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[ frequently asked questions ]

• Apply for Housing
• About Housing
• Residence Facilities
• Residence Life
• myHOUSING online services

While not every question may be addressed here, staff has tried to make this section as wide ranging as possible. Read through them thoroughly, and if you still can't find an answer, don't hesitate to contact the Housing Office.

Where am I in the process?
Go to the Housing Portal and click on the Checklist tab to see a checklist of all the steps required and pertinent dates for on-campus housing, as well as what you specifically have completed thus far.

Housing Portal

What is the Housing Portal?

The Housing Portal is a webpage for UF students to access and conduct business with the Department of Housing and Residence Education. It is found at http://my.housing.ufl.edu. To access the Housing Portal you need to enter your GatorLink username and password.

Incoming students use the Housing Portal to apply for housing, complete the first portion of their contract by selecting their room and hall preferences, check their status with housing, and view their room and roommate information once assignments have been made.

Once living on campus, students use the Housing Portal to complete room transfer requests once the halls open for the term they are living on campus, enter the lottery to live on campus the following year, and complete the room sign-up process to select the room they will be living in for Summer or the following Fall/Spring terms.

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I have an AOL browser, and I can’t get the Portal to work. What do I do?

The Housing Portal is not compatible with the America Online (AOL) or Safari web browsers. If you use AOL for internet access, please minimize the AOL browser then open up Internet Explorer, Netscape, or Firefox to get to the Housing Portal.

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Application Process

I don't know if I've been admitted to UF yet. Can I apply for housing?

Yes! It is highly encouraged that students apply for housing as soon as possible. If you have applied for admission to UF, paid the application fee to Admissions and your payment has been posted you are eligible to apply for housing. If you wait to apply for housing until after you are admitted to the University, you greatly reduce your chances of being assigned to one of your preferences and also run the risk of not being offered housing at all.

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What are the requirements to apply online??

• You must have applied for admission to UF, paid the application fee to Admissions and your payment must be posted.
• You must have a GatorLink account. If you have not yet established your
  GatorLink account, visit http://www.gatorlink.ufl.edu, click "Create a new account" and follow the instructions to set up your account. You will need to provide your UFID number, last name, and birth date to create your account.
  
  Any questions or concerns in regards to your GatorLink account should be
  directed to the UF Computing Help Desk at (352)-392-HELP or via e-mail
  to helpdesk@ufl.edu
• You must use a credit card to pay the non-refundable $25.00 (US Dollars) housing application processing fee. UF's Internet Payment System accepts Master Card, Visa, or American Express. The online payment system is unavailable due to maintenance Monday-Friday, 3:30-5:00pm.

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What if I can't apply online?

If you are experiencing problems applying online, read over the next three FAQs below for troubleshooting. If you are still unable to get the online application to work, or if you do not have a credit card, send an e-mail to houinfo@housing.ufl.edu and include your name, UFID number, birth date, and the reason you are unable to successfully apply online. If you have been receiving an error while attempting to complete your online application, please include the error message that you received. Once your e-mail is received, the Housing Office will contact you with further instructions. DO NOT include your GatorLink username, password, or your credit card information in your e-mail.

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What does "Information could not download from admissions" mean?

Please wait for 2 hours and try again. If this doesn't work, please send an email to assignments@housing.ufl.edu to request a printable version of the application be emailed to you. In this email, please be sure to include your name, and UFID number.

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If my housing application times out, I accidentally browsed away from the housing application, or I closed my web browser while completing the housing application, what do I do?

Please wait 1 hour, then logon and try again. The application will not remember where you left off, causing you to have to start again at the beginning. This is to ensure that we do not receive two payments from anyone. If you try again and receive an error message "Trying to determine if your payment has been processed…" wait until after 5pm on the next business day to apply or until you receive an email notifying you of your status. If after this time you continue to experience an error message, please call (352) 392-2161, press '0' and ask to speak to someone in Undergraduate Assignments or email assignments@housing.ufl.edu.

