Housing Assignment Process
2003-2004 

In keeping with the College's policy of non-discrimination, housing assignments are made without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, nationality or ethnicity, age, handicap or other factors irrelevant to participation in programs of the College. Student preferences for type of housing and choice of roommate may be honored, provided this will not result in discrimination in violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Kalamazoo College affirms the educational benefits inherent in the residential undergraduate experience.  Residential living is supportive of one's academic preparation and plays an integral role in one's experiential education, providing rich opportunities for involvement and development.  Therefore, Kalamazoo College requires all students, except seniors, to reside within the College's residential system and board at the College's dining center.

ASSIGNMENT PROCESS:

The assignment process is predicated upon students being knowledgeable about the process, its requirements, and making their own informed choices. It is the responsibility of students to locate their own compatible roommates. Once the assignment period is over, space in a partially occupied room (e.g. a double with one person) will be assigned by the Residential Life Office, which reserves the right to assign or reassign space or modify this policy to meet the needs of the College and its students. Students living in a multiple occupancy room must accept a new roommate when the assignment is made. Questions can be directed to the Assistant Dean of Students at (269) 337-7210 or housing@kzoo.edu.

To assure fairness, the rights of each student in the process, and accurate housing records, all parties must adhere to the Assignment Policy as set forth here.  Any attempts at forgery, misrepresentation, to deprive others of housing, or to circumvent the assignment policy in any manner will result in the loss of assignment for all involved students.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Students who obtain an assignment in the College's residential system are obligated to the College for room and board fees (except where board is not required) through an entire academic year, unless they withdraw from the College, participate in a College approved off-campus program, or are released by the Housing Office. Other Terms and Conditions as they apply to the Room and Board Contract can be found by clicking here.

ROOM RATES (Per Student, Per Quarter):

Residence Halls: Apartments and singles - $1,370 // Doubles and multi-room triples - $1,070 // One-room triples occupied by two- $1,070 and $970 if by three.

Living/Learning Units: Singles - $1,445 // Doubles - $1,145 // Triples occupied by two - $1,145 and $1,045 if by three.

BOARD PLANS & RATES:

All residents, expect those in the apartments or Living/Learning Housing Units are required to carry a meal plan. Once selected, meal plan assignments can only be changed directly with Dining Services through Thursday of the first week of a quarter. In order to avoid confusion in assignments or billing, changes cannot be made by other persons at other times or by other offices. If a change is made, a credit or new billing will be reflected on the student account. Board options and rates are:  Carte Blanche - $1,090 // 15 Plus - $1,027 // 10 Plus - $862.

PRIORITY FOR ASSIGNMENT:

Eligibility for assignments and the lotteries is based on class registration records at the beginning of the assignment period. Students must be registered for courses to obtain housing. Students who register after the registration process and the lotteries are posted will be assigned at the end of the period for their class or during the period for late applicants. Prior to the assignment period in the spring, rooms will be held in each hall to accommodate entering students. All others are assigned by seniority: seniors first, then juniors, sophomores, individuals applying without a roommate, non-degree students, and late applicants. Students not taking a full load of classes (two or more), SIP or CD students are assigned on a space available basis.

Students may take advantage of seniority in the assignment process if students of different classifications are going to live together. For example, if a sophomore is going to live with a junior, the sophomore may be assigned during the assignment period for juniors.

Individuals without roommates and non-degree students will be assigned at the end of the assignment period. Double rooms will not be assigned as singles. Space in a partially occupied room or suite remains open for assignment by the Residential Life Office.

USING PROXIES:

Students who are on off-quarters or otherwise committed may choose to use a proxy in the assignment process, who then becomes responsible for obtaining housing. Students should choose a proxy before leaving the College for an off quarter. Students utilizing proxies must authorize the use of a proxy in one of two ways:

• List a proxy on the assignment card, sign it and return the card to the Housing Office. The card will be kept on file until the proxy claims it during the assignment process, signs it and obtains housing for the designated student.
• Identify a particular student in writing to the Housing Office. Email (housing@kzoo.edu) or a letter (Assistant Dean of Students, Office of Residential Life, Kalamazoo College, 1200 Academy Street , Kalamazoo, MI 49006) will serve as a binding signature for proxy authorization and on the Housing and Board contract.

The proxy becomes fully responsible for obtaining the assignment and must follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment policy. A proxy must obtain an assignment for another student (not the proxy's roommate) during the assignment period for that particular student. For example, a senior acting as a proxy for juniors who wish to live in a separate room must obtain an assignment for the juniors during the assignment period for juniors, using the best lottery number. However, a senior serving as a junior's proxy may obtain housing for that junior during the senior's assignment period if the junior is going to be the senior's roommate. One person may function as a proxy for up to, but not more than, six other students for campus housing.

