Residence Life & Housing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Please click a topic below for more information.

 

Housing

CAS Undergraduate Residential Requirement

Are students required to live on campus?

As a result of the University's commitment to being a residential campus, all students must live on campus and have a meal plan. The requirement is for the duration of their time as a student unless they are 23 years of age or older, living with parents or legal guardians within 30 miles of campus, or are married or in a registered domestic partnership. Please note, housing is not guaranteed for students under the age of 16 or over 23 years old and is only provided if space is available. Only students who have received off-campus approval from Residence Life and Housing or in partnership with Student Financial Services (SFS) are exempt from the housing and meal plan requirement.

Any new student who meets one of the exemptions, for example living with a parent within 30 miles of campus, must complete the optional off-campus questions included at the end of the New/Transfer Student Housing Intention Form for consideration. This is the only housing form needed for both on and off-campus consideration.

Once a student receives confirmation of their off-campus approval from Residence Life and Housing, their checklist will be updated to reflect completing the Meal Plan selection step. While participating in a meal plan is permitted for off-campus students, it is not required of students approved off-campus.

Room Rates

How much is a room?

The room rates can be viewed at Room Rates

I'm concerned about the price of the room. How do I communicate my desire, if possible, to have the least expensive options?

The single most significant factor contributing to the cost of a room is the number of roommates with which a student shares a space. Question number one on the New/Transfer Student Housing Intention Form on the MyRedlands Housing Portal asks students to indicate their room size preference. So we can, to the best of our ability, collaborate with their First-Year Seminar assignment to place them in a community where the preferred room size is physically available.

I need a quad/triple room for financial reasons.

Quad rooms are extremely limited on campus, and receiving a bed space in one is exceedingly rare. A placement in a triple is a much more likely occurrence and is something we will try to accommodate using the Room Change Request form on the MyRedlands Housing Portal.

I'm enrolled in May Term, will I be charged for housing?

Yes, students enrolled in residential (on-campus) May Terms and living on campus will be charged housing during May Term.  Rates can be found here.  

New Students

Can I make changes to my New Student Housing Intention Form?

Yes! Go to your MyRedlands Housing Portal and select the form under Applications and Forms. Click on "Revise/Update This Application" to make the changes.

When do I find out about my room and roommate(s) assignments?

Housing assignments, including hall/room/and roommate information, will be sent to students' Redlands email accounts at the end of July.

How do I request to live off-campus?

Below are the three methods you may request to live off-campus.

  1. Residence Life and Housing process:  As a new student you will petition to live off-campus via your Housing Intention From accessible on your New Student Checklist. Please complete all the questions on the form as we need the additional information to know where to place you if you are not approved to live off-campus.
  2. Student Financial Services process:  Students seeking to live off-campus due to financial concerns do not receive special consideration through the Residence Life and Housing department as we cannot consider these types of circumstances and trust the appropriate campus partners. All students (new or returning) seeking to live off-campus due to financial reasons must complete an Off-Campus Special Circumstances Appeal Form with Student Financial Services. In some instances, the information listed on the FAFSA may not accurately represent a student's current family financial circumstances. Once received, Student Financial Services will review the student's eligibility and contact you and Residence Life and Housing with a final decision. The form may be submitted anytime throughout the year and could take two to three weeks to process.  For questions about this process, please email SFS@redlands.edu. 

  3. Academic Success and Disability Services:  Any new or returning students may also request an exemption through Academic Success and Disability Services. Residence Life and Housing cannot consider these types of circumstances and trust the appropriate campus partners. Should off-campus status be approved, ASDS will notify you and RLH. This form may also be completed anytime throughout the year. We recommend that it be submitted as quickly as possible as it may take up to 30 days or more once all required documentation has been submitted.  For questions about this process, please email ASA@redlands.edu.

My assigned/matched roommate is no longer coming to Redlands. What do I do?

Until the students tell the University they will no longer be attending, the housing assignment will remain. Upon notification, it will be canceled, so we recommend contacting the student and asking to notify the University immediately.

