Housing Selection Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is campus housing required for me or guaranteed to me?

A: Only Rising Sophomore students are required to live on campus due to Seattle University’s 2-year residential requirement (in which case campus housing is also guaranteed). Campus housing is not guaranteed to Rising Juniors, Seniors, or Graduate/Law students.


Q: Where can I select to live next year?

A: Rising Sophomores can select a space on all floors within Campion, Bellarmine, Xavier, and Chardin Hall, and within select buildings of the Murphy Apartment Complex. Rising Juniors and Seniors will be able to choose a space within select buildings of the Murphy Apartment Complex and the Yobi apartments Graduate and Law Students will have a limited scope of choice within the Murphy Apartment Complex and the Yobi apartments

Q: I'm turning 21 next year, do I have to live on campus?

A: The housing policy applies for students who turn 21 after the start date of the academic year. For Fall Quarter, if you turn 21 after Fall Quarter housing starts (Sunday, September 22, 2024), you are required to live on campus for the full 2024-2025 academic year.

Q: I did not fill out an application by the priority deadline. Am I still able to select housing?

A: Rising sophomores will have an application filled out on their behalf which will allow them the ability to select a bed space on their assigned time slot during the housing selection, however, we highly encourage everyone to apply on their own. Rising juniors/seniors who do not apply by the priority deadline will have their application waitlisted and will not be able to select a bed space during the section process. All applications received after the posted priority deadline by junior/senior students will be added to the housing wait list for next year.

Q: If I am Interested in Gender Inclusive Living, what are my options?

A: Gender Inclusive Housing is offered to students who want this option to feel supported and successful at Seattle University. Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Gender queer, and Non-binary students will have the option to live with students who share their identity or with others who are affirming of their identity. The Student Housing Portal will allow students to navigate potential roommates to create roommate groups. For more information about this process or for troubleshooting, contact the HRL Central Office [Campion 100].


Q: If I am given a lottery date and time, does this mean I will receive campus housing during the selection process?

A: If you are a Rising Sophomore, you will be assigned a time to ensure you are able to choose a bed space through the self-selection process. This process is required, so please ensure that you choose a bed space to avoid having a space assigned to you by HRL after the selection process ends. If you are a Rising Junior/Senior/Grad student, you will be assigned a lottery date and time if you applied before the eligibility deadline (see Housing Selection Timeline). Assigned lottery time slots to Rising Junior/Senior/Grad students do not guarantee a space selection in the process. Should you not be able to select a bed space during the process, your lottery date and time will determine your place on the campus housing wait list.

Q: Can I secure a spot for myself and my roommate during the selection process if I have an earlier time than my desired roommate?

A: Yes - Students can secure a spot for themselves and their requested roommate(s), where space permits.
All members in a roommate group can assign all members a space. Therefore, the member with the earliest time slot will be able to make the assignment for the entire roommate group, where space permits. One of the group members will be designated as a group leader automatically, and all group members can add 1-2 other students to your group if you want to live in a triple room or a quad apartment. Please do not add a 5th person (or more) as you will run into issues on the portal.

Roommate Group Definitions:

Group Leader: you can hand “leadership” to another student, remove members from the group as well as deleting the group. There really is nothing special or unique about being a group leader. A common misconception about being a leader is that you are the only one that can assign the group to housing; this
is not true. The person with the earliest time slot in the roommate group can make an assignment for the
entire group.

Group Members: you can leave a group if you wish.

The student in the roommate group making the housing assignment will be required to assign all students in the group. We strongly encourage you to talk to your future roommates before the start of the room selection process because you will only have 10 minutes to assign all roommates. If space becomes limited and rooms do not match the number of your roommate group, you will have to break up the roommate group for you to only assign yourself. Again- we strongly encourage you to speak to those in your group and talk about expectations and realities of this possibility in case this happens

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT ROOMMATE GROUPS: It is important for you to review the living options by student classification before creating roommate groups. If you choose a roommate who has a different classification than you (for example- a Junior wanting to live with a Sophomore) and wish to live on a particular floor that does not allow the other person’s classification, then you will run into issues during your room selection time slot. We strongly encourage you to only choose roommates based on their same class standing as you.

Q: I am planning on enrolling as a less-than-full-time student next Fall quarter. Am I
allowed to select a bed in this process?

A: No - students must be enrolled full time to live on campus. HRL validates enrollment to determine student eligibility for campus housing. If the student is not registered as a full-time student by August 15 per the Housing Agreement, the room reservation and room agreement may be cancelled.

Q: I am planning on going abroad for the Fall quarter, but I want to live with specific
friends when I come back for Winter/Spring 2025. Can I choose a bed space during this
process to hold a room assignment for myself for fall?

A: Unfortunately, if you are going to be studying abroad next Fall, you are not permitted to select and hold a bed space. We have a robust waitlist of students who need immediate housing for the start of the academic year, so we will not be able to hold beds. You will need to apply for Winter/Spring 2025 housing when that application opens in November 2024. We will only be able to make a housing assignment to you where we have the space available to do so. Should you select a bed space during this process, the assignment will be cancelled once the Education Abroad office confirms your fall quarter plans with our office in the summer period.

