Frequently Asked Questions

Studying Abroad Fall ’09 or Spring ’10?
 
On-campus housing contract for Fall ’09 only
If you are studying abroad for Spring ’10, but need on-campus housing
for Fall ’09 only, you need to apply for an’09-10 contract. If you are offered a contract and you complete the contract by the specified due date, you will need to participate in the room reservation process outlined at web.jmu.edu/reslife/. Early November ’09, we will confirm that you are leaving JMU housing at the end of the Fall ’09 semester to study abroad through a JMU program. If you check out of your hall at the end of the Fall ’09 semester AND we confirm your program, you will be released from your Spring ’10 contract.

On-campus housing contract for Spring ’10 only
If you are studying abroad for Fall ’09, but need on-campus housing for Spring ’10 only, you need to apply for a ’09-10 contract. If you are offered a contract and you complete the contract by the specified due date, next you will need to come to the Housing Office in Huffman A101 and complete a form letting us know your housing preferences for Spring 2010. After check out in December 2009, we will assign you to an available vacancy that best meets your preferences. We will confirm that you are participating in a JMU program and you will not be charged for the Fall ’09 semester.

Are you are thinking about transferring to another institution Fall 2009?
If you are thinking about transferring to another institution beginning Fall ’09, but may need on-campus housing… you have a dilemma. You have 2 options. If you sign an on-campus ’09-10 contract, you have only 5 business days in which to cancel the contract without penalty. If after the 5 days, you transfer anytime before September 11, 2009, you will be charged 25% of the Fall '09 portion of the housing contract according to the terms and conditions of the contract. Now… here is the dilemma. If instead of signing a contract, you choose to wait until you are certain that you wish to remain at JMU and live on-campus, you are risking that we no longer have any housing available. Each student considering a transfer to another school will have to decide which option will be best for them.

What if I don't show up for sign-up?
Failure to participate in the spring sign-up process does not release a student from their contract obligations.

What is the smoking policy for my residence hall?
Smoking is not permitted inside any residence hall. Smoking preferences will still be requested during sign-up for roommate matching purposes.

Can I choose an incoming freshman or transfer student for a roommate?
The incoming freshmen or transfer students who have been admitted to the university and have paid the $250 deposit by your scheduled reservation time may be eligible. However, you must bring written correspondence from the freshman or transfer student indicating their wish to be your roommate.

What if I am unhappy with my assignment?
Beginning March 1, 2009, you may complete a Room Change Request Form in the Housing Office, Huffman A101. Requests will be processed in reverse room reservation priority number order. In other words, the higher numbers will be processed first. Changes will be processed during the summer based on availability.
Please Note: Submitting a request does not guarantee that your room change will be possible.

What are my meal plan options?
All resident students are required to select one of the three on-campus meal plan options offered by Dining Services.

What if I don't have a roommate?
You have a couple of options. First, you might consider checking out the Roommate Matching Survey, available at web.jmu.edu/reslife beginning January 12, 2009. You may find someone with your interests and habits. You are also encouraged to complete a survey for others to peruse.
Secondly, you can go through the reservation process without an identified roommate. Students can reserve a space in an empty room only until three such rooms exist in a given hall. When any hall has three rooms with only one occupant, the next individual without a roommate will be asked to select from one of those three rooms until all empty spaces are assigned.

How do I know what my choices are?
Hall designations for ’09-10

Can I get a single room?
There are 18 single rooms located in Chandler Hall that are available for the room reservation process. They will be made available during the regular room reservation process. The remaining four singles in upper class halls are held for students with special needs.

Room Consolidation
If, for any reason, a room is not fully occupied, the remaining resident may be asked to move into another space within the same hall to consolidate vacancies, according to the terms and conditions of the ’09-10 JMU Residential Contract.

What is a proxy and do I need one?
If you, or your roommate, cannot attend room sign up at your appointed time you may assign another student to be your proxy. Your proxy will participate in the reservation process on your behalf. You must arrange for your proxy by coming to the Housing Office, Huffman A101 prior to your scheduled reservation time. Often our office serves as a proxy for students.