Room Assignment Process

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with your upcoming room assignment process. W&M separates room assignment processes based on specific groups, including:

• New Fall Undergraduate Students
• New Fall Graduate Students
• New Spring Students (All)
• Returning Students

Be sure also to review important information on the following topics found below:

• Disability & Religious Housing Accommodations
• Two-Year Live-On Requirement
• Housing Contract Release Requests
• Housing Waitlist Process
• Gender-Inclusive Housing

Explore these additional community housing options:

• Living-Learning Communities
• Fraternity & Sorority Communities

Most W&M students can self-select into their specific room for the academic year and have the option to pre-select their roommate(s). Returning students make their room selections during the spring for the upcoming academic year, and new students make their academic year room selections in June. We look forward to having you live with us!

Quick Access

Housing Accommodations

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Important Reminders

Students approved for disability accommodation must also sign a housing contract before being assigned a space.

Disability accommodations in housing are not automatically renewed for each academic year and must be requested and approved each academic year. An approved housing accommodation does not guarantee that a student can secure on-campus housing, and all upper-level students are subject to the housing lottery unless specifically exempted.

Disability Housing Accommodation Approval for Returning Students

• All disability housing accommodation requests must be made to Student Accessibility Services (SAS).
• Students seeking or receiving a disability housing accommodation approval must sign the housing contract in the Housing Application on the housing portal by the due date to be eligible to participate in the room selection process.
• Please note if you are a returning student in a residence hall with a window unit, you will not be added to the returning student's early room selection process, as all upper-level halls have cooling systems.

Disability Housing Accommodation Approval for New Students

• If you require housing accommodations due to a disability, please contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS).
• AC Approvals - If you have a disability requiring air conditioning, please contact Student Accessibility Services in the Dean of Students Office.
• DO NOT WAIT until after the New Student Room Selection process ends, hoping to select a space that accommodates your disability, including air-conditioned buildings. A delay in approvals for accommodations will prevent you from participating in the new student early room selection process, where students can select a space that meets their approved disability needs.
• Students seeking or receiving a disability housing accommodation approval must sign the housing contract in the Housing Application area of the housing portal by the due date to be eligible to participate in the room selection process.
• There are no guarantees that students will be able to select space that meets their accommodation needs during the traditional new student room selection days at the end of the new student room selection week.

Due Dates For Disability Housing Accommodation Requests

• January 8, 2024 - The deadline for spring 2024 is for residents to submit new requests or adjustments with Student Accessibility Services.
• February 5, 2024 - Deadline for returning students to submit fall 2024 requests with Student Accessibility Services.
• May 13, 2024 - Deadline for new graduate students to submit fall 2024 requests with Student Accessibility Services.
• May 31, 2024 - Deadline for new undergraduate students for fall 2024 to submit requests with Student Accessibility Services.
• These deadlines mean that you must have submitted all documentation needed for an accommodation (this includes single occupancy room accommodations) by the stated due date.
• Requests will continue to be considered after these dates, but accommodations may be delayed based on space and availability.

Important Reminders

Students approved for religious accommodation must also sign a housing contract before being assigned a space.

Disability accommodations in housing are not automatically renewed for each academic year and must be requested and approved each academic year. An approved housing accommodation does not guarantee that a student will be able to secure on-campus housing, and all upper-level students are subject to the housing lottery unless specifically exempted.

• Requests for religious housing accommodations will be considered case-by-case basis according to documented need. Following a thorough review through the Planning, Strategy & Integrative Practices Office, they will make recommendations as appropriate to Residence Life.
• Due Dates for Religious Housing Accommodation Requests
  • January 8, 2024 - spring 2024 residents only for spring 2024 requests
  • February 5, 2024 - returning students for fall 2024 requests
  • May 13, 2024 - new graduate students for fall 2024 requests
  • May 31, 2024 - new undergraduate students for fall 2024 requests

  Live-On Requirement & Contract Release

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  Two-Year Live-On Requirement

  First-year students enrolled full-time are required to live in on-campus housing during their first two (2) years following their high school graduation. The program will explore additional academic, social, and cultural living and learning communities for W&M students in the third and fourth semesters at W&M.

  • High school graduation 2022 - Required to live on campus for 2022-23 & 2023-24
  • High school graduation 2023 - Required to live on campus for 2023-24 & 2024-25
  • High school graduation 2024 - Required to live on campus for 2024-25 & 2025-26
  • High school graduation 2025 - Required to live on campus for 2025-26 & 2026-27

  Housing Agreement & Housing Assignment

  • Failure to sign the contract will not release a student from this requirement, and Residence Life will still provide a housing assignment. Our office will follow up with students who are required to live on campus to confirm completion of the housing contract.
  • A student is expected to occupy the assigned room unless Residence Life has issued a written notice of approval and/or contract release.
  • Students are not considered exempt from the residency requirement if they do not complete a housing application and/or contract. Failure to take possession of the assigned space is not grounds for an exemption to the residency requirement and/or to have associated charges reversed.

  When do housing contracts go live?

  • January 29, 2024 – Returning students online housing contract for fall 2024
  • May 1, 2024 – New students online housing contract for fall 2024
  • November 1, 2024 - New and returning students online housing contracts for spring 2025 only

  Does the two-year live-on requirement include transfers?