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How do I start the application process?

To begin the Application process, read the story "A Tale of Two Gators". Once you have read this you may go to the Online Application for Campus Housing to complete your application.

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Can I apply over the phone?

All campus housing applications must be completed online. We cannot accept payment for housing applications over the telephone.

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If I do not attend UF or decide not to live on campus, do I get my $25.00 non-refundable application fee back?

Sorry, the housing fee is an application processing fee, not a deposit, and will NOT be refunded.

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How long is my housing application valid?

The housing application fee is valid from Summer B to Summer A of the following year. Though you are not required to live on campus any of those semesters if offered a housing contract, completing an application makes you eligible to receive a housing contract offer within that time frame, once admitted, without having to complete another housing application.

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What does submission of a housing application do?

Completion of a housing application and payment of the $25.00 non-refundable application fee establishes your Housing Application Date. Successful completion of a housing application DOES NOT GUARANTEE CAMPUS HOUSING OR ADMISSION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. Preferences are not selected on the housing application. This step comes later, once an offer of campus housing has been made. Offers of campus housing, if housing is still available, will be made approximately two weeks after admission to the University of Florida.

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What is a Housing Application Date?

Your Housing Application Date determines the order in which you are offered on campus housing, if available, once admission to the University is secured. It is also the date that is used to establish room assignment order.

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What if I'm admitted to the University late?

In the past, some students who applied for housing were not admitted to the University of Florida until after all campus housing spaces were filled. These students were placed on waiting lists and were offered housing if spaces came available. Students on waiting lists may or may not be offered campus housing.

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Contract Process

I applied, what next?

After you have applied for housing, your next step doesn't come until after you are admitted to the University of Florida. Within two weeks of admission into UF you will receive an e-mail to your personal e-mail account as well as a CD ROM to your home address explaining how to complete a contract.

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I was just admitted to UF. What next?

To begin the contract process, go to http://my.housing.ufl.edu to complete the first portion of the contract which is filling out your room assignment preferences.

The very last screen of the online portion of the housing contract (after you select your preferences) will be a Contract ID Form, the second step to completing your contract.

You need to print, sign, and mail the Contract ID Form with your advance rent payment to the Housing Office by your due date listed on the Contract ID Form. An e-mail confirmation will be sent after our office receives and processes your materials.

IF THE ADVANCE RENT PAYMENT AND CONTRACT ID FORM ARE NOT RECEIVED BY YOUR DUE DATE YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE ON CAMPUS HOUSING. If you send your contract in after your due date and it is accepted, your Housing Application Date will be changed to the date your contract is received.

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How much is the advance rent payment?

For students coming from off campus, first time freshmen, and transfer students, the advance rent payment is $200 for a summer contract and $200 for a fall/spring contract. The advance rent payment goes toward the cost of housing for that term. The advance rent payment and Contract ID Form must be received together.

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If another program or institution is paying for my housing, do I still have to pay the advance rent payment?

You can only defer the advance rent payment for Summer B if you are in the AIM Program, and you can only defer the advance rent payment for the Fall Semester if you have Florida Prepaid Program for Housing. If you are eligible to defer your advance rent payment, your institution will be responsible for the cost.

For additional information about Florida Prepaid Program for Housing, click here.

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If I have a deferment do I still have to send in the Contract ID Form?

Yes! You need to have a signed contract on file even if you personally will not be paying your advance rent payment. If you have a deferment, you still must mail or bring in the signed Contract ID Form or you will NOT have housing for that semester.

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What if I didn't turn my contract in by the deadline?

If you missed your due date for your contract, login to the Housing Portal (http://my.housing.ufl.edu) and select the Contracts tab to find out if we are still accepting past due contracts.

If we are, then send in your Contract ID Form and advance rent payment ASAP. Your Housing Application Date will change from the date that you applied for housing to the date that your contract is processed. As a result, your room assignment order will be based on the date in which you turned your contract instead of the date you applied for housing.