If you know someone you would like to move in with, please email RLH@redlands.edu that information as soon as possible to see if the other student can be transferred to your room.

If you do not have someone in mind, RLH will work to find a roommate for you.

What advice do you have for using the advanced roommate profile to find a roommate match?

You should fill out your profile yourself and be honest about your preferences and habits!

I need a quad/triple room for financial reasons.

Quad rooms are extremely limited on campus, and receiving a bed space in one is exceedingly rare. A placement in a triple is a much more likely occurrence and is something we will try to accommodate using the Room Change Request form on the My.redlands.edu Housing Portal.

Transfer Students

Can I make changes to my Transfer Student Housing Intention Form?

Yes! Go to your MyRedlands Housing Portal and select the form under Applications and Forms. Click on "Revise/Update This Application" and make the changes.

How are roommate(s) assigned? Can I pick my roommate? What do I do if I don't have a roommate request?

Roommates are assigned based on your profile and your Transfer Student Housing Intention Form. However, please include a student's name on your Transfer Student Housing Intention Form if you know who you would like as a roommate.

When do I find out about my room and roommate(s) assignments?

Housing assignments, including hall/room/and roommate information, will be sent to students' Redlands email accounts at the end of July.

How do I request to live off-campus?

There are several methods by which you may seek approval to live off-campus. Any of the following methods may be completed simultaneously. Be sure to read the links provided below to determine which process or processes you will be petitioning through.  

  1. Although students must live on campus, you may petition to live off-campus by completing the off-campus questions on your Transfer Student Housing Intention Form. RLH will consider petitions for those living with their parent or guardian within 30 miles of the University. Please answer all the questions included in the application. We need the additional information to know where to place you if you are not approved to live off-campus.
  2. Students seeking to live off-campus due to financial concerns do not receive special consideration through the Off-Campus Petition Process. Residence Life and Housing cannot consider these types of circumstances and trust the appropriate campus partners. All students (new or returning) seeking to live off-campus due to financial reasons must complete an Off-Campus Special Circumstances Appeal Form with Student Financial Services. In some instances, the information listed on the FAFSA may not accurately represent a student's current family financial circumstances. Once received, Student Financial Services will review the student's eligibility and contact you and Residence Life and Housing with a final decision. The form may be submitted anytime throughout the year and could take two to three weeks to process.  

     For questions about this process, please email SFS@redlands.edu. 

  1. Students may also request an exemption through Academic Success and Disability ServicesResidence Life and Housing cannot consider these types of circumstances and trust the appropriate campus partners. Should off-campus status be approved, ASDS will notify you and RLH. This form may also be completed anytime throughout the year. We recommend that it be submitted as quickly as possible as it may take up to 30 days or more once all required documentation has been submitted. 

     For questions about this process, please email ASA@redlands.edu. 

My assigned/matched roommate is no longer coming to Redlands. What do I do?

Until the students tell the University they will no longer be attending, the housing assignment will remain. Upon notification, it will be canceled, so we recommend contacting the student and asking to notify the University immediately.

If you know someone you would like to move in with, please email RLH@redlands.edu that information as soon as possible to see if the other student can be transferred to your room.

If you do not have someone in mind, RLH will work to find a roommate for you.

What advice do you have for using the advanced roommate profile to find a roommate match?

You should fill out your profile yourself and be honest about your preferences and habits!

I need a quad/triple room for financial reasons.

Quad rooms are extremely limited on campus, and receiving a bed space in one is exceedingly rare. A placement in a triple is a much more likely occurrence and is something we will try to accommodate using the Room Change Request form on the My.redlands.edu Housing Portal.

Returning Students

When will we be able to select a room for the new year?

Housing Selection and Placement Process

How do I request to live off-campus?

