Please take time to you familiarize yourself with all the policies & procedures for the Room Selection process. If you have questions, please attend an Information Session or Information Table or contact the Residential Life & Housing office (110 Sulzberger).
- Winter Break - 616, 620, & Elliott will be completely closed during part of Winter Break (9am 12/21 - 9am 1/14). If you pick into one of those bulidings & plan to request WB Housing, note that you would not be able to stay in your room during that time (you would need to find someone in an open building to let you use their room). More information...
- Cancellation policy - Instead of the cancellation fee immediately being a full $1000 after the deadline passes, the fee will gradually increase over the summer. Students on the Guaranteed Wait List will have the same cancellation deadline as students who select a room. More information...
- Co-Ed Suites - any group with a male CU student(s) which picks a suite will be required to sign the Barnard Open Housing Agreement / Contract. More information...
Contents
Guarantee of Housing
Student who are eligible for Room Selection are guaranteed housing for the 2012-2013 academic year only if they complete all of the following steps:
- Register for Room Selection online during the registration dates
- Come to your scheduled appointment time (or send a Proxy)
- Sign a 2012-2013 Housing Contract
Students who fail to complete any of the steps above will cease to have a guarantee of housing.
Please note that students are not guaranteed the ability to choose a specific room during the Room Selection process. Because more students will register for Room Selection than the number of spaces open for selection (due to students choosing rooms who will later cancel to move off-campus, study abroad for the Fall semester, etc), some of the students who are registered for Room Selection will not be able to choose a specific room and will be required to sign up for the Guaranteed Wait List. These typically will be the rising-Sophomores with the highest lottery numbers (although rising-Seniors and Juniors may also sign up for the Guaranteed Wait List if they wish not to choose spaces available during their appointment time). The important thing is that students on the Guaranteed Wait List are guaranteed a room assignment for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Eligibility
Students are eligible to participate in Barnard Room Selection if they are:
- Barnard students who currently live in on-campus undergraduate housing (at Barnard, Columbia, or JTS). Living units such as the Bayit and International House do not count as on-campus undergraduate housing.
- Barnard students who are currently at an approved Study Abroad program for the Spring semester AND who lived in on-campus undergraduate housing (at Barnard, Columbia, or JTS) in the semester prior to going on Study Abroad.
- Columbia College & SEAS students may be pulled into a group to select a suite or block of rooms if they register for Barnard Room Selection and are deemed eligible by CU Housing to participate in the CU Room Selection process. General Studies (GS) students are not eligible to participate in Barnard Room Selection.
Students must be enrolled full-time for the 2012-2013 academic year in order to live in on-campus housing. Students who change to a part-time status may lose their ability to remain in housing.
If you receive a placement though being hired as an RA (or are selected as an RA's pull-in), being selected for a Special Interest program, by signing a Greek Housing Roster, or by receiving a disability-related housing accommodation (or being a pull-in); you do not need to register for Room Selection (because you already have a room assignment).
Signing a contract for housing is an academic year-long commitment; cancellation fees may apply for students who cancel / move out of housing before the end of the academic year.
Only students graduating mid-year or studying abroad for the Spring will be allowed out of their housing contract for the Spring semester without cancellation fees.
Registering
Registration for Barnard Room Selection will take place online from 1pm on Wednesday, February 29 through 1pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 (students who are studying abroad for the Spring must be registered by their Proxies).
Students must register to take part in Room Selection; otherwise they will forfeit their guarantee of housing and will not be allowed to participate in Room Selection. Students who do not register for Room Selection (or are not eligible) but who still wish to live on campus may apply for housing (on the Non-Guaranteed Wait List). Students who choose to move off-campus will not be eligible to participate in Room Selection the following year (but may apply to live on campus through the Non-Guaranteed Wait List).
After you register online, you will be given the opportunity to "form a group" with up to 5 other students if you wish to choose a suite (2-6 students) or block of rooms (2-4 students). Please note that these groupings are non-binding -- groups may break apart or reform up until the time that a group actually selects a suite or block of rooms at Room Selection. See Form a Group for more information.
Disability Housing Accomodations
If you have a diagnosed disability and believe you will need a housing accommodation for the 2012-2013 academic year, you must submit a Disability Housing Request to the Office of Disability Services (ODS). This may include, but is not limited to, students who need accommodations for hearing impairments, diagnosed medical and/or psychological conditions, etc.
The request (and all medical documentation) must be submitted no later than 4pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. More information is available at http://barnard.edu/reslife/disability. Students who receive a disability housing assignment (or are designated an ODS pull-in) through this process will not need to register for Room Selection.
