2008-2009 Residence Hall Room Assignment Process For Newly Admitted Upper Level Students
This is an exciting time to be on the Illinois State University campus with the number of renovation and construction projects in progress. However, the planned demolition of Dunn-Barton and Walker Halls while Manchester Hall is being renovated has resulted in a one-year reduction of residence hall space that has prompted a review of the residence hall room assignment process.
The pieces of the occupancy picture for fall semester 2008 have to come together in such a way that in order to ensure there is enough space for freshmen and sophomore students who are required to live on campus, it was necessary to revamp the room assignment process. This revision significantly impacts upper level students who would like to live in the residence halls next year. We hope the following information will answer any questions you may have about the room assignment process.
- Will my financial aid cover living off-campus?
- I'll be considered an upper level student and will probably be living off-campus next year. Will I be able to work on campus if I live off-campus?
- How can I find out about off-campus apartments?
- One of the things I liked about living in the residence halls was not having to cook for myself. Do you offer any meal plans for off-campus students?
- What do you mean by "upper level" student?
- I will only be classified as a sophomore when I transfer to ISU in August. Why am I considered an upper level student?
- Why do freshmen and sophomores get priority over everybody else?
- What if I have a disability for which I need a special accommodation?
- I will be a junior next year but my brother/sister will only be a sophomore. Can I live on campus with him/her?
- Is it more expensive to live off-campus?
Q: What do you mean by "upper level" student?
A: For room assignment purposes, an upper level student is a student who graduated from high school before December 2006. Students who graduated before December 2006 will have been out of high school for two years by the time they come to ISU in August.
Q: I will only be classified as a sophomore when I transfer to ISU in August. Why am I considered an upper level student?
A: You are considered an upper level student only for room assignment purposes. Students who have been out of high school for two or more years (by the time they arrive at ISU in August)--even if they have fewer than 60 credit hours--are considered upper level students for the purposes of room assignments.
Q: Why do freshmen and sophomores get priority over everybody else?
A: While we know that residence hall living benefits students of all ages and class levels, it is especially important for freshmen and sophomores. The University requires students who have been out of high school for less than two years and have fewer than 60 credit hours to reside in University residence halls. In order for students to fulfill that requirement, we needed to ensure that space is available for them.
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Q: What if I have a disability for which I need a special accommodation?
A: Students with disabilities should contact the Disability Concerns Office (309-438-5853 voice, 309-438-8620 TTY) regarding housing. Exceptions may be made for upper level students with disabilities who need special accommodations to live in the residence halls.
Q: I will be a junior next year but my brother/sister will only be a sophomore. Can I live on campus with him/her?
: Because you are an upper level student, we cannot guarantee that space will be available for you. You may submit an on line application which we will keep on file through the summer. If space becomes available we will make offers to students based on when we received their on line application.
Q: Is it more expensive to live off-campus?
A: We understand that finances are a concern for both on- and off-campus students. We recommend that you contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss your financial concerns and possible options. We also recommend a comprehensive search of off-campus housing options to see which best matches your financial situation. A listing of off-campus property managers is available on the “Off-Campus Services” section of the Dean of Students web site, http://www.deanofstudents.ilstu.edu/help/offcampus_housing/index.shtml. You may also want to check out the Vidette which typically contains numerous ads for off-campus apartments.
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Q: Will my financial aid cover living off-campus?
A: We urge you contact the Financial Aid Office (ph: 438-2231) as soon as possible to discuss your questions concerning financial aid. Information concerning off-campus living and financial aid is included in the “FAQ” on the Financial Aid Office’s web site (http://www.financialaid.ilstu.edu/faq/faq.aspx?fID=LF20070024).
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Q: I'll be considered an upper level student and will probably be living off-campus. Will I be able to work on campus if I live off-campus?
A: Although living on campus may be more convenient for some jobs, very few jobs require it.
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Q: How can I find out about off-campus apartments?
A: A listing of off-campus property managers is available on the “Off-Campus Services” section of the Dean of Students web site, http://www.deanofstudents.ilstu.edu/help/offcampus_housing/index.shtml. You may also want to check out the Vidette which typically contains numerous ads for off-campus apartments.
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Q: One of the things I liked about living in the residence halls was not having to cook for myself. Do you offer any meal plans for off-campus students?
A: A lot of students don't want to spend time shopping, cooking, and dishwashing, so they buy an on-campus meal plan. A number of different meal plan options are available to off-campus students and you can pick the one that best meets your needs. Please visit the Campus Dining Services web site for information about off-campus meal plans.
