Graduate Room Draw Guide

Room Draw

Updated 2/2015 Room Draw, the annual room selection process for current students, takes place in the spring semester for the following academic year. Current graduate students participate in Room Draw each year, typically February through April. Whether you are interested in an apartment or a dormitory room, you need to apply via POSH when the application is available. After you apply for the draw, the Graduate Student Housing Office randomly assigns you a lottery number that determines who has priority based on year of study. Lottery numbers are randomized within each class year. Current first year student have the highest priority, then second-year students, then third-year, and so on through each class year.

For those applying for apartments, we will make every effort to place you in an apartment that matches your priorities and preferences. Once we have exhausted first choice preferences, we will move to honor your second choice, then move on to third choice as apartment options exhaust themselves. Those with lower lottery numbers have a higher chance of getting their first choice. Those with higher numbers should list as many housing preferences as you would be willing to accept to increase the likelihood of a housing offer being made to you.

For those applying for a dormitory room, you will participate in an on-line room selection process. Your lottery number determines the date and time when you can select your room. This typically takes place on a specific day and you will receive advanced notice that this date is approaching. Please make sure that you are available on this day and have access to a computer to make your selection.

You are eligible to apply if:

• You are currently enrolled and will return the next academic year. • You are on a leave of absence or are in absentia and will return the next academic year.

To participate in Room Draw, log in to Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH), a web application that allows you to complete the room draw process online. You may access this system from the upper right-hand corner of this website, and you will need your NetID and LDAP password to log in. When you log in, information specific to you and your selection process displays.

Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH)

Contract Renewal via Pre-Draw Retention

Current residents who are eligible to remain in their apartment for the following year will receive a contract renewal from the Graduate Student Housing Office in February. Residents in Butler and Stanworth cannot retain their apartment as these facilities are scheduled to close.

Since Princeton guarantees housing to first year students if they apply by the deadline, your chance of receiving a contract renewal is based on the number of rooms and apartments available and the size of the incoming first year class. Typically, all current first and second year graduate students can expect to receive a renewal offer.

Wait List

• If you applied to Room Draw and you are not successful, you will automatically be wait-listed. • If you did not apply for Room Draw, you may apply in POSH to be wait listed.

The Graduate Student Housing Office makes offers to wait listed students as housing becomes available.

Meal Plans

If you live in the Graduate College, you are required to have a meal plan. If you live in the annexes or in the apartments, you have the option to purchase a meal plan

Announcements

CONSTRUCTION NOTICES AND CLOSINGS

Dormitories & Annexes

• 24 Dickinson will be closed between June 1 and August 31 for renovations. No summer contracts will be issued for any rooms at 24 Dickinson.

Apartments

• The 2014-15 academic year is the last year that Butler and Stanworth will be available; you will not be able to re-contract for the following year. Students who are currently housed in Butler and Stanworth who are first, second or third year graduate students were successful Lakeside in last year's draw will automatically receive an offer for Lakeside for the 2015-16 year. All contracts for Butler and Stanworth will end on June 30, 2015.

• 2-7 Lawrence will have upgrades to thermostats in the apartments and the intercom system to the exterior entrance during Summer 2015.

• Lakeside Apartments are scheduled to open July 1, 2015.

** NOTE: THIS SECTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED AS WE ARE ADVISED OF ANY ADDITIONAL WORK THAT WILL OCCUR. PLEASE CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY**

IMPORTANT POLICY NOTES

Graduate College Paint Policy - Students are not permitted to paint and/or spackle their own rooms. Students who choose to paint their own rooms are charged for repainting. The charges are determined as a function of labor time and materials.

Non-Smoking Policy in Apartments: 1 Lawrence and all Lakeside Apartments and Townhomes are non-smoking buildings. All smokers must therefore limit their smoking to outside areas, at least 25 feet from the buildings.

Hardship and Special Medical Needs Processes - Applications must be separately submitted for each the Hardship and Medical/Disability Needs housing processes. Forms are available HERE. Please keep in mind that you must also apply for housing via Room Draw to be considered for either of these processes.

Calendar of Important Dates

Calendar

Feb 11 Room Draw Info Session - Procter Hall 8:30-9:30am

Feb 12 Room Draw Info Session - Campus Club 12:00-1:00pm

Feb 16 Pre-Draw Pull-in Forms Due

Feb 17 Room Draw Info Session - Butler Community Room 8:30-9:30am

Feb 19 Pre-draw offers are sent

Feb 20 Room Draw Info Session - Campus Club 2:00-3:00pm

Feb 20 Medical and Hardship forms due

Feb 26 Pre-draw offer deadline to be accepted/rejected

March 4 Current Student Room Draw application is OPEN

March 4 Room Draw Info Session - Procter Hall 8:30-9:30

March 5 Room Draw Info Session - Campus Club 12:00-1:00pm

March 18 Last date to delete preference on Draw Application

March 27 Room Draw Application CLOSES

April 9 Post Draw Results

April 9 GC/Annex retention offers are sent

April 14 Deadline to accept GC/Annex retention offers

April 15 GC/Annex on-line selection

April 23 Apartment offers sent

April 30 All sent apartment contracts are due

May 7 All extension requests are due

General Draw Information

• WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE DRAW?