If we are no longer accepting contracts, you can request to be placed on a waiting list.  Do not send in the payment or Contract ID Form or advance rent payment unless you are later offered housing off the waiting list. NOTE: If you submit your Contract ID Form and advance rent payment past due and contracts are no longer being accepted, they will be mailed back to you.

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How does the waiting list work?

The Department of Housing and Residence Education plans for cancellations by accepting more contracts than there are spaces on campus. Cancellations received during the summer are filled by students who already have contracts but do not yet have an assignment. Thus, people on the waiting list only receive an offer if there are more cancellations than expected. Individuals on the waiting list will be offered housing in large groups, not one by one.

If you are on the waiting list for Fall Semester, you will receive email notification by mid to late July letting you know whether you received on-campus housing for the Fall/Spring term or not. If you are on the Spring Waiting List, you will receive notification in mid-November informing you whether or not you received on-campus housing for the Spring Semester.

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How long is the contract valid?

If you complete a Fall/Spring contract, it is valid for Fall/Spring of that year. If you begin living on campus in Spring, your contract is only valid for that Spring term. You can fill out a Summer Contract for either Summer A, Summer B, or Summer C session.

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I applied, what next?

After you have applied for housing, your next step doesn't come until after you are admitted to the University of Florida. Within two weeks of admission into UF you will receive an e-mail to your personal e-mail account as well as a CD ROM to your home address explaining how to complete a contract.

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What if I decide to attend another school?

You must fax or mail (sorry, email cannot be accepted) a SIGNED statement to the Housing Office even if you have already informed Admissions that you won't be attending UF that you wish to cancel your housing. Include your name, UFID #, term you are canceling for (e.g. Fall/Spring or Summer B), and reason you are canceling (i.e. not attending UF). You will be assessed cancellation charges based on the date that you formally cancel with the Housing Office, see Terms and Conditions of the Residence Hall Contract for these dates.

Fax to:
352-392-6819
Attn: Undergraduate Assignments

Mail:
University Housing Office
PO Box 112100
Gainesville, FL 32611-2100
Attn: Undergraduate Assignments

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What if I decide to live off campus?

If you have not yet completed your Residence Hall Contract, you do not need to cancel.

If you have completed your Residence Hall Contract, review the Cancellation Charges to see if cancellations are currently being accepted. If they are, follow the steps in What if I decide to attend another school? and note that you will be attending UF and wish to live off campus.

If cancellations are not automatically being approved, you must request a release from the contract per the Terms and Conditions of the Residence Hall Contract. If you are not attending UF during the contract period, you will be released; follow the steps noted above. If you are attending UF, you must send a letter requesting release. Requests are reviewed on a weekly basis and notification will be sent out by the following Monday if it is received by Thursday at close of business.

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What will my cancellation charge be?

As per the Terms and Conditions of the Residence Hall Contract, cancellation charges increase the closer it is to the beginning of the semester that you are cancelling for. See the Terms and Conditions. If you cancel, these charges will be assessed based on when your SIGNED cancellation letter is received by Undergraduate Assignments in the Housing Office. If you have paid more in the advance rent payment than the cost of your cancellation charge, then you will be refunded the extra money to your home mailing address within approximately 2-4 weeks. If you do not cancel or pay by the time your rent is due, you will have late fees on top of the cancellation charges.

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When is rent due?

The due date for your rent will be stated on your bill that you receive in the US Mail. Rent is due in full on a specific date before that semester begins unless you have secured a financial aid deferment. If you are assigned in the first wave of assignments, your due date will be no earlier than August 1 for Fall rent, December 1 for Spring rent, April 23 for Summer A rent, and June 9 for Summer B rent. If you are assigned in a later group, it will most likely be due the first day of classes. While these dates are general guidelines, you are responsible for full rent on the date provided on your bill.

