Room Selection Process
New Undergraduate Students

Living at UMass Amherst
Residential Choices and Application Guide

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First-Year Students
Transfer Students
Late Applicants
Cancelling Your Housing Contract
Students Needing Medical Accommodations

First-Year Roommate Search

New First-Year Students (Freshmen) can use a voluntary roommate search option to find roommates.  The Roommate Search program collects your responses about your living preferences and those of a potential roommate.  You can then contact anyone on the list of potential roommates and decide if you want to request each other.  Students are encouraged to participate in conversations with each other about how to share their belongings, when to have visitors, and how to keep their room clean.
To access Roommate Search, log on to SPIRE, select Housing and then Roommate Search.  Roommate Search will be available from Monday, May 14 through Wednesday, July 11, 2012

First Year Student Application Dates

The Housing Preference Application will be available on SPIRE June 1, 2012 – July 11, 2012. All applicants will receive an Assignment Notification on SPIRE on Monday, July 23, 2012, letting them know where they have been assigned.  First year students will be assigned to spaces within the Residential First-Year Experience; more information about this program can be found here.  Students interested in joining a Residential Academic Program (RAP) can find more information here. 

Submitting a First-Year Student Preference Application

New undergraduate students will request on-campus housing using the Housing Preference Application on SPIRE.  Students will receive their NetID and password for SPIRE after their enrollment fee is processed.   For step by step instructions for how to submit the Housing Preference application, please watch the Preference Application Video Tutorials located here.  Students can also seek assistance from Residential Life Student Services staff during New Student Orientation.

Transfer Student Applicants

The University of Massachusetts Amherst guarantees a residence hall assignment for freshmen transfers only.  Sophomore, junior and senior transfers can still apply for an assignment and, if space is still available, we will be glad to assist. 

Because we anticipate a high demand for housing, it is possible that a number of transfers will be placed in economy triples, large double occupancy rooms converted to triple occupancy.  As vacancies arise in the residence halls, we will place these students in permanent room assignments during the fall semester.

Due to this high demand for housing we cannot guarantee that all sophomore, junior, and senior transfer students will receive a residence hall assignment.  Transfer students will receive more information regarding the availability of on campus housing at their New Students Orientation session in the summer.

Transfer Student Application Dates
The Housing Preference Application will be available on SPIRE June 1, 2012 – July 17, 2012.  All applicants who have been assigned will receive an Assignment Notification on SPIRE on Monday, July 23, 2012, letting them know where they have been assigned. 

Submitting a Transfer Student Preference Application
New undergraduate transfer students will request on-campus housing using the Housing Preference Application on SPIRE.  Students will receive their NetID and password for SPIRE after their enrollment fee is processed.   For step by step instructions for how to submit the Housing Preference application, please watch the Preference Application Video Tutorials.  Students can also seek assistance from Residential Life Student Services staff during Transfer Student Registration.

Late Applicants
Newly admitted freshman students who miss the housing application deadline will be required come to the Residential Life Student Services, located at 235 Whitmore for a walk-in assignment on First-Year Move-In  day, Thursday, August 30, 2012.  Students who miss the housing deadline should contact the Residential Life Student Services Office for important information regarding the Walk-In Process.  Students who pick up an assignment as a Walk-in are subject to the Housing contract cancellation fee schedule outlined below.

Cancelling Your Housing Contract

New students may cancel their preference application without charge by contacting the Residential Life Student Services by phone until 5pm, Friday July 20, 2012.  Students who decide not to attend the University or not to live in on-campus housing and who receive an assignment on July 23, 2012 will be subject to the cancellation fee schedule below.  To cancel you Housing Contract, call Residential Life Student Services at (413) 545-2100.

Please note: Contacting another department on campus including the Admissions Office and the Registrar's Office does not constitute a cancellation request. As stated in the Housing contract, the student must contact Residential Life Student Services directly by calling 413-545-2100 and requesting a cancellation.

Students Needing Medical Accommodations

Students who require accommodations due to mobility or other disabilities should contact Disability Services at 413-545-0892 for assistance and additional information, as all such students must first register with Disability Services in order to qualify for services. Disability Services and Residential Life Student Services will work with otherwise qualified students to accommodate their needs. The University has a practice of relocating programs and activities when necessary to make the programs and activities accessible to persons with disabilities.