Assignments

You may change your building preferences at any time before June 15 by simply resubmitting the online housing application. Your information must be re-entered each time, and your most recent submission will replace all previous versions.

After June 15 you may email requests to assignments@wwu.edu. Requests to change building preferences after June 15 may be considered, but are not guaranteed.

Some suggestions from assignments staff, students and parents are:

• Visit our University Residences online tour to read about the different halls.
• Visit the campus if you can. Daily campus tours are available through our Admission's Office.
• Freshmen live in every Residence Hall on campus.
• The residential experience is very similar in every community; the most important ingredient is you.
• If you have questions contact us at assignments@wwu.edu or 360-650-6565

myHousing is the best tool to find out where you are in the housing process. We highly recommend you track your status regularly for changes, to be sure your application is on file, your deposit and signature form have been received, etc.

How we assign:

• 1. First we give priority consideration to new students who applied for housing and paid the housing deposit on time.

• 2. Then we rank those applicants in the order they applied for admission to Western, giving highest priority to those who applied early.

• 3. Finally we assign rooms according to roommate status, housing preference and gender.

Students who have:

• Been Accepted to Western and paid the $250 Admissions Enrollment Fee
• Applied for Housing online
• Received and replied to their Housing Offer by submitting the personalized signature form and $200 Housing Security Deposit (not to be confused with the new student enrollment fee) by June 15

will receive their housing assignment via US mail and also viewable online at myHousing by:

Fall Quarter: Early August for those who submitted their deposit by June 15th; and Early to Mid September for those who sumitted their deposit after June 15th

Winter Quarter: Late December

Spring Quarter: Late March

New students: The date your application for admission to the University reached the Office of Admissions.

Current students returning from off-campus or those who have never lived on campus: The date we receive your housing application.

Non-Western students who attend an area college: The date your application is considered complete. See our website for requirements. Non-Western students are housed on a space available basis.

Current residents: Keep your original priority date.

Historically we have been able to guarantee housing to all newly admitted Western students who have paid their new student enrollment fee, and submitted a request for housing before May 1.

We suggest you contact your roommate and consider giving your assignment a try. Often students find their assignments to be much different than they were expecting. However, you may put in a room change request by completing a waitlist request form available at SummerStart. Though we cannot guarantee a move we will attempt to accomodate requests up until the weekend of move in.

Change requests are made by contacting the Administrative Assistant of your building.

Triple rooms are available in select halls, and house three students in a room together at a lower rate.

Although all halls have designated quiet hours, Western offers several contracted quiet halls. Students living in these quiet halls sign an addendum to their housing contract agreeing to abide by additional quiet hall expectations.

Quiet halls have extended quiet hours:

Sunday through Thursday from 9:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Friday and Saturday from 11:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

These hours may be lengthened at any time by a two-thirds majority vote of building residents. Quiet hours will not be shortened. For comparison regular quiet hours in all other buildings are 11:00 p.m to 9:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1:00 a.m to 9:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Alcohol-free areas are for students, regardless of age, who make a commitment to refrain from using or supporting the use of alcohol while in residence. This type of environment gives students an opportunity to live with others who have made a similar commitment.

As a member of an alcohol-free floor/stack, residents sign an agreement and make a commitment to refrain from possessing, using or being under the influence of alcohol while on campus. Residents also commit to ensuring that their guests are in compliance with these terms.

The regular move-in day each quarter is the Sunday before classes start.

In the fall, students may move in a few days early by applying online for early move-in. During winter and spring, there are no early move-in days. The only buildings guaranteed to be open during all breaks are Buchanan Towers and the Birnam Wood Apartments.

Students are not allowed to stay in buildings or move back early in those buildings that have closed for breaks.

Opening Day is the Sunday before classes start.

Halls are open for move in:
• Fall Quarter 9am-9pm
• Winter and Spring Quarters 10am - 9pm

Specific up-to-date information can be found in the Moving In Brochure. Check in occurs at the front desk of your residence hall. Signs are posted to show the way. Upon check in, students will receive their room keys and information.

Early Move In is possible for Fall quarter, and students may register online to arrive up to two days early. Early move in is not available for Winter or Spring quarters.

