Dear Students,

We are excited to share information about the housing selection process for the 2024-2025 academic year. This email serves as the first of many communications you will receive from our office regarding these processes. Today’s notice provides a general overview of senior selection, general selection, off-campus lottery, and SAS & religious requests. 

Housing selection for rising seniors

Rising seniors will be asked in the coming weeks to indicate their intentions for housing for fall 2024. Those wishing to live on-campus will need to complete the housing application. Those intending to live off campus or study abroad will indicate that plan on the application, located on the housing portal. 

Rising seniors wishing to live in a single room or with other rising seniors (in a multi-occupancy room or suite/apartment) will have the opportunity to make a housing selection prior to general housing selection (spring 2024). Rising seniors who change their plans and decide to live off-campus, after submitting an on-campus request, will be able to cancel their application/placement without a cancellation fee through January 31, 2024. Decisions made after that date may result in cancellation fees. The cancellation fee structure is designed to incentivize earlier decision-making and optimize the University’s ability to offer these canceled room assignments to rising juniors and rising sophomores during their selection processes. If seniors are still unsure about their housing intentions at the end of January, they should consider canceling their application for on-campus housing to avoid incurring fees. Decisions to request on-campus housing after senior selection may still be considered, but only after the selection process has concluded for rising juniors and sophomores. The cancellation fee does not apply to seniors who will be studying abroad/away on Brown-approved programs or on leave in fall 2024.

General selection for rising juniors and sophomores

In line with last year’s adjustments, rising juniors and sophomores can expect similar processes to aid in their housing selection for the 2024-2025 academic year. The timeline for SAS accommodation and religious requests will occur well in advance of the spring selection process. The earlier timeline, combined with the fall selection process for rising seniors, allows our office to better support rising juniors and sophomores as they select their rooms, and receive confirmation prior to the end of the spring semester. The revised timeline also improves the preparedness of the smaller number of rising juniors receiving permission to live off-campus.

Off-campus lottery for rising juniors

The opening of new residence halls this fall brought us closer to having enough on-campus housing to meet the needs of all students included in the University’s six-semester housing requirement and to honor the commitment to house seniors who wish to live on campus. As such, those rising juniors who do receive off-campus permission will be able to make those plans earlier, in advance of the general selection process.

SAS accommodations and religious requests 

Students are encouraged to submit their request for housing accommodation based on a medical need with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) as soon as they know there is a potential need. Students with an existing SAS-approved housing accommodation should revisit their current documentation with their office.  SAS will review and begin outreach to those who have been granted accommodations on a rolling basis. Our staff receive the approval from SAS, on a rolling basis. Students who are approved for housing accommodations will receive their housing assignment prior to their selection process..

Students who wish to pursue a religious-based housing request or have their current request reconsidered should complete the religious request form, located on the housing portal prior to their respective housing application deadlines. Residential Life staff will notify all students of their request status. Students who are approved for a religion-based housing assignment will receive their housing assignment prior to their selection process.

In closing, we recognize that your residential assignment is an integral part of your Brown experience. We are committed to supporting students in understanding their housing options, navigating the housing selection processes, and receiving a housing assignment that meets their needs and provides opportunities to grow in community. We are confident the modifications to our processes will provide an enhanced and more transparent experience for students. You are encouraged to attend our information sessions, open houses, or staff office hours to learn more, which can be found on our website. 

All of the dates for each phase of housing selection are listed on our website  and are found on the IMPORTANT RESIDENTIAL LIFE DATES Google Calendar. We encourage you to add this calendar to your own calendar to ensure you are aware of these important dates. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at res_life@brown.edu 

Kind regards,

Amanda Surgens

Director of Residential Operations

Office of Residential Life