New Student Housing

Welcome to Pitzer College Residence Life!

This page serves incoming New Students (first time first year, transfer, and exchange) seeking resources concerning all things Residence Life at Pitzer. Please use this page as a dynamic resