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Residence Life

Fall 2008 Newsletter

What are your housing plans for next year?

Housing Renewal Goes On-Line!

Exciting changes are in store for this year’s housing renewal process! For the past several months, we have been working on the implementation of an on-line housing application and room/roommate selection process. We expect to launch this new system in February, starting with current student housing application renewal!

We think that this new system will make applying for housing, as well as keeping updated regarding your room and roommate requests, much easier and more convenient for you. It is, however, going to be a very different process.

In order to help you find your way around in the new system, we have provided instruction in this newsletter. Your Hall staff will also be trained in the new system, so if you encounter any problems, see your staff for assistance. If you are a “hands on” learner, we will also be having some demo sessions in the residence halls. The first demo will be at Concho Hall on Feb. 13th, the second at Texan Hall on Feb. 15th.

Please take the time to read through this newsletter carefully so that you don’t miss important information and deadlines!

NOTE:Prior to fall registration, your records will be flagged and you will not be able to register for any classes until you have satisfied one of three options:
  1. Request a space in a residence hall for next year.
  2. Request an exemption (if qualified) to live off campus for next year.
  3. Request a refund of your housing deposit if you will not enroll at ASU for the 2008-09 academic year.
    4.
  1. Renewal Step 1. Application & Application Fee.
  2. Renewal Step 2. Room & Roommate Selection!
  3. Lottery Dates: What can I choose and when?
  4. "I am returning to ASU next year, but I plan to live off campus."
  5. "I am not returning to ASU next year."
  6. "Will Centennial Village be ready by August?"
  7. Other changes & info for next year...
  1. Renewal Step 1. Application & Application Fee.
    1. Between February 1—15th you need to log on to RamPort and access the Residence Life channel. (If you haven’t added the Res. Life channel to your RamPort tab, you will need to.)
    2. Click on the "Apply On-line" link.
    3. Provide the information as prompted on the application screens, following the "next" or "continue" buttons through the pages. When complete, remember to click "complete application" to submit your housing application.
    4. Click on the "Confirmation Documents" to print out a copy of the contractual agreement, and other important information.
    5. Before FEBRUARY 15th, come to the Residential Programs office in Hardeman 200 and make payment for your $50.00 application fee. (As a current resident, your deposit will roll over to next year so you don’t need to pay it again).
    6. Check the MyHousing page after February 15th to find out your lottery time(s) for step two.
    Why It’s Important To Pay Your $50.00 Application Fee Before February 15th:
    Your application is not complete without the application fee.

    Students who have not paid the application fee by February 15th will not be eligible to participate in the next step… room and roommate selection (and you don’t want to miss the chance to select your room and roommate(s) for next year!)
    Don’t miss out! Remember to pay your application fee by Feb. 15th!

  2. Renewal Step 2. Room & Roommate Selection!

    Starting FEBRUARY 18th— After you have submitted your on-line application and paid your $50.00 application fee in the Residential Programs office in Hardeman 200, you will be eligible to participate in what the new on-line system, MyHousing, calls a “lottery.” There will be several individual “lotteries” during renewal that will allow room/roommate selection for specific categories. This is similar to what we have done in the past. You will find the MyHousing link on the Residence Life Channel in RamPort (same as the Apply On-line link)

    What does being in a lottery mean?
    The system assigns each eligible student a randomly generated lottery number. Lottery numbers determine the order in which participants can begin to log in to MyHousing and make their selections. Lower lottery numbers start earlier in the process. (The time set between lottery numbers for log in is only 1 minute.) Once your assigned lottery time arrives, you can log in and start your selections. You can log in at any time between when your lottery time starts and the end of the lottery— so you don’t have to log in at the exact moment that you are assigned.

    O.K., I am logged in for the lottery. Now What?
    When you log in to MyHousing, the main page will display overview information about your housing status for you. There will be a navigation menu on the left hand side where you can access other information in MyHousing.
    The pages have been designed to be as self-explanatory as possible. There are also help menu tabs where you can get more information if you need it. Once you are logged in to MyHousing, you can check your assignment and roommate status, edit your personal preferences, submit room change requests during open change times, change your meal plan, and by Fall 08, you will be able to submit maintenance requests for your room on-line as well.

    Choosing a Meal Plan: Click on the Dining Plans navigation button to make your selection. If you are required to have a meal plan and don’t choose one, Meal Plan A will be assigned to you.

    Choose a roommate(s) or let the system do it for you: Please refer to the confirmation document that you printed out with your on-line application for details. You have two choices. If you have someone in mind that you would like to live with, follow the instructions for participating in the lottery. If you don’t, and would like the system to match you based on your personal preferences, don’t participate in the lottery process— but make sure to update your Personal Preferences.

    Choose a room: The &Find Available Rooms& button will bring up a listing of available rooms, how many beds in each room are available and in this case, the fall semester cost. IMPORTANT! Once you’re done. You’re done.

    After you have an assignment, you can’t go back in later and choose a different room if you change your mind. Please make sure you know what you want, have checked the pricing etc. BEFORE you make your selections. If space is available, we will allow changes after the start of fall semester.

  3. Lottery Dates: What can I choose and when?

    Lottery #1: February 18—19.

    Same Room. During this lottery, students will be able to select only their current room for next year. (08 –09) If you want your same room back next year, you should participate in this lottery. You can’t select a specific roommate during this lottery, so if you are planning on a roommate change, wait for the Open Renewal Lottery.

    Lottery #2: February 21st.

    Honors Housing.This lottery is for students who are eligible to live in the Honors area at Texan Hall only. Students included in this lottery may choose from available rooms in the honors area at Texan Hall only during this time. If you are also choosing your roommate, they must also be in this lottery and meet eligibility requirements to live in the Honors area.

    Lottery #3: Feb. 25—Mar. 7

    Open Renewal: This lottery is open for all remaining eligible current residents. You will be able to see exactly which rooms in which buildings are available for your to choose, and make your selections. If you don’t want your current room back next year, and you are not in Honors housing, this is when you should log on and make your choices!

  4. "I am returning to ASU next year, but I plan to live off campus."

    Here’s what you need to do:

    Stop by the Residential Programs Office, Hardeman 200 and fill out a DEPOSIT REFUND REQUEST FORM.
    Based on your eligibility, you may also need a HOUSING POLICY EXEMPTION PACKET. You can find the exemption forms on-line at: http://www.angelo.edu/dept/residence_life/requirements.html

    There are several criteria for granting standard exemption to the on-campus residency requirement. You must satisfy at least ONE of them in order to be approved for exemption. They are:

    • Completed 60 semester credit hours of college level work prior to the start of the 2008 Fall Semester.
    • Be at least 21 years of age prior to the beginning of the Fall 2008 semester.
    • Have lived in University owned housing for four (4) continuous long (Fall/Spring) semesters. Written documentation is required if from another university.
    • Enroll for less than 12 semester credit hours at ASU for both Fall ‘08 and Spring ‘09.
    • Remembering to submit a deposit refund request form now means that as long as you complete a proper check-out of your room (see your Hall Handbook or Hall staff for info about completing a proper check out), and you don’t have any cleaning or damage charges at the end of the semester, you will get your housing deposit refunded to you!

    "I plan to live off campus, but my reason for requesting an exemption isn’t listed above."
    Students not meeting any of the “standard” exemption categories who desire to live off campus may request a Housing Policy Exemption Packet. Special circumstances requests require some extra documentation. As a result, these types of requests may take more time to process. It is important that you PLAN AHEAD If you are planning to request an exemption to the Housing Policy.

    Common examples of exemptions are:
    • You plan to live in or within 100 miles of San Angelo, TX at the full-time, established residence of a parent, grandparent or sibling.
    • You have 6 months active duty military service.
    • You have a medical condition which necessitates off-campus living.
    • If you are married/will be married prior to the start of the fall semester.
    • You have a Financial Hardship.
    • Other Special Circumstance.

    All exemption requests are reviewed individually and though some, like age and number of semesters in campus housing, may take less time to review than those that require special documentation, you can expect to have an answer to your request for exemption within ten working days . . . assuming we have received all the required information. Check your ASU email address! Please don’t wait until the last minute to make a request for exemption! If you have any questions about the exemption process, please contact the Residential Programs Office at 942-2035, email us at housing@angelo.edu , or stop by Hardeman Building, Suite 200.

  5. "I am not returning to ASU next year."

    How do I get my Housing deposit back?

    Come to the Residential Programs Office in the Hardeman Building, Suite 200 and fill out a request for deposit refund. All requests for a Deposit Refund must be made in writing by July 15th or the deposit will be forfeited. We encourage you to take care of this during renewal so you don’t forget.

    NOTE: Calling the office or telling your RA or Hall staff that you are not returning is NOT enough. We need your deposit refund request in writing. Refund amounts assume proper check out of your residence hall with no damages or cleaning charges. Refunds are processed through your ASU OneCard account, so make sure your deposit refund info is updated in the HigherOne/OneCard site

  6. "Will Centennial Village be ready by August?"

    If you have driven by the construction site lately, you can see that work is progressing nicely. As of this date, the vast majority of the building is scheduled to be ready for move-in in August! (Yea!) We are expecting that only about 48 beds in the “D” wing (the part that connects the main building to the Rec. center) as well as the Community/Recreation center, will not be completed until November-December.

    Students who select or who are assigned to any Centennial Village units that are not ready for August move in, will be housed temporarily in Concho Hall until their unit is ready at Centennial. Space permitting, we plan to house overflow Centennial residents as private rooms at Concho, and all in on the same floor or sequential floors— so that you can still work on getting to know your new community members.

    Residents and any overflow students who are housed temporarily at Concho Hall will be charged the Centennial Village room rate and will then have their student accounts credited back the difference when they move to Centennial Village (or other permanent space in the case of overflow housing students). Please keep checking our web page for Centennial Village construction updates, pictures, and information about room furnishings, colors etc.! We’ll post new info as it becomes available.

  7. Other changes & info for next year...

    Will there be triples next year?

    We are not planning to triple rooms at this time. We are planning to house all overflow / temporary students in Concho Hall rather than triple other rooms. We will only triple next year if we absolutely have to. Check the web page for announcements over the summer. Students who are in overflow at Concho Hall will be charged the Centennial Village room rate, and their accounts will be credited the appropriate cost difference when they are moved to their permanent assignment in a different building.

    Will I be able to choose to live in Concho Hall next year?

    No. Centennial Village was designed to take the place of Concho Hall. With Centennial Village opening, Concho Hall is scheduled to be used for OVERFLOW/TEMPORARY housing only. This is why you don’t see it has a Hall choice in the on-line system.

    Harvard House private rooms– Changes in store:

    The 1/1 units are Harvard House are scheduled to be double rooms for next year. In the 3/2 units, the master-bedroom will be a double room, with the two smaller bedrooms remaining private rooms.

    Carr Hall meal plan requirements change.

    The opening of Centennial Village will bring expanded meal service options for students at the University Center, allowing students on meal plans more and all-you-can-eat options. As a result, meal plan requirements for residents of Carr Hall will revert to the same 60 credit hour requirement as the other residence halls for 2008—2009. Construction of new dining area at the UC is in the planning and design stages, with construction hopefully beginning next year.