Students eligible to participate are sent a notice before February 17, 2025. See the
"Not Eligible & Need Housing" section below if you did not receive this notice.
Any student not sent this notice is not eligible to participate or be pulled into
a group during any part of room selection.
University accounts are in good financial standing.
If you miss any application or selection deadlines, you will not have on-campus housing
for 2025-2026.
Housing Application Important Dates
Phase 1: Housing Application
Monday, February 17, 2025, at 10 AM:
Phase 1 of the housing application becomes available in the Housing Portal.
Gender Inclusive Housing application becomes available in the Housing Portal.
6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Appeal becomes available in the Housing Portal.
Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 4 PM:
Phase 1 of your Housing Application must be completed to be eligible for Phase 2.
Gender Inclusive Housing Sign-Up Deadline.
Deadline to submit a 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Appeal.
Deadline to submit Living Learning Community Applications.
Only those who complete the entire Phase 1 application by Thursday, March 6, 2025,
at 4 PM can participate in Phase 2 of room selection. Anyone who misses the deadline
and still needs housing must complete a “Housing Waitlist Application” in the Housing
Portal.
*Important Note about Phase 2 Selections: Tuesday-Thursday selections can be made
after your start time and before 9:30 PM Eastern Standard Time. Friday selections
can be made between 10 AM-2 PM.
Return to Same Community Week: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Friday, March 28, 2025
As a group of community members: Residents can select a space in their current community
with a group of students presently living there.
As an individual: Residents can select a space in their current community as an individual.
Choose Anywhere Week: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 - Friday, April 4, 2025
Residents may choose a space as part of a room selection group or as an individual
anywhere on campus they meet the eligibility requirements.
A room must be selected by Friday, April 4, 2025, at 2PM. Students who miss the self-selection deadline but complete Phase 1 of room selection
will be administratively assigned to an available vacancy after Phase 2 closes.
12-Month Agreement Selection: Wedesday, March 26, 2025 - Friday, March 28, 2025
Selection for 12-Month Graduate Students who were unable to, or chose not to, return
to their current bed space during the Phase 1 renewal process. Graduate students who selected a 12-month housing agreement must complete their selection
by 2 PM on March 28, 2025.
10-Month Agreement Selection: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - Friday, April 4, 2025
Graduate students who selected a 10-month agreement will be able to choose a space
in one of the graduate areas during this week. Graduate students who selected a 10-month housing agreement must complete their selection
by 2 PM on April 4, 2025.
Graduate students who miss the self-selection deadline for their agreement type but
completed Phase 1 of room selection will be administratively assigned to an available
vacancy on campus after Phase 2 closes.
This is a planning tool available to students to see what spaces are still available
before their room selection timeslot. The tool shows available spaces based on a student's
eligibility. For 2025-2026, the tool will go live on March 18, 2025, at 12 PM. It is important to note that this is solely meant to be used as a planning tool.
The housing portal will display the most up-to-date availability at the time of making
a selection.
Why is there a termination fee for students who cancel by posted deadlines?
Housing is in high demand, and these practices exist to show commitment to living
on campus for the upcoming agreement period so that students who intend to fulfill
this agreement are prioritized for housing.
How do I cancel?
To cancel your upcoming reservation, log into the Housing Portal. In the Student Home
section, you will see a “2025-2026 Housing Agreement Cancellation Request” button.
When do I need to cancel by?
Residents should wait to cancel until they are 100% sure they do not need housing
for the upcoming year. See the cancellation deadlines below:
Cancellation Request Date:
Termination Fee:
April or earlier
$0
May and June
$200
July
$300
August 1 - August 23 (before moving in)
$400
August 24 or later (before moving in)
$500
For full information on cancellation, no-show (not canceling before your agreement
starts), and termination policies, see our financial liability website.
What happens if I cancel but then later need housing?
Canceling your agreement will forfeit any priority you had in returning to campus
housing. Choosing to cancel the housing reservation will require you to join a housing
waitlist if future housing is needed. Waitlist approvals are made based on space availability
and are not guaranteed. Depending on occupancy demand, some individuals may not be
reached, and most offers tend to be during the spring semester.
What dates does my agreement cover for housing?
Billed by semester
2025-2026 Undergraduate Housing:
Fall 2025: Saturday, August 23, 2025 - Monday, January 5, 2026
Spring 2026: Monday, January 5, 2026 - Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Billed by Monthly
2025-2026 Graduate and Family Agreements:
12 Month Agreements: June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026
10 Month Agreements: August 1, 2025 - May 31, 2026
What happens if I do NOT cancel prior to the start of the agreement?
Students who fail to cancel prior to the start of their agreement period (the Saturday
before classes) and do not move in by check-in deadlines will be charged the $500
termination fee. Students who have not arrived and are not canceled by this deadline
will be processed as a cancellation. The check-in deadline is 5 PM on the first day
of classes. Late check-in can be requested until the end of the second week of classes
when late registration ends. If someone requests a late check-in and does not check
in by late registration, they will be canceled and a $500 termination fee will be
applied.
How was my room selection start time determined?
