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Returning Resident

As a current resident you might be thinking about living on campus again next year, great! Returning residents have the option of choosing a residence hall or an apartment.

The 2019–20 housing applications open on April 9, 2019.​

Housing choices

9-month agreement

  • Residence halls, shared apartments and some studios
  • Programs and resources to help you socially, academically and professionally
  • 24/7 access to on-site staff for lockouts, maintenance issues
  • Flexible dining options

12-month agreement

  • Shared apartments and some studios
  • Independence plus the advantage of security, community and 24/7 access to on-site staff for lockouts, maintenance issues
  • All-inclusive pricing at many of our properties
  • Individual contracts—you aren’t responsible if your roommate moves out
  • Flexible dining options

New for 2019–20

  • You will be asked for your preferred pronouns when you update your HFS Student Profile
  • Returning residents can pull in a new freshman or transfer student as a roommate, (but not a current student who does not already live on campus)
  • All HFS account charges will be billed to tuition accounts so that available financial aid funds can be transferred
  • The Business Living Learning Community is moving from Madrona Hall to McCarty Hall 3rd floor

When to apply

The Returning Resident application opens at 2 p.m. on April 9 and closes at 12 noon on April 15. You are guaranteed an assignment if you apply during this time.

Assignment priority

Current residents who apply by the April 15 deadline will have the first choice for rooms in all of our residence halls and apartments. No matter when you apply during the April 9–15 application period, your assignment priority will be based on how many quarters you’ve lived with us.

If you apply after the priority deadline, you will have the lowest assignment priority. 

Before you apply

Requesting a roommate

If you want to live with a current HFS resident:

  • Request them by student number on your application
  • Make sure you both have exactly the same preferences on your applications.

If you want to live with an incoming freshman or transfer student:

  • Request them by student number on your application
  • Complete the 2019–20 Roommate Pull-in Request by April 12.
  • Tell your requested roommate to apply by April 15.
  • Make sure you both have exactly the same preferences on your applications.

Gender-inclusive rooms

It is important to us that all University housing options are welcoming for all students. Gender-inclusive housing is intentionally supportive of residents across the spectrums of gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and sexual identity, and allied members of the community who demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, creating gender-inclusive communities on campus. If you are interested in living in a gender-inclusive room, please request gender-inclusive on your housing application.

Substance-free rooms

Many students elect to lead a substance-free life. Substance-free rooms provide a positive atmosphere where roommates make a commitment to each other to abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco products, marijuana and illegal substances in all environments. Rooms are designated substance-free based on the commitment of the students assigned to that room and may be mixed among non-substance-free rooms in the community. Substance-free rooms are open to any self-nominating student. If you are interested in living in a substance-free room, please request it on your housing application.

How to apply

  1. Update your student profile now.
  2. Fill out the application beginning on April 9 at 2 p.m.
  3. Apply by 12 noon on April 15.

Resources

  • Check next year’s rates.
  • Attend one of the Returning Resident Information Sessions on April 9 (3:30–4:30 p.m. or 5:30–6:30 p.m.) in the Alder Hall auditorium.
  • Come to the Apartment Open House on April 13.

If you miss the deadline

  • You can apply on May 2
  • You will have a lower housing priority
  • We may not be able to assign you for autumn quarter

Selecting a room 

To select a room you can search online for available rooms and make your own assignment.

ROOM SELECTION SCHEDULE

9-month residence halls Begins on April 24 Ends on June 9
12-month apartments Begins on April 24 Ends on April 30

 

 

Your room selection appointment time will be sent to you by email on April 19.

We encourage you to log in close to the beginning of your time for the best chance of getting the room you want.

Room selection process

  1. Search for your room based on your building choice, Living Learning Community and/or room type choice.
  2. You may choose to assign your mutually requested roommates with you, provided they are not already assigned.

STAYING IN YOUR CURRENT ROOM

Current residents have assignment priority for their current room as long as they remain eligible to live in that area.

  • We will assign you to your current room.
  • You will have the option of choosing a different room during room selection.
  • If you request and are assigned to your current room and have a mutual roommate request, we will try to assign you together.

CHANGING YOUR ROOM CHOICE

  • You may search and select as many times as you like during your selection period.
  • You can only change your own assignment, not the assignment of your mutually requested roommates.

YOUR ROOMMATES HAVE DIFFERENT CHOICES

  • You will only be given search results for areas that you are both eligible for and that you both have preferenced.

  • If your roommates aren’t eligible for the area you are trying to assign yourself to, you will not be given any search results.
  • If one of the mutually requested roommates is a smoker, all other members selected smoker or no preference on the application.
  • If one of the mutually requested roommates has submitted a substance-free pledge, all group members must submit it also.

PAIRS AND GROUP ASSIGNMENTS

A pair or group is comprised of yourself and one or more other students who apply to return, or new applicants who have been pulled in by you or your mutually-requested roommate.

You may assign yourself and one or more other people as long as:

  • The other person is not already assigned; and
  • All group members enter the student numbers of all other members on the application; and
  • All group members are eligible to live in the area selected; and
  • All preferences (e.g., smoking, Living Learning Community) match those selected by all other group members.

Roommate requests must be made using student numbers, not names. Be sure to have the student numbers of all students you want to be assigned with before you submit your application.

Applicants who apply with a group of two or more will be able to assign their entire group of mutually requested roommates. The first group member to select online may assign everyone to an available room, cluster or apartment; however, they will not be able to designate which room within a cluster or apartment is assigned to each person.

If, after being assigned by a group member, you wish to adjust your individual assignment within a cluster or apartment, you will have the opportunity to make that change by completing an online request. Details will be emailed to you after room selection ends.

If you can’t find available space

If one of the mutually requested roommates is a smoker, the group can only be assigned together if all other members selected smoker or no preference on the application

If one of the mutually requested roommates has submitted a substance-free pledge, the group can only be assigned together if all other members have submitted the substance-free pledge on the application.

All members of the group must have selected the same Living Learning Community preference.

Room selection tips

  • For the best chance of assigning yourself to one of your preferred rooms, log in to the room selection website as soon as you can after your appointment time begins.
  • We cannot accommodate requests for earlier appointments based on schedule conflicts. If you do not select a room by April 28, HFS will assign you based on the preferences you express in your application. You will still have the option to change your assignment before your selection period ends.
  • Have a backup plan. If there isn’t space available in your preferred building, room or apartment type, what are your other choices?

Next steps

Assignment confirmations will be emailed after room selection ends. Please contact us if you have any questions.

You will be able to view your assigned room and roommate information on the HFS website on June 9.

Keep checking your UW email throughout the summer for more information about move-in. HFS will also send you a final assignment confirmation in mid-August.

If you decide to cancel

If you decide to cancel your application and assignment, you’ll be charged based on the date you submit your notice.

Cancellation Date Charge
On or before April 30, 2019 $0
May 1–15, 2019 $150
May 16–31, 2019 $200
June 1–30, 2019 $300
July 1–31, 2019 $400
August 1–31, 2019 $500
12-month apartment: September 1–14, 2019 $500 + $15 per day
On or after September 15, 2019 $500 + full autumn quarter charges
9-month residence hall: September 1–17, 2019 $500 + $15 per day
On or after September 18, 2019 $500 + full autumn quarter charges