Frequently Asked Housing Questions

When do I sign up for housing?
The sign up period for housing will be posted in January. Following is a general schedule:

• Fraternities -- Mid-February
• Resident Advisors -- January - Mid-February
• Specialty (College owned cottages, apartments and Traditional off-campus) -- Late February - Early March
• Specialty (Sophomore, Theme and Office Assignment) -- Late February - Early March
• Regular -- Late March - Early April
• Incoming Freshmen -- Assignments are made in June - A New Student Housing Information and Housing Questionnaire link will be mailed to deposited new students from the Associate Dean of Students office in mid-May. Housing contracts (signature and return required) with room/roommate information will be mailed in mid-June. 

How do I sign up for housing?
Returning students can participate in our room choosing process online. Selection times are based on academic standing within each class. That is to say that rising Seniors with the highest grade point average will have the earliest selection times. The process will then move through each class in the same manner.
Specialty Housing, for Traditional Off Campus, College owned cottages and apartments, is conducted online one month prior to regular room choosing. Sophomore and Theme selections are a part of Specialty Housing and are paper based applications. Forms are available online and in the Dean of Students Office during the selection process in February.  Office Assignment online contracts are also signed during this process. Students requesting fifth year senior status, commuting students, special exemption or 2nd year theme house residents must contact the Associate Dean of Students to be granted approval during this process.

What if I want to live off campus?
Only students who qualify as rising Seniors are eligible to compete for an off campus arrangement. Hampden-Sydney College is a residential college and as such the opportunity to live outside of College-owned housing is limited to 32 students. There is also a waiting list which is established online and is based on the same selection criteria.
Students who wish to live off campus should not sign a lease until after competing for and earning one of the off campus positions. Students will not be permitted to live outside of College housing based on previous lease agreements or prior year awards.
Special exemptions will be considered by the Associate Dean of Students for Housing and Residence Life in conjunction with the Housing Committee. Any Student interested in making the case for a special exemption should submit his case in writing to the Associate Dean of Students for Housing and Residence Life.

I plan on studying abroad next year how does that affect my housing?
If you have definite plans to study abroad and are working with the Office of International Studies you will not need to sign up for housing. For students who will be abroad for the Fall Semester please plan on contacting the Assiociate Dean of Students for Housing and Residence Life before December 10th to discuss your housing options. Room assignments cannot be held for a student who will not be in attendance.
Students who plan to study abroad for the Spring Semester should compete for Fall housing. Those students who plan to study abroad for the entire academic year do not compete for housing until the second semester of their year abroad at which time they will need to contact the Associate Dean of Students for Housing and Residence Life to discuss available options.
If a student is unsure of his study abroad commitment he should compete for housing and assume he will be on campus for the remainder of the year. Remember, once your selection time passes your options will diminish quickly so make your selection early.

What if I'm in a fraternity?
Each fraternity is obligated to fill its beds. In early February, fraternities will submit housing rosters for the upcoming year before the Housing Selection process begins. Each fraternity will be required to fill each bed and to have a list of no fewer than 3 alternates. The alternates must agree, as should all men on the housing roster, that they will live in the house in the event of a vacancy.
No fraternity member will be eligible to sign up for housing until the house roster is complete and submitted to the Dean of Students Office and each resident on the roster has signed his online housing contract.
Unless prior approval is granted by the Assistant Dean of Students during the spring semester housing selections, presidents must reside in their respective fraternity houses during the Fall semester of their elected term.

What should I do if I want to live in a single room?
Hampden-Sydney College has a limited number of single occupancy rooms. All housing is based on seniority within each class and as such housing is first come, first served. If no single rooms are available when you sign up for housing you should plan on making the next best housing decision and contacting the Associate Dean of Students for Housing and Residence Life. Your name will be added to a waiting list if you indicate such a desire either online, in person, or via email to the Associate Dean.

Do single rooms cost more to live in?
Yes, single occupancy rooms cost more. The 2010-2011 estimated cost difference, including technology fees, is $1,982 for a single residence hall room. College-owned apartments or cottages carry an increased rate.

What is the College policy for married students?
Married students who live with their spouses and seek on-campus housing must make arrangements for housing through the Associate Dean of Students.  This should be done in February for current students and a request indicated on the May Housing Questionnaire for new incoming students.  Generally, married students live in the Blake Apartments, when available, or off campus.

What is the College policy on Residence Hall Closings during the school year?
All residence halls are closed during the break between first and second semester.  Students must vacate their rooms the day of their last exam.  Students must contact the Associate Dean of Students office if they wish to stay on campus during the Fall, Thanksgiving or Spring breaks and make other arrangements for meals if the dining hall will not be operating.