Any Princeton graduate student who will be enrolled for the 2015-16 academic year is eligible to apply. Students who will not be enrolled for 2015-16 (ETDCC) may submit a Wait List application starting April 16th. Those students who are not enrolled cannot participate in Draw and should not be listed as roommates; this may disqualify your application.

PRE-DRAW RETENTION OPTION

This option is available to all first and second year graduate students currently living in an apartment at Lawrence or Edwards and means that you can retain your current apartment for the next academic year. If you choose this option, you do not have to move out and you do not have to enter the Room Draw process. For first and second year graduate students living in a two bedroom apartment, you can retain your apartment, even if your current roommate does not wish to retain with you. In this case, you can pull in any other student (as long as they are a current first year through third year). You can also retain a two bedroom if your current roommate moves out and you wish to have a domestic partner, spouse or family member move in with you. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL FIRST AND SECOND YEAR STUDENTS TO ACCEPT YOUR PRE-DRAW RETENTION OFFER. Students who decide not to accept the Pre-Draw Retention option will still be eligible for the regular Room Draw. Please note that if you submit a Room Draw application and are successful for a two-bedroom apartment you will automatically default to your current unit anyway so it is best to participate in Pre-Draw. All other students (those housed in the GC/Annexes, and those in their third year and above) should enter the regular Room Draw process.

If you have any questions, please be sure to view our Pre-Draw Retention Frequently Asked Questions or please email the Graduate Housing Office at gradhsg@princeton.edu.

SINGLE STUDENTS OR STUDENTS APPLYING FOR HOUSING WITHOUT FAMILY MEMBERS

Single Student housing applications may include any type of unit. You can apply with preferences for GC/Annex housing, for apartment housing alone (listing a studio or a one bedroom unit as one of your preferences) or for shared apartment housing by adding one, two, or three roommates. If you do not apply with the correct number of roommates, that preference will be invalid. These roommate(s) must also apply to accept the same housing unit type preference. Keep in mind that housing type preferences and their ranking is independent for each person that applies, while location preferences for students applying as roommates for a specific unit type are related - modifications to location preferences and move in dates will affect the related group. The preferences of the roommate with the higher draw rank order will be used during the assignment process. You can also use your preferences to apply for the same type of housing, with different roommate combinations. All applicants in a group will receive an email if any changes were made to their group preferences. Please be sure to read this email carefully because you may be required to login to the system and accept the changes. IMPORTANT: If a roommate does not accept the application, your unit preference with that roommate will be invalid and not considered in your Draw application.

FAMILY HOUSING

If you want to apply as a family (family = grad student with at least one of the following: spouse, approved domestic partner, children, or dependent who will live with you full-time during the academic year) you need to submit the required supporting documents by March 28. If applying as a family, you may select from apartment housing unit types. Families with children/dependents may apply for studio, one, two, three, or four bedroom units. Please keep in mind that children under the age of two on the start date of a Housing Contract will not be counted in the occupant number for maximum occupancy for the unit. When applying to draw as a family, your Draw application should reflect your anticipated marital status, domestic partner information, and child/dependent information as of the start date of a Housing contract. If you need to update your personal information, please email gradhsg@princeton.edu. Changes after the March 27 deadline cannot be taken into account for the Draw process. If the housing assigned to you is no longer suitable for your needs, you may cancel and apply to the wait list.

If you have not previously applied for housing as a family, you must provide documentation confirming the relationship of the spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependents by March 27 to the Graduate Housing Office, 5 New South, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544. Supporting documents are subject to approval and applications for family housing cannot be completed until supporting documents are approved. Applicants bear responsibility for presenting professionally translated versions of documents that are not in English. Acceptable documentation includes the following:

DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR A DOMESTIC PARTNER

For proof of domestic partner status, we need a copy of the following:

A completed Application for Domestic Partnership Multiple Occupancy Housing found here.