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What if I am unable to pay my rent by the due date?

If you have $1,200 or more of Financial Aid for each summer term or $3,500 per semester or more of Financial Aid for the Fall/Spring, you are eligible to apply for a deferment through our office. A deferment means you delay the due date of your rent until after the semester begins and your Financial Aid has paid out. To learn more about housing rent deferments, including how to apply for a deferment, please visit our webpage on this topic.

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Can I pay with a credit card?

Sorry, we are unable to take credit card payments for anything beside the $25 housing application fee. You must pay all housing bills with check, cashier's check, cash (must be in person), or money order.

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What are the penalties for paying my rent late?

You will be charged a $50 late charge. Securing a deferment or cancelling after your due date will not result in the reversal of a late charge. If you continue to leave your rent unpaid you will receive a letter asking you to pay or vacate your room, and you could eventually have your lock changed if you do not pay your rent.

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What is "special release"?

This is NOT always offered. Some Fall Semesters, in order to de-triple students quicker, a few weeks into the semester there will be a period of time when you can petition to be released for only a $35 cancellation charge plus prorated rent. If rent is already paid, a refund will be sent minus the charges noted above within 2-4 weeks.

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Room Assignments

When will I find out my room and roommate assignments?

You will be emailed to your personal email address when your room and roommate assignments are ready. Room and roommate notification will occur for 95% of incoming students by:
Fall Semester - June 30
Spring Semester - December 15
Summer A Semester - April 30
Summer B Semester - May 31

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Other students have received their room assignment, but I haven't. What's wrong?

• You have been assigned, but haven't received your assignment yet. Check the Housing Portal and select the "MyRoom" tab to see your assignment.
• You have a contract for campus housing, which GUARANTEES you a housing space, but we have not yet assigned you to a specific space. You will be sent an email when your room assignment is available. Do NOT sign a contract for other housing.
• You have not completed a Residence Hall Contract.

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I didn't get assigned to one of my preferences. What happened?

As stated in the Terms and Conditions of the Residence Hall Contract, you will be assigned to a room in Housing Application Date order. We do our best to accommodate everyone's requests, but the Housing Office does not guarantee that you will be assigned to one of your preferences. You are still obligated to your Residence Hall Contract whether or not you receive any of your preferences.

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How do you assign rooms?

Students are grouped by their first preference. They are assigned in Housing Application Date order until all spaces are filled. We will then attempt to assign students to their second preference, if possible, and then third preference. If we are unable to accommodate any of a student's preferences, we will then place students in available spaces as close to their preferences as possible.

Once all the permanent triples are filled, students with the next Housing Application Dates will be placed into temporary triples. Once all the temporary triples are filled, students will then be placed into non-air-conditioned rooms.

Signing the Residence Hall Contract legally binds you to any space to which you are assigned even if it is not one of your preferences.

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What if I want to change my assignment?

Housing assignments are final until the end of the room transfer freeze, approximately 10 days after residence halls open. The day the halls open students can go onto the Housing Portal to sign up for a room transfer request. You will be moved, after the room transfer freeze is over, as space becomes available in the order in which you signed up for a transfer. All temporary triples will be de-tripled before anyone requesting a room transfer will be moved. After the residence halls open, all room transfers are handled through the area office where the student wants to move to. If you have any questions about a room transfer, you must contact the area office you wish to move to during business hours.

Another way to switch rooms is by swapping with someone. Doing a mutual swap does have to be mutual, in other words, both students have to agree to switching rooms with each other. Paperwork has to be filled out at your area office, and the earliest you can switch is the second week of classes.

Never change rooms without completing room transfer paperwork with the senior clerk at their area office or the Housing Office.

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What if I don't get along with my roommate?

It is normal to experience difficulties adjusting to living with someone you don't know. Make all efforts to communicate with your roommate, seek assistance from your resident assistant RA, and work out any conflicts through compromise and communication. After these attempts have been made, you can go through the process mentioned above to attempt a room transfer.