After Opening Day you must check in at the front desk of your building during regular desk hours, which are generally 1pm-10pm. If you have not arrived within five days after Opening Day, and you have not contact the Assignments Office, your space may be given to another student.

Less is more. Most students find it easier to pack less, and then if there is space buy items for storage, etc. after they have seen their room. A What to Bring checklist and suggestions can be found in the Moving In Brochure.

Please keep in mind which items are not allowed in the Residence Halls. Open flame source, or appliances with open coil elements are not allowed due to fire concerns. This includes toasters, toaster ovens, candles, and incense. Firearms, explosives, dangerous chemicals, sling shots, sand clubs, metal knuckles, spring blade knife, other dangerous weapons are prohibited due to safety concerns. Paraphernalia, pets (except fish and certified service animals), ashtrays (smoking is not permitted in residence halls or apartments), Halogen lamps over 299 watts, and waterbeds are also not permitted.

We suggest you contact your roommate and consider giving your assignment a try. Often students find their assignments to be much different than they were expecting. However, you may put in a room change request by completing a waitlist request form available at SummerStart. Though we cannot guarantee a move we will attempt to accomodate requests up until the weekend of move in.

Change requests are made by contacting the Administrative Assistant of your building.

We recommend that you attempt to resolve the issue by communicating with them directly. However, if this does not resolve the issue you should involve your resident adviser. Often the RA will mediate the situation to everyone's satisfaction. If you continue to have the same problem(s), contact your resident director to discuss further options.

Once you have been assigned, your room/building and your new roommate's contact information can be found by logging in to myHousing.

First you must Apply for Housing, wait 24 hours and then use one of the 3 available roommate request options.

• Let us choose your roommate. We use your roommate profile answers to match you with a roommate.
• Choose someone you know as a roommate. If you already know who you want to room with go to Roommate Request to select a friend to be your roommate.
• Search for a potential roommate. You may use myRoommate roommate search to connect with other students who are also looking for a roommate.

Roommate requests must be submitted no later than June 15.

Students beginning winter or spring quarter may search for a roommate using the myRoommate tool or let us match you with a roommate. However, to make a roommate request e-mail the assignments office at assignments@wwu.edu.

Although we are often successful at matching roommates, the University cannot guarantee your request will be granted.

There are no guarantees that we will be able to match you, however you may make a request by e-mailing you name and ID number along with your friend's name and ID number to the Assignments Office. If your friend is admitted, applies for housing and requests you as their roommate prior to June 15, there is a possibility we may be able to pair you as roommates.

Packages are delivered to residence halls using your regular mailing address. Packages are kept in the mailroom/front desk area of the residence hall and you will be notified through a package slip in your mailbox that there is a package waiting for you.

Please make sure you follow the mail addressing standards when mailing.

Federal privacy law prohibits us from giving addresses out over the phone or to anyone who is not the resident. Please make sure to write down your student's address. If you know the room number and residence hall name then you know the address. All you need to do is follow the mail addressing standards.

You can change your mailing address by going to Web4U. You should allow for two to five business days after your move out to change the address because you will not be allowed to change your mailing address if you have not been checked out of our computer system.

Mail sent to your campus address after you leave should be forwarded on to your new address. You do not need to go back to your hall to pick up your mail.

Fall Quarter: MAY 1
Winter Quarter: DECEMBER 1
Spring Quarter: MARCH 1

Payments for room and meal plan are due on Opening Day of each quarter. Your quarterly payment is based on your assignment; rate sheets and payment schedule can be found online.

Fall quarter: JUNE 15.
Winter Quarter: DECEMBER 15
Spring Quarter: MARCH 15

Housing Business Office
Western Washington University
516 High Street
Bellingham WA 98225-9195

Before JUNE 15 you may change your meal plan or building preferences by resubmitting your application as many times as you wish. Your most recent submission replaces all previous versions.

After JUNE 15 you may make requests by email to assignments@wwu.edu. Please make sure to include your name, Western ID number, and the new meal plan you would like.