Copy of a joint bank account statement or a voided check with both names or a copy of a deed, mortgage agreement, or lease signed by both parties, or other proof of real property held in common (a contract for shared Princeton University Housing is not acceptable for this purpose); or proof that the parties are pension beneficiaries of one another or are primary beneficiaries of life insurance coverage of one another (other than coverage provided by Princeton University)

DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR SPOUSE For proof of marital status, we need a copy of any of the following:

• Marriage certificate • Copy of the most recently filed Federal Income tax return (Form 1040) containing joint marital

filing status information • A passport showing spouse’s name • For those planning to be married by the start date of a Housing contract, a copy of their reception

contract, a wedding invitation, or a letter from the ceremony officiate must be supplied

WHAT IF BOTH PARTNERS (MARRIED OR DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP) ARE PRINCETON STUDENTS?

In cases where both partners are eligible for Room Draw you have a few options:

Register as a Family in the Housing Office - One student is responsible for the entire amount of the monthly rate. The monthly rate will not be split between two students who are registered as a family in the Housing Office. On the Draw application, families are only eligible for family housing preferences (apartment housing). Apply as single students and select each other as roommates. The monthly rate will be split between each roommate. If you have gone through the Draw in the past as a “family”, you will have to contact the Housing Office to let us know that you want to apply separately prior to entering the application online.

DOCUMENTATION FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN

For proof of dependent children, we need a copy of any of the following:

• A copy of a birth certificate for a dependent child • A copy of the most recently filed Federal Income tax return (Form 1040) containing dependent

status information.

Families with a child(ren) and who have birth certificate(s) on file with the Housing Office by the Draw deadline will be given a “child adjustment” that will bring that applicant to the top of their year of study.

Children under the age of two on the start date of a Housing contract will not be counted in the occupant number for maximum occupancy for the apartment. However, documentation is still required.

HARDSHIP HOUSING APPLICATIONS

Hardship Housing is a process by which returning students who wish to be considered for exception to our general policies may apply for housing and/or financial assistance. The Hardship committee has the ability to grant two distinct accommodations- priority in the housing draw for those who would otherwise be ineligible and financial assistance for families with financial hardship; students may be eligible for both or only of these options. A committee comprised of staff from Graduate Student Housing, staff from the Graduate School and graduate students will confidentially review your application. The following items may be taken into consideration when determining eligibility for hardship status: the student's stipend or other income, loan fund availability and previous borrowing record, spouse's income, number of dependents, ability of spouse to work, outside income, and relevant personal information.

-Students may qualify for priority in the housing draw through the Hardship Housing process due to special or extenuating circumstances, financial hardship or some other type of hardship. Students who wish to be considered for priority in the housing draw through the Hardship Housing process, may receive priority over other returning students if approved by the Hardship Committee. In order to apply, students must submit the following information to James Poole, Manager for Graduate Housing, 506 New South Building by February 20:

1. A statement explaining your situation (financial or personal) 2. A completed hardship application (here) 3. A copy of your Federal Income Tax Return.

Hardship applicants will be notified of a decision in early March. Please remember you also need to submit your on-line Draw application by March 27. The contract for the assigned room must be signed by DATE in order for this room to be withheld from the list of available rooms for the Apartment Room Draw or the GC/Annex Room Draw. A copy of the Hardship Application is located here.

MEAL CONTRACTS

All students successful for the Graduate College are required to accept a meal plan in order to accept their contract. There are 4 meal plans offered that the student has to choose from. The plans and their costs are as follows:

All students successful for the Graduate College are required to accept a meal plan in order to accept their contract. There are 4 meal plans offered that the student has to choose from. The plans and their costs are as follows:

1) Unlimited: $6,270 2) Block 235 $6,020 3) Block 190 $5,760 4) Block 95 $3,465

Students may reduce their meal contracts only once per semester, during the third full week of classes in the fall and during the first full week of classes in the spring. Exemption or termination of a meal plan requires written approval from the Assistant Dean of the Graduate School and is processed at the Housing Office. Adding a meal plan or making changes that increase the number of meals may be made at any time during the semester. See your Housing/Dining Contract and Terms and Conditions for more information.

WAIT LIST

Students who applied but who were unsuccessful in Room Draw, will automatically be placed on the Wait List. We will keep your preferences from Room Draw in rank order and do our best to offer you an assignment that matches your preferences. Students who did not apply to the Draw may submit a Wait List application beginning on April 16. Wait List students will be considered for the housing type selected on their Draw or Wait List application (as applicable and/or available) after all successful Draw participants have been assigned. As openings arise for a housing type, the first person on the wait list that has indicated that unit as a preference will be offered that unit type. Please note that being placed on the Wait List does NOT guarantee housing. If you no longer need housing, please contact the Housing Office to remove your name from the wait list. ETDCC, GEXC and VSRC students can apply to the wait list beginning April 16, but will only be offered housing (if available) after all enrolled students have been housed.