Q: What if I am graduating early next academic year or planning to go abroad for Winter
and/or Spring Quarters? Can I still choose housing?

A: f you are only planning on living on campus for the Fall quarter due to graduation or study abroad complete a full academic year application and enter this selection process to select a bed space for Fall Quarter. HRL will release more information as the Fall Quarter closes about campus housing cancellations related to these matters. You will not have to pay a cancellation fee for these reason(s).

Q: What if I only want to live on campus for the Winter or Spring quarter(s)?

A: If you are NOT planning on living on campus for the Fall quarter and intend on only applying for
campus housing for winter or spring, please do NOT enter this room selection process as your
reservation will be cancelled. Winter and Spring Quarter assignments will not be made until those
quarters draw closer (December 2024). This room selection process is not intended to hold space for
quarters beyond the Fall Quarter.

Q: Will I be charged the cancellation fee once I have selected a room space and later decide to cancel my room assignment?

A: Depends - If you select a bed space and cancel your application before or during the selection process, you will NOT be charged the cancellation fee. However, if you cancel your campus housing after the room selection process ends, you will be charged a cancellation fee subject to the fee schedule found on the HRL website .

Q: Do I have to pay a campus housing deposit?

A: No - students who live in SU housing are not required to pay a deposit.

Q: Can I change my room after I have selected one?

A: No - You will not be allowed to change the room you selected during the room selection process and it
does not matter if your roommate assigned the space for you. You will only be able to submit a Room
Change Request when it opens during the room change period (during the spring quarter and summer
period).

Q: I am applying for the Resident Assistant position, but I am unsure if I am going to get hired. Should I still apply for campus housing?

A: Yes - You will need to have an application completed whether you are an RA (Resident Assistant) or
not to be considered for campus housing. Apply by the deadline like any other student in this process.

Q: I have a pending Disability Services (DS) request for next year; do I have to go through room selection and choose a room? Do I also get to secure a space for my preferred roommate?

A: No - a room assignment will be made on your behalf if we receive a request from your DS specialist by the deadline of February 23, 2024. Disability Services (DS) requests only confirm campus housing for you and NOT any chosen roommate. If we have not received an accommodation request from DS by February 23, 2024 you will have to choose a room during your time slot. Again, you MUST still submit your housing application by the posted deadline.

Q: What do I do if I do not get a room?
A: Rising Juniors, Seniors and Graduate students- Keep in mind you will be placed on the waitlist and a space will be offered to you if you are the next in line. We would also like to remind you that Douglas and Vi Hilbert Hall are other options that prioritize Juniors and Seniors for the following Academic Year. These rooms are priced below market value and are in-line with HRL housing options. For more information, please visit their site.
Reminder to Rising Sophomores: You are required to live on-campus your Sophomore year. If you do not choose a space during the selection period, a space will be assigned on your behalf.

Q: Should I still log on and select a room if I have a late time slot?
A: Room Selection is live so people will be able to select rooms and cancel until the entire process is over (see Housing Selection Timeline). Each student is encouraged to log onto the Housing Portal to see room availability on or after their allotted time slot.

Q: When should I start to look for off campus housing? (Rising Juniors and Seniors only)

A: As a reminder, Juniors and Seniors are strongly encouraged to investigate housing options at Vi Hilbert Hall as well as the Douglas apartments. You are encouraged to visit their websites for more information regarding their leasing timelines and dates should you not be able to select a bed space here on campus.
If you are not able to select a bed with HRL and not able to secure a spot at Vi Hilbert Hall or at the Douglas apartments, please remember that HRL will manage the housing waitlist the minute it is published and throughout the summer until Fall Quarter begins. Waitlist assignments represent a “rolling process.” Typically, given the Seattle housing market, you will need to anticipate a quick search for an off-campus apartment. You should start to look for off campus housing about 1 month before your desired move in date. We do, however, suggest researching general information on neighborhoods, prices, roommates, etc. before you start to search for off-campus accommodations.

Q: What if I have class/work during my Time Slot?
A: Students are never encouraged to obstruct class time for any campus housing process. You are encouraged to communicate with your professor(s)/supervisor to see if you can log on to the Housing Portal during your room selection time. Otherwise, log on at your first opportunity to select a space.

Q: How do I know if my application was submitted successfully?
A: You will receive an automated email stating that your application was received and completed. If you do not get this email immediately after your application submission and are sure you finished your application, please call Housing and Residence Life at 206-296-6305 [during weekday office hours] or email the HRL central office at housing@seattleu.edu.

Q: I did not fill out an application, what happens now? 

Rising juniors/seniors who do not apply by the priority deadline will have their application waitlisted and will not be able to select a bed space during the section process. All applications received after February 28th by junior/senior students will be added to the housing waitlist on April 5th.