Housing selection is the process of choosing where a student may live, and who they live with. Returning students with roommates may select their actual housing assignment, while incoming first year students may only choose their roommate.
When can I select my housing assignment?
Returning students select their rooms/apartments early in the spring semester for the upcoming academic year.
Newly admitted and deposited students can access their WU Housing portal to complete their application by signing their contract and completing the lifestyles and likings questionnaire. Students must create their WU account and receive their WU email address prior to accessing the WU Housing portal. Once a student receives their WU email address, the portal become available to them with in 24-48 hours. Applications are available to new students in May.
Housing assignments and roommate information is posted on the WU Housing portal for new students in early August.
What are my housing choices?
First year students live in areas designed towards their needs as first year students:- Baxter Community - Baxter Hall, Northwood Hall, Southwood Hall, and Westwood Hall
- Matthews Community - Matthews Hall, Belknap Hall, Cascadia House and Terra House
- Westside Community - Doney Hall, Lausanne Hall, Lee House, Shepard House, and York House
- Kaneko B and C Wings
- University Apartments
Who chooses my roommate?
First year students are encouraged to choose their own roommates! Roommate selection is in June; enter the WU Housing portal and search for other students who's lifestyles and likings are appealing. Students who do not seek out a roommate, or haven't found one on their own by the end of the allotted time are matched by similar or complementing interests and randomly assigned to spaces in the appropriate area. Triple rooms are available in the first and second year areas; it is not uncommon to have more than one roommate.
What if I don't like where I live?
Once an assignment has been made, it is considered permanent. However, should a problem arise, staff-approved changes can be considered. A waiting period of two weeks after the semester begins allows for us to confirm housing placements and for you to evaluate your living situation and consider more than just first impressions. Students desiring a room or roommate change should meet with their Residence Life Coordinator to discuss options.
Who do I talk to about life challenges I have?
Students requesting accommodations due to a health-related matter must submit documentation to Accessible Education Services for evaluation and consideration. This includes the need for an emotional support animal. The Office of Residence Life and Housing will make housing assignments based on the directive or recommendation made by Accessible Education Services. Accommodations made are individualized to the students needs and challenges, are subject to availability, and the university’s ability to reasonably accommodate the student.
Residency Requirement
First year students attending PNCA, Willamette University’s Portland campus, are required to live in university housing. First and second year students attending Willamette University’s Salem campus are required to live in university housing. The university grants exceptions to the live-on requirement when appropriate.
Exceptions are granted for the following circumstances:
- Students who are married, in a civil union, or domestic partnership (must provide documentation);
- Students over the age of 21;
- Students who are veterans of the military;
- Students have dependent family under their care;
- Students with a disability or medical condition that prevents them from living in on-campus housing must provide documentation and gain approval from the Accessible Education Services Office;
- Students participating in a study abroad program;
- Students who are living with parent(s)/legal guardian(s) within a commutable distance of 30 miles or less. Students with four semesters/2 years in residence at the end of spring semester are eligible to live off campus.
Students who can satisfy the requirement by meeting one or more of the criteria and want to live off campus should complete the Residency Requirement Exemption request located on the WU Housing portal.
Students who do not meet the criteria and want to live off campus, must apply for an exception to the residency requirement in the same fashion. Requests that do not meet the criteria above are presented to the Residency Requirement Exception Committee. Exceptions are granted for extreme circumstances. The committee meets in December and May to review exception requests for the upcoming semester.
Requests received after July 15th will not be considered for fall semester; requests received after December 15th will not be considered for spring semester. Any move from on campus housing to off campus housing may result in a contract cancellation fee.
To access a Residency Requirement Exemption request form on the WU Housing portal, contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing at housing@willamette.edu.