CANCELLATIONS A student who accepts a housing contract and then wishes to cancel it will have 10 business days after acceptance to do so without penalty. After 10 business days, a $300 fee will be

assessed and the student may be held responsible for the full contract value if the space cannot be reassigned by another eligible person from the wait list for housing.

Applying for the Draw

1. BROWSER REQUIREMENTS

Please note the following tips prior to accessing the application:

Users must have JavaScript enabled in their browser. When logging into the application, you should simply login with your net ID and password. Users should disable any pop-up blocker software for the web site. Be sure to check the browser requirements on the application login screen to ensure that the application will function properly.

ACCESS TO THE ROOM DRAW APPLICATION

In order to access the Room Draw application when available please click here and follow the appropriate link. Enter your Princeton Net ID and password.

The housing system welcomes page will be displayed. Please review this page carefully before starting your application. You can also refer back to this page at any time while you are completing your application. In the Housing Room Draw system every eligible student applies separately, listing his or her housing preferences in order.

Select graduate student, Room Draw, and then Applying for Room Draw. Read the information displayed here, click the box, and proceed to the next section.

PERSONAL INFORMATION (Applicant Information)

Your personal data (i.e. name, year of study, gender, local address, etc.) will be displayed for confirmation.

Please confirm that all information is correct. If any information is wrong, you can make changes by clicking on edit. Once information is confirmed/corrected please hit the next button.

Current Address: Your current address will only be displayed if you live on campus and have a University address.

FAMILY INFORMATION

If you have family status on record with the Housing Office it will be displayed on this screen. If you are seeking family status or you need to add an additional family member you can do so here. Pick from the drop down of names or click "name not found" to enter a name, then click add family member, and save changes.

PLACEMENT OPTIONS

Placement options allows the student to select specific options that Housing needs to consider when making an assignment. Keep in mind that this is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee placement into any specific housing unit/complex. You will have the following options to select:

- The option to prioritize preferred move in date or preferred location. - f you have a disability and/or medical need that may require a special housing assignment, please check the appropriate box. - If you will have a pet on campus. - If you would like to be assigned a Random Roommate. Click here for further details. - This is for information purposes only and does not guarantee placement into any specific housing unit/complex.

HOUSING PREFERENCES

Your next step is to go to Housing Preferences. Here you will be asked to list your preferences for housing. List each preference in rank order from 1 (1 being your most desired preference). Please type preference number in the box next to the selection to re-order your preferences. Each preference consists of a unit type (apartment size) and a possible list of roommates. You will always be listed as roommate number one. Please enter additional roommate Net IDs if applicable, then click on “add a preference.” You will be able to edit or delete preferences until March 18.

For the purpose of the Draw, the Graduate Housing inventory is divided into six types:

• Studio apartments • 1 Bedroom apartments • 2 bedroom apartments • 3 bedroom apartments • 3 bedroom townhouses • 4 bedroom townhouses • Graduate College & Annex rooms

You are encouraged to list at least four preferences. Please remember to only list those preferences which you are willing to accept. Consider the possible locations where such units are situated and if you would like to live there. Only the type of unit selected will be considered in the Draw (apartment assignments will be done by the Housing Office at a later date). If you are successful in the Draw it will be based on a housing type only; locations cannot be guaranteed.

LOCATION PREFERENCES

Your Location Preferences are updated every time you add, delete, accept, reject, or change housing unit type or roommate information. The application contains one entry for each preference that you accepted, even if it is still pending (waiting for other roommates to accept – please check your application frequently prior to the deadline to be sure that all potential roommates have accepted preferences). Be sure that your application shows only complete preferences by the March 27 deadline. Only complete preferences are valid and will be considered for the Draw! Any pending preferences not accepted prior to the Draw, will not be considered.

Location Preferences allow you the opportunity to retain your current apartment or rank locations for each unit type/roommate preference you have entered. Within each entry, if you or any of your potential roommates currently live in that unit type, you will be able to choose which apartment you would like to

retain. Remember, as a rule, if you are successful in obtaining housing of the same type as you currently occupy, you are required to retain and your contract will be renewed.

Below the retain options, where applicable and if the entry is for an apartment, you are asked to rank the various location preferences where that unit type is available. If you are successful for that preference (that unit type with those roommates), housing will assign an apartment to you based on this list. We cannot guarantee that your first choice will be available. This ranked list is not used if you are retaining your apartment. It only applies if the current apartment will be retained by someone else, when moving to a unit type that none of the roommates currently occupy, or if you have requested a transfer. If you are moving to a new apartment, select a preferred move-in date from the drop down list. This date is not guaranteed, but it serves as a guide during the assignment process.

