Frequently Asked Question
2009-10 Housing Lottery FAQ

When is the deadline for the housing deposit?
All applications and housing deposits are due on March 18, 2009. All payments must go to the Business Office. This payment can be made by cash, credit, or check.

Where does the $300 go after the lottery?
The $300 is reserved until the end of the academic semester at which time any damage charges will be deducted. If there are no damages, the entire deposit will be refunded after the academic semester. There are few students who decide to go through the lottery and do not contract for housing. For these students and for students who are released from housing or otherwise do not fulfill their contract, the $300 is non-refundable.

Why does it matter if a student pays the deposit on time?
Paying the $300 deposit by March 18, 2009 enables students to be placed in the housing selection process. Those who do not pay on or before the deadline will be forced to select after everyone else in the process. Those in the process will receive the most favorable selection times.

What are Tiers?
Tiers are a way to ensure students who have dedicated their time to the University and have lived in residence will be able to select their housing assignment before a student who has not been at the University for as long.  The Tier you are placed in is determined by your credit status (credits completed) and the amount of semesters you have completed in residence.

Will students be able to live with roommates from other Tiers?
Yes. The Tiers are a way to ensure individual times are assigned. Once students have their appointment times they are able to pull-in a friend to fill an apartment or suite no matter what Tier they are in.

Will students be allowed to reserve or maintain their current residence for the next year?
All rooms will be available in the Housing Selection Process. There will be no squatting. If the process permits and the student(s) are eligible for that type of housing, the student will be able to select the same residence they are in this year. Please be aware that due to maintenance updates and the opening of the Stevenson Lane Residence some current housing options may not be available.

How are the Selection Appointment Times Assigned?
 Appointment Times are assigned randomly according to each Tier. The only ranking factor is the Tiers. For instance, within a particular Tier students are assigned randomly. However, all students in Tier 9 will have times before those in Tier 8.

Why do some students who have appointment times after other students sometimes select their rooms ahead of other students?
Students can pull in their roommates, meaning that the roommate with the best appointment times can select roommates who may have later appointment times than other students. This may happen when a junior student in Tier 7 would want to live with a roommate who is a freshman in Tier 2.

Are there enough rooms for students going through the lottery?
Yes, there are enough rooms for all students participating in the housing selection process. However, because of high demand for certain housing options your first choice may not be available.

What if my first choice of housing is not available?
Most of the time, students will receive their first choice of building. We ask students to plan for at least three other contingencies, besides their first choice. There are times when students may select another building and, in some cases, split up from their intended roommate arrangement.

What happens when I have to split up my roommate arrangement?
If your contingency plans do not work, you may decide to split up your roommate arrangement. A few things occur: first depending on how you split, other housing may be available. Please note that the person with the best appointment time will always go ahead of the others in the group and that student will only be able to pull in the number of students the room accommodates. Therefore when a group splits, students may need to select at another time.

Is there assistance available to help me find a roommate or group of people who need another person for their group?
The Office of Residence Life does have an upper-class roommate questionnaire book. You can leave your information for others to view and ask them to contact you directly. We do not match upper-class roommates but do share your information with them per your request.

Last year I was given points I do not see my points this year?
This year’s selection process has many changes and did away with the point system in order to be open with our students and fair to all students applying for housing. We tried to simplify the process to make the process more transparent and easier to manage.

What is a proxy form?
A proxy form is used when a student cannot attend the scheduled appointment for Open Room Selection.   Proxy forms are available in the Office of Residence Life and Housing.  If a proxy form is needed, one can be acquired through the Office of Residence Life.

I am a commuter student, and I want to live on campus. What do I need to do?
As a commuter the Tier system has provided a way for you to live on campus and choose housing the same as if you were a resident student. As a commuter student you need to follow the same process as all other students.

If I will be 21 during the next year, can I have alcohol?
No. Holy Family University does not permit alcohol on campus.

What if I need a single due to a medical accommodation?
 A limited number of singles are held due to special needs.  Special needs include physical health, mental health, and academic need.  See the housing or disabilities section of the Holy Family University Student Handbook for specific information. Permission for a single room must be granted by the Disabilities Office.

If I currently have a special-need single, do I need to go through the process again?
Yes. Students currently in a special-need single must go through the above noted process.

Can I smoke in the room?
Due to Pennsylvania Law, all residence halls and University-owned buildings are smoke free.

Does each residence hall have laundry machines and kitchens?
Currently all residence halls provide free laundry machines, kitchens, and recreational lounges. 

When do I sign up for a meal plan?
Students will sign up for a meal plan during the housing selection process. We currently offer three meal plans; a 15-meal plan ($150 flex dollars), a 10-meal plan ($100 flex dollars) and a five-meal plan ($50 flex dollars).

Do I have to be on a meal plan?
All freshmen students living on campus must have either a 10- or 15-meal plan. Any upper class student may choose the meal plan that works best for them.

What are the costs of the different housing areas on campus per academic year?
The cost of each housing area will be available prior to the beginning of the housing selection process. You can look on the residence life website for the current costs. Please be advise housing costs will vary for the following year.



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