  1. Residence Life and Housing process:  As a new student you will petition to live off-campus via your Housing Intention From accessible on your New Student Checklist. Please complete all the questions on the form as we need the additional information to know where to place you if you are not approved to live off-campus.
  2. Student Financial Services process:  Students seeking to live off-campus due to financial concerns do not receive special consideration through the Residence Life and Housing department as we cannot consider these types of circumstances and trust the appropriate campus partners. All students (new or returning) seeking to live off-campus due to financial reasons must complete an Off-Campus Special Circumstances Appeal Form with Student Financial Services. In some instances, the information listed on the FAFSA may not accurately represent a student's current family financial circumstances. Once received, Student Financial Services will review the student's eligibility and contact you and Residence Life and Housing with a final decision. The form may be submitted anytime throughout the year and could take two to three weeks to process.  For questions about this process, please email SFS@redlands.edu. 

  3. Academic Success and Disability Services:  Any new or returning students may also request an exemption through Academic Success and Disability Services. Residence Life and Housing cannot consider these types of circumstances and trust the appropriate campus partners. Should off-campus status be approved, ASDS will notify you and RLH. This form may also be completed anytime throughout the year. We recommend that it be submitted as quickly as possible as it may take up to 30 days or more once all required documentation has been submitted.  For questions about this process, please email ASA@redlands.edu.

When do I find out about my room and roommate(s) assignments?

Housing assignments, including hall/room/and roommate information, will be sent to students' Redlands email accounts at the end of July.

My assigned/matched roommate is no longer coming to Redlands. What do I do?

Until the students tell the University they will no longer be attending, the housing assignment will remain. Upon notification, it will be canceled, so we recommend contacting the student and asking to notify the University immediately.

If you know someone you would like to move in with, please email RLH@redlands.edu that information as soon as possible to see if the other student can be transferred to your room.

If you do not have someone in mind, RLH will work to find a roommate for you.

What advice do you have for using the advanced roommate profile to find a roommate match?

You should fill out your profile yourself and be honest about your preferences and habits!

I need a quad/triple room for financial reasons.

Quad rooms are extremely limited on campus, and receiving a bed space in one is exceedingly rare. A placement in a triple is a much more likely occurrence and is something we will try to accommodate using the Room Change Request form on the My.redlands.edu Housing Portal.

Housing and Meal Plan Accommodations Process

I have a medical condition and require accommodations. Who do I talk to about requesting housing accommodations?

Students who want their housing assignment to consider mental or physical needs are encouraged to review and complete the Accommodations Packet with Academic Success and Disability Services. This is the mechanism to request accommodations for a student for their time in housing at the University of Redlands. 

Please note the Accommodations Committee meets approximately once per month during the academic year and does not meet during the summer months.  If you would like to pursue accommodations, please make sure to begin the process as early as possible to be recommended to the Committee in a timely fashion.

For questions about this process, please email ASA@redlands.edu.

No Roommate Assigned

What will happen if there is a vacancy in my room?

While we try to match students with roommates prior to moving in, there are times when students may be faced with a vacancy in their room.  In these cases, Residence Life and Housing will continue to work to create roommate matches, whether through consolidation with another student(s) with a vacancy or by offering vacant spaces to students looking to change rooms for a variety of reasons.  When contacted about a new potential roommate or consolidation, we request that students are open and friendly to one another.  

MyRedlands Housing Portal

How do I select my room? The Housing Portal says I cannot participate.

  • All new students have their room and roommate(s) assigned to them, considering their personal preferences, New/Transfer Student Housing Intention Form, First Year Seminar (FYS) placement, matched roommates, and availability.
  • They will be able to select their own room during the rest of their time at Redlands.

Students seeking accommodation due to a medical/physical/psychological need, are highly encouraged to complete an Accommodation Request with Academic Success and Disability Services.

Generic Housing

Why does my portal say I have been placed in Generic Housing? What does this mean? Why was I not given a housing and roommate(s) assignment yet?