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What if I have a medical condition requiring me to live in a certain environment?

Note you have a medical condition when asked on the Housing Application and Housing Contract. In addition, have your doctor fax a letter to the Housing Office at 352-392-6819 on letterhead explaining your specific medical condition and requirements. The more specific this information is, the more likely we are able to place you in the environment that would be best suited for you. Medical accommodations are made on a space-available basis and are not guaranteed. Please do this as early as possible to ensure the best possible chance of meeting your specific medical condition and requirements.

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Can I live with a friend?

Yes. When you fill out your preferences on the online portion of the Residence Hall Contract, you can request a roommate. Roommates are assigned together based on the latest (or worst) Housing Application Date of the group/pair. Request for your roommate is automatically the most important factor in assigning you, over hall and room type. We are typically able to honor over 99% of the roommate requests received.

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How do you assign roommates?

Unless you request a specific roommate, roommate assignments are random. Your only guarantee is to be paired with someone of your same gender. If you are an incoming student, you are not guaranteed a freshman roommate; however we do try to match as many first year students together as possible.

The Department of Housing and Residence Education does not utilize a student's race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, or veteran's status when assigning rooms and/or roommates.

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Can I get a private/single room?

Continuing students occupy almost all of the single rooms on campus which means that little to no vacancies in singles are available for incoming freshmen students.

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Room & Hall Information

What do the different halls look like?

Take a look at the floor plans and buildings of each of the residence halls on campus here.

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Which are the most popular residence halls?

It depends on the year. Each hall has a different atmosphere that might be better for different students. Typically Murphree, Sledd, Fletcher, and Springs are filled almost to capacity with continuing students. Halls with semi-private bathrooms typically fill up next.

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What are the learning communities?

There are different halls geared towards different areas of interest. Students are provided opportunities and programs geared toward the area of interest. Go here to view the different communities, which halls they are located in, and a brief description of each program.

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Which halls are closer to my classes?

First year students usually take general education classes and not very many classes that are specifically for their major. Thus, classes can be anywhere and not necessarily just in the area where your specific degree typically holds their classes. All of the Residence Halls but Lakeside are within walking distance to the main area of campus where most classes are offered. Lakeside has several bus routes that run regularly towards the main part of campus.

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Are there buildings without air-conditioning?

Yes. There are two buildings on campus without air-conditioning: Buckman and Thomas. They are official historical buildings, built in 1906. They are both in the Murphree Area. Air conditioning units are permitted in these halls if they meet certain safety specifications. In addition, each room has an overhead fan and students can bring their own fans as well. Both halls have an average of over 60% of the rooms being requested by continuing students.

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What are permanent and temporary triples?

If your Housing Application Date wasn't early enough to place you in a double room, suite, or apartment style, and it was good enough to get you in an air-conditioned building, then you will be placed in a permanent or temporary triple room. Permanent triples are designed for three students to live in one room. They are larger and have all the accommodations necessary for three students.

Temporary triples, however, are assigned to students with Housing Application Dates that was not early enough to get them into a permanent triple. They are placed in a double room with two other students. There are three beds (two bunked and one raised) and three dressers. These accommodations are temporary and one student will be moved out as soon as space is available from cancellations within that area. Students in temporary triples are automatically put on a de-tripling list based on the earliest Housing Application Date in each room. That list is available at your Area Office once the halls open. When there is space available for one student to move, the three people in the room decide amongst themselves who will move out. If they are unable to decide, the person with the latest Housing Application Date will be moved to the new room assignment.

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What are the requirements to get into Hume hall?

Hume Hall is only open to students that have been invited and accept the invitation to participate in the Honors Program.

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Can I change my preferences?

Yes, you can change your preferences that you filled out in the online portion of your contract up until May 1 for Fall/Spring, April 1 for Summer A, and May 1 for Summer B. After that date, you will be unable to change your preferences and will be assigned based on your Housing Application Date and the preferences you listed before that cut-off date.

