Dear Students,

We are writing with news regarding changes to how students will make their housing selection for the 2023-24 academic year. After listening to feedback from students and staff, and with the opening of the new Brook Street residence halls on the horizon, the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) has used the summer to thoughtfully redesign the housing selection process to improve students’ experience. The following information describes some of the high-level changes; more detailed information is available on the Residential Life website and will be added as we solicit additional student feedback and as we approach the start of these processes.

Housing accommodations and religious requests processes

In October 2022, Student Accessibility Services (SAS) will begin outreach to students with existing SAS-documented housing accommodations and ResLife will begin outreach to those who have been granted religious requests. Students who respond to these outreach efforts will receive confirmation of their approved accommodations and requests in fall. Those students who are approved for housing accommodations will receive their housing assignment prior to the general selection process in spring. 

Earlier priority housing selection for rising seniors

Rising seniors will be asked in the fall semester to indicate their intention to live on campus in fall 2023. Those rising seniors who wish to live in a single room or with other rising seniors will have the opportunity to make a housing selection in the fall. The early determination of their housing intentions will enable both students and the ResLife team to better plan for the year ahead. Rising seniors who decide to live off-campus (after submitting an on-campus request) will be able to cancel their application/placement without penalty through January 31, after which there will be tiered cancellation fees. This 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 cancel their hold by January 31 to avoid incurring fees; they may still participate in the spring general housing selection process. The fee will not apply to seniors who will be studying abroad/away on Brown-approved programs or on leave in fall 2023.

Improved spring selection timeline for rising sophomores and juniors

This earlier timeline for SAS accommodations and religious requests, combined with a fall selection process for rising seniors, will enable ResLife to substantially enhance the timeline and process for rising sophomores and rising juniors to select and confirm their housing assignments in spring semester. This should reduce stressors for students, improve the preparedness of the smaller number of rising juniors receiving permission to live off-campus, and ensure that students who participate in selection will know their housing assignment before the end of spring semester. Throughout the selection process we will provide you with the information and support you need to understand and navigate your options. 

Earlier, smaller off-campus lottery for rising juniors

The opening of new residence halls in fall 2023 will bring us closer to having enough on-campus housing to meet the needs of students included in the University’s six-semester housing requirement and to honor the commitment to house seniors who wish to live on campus. With the added beds, a significantly smaller number of rising juniors will need to be exempted from the housing requirement in order to accommodate seniors. By moving the SAS accommodations and senior priority housing selection processes to the fall, those rising juniors who do receive off-campus permission will be able to make those plans earlier, in advance of the general selection process.

New Brook Street residence halls 

In fall 2023, two new residence halls will open on Brook Street. Designed for upper-division students, these five-story residence halls will feature two-, three-, and four-bedroom suites, communal kitchens, and enhanced programming space. New theme communities will launch with the opening of these residence halls, but the majority of the beds will be available to students through general selection.   

In closing

We recognize that your housing assignment plays an important role in your Brown experience. We are committed to supporting students in understanding their housing options, navigating the housing selection process, and receiving a housing assignment that meets their needs and provides opportunities to grow in community. We are confident these changes will provide an improved experience for students, and we encourage you to attend our information sessions, open houses, or staff office hours to learn more.

Kind regards,

Koren Bakkegard (she/her/hers)
Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students

Brenda Ice (she/her/hers)
Senior Associate Dean and Senior Director of Residential Life