Please be sure to hit the submit button when you are done.

GC/ANNEX RETENTION

If you are currently living in a GC/Annex room and wish to retain your room, you must apply for the GC/Annex Draw and indicate that you want to retain under Location Preferences. If you are successful in the GC/Annex Draw, your name will be placed on a successful GC/Annex retention list. You are not eligible to retain your room if you retained last year. If you are living in a double, triple, or quad room, the room may only be retained once by any roommate so that the room will not be withheld by retention for two or more consecutive years. You cannot retain a room that is being converted to lower occupancy for the upcoming academic year. You cannot draw in roommates when retaining a room; they must draw into the suite separately. If you successfully retained, you must sign an electronic contract for that room and indicate the gender of the shared bathroom if applicable. Your name will only be listed on the retention list and not on the GC/Annex Draw list. Once your contract is signed, your room will be reserved for you. The room will then be removed from the GC/Annex available rooms list. If you do not sign by April 14, your room will be placed in the available rooms list. If you sign up for retention, you will not be allowed to draw. Therefore, be sure you want to retain your room.

CONFIRMING THE APPLICATION (application summary)

Please login and review your application as many times as you would like before March 18. Please be aware that you cannot delete preferences after March 18. There is an Application Summary section in the Housing menu - Make sure that all of your preferences have been accepted by all roommates, and are thus are complete and valid. Double check your rankings for the preferences, and your selections. The final application deadline is March 27.

PROXY FOR THE GC/ANNEX DRAW

If you will not be able to select your room online during your draw time, you can assign Housing as your proxy to act for you in the Room Draw selection process. If you select the Housing Office to act as your proxy, you must send an email to the Housing Office (gradhsg@princeton.edu) to indicate your preferred features and type of room, so that the Housing Office will be able to make an appropriate selection for you.

How the Draw System Works

• All applications received by the March 27 deadline from eligible enrolled students are separated into groups as follows:

Residential Committee Members and others eligible for priority draw rank. (current) First-year students. (current) Second-year students. (current) Third-year students. (current) Fourth-year students. (current) Fifth-year students.

Utilizing an applicant’s current year of study and in accordance with draw rules for priority, applicants are assigned a random draw rank. Students with children who have supporting documentation on file by March 27 will be ranked and randomized at the top of their year of study. A computer program then considers each application in turn by draw rank. When considering your application, the system will find your highest preference such that all roommates (if any) are still available (have not been assigned other housing), and such that units of that type are still available. Moreover, enough beds must be available to house all incoming students who applied by April 15. If the system can accommodate your first housing type preference (based on the available housing), you will be placed on the list for that type of housing. If you were successful in getting an apartment to share with other student(s) (whose names must have appeared on your application and vice versa), they will also be successful for the same apartment based on your application, and their other preferences will be ignored. Note: When applying for an apartment, the roommate with the best draw rank will pull in all other roommates. Year of study for all roommates is not averaged.

If your first housing type preference is not available (all units/beds of that type are already taken), the program will consider your other housing type preferences in order. If you were unsuccessful for all types of housing you applied for, you will be placed on the wait list if you have indicated this on the application and will be ordered by draw rank. For the purpose of the Draw, the graduate housing stock is divided into sex types: studio, one, two, three, and four bedroom apartments, and the GC/Annex rooms.

RANDOM ROOMMATE OPTION

The Random Roommate feature allows the student to apply for any apartment unit type they choose, regardless of occupancy level, and be randomly assigned a roommate. This feature can be found in the Placement Options section of the application.

How does it work?

The Random Roommate system matches students in the following order:

1) Unit Type 2) Gender 3) Year of Study

For example, Jane Doe applied for a random roommate(s) in a two bedroom and three bedroom unit. The system will match her with other students who applied for random roommates in the same unit type. The system will then match her with other students of the same gender, then by year of study. NOTE: If there are no students of the same gender are available, then the student will be assigned a roommate of the opposite gender.

Once the students are matched, they will be included with all other students in Room Draw. IMPORTANT: If the system is unable to match a student through this process then the student will be listed as unsuccessful for those unit types applied for. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for other options that do not require a roommate in order increase their chances of obtaining housing through the Draw.

Online Room Selection

• GC/ANNEX ONLINE ROOM SELECTION

Students who have selected the GC/Annex as a unit type preference and are successful for that unit type will be assigned a time to enter the online GC/Annex Draw in April to select a room. Any successful student, at his or her draw time, can choose any empty space. In addition, students can select any empty multiple-occupancy room or suite that is available and can pull in other students who are successful for the GC/Annex (their name must appear on the GC/Annex Draw time list) but may have received a later draw time. Students who are successful for this unit type will be placed on a GC/Annex Draw list with a draw time based on their draw position.

