It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...

1-Apply
2-Match
3-Select

Frequently Asked Questions

1. APPLY-NOW through March 28, 2013

Begin the process by completing the housing 2013-2014 room and board contract and application found at the Applyonline option at myhousing on 1600 Grand.

This contract indicates your interest in living on campus during the 2013-2014 academic year. It is neccesary to complete to participate in Roow Draw. However, it does not lock you into living on campus nor does it guarantee you a space on campus. Once you select a space you are committed to the terms of the contract.

Floor plans are available in the Residential Life Office, Campus Center 242, if you wish to explore your living options as you look into accepting and completing the contract.

Room Draw 123 Kick Off Celebration Tuesday March 26, 2013 Campus Center Second Floor Atrium 11:30am-1:00pm.

Join us to kick off a Room Draw season and meet the Residential Life staff who can help you best. Evening tours of the residence halls will be available for rising sophomores through their hall communities-check with your RA.

2. Match-march 1, 2013-March 28, 2013

Join a group for a suite, apartment, or triple. Find a roommate for a double. go to myhousing and under room selection select roommate selection.

Rising Juniors and Seniors-Roommate matching will be open throughout your All Day Draw so feel free to match ahead of time or on the day of the draw. If you want to explore different housing options (e.g. 3 person suite, double room, 4 person suites/apartment) you'll need to be matched accordingly to see those options. All members in a group must accept matches in order to ensure a fully matched group. Stop by the Residential Life office before March 26th if you need assistance with matching your group.

Rising Sophomores-Roommate matching will close on March 28th, 2013. Matched groups will be assigned a time for the draw using the lowest number of all members in the group. All members of a group must match with all others in the group to be fully matched. If you need help with matching your group contact Residential Life before March 28th at the Residential Life office, room 242 in the Campus Center.

3. Select-March 27, 2013-April 7, 2013

Select your living space based on the dates for the draws listed below according to class year. Go to myhousing and under room selection choose select a room or suite.

DRAWS FOR RISING JUNIORS AND SENIORS

Homestead Current Space - Wednesday March 27, 2013 - 7:30 AM-5:00 PM

Students wishing to homestead their double, triple, suite or apartment and all current (spring) residents will return to the space, may select their current space directly through their MyHousing page on March 27th between 7:30 am and 5:00 pm. For more info on Homesteading click here.

IMPORTANT - If you are adding new residents to your double, triple, suite or apartment, (see guidelines below) you must visit the Residential Life Office, Campus Center 242, between 7:30am-5:00pm as a group in order to secure the space.

Summit House Draw Wednesday March 27, 2013--Students studying away in Spring 2014- 7:30 AM TO 5:00 PM

If you plan to study abroad Spring 2014, you have the option to live in the Summit House (1576 Summit Ave.) for Fall semester. If you answer yes to the first question on the Returning Students roomdraw application, you will be included in the Fall Summit House draw. For double rooms residents must match through their MyHousing Roommate Selection page in advance.

If you plan to study away in the spring and do not wish to live in the Summit House or you do not get a space in the Summit House draw, you still have the option to participate in the All Day Draw.

Thursday March 28, 2013-Rising Juniors and Seniors All Day Draw-7:30am-6:00pm

We want rising juniors and seniors to live on campus. It's convenient, sustainable, and benefits you and your community. Residential Life is committed to providing all rising juniors and seniors who choose to live on campus with the best options and most flexibility as they select their spaces. The All Day Draw will mean that students who complete the contract will be able to see all available options and will have the entire day to select a space and/or group of roommates that feel best to them.

All rising juniors and seniors who have accepted the room and board contract will be able to enter the draw at any time between 7:30am and 6:00pm to select a room, suite, or apartment. In order to select a double, triple, or suite/apartment you must have a fully matched group. Matching will be open throughout the draw so feel free to add and drop matches as you explore all spaces available. Select the space that is the best fit for you. Congratulations you've found a home!

DRAWS FOR RISING SOPHOMORES

Tuesday April 2, 2013-Rising Sophomore Group (Triples and Suites) Draw-Begins at 5pm

All matched groups will be given a time to enter the online draw based on the lowest number of all members in the group on Friday March, 29th, 2013. At this time groups will be able to see only spaces that match the number of people in a group (ie groups of four will see four-person spaces ONLY). If there are not spaces available for your group size please come to the Residential Life Office, Campus Center 242, to receive assistance with adding or removing someone from your group. Select the space that is the best fit for you. Congratulations you've found a home!