RAs & Barnard Special Interest Housing
If you are a Resident Assistant (or RA pull-in), you will sign a RA & RA pull-in acceptance form to select your room. If you are chosen to be part of a Special Interest Housing group, you will sign an SIH acceptance form. You will not register for Room Selection (because you will already have a room). You will be required later to sign a 2012-2013 Housing Contract once they are printed.
Columbia Greek & Special Interest Housing
If you will be living in Greek or Special Interest Housing at Columbia, you do not need to register for Room Selection; however, you will later be required to sign a 2012-2013 Barnard Housing Contact (as Barnard will be responsible for billing you for your room). Barnard students living in Columbia housing are charged the Barnard single & multiple room rates, not the Columbia room rates.
Columbia Students in Barnard Room Selection
Columbia students who wish to be pulled-in into a Barnard group to select during Barnard Room Selection must register themselves during the time same period (1pm on Wednesday, February 29 through 1pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012), otherwise they will not be permitted to participate in Barnard Room Selection.
If you are a male Columbia student, please read the section about Co-Ed Suites / Open Housing.
See Pulling-In CU Students for more information.
If you plan to register for Columbia Suite Selection...
Barnard students may be pulled-in to select suites at Columbia through the Columbia Suite Selection process. For more information and the registration process, visit the Columbia Room Selection webpage.
Please note that there is a cap on the number of Barnard students who may be pulled into suites at Columbia. The number is equal to the number of CC & SEAS students who are pulled-in to suites during Barnard Room Selection (and any CU students pulled into Barnard RA suites or selected for Special Interest Housing at Barnard) minus the number of Barnard students pulled into CU RA suites, CU Special Interest Housing, and/or Columbia Greek housing for 2012-2013. This number varies from year to year and is dependent on the number of students who register for Room Selection.
Rising-sophomores are strongly discouraged from registering as part of a group at Columbia due to the limitations on where CU Undergraduate Housing will allow groups with Barnard members to select (rising-Sophomores who have registered in the past have also not been able to select with their CU group because of the cap on the number of Barnard students who may select at Columbia).
If you are planning to participate in Columbia Suite Selection, we strongly encourage you to also register for Barnard Room Selection process. That way, if you are not able to select at CU, you will have had an opportunity to pick a backup room at Barnard.
If you register with a group for Columbia Suite Selection, please note that you may only select at Barnard Room Selection as an individual. In other words, you may not be part of group to select a suite or block of rooms. Additionally, if you are a rising-Senior, you must wait until after all other rising-Seniors have selected (i.e. beginning of Junior Selection Day) before selecting a room at Barnard.
Barnard students who select into rooms at Columbia will be required to sign a Barnard Housing Contact (as Barnard will be responsible for billing you for your room). Barnard students living in Columbia housing are charged the Barnard single & multiple room rates, not the Columbia room rates.
Room Costs & Meal Plan Requirements
Room Costs
Barnard has three different rates for residence hall rooms on campus:
| Room Type | Academic Year Price |
|---|---|
| Multiple | $8,240 |
| Single | $9,480 |
| Studio Single | $12,000 |
Barnard students who live in Columbia Housing through the BC/CU Housing Exchange will be billed for their rooms by the College following Barnard's single and multiple room rates (not Columbia's room rates) and will be required to sign a Barnard Housing Contract (in addition to a Columbia Housing Contract).
Columbia students who are pulled into suites at Barnard will be billed for their rooms by Columbia, following Columbia room rates (not Barnard rates). Columbia students will also be required to sign a Barnard Housing Contract in order to agree to the Terms & Conditions of living in Barnard housing.
Meal Plan Requirements
Upperclass students living on floors 2-8 of the Quad (Hewitt, Brooks, Sulzberger, Reid) are required to enroll, at minimum, in the Quad Upperclass Meal Plan ($1,930 per semester, $2,036 for kosher plan per semester).
All other upperclass students, including those living off-campus, will be required to enroll, at minimum, in the Convenience Meal Plan ($300 per semester, $350 for kosher plan per semester). Students may upgrade, should they wish, to a more comprehensive meal plan.
Lottery Numbers & Appointment Times
The order in which students are called to select a room, a suite (2-6 students), or a block of rooms (2-4 students) at Room Selection is determined by lottery number (generated randomly by class year). Students will be considered rising-Seniors, -Juniors, or -Sophomores based on their year of graduation (in 2013, 2014, or 2015).
Please note that students who graduate mid-year are classified by the Registrar's office as "February Graduates." This means that a student who graduates after the Fall 2014 semester would be classified as a February 2015 graduate and would be considered as a rising-Sophomore (not as a rising-Junior).
If you need to update your graduation date, please do so at the Registrar's Office (107 Milbank) no later than 1pm on Friday, February 24, 2012. Please note that requests to update your graduation date must be supported by the number of credits you have earned.
Students will not receive a lottery number and/or be allowed to participate in Room Selection unless they register for Room Selection.