PROCEDURES FOR DRAWING GC/ANNEX ROOMS

Students who are placed on the Successful Draw List for Graduate College/Annex housing will participate in an online room selection process. The Graduate College/Annex Draw will be held online April 15. To select rooms, students will enter the Room Selection link on the Room Draw main web page during their draw time. Selected rooms will be held for 10 minutes while the contract is being processed and accepted. Rooms that are not selected within this time period will be released and become available again. If room selection is not completed during the original draw time, students will be able to login any time after their original time but no later than the last draw time. Students with draw times who fail to enter room selection will NOT automatically be put on the wait list. They must apply for the wait list and their application will be considered according to the date their request is submitted, regardless of original draw time.

To select a multi-occupant room:

Log on to the Housing system and complete the following:

On the Welcome page, select graduate student, then Room Draw, then enter Room Draw. On the Room Selection Terms page, click the checkbox indicating that you have read the room selection instructions and agree to the terms. Click the Next button to continue. The Housing Available Rooms page is displayed.

You can filter the list of available rooms by any header on this page. You can click the Refresh button to reload the list of available rooms at any time.

Select the room you want by clicking on the Select at the beginning of the line. If you selected a room with a shared bath, you are prompted to select the gender (same gender or either gender) of the adjoining room. Click OK to continue. Select your meal plan from the drop-down list, if applicable. Click the Accept Room button. (If you have changed your mind, click the Reject Room button to return to the Available Rooms page and select a different room.) Click view to preview your contract. You must explicitly accept it by clicking the I Accept this Contract button. (If you have changed your mind, click I Reject this Contract and it will take you back to the Available Rooms List to select another room.)

We suggest that you print a copy of your contract for your records. When you have printed the contract, you should click the close button, logoff the Housing system, and close the browser window.

PULLING UP ROOMMATES FOR THE GC/ANNEX ROOM SELECTION

Any student drawing a multiple occupancy room (a double or larger) which is otherwise unoccupied may select and pull-up any person(s) as a roommate (same gender) who entered the Draw and was successful for the GC/Annex Draw (i.e. given a draw time for the GC/Annex Draw list). Only officers of the Graduate College House Committee may pull-up students who have applied but were unsuccessful for the GC/Annex Draw.

To accept or reject a room, if you've been pulled up:

Sign in to the Housing system. Select Contracts from the menu (Do not enter the draw as this will void the pull-up contract that is waiting for you to accept in the Contracts section) The List of Contracts page shows the room for which you have been pulled. To accept or reject the room: Click the radio button for the contract. Select your meal plan from the drop-down list, if applicable. To accept the room, click the Accept Contract button. To reject the room, click Reject Contract. View your contract and print a copy for your records.

SHARED BATHROOM POLICY Many rooms within the OGC share an in-suite bathroom. In this case, the first student to draw into one of the rooms chooses whether the bathroom will be a single-sex or co-ed bathroom for the year, and this designation information will be shown on the room lists as they are updated during the Draw. For example, OGC room 51 shares a bathroom with OGC room 53 – if a male student draws OGC 53 and designates the bathroom as single-sex, then OGC 51 may only be occupied by male students.

ROOM CHANGES No changes can be made to contracts for GC/Annex rooms accepted during the room selection process. Room change applications and information will be available in September.

Apartment Housing Assignment Process

SUCCESSFUL APARTMENT APPLICANTS

If you are successful in the Draw to retain the apartment you currently live in, we will email your apartment renewal contract by late February/early March. If you are not currently in an apartment or will be switching units based on the Draw results, the Housing Office will make an assignment and email your new apartment contract to your Princeton University email address in late April. Please note: as previously mentioned in this guide, if you are successful for the same type of unit you currently live in, you will receive a contract to retain your current unit. Transfer requests are not typically accepted during the Draw process(see below for more information).

To accept your housing for next year, you must reply to the email contract offer by the deadline indicated in the email. If you do not currently live in an apartment and do not have a security deposit with Princeton University, you will need to submit your security deposit separately as per the instructions in your email offer. Security deposits must be paid prior to moving into your apartment.

APARTMENT RENEWALS

If you currently live in an apartment and want your contract renewed you should apply for the appropriate housing unit type. If you are successful in obtaining a unit of this type, you will be allowed to retain your apartment. If you are a single student signing up to share with another single student, and you are both successful for the unit type that you both currently occupy, you will have to decide which unit you will retain and enter it in the application. The preferences of the person with the higher draw rank order will be considered first.