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How big is the room?

The standard double room is 12 x 16 feet. You can look at your particular Room Layout and call your Area Office to determine the room size if you are in a permanent triple, apartment, or single room. Note: Murphree area's rooms are all different, so you can determine how many rooms are inside and a general idea of the set up, but no specifics are available before moving in.

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Is the room furnished?

Rooms are furnished with a bed, dresser, desk, and closet space.

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What should I bring?

There is a suggested Packing List that will give you items that you might want to bring. Go to Community Standards to discover what you should NOT bring.

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Can I bring a refrigerator and a microwave?

Check out Community Standards to see the dimensions and amp requirements of your Refrigerator and Microwave.

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Are there any types of plugs or extension cords I can't have?

Be careful what you buy when shopping to come to college. Go review this list of fire safety electrical requirements.

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Can I bring bed risers to make more space under my bed?

No. Bed risers make the beds less stable and are not permitted in the Residence Halls.

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Move In / Move Out

Am I required to live on campus?

No. We do not have enough space for all the students who wish to live on campus, and do not require any student, first year or otherwise, to live on campus.

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When do classes start? When do halls open?

You can view these dates on our housing calendar.

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Do I have to come the day the halls open?

No. Check-in begins the day the halls open. You can check in anytime from that point on. There is staff to assist you 24/7 at the Area Office in the area where you will be living. Check-in is in the area office, not at the main Housing Office.

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Can I check-in early?

No. Staff is in training before these dates, and the halls will not be ready to open until the actual day and time the halls open.

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Can I stay on campus during the break between Summer B and Fall?

Yes. You may call the housing office at 352-392-2161 to find out where intercession housing will be available. Sign up at the area office where intercession is housed. Once you sign up you are obligated to pay the full amount to stay during the break. This price is the same no matter how many days you stay. You may be offered a space in a floor lounge or empty room of the open hall; intercession spaces are assigned first-come-first-serve.

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Can I store my stuff during the break between Summer B and Fall?

It depends on which hall you will be living in the Fall. Call your Area Office to ask if they have storage. If your area does, you would move your things from your Summer B assignment to your Fall assignment on this date . You can store only what will fit in one closet in your fall room so custodial can clean the rooms during the break week. List Area Office Phone numbers

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Can I stay on campus during the break between the Fall and Spring Semesters?

The break from December to January has special accommodations set up for students who would like to remain on-campus for that time. You can not stay in your current room, however, but you will have the ability to pay $175 and stay in the common area in the designated hall. Call 352-392-2161 to ask more details about where intercession housing is being offered and where to sign up.

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Do I have to take my stuff home over the break between Fall and Spring Semesters?

No. You can leave your room just as it is during the break, but will not have access to it during that time. Before you leave, you are required to check out and do the following: tidy up your room, unplug and defrost your refrigerator (unless you are living in a hall with a full size refrigerator), unplug anything plugged into wall outlets, remove any pets, and dispose of all perishable items.

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Housing Lottery

What is the Housing Lottery?

The Housing Lottery is the process that students who already live on campus go through to obtain housing for the following academic year. The lottery occurs at the beginning of the Spring Semester for the upcoming Fall/Spring. Continuing students go through a lottery process because only a limited number of spaces are reserved for them on campus.  Thus through a random lottery drawing of all the continuing students who applied, only a certain number are selected to have a contract for the upcoming academic year. If less students enter the lottery than the number of spaces reserved for continuing students, then a lottery will not be held and all students who submitted a lottery ID form by the deadline will receive housing.

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What are the steps to completing the lottery?