Each Barnard student who registers will receive an individual lottery number, even if they plan on participating in a group to select a suite (2-6 students) or block of rooms (2-4 students).
Columbia students who wish to participate in Barnard Room Selection will not receive individual lottery numbers. They may only be pulled-in to select a suite or block of rooms by Barnard students. See Pulling-In Columbia Students.
Registering as a rising-Senior is intended to give students priority for Room Selection for their final year or semester of college only and students may only participate as a rising-Senior once during their Barnard career. If your anticipated graduation year is 2013, but you do not plan on graduating until February or May 2014, please correct this with the Registrar before Friday, February 24, 2012. Students who receive a lottery number as a rising-Senior and then continue to attend Barnard past next academic year will not be permitted to participate in Room Selection again as a rising-Senior.
The lottery numbers will run from #1 through the total number of participants. For example, if 1500 students register for Room Selection, #1-500 could go to rising-Seniors, #501-1000 could go to rising-Juniors, and #1001-1500 could go to rising-Sophomores (the exact breakdown depends on the number of students who register from each class year).
Lottery numbers will be available to view on the online registration page by 1pm on Monday, March 19.
Students will be given an individual appointment time for when they can expect their lottery number to be called on their day of selection. The appointment times will be available to view on the online registration page on the following days:
Selecting as an Individual
| Class Year | Date of Room Selection | Your Appointment Time will be posted online by |
|---|---|---|
| Rising-Seniors (2013 grads) | Friday, March 23, 2012 | Monday, March 19, by 1pm |
| Rising-Juniors (2014 grads) | Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | Saturday, March 24, by 6pm |
| Rising-Sophomores (2015 grads) | Friday, March 30, 2012 | Wednesday, March 28, by 6pm |
Selecting as part of a Group
| Class Years | Date of Room Selection | Your Appointment Time will be posted online by |
|---|---|---|
| Groups of all rising-Seniors | Friday, March 23, 2012 | Monday, March 19, by 1pm |
|
Groups of rising-Seniors & Juniors |
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 | Saturday, March 24, by 6pm |
| Groups of rising-Seniors & Sophomores (including groups with rising-Juniors) Groups of rising-Juniors & Sophomores Groups of all rising-Sophomores |
Friday, March 30, 2012 | Wednesday, March 28, by 6pm |
Students should plan to arrive around 5-10 minutes before their appointment time. Students should be prepared to stay in the Lewis Parlor for 15 - 45 minutes (depending on how fast the lines are moving). If you cannot come to your appointment time due to a class or other time conflict, you will need to designate a Proxy to select a space for you.
Forming a Group
Students who wish to live together for the 2012-2013 academic year may "form a group" in order to select a suite (2-6 students) or a block of corridor-style rooms (2-4 students) at Room Selection.
Grouping Yourselves Together Online
Students who wish to select together should group themselves online in advance after registering for Room Selection. This allows us to calculate for you when your group will be allowed to select.
Groupings are non-binding -- groups may break apart or reform up until the time that a group or individual actually selects a suite or block of rooms at Room Selection. However, due to the time it may take to reconfigure a group online if you choose to do so at your selection appointment time, students are strongly encouraged to regroup themselves online before coming to their appointment (or use a laptop or smartphone to do while waiting for lottery number to be called).
Same-Class Year Groups
If everyone in your group is of the same class year (ex. all 5 students in a 5-person group are rising-Juniors), the group will use the "best" (e.g. lowest) lottery number and appointment time of the students in the group. All group members must be present (or represented by a Proxy, with a completed Proxy form) when the group selects.
For example: in the following group of 5 Juniors, Carol has the best lottery number (606), so she will "pull-in" the rest of the group to select with her when her lottery number is called at her appointment time.
| Student | Lottery Number | Individual Appointment Time |
|---|---|---|
| Carol | 606 | March 27, 10:00am (Junior Selection Day) |
| Alice | 637 | March 27, 10:30am (Junior Selection Day) |
| Marsha | 758 | March 27, 11:30am (Junior Selection Day) |
| Jan | 889 | March 27, 1:00pm (Junior Selection Day) |
| Cindy | 912 | March 27, 10:15am (Junior Selection Day) |
The lottery numbers and appointment times above are examples only and are not reflective of the actual appointment times that will be generated for lottery numbers this year.
If your group reconfigures before or at your Selection Day appointment before selecting a suite or block of rooms, please note that adding a student of a younger class year to your group would change when your group would be able allowed to select (see Mixed-Class Year Groups below).
If you wish to pull in one or more Columbia students, the class year of the CU student(s) must be the same as the Barnard members in order to be considered a Same-Class Year Group (otherwise, the group would be a Mixed-Class Year Group).
Mixed-Class Year Groups
If your group is made up of students from different class years (ex. 2 rising-Seniors and 2 rising-Juniors), the group will use the "best" (e.g. lowest) lottery number of the students in the group; however, they will select on the Selection Day of the lowest class year member(s) of the group using a specially-created group appointment time. All group members must be present (or represented by a Proxy) when the group selects.
For example: in the following group of 2 rising-Seniors and 2 rising-Juniors, Meg (a rising-Senior) has the best lottery number (304), but the lowest class year in the group are rising-Juniors. So, the group will be able to select when Meg's lottery number is called on the morning of Junior Selection day (before Junior lottery numbers start being called). The group appointment time would be posted online when Junior Selection Day appointment times are posted.
| Student | Class Year | Lottery Number | INDIVIDUAL Appointment Time | When Group Will Select |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meg | Rising-Senior | 304 | March 23, 1:30pm (Senior Selection Day) |
Special Group March 27, 11:30am |
| Jo | Rising-Senior | 497 | March 23, 3:15pm (Senior Selection Day) | |
| Amy | Rising-Junior | 758 | March 27, 11:30am (Junior Selection Day) | |
| Beth | Rising-Junior | 889 | March 27, 1:00pm (Junior Selection Day) |
The lottery numbers and appointment times above are examples only and are not reflective of the actual appointment times that will be generated for lottery numbers this year.
If your group reconfigures before or at your Selection Day before selecting a suite or block of rooms, please note that a change in the class year make-up of your group could change when your group would be allowed to select. For example, a group of rising-Seniors and Juniors attempting to select on Junior Selection Day who wishes to add a rising-Sophomore at the last minute would be required to wait until Sophomore Selection Day to select.
If you wish to pull-in one or more Columbia students, the class year of the CU student(s) does affect whether your group would be considered a same-class year group or mixed-class year group.
Pulling-In Columbia Students
The class year of Columbia students who are pulled-in to a group does affect whether a group would be considered a Same-Class Year or Mixed-Class Year Group.
Groups who wish to pull-in Columbia students must be comprised off at least 50% Barnard students (ex. a group of 6 must have at least 3 Barnard students). The Columbia student(s) must register for Barnard Room Selection in order to be pulled-in. The Columbia student(s) will not receive an individual lottery number.
Groups with male CU Students should read the section below on Co-Ed Suites / Open Housing. Only female Columbia students may be pulled-in to Sulzberger Tower. Groups with Columbia students may not select into Hewitt or Elliott.
Columbia students should consult the CU Room Selection procedures for more information about their eligibility and obligations to also register for the CU Room Selection process.
If the Columbia student(s) in a group is the SAME class year as the Barnard students, the group will be considered a Same-Class Year group. For example, a group of 4 Barnard rising-Juniors who pull in a CU rising-Junior would be considered a same-class year group and would be able to select using the best lottery number and appointment time on Junior Selection day.
If the Columbia student(s) in a group is a DIFFERENT class year than the Barnard students, the group will be considered a Mixed-Class Year group. For example, a group of 4 Barnard rising-Juniors who pull in a CU rising-Sophomore would be considered a mixed-class year group. They would be able to select using the best lottery number within the group, but the group would wait to select at the beginning of Sophomore Selection day.
Open Housing / Co-Ed Suites
Barnard Residential Life & Housing is pleased to take part in Columbia's "Open Housing" program, in order to allow students of the opposite sex to choose into suites or rooms together. The primary reason for such a policy is to provide housing options that take into consideration varying identities and preferences, and to ensure a comfortable and welcoming environment for all students. Open Housing is not intended and in fact is highly discouraged for romantic couples. For more information, please visit the the Columbia Undergrad Housing's FAQ about Open Housing.
Groups with male CU students may select co-ed suites (and double rooms) within the following Barnard residence halls:
- Plimpton Hall
- 600 W 116th Street
- 616 W 116th Street
- 620 W 116th Street
- 601 W 110th Street
- Cathedral Gardens (217 Manhattan Ave)
Only female CU students may select as part of groups into Sulzberger Tower. Groups with CU students may not pick into Hewitt or Elliott.
Co-ed groups may only select a entirely empty suite which matches the size of their group. Co-ed groups may not select suites that were broken into smaller blocks and/or RA suites where spaces were left over, etc.
All co-ed groups who choose a suite at Barnard will be required to sign the Barnard Open Housing Agreement/Contract.
If a roommate/suitemate cancels their housing or moves out of the room for any reason, the remaining roommates must identify a new roommate to fill the vacancy. Residential Life & Housing will define the time allocated to find a new roommate. This window of time will vary depending on time of year and the status of any waitlists for assignments or room changes. Typically, the suite will be allowed a minimum of 24 hours, but not more than one week to identify another eligible roommate.
