Apply for Housing: Returning Residents

Students who wish to return to housing for the upcoming academic year will be required to participate in the Room Selection Process. In order to participate, returning residents must meet the eligibility requirements listed below, submit their housing deposit and update their housing application by the dates listed in the Room Selection brochure. 

We encourage you to carefully review the "Residential Living Agreement" prior to selecting your room, as your electronic signature provides your consent to abide by all rules and regulations as outlined in the Agreement. Please refer to the Residential Programs website for all rules and procedures related to both the selection and homesteading process. Our office will email students prior to the start of each selection process to ensure you do not miss your specific selection date.  

Eligibility Requirements for Returning Residents:

• Be a current resident and have lived on campus for eight semesters or less (commuting students may be requested as a roommate if they meet all other eligibility requirements and be pulled into a room during the homesteading process) 
• Meet New York State immunization requirements 
• Have no outstanding balance on your student account 
• Students must pay the $300 housing deposit
• Students must register as a full-time student and maintain full-time status throughout the academic year 

Submitting the Housing Deposit

Students can avoid long lines by opting to pay the required $300 housing deposit online. Housing deposits may be paid via electronic check online through e-bill located on the Deposits tab through the student portal at my.hofstra.edu. Students paying by cash, check or money order must do so at the Student Financial Services Suite, 206 Memorial Hall.In order to pay online, please follow these steps:

1. Simply log into http://my.hofstra.edu
2. Click on "Hofstra Online" tab via the navigation menu on the left
3. Click on "Student Payment Center" under Student Services
4. Click on "My Payment Center" 
5. Select the "eDeposits" tab
6. Select the term (e.g, fall 2013)
7. Select the type of deposit you want (i.e. Housing Deposit).

Submitting the Housing Application

As of Monday, March 11, 2013, you can complete and/or update your housing application and housing preferences online and indicate if you wish to homestead, be pulled into another resident student's room, be administratively assigned, or choose to go through the selection process. As a reminder, you must pay the housing deposit first before being able to access and update your housing application. To complete your application, please follow the steps below:

1. Log into http://my.hofstra.edu
2. Click on "Hofstra Online" via the navigation menu on the left 
3. Click on the "Residential Programs" Menu.
4. Click on the "Residential Programs Room Application."
5. Select the term for which you are applying (i.e. 201309 for fall undergraduate, graduate or law students; 201311 for medical school students).
6. Follow instructions to complete the housing application and select a dining plan as it is a condition of residency for all undergraduate students effective fall 2013. 

Room Selection Process

There are five ways in which students can participate in the room selection process. Students can choose to Homestead their current room; apply for the Themed Living Communities; participate in the Relocated Selection (if applicable); participate in the General Selection; or request an Administrative Assignment, in which students can request that the Office of Residential Programs assign them a space according to their housing preferences outlined on their application.  Instructional videos posted at the bottom of the Room Selection Process description will help guide you step-by-step through the online selection process.

Homesteading

Homesteading is a process by which students can reserve their current room or suite for the next year. This process also allows students to request to live with another student in their current room or suite* (being pulled into a room). Students may request to "Homestead" their current space by completing the online housing application and indicating that they wish to Homestead their current room. All rooms must be filled to capacity (i.e. a double room in the high rises or Liberty/Republic must have two occupants and a suite must have each bedroom other than the single filled to capacity).To successfully homestead your room you MUST check the homesteading box on your online housing application during the advertised homesteading periods. 

*If a student's space is ineligible for Homesteading, due to relocation, the student can elect to participate in the Relocated Lottery (see below). First-year students living in areas or designated first-year spaces cannot homestead their rooms, and are not eligible for relocated selection. First-year students must select to live with another student who is eligible to homestead their room, participate in general selection, or request an administrative assignment. 

Themed Living Communities 

Themed Housing Lottery is designed to offer students who share educational, social or extracurricular interests the opportunity to live together in Nassau Hall. Students may choose to join one of six predetermined themes for next year with friends from common classes, clubs, organizations, fraternities or sororities. All rooms must be filled to capacity. 

Relocated Selection

Relocated Selection is designed for students who have been informed by the Office of Residential Programs that their current room or suite is not eligible for Homesteading. Relocated students are given an earlier selection time than all other students since they could not Homestead their current space. Students may participate in relocated selection by signing on to their housing application online during the designated relocated selection time and select a room that is identical to the type of room you are currently living in from a list of available spaces (i.e., If you live in a triple in a high rise, you must select a triple room in another high rise building).

*Students assigned to first-year areas are not eligible for the Relocated Lottery.

General Selection

The General Selection process gives students the opportunity to select a space in the living area that best suits their needs and preferences. Selection is prioritized by class year (i.e., Rising Senior, Rising Junior, Rising Sophomore). All rooms must be filled to capacity (i.e., a double room must have two occupants).

