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