Paying for Extra Space in Your Room

On This Page
What is Variable Rate Surcharge (VRS)?
How It Works
Deciding to Leave the Room Open
Deciding to Buy Out the Space
If You Fail To Take Action
Will You Get a Reminder?

Variable Rate Surcharge

UMass Amherst utilizes a Variable Rate System (VRS) to determine the rent that students pay for extra space and privacy. This means that if a student is living in a double room alone, in a triple room alone, or in a triple room with only one other person, there is an adjustment to the semester room rate.

If a student has a vacant space in their room, they must decide whether to pay the rate adjustment to guarantee that they are not assigned another roommate or choose not to pay the adjustment fee and be assigned a new roommate. Decisions regarding the adjustment fee cannot be made until the option is offered by the Housing Assignment Office. Therefore, a student cannot buy out the extra space in their room until the Housing Assignment Office determines its occupancy and when it is appropriate to initiate the Variable Rate System.

Please Note: Students assigned to converted residence hall space, lounges etc., cannot participate in this process and will not be offered the buy out option.

How It Works

Once the Housing Assignment Office determines that we have met demand for on-campus housing, students with a vacancy in the room they are assigned will be asked to make a decision.

Important: A student with a vacancy in their room MUST respond with a decision by the due date stated or the default action will be to bill the student the VRS fee.

The Housing Assignment Office will complete the following steps to notify a student of the decision they will need to make regarding the vacancy:

1. A descriptive letter and the VRS Card will be delivered to the student's residence hall mailbox. The VRS card can be completed and returned to the HAO by the due date stated

2. A descriptive email will be sent to the student's Umail account with an option to complete an online form to submit the decision.

3. If a student fails to respond by either turning in a VRS card to the HAO or responding to the on-line form, they will receive two additional reminders via email to make a decision by the due date.

4. In a last attempt to contact the student who has been asked to make a decision, the HAO will call the room phone and the permanent home phone numbers to leave a message. The HAO can only leave a message if a voicemail or message machine is activated.

The Housing Assignment Office strongly recommends that a student who has been asked to make a decision about the vacancy in their room read the materials sent, consult their parent or guardian and make a decision by the due date. If a student fails to respond by the deadline indicated, your bursar's account will automatically be charged the VRS rate.

Deciding to Leave the Room Open

Students who make the decision to leave the room open for a roommate, must keep half of the room clear for the remainder of the semester. This includes a completely cleared bed, dresser, closet and desk. If the room is found to be blocked at any time, the student will be billed the VRS charge from the original offer and a $100 blocked room fee for blocking the room. Students who spread out their belongings and are found to be blocking the open space will have the VRS fee and the blocked room fee adjusted to their Bursar bill. Furthermore, the room will be coded as a private accommodation for the remainder of the semester. Students are informed of this policy when they receive a receipt after submitting their decision to the Housing Assignment Office.

Deciding to Buy Out the Space

Students who make the decision to buy out the space in the room will be billed the appropriate surcharge to their Bursar account. The student may use the space in the room to spread out and can expect to not receive a roommate for that semester. Students only buy out the room for the current semester and should expect to prepare the room back to its original configuration for the upcoming semester to avoid being charged any fees.

The VRS Surcharge
The surcharge for VRS is a prorated amount corresponding directly with the week the option is offered, as well as the room style (double or triple rooms).

For Example: The rent surcharges for 2007/2008, as of the 5th week of the semester are:

If You Fail to Take Action

In the interest of fairness to all residents who want private accommodations, no one can be permitted to have increased space without agreeing to pay the adjusted rent fee. Furthermore, we do not want to assign students to rooms where residents have not expressed that they want a roommate. For this reason, any student who does not turn in a card or submit the electronic version by the deadline will be automatically charged for the space. Students should discuss any financial concerns with their parent or guardian as well as anyone else who may have a direct interest.

Remember: All students who do not sign a VRS card and deliver it to the Housing Assignment Office or submit the electronic version will be billed the adjusted rate.

Will You Get a Reminder?

YES, if a student is in a position to benefit from either increased living space or the privacy of their own room, the Housing Assignment Office will inform them of the process outlined. Several attempts to remind the student are made through email and phone contact.