Returning Resident Room Selection

Important undergraduate process updates

There are two updates to the process for undergraduate students starting with the 2026-2027 agreement period.

Week 1 of Phase 2 will now be Same Community Type: Selection Week

Previously, students could only select a space in their current community and form groups with others living in that same community.
Under the new model, students can select and form groups with other students in similar community types or halls.

Timeslot assignments will now prioritize semesters lived on campus before academic level

Room selection start times will be determined first by the number of semesters a student has lived on campus, followed by academic level (U4/U3/U2/U1).

For more information, please view the video linked below or reference the FAQs section.

Video Button Link

Housing application important dates and information

FAQs for Returning Resident Room Selection

Why is Same Community Type: Selection Week replacing Return to Same Community?

This change creates more flexibility and fairness across communities. Instead of being limited to your exact building or community, you can now select from any community with the same housing style (e.g., apartment, suite, or corridor). It also supports upcoming and future housing expansions, such as Seawolves Village and the future Tabler building, ensuring the process remains consistent as new buildings open and remains sustainable. Additionally, since Mendelsohn and H will no longer have options to return to (due to Gray and Benedict North becoming first-year housing), this structure ensures that those residents aren't left out during this week of selection.

What are the community groupings for Same Community Type: Selection Week?

During Same Community Type: Selection Week, students can select from residence halls or apartments within the same community type as where they currently live.
- Apartments residents can select within West Apartments.
- Chávez and Tubman Halls residents can select within Chávez and Tubman Halls.
- Roth, Kelly, Tabler, Lauterbur, or Yang Hall residents can select from Roth, Kelly, Tabler, or Yang Hall.
- Corridor-style residence halls can select from corridor-style residence halls.
These groupings are based on building style (apartment, premium single-suite, suite, or corridor) to allow students to remain in a similar housing environment.

Does this mean I can form a group with friends from other communities to select during Week 1 of Phase 2?

Yes, as long as you are all part of the same community type at time of selection.

For example:
- A Roth resident and a Tabler resident can form a group together.
- A West Apartments resident and a Chávez resident cannot (different community types).
I'm a current Lauterbur (2YLC) resident. Why can't I select a space in Chávez or Tubman during Week 1 of Phase 2?

Lauterbur is a suite-style community, while Chávez and Tubman are considered premium-suite communities. Under the Same Community Type: Selection Week model, students can only select spaces within their current community type. This means Lauterbur residents will not be able to select Chávez or Tubman spaces during Week 1.

When applying to 2YLC, it was noted that participation in the program would not guarantee future placement in Chávez or Tubman. Students in 2YLC will have the ability to select in other suite-style options; Roth, Kelly, Tabler, and Yang during Week 1.

Why are 25% of spaces being held for Week 2 (Choose Anywhere: Selection Week)?

To ensure options are available across all community types, 25% of spaces are being held back during Week 1 from the following areas: West Apartments, Chávez & Tubman, Roth, Kelly, Tabler, and Yang.

These held spaces will become available during Week 2 Choose Anywhere: Selection Week, giving students from other community types a chance to explore different living styles or communities later in the process.

The spaces held will include full units across halls and room types to make sure that larger or complete roommate groups still have options during Week 2.

Room availability during both weeks will ultimately depend on the room selection timeslots; students with earlier timeslots within their week will have more options available.

Why are Chávez and Tubman not grouped with suite-style communities?

Chávez and Tubman are considered premium-suite communities due to their newer construction, unique layout, and amenities that differ from traditional suite-style halls. These buildings also have specific eligibility requirements, which make them different from other suite-style communities. Typically, Chávez and Tubman would fill completely by the end of Week 1 of Phase 2. This new model ensures that some availability remains going into Week 2.

How do I know if I am eligible to select during Same Community Type: Selection Week?

If you are selecting as an individual, you’re automatically eligible to participate in Same Community Type: Selection Week.

If you're part of a roommate group, your group's eligibility depends on where everyone currently lives. All members must live in communities that fall under the same community type. You will see a message in the Housing Portal during the selection process in the application letting you know if you (or your group) meet this eligibility.

Why are timeslots now based on the number of semesters lived on campus first?

This change ensures that students who have lived on campus longer receive priority in the room selection process. It recognizes students' continued commitment to on-campus living and helps establish a consistent and fair system for all returning residents.

