{"id":15248,"date":"2024-07-31T10:31:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T15:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/housing\/?page_id=15248"},"modified":"2026-04-16T07:39:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T12:39:00","slug":"process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/housing\/process\/","title":{"rendered":"The Housing Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Housing Process<\/h1><\/header>\n\n\n

Our vision and mission at University Housing are to create an inclusive, supportive, and vibrant residential community that enhances the academic and personal growth of our students. The housing process involves several key steps to ensure fair and efficient room assignments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Lottery System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rooms are NOT assigned<\/strong> on a first-come, first-served basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meaning, no matter how early a new student completes and submits their contract and non-refundable fee, ALL contract holders that meet the priority submission deadline of May 1 have the same odds of being placed based on their first preference. All contract holders meeting the deadline are assigned a computer-generated number. Numbers are then randomly selected by the computer-based system. Rooms are assigned predicated on which of the contract holder’s preferences is still available at the time their number is selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If two contract holders have preference each other on their contracts (via a roommate group), when the first number\/name in the group is selected, all contract holders within the same group will be assigned together (in the same room) ONLY<\/em> if an appropriate space is available at the time of selection. Ex. Two contract holders list each other as preferred roommates; however, at the time the first number\/name is selected there are no double-occupancy rooms with two beds available. The contract holders will be split up and placed in an available bed based on their remaining available preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lottery System is used to allocate housing options equitably among students, ensuring a random and unbiased distribution.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Room\/Suite Assignment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Learning who you\u2019re going to live with and where can be one of the most exciting parts of getting ready to come to UW-Milwaukee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students Entering in Fall\/Semester I<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beginning in the fall a year prior to enrollment, University Housing will release online contracts and send a Contract Guidebook to each admitted student via email. You can specify a preferred roommate or provide information to help us assign one for you. You can also indicate your room type preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assignments are based on a computer-assigned lottery number, indicated preferences, and space availability, starting in mid-May and continuing throughout the summer. Application to a Living Learning Community (LLC) takes priority over other preferences. University Housing may reassign students as needed to meet occupancy requirements, and inability to honor preferences does not void the contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Room assignments and room- and suite mate contact information are available through the Housing Portal<\/a> in starting in early June, with ongoing updates throughout the summer. It is common, not all contract holders will be assigned in June. University Housing does not discriminate in room assignments based on various protected categories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Room Assignments for Returning Residents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beginning in January, we will release University Housing online contracts to all current residence hall students who then have the option to complete a new contract for the following academic year. In March, returners are given the opportunity to participate in Returner Self Assignment, self-selecting their own building, room and roommate(s), and suite and suite mates for the following year. If a returning resident chooses not to self-assign, they are assigned using the same process (lottery system) as new students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consolidation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

University Housing reserves the right to consolidate room assignments based on vacancies.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

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Contract Preferences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An explanation for students who don\u2019t get their preferred room assignment.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the annual summer release of room assignments, University Housing gets a number of phone calls from concerned students, family members, and sometimes even friends, who want to know: (a) why the student didn\u2019t get their top-choice room assignment and (b) what can be done about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an effort to answer some of these questions, we\u2019ve created the following guide for students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Didn\u2019t I Get My Preferred Roommate?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n