If another roommate(s) is not identified within the time period, that room(s) will revert to a same-sex assignment, to be filled by Barnard or Columbia housing. This means that any male CU students would be required to move to a CU residence hall.
Students who are interested in selecting a suite with a co-ed group are strongly encouraged to speak to Matt Kingston, Associate Director for Housing Operations, in advance of their appointment day.
Proxies
If you are not available to attend Room Selection at your appointment day & time (you have a class, job conflict, you are abroad, etc.), you will need to designate a Proxy to select for you.
The proxy must be a Barnard student. If you are in a group, one of the other Barnard group members may serve as your proxy.
To designate a proxy, please print & fill out a Proxy Form with your Proxy. Your proxy must bring the completed Proxy form with them* to your appointment time to show as proof they will be selecting on your behalf.
If you are currently studying abroad for the Spring semester, you will need to designate a Proxy who will register you for Room Selection in addition to selecting a room or suite for you. You must submit a Return from Spring Study Abroad Housing Form no later than March 1, 2012. Since we will have the form on file, your proxy will not need to bring a copy with them to your selection appointment. Students who fail to submit the form before March 1 or whose proxies fail to register them for Room Selection will not be permitted to take part in Room Selection and will lose their guarantee of housing.
The room that your Proxy selects for you is a binding selection. Residential Life & Housing can not and will not make any changes to your room assignment once your Proxy selects. The earliest opportunity to request a room change will be the Fall Room Change Request process (rising-Seniors only may submit a Senior Summer Room Change Request, which is not guaranteed).
We encourage you to have a detailed conversation with your Proxy about your selection preferences (ex. desired residence halls, size of room, type of room, view, roommates/suitemates, meal plan, etc.). To help facilitate your conversation, print & fill out the Proxy worksheet.
Preparation and Tips
- Register for Room Selection -- you may not participate in Room Selection otherwise.
- Attend an Information Session or Information Table to learn more about the Room Selection process.
- Look at the floor plans of the available rooms & suites and read Room Reviews.
- Attend the Residence Hall Open Houses (March 6) to see a sample room in each residence hall.
- Read the Frequently Asked Questions page if you have questions.
- Look for potential roommate / suitemates on the Room Selection Message Board.
- Talk to friends to form a group to select a suite or block of rooms together.
- Prepare a list of alternative locations you'd like to live, in case your top choices are not available when your appointment time comes.
additional students / groups will also be choosing at other computer stations when you reach the head of the Selection Line, so if you take a long time to decide among potential spaces, they could be chosen by other students before your make your final decision. - Have a friend (with a different class schedule than you) ready to use as a Proxy in case your appointment time conflicts with a class.
At your Selection Day
Checking In
When you arrive at Room Selection for your appointment time, you will check in at the door to the Brooks TV Lounge (off the lobby of Brooks Hall). You (and your group, if applicable) will wait there until your lottery number is called.
If you are not able to attend your appointment time, you must designate a Proxy to select for you. If you are part of a group, one of the other Barnard group members may serve as your Proxy (however, you still must complete a Proxy Form).
The TV Lounge will have a TV screen that shows the available rooms & suites (which is updated as spaces are selected). This information will also be updated online (and is accessible via laptop or smartphone while waiting for your lottery number to be called).
There will be limited room for coats, book bags, etc; so we encourage you not to bring a lot of belongings with you to Room Selection if possible.
Waiting in Line
When your lottery number is called, you will approach the Number Caller table. The Number Caller will cross you off the list and you will join the Selection Line in lottery number order.
If you wish to select as part of a group and did not associate yourself together online (on the Registration page) in advance (or need to reconfigure your group), the Number Caller will need to do so before you may get in the Selection Line. We encourage you to associate your group together online in advance, so that you are not delayed from being able to select.
When you reach the front of the Selection Line, you will wait for the next available Staff member at a computer station to help you select a room, a suite, or block of rooms. Each computer station will be able to display the floor plans of each residence hall on campus and the rooms or suites that are available for you (or your group) to select.
Please note that other students will also be selecting rooms and/or suites at the same time at other computer stations. We encourage students to have a list of locations where they'd like to live, with several back-up choices. If you take a long time to make a decision, the spaces you may be considering could be chosen by students at other stations.
Selecting a Room (Individuals)
An individual may choose a single (or any unselected space in double or triple room) in Hewitt, Elliottor Sulzberger Tower (if you want to select into a double or triple room with friends, see Selecting a Block of Rooms below).
Only rising-Seniors may select Sulzberger Tower singles and Studio Singles at 110th Street.
Only rising-Juniors and rising-Sophomores may select into leftover singles & doubles in suites where RA or disability housing assignments were made. There are also a limited number of 7- and 9-person suites (in 600, 620, & 110th Street) that will be broken into individual rooms for rising-Juniors and rising-Sophomores to select into as individuals (or 2- or 4-person groups).