Thursday April 4, 2013-Rising Sophomore Doubles Draw-Begins at 5pm

All matched roommate groups will be given a time to enter the online draw based on the lowest number of the members in the pair by Wednesday April 3rd, 2013. Select the space that is the best fit for you. Congratulations you've found a home!

Sunday April 7, 2013-Rising Sophomore Singles Draw-Begins at Noon

Participants in this draw will receive draw numbers by Friday April 5th, 2013. We have a limited number of singles available for rising sophomores-most of which are located in Dupre Hall. Select the space that is the best fit for you. Congratulations you've found a home!

If you were not able to find a space Residential Life will contact you Monday April 8, 2013 to collect your preferences and get you on a waiting list. Students may be assigned to spaces given what is available.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is room draw? How does it work?

What new Housing options ARE available this year?

Who can participate in room draw?

Who cannot participate in room draw?

HOw do I get info about Special Living Options?

Can I homestead the space I am living in now?

Can rising sophomores live with rising juniors and seniors next year?

What about the students who plan to study abroad?

What about students unable to attend the draw?

What if I decide to live off campus after I pick a room?

How can I contact REsidential Life if i have questions about Rooms, roommates or roomdraw?

Additional Information

 

What is room draw? How does it work?

This year students select rooms on-line using their MyHousing portal found at 1600Grand under the Student Life channel.

ApplyOnLine (Go to MyHousing and select the box on the left.)

This is where you will review and accept the terms of the 2013-2014 room and board contract. Additionally, you will answer four questions about your housing plans for next year. Completing the application makes you eligible to select roommates and participate in the draw. If you are a rising junior or senior, and you complete the contract, then later on decide not to pick a room, the contract will be voided. Once you select a room the contract is valid.

Draw Schedule

Rising Juniors and Seniors
Wednesday March 27-Homestead and Summit House
Thursday March 28-All Day Draw

Rising Sophomores
Tuesday April 2-Group Draw(triples and suites)
Thursday April 4-Doubles Draw
Sunday April 7-Singles Draw

Random Draw Numbers:

Rising sophomores that complete the Returning Student Room and Board contract and application will receive a randomly assigned number between 3000 to 3600. Rising sophomores are required to live on campus. Lowest numbers are assigned earliest times in the lottery.

What new Housing options ARE available this year?

Select bedrooms regardless of gender in GDD, GCA, Language Houses, Veggie Coop, and Summit House.

For the first time, this year students will be able to select roommate regardless of gender if they chose in primarily upper-class areas on campus. We hope this will better meet the needs of all students to determine the best living situation for them.

More All Gender designated bathrooms.

Many students have expressed interest in more all gender bathrooms for personal needs, equity concerns, and convenience. All single use bathrooms are already designated as all gender. This year more bathrooms in Kirk sections will be designated as all gender. Some bathrooms in Kirk will remain gender designated for those looking for that option as well. Bigelow first floor will also have it's bathroom designated as all gender as an additional option. We hope our designations will better match student  needs.

The Duplex - 1661 and 1663 Princeton will be a Food Justice Special Living Option.

The Veggie Coop is one of our most vibrant communities. This smaller space is designed to offer an extended experience for juniors and seniors interested in living in a community focused on food justice - organic, local, fair trade, etc. Students living in the duplex will have the option of being off the meal plan.

Who can participate in room draw?

• All current first year students who plan to attend Macalester Fall 2013.

• All current sophomore and junior students who complete the Returning Student Room and Board application and do not plan to study abroad Fall 2013. We anticipate having enough spaces for everyone who applies for housing, however we cannot guarantee housing for rising Juniors and Seniors.

• Students currently on study abroad programs planning to live on campus for the 2013-2014 academic year.

• Seniors who will not graduate and plan to return full time for at least one semester. We anticipate having enough spaces for everyone who applies for housing, however, we cannot guarantee housing for rising Juniors and Seniors.

Who cannot participate in room draw?

• Students who plan to study abroad Fall 2013. See study abroad information below about how to select a room for Spring 2014.

