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Roommate

& Room Assignment FAQ

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Selection times are randomized within date ranges of applications received to create a lottery for access to select. Because a student applied on the first day does not guarantee that they will receive the first selection time. All students within a roommate pair or group will be given the same selection time regardless of when individual applications were submitted. An email will be sent to your CSU email address when selection times are given, and it will also be displayed on the CSU Housing Portal after it is sent.

When it is your date and time, you will go into the CSU Housing Portal to access your submitted housing application. From the Room Selection Information page, on the left side menu, you will then choose the building and select a room for you and your roommate(s) if applicable. If you do not see a building or specific room listed, or room type such as a single, that means it is no longer available. Please have a back-up plan of other buildings and/or rooms in mind in case your top choices are not available.

Once your selection time passes, you can access the portal to select a room as long as the Room Selection is open. So, if your selection time is in the morning but you cannot choose a room until the afternoon, the next day, or later in the week, that is fine.  

There are always a few students who would rather leave their assignment in the hands of our process rather than participate more directly. At the conclusion of Room Selection, a space will be assigned for you based on availability. We will use the preferences provided on your application to the fullest extent possible for both your room and roommate assignment.

If you have formed a roommate pair or group, the entire group will be signed up at the same time. The group takes on the best selection time given to everyone within the group and all efforts are made to keep available space for roommate groups to stay together. If you sign up as an individual, a student can select a space in a partially occupied room or a fully vacant room; a roommate will be assigned at a later date. 

To match with a roommate in a Residential Learning Community (RLC), all members of the roommate group must be part of the same RLC. To see other students who are part of your RLC, be sure to select that option to view the relevant student profiles. Be attentive to communication from your RLC who may offer some pointers for connecting with other students also joining the same program. 

Students who do not participate in roommate matching will still receive an invitation to choose a space in the available residence halls. Students in RLCs may be able to choose a space in their chosen RLC, while space remains available. Otherwise, students will be able to choose a space in the General Room Selection process. 

Even if you do not have a roommate now, that is no problem. When you select a residence hall, you will be able to view the students who have already selected a room but are in need of a roommate. You can view their bio and lifestyle questions to see how compatible you feel with them.  Be sure to keep an open mind. Even if it initially appears that you may not be a good match per the lifestyle questions, things often work out if you share open and honest communication, and you make an attempt to be flexible and work together. 

You can improve your chances of getting your preferred room or building by applying early. Date of application is considered, but not a guarantee.  Students selected for an RLC will have access to the designated space for that community.  There is also consideration for honoring roommate matches.  There are a few buildings that are consistently among the top preferred on student applications. If you have a preferred roommate, it could be advantageous to prioritize a roommate match first, then have a few ideas for where you may want to live. That way, as options fill, you may have to adjust to where you will live, but will be set on who you will live with.

If you do not make a roommate match, a roommate will likely be assigned to you.

A good roommate relationship is important to the on-campus living experience.  It is also one that will evolve and needs active engagement to be successful. Regardless of whether you choose a match, or are matched with by the process, plan to put work into the roommate relationship.  There are many examples of roommates who were a great match on paper or may be friends from home, but do not work out.  Conversely, many students find a roommate who may have looked like a questionable match has worked out very well.

There is no guarantee that a roommate group will be able to select a full suite. Several factors can affect which room will be assigned, including how many roommate groups come together and where they prefer to live..  Roommate groups are encouraged to have a few back-up plans that may include selecting adjacent rooms or a room near them. Also consider community-style buildings, to keep your group near each other.

Building preferences are considered as much as possible to determine an assignment for those who do not participate in room self-selection. All applicants list their building preferences so that our Assignments team can utilize them if needed, pending the spaces available after room self-selection concludes. 

The role of the leader is initially determined by the person who starts the roommate group.  The group leader holds primary responsibility for the room selection time and choosing where the group will select their room(s).  As the group comes together, prior students have found it helpful to have the group leader be the student with the earliest room selection date and time.  Whether you are the leader or not, please work together and communicate clearly so that you all understand your plans, including back-ups, when it comes time to select.

There are a few things that could interrupt locating someone you know to select each other as roommates.  Here are some things to check:

  1. Make sure you are both searching in the same roommate section, Residential Learning Communities (RLC) or General.
  2. If you have both been selected for the same RLC, make sure you are both searching for each other in the RLC matching area.
  3. If only one of you have been selected for an RLC or neither of you have opted for an RLC, be sure you are both searching for each other in the General matching area.
  4. Make sure your selected gender information matches.*

 

* We continue to work to improve our systems and process to reduce obstacles for students to find the person who will be their best roommate match.  Until then, we must continue within the limitations and terminology that may not accurately represent who you are.  For roommate matching, this may mean that you and your preferred match need to update your gender information to identical options, locate & match with each other, and decide if you want to return to update your gender information.  Once you have matched as roommates, changing the gender information will not affect the match. 

