Rates & Fees

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9-Month Residence Halls
Cancellation Fee
Rent Refund
Appealing a Fee
Unauthorized Move Fee
Blocked Room Fee
Improper Check Out Fee

Assignment Billing Appeal Form

Basic Room Costs

Room rates are set by the Board of Trustees. These fees fund the operation and maintenance of the residence halls. All housing fees will appear on the university bill that is sent to students by the Bursar's Office.
Housing fees do not include a meal plan. All required students (freshman and sophomores) are required to have an on-campus meal plan. Required students who reside in the North Apartments are included in this requirement. For more information regarding the meal plan options for required students, please visit the University Dining Services website or call 413-545-1362 for information on choosing a meal plan.

Room Rates for 2009 - 2010
Please note the following fee schedule for each room type across campus.

Telecommunications Fee

Telephone service is no longer included in the room rate. Instead, there is a separate Telecommunications fee of $102 per semester. This mandatory fee is used to provide telecommunication services ($62) and networking services ($40) in your residence hall. The fee is administered by the Office of Information Technologies (OIT).

For billing questions/concerns about the Telecommunications Fee, please email restelecom@oit.umass.edu.

9-Month Residence Halls

There is an additional $150.00 fee per semester for all residents in Brett, Lewis, and Prince halls. All students residing in Brett, Lewis, or Prince will be billed the fee and may remain in their residence hall room during Thanksgiving, Wintersession and Spring Breaks.

Cashin, a 12-month residence hall for graduate students in Sylvan, will be billed as a 9-month residence hall for the academic year. Residents of Cashin are eligible to apply to continue their residency through the summer months.

Cancellation Fee

A cancellation fee of up to $450 is assessed to students who cancel their room assignment after the announced free cancellation period.

There is no fee assessed for students who notify the Housing Assignment Office at (413) 545-2100 during the announced free cancellation period.

The cancellation fee schedule is announced mid-semester.

Rent Refund

Students who cancel their housing assignment or withdraw from the university during the first five weeks of the semester are eligible for a rent refund. The refund is issued based on the date the student checks out of the residence hall room. Students who cancel or withdraw during the first five weeks are also subject to the cancellation fee schedule, which is also prorated to the corresponding week the cancellation is made.

In order for the refund to be issued, the student must go their residence hall cluster office, fill out a room inventory, and return the room key to a Housing Staff Member at the cluster office. Students should keep a copy of their room inventory and key form as verification of their checkout date.

Below is the rent refund schedule for a standard, non 9-month double room. For information about other room type refunds, please contact the Housing Assignment Office at 545-2100 or visit their office at 235 Whitmore.

NOTE: Students who are removed from their housing assignment due to a judicial sanction are not eligible for a rent refund.

Appealing a Fee

Students wishing to appeal fees associated with Housing Assignments such as room rent, early arrival, or cancellation fees, may complete a Housing Assignment Billing Appeal Form. Complete the form, provide any additional documentation, and mail, fax, or deliver the appeal to 235 Whitmore Administration Building. A letter will be sent, informing you of the decision, within 10 business days of receipt of the appeal. For additional information about appealing a fee, contact the Housing Assignment Office at (413) 545-2100.

PLEASE NOTE: Students who fail to return the Variable Rate System (VRS) card to our office by the stated deadline forfeit their right to appeal the charge applied to the bursar account.

IMPORTANT: Do not use the Housing Billing Appeal form to appeal fees such as key replacement and room damage. Please contact your Area Office for the appropriate form.

Unauthorized Move Fee

Students who move without prior approval from either the Housing Assignment Office or the Residence Director into a vacant space will be assessed an unauthorized move fee of $150. The student who is officially assigned to that room will also be billed a fee of $150 for allowing the unauthorized move to occur.

Blocked Room Fee

Any student who has created a situation in the room he/she is assigned that prohibits another student from successfully checking into that assigned space will be assessed a blocked room fee of $150. Creating a "block" includes but is not limited to: spreading out one's belongings on both sides of the room, both sets of furniture or pieces of furniture being occupied by one resident, not allowing an assigned student to move into the space in his/her room, etc. The blocked room fee can be assessed at any point during the academic year including wintersession if a room is determined to be unassignable.

Improper Check Out Fee

Any student who fails to check out properly between semesters or prepare the vacant space in their room for spring semester will be assessed an improper check out fee. The fee is determined by the date the room is prepared for occupancy and/or by the date of the official check-out by the fall resident. An official check-out includes requesting and completing an inventory out form and receiving a receipt from a housing staff member. The fee schedule is listed below:

Room Prepared/Check-Out Performed on or during:

The Early Arrival Period for Spring: $175 fee

Opening Day: $250 fee

Opening Week (through Saturday): $400 fee

Any student who fails to prepare the room and/or participate in a proper check out after opening week will incur a $400 improper check out fee and additional charges based on the rent refund schedule.