If you do not wish to select from the available rooms (or there are no rooms available left to select), you will sign up for the Guaranteed Housing Wait List.
Selecting a Suite (Groups of 2 - 6)
Groups may select a suite if the size of their group matches the size of the suite (ex. a 5-person group may select a 5-person suite but not a 6-person suite). Suites run in size from 2 - 6 people.
Only all-Senior groups may select the suites on floors 5-10 of 620.
All groups with male Columbia students who wish to select suites will be required to sign the Barnard Open Housing Agreement / Contract (for more info, see Co-Ed Suites / Open Housing).
See Forming a Group for information on determining whose lottery number & appointment time may be used for the group to select.
All members of the group (or their designated proxies, with completed Proxy forms) must be present at the appointment time in order to select a suite. For example, if a student (or her/his proxy) in a 5-person group is not present, the group would not be able to select a 5-person suite. The group would either have to wait for that student to show up or reconfigure as a 4-person group in order to select.
If a group is unable to find a suite they wish to select or there are no suites left that match the size of the group, the group may reconfigure (see below) in order to select a larger / smaller suite or individual rooms.
If you do not wish to select from the available rooms (or there are no rooms available left to select), you will sign up for the Guaranteed Housing Wait List.
Selecting a Block of Rooms (Groups of 2 - 4)
If you wish to live together with a group of friends (up to 4 students total, including yourself) but do not wish to live in a suite (or a suite is not available), you may select into a block of rooms (singles, doubles, triples) on the same floor only of Hewitt, Elliott, or Sulzberger Tower (corridor-style buildings). Rising-Seniors only may select into Sulzberger Tower singles.
For example, a group of 2 rising-Sophomores could select 2 singles on the same floor of Hewitt or Elliott or could select into a double room together in Hewitt, Elliott, or Sulzberger Tower.
See Forming a Group for information on determining whose lottery number & appointment time may be used for the group to select.
Groups with Columbia students may not select rooms in Hewitt or Elliott. Groups with male CU students may not select into Sulzberger Tower.
All members of the group (or their designated proxies, with completed Proxy forms) must be present at the appointment time in order to select a block of rooms. For example, if a student (or their proxy) in a 4-person group is not present, the group may not select a room for the missing person. The group would either have to wait for that student to show up or reconfigure as a 3-person group in order to select.
If a group is unable to find a floor with enough empty spaces for them to select rooms or they cannot agree on a location to sign up for, the group may reconfigure (see below).
Studio singles may only be selected by rising-Seniors as individuals. A rising-Senior may not "pull-in" a group of other rising-Seniors to select studios singles on the same floor of 110th St at the same time.
If you do not wish to select from the available rooms (or there are no rooms available left to select), you will sign up for the Guaranteed Housing Wait List.
Reconfiguring a Group
If your group is unable to decide on a suite or block of rooms to select (or spaces matching your group size are not available), your group may reconfigure by adding or dropping students (or break apart into individuals).
Adding members to the group
- The group may "add" one or more students to become a larger group. For example, if there are no 5-person suites left but a 6-person suite is available, a group could add a member and select that 6-person suite.
- When adding a member(s), the group will have to get out of line and wait in the Lewis Parlor until the new member(s) arrives.
- The group must then "check-in" again with the Number Caller (so that the new member(s) can be added electronically to the group at the check-in table) before getting back in line in lottery number order. Students are encouraged to reconfigure their group themselves with a laptop or smartphone, as waiting for the Number Caller to reconfigure you may delay your group from being able to select.
- Please note that adding one or more members to the group may change when the group is allowed to select (ex. if adding a member who is a lower class year than the rest of the group).
- If you believe that your group may need to add a member(s) to the group, we encourage you to have the person on "standby" close to the Lewis Parlor. Room Selection does not stop while your group is reforming, so the suite of a different size you are considering could be chosen by another group at a different computer station.
Dropping members from the group
- The group may "drop" one or more students to become a smaller group. For example, if there are no 5-person suites left but a 4-person suite is available, a group could drop a member and select that 4-person suite.
- The student(s) who are dropped from the group can either select using their own individual lottery number & appointment time, sign up for the Guaranteed Housing Wait List, or be pulled-in to another group that hasn't already selected.
- If a group drops a Columbia student(s), the Columbia student(s) will not be able to select a Barnard room as an individual (he/she will automatically be entered into Columbia's General Selection as an individual). The Columbia student(s) may be pulled in to another group that has not already selected.
Break apart into individuals
- If a group decides to completely break apart, each member will default to using their own individual lottery number & appointment time (or members can be pulled-in to other groups who have not yet selected).