• Students on leave of absence may not participate in room draw.

HOw do I get info about Special Living Options?

Check our website for more information about living in or applying to a specialty living option. 

Can I homestead the space I am living in now?

Rising juniors and seniors living in:

• Kirk Hall, singles, doubles, and triples (excluding sections 1 and 8)

• Grand Cambridge Apartments

• George Draper Dayton Hall

May homestead their room, suite or apartment if:

1. The single room or at least half of the spaces in the double, triple, suite, or apartment will be filled by the current residents.

2. Any remaining spaces not filled by current residents will be filled by rising juniors or seniors. Rising sophomores are not allowed to homestead.

3. NO CONTRACT CANCELLATIONS - Students homesteading spaces do NOT have to option to cancel their contracts. Because homesteading puts you ahead of students in the draw, you must commit to living on campus for the entire 2013-2014 academic year, (unless you study abroad Spring 2014).

Can rising sophomores live with rising juniors and seniors next year?

Rising juniors and seniors may request a rising sophomore roommate(s) in GDD suites and GCA apartments. The group must consist of a greater number of rising juniors and seniors than sophomores. For example, triple suites may consist of two upperclassmen and one sophomore. Doubles may consist of one rising sophomore and one rising junior or senior. To insure enough housing for upperclassmen, junior/senior groups requesting a sophomore roommate may be limited. Contact Kathy McEathron in the Residential Life office in order to include a rising sophomore in your roommate group by email at mceathronk@macalester.edu or 651-696-6215.

Rising sophomores may not homestead a space in GCA, GDD or Kirk with rising juniors or seniors.

What about the students who plan to study abroad?

If you will study abroad Fall 2013:

You will not pick a room during Room Draw. You may complete the Request for Spring Housing 2014 . You may request a specific space where we anticipate a spring vacancy or make a general request for spring housing.

If you will study abroad Spring 2014:

Students planning to study abroad Spring 2014 may participate in the 2013-2014 draw the same as on campus students by logging into their MyHousing/ApplyOnLine and accepting the Housing 2013-2014 room and board contract for academic year. Your room and board contract will be cancelled if you study abroad for Spring 2014. You may also participate in roomdraw for the 2014-2015 academic year while you are away through your MyHousing webpage.

What about students unable to attend the draw?

If it is impossible for you or anyone from your group to go on-line and to pick a room at your assigned draw time, please contact Residential Life at reslife@macalester.edu or 651-696-6215.

What if I decide to live off campus after I pick a room?

Picking a room at Room Draw or agreeing to live in specialty housing commits you to live on campus for the entire 2013-2014 academic year.

Students who have fulfilled the two year residency requirement may cancel their room and board contract by noon on April 1, 2013 and pay a $100.00 cancellation fee unless they drew a space during the Homesteading Draw or chose a space in the Grand Cambridge Apartments. Vacancies that occur due to contract cancellations will be filled by the Residential Life office. Rising sophomores are required to live on campus.

How can I contact REsidential Life if i have questions about Rooms, roommates or roomdraw?

-Email/Google Chat reslife@macalester.edu - We will be available to chat in real time and answer emails during ALL draw times.

-Twitter @CampusLifeMac -Follow us for live updates during all draw times.

-Facebook Macalester Campus Life -Like us to get the most up to date information about Room Draw.

-Phone 651-696-6215-Call us with questions or concerns as you prepare or participate in Room Draw.

-Check in with your RHD or RA with questions in advance-We are happy to help talk through the process and your options!

-In person! Come to the second floor Campus Life/Campus Center front desk during any draw time to receive in person assistance-We can help with your technology needs, questions, or just to be there as you select a space for next year.

Additional Information

A room change freeze begins at the draw and continues through the first two weeks of fall semester. As per the Macalester Room and Board Contract, the college retains the right to consolidate housing space through an assignment or reassignment process. Any vacancies that remain after the draw, including those in partially occupied doubles, triples, quads, suites, houses or apartments will be used to house wait listed, readmitted, and new transfer students during the summer months. We will notify students of new roommate assignments as they occur.

You must move into the room you pick at the draw. Exchanging spaces or moving into a room where you were not assigned constitutes roomdraw fraud subject to fines and conduct violations.