Returning Student Housing Information Session Fall 2015 – Spring 2016

Returning Student
Housing Information Session
Fall 2015 – Spring 2016
HOUSING CONTRACT PROCESS
STEP 1:
REQUEST A
HOUSING
CONTRACT
•Pay $20 non-refundable
application fee
•Pay $150 initial housing
payment (non-refundable
after June 30)
•Identify preferences
STEP 2:
CONTRACT
OFFERS MADE
•Mutual Roommate’s will all
get offers at the same time
ACCEPT
CONTRACT
OFFER AND
SELECT ROOM
•You will receive a
contract offer in your
housing portal
•Must accept offer
before it expires
Step 1: Request a housing contract
• Complete online “Request for Housing”
application
• Pay $20 Nonrefundable application processing
fee
• Pay $150 initial housing payment
• Completed ANYTIME between Nov 1 and Jan
31
• No Commitment
STEP 2: Contract Offer Made
• Several cycles of offers will be made
• Mutually requested roommate will receive
their requests in the same cycle
• Every student who completes phase 1 will
receive a contract offer
Step 3: Accept Contract Offer and
Select Room
• The student and mutual roommate choice
MUST go into the system prior to the offer
expiring and:
– Accept the housing contract
– Select their room assignment
A few contract types are not self-assignable
meaning that they will not be permitted
to select their room assignment
Timeline
November - January
• Housing Information Sessions
Nov 1 – Jan 31
• Request for Housing Period
Feb 2015
• Contract Offer Period
March 2015 –
• March 2 – 6 Open Room Change
• March 9 - Waitlist Opens
Frequently Asked Questions
• What happens if I let the offer expire?
– You will need to wait and add your name to the waitlist after the
process is over
• What happens if my roommate does not accept their contract
before it expires?
– Your roommate will need to add their name to the waitlist after
the process is over and you will be assigned a new roommate.
• How do I make sure I get assigned with my preferred
roommate?
– It is recommended that you accept your offer and pick your room
at the same time together. One would go in and accept/select
followed by the second individual.
Frequently Asked Questions
• What happens if my mutual roommate request and I do not really want to
room together?
– Once you receive your contract offers, you will independently accept
your contract offer and select your space. When you select your
room, you can select a different room than your mutually requested
roommate.
• What if the room that I want is not visible?
– We reserve space for multiple groups such as academic-themed
communities , first-year students, etc. If you room is not visible, it has
been selected by another student or reserved for another group.
Instead of not selecting a space, you should go ahead and select your
space.
Frequently Asked Questions
• What will happen if I accept my housing contract but do not select a room
during my designated contract offer period?
– If you do not select a space during your designated period, you will be
provided with one more opportunity during the open room selection
week. If you choose not to select a space that week, a space will be
assigned to you and you will be contacted about your assignment later
in the semester.
– Failure to select a space does not negate your legally binding contract
•
-
Frequently Asked Questions
• Can I find off-campus housing later if I change my mind?
– No, our housing contracts are legally binding contracts. Similar to a
lease you would sign off-campus, you are making an academic year
commitment to live with us last year and this is a legally binding
contract.
• Contract releases are considered (not guaranteed) for the
following reasons:
– Married
– Pregnant
– Called to Active Military Status
– Significant change in financial status
since the contract signed
– Medical Situation
Is my $150 refundable?
• Your $150 initial payment is refundable under the following
circumstances:
– You notify us that you will NOT be returning to ISU by June 30, 2015
– You do not accept your contract offer
– You go through the contract release process prior to June 30 and are
approved
I have a special circumstance…
•
•
•
•
•
I need special ADA accommodations
My scholarship guarantees housing
I am returning to an academic themed community (LLC, Honor’s, etc.)
I am an athlete
I am a sorority member and will be living in Reeve Hall
I’m going to be a sophomore, what are
my on-campus housing options?
•
•
•
•
•
Lincoln Quad
Reeve Hall (sorority)
University Apartments (SYE)
Pickerl (honors) and Erickson (LLC)
Sandison (nursing)
I’m going to be a junior or senior, what
are my on-campus housing options?
•
•
•
•
Lincoln Quad
Reeve Hall (sorority)
Pickerl (honors)
University Apartments (Academic Year and 12
month)
• 500 Wabash (Academic year and 12 month)
I’m going to be a graduate student, what
are my on-campus housing options?
• University Apartments (Academic Year and 12
month)
• 500 Wabash (Academic year and 12 month)
500 WABASH
Why Stay On Campus?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Proximity to Classes
All-inclusive amenities
Co-curricular learning opportunities
Student leadership opportunities
Professional live-in staff
Safety and Security features
Community!
What about off-campus housing?
Questions to Consider
Leases:
• What happens if I am unable to return to ISU? Can I be released from my
lease?
• What type of lease am I signing:
– Joint and Several: you are responsible for your portion of the rent
AND roommates’ portion if they do not pay. If your roommates are
unable to pay their portion of the rent YOU must make up the
difference
– Individual: You are responsible for paying only your portion of the
rent. If your roommates’ do not pay their portion of the rent, the
property owner/manager goes after them and not you.
• Escalator clause:
– Does the lease contact escalator clauses that could cause my rent to
increase during the lease period?
– For example, are any energy-cost increases passed on to the
tenant?
Questions to Consider
Proximity
• How close is the apartment to campus?
• Do I have my own transportation or will I need to rely on public
transportation? Is public transportation easily accessible?
Rent:
• Affordability
• What is included (utilities, cable/internet, parking)
• Application fee/payment
Roommates
• Do I want to have a roommate?
• How will I handle conflicts with roommates on my own?
• What expectations will I have for my roommate?
Questions to Consider
Security/Safety
• How is my apartment secured (dead-bolts, security system, etc)
• What happens if I lose my key?
• What are the crime statistics for the neighborhood I am moving into?
• Who else has access to my apartment and under what circumstances?
Questions to Consider
Security Deposit/Damage
• How much is the security deposit?
• What must I do to get my security deposit returned in full?
• Will someone help me complete a damage report when I move in/out?
• Will I get to appeal damage charges?
Q and A?
Office of Housing and Residential Life
812-237-3993