- If a student's lottery number & appointment time has already been called, the student should speak to the Number Caller in order to go to the front of the line and be helped by the next available staff person.
- If a group with Columbia student(s) breaks apart, the Columbia student(s) will not be able to select a Barnard room as an individual (he/she will automatically be entered into Columbia's General Selection as an individual).
Signing Your Housing Contract
After selecting a room, you will be required to sign a Housing Contract for the 2012-2013 academic year.
You must sign the housing contract before leaving Room Selection; otherwise, you will forfeit your assignment and your guarantee of housing for the 2012-2013 academic year.
The Terms & Conditions of the housing contract (i.e. the small print) will be available to read online before your day of selection. The link will be posted here (and emailed to students) once available. You are encouraged to read the Terms & Conditions before signing the contract).
If you have a Proxy select a room for you, you will have to go to the Residential Life & Housing office to sign your Housing Contract no later than 4pm on Friday, April 6, 2012 (otherwise you will forfeit your assignment and your guarantee of housing for the 2012-2013 academic year).
Students who are studying abroad for the Spring semester will sign their contact when they move in for the Fall semester.
Guaranteed Wait List
If you do not wish to pick from the available rooms or suites during your appointment time (or there are no more available rooms), you will sign up for the Guaranteed Housing Wait List. You will be guaranteed a room for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Students will fill out an application (similar to the Room Change Request Form) which gives them the opportunity to rank, in order, preferences for the type of room & building they would like to live in (and specify requested roommates or suitemates).
Rooms open up as students cancel their selected housing to go into Columbia Housing, go abroad for the Fall, take a leave of absence, move off-campus, etc. Many desirable rooms will open up across campus.
Residential Life & Housing will assign all students on the Guaranteed Housing Wait List (following original lottery number order) to rooms that have become available due to cancellations. These assignments will be communicated to students on the Wait List the by the end of July via their Barnard email address.
Students who sign up for the Guaranteed Wait List who wish to cancel must do so before May 21 to avoid a cancellation fee. See Cancelling your Housing for more information about the cancellation fee schedule.
While Residential Life & Housing attempts to place students into rooms that match their preferences, ultimately there will be a finite set of vacancies to work with. Students who are placed into rooms from the Guaranteed Housing Wait List will receive priority should they request a Fall Room Change.
If you select a room or suite at Room Selection, you may NOT cancel that selection in order to sign up for the Guaranteed Wait list instead.
After Room Selection
Cancelling your housing
If you...
- decide to move off-campus
- transfer to another school
- withdraw from the College, etc.
... you need to submit the Housing Cancellation Request form to cancel your Housing Contact.
Students who get into rooms at Columbia through the CU Room Selection process or submit a Notice of Study Leave to go to an approved study abroad program for the Fall do not need to submit a Housing Cancellation Request form; the room assignment that you selected will automatically be cancelled. You will continue to be eligible for housing in the future.
Housing Cancellation Request forms must be received by May 21, 2012 to avoid a cancellation fee. Students are subject to the following cancellation dates and fee schedule regardless of whether they selected a room or signed up for the Guaranteed Wait List:
| Housing Cancellation Request Form received on or before May 21, 2012 | no cancellation fee |
| Housing Cancellation Request Form received between May 22 – June 4, 2012 | $250 cancellation fee |
| Housing Cancellation Request Form received between June 5 – June 18, 2012 | $500 cancellation fee |
| Housing Cancellation Request Form received between June 19 – July 2, 2012 | $750 cancellation fee |
| Housing Cancellation Request Form received on or after July 3, 2012 | $1000 cancellation fee |
If you wish to move off-campus, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your individual circumstances with the Financial Aid office, as changing to commuter status will likely affect the amount of financial aid you may be eligible for and/or receive.
If you cancel your Housing Contact, you will forfeit your guarantee of housing for the 2012-2013 academic year. The room you selected will be reassigned to a student on the Guaranteed Housing Wait List. If you later wish to re-apply for housing, you will be on the Non-Guaranteed Wait List and will be assigned a room if space permits.
If you do not live on campus for the 2012-2013 academic year, you will not be eligible to participate in next year's Room Selection process to select housing for the 2013-2014 academic year. If you wish to apply for housing at that time, you will be on the Non-Guaranteed Wait List.
Senior Option (living off-campus)
If the College has a need to create vacancies in the residence halls after the Room Selection process is completed, the College will make available the "Senior Option," which allows rising-Seniors with a financial aid package that includes a housing allowance the ability to apply those funds towards an off-campus apartment.
Please note that the Senior Option, if made available, only applies to rising-Seniors who selected a room or signed up for the Guaranteed Wait List during Room Selection. Students who did not participate in Room Selection would not be eligible to take part in the Senior Option, if it is made available.