If your plans have changed, and you no longer plan to live on campus, please email housing@colostate.edu as soon as possible to request cancellation of your application.  Please be attentive to the first-year housing requirement if applicable to your plans.

Be sure to let housing know if you matched with a roommate, to limit the surprise of getting a different roommate.  Also, if you no longer plan to attend CSU, visit RamWeb to update your enrollment plans, or contact the Admissions Office.

Colorado State University Living Regulations require that all newly admitted first-year students live in the university residence halls for the first two consecutive terms of their attendance. (Admissions Type “New”)

This requirement applies to students who are:

  • New and transfer students, with fewer than 15 post-high school credits.*
  • Are single
  • Are under 21 years of age
  • Are not living with their parents in the Fort Collins area.

*Credits taken concurrently with high school and/or credits attained through Advanced Placement (AP) do not apply toward living experience. 

The CSU Housing Portal allows students more time and autonomy to choose their roommate(s), residence hall, floor, and room rather than being assigned by a computer program. This is particularly important when highly preferred locations fill and students must opt for their 2nd, 3rd, or other choices. Students can make that decision for themselves and their roommate(s).  Students can also learn a lot more about housing options and interests between their date of application and room selection time.  Using that knowledge to adjust their preferred plan, and a few back-ups, gives the student added opportunity to make their own decisions.

Returning students had the same opportunity to choose a space as the new-incoming students have in the CSU Housing Portal, however, they had the opportunity to choose a bit earlier in the Spring. If a returning student had someone they wanted to room with, they could choose a friend who would then pick an available space in the same room. Those who did not have a roommate choose their hall, floor, and bed space as available and a roommate selects or is assigned later.

Students who have verified accommodations through the Student Disability Center will receive housing based on the SDC’s recommendations and best available options when Housing is notified.

Our goal is to provide housing to every student seeking to live on campus.  We must also acknowledge that only students required to live on campus are guaranteed space.  If we identify that we cannot provide housing beyond those guaranteed, we will provide notification as soon as possible so other housing plans can be made.

All newly admitted first-year students (Admissions Type “New”) and transfer students, with fewer than 15 post-high school credits, who are single, under 21 years of age, and not living with their parents in the Fort Collins area.

Due to high enrollment projections and the retrofitting of Durward Hall this academic year, only new-incoming students and transfer students with less than 15 post high school credits are guaranteed housing.

The CSU Housing Portal uses your @colostate.edu email address as it is a consistent, reliable way to reach out to all students. Previously, some students would not receive University Housing emails if their email had changed or expired (such as an email linked with their high school) and had not been updated in the system. Students are strongly encouraged to monitor their @colostate.edu email for housing and other notices from the University. Minimally, students who prefer to use a different email should set up forwarding, so messages sent to their @colostate.edu email will also be pushed to an email that will be checked more regularly.

Just as it is the responsibility of the student to complete the details of their housing assignment, it is also their responsibility to determine with whom they will share the information. All University Housing email correspondence is sent to students at their @colostate.edu email address. Some general information and updates are also shared with parents and families through newsletters and messages sent through the Parent & Family Programs office. Parents/guardians are encouraged to sign-up for these notices and otherwise connect with resources at parentsandfamily.colostate.edu.

We are consistently working to keep our processes updated to reflect students’ needs and experiences.  We must also recognize when our systems cannot keep pace in the way that best supports students.  Accordingly, there are limits to what terminology you may see via the assignment process.

  • Dynamic Gender: There are currently no occupants in the room and when a student or roommate group selects that space, the room will take on the gender indicated for that student or group.
  • Male or Female: At least one student with an M or F gender indicated has selected a space within the room or suite which then genders that space for others to select to with the same gender.
  • CoEd: If you or your planned roommate have a gender identity not listed as male or female, this system indicator of CoEd allows you to sign up with your planned roommate with any gender identity.

When you identify a space you are interested in and “Add to Cart,” it places the space on hold for five minutes to allow time for you to determine if you want to make that selection final. After five minutes, the space is released and available for someone else to select. If you want to make it final, follow the instructions to complete and submit the selection. If you are not sure it is the space you want, you can go back and continue reviewing available options.

Once you complete the selection and finalize your choice, it cannot be reversed. Your next option will be when the waitlist becomes available to see if an assignment change may be possible. Information about the waitlist will be posted via the Portal when they are ready.

We are closely monitor available space and remaining applications while being aware that some options may fill quickly, limiting availability to those yet to select. If we do not have spaces for students to self-select, we will provide updates via the CSU Housing Portal and share details with impacted students as soon as possible.  As mentioned elsewhere in these FAQs, students are encouraged to have a few plans for where they may prefer to live should higher preferred locations fill.