Students who do not exercise use of a proxy may turn in their assignment card with typewritten instructions directly to the Housing Office. Students who wish to be assigned together should attach their cards together. These students will be assigned in the final assignment period.

One person may proxy for up to, but not more than, six other students for campus housing.

LOTTERY:

Each class or classification of students will have a specific period for housing sign-up. Sign-ups will be in order determined by a lottery for each class. Lotteries will be posted in advance of the assignment period. Students or their proxy not present at the time their number is called for assignment will be assigned at the end of the period, if they are present, or with late applicants if they miss their sign-up period entirely.

Students who wish to be assigned together must sign up for housing together, in person or by proxy, in the appropriate assignment period and in the order determined by lottery. Students who wish to live together may sign up for housing at the time of the student with the best lottery number.

Students or their proxies must have the assignment card at the time of the housing sign-up, and in the winter-to-spring assignment period, may participate in both the squatters sign-up and the class lotteries. For example, a senior may squat his/her room in the first period of assignments for squatters, retain the assignment card, and come back during the lottery for seniors to seek more desirable housing.

The assignment card for a particular student must be turned in no later than the designated assignment period for that student or priority for housing is lost and an assignment can only be obtained during the period for late applicants. For example, a junior must obtain and confirm his/her assignment during the period for juniors and will not be assigned during the period for sophomores, unless living with a sophomore. If the junior or his/her proxy misses the assignment period for juniors, he/she will be assigned during the period for late applicants.

SQUATTING A ROOM:

Squatting guarantees residents the opportunity to remain in their current room from winter to spring quarter. You must fill the room or suite to squat  Squatter's rights only apply for winter to spring quarters under the following conditions:

• Singles can be retained by current resident. Students may squat in suite singles only when the doubles are assigned under the conditions governing suites. (All halls but DeWaters contain singles. Crissey & Severn suite singles only - see suites below.)
• Doubles can be retained by two people, at least one of whom needs to be a current resident. (All halls have doubles. Crissey and Severn suite doubles only - see suites below.)
• Triples can be retained by three people, at least two of whom need to be current residents. (Trowbridge, Harmon, Hoben and Crissey all have some triple rooms.)
• Quads can be retained by four people, at least two of whom need to be current residents. (Harmon is the only building with quads.)
• Suites: Five-person suites must be retained by five people, three of whom are current residents.  Six-person suites must be retained by six people, three of whom are current residents.  Seven-person suites must be retained by seven people, four of whom are current residents. (Crissey and Severn Halls both have suites; only Severn has the seven person suites.)
• Apartments can be retained by three people, at least two of whom need to be current residents. (Trowbridge 152)

Trowbridge 152 is a three person apartment with a kitchen. Students assigned to this space may not carry a meal plan.

LIVING LEARNING HOUSING UNITS:

Information and applications are available in the Residential Life Office of Student Development. The deadline for application for Living Learning Housing Units is on the application. Once LLHU's are confirmed, housing assignment cards for each resident must be turned in to the Housing Office to confirm LLHU resident assignments by the end of the spring housing assignment period.

SINGLES:

There are 41 single rooms in Harmon, Hoben and Trowbridge.  Suite singles will be assigned according to the policy for Suites (see below).  Students desiring singles should have a second choice as well.  Once all singles have been assigned, students may request to be added to the Singles Waiting List.  Any singles or other available rooms which become available in the period after assignments have been completed through the first week of the following quarter will be assigned using the Singles Wait List. 

SUITES:

Suites are assigned on a group basis; all members of a suite must be present or the individual(s) signing up the suite for housing must proxy for those not present (see Using Proxies, above

OFF-CAMPUS LOTTERY:

An off-campus housing option may be extended to juniors, if needed to accommodate seniors who wish to live on campus, as an additional housing option. It will be extended by lottery number for the period fall through spring quarters of each academic year. Once the projected number of off-campus slots have been filled, that option will be closed in the same way as spaces within the residential system are filled. One student may sign up for him/herself and proxy for three additional students, within the same class, under one lottery number. Given the importance of accuracy in this regard, proxy guidelines will be scrupulously followed. Everything must be in order. Questionable proxies will be disallowed. Students who exercise the off-campus option may return to campus housing within a particular academic year on a space available basis only at the end of the housing assignment process. Off-campus approval does NOT automatically include subsequent academic years. Off-campus students are advised not to sign a lease for longer than the approval period.

QUESTIONS:

Questions may be directed to the Assistant Dean of Students at (269) 337-7210 or housing@kzoo.edu.

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