For students with the same number of semesters lived on campus, academic level (U4/U3/U2/U1) is used to determine the order next. Within each grouping, timeslots are randomly assigned in small batches to maintain an equitable process.

Billing and Cancellation Information

Why is there a termination fee for students who cancel by posted deadlines?

Housing is in high demand, and these practices exist to demonstrate commitment to living on campus for the upcoming agreement period, thereby prioritizing students who intend to fulfill this agreement for housing.

How do I cancel?

To cancel your upcoming reservation, log in to the Housing Portal. In the Student Home section, you will see a “2026-2027 Housing Agreement Cancellation Request” button.

When do I need to cancel by?

Residents should wait to cancel until they are 100% sure they do not need housing for the upcoming year. See the cancellation deadlines below:

Cancellation Request Date:	Termination Fee:
April 30 or earlier	$0
May 1 - June 30	$200
July 1 - July 31	$300
August 1 - August 22 (before moving in)	$400
August 23 or later (before moving in)	$500

For full information on cancellation, no-show (failure to cancel before your agreement begins), and termination policies, please visit our financial liability website.

What happens if I cancel but then later need housing?

Canceling your agreement will result in the forfeiture of any priority you had for returning to campus housing. Choosing to cancel the housing reservation will require you to join a housing waitlist if future housing is needed. Waitlist approvals are made based on space availability and are not guaranteed. Depending on occupancy demand, some individuals may not be reached, and most offers tend to be during the spring semester.

What dates does my agreement cover for housing?

Billed by semester

2026-2027 Undergraduate Housing:

Fall 2026: Saturday, August 22, 2026 - Monday, January 4, 2027
Spring 2027: Monday, January 4, 2027 - Wednesday, May 19, 2027

Billed Monthly
2026-2027 Graduate and Agreements:

12 Month Agreements: June 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027
10 Month Agreements: August 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027
- Important Billing Information: Please note that the 10-month agreement term and billing period begin on August 1. All residents on this agreement, including returning students, are responsible for payment for the full month of August, regardless of their specific move-in date.

What happens if I do not cancel prior to the start of the agreement?

Students who fail to cancel prior to the start of their agreement period (the Saturday before classes) and do not move in by check-in deadlines will be charged the $500 termination fee. Students who have not arrived and are not canceled by this deadline will be processed as a cancellation. The check-in deadline is 5 PM on the first day of classes. Late check-in can be requested until the end of the second week of classes, when late registration ends. If someone requests a late check-in and does not check in by late registration, they will be canceled, and a $500 termination fee will be applied.

How was my room selection start time determined?

Undergraduate Agreement Holders:
- - Room selection start times are assigned based on semesters lived on campus first, followed by academic level (U4/U3/U2/U1).
    
    Students who have lived on campus for more semesters receive priority over those with fewer semesters, regardless of class standing.
    
    Among students with the same number of semesters lived on campus, those with a higher academic level receive priority.
    
    If there are more students within a semester and academic level grouping than available timeslots, assignments are randomized and distributed in batches of approximately 150 students per slot.
Graduate Agreement Holders:
- - Time slots will be based on the gender designation of the room that an individual is eligible to select.
    
    All students eligible to select a female-designated space will have access to select at the same time.
    
    All students eligible to select a space in Gender Inclusive Housing will be able to select starting at the same time.
    
    All students eligible to select a space with a male designation will have access to select at the same time.
How do room selection times work?

Your room selection day and time is the first time you can go into the portal to make a selection. After that time has passed, you can enter the portal during our selection windows to select. Tuesday-Thursday selections are 10 AM-9:30 PM, and Friday 10 AM-2 PM.

For example, a Wednesday at 2:00 PM selection start time can make a selection during the following times:
- Wednesday 2 PM-9:30 PM
- Thursday 10 AM-9:30 PM
- Friday 10 AM-2 PM
- For an undergraduate applicant, this is the time in both weeks of Phase 2 when a selection could be made, pending which week you are hoping to select.
- For graduate and family applicants, this time slot is only applicable for the week you select based on the 12-month or 10-month agreement status that you selected during Phase 1.
Additional information for current first-years and students who have only lived on campus for one semester:

Current first-year students and those who have only lived on campus for one semester will have a later time slot in Phase 2 of the Returning Resident Room Selection process. Due to high demand for on-campus housing, there is a possibility that rooms may no longer be available by your selection time slot. If this happens, rest assured that your application will still be considered complete, and you will receive a housing assignment at a later date. Your room will be assigned to you sometime between the end of Phase 2 and the end of July. If you have a roommate group with one other person in your application, we will make every effort to house you in a room together or near each other if possible, pending space availability at the time of assignment.
Do I need to form a group to select?

