Applying for On-Campus Housing
First Year Students and Transfer Students
Incoming first-year and transfer students may apply for housing after being accepted to SMU. The first step is to pay the $550 deposit to SMU Enrollment Services. (The $100 non-refundable housing deposit is include on-line for housing.) Approximately two weeks after the payment is complete, students are sent an email with instructions on how to apply on-line for housing. To apply, log in using your SMU ID and SMU password to complete the housing application and electronically sign the housing license agreement. For a tutorial on how to use the sign up website, click here for a PDF version.
On-Campus Requirement
SMU is implementing a new Residential Commons program which includes a new two year on-campus housing requirement. This two year requirement takes effect for new students as follows:
- First-year students, June 2013
- First-year transfer students, Fall 2014
- Transfer students with sophomore standing, Fall 2014
Students who are required to live on-campus are guaranteed a space. Students from the Dallas area may request an exception to the requirement in order to live at home with parent or guardian in their primary residence. The request to live at home form should be returned in lieu completing the housing application. Exceptions to live at home are granted at the discretion of the Dean of RLSH.
For the 2013-14 academic year, transfer students are not required to live on-campus and are not guaranteed housing.
Assignments
Assignments are made during the summer for the upcoming academic year and students are notified of their hall assignment in late June or early July. Assignments are made in application date order. (Application date is the date the housing license agreement was received in our office.) For the 2013-14 academic year, students may request up to three preferred residence halls. Requested halls are not guaranteed. The housing housing license agreement is for the academic year and is for space on-campus, not a particular hall or living arrangement.
Roommate information is mailed the first of August. Specific room assignment information is not available until the student checks in. Roommate requests must be mutual to be granted. First-year students may request a roommate, but we do not accept suitemate requests from First-years.
Special Housing Needs
Students with special housing needs due to a disability should contact the SMU Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies Office (DASS) regarding their circumstances. DASS determines eligibility for accommodation and notifies Residence Life and Student Housing. Whenever possible, the housing staff will work with that student in adapting the facility to meet special needs. Students who have questions regarding rooms modified for students with mobility, hearing and vision needs may contact RLSH for information.
Room Assignments
To the extent possible, assignments are made using residence hall preferences listed by a student on the housing application. Room and roommate assignments are not assigned or reassigned according to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age or disability. Assignment to a specific hall, type of room or with a specific roommate is not guaranteed.
New Graduate Students
Graduate students who wish to live on-campus may request a graduate housing application and license agreement by contacting our office. Housing for graduate students is limited and submission of application materials does NOT guarantee an assignment. Graduate students are housed in primarily in Hawk Hall (one bedroom apartment for single, married or family) and if space permits, in Martin Hall (single or married couple in efficiency apartment). A $100 deposit is required and applicants must be accepted to a graduate program prior to applying.
Returning & Upperclass Students
Students living in the residence halls may participate in the Housing Reapplication/Lottery process held February-March for the following academic year. Current residents who reapply will be entered in the reapplication lottery and will be notified of their housing status mid-March. Complete instructions on reapplying for housing are distributed to current residents in late January.
Students living off-campus may apply in the RLSH office. Upperclass students are placed on the waiting list for assignment and are assigned as space is available, usually during the summer.
March 2013