  • Traditional transfers - No, traditional transfer students are not included in this requirement.
  • Pathways transfers - Yes, Pathways transfers are required to live on campus for their incoming spring semester and the following fall and spring semesters.

  Study Away Programs

  If you plan to study away in the fall of your sophomore year/3 rd semester, you will be required to live on campus the spring semester of your sophomore year/4 th semester. If you study away in the spring of your sophomore year/4 th semester, you will not be required to live on campus in the fall of your junior year/5 th semester.

  If you participate in the Semester in Washington D.C. Program and live in the Washington Program student housing in the fall or spring of your sophomore year, this will count toward your two-year live-on requirement.

  Can first- or second-year students be released from the housing requirement?

  Generally, the answer is no. However, there are limited circumstances under which a first- or second-year student might request release from the housing requirement.

  Reasons for contract release eligibility are limited to the following:

  • Students who are married
  • Students with dependent children who reside with them
  • Students who receive a disability housing contract are released through the W&M Student Accessibility Services office ( [[sas]] ).
    • This option is only considered if Residence Life is unable to provide housing that meets the approved accommodation.

    Can first-year and sophomore students have cars on campus?

    • First-years and sophomores may only have cars on campus under special circumstances, requiring prior written approval from Parking Services.

    Need to complete a housing contract and application? Head over to the housing portal.

    Housing Contract Release

    What do I need to know about applying for a release?

    Students enrolled full-time are required to live in on-campus housing during their first two years following their high school graduation unless they apply for and are granted a housing contract release.

    Before you look at the requirements for each release, there are a few things to remember.

    • The deadlines to request a contract release for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years are by add/drop each semester.
    • Meeting the criteria for eligibility for a residency waiver does not mean a student will automatically be granted an approved waiver. It means that their request will be advanced for final consideration.
    • A limited number of students will be granted an exemption.
    • Do not sign a lease in the community until you have received written approval for your exemption. Signing a lease will not be considered a valid request for a contract release.

    Commuter Release

    • Students requesting this release must be living at the legal residence of a mother/father or legal guardian (who established guardianship before the student turning 18) AND
    • The residence must be located within 60 driving miles of campus for spring 2024 and the 2024-25 academic year.
    • The mother/father or legal guardian must live at this residence 5 out of seven days a week.
    • The student may NOT live with another current W&M student unless the current student is a sibling and both live at the legal residence of the mother/father or guardian.

    Financial Hardship Release

    • When the student has a significant verified need for financial assistance as indicated by the Financial Aid Office that grants, scholarships, loans or other available funding identifiable by the university does not fully fund.
    • After a residence hall contract is signed, "extenuating financial circumstances" are defined as situations over which the student has had no control (such as loss of parental support due to death, divorce, loss of employment, catastrophic health issues, bankruptcy), which create a financial hardship and which have occurred after the contract was signed.

    Disability Release

    • Students who are requesting a release based on a disability need that can be supported with documentation should submit the documentation and petition to Student Accessibility Services.

    Other Release Types

    • Marriage: The student gets married. A copy of the marriage certificate is required for verification.
    • Dependent: The student has a dependent. A copy of the birth certificate is required for verification.
    • Study Away: The student is accepted into a William & Mary-approved fall study away program. Verification must be received from the Reves Center or the Registrar. Spring study-away requests can be made during the fall semester.
    • Withdrawing: The student is ending their enrollment at W&M, which may include withdrawing from the university, being academically dismissed or transferring to another institution. Verification is required from the Dean of Students Office or the student program.

    Additional Information

    • Failure to obtain an approved contract release from Residence Life will result in the posting of the semester housing charges to the student. Any first- or second-year student registered for the fall semester who fails to sign up for housing and has not been approved for contract release will automatically be assigned a room and meal plan and will be responsible for those charges unless a contract release request from the housing contract is completed and approved.
    • Nonpayment of this charge may result in the cancellation of classes and/or restriction from registering for any additional classes.
    • Any student found to have provided false information on the contract release request form or during this process may be subject to university disciplinary action.
    • A student is expected to occupy the assigned room unless a written notice of approval and/or contract release is issued from Residence Life. A student is not considered exempt from the residency requirement or released from their housing contract until Residence Life approves a request in writing. Failure to take possession of the assigned space is not grounds for an exemption to the residency requirement and/or to have associated charges reversed.

    Contract Release Submission, Evaluation & Decision Process

    1. Contract release requests must be submitted on the contract release page of the housing application.
    2. Any contract release request not completed within thirty (30) days of initiation will be discarded.
    3. Contract release requests will be reviewed based on current policies stipulated in the housing contract.
    4. Applicants will be notified of the decision in writing.
    5. Release request decisions are final. There is no appeal process.
    6. Residence Life generally will respond to initial requests within fifteen (15) business days.
    7. Contract release requests will not be reviewed after add/drop, both fall and spring semesters.

    Where to Submit a Housing Contract Release Request

    You will need to log into the housing portal under the 2023-2024 housing application or 2024-25 housing application (as pertains to your situation) and select the Contract Release Request page to submit a request.