To change your meal plan you must go in person to the University Dining Services office in Edens Hall, Suite 109. Increases to a larger meal plan are available anytime. Decreases to your meal plan can only be made at the beginning of each quarter during the specific dates listed on the Dining Services website, or during intersession for the upcoming quarter.

Yes, off-campus/apartment meal plans are available for Western students. To apply, go to the Assignments Office in Edens Hall 103 to complete the Meal Plan Contract.

A few things to remember regarding off-campus meal plans:

• The meal plan is for the full academic year and you will be billed each quarter for the meal plan.
• Commuter Meal Plans may only be cancelled within the first two weeks of each quarter.
• To cancel the meal plan contract cancellation in writing must be given to Housing Assignments in Edens Hall 103 or at assignments@wwu.edu. If canceling by e-mail make sure to include your name and student number.
• Plans are not cancelled automatically upon graduation, transfer, or withdrawal from the university. Use the cancellation procedure above to ensure you are not billed for a meal plan.
• If cancelled after the first five days of the quarter, contracts are pro-rated with a daily charge for each day of the contract period, up to the date of the cancellation. There is no credit given for missed meals.

For full rates please see the Apartment/Off-Campus Meal Plan Rate Sheet.

Yes, the housing agreement for all residence halls requires an on-campus meal plan. The Birnam Wood Apartments and the New York Apartments are the only campus housing options where meal plans are optional.

Yes you may move out at any time. However, the housing agreement is for the academic year or the remainder thereof. Moving out and continuing to attend Western constitutes a breach of the Housing Contract (see section 21) and you will be charged a Contract Breakage Fee.

The Contract Breakage Fee in a Residence Hall is $5.25 per day left in the contract term (the full academic year), not to exceed $400. The Birnam Wood and New York Apartments contract breakage fee is $2.67 per day left in the term, not to exceed $200.

If you would like to try a different lifestyle and move out of the residence halls and into an apartment we suggest you try our Birnam Wood Apartments. You won't have to come up with a large deposit (the deposit you have on file will be transferred), utilities, cable tv, and local phone service are provided. Best of all you won't break your contract and will not be charged a breakage fee.

If you are leaving Western by graduating, withdrawing, or transferring the Contract Breakage Fee will not apply. Please make sure to mark on your check out material the reason you are moving (i.e. graduating, withdrawing, or transferring).

If you are doing a school sponsored internship or study abroad program you can avoid the Contract Breakage Fee. Bring a letter or memo from your program verifying your plans to the Assignments office in Edens Hall 103.

Student attending classes during the summer session may apply for housing starting in April 1. For priority consideration, applications should be submitted by May 15th.

Visit our summer housing website for more information.

Many non-academic resources and services are available to those living on campus, including participating in many of the student organizations and most intramural sports, as well as use of the Library. You may also purchase a membership to the campus Recreation Center.

However, some services not available to non-western and non-matriculating students, including services provided by the Student Health Center and Counseling Center. Generally, these are services that Western students pay fees to support.

For information about specific services please contact the campus office directly.

Generally, non-Western students must abide by the same schedule as Western students. Early Arrival is available for two days before fall Opening Day, but not available for winter or spring quarters.

You should check your school's schedule and see how it relates to Western's schedule. Sometimes students attending Whatcom Community College or other area community colleges find that school's schedule does not coincide with Western's schedule.

The University does not have specific housing designated for graduate students or families on campus.

Graduate students who choose to live on campus often select the Birnam Wood Apartments or the New York Apartments as their building preferences, as they are both good alternatives to Residence Hall living.

Families are required to rent an entire unit in the Birnam Wood Apartments. Because a family would occupy the space we would normally assign to four undergraduate students, family housing is assigned on a space available basis. Also because families occupy the space of four students, the rate is four times the cost of a single student; these rates may make it difficult for some families.

Alternatively, you may check:

• With your department who may have information (i.e., sharing a space off campus with someone in your graduate program)
• Viking Union off campus housing listing website.
• Off campus housing information website.
• The Bellingham Herald Classified Ads
• For housing listing or leasing companies in the Bellingham area by doing a Google Search

Students are directly responsible for their Housing Deposit (just like the Admission's new student enrollment fee); please contact our housing cashier at 360-650-3744 for more information.