Administrative Assignment 

Students who have paid their deposits by the designated deadlines who would prefer to have the Office of Residential Programs assign them a space according to the preferences outlined on their application, may submit their request by Friday, April 12, 2013. The Office of Residential Programs will assign you a space based on your preferences and notify you of your housing assignment via email. c

Note: Students who apply for housing after the April 12 deadline will be assigned on a space-available basis later in the summer. 

Returning Resident Room Selection FAQ

Q: What are the eligibility requirements to participate in room selection?
A: You must:

• Be a current resident and have lived on campus for 8 semesters or less
• Pay the $300 housing deposit by the established deadlines
• Meet NY state immunization compliance
• Have no outstanding balance on your student account at the time of deposit
• Register as a full-time student for the Fall 2013 semester by Friday May 24, 2013.

Q: Where can I pay my housing deposit?
A: You may pay in person in Memorial Hall or you may pay online with credit card through the Hofstra Portal. For instructions on how to pay online, please see the ORP website.

Q: Where do I complete my housing application?
A: You may update your housing application via the Hofstra Portal. For instructions on how to access the application, please see the ORP website. You must pay your housing deposit before you are able to update your application.

Q: Do I have to complete another housing application to participate in the process?
A: Yes, every student must update their online housing application, indicating if they wish to homestead, be pulled into a student’s room, be assigned at a later date by the office of residential programs, or participate in the general lottery, before they will be permitted to select a bed for the upcoming academic year.

Q: There’s a lot to do! What order do I do it all in?
A: First, meet all eligibility requirements. Secondly, pay your housing deposit. Thirdly, update your housing application. Lastly, participate in whichever process you select on the dates advertised.

Q: Why are the deadlines for deposit and housing application different?
A: The deadlines are based on the specific process you are interested in participating in. If you wish to Homestead your current space or have been invited to participate in relocated lottery, you must complete your application and pay your deposit by Monday March 11. If you wish to participate in general lottery, you must complete your application and pay your deposit by Thursday March 14.

Q: My preferred roommate is a commuter and does not meet the “current resident” requirement. May I still request them? 
A: Yes. Commuter students may be requested as roommates and be pulled into a current residential students room during the Homesteading process only as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.

Q: What if I’ve lived on campus for eight or more semesters?
A: In order to participate, you will need to contact the Office of Residential Programs for a waiver form to request permission to remain in residence.

Q: What if I have an outstanding balance on my student account at time of deposit?
A: If you have an outstanding balance when you make your housing deposit, the $300 will be applied towards your outstanding balance. You must clear your student account balance prior to paying your deposit.

Q: What if I miss my dates to participate in the selection process?
A: Residents who have paid their deposit but have not selected a housing assignment by the end of the housing selection process will be contacted by the Office of Residential Programs with further information about how to proceed.

Q: Can someone else pull me into their room?
A: Yes, as long as you both meet all eligibility requirements, pay your housing deposits and update your housing applications on time to mutually request each other. 

Q: I’m pulling in another student when I homestead my room. What do I need to know?
A: The person you are pulling in must update their housing application BEFORE you, listing you as their preferred roommate. Once they’ve updated their housing application, you will update yours – indicating that you also want them as your roommate.

Q: May someone else sign up for housing on my behalf?
A: Yes. After listing each other as preferred roommates on your updated housing applications, the student with the most credits may select a room or suite on behalf of the group. NOTE: All selections, made by you or your proxy, are final.

Q: I’m homesteading and my roommate is not returning to the room. Does my roommate have to do something in order for that to work?
A: Yes! Your roommate, must also update his or her housing application to indicate that they will not be homesteading their space. After they do this, you will be able to pull another student into that space. Graduating students do not have to participate in the selection process.

Q: I plan to live with three friends in a suite-style assignment. How do I know who will be my assigned roommate and who will be my suitemates?
A: You must list your specific roommate FIRST when listing roommates. The first student listed will share a room with you. The other two will share a room with each other and will be your suitemates.  

Q: My two friends and I want to live in a suite. Can we select that option in online housing selection.
A: All rooms and suites must be filled to capacity. In order to select that option, you must fill an entire suite by finding an additional friend to take that space. You may also check the “roommate finder” book in the Office of Residential Programs, or select to be randomly assigned with your preferred roommates.

Q: How can I secure a single room for next year.
A: Students when they update their housing applications can indicate they want a single room (do not list any roommates in the roommate section). Students then participate in their designated lottery period based on their current class standing. When they log on the system will indicate where on campus single rooms are still available and they can select a single in the community of their choice.

Q: I’ve already participated in the room selection process, but changed my mind and wish to edit my selection. Can I?
A: Unfortunately, no. All selections made during housing selection are final. Students will not have the ability to access their housing applications once they have made their selection.

Q: I want to live in the co-ed housing option that was recently advertised. May I do that online?
A: Students who wish to apply for the co-ed housing option must complete a paper application with the Office of Residential Programs on March 18, 2013 in room 244 Student Center. Applicants must still submit their $300 housing deposit by the advertised deadline.