Undergraduate Agreement Holders:
U4 students have priority over U3/U2/U1 standing students.
A U4 student who has lived on campus for 6 semesters will have priority over a U4
student who has lived on campus for 5 semesters.
If there are more students in a class standing/semester grouping than available timeslots,
the group will be randomized, and timeslots will be assigned in subsequent batches
of roughly 150 per time slot.
Graduate Agreement Holders:
Timeslots will be based on the gender designation of the room that an individual is
eligible to select.
All students eligible to select a female-designated space will have access to select
at the same time.
All students eligible to select a space in Gender Inclusive Housing will be able to
select starting at the same time.
All students eligible to select a space with a male designation will have access to
select at the same time.
How do room selection times work?
Your room selection day and time is the first time you can go into the portal to make
a selection. After that time has passed, you can enter the portal during our selection
windows to select. Tuesday-Thursday selections are 10 AM-9:30 PM and Friday 10 AM-2
PM.
An example is a student with a Wednesday at 2:00 PM selection start time can make
a selection during the following times:
Wednesday 2 PM-9:30 PM
Thursday 10 AM-9:30 PM
Friday 10 AM-2 PM
For an undergraduate applicant, this is the time in both weeks of Phase 2 that a selection
could be made, pending which week you are hoping to select.
For graduate and family applicants, this time slot is only good for the week you select
based on the 12-month or 10-month agreement status that you selected during Phase
1.
Do I have to form a group in order to select?
No, applicants are not required to form groups to make a selection at their selection
time.
Can I select a space with a preferred roommate, suitemate, or apartmentmate?
Yes, continuing students can form groups as part of the selection process as long
as all group members meet the eligibility requirements of the selection week and the
residential area the group selects.
Who can be in my group?
All group members must meet the eligibility requirements for the area you are selecting.
Any student not sent our invite to participate in room selection email is not eligible
to participate or be pulled into any part of room selection.
Undergraduate groups for "Return to Same Community Week": You will be able to form
a group, as a group of community members and select a space in that community with
a group of members already living in that same community.
Graduate group formations must be with individuals who are of the same agreement length.
Additionally, 12-month agreement holders who finished the selection process in Phase
1 are done with the process and cannot be part of a group during Phase 2.
Can the person with the earliest date select?
Yes, it is encouraged that the person with the earliest selection time is the group
leader so they can select a room and assign beds for the rest of the group.
Do I have to fill the entire suite?
No, you do not need to fill an entire suite/apartment in order to select it.
I have a room assignment for 2025-2026, and I want to change it. When can I do this?
All selections are final once made during the process.
The Undergraduate Room Swap Process will be available on April 7, 2025, and will be
open until July 10, 2025, at 4 PM. The room swap process allows two students to directly
swap their on-campus housing bookings. The Undergraduate Room Change period is July 1 - July 10. The undergraduate room change process allows a student to change into an available
vacancy. These will be separate processes in the Housing Portal. Only those with undergraduate
bookings are eligible for room change and room swap.
There is a room change freeze in effect until typically the third week of the fall
semester after no-shows and occupancy verification are complete. Graduate and Family
agreements may have an opportunity for limited need-based room changes and swaps for
similar room types in summer. This will be dependent on space availability and what
stage of new graduate housing application and selection we are in.
High-demand housing waitlists:
West Apartment singles and Chávez & Tubman Halls will go live for U4 students on June 20, 2025, and for U3 students
on August 25, 2025.
Chapin and Schomburg Apartment singles will go live for graduate students on August
25, 2025.
What will happen if demand for housing exceeds available spaces in undergraduate housing?
Undergraduate students admitted as transfers are only allowed 6 semesters of on-campus
housing, and students admitted as first years are only allowed 8 semesters of housing
on campus. If you have reached 6 or 8 semesters of on-campus housing, you will receive
notice that you are not eligible, and how to submit an appeal if you have a documentable
need for housing beyond this policy. These appeals will be reviewed if space is available.
If Phase 1 application demand greatly exceeds space availability, we will have to
implement a radius policy, which means students whose home addresses are within a
certain radius from campus will be excluded from Phase 2 and added to a priority waitlist
should housing become available later. If we have to implement a radius policy, impacted
students will be notified, and an appeals process available for those that may have
extenuating circumstances that will not allow them to commute from home. We cannot
determine until after Phase 1 if we will have to implement a radius policy or to what
distance that policy would be implemented. If and when space becomes available, residents
excluded from receiving housing would have priority to have on-campus housing during
the same agreement period over other individuals who are on the housing waitlist.
Additionally, continuing residents in corridor-style buildings may be reassigned prior
to arrival to suite-style vacancies to create additional spaces in first-year housing.
Will I be consolidated, or will my assignment change?
We hope not to have to consolidate spaces, but depending on occupancy levels, demand
for first-year housing, and cancellations, residents may be relocated to maximize
space utilization. The University reserves the right to consolidate residents upon
a minimum 24-hour notice.
For more information regarding consolidation, refer to Section E under Occupancy Guidelines
in the Terms of Occupancy.