No, applicants are not required to form groups to make a selection at their selection time.

Can I select a space with a preferred roommate, suite mate, or apartment mate?

Yes, continuing students can form groups as part of the selection process as long as all group members meet the eligibility requirements of the selection week and the residential area the group selects.

Who can be in my group?

All group members must meet the eligibility requirements for the area you are selecting. Any student who did not receive our invitation to participate in room selection is not eligible to participate or be pulled into any part of room selection.

Undergraduate groups for Same Community Type: Selection Week: You will be able to form a group with other students who live in the same or similar community type as you and select a space in a community or hall of that type. Please refer to the Phase 2 section above for more information.

Graduate group formations must be with individuals who are of the same agreement length. Additionally, 12-month agreement holders who have completed the selection process in Phase 1 are considered finished with the process and cannot be part of a group during Phase 2.

Can the person with the earliest date select?

Yes, it is encouraged that the person with the earliest selection time is the group leader so they can select a room and assign beds for the rest of the group.

Do I have to fill the entire suite?

No, you do not need to fill an entire suite/apartment in order to select it.
I have a room assignment for 2026-2027, and I want to change it. When can I do this?

All selections are final once made during the process.
- The undergraduate room swap process will be available starting May 4, 2026, and will remain open until July 9, 2026, at 4 PM.
  - The undergraduate room swap process allows two students to directly swap their on-campus housing bookings.
- The undergraduate room change process will be available starting June 30, 2026, and will remain open until July 9, 2026, at 4 PM.
  - The undergraduate room change process allows a student to change into an available vacancy.
These will be separate processes in the Housing Portal. Only those with undergraduate bookings are eligible for room change and room swap.

A room change freeze is typically in effect until the third week of the fall semester, after no-shows and occupancy verification are complete.

I'm interested in a high-demand building. When can I get on the waitlist?
- West Apartment singles and Chávez & Tubman Halls will go live for U4 students on June 19, 2026, and for U3 students on August 24, 2026.
- Second Year Living Community (2YLC) waitlist for students accepted into the program but unable to select a space in Lauterbur will go live on June 19, 2025.
- Chapin and Schomburg Apartment singles will go live for graduate students on August 24, 2026.
What will happen if demand for housing exceeds available spaces in undergraduate housing?

Not all students will be able to select in Phase 2 of room selection, and they are administratively assigned as cancellations come in before the start of the academic year. In extenuating circumstances of a significant demand above projected cancellations, a radius policy would be implemented. See the Terms of Occupancy for additional details.

Will I be consolidated, or will my assignment change?

We hope not to have to consolidate spaces, but depending on occupancy levels, demand for first-year housing, and cancellations, residents may be relocated to maximize space utilization. The university reserves the right to consolidate residents upon a minimum 24-hour notice.

For more information regarding consolidation, refer to Section F under Occupancy Guidelines in the Terms of Occupancy.

Are there cooking spaces available for undergraduates?

West Apartments, three-bedroom suites in Gershwin Hall in Roth Community, and three-bedroom suites in Hand Hall in Tabler Community have cooking spaces available for undergraduates.
What types of agreements can I choose from?

Graduate students have the option of choosing between 10-month and 12-month agreements.
- 10-month agreements are from August 1 to May 31.
- 12-month agreements are from June 1 to May 31.
- Graduate students must choose either a 10-month or 12-month agreement by March 5, 2026, at 4 PM.
- The agreement type you select during Phase 1 is final and cannot be changed during the remainder of the application period. Your room selection will be based on the agreement type you choose.
If I select a 12-month agreement, can I renew my current room assignment for the upcoming academic year?
- Students who select a 12-month housing agreement and wish to return to their same bed space may complete the renewal process during Phase 1 of room selection if the space is available for the next academic year.
- Students who complete their renewal during Phase 1 cannot participate in Phase 2 of room selection.
What if I only need short-term housing for the summer months while I am completing my program?
- If a graduate student needs only short-term summer housing, they must complete a summer housing application that is available in April and May.
- Living in our summer housing community for short-term housing requires vacating and checking out from one’s Spring 2026 room assignment and moving to West Apartments.
What is the 14 Semester Housing Policy?