Once the Lottery Process begins, to enter the lottery go to the Housing Portal and select the Lottery tab. Complete the prompts and print the Lottery ID Form available at the end of the prompts. This form will also be emailed to you after you complete the online portion at the Housing Portal. Print the Lottery ID Form, sign it, and submit it to your Area Desk or the main Housing Office with the payment noted on the form by the due date noted on the form. The payment will not be accepted separate from the lottery ID form. IF YOU DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR LOTTERY ID FORM AND APPROPRIATE PAYMENT BY THE DUE DATE YOU WILL GO ON A WAITING LIST AND POTENTIALLY NOT BE OFFERED HOUSING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

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How do I complete the room sign-up process?

Students who get selected in the Housing Lottery go through the Room Sign Up process to select their room for the following year. During the allotted dates of Room Sign Up, go to the Housing Portal and select the Room Sign Up tab. Dates that you are eligible to sign up for particular rooms/halls/areas will be listed on the first screen of the Room Sign Up Process. On the date that you are eligible, you may search for the room type and hall you desire to live in the following year and select your exact room online. A confirmation will be emailed to you.

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Residence Life

What is an RA and what is their role?

A Resident Assistant (RA) is a full-time student at the University of Florida, employed for 20 hours weekly. They serve as a resource to students living on their floor or in their designated section of a building. Some of their roles include building community, mentoring, counseling, being a role model, serving as a resource and providing information, managing the floor, responding to emergencies, resolving conflicts, and being a friend. Some of their duties include planning, advertising for, and implementing community-building programs for their residents, being available for their residents, working for a certain number of hours each week at their Area Desk, performing nightly "rounds" several times each semester, assisting other RAs, regularly posting new bulletin boards, attending staff meetings and individual meetings with their supervisor, filling out paperwork, enforcing rules and regulations, and maintaining a well-balanced living environment.

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How do I become an RA?

Selection processes occur the previous semester to the one you want to begin serving as an RA. For example, if you wish to become an RA for the Spring Semester, you would submit your application, interview, and potentially receive an offer by the end of the fall semester. This is typically done in late September/early October. It is the same process for students applying for the RA position beginning the Fall Semester; submit your application, attend your interview, and potentially receive an offer in the Spring Semester, typically in late January/early February.

Late into the Spring Semester the Office of Residence Life and Education determines whether there will be a selection process for the summer semester once the Fall selection has been finalized. If there will be a summer selection process, there will be advertisements posted at the Area Offices and on each floor of the Residence Halls, and information and application packets will be available at each Area Office, the main Housing Office, or they can be mailed to you at your request.

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If I get hired as an RA, do I still need to apply for Housing?

Yes absolutely! Every student who lives on campus must have an agreement. We advise students who are applying for an RA position to follow all the Housing guidelines if they wish to live on-campus. If you are selected as an RA, your room assignment would then be switched to the hall where you will be working.

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Are there positions available for graduate students?

The University of Florida's Department of Housing & Residence Education is seeking dynamic individuals for graduate employment beginning Spring 2007. There are a variety of positions including 30 Graduate Hall Directors, two Staff Resource Assistants (working with training, advising IRHA, multicultural programs, programming and publications) and one Judicial Graduate Assistant. While preference will be given to candidates pursuing Student Personnel & Higher Education, the department welcomes all areas of graduate study. For applications see Residence Life and Education Staff in the main Housing Office.

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How do I apply for a graduate position?

Applications for graduate positions are accepted on a rolling basis. There is usually a deadline to apply by late January to begin in the Fall Semester. An on-campus orientation and interview takes place in February and March, and offers are made in late March. Applications received after the deadline are screened and can still be considered in the "pool" of other applicants. The Spring Semester has very few vacancies, but applications can be submitted and held if needed to fill vacancies.

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Can I post fliers in the residence halls?

Fliers ONLY from registered organizations on campus can be posted on the RA bulletin board(s) by bringing or mailing them to the Residence Life and Education Office, located in the main Housing Office. We will ensure they are sent to the RA staff for posting on their bulletin board(s).

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How can I get involved and meet other residents?