The decision about the availability of the Senior Option will be made after the Room Selection process is completed. Students should not assume the Senior Option will be available and should select housing through Room Selection with the intention of living there. Please note that the Senior Option has not been made available over the past several years.
Rising-Seniors who wish to cancel their housing and move off-campus even if the Senior Option is not made available are encouraged to discuss their individual circumstances with the Financial Aid office, as changing to commuter status will likely affect the amount of financial aid they may be eligible for and/or receive.
Senior Summer Room Change Requests
After Room Selection, only rising-Seniors may request room changes over the summer. See http://barnard.edu/reslife/roomchanges/summer for more information.
Rising-Juniors & Sophomores must wait until the Fall Room Change Request process (which typically takes place a few weeks after classes begin) if they wish to request a room change. Priority will be given to any student who was assigned from the Guaranteed Housing Wait List.
Summer Housing
Information about Summer Housing at Barnard is available at http://barnard.edu/reslife/summerhousing/.
The residence halls that will be used for Summer 2012 will be announced later this semester. There are usually both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms available. Please note that students in non-AC residence halls may not use window or portable AC units.
While students may request to live in the same room for the Summer that they are assigned to for the current semester or upcoming Fall, it is not guaranteed. Additionally, any student who lives in the same suite for the Summer as for the Fall will not be allowed to remain in the suite should they stay for August Interim (they would be required to relocate with their belongings to an interim room assignment to facilitate cleaning of the suite & residence hall).
Winter Break Housing
All Barnard residence halls will be officially closed for Winter Break from 9am on Friday, December 21, 2012 through 9am on Saturday, January 19, 2013. Only students who apply (and are approved) for Winter Break Housing may stay during this time period. Free housing extensions will not be given. More information about the application process will be available in the Fall.
The charge to be in residence for Winter Break 2012-2013 is $400. The charge will be reduced to $100 for students who request to be in housing only between 9am Monday, January 14 and 9am Saturday, January 19, 2012.
Starting this upcoming academic year, some of the Barnard residence halls will be closed during part of Winter Break (9am on Friday, December 21 through 9am on Monday, January 14) and students with room assignments in those buildings will not be able to apply to remain in their own room during that time period. Students who anticipate requesting permission to stay during that specific time period are encouraged to select a room/suite in one of the residence halls that will be open for the entirety of Winter Break: Plimpton, 110th St, Cathedral Gardens, 600 W 116th St, and the Quad.
Students who live in the buildings that will close (i.e. Elliott, 616 & 620 W 116th Street) will only be approved for housing during that time period (12/21 – 1/14) if they arrange permission to use the room of a friend who lives in one of the open buildings (i.e. Plimpton, 110, CG, 600, or the Quad). Students will be responsible for locating someone to let them use their room. Students with assignments in Elliott / 616 / 620 would be able to live in or return to their own rooms (if they apply & are approved for Winter Break Housing) starting at 9am on Monday, January 14.
| If you live in... | And you wish to be in WB Housing between 12/21 9am and 1/14 9am... | And you wish to be in WB Housing between 1/14 9am and 1/19 9am... |
|---|---|---|
| Elliott, 616, or 620 | You would need to find a resident of the buildings listed below who would let you stay in their room during this time period. | You can apply to live in your own room. |
| Quad, 600, 110, CG, or Plimpton | You can apply to live in your own room (for entirety of the Winter Break) | |
The reason that the College will be closing some of the residence halls for part of Winter Break is to cut down on the costs for keeping buildings open over break.
As a reminder, students may only be approved for Winter Break Housing if they are in residence for both the Fall and Spring semesters. Students who will not be in housing for the Spring (ex. studying abroad, graduating mid-year, withdrawing from the College, etc) will not be permitted to remain in housing past 9am on December 21, 2012. Students who were not in campus housing for the Fall will not be permitted to move in for the Spring before 9am on Saturday, January 19, 2013.
These policies also apply to Columbia students who live in Barnard Housing. As per the CU Housing Contract, Columbia students will not be charged for Winter Break Housing, but must apply by the published deadlines if they wish to be in residence at Barnard between 12/21 and 1/19. Columbia students who live in one of the buildings that will be closed between 12/21 and 1/14 (ELL, 616, 620) will not be permitted to stay in their own rooms; they too must arrange permission to use the room of a friend in one of the buildings that will remain open.
Corrections / Additions to the Guide
- 2012-03-19: 2012-2013 Room Prices posted
- 2012-02-27: Added information about residence halls that will be closed for Winter Break
- 2012-02-18: Updated information about selecting Co-ed suites & rooms
- 2012-02-18: Updated information about the cancellation policy deadlines and fees.
- 2012-01-16: 2012-2013 Room Selection Guide Posted
If you have questions about the Room Selection process, please contact Residential Life & Housing.