  • Generic housing is a placeholder used while an assignment is being processed. Each summer incoming students are placed in this category when Residence Life and Housing needs more time to process their placement.
    • If a student has yet to complete the Housing Intention Form, they should do so immediately as it is crucial to our ability to make housing assignments.
    • For some students, this is because they have yet to complete the New or Transfer Student Housing Intention Form, or they completed it after the May deadline.
    • For others, including some who completed their housing forms early, because of the large incoming class, we need some additional time to provide more care to process the requests of students to attempt to get them the best housing arrangement possible.
  • We understand this may be disappointing, however, housing assignments are processed in batches throughout the summer, and Residence Life and Housing will continue to place students in housing.
    • We ask for patience, as we will communicate specific housing assignments from RLH@redlands.edu directly to their Redlands email account.
    • Please know we are trying our best to confirm arrangements as quickly as possible and additional inquiries merely slow the process.
    • Their student account will reflect a room and board rate for a double room with a meal plan. This is to ensure room and board continues to be factored into your financial planning with Student Financial Services. In the event their future room assignment does not reflect this double rate, your account will automatically be adjusted accordingly. Your meal plan, however, is an item you can change on your own using the My.redlands.edu Housing Portal by the first Friday after classes start if you prefer a meal plan rate other than standard.

Gender Inclusivity

I would like to live in a gender-inclusive environment/What is All-Gendered Housing?

Housing at Redlands allows any student to live with any student, provided all parties consent to the arrangement. To learn more, view our Housing Policies here.

Staff and Resources

Resident Assistant (RA)

Check out more information about Resident Assistants on this page

Community Coordinators (CC), Area Coordinators (AC)

Please refer to this link to meet our Community Coordinators and Area Coordinators.

Amenities and Vendors

Furniture

What does the school provide in the rooms?

In the residence halls, the furniture provided includes a bed, desk, set of drawers or a dresser, closet or wardrobe, and chair. In the apartments, limited living room furniture, as well as a refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher, are provided.

Can risers be put on the bedposts to give a little extra storage space?

Almost all the beds in the residence halls can be raised with a request to our Facilities team once students arrive on campus. You might also consider bed risers to give students extra storage space underneath the beds. Commercial bed risers that cup the legs are the only bed lifting mechanism permitted for use and are used at the student’s own risk. Other types of rising items, such as cinder blocks or DIY construction, are not allowed.

Will storage trunks fit under their beds?

While it depends on the size of the trunk and the adjusted height of the bed, most trunks do fit under beds. It is recommended that storage containers be purchased after move-in to ensure that proper measurements can be taken since there are a few different bed models throughout the communities. All beds in the rooms are height adjustable. This means the bed can be made taller to fit storage underneath. Upon arrival, should you want your bed raised, or even lowered, please let an RA know and they will communicate with the Facilities Management team who are available throughout the move-in day, to visit your room and make the adjustment.

Do students have access to a refrigerator and microwave in their community?

All students have access to a common refrigerator and microwave in the community’s kitchen. While students are not permitted to have a microwave, they are able to have a mini fridge of their own(maximum 4 cu ft).

Laundry

What is the situation with the laundry?

All residence halls provide access to washers and dryers. Machines accept only credit or debit cards; a temporary $8 hold will be placed on the account being used, and any unused funds will be released within an hour or so. The cost is $.75 to dry and $1.25 to wash a load of clothes. Liquid detergent must be used; pods and powder detergent are not compatible with these machines.

What do I need to know about laundry?

Every residence hall, organization house, and apartment complex on campus has access to a community laundry facility. While most laundry rooms are located within the residence halls, a few communities have external facilities.  East Hall's laundry room is located on the east side of Orton Center, Brockton's room is on the north side of the community building in Block A, and Grove's is centrally located on the east side of the roundabout.

You can check the status of the laundry machines and set a text alert to inform you when your laundry is done through the convenient WaveVision website.

Laundry Charges

All washers and dryers are equipped with credit/debit card readers. You must use a Visa or Mastercard to pay for laundry. The machines do accept Visa or Mastercard gift cards should you not have a credit/debit card. The machine will place an $8 hold on your account for up to eight hours after using your card. This way, all charges made on that one laundry day will appear on statements as one charge. Current laundry costs are $1.25 to wash and $0.75 to dry.

Laundry Machine Service or Repair

Please tag the machine with the provided red tags available in each laundry room, and staff will open a work order for repairs.  If your laundry room is out of red tags, please inform your building supervisor.