There are a lot of activities and events offered to help you do just that! Check out the Weeks of Welcome website of events hosted by the student government open to the whole campus: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/nsp/wow/calendar.php There will also be many events in your own area or just for your floor so you can get to know your neighbors. Be on the lookout for information from your RA or fliers posted on your floor or in your Area Office about upcoming events that you can participate in, or ask your RA about what's coming up next.

Another way to get involved is to join the Inter-Residence Hall Association (IRHA) or your local Area Government. IRHA meets every Monday at 6:15pm in room 282 of the Reitz Union. Your Area Government has an office in the area and should be holding regular office hours; check with the area office for this schedule or more information about your local Area Government.

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Miscellaneous

How do I change my e-mail and mailing addresses so I can receive information from the Housing Office?

Contact Undergraduate Assignments at 352-392-2161 or assignments@housing.ufl.edu with your UFID # and updated information.

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What is a UF Identification (UFID) Number and where do I find it?

Your University of Florida identification (UFID) number is the 8-digit number printed on the top right hand side of the application letter you receive in the US mail. You will need to provide your UFID number with ALL inquiries to the Department of Housing and Residence Education. You may look up your UFID# with your Social Security Number and date of birth at www.ufid.ufl.edu

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Is a meal plan included with on-campus housing? Is it required?

No, meal plans are separate from housing. You are not required to have a meal plan. To find out about different options, go to the Gator Dining website.

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Are pets allowed?

Yes, but there are limitations on which types of pets you may keep in your room. You must use the Pet Policy Agreement form and obtain prior written approval of roommates and residence hall staff in order to keep the following pets within the residence halls: fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, dwarf rabbits, lizards (no iguanas) maximum length twelve inches from tip of nose to tip of tail, salamanders (certified non-poisonous), geckos, chinchillas, and non-predatory domestic birds not to exceed one-half pound. No other type of animal is permitted. You are responsible for the proper care and cleanliness of your pet. Approved pets must be kept in a cage at all times. All pets will be kept in standard cages made of metal, plastic, or glass, not to exceed 3 ft. in length, 2 ft. in height. No resident is permitted to have more than two birds, mammals, or reptiles. Abuse of animals is prohibited. "Visiting" pets are prohibited.

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Can I have a car on campus?

Parking is very limited on campus. You must register your vehicle with Parking Administrative Services, 354 North-South drive, and purchase a decal. The type of decal issued is determined by your local address and academic classification. On-campus freshmen and sophomores park in Red 3 lots located in the parking garage on North-South Drive and parking lots next to Simpson and Trusler Halls. Overflow parking is in "All Decal" or "All Red" lots located in various areas on campus. On-campus juniors, seniors and graduate students park in the Red 1 lots near residence halls, fraternities, and sororities. Proof of ownership of the vehicle is required to purchase a decal. During certain special events, students may be required to move their vehicles to another lot temporarily.

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Can I have guests come stay in my room?

Only guests of the same gender are permitted to sleep in residence hall rooms. Co-habitation is prohibited; only the residents assigned to a room may live there. Roommate approval is required for any guest. Hall Director/Residence Director approval is required for guests of the same gender planning to stay longer than three days; guests of the same gender may be approved to stay up to seven consecutive days. Each assigned resident is permitted to have no more than two guests visiting in their room at any one time. Residents are responsible for and can be held accountable for the behavior of the guests. Residents and/or guests may only use residence hall bathrooms designated for use by their respective gender. Most areas have a unisex bathroom available to the public.

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What laundry facilities are available?

Each area has laundry facilities that accept quarters or money on your Gator 1 Card Declining Balance account Washers and dryers cost $1.25 per load. If you have any trouble while using the laundry facilities in an area, contact the senior clerk in your area office between 8:30am-4pm M-F.

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I have a housing contract, but I am now going to study abroad. What do I do?

Contact Undergraduate Assignments at 352-392-2161 or assignments@housing.ufl.edu.

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