Priority Housing

**Please note that the Department of Residential Education & Housing has modified the Priority Housing process for the 2010-2011 year.

As time has passed and more groups have requested Priority Housing, we decided we needed to create a clear, effective and transparent process for our department and for advisors seeking Priority Housing for their student groups. Because Priority Housing has a significant impact on the integrity of the housing lottery (students who receive this often displace students who would have received housing per the regular lottery process), we have worked with the Residential Hall Association (RHA) to create a process to review requests and determine whether they meet at least one of the following eligibility requirements:

• Campus residence must be a necessary criteria as a function of employment (ex. Res Ed Community Advisor)
• Campus Housing must be part of an institutional scholarship awarded to the student (does not apply to all scholarships)
• Campus Housing must be a part of an approved specialized program (ex. 7 year Medical program, BIOP program)
• Housing must be necessary to serve in elected roles within student governance or for the significant contribution they provide to the residential experience warranting housing (ex. Living Learning Communities)

Faculty/Staff advisors or supervisors wishing to obtain Priority Housing for their student group(s) must submit requests in writing to the Housing Manager no later than November 1st, 2009. Requests should include the following information:

• Advisor/supervisor name, title and name of the group requesting priority
• A detailed written statement about how the group's request meets the aforementioned criteria. If you believe your group should be eligible due to the contribution they provide for the residential community, please provide clear information regarding the service they provide as well as how it connects with the need to live on campus.
• The total number of spaces requested.

RHA will review all requests and submit a recommendation to the Assistant Director of Housing who will, in turn, review eligibility, make a final determination and communicate whether the request was approved to the group's advisor or supervisor. In rare circumstances, appeals may be submitted to the Director of Housing Operations by December 15, 2009 and should include a copy of the original request and reason(s) for reversing the original decision.

Regardless of whether you’ve received Priority Housing in the past, please note that you MUST go through this process to obtain Priority Housing for the 2010-2011 academic year. In some cases, Priority Housing may not be available or may be offered on a limited basis due to space limitations. If this occurs, a wait list option may be available.

For requests that are approved, advisors/supervisors will need to submit a roster of students awarded priority housing by the deadline provided (typically in February). Students receiving priority housing must apply for housing and submit their housing deposit by the deadline detailed in the 2010-2011 Lottery Packet.