Tips for Machine use:

  • Firmly close washer doors when in use (slightly unlatched doors will cause the machine to time out without washing!)
  • Only fill washers with clothing to the fill line indicated on the side of the drum.
  • Using a laundry pod?  Toss it (only 1) directly into the washing drum, not in the soap drawer.
  • Empty dryer lint traps before and after every dry cycle.

Mail

When will I be able to get my mailbox number so that I can start mailing stuff to my room?

The Student Mail Center will mail welcome letters in July or so and students are asked to start mailing their items no more than 2 weeks before their arrival due to limited space. The Student Mail Center can help you with further questions and information. 

Are students notified if a package arrives for them?

Students receive an email that is a package notification, yes.

Do students keep the same mailbox all four years?

Yes. Students will have the same mailbox unless they take a leave of absence or move off-campus.

Can we ship packages by UPS to the student mailbox numbers?

Yes! Student Mail Center

Air Conditioners and Swamp Coolers

What are the rules on portable air conditioners or swamp coolers?

Portable air conditioners are not permitted; these devices draw so much power they can knock out the electricity to entire buildings. Evaporative coolers with power usage up to 120 volts of electricity at 300 watts are allowed. When using these devices, please make sure to read the user manual thoroughly; as these items use ice and water to cool spaces, they can emit a mildew smell if not cleaned properly. Fans are also permitted. Using a fan, covering windows with blinds closed, and keeping the overhead lights off during the day can go a long way to helping keep a room cool on warmer days.

Student Renters Insurance

Where can I purchase Student Property Insurance?

GradGuard helps students and families protect their investment in higher education. Many families rely on GradGuard to provide exclusive benefits and insurance programs that help students complete their education. For more information, visit the GradGuard website.

Care Packages

Can care packages be sent to students living on campus?

The University of Redlands offers student's well-wishers a unique opportunity to send a care package through Our Campus Market to students living on campus to make them feel more at home while they move onto campus and start to get more acquainted with campus life. The selection ranges for all celebratory events being inclusive of dietary restrictions, and prices are budget-friendly.

For more information, email us at RLH@redlands.edu

Internet Connection

Is there an Ethernet connection available in each dorm room?

Wi-Fi is provided in all residence halls and buildings on campus. Ethernet ports are being phased out and, while there may be a port connection available in a room, most no longer work as resources have been allocated in favor of Wi-Fi.

Parking

What is the parking situation?

Parking on campus is free, although students must pick up a parking pass from Public Safety. Students without passes may receive tickets from Public Safety. If a student receives a parking ticket and wants to pay it off or has questions, Public Safety is the place to go. 

Is there indoor bike parking on campus?

There are multiple bike racks available throughout campus for students to lock their bike. Many of these bike racks are located in the front or back of the residential buildings. To help prevent the theft of bicycles, Public Safety recommends securing bicycles with a high-security U-lock attached to an immovable object in open, in a well-lighted and highly visible area. Public Safety also highly recommends registering your bike with the Department of Public Safety, at their office, and the City of Redlands. If it is found, they can return it to you. 

Where can parents park when visiting and unloading dorm supplies during orientation?

Parents are welcome to park in any open space that is not reserved. If you are close to the front of the building when unloading, please move your vehicle to a space further away once you are finished to allow another family to use the space near the building.

Meal Plan

Rates

How much are meal plans?

The meal plans, location hours, and FAQ can be reviewed at Harvest Table.

If your student is enrolled in a May Term are they required to pay for a meal plan?

Yes, all students enrolled in residential (on-campus) May Terms and living on campus will be charged for a meal plan during May Term.  Commuter students enrolled in a May Term course and those enrolled in a May Term travel course are eligible to purchase this plan.

Changing a Meal Plan

How do I change my meal plan?

On-campus students will automatically be enrolled in a meal plan. They will have to go into their my.redlands.edu Housing Portal to change their meal plan by the first Friday after classes start.

Instructions on how to change a meal plan: How to Select or Change a Meal Plan

Cancel Meal Plan: Students with Off-campus status need to email RLH to cancel a meal plan.

Unused Dining Dollars

Are unused Dining Dollars from meal plans refunded at the end of the year?