TRANSFER REQUESTS (Unit change)

If you are currently in an apartment and are successful for the same unit type, as a rule your apartment contract will be renewed. Apartment transfers are discouraged and should be reserved primarily for major life circumstances, such as domestic partnership, marraige, separations, divorces, or having children, and secondarily for other lifestyle issues, such as a roommate conflict or financial issues. However, if you are a first-year student that was assigned to an apartment, you may be eligible for a transfer after your first year. If you would like to request a transfer, you must complete the Unit Change process found here in addition to applying to the Draw.

ASSIGNMENTS PROCESS

Assignments will be made on a rolling basis beginning in April. There are three primary factors that impact what apartment a student is assigned to:

preferred move in date preferred location current inventory

The first step in assigning the student is to see which of the assignment preferences they selected: preferred move in date or preferred location. This information provides Housing the necessary parameters to begin the assignment process. In this example, the student has chosen move in date as

their preference. The assignment is made by checking the inventory of available units for the requested move in date. The next step is to compare the available units to the location preferences listed by the student. If any of the preferences match the inventory then an assignment is made. IMPORTANT: Housing makes every effort to assign students to their top preferences. However, instances can occur that, due to limited inventory, a student may either receive a lower location preference or a different move in date. In situations such as these, the assignment preference is the determining factor. For current apartment residents that were successful in the Draw for another unit type, contracts with a move-in date of July 1st will be offered, as possible, to coincide with the June 30th vacate date of the current unit. In cases where the student has July 1st as their preferred move in date and it is not possible due to lack of availability of that unit type for a July 1st move-in, Housing will grant an extension in the current unit and offer a move-in date on the new unit as possible. Contract offers for apartment assignments will be sent via email and must be accepted within seven calendar days. Once accepted, the security deposit must be paid to the Housing Office prior to the move-in date. If the offer is rejected and Housing is still desired, students should immediately place themselves onto the wait list by applying online.

Frequently Asked Questions

• When is the application deadline?

All Room Draw applications are to be submitted to Housing by March 27. The last date to delete a preference is March 18 - you may still accept or reject pending preferences until the March 27 application deadline.

What if my application is late? You will not be able to submit an application after the deadline. You must apply to the wait list.

If I accepted a Pre-Draw Retention offer, do I need to submit a Room Draw application?

No, your housing assignment for the current academic year is established. Only those who reject their Pre-Draw Retention offer can apply for Room Draw.

I do not want to remain in university housing next year, what should I do?

Do not apply for the Draw and vacate your current space by no later than the last day of your current contract.

Where can I find the rates for different units? All rates for the current academic year are posted on the Housing web site.

When will I get my assignment? All students successful in the Draw will receive their housing assignments no later than early May.

How long do I have to accept my housing contract offer? You will have seven days after the issue date to accept your contract. If you do not make a decision by that time your contract offer will be rescinded and you can apply to the wait list.

When will I get my GC/Annex room assignment? Those students who were successful in retaining their room will receive their contract on April 9. Students who were successful for the GC/Annex room selection process will select their room on-line in late April.

When will the Successful Draw List be posted? The Successful Draw List will be posted on the housing web site after 4:00pm on April 9.

Will my security deposit transfer from one apartment to the next? Yes, upon accepting your contract your deposit will automatically transfer to your assignment next year.

Does being successful in the Draw guarantee my first choice of location? No, success means you qualified for one of your indicated unit types, not apartment location.

What if I cancel my contract after I have accepted it?

You have 10 business days after the date of your contract acceptance to cancel your contract without penalty. After 10 business days, a $300 fee will be assessed.

Can I see floor plans or maps of the units before I select my preferences?

Yes, all floor plans can be found here.

Are applicants with spouses/domestic partners given higher priority than those without?

No, applicants with spouses/domestic partners have the same priority as students applying on their own.

What if I have other questions?

Please contact Graduate Housing at 8-3460 or gradhsg@princeton.edu with any questions.

Princeton University Regulations  

Members of the University community are expected to honor agreements or contracts relating to official University activities and/or processes. This obligation specifically includes: providing accurate information on official forms and documents, as well as to official University persons, offices, and committees. Misrepresentation of any facts on your Draw Application is considered serious. The University may ask you to provide certifiable documentation of those facts. Deliberate violations of this provision will be considered serious offenses and disciplinary action will be taken, including, but not limited to, rendering violators ineligible for University housing.

Princeton University expects all residents to fulfill the terms of their housing contracts and will hold them financially accountable accordingly. If there are extraordinary circumstances that may necessitate an early termination of one's contract, you may request a release. For contractual release, such circumstances must be compelling. Please consult the Dorm/Annex Residential Living Guide, as well as Apartment Life for Graduate Students for the proper procedure to make such a request.

