Body
Issue/Question
I don’t have an assigned roommate. Am I going to get a new one, or what? What is going to happen to the empty space left in my room/apartment? What are my options?
Environment
BHSU Residence Life; BHSU Residence Halls
Cause
You would like information about or have a question about what will happen to the unassigned space in your room/apartment.
Resolution
To be fair, cost-effective, and to meet the needs of a variety of students, after the two-week move-hold is lifted at the beginning of each semester, BHSU Residence Life starts a process called Room Consolidations. During this period, if you live in a double and do not have an assigned roommate, you may be asked to consolidate with another person on campus.
Vacancies are consolidated by having one resident, who doesn’t have a roommate, move from their current double room to another double room with another student who doesn’t have a roommate.
Before consolidation, if space is available, a resident may choose to buy out the unassigned space in his/her room, and pay for a double-as-a- single (DAS). Residence Life will pro-rate where applicable.
Before requiring residents to consolidate, Residence Life allows residents to find a new roommate of his/her choice who currently lives in the system.
Three (3) choices exist regarding consolidations:
- You may remain in your room without a roommate, but must be willing to take the room as a DAS and pay difference for the remainder of the semester.
- You may find another person to be your roommate;
- Be open to Residence Life finding another person to be your roommate, or you may be asked to be another person's roommate.
- If you choose this option, please keep the unoccupied space in your room “Move-in Ready.” This ensures that should Residence Life assign the space to another student, it is ready for them.
Guidelines Residence Life follows when consolidating vacancies:
- We consolidate on the floor/community level. We understand that you might have made a friend or two on your current floor, and adjusting to a new community when you’ve just settled in this one might not be the best move.
- We continue to take personalities and preferences into consideration when asking people to consolidate. This helps prevent future roommate issues. If we can prevent those beforehand, we try.
- Room consolidations are about fairness and ensuring that everyone is getting as close as possible to what they requested, and what they are paying for. They are not meant to punish students, be malicious, or cause undue anxiety.
- Residence Life does not automatically charge a student for a DAS unless they indicate that they like one, or if they take over the remaining space, making it unavailable for another student to move in and occupy that space.
Residents failing to cooperate with the consolidation policy can be assessed a DAS pro-rated charge without their consent.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact BHSU Residence Life at BHSUResidenceLife@bhsu.edu or call our office at 605-642-6464.