They are not. When a meal plan is purchased, the company purchases food according to the predicted meal usage purchased by the student. This means that even if a student has money left at the end of the year, it has already been invested in meals for the student. See this more comprehensively: FAQ on the new meal plan

Move-in and Opening

Move-in Day and Important Housing Dates & Information

Where can I find Important Housing Dates? 

Move-in dates and times for new and returning students are posted at Important Housing Dates.

 

Early Arrival (EA)

What is an Early Arrival Group?

Some students, new and returning, will move in earlier than the published arrival dates as they are members of an early arrival group. These students have prior permission to check-in at a different date/time and will receive additional information about move-in from their group's representative.
Want to move in early but are not part of a predetermined early arrival group? In August, visit the Early Arrival Request form on the MyRedlands Housing Portal to learn more about requesting an earlier check-in.

What to bring

What can I bring to move-in?

Essentials to Bring Optional Items to Bring Items you MUST LEAVE AT HOME
XL twin bed linens, pillows and towels Computer, television, radio and electronics Microwave
Toiletries, shower caddy and shower shoes Power strip, surge protector Halogen lamps
Electronic chargers Desk lamp Air conditioning units
Room decorations Flashlight Candles and incense
Personal items to make your room feel like home Fans or evaporative cooler (Bekins) Open coil hot plates or cooking units
Clothes and hangers Storage bins Cinder blocks
Laundry bag and detergent (no powder or pods) Refrigerator (maximum 4 cu ft) Hoverboard
Personal medication, FDA approved COVID-19 Testing Kits, Face Masks Eating utensils and dishes Pets
School supplies and backpack Cleaning supplies Weapons (including firearms, pellet/airsoft guns, paint guns, Mace/tear gas, ANY knives/blades greater than 2.5" in length, etc.)

 

Room Tour

Can I see my room? / I would like to visit my room.

Dorm Room Wall Hangings

What are the rules regarding hanging items on the walls of the dorm rooms?

Students are permitted and encouraged to decorate their rooms. We recommend 3M strips or blue painter’s tape to stick items to the wall, as these products do not leave residue behind. If walls are damaged by duct tape, sticky tack, nails, and related items, the student’s account will be billed at the end of the year. Items can never be hung from emergency equipment, such as sprinklers, smoke detectors, alarm lights, etc.; damage to these items can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and we want to help avoid this expense!

Are the students fined for minor holes when they move out?

The student can be fined for holes. Staff create Room Condition Reports (RCRs) at the beginning of the year to list any preexisting damage. At the end of the year, staff members compare the condition of the room after moving out to that of the RCR (Room Condition Reports) at the beginning of the year and determine fines at that time. Again, we recommend using 3M strips or blue painter’s tape for hanging items on the wall.

Housing Over Academic Breaks

Are the residence halls open during breaks?

Residence halls are open during fall study days, spring break, and May Term recess. Community assistants are on call from 7 p.m.to 7 a.m. as usual during these breaks.

Thanksgiving Break

Residence halls are open, but because community assistants are not on call during that time, students are required to sign up, so Public Safety knows which students are on campus in the event of an emergency.

Winter Break

In general, residence halls are closed, and students must be out of the halls by the date and time specified in the important dates section for that specific academic year. If winter break housing is needed, students can request it by utilizing the Winter Break Request form on their housing portal, typically open during November with a cut-off in early December. RLH@redlands.edu will send details to students’ Redlands.edu email accounts during the fall semester.

Move-out and Closing

Move Out Instructions

When do students need to move out of their dorms?

The date varies each year and can be found on the Residence Life and Housing web page. Dates will also be announced in general communications from RLH@Redlands.edu, which will include your student’s housing confirmation. Students are encouraged to check for emails daily and thoroughly read messages sent by Residence Life, as they can contain vital details such as move-out days, instructions to request winter break, etc. It is the students’ responsibility to make sure they are reading emails providing updates. Students can also follow @resliferedlands on Instagram for highlights and programs throughout the year.

For more information, email us at RLH@redlands.edu