Housing Assignments: The Basics

Occupancy dates
Who must live on campus
Billing
Vacancies in doubles or triples
Crowding
Involuntary housing change
Problem solving

Please click HERE for more information on end of Spring 2013 moves, Summer 2013 housing, and Fall 2013 move in for all students.  

Occupancy dates

• Returning residents may move into their rooms on the weekend prior to the fall term Registration Day.
• Once MIT residence halls open for the fall academic year, they stay open. They do not close for vacations, IAP, or school breaks.
• A limited number of upperclass students approved to participate in orientation week activities may return earlier if their Early Return Application has been approved. 
• Occupancy ends at 12 noon on the day following the last day of the scheduled spring term final examination period.
• Graduating students may continue in residence without charge until noon on the day after commencement.
• Fall term occupancy ends on January 15. If you are leaving school or leaving the undergraduate residence system to live off campus during the spring term, you must vacate your room by this date.
• If you do not vacate and check out of your assignment according to official occupancy dates, you will be charged a fine and may have your belongings removed.
• If you are planning to graduate in February but require additional time to complete your academic requirements, request permission from the Undergraduate Housing Office to remain in your residence during a portion of the IAP period.
• Under special circumstances, the Undergraduate Housing Office may approve other requests to occupy rooms beyond the official occupancy dates, but you must request—and receive—permission in advance.
• Review the “Who is eligible” page for further information and exceptions. 

Who must live on campus

First-year students are required to live in one of the 12 undergraduate residences on campus for the duration of their first year at MIT. With the stress that often comes with transition to college life, especially at MIT, the proximity to campus and access to on-campus facilities and resources are especially important.

When students agree to come to MIT, it is under the stipulation that they will adhere to this first-year residency requirement. Rare exceptions are made in cases where first-year students are married or will live full time with parents or guardians who reside in the Boston area.

You may write a letter of petition to the MIT Housing Office requesting permission to live off campus during your first year at MIT. In addition to that letter of petition, you must supply documentation of off-campus residence with parents or family or documentation of marriage. Your petition will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Housing Office in conjunction with a Senior Associate Dean for Student Life.

Billing

• If you are a first-year student,you will receive an estimated bill before the start of the semester in early July. This bill covers the fall term of housing, and payment will be due on August 1. Your housing rate will be adjusted when you are placed in your permanent assignment, and your bill will be adjusted for the September billing cycle.
• If you are a returning student, you will receive your fall-term housing bill in July. Payment will be due on August 1.
• All students receive their spring-term housing bills in early December if they are continuing to live on campus. Payment for the spring term housing bill is due by January 1.
• All housing fees are assessed via your personal student account.
• View a list of current Housing rates.
• Questions about housing charges should be directed to the house manager of your residence.

Vacancies in doubles or triples

One student may not occupy a double or two a triple. If you find yourself in a room with an extra bed, understand that a new resident will be assigned to the vacancy as soon as possible. Attempts to dissuade prospective roommates from moving in are strictly prohibited and may result in lost privileges, suspension from the residence, fines or additional rent charges, or other disciplinary action.

Temporary overflow housing

Living on campus is the most popular residence-life option, so housing is at a premium. At times, it has been necessary to designate some rooms as temporary overflow housing. This means that we have to assign more students to these rooms than they were originally designed to accommodate. This usually affects first-year students in some of the larger rooms. Important to know:

• The rent for residents living in rooms with overflow is reduced accordingly, and some students actually elect to stay in these temporary spaces to cut expenses.
• When vacancies do open up, students in temporary spaces are given priority over students in non-overflow spaces. (Vacancies are always filled in accordance with the room assignment policies of each individual residence.)
• If one student in a room with overflow elects to move to a permanent space, the rent for the students remaining reverts to the full rate.
• Residents may be required to move to permanent spaces if vacancies exist in their residence.

Involuntary change in housing assignment

• Staff in the Division of Student Life (DSL) must ultimately approve all assignments or reassignments within a residence, changes from one residence to another, or changes from an MIT residence to off-campus housing.
• Responsibility for making room assignments and changes in room assignments within an MIT undergraduate residence is usually delegated to the student government of that residence in consultation with the house manager and the faculty member in residence. No assignment is final until approved by staff in the DSL.
• The DSL reserves the right to move students at its discretion to consolidate or fill vacancies (especially if crowding exists), to meet the demands upon facilities, to reconcile personal problems, or to resolve conflicts and discipline issues.
• The DSL reserves the right to make specific assignments in cases it deems special or extraordinary, such as those involving medical or personal problems. In such cases, guaranteeing a student’s right of privacy and confidentiality may require direct assignments that override individual house lotteries.

Problem solving

Always maintain an open line of communication with your roommate(s), respectfully discussing problems and negotiating solutions. If you are unable to settle an issue in this manner, talk first with your graduate resident tutor (GRT). If necessary, the GRT will then work with the housemaster of your residence to help resolve the problem. 

Another resource to consider is mediation. Mediation@MIT offers confidential consultations about difficult people, conversations, or situations and offers suggestions for handling a dispute or conflict.