Living in a campus residence hall can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your university life. Your roommate may become a best friend while students in the next room or across the hall may bring different viewpoints and cultures to enlarge your world. Students from every walk of life mix and mingle, sharing ideas and aspirations that shape the character of the university and add an important dimension to your primary goal of getting an education.
Research has shown that, when compared to those living elsewhere, students living in residence halls are more fully involved in academic and extracurricular activities, tend to earn a higher grade point average, more frequently exceed predicted levels of learning and personal development and more frequently complete their college education within the prescribed program length. In addition, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities has recently reported that living off campus is the top predictor of a student dropping out of school. Working more than 21 hours per week and commuting more than eight miles from home to campus are other predictors of students leaving school before graduation.
The residence halls offer a comfortable, clean and affordable environment to pursue your studies and extracurricular activities. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to be involved in programs and activities sponsored by residence hall staff and other academic areas of the campus. We think you will find our residence halls are definitely more than just a place to live. They're the right choice!
Many different types of living environments, from traditional, community bath halls, to suite, shared bath halls, to halls with private baths, offer you the opportunity to find the one best arrangement suited for you. You can also choose different living environments such as a "24-hour quiet hall" environment, coed hall or upperclass hall.
For further information about on-campus housing or meal service, write to Residence Life or call (512) 245-2382.
University Housing Policy
In support of the educational mission of the University and the value of the on-campus life to the academic success of most students, all unmarried students under 21 years of age who may have completed fewer than 56 credit hours must reside in university housing. Students are required to sign a room and board contract that is binding for the full academic year or summer terms. Exceptions MAY be granted if a student lives at home with a parent or is married. Students must complete an Off Campus Request and submit it to Residence Life with sufficient documentation to support the information given. Students who will have completed at least 56 credit hours or are at least 21 years of age do NOT need to submit an off campus request prior to the contract period.
Applying to Live On-Campus
Contracts for on-campus housing are distributed and accepted only after you have been admitted to the university. Your social security number must be on the contract to ensure accurate processing. All applicants will be prioritized according to the date the contract and deposit are received by Residence Life.
A $100 deposit must accompany the housing contract. Please submit a check or money order. Cash deposits are not accepted. Make check payable to : Southwest Texas State University-Residence Life. This deposit is retained on file with the university as long as you are housed on-campus or have an active contract for a future semester. The deposit is used against unnecessary wear and damages to the room, to deter against late reservation cancellations and to maintain contracts in the active file. The deposit is not applied to residence hall rent. Deposits will be refunded upon your request if all cancellation criteria are met and all monies owed to the University have been paid. A request for a refund must be made by you either in person or in writing to Residence Life.
Cancellation Deadlines
Once your contract has been signed and returned, cancellation deadlines must be met for a deposit to be refunded. The deadline dates for cancellation of a contract are:
For a Fall Semester
July 1
For a Spring Semester
December 1
For either Summer Session
May 15
What to Bring?
Each room is furnished to meet your basic furniture needs. In general, you will need to provide linens (blankets, sheets, pillows and towels), alarm clock, bedspread, study lamps and wastebasket. Twin size beds (some bunk beds) with standard twin mattresses are provided in each room. Stereos, fans, small refrigerators and televisions are permitted, but you may wish to consult your roommate to avoid duplication.
Besides these basics, there is the opportunity for you to create your own environment through the use of posters, carpeting, plants, special construction and painting. The style of your room will be limited by your own imagination. There are policies in each hall regarding what you can and cannot do to the structure and furnishings in your room.
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