The 2012-13 Housing Selection Process for Returning Residents
The 2012-13 housing selection process for returning residents began in January with submittal of an application through the “on-line” ZagLiving portal. Returning students who will have met the residency requirement by Fall 2012 selected their rooms in February. Returning students, who will still be subject to the residency requirement by fall 2012, will make their room selection in March, after spring break.
The room selection process for “Lower Division Returners” includes:
- same room,
- same building/different room,
- disability housing accommodations,
- open apartment,
- open suite, and
- open traditional room (may be combined with open suite).
Note: The living and learning communities in Coughlin Hall require a supplemental application. Housing and Residence Life selects those who may participate in the theme communities and assigns specific rooms. The Engineering community (Goller Hall) may also have a special selection process.
The room selection process has a random element. Applications with the agreement terms and conditions accepted by the due date are randomly ordered. This random order is used to establish “time slots” when applicants may make their selections. Applications with the terms and conditions accepted after the due date, regardless of reason, are placed at the “end of the line”.
For a specific selection step, applicants are issued a “Start Time” several days in advance (notice sent to GU email address). As an example, the first ten applicants (in the random order) may be issued a “Start Time” of 4 pm, and the next ten a “Start Time” of 4:10 pm and so on. The number of applicants in each time block as well as the duration and frequency of the time blocks may vary depending on the specific selection step.
Between their “Start Time” and the closing time, applicants may access Zag Living to make their room selection and select rooms for requested/accepted roommate/suitemates/apartment mates (“coat-tailing”). The specific buildings and room/unit styles vary between steps. The Housing Office predetermines the amount of rooms and gender of rooms/suites/apartments available during each step. Space is limited, however, students subject to the residency requirement are guaranteed on-campus housing. Note: Apartment and suite-style living tend to be popular for returning residents, however, only about half of retuning residents still subject to the residency requirement will be able to select these styles of living for 2012-13.
Once an applicant selects a room (or roommate selects for them), they are finished in the process and cannot participate further. For instance, if an applicant elects to return to their same room (current spring 2012 room) for 2012-13, then they will not be able to select an another room during the same building/different room or later steps. Due to the complexities of the process, an applicant is not allowed to “hedge their bet” by selecting a room and then trying to “upgrade” during a later step.
The specific policies that will apply to the room selection process will be sent to applicants in advance. These policies will also be posted on the GU web site:
Any questions may be directed to the Housing Office (509-313-4103 or housing@gonzaga.edu).