 

ROOM AND MEAL PLAN SELECTION

When to Select Your Graduate College & Annex Room

Those who applied for a dormitory room at the Graduate College & Annexes will select your room based on your assigned draw time. Draw times are based on five minute increments, meaning you have five minutes to select your room online.

You may select your room at the start of your draw time, or you may select at any time throughout the duration of Room Draw. If you wait to make your selection past your assigned time, keep in mind that you will be competing with other students whose draw times follow yours.

It is important to know the housing you want to select and what is available before your draw time. If you log in to Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH) fifteen minutes before your draw time, you will be able to view the rooms still available and those selected in the last hour. Look for the available rooms list and the last selected room list.

Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH)

Accept Your Room Choice and Meal Plan

• Select your room. • Choose a meal plan (if required) from the list in the dropdown. • Click “Accept.” Your room and meal plan contract will display. • Carefully review your contract and its terms and conditions. Your acceptance is binding and cannot be

changed. • POSH will prompt you to accept your contract and sign it electronically. • Keep a copy of your contract for your records.

Graduate Student Dormitory and Annex Rates (academic year prices)

Old Graduate College 2014-2015 2015-2016

2 Room Single $8244 $8491

1 Room Single $6395 $6587

Double Rooms $8244 $7246

$8491 $7463

Walk Through Doubles $4771 $4914

Triples $8244 $6395 $4771

$8491 $6587 $4914

Quads $6395-$7246 $6587-$7463

New Graduate College

2 Room Single $8244 $8491

1 Room Single $6395 $6587

Annexes

Single Rooms

$7492 $6519 $5695 $4728

$7717 $6715 $5866 $4870

31 Edwards $6395 $6587

Graduate College Dues $50 $50

Graduate Student Apartment Rates (per month)

Butler Apartments 2-bedroom Large 2-bedroom Small

$1014-$1036 $888-$908 N/A

   

   27-29 Edwards Place $1293 $1319

   

1-bedroom

   Stanworth Apartments 1-bedroom 2-bedroom 3-bedroom Efficiencies

$1136-$1196 $1380-$1556 $1896 $788

N/A    

   Lakeside Apartments    

1 Bedroom (119 units) 2 Bedroom (136 units) 3 Bedroom (76 units) 4 Bedroom (49 units)

$1193-$1208 $1546-$1576 $2100-$2187 $2464-$2928

$1217-$1232 $1578-$1608 $2142-$2232 $2512-$2988

   

   Lawrence Building #1 1-bedroom (93 units)

$1136 $1159    

   Lawrence Building #2-7 2-bedroom (56 units)

$1380 $1408    

   Lawrence Building #8-14 Studio (34 units) 1-bedroom (34 units) 2-bedroom (138 units)

$778 $1196 $1556

$794 $1220 $1588

   

   Meal Contract (annual cost)

   Unlimited Plan - Unlimited entry to residential dining halls $6080 $6270    

   Block 235 - 235 meals per semester $5840 $6020    

   Block 190 - 190 meals per semester $5590 $5760    

   Block 95 - 95 meals per semester $3360 $3465    

YOUR CONTRACT

Fulfilling Your Contract

If you select or are assigned a living space during Room Draw and have signed a housing/dining contract electronically, Princeton University expects you to fulfill the terms of your contract for the entire academic year. Your housing/dining service agreement charges are payable as determined by the Office of the Treasury (Loans and Receivables). If you fail to pay as agreed, you may be subject to suspension and withholding of your degree and transcripts.

Contract Period

If you choose to live in the Graduate College, you generally contract for nine months beginning around September 3 and ending in May. Graduate student apartment contracts typically run for 12 months from July 1 through June 30.

Room and Meal Plan Changes

Apartments and dormitory rooms are in very high demand so the opportunity to change your living situation is limited to what is available. We do not process room change requests during the first month of the academic year because students are just settling into their rooms. Starting in the last week of September, you can apply for a room change. These are processed on a case by case basis and are limited to where vacancies exist. Room Changes are also not allowed, once the Room Draw process begins in February onward.

You may increase your meal plan anytime, but you may decrease your plan only in the third full week of classes in September and the first full week of classes in February.

Log in to Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH) to request a room or meal plan change.

Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH)

   

Wait List

Wait List

If you apply to Room Draw and are not successful, you will automatically be wait-listed. If you did not apply for Room Draw, you may apply in Princeton One Stop Housing (POSH) to be wait-listed. As housing becomes available, the Graduate Student Housing Office makes offers to wait-listed students on a rolling basis.