When interest in campus housing exceeds the availability of space, a maximum number of semesters living on campus will be put into effect. Graduate students have a maximum of seven years (14 semesters) in graduate housing. Summer semesters are not included.

What if I need to change my agreement length?

After the room selection process concludes, graduate students may request a change to their agreement type (10-month or 12-month) by submitting a Graduate Agreement Length Change Appeal. This appeal process opens on April 6 at 10AM. Students may begin the request by emailing reside@stonybrook.edu, after which they will receive a form to complete. The deadline to submit the form is Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1PM. No requests will be accepted after this deadline.

Please note that approval of an agreement length change may result in a reassignment to a different room in order to align your agreement type with other students.
What Living Learning Communities are available?

Chávez Community Changers
- - Through the Chávez Community Changers Experience (C3), students will explore concepts centered around volunteerism, activism, and civic engagement through a lens of service learning while building community with students of similar likes and interests. Students will also have the added value of building relationships with faculty and staff and collaborating with departments within the SBU community.
    
    Available to rising third-year students with 57-75 credits.
Socially Just Seawolves
- - The Socially Just Seawolves will be centered around identifying and examining social, economic, and political inequalities that impact our local, campus, and global communities. Students will be able to explore social and environmental justice issues and begin working toward equity as engaged citizens on both local and global levels. Students will also have the added value of building relationships with faculty and staff and collaborating with diversity-based departments within the SBU community.
    
    Available to rising third-year students with 57-75 credits.
Second Year Living Community (2YLC)
- - The Second Year Living Community, or 2YLC, is a program designed to foster success and growth in students during their second year of college. Within this community, participants will have the opportunity to develop relationships with their peers by engaging in programs, events, and experiences that are specifically targeted to their goals. The program also focuses on reflection on these experiences and how they will lead to future success.
    
    Available to rising second-year students.
More information about each of the available Living Learning Communities can be found on our Student Success page.

What do students accepted into Living Learning Communities select a space?
- Students accepted to the Socially Just Seawolves and the Chávez Community Changers Living Learning Communities will select a space on either March 19, 2026, or March 20, 2026.
- Students accepted into the Second Year Living Community will be able to select a space during their room selection timeslot in Phase 2 of the process. Should applicants exceed available bed spaces, those who are not able to select a space in Lauterbur will need to select a space outside of the 2YLC community during room selection.
What is the 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy?

As outlined in the Terms of Occupancy:
- Students who are admitted as transfer students are eligible to live on campus for a maximum of six (6) semesters.
- Students who are admitted as first-year students are eligible to live on campus for a maximum of eight (8) semesters.
- Graduate students are eligible for a maximum of seven (7) years (14 semesters) in on-campus graduate housing.
What should I do if I receive a 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy Notice and still need housing?

If you believe that there are extraordinary circumstances that require you to live on campus, you may appeal the six / eight / fourteen-semester policy.

Through the appeal, you will have an opportunity to thoroughly explain your circumstances and attach (required) documentation to support your claim.

Appeals will not be considered without supporting documentation. Log in to the Housing Portal and click on the button below to submit an appeal.

What happens if I receive a 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy Notice and miss the deadline to appeal, and still need housing?

Students who receive a 6, 8, or 14 Semester Housing Policy Notice are ineligible to participate in Returning Resident Room Selection. If you miss the deadline to appeal, you will need to seek alternative housing options.
I did not receive an invite to participate in room selection. Can I still participate in the room selection process?

Any student who did not receive our invitation to participate in room selection is not eligible to participate or be pulled into any part of room selection.

If I have never lived on campus or previously lived on campus but moved out. How can I get on-campus housing for Fall 2026?

The first step is to add yourself to the 2026-2027 On-Campus Housing Waitlist in the Housing Portal once it is live.

The date the waitlist "goes live" for you depends on your student status. Please take note of these two different dates:
- Opens March 6, 2026, at 10 AM: This date is for any student who missed the Phase 1 deadline but was eligible to participate.
- Opens March 13, 2026, at 10 AM: This date is for those who were not initially eligible for Phase 1 (which includes students who have never lived on campus or are returning after moving out).
A Note on Waitlist Priority

We want to be transparent about how the waitlist is managed. If we need to exclude any typically eligible residents from the main room selection process, they will be given priority over other students on the waitlist.

Because housing offers depend on cancellations and this priority order, we cannot predict if or when we will reach any individual on the waitlist.