
Community/Hall notification emails will go out to students beginning in March. Specific room assignment and roommate information letters will go out mid-July.

What will I need to do when I receive my assignment notification?
Confirmations will be included with the assignment letter. These forms must be signed and returned to our office via fax or postal mail within 15 days from the date of the letter.

What can I do if I don’t get my community/hall preference?
Students may fill out and submit a Change Request Form with University Housing. We will make every effort to accommodate your request; however, we can not guarantee the change.

How do I request a transfer to a new residence hall assignment?
Please visit the Living and Dining Options Confirmation page to modify your building preference, or send a fax, email from your ASU email account or mail a letter to our office with your name, ASU ID number, signature, and transfer request. Please note that requests are not guaranteed, but our staff will make every effort to make requested changes.

Why is it recommended that students live with their residential colleges?
We strongly encourage our students to live within their residential college because students that live together, study together, and interact with faculty members have greater academic success. The Residential College living and learning experience offers academic support services (i.e. tutoring, workshops, and advising), co-curricular programs, and a traditional residential community building. Residential Colleges are living and learning communities.

When will I find out my roommate’s contact information?
In July, you will receive a Welcome Packet via your ASU email account that will contain information about your roommate and other personalized move-in details and instructions. Once this mailer has been sent out, the University Housing website homepage will be updated for students to check for specific information about the check-in process.

How do I request an addition or change of roommate preference?
Please visit the Living and Dining Options Confirmation page to modify your roommate preference, or send a fax, email from your ASU email account or mail a letter to our office with your name, ASU ID number, signature and the name, ASU ID number and signature of your requested roommate. Roommate requests must be identical, which means that each student must request one another and have the same Community choice.

What if I want to change halls or roommates after I’ve received my July mailer?
After you receive your housing information and roommate assignments in July, your space is confirmed until you check into your residence hall in August. You will need to arrive on the move-in date of the residence hall you have been assigned to, even if you are requesting a different hall. No hall or room changes will be made until the second week of school. If you are still interested in changing rooms or halls, you will need to contact the staff of your residence hall.

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CAMPUS DINING AND MEAL PLANS

Must I have a meal plan?
Yes, all first year students are required to have a meal plan.

What are my choices of meals plans?
ASU Sun Devil Dining provides a variety of great meal plan options for students. For more meal plan information, visit www.campusdish.com, email SunDevilDining@gmail.com or call (480) 727-DINE.

How can I change my meal plan?
Once you arrive on campus, you will have a two-week grace period to change your meal plan. Meal plan change forms are available through the University Housing office in the Student Services Building. Once that period has ended, your meal plan will be confirmed for the remainder of the year. You may add M & G or Sun Dollars at any time throughout the year by contacting Campus Dining.

 

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