Are there cooking spaces available for undergraduates?
West Apartments, three-bedroom suites in Gershwin Hall in Roth Community, and three-bedroom
suites in Hand Hall in Tabler Community are cooking spaces available for undergraduates.
What agreement types can I choose from?
Graduate students have a choice between 10-month and 12-month agreements.
10-month agreements are from August 1 to May 31.
12-month agreements are from June 1 to May 31.
Graduate students must choose either a 10-month or 12-month agreement by March 6,
2025, at 4 PM.
After this deadline, the agreement choice cannot be changed.
If I select a 12-month agreement, can I renew my current room assignment for the upcoming
academic year?
Students who select a 12-month housing agreement and wish to return to their same
bed space may complete the renewal process during Phase 1 of room selection if the
space is available for the next academic year.
Students who complete their renewal during Phase 1 cannot participate in Phase 2 of
room selection.
What if I only need short-term housing for the summer months while I am completing
my program?
If a graduate student needs only short-term summer housing, they can apply for summer
housing in West Apartments when that application is available in April and May.
What is the 14 Semester Housing Policy?
When interest in campus housing exceeds the availability of space, a maximum number
of semesters living on-campus will be put into effect. Graduate students have a maximum
number of seven years (14 semesters) in graduate housing. Summer semesters are not
included.
What Living Learning Communities are available?
Chávez Community Changers
Through the Chávez Community Changers Experience (C3), students will explore concepts centered around volunteerism, activism, and civic
engagement through a lens of service learning while building community with students
of similar likes and interests. Students will also have the added value of building
relationships with faculty and staff and collaborating with departments within the
SBU community.
Available to rising third-year students with 57-75 credits.
Socially Just Seawolves
The Socially Just Seawolves will be centered around identifying and examining social,
economic, and political inequalities that impact our local, campus, and global communities. Students
will be able to explore social and environmental justice issues and begin working
toward equity as engaged citizens on both local and global levels. Students will also
have the added value of building relationships with faculty and staff and collaborating
with diversity-based departments within the SBU community.
Available to rising third-year students with 57-75 credits.
Second Year Living Community (2YLC)
The Second Year Living Community, or 2YLC, is a program designed to foster success
and growth in students during their second year of college. Within this community,
participants will have the opportunity to develop relationships with their peers by
engaging in programs, events, and experiences that are specifically targeted to their
goals. The program also focuses on reflection on these experiences and how they will
lead to future success.
Available to rising second-year students.
More information about each of the available Living Learning Communities can be found
here: Student Success
Sustainability Community
The Sustainability Living Community offers students a chance to learn about and practice
eco-friendly living. Residents will take part in hands-on projects, educational events,
and activities focused on sustainability. This community will help students build
awareness of environmental issues and encourage them to make positive changes both
on campus and in their daily lives.
What do students accepted into Living Learning Communities select a space?
Students accepted to the Socially Just Seawolves, the Chávez Community Changers or
the Sustainability Living Learning Communities will select a space on either March
20, 2025, or March 21, 2025.
Students accepted into the Second Year Living Community will be able to select a space
during their room selection timeslot in Phase 2 of the process. Should applicants
exceed available bed spaces, those who are not able to select a space in Lauterbur
will need to select a space outside of the 2YLC community during room selection.
What is the 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy?
As outlined in the Terms of Occupancy, students who are admitted as transfer students
are eligible to live on campus for a maximum of six (6) semesters; students who are
admitted as first-year students are eligible to live on campus for a maximum of eight
(8) semesters; graduate students are eligible for a maximum of seven (7) years (14
semesters) in on-campus graduate housing.
What should I do if I receive a 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy Notice and still
need housing?
If you believe that there are extraordinary circumstances that require you to live
on campus, you may appeal the six / eight / fourteen-semester policy. Through the
appeal, you will have an opportunity to thoroughly explain your circumstances and
attach (required) documentation to support your claim. Appeals will not be considered
without the presence of supporting documentation. Log in to the Housing Portal and click on the button below to submit an appeal.
What happens if I receive a 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy Notice and miss the
deadline to appeal and still need housing?
Students who receive a 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy Notice are ineligible to
participate in Returning Resident Room Selection. If you miss the deadline to appeal,
you will need to seek alternative housing options.
I did not receive an invite to participate in room selection. Can I still participate
in room selection?
Any student not sent our invite to participate in room selection email is not eligible
to participate or be pulled into any part of room selection.
If I have never lived on campus or previously lived on campus but moved out. How can
I get on-campus housing for Fall 2025?
Add yourself to the 2025-2026 On-Campus Housing waitlist in the Housing Portal once it is live. The on-campus housing waitlist will
go live in the Housing Portal on March 7, 2025, at 10 AM for any student who missed
the Phase 1 deadline and was eligible to participate. The on-campus housing waitlist
will go live in the Housing Portal on March 14, 2025, at 10 AM for those not initially
eligible for Phase 1.
If we have to exclude any typically eligible residents from room selection, they will
have a higher priority than you on the waitlist. We cannot predict if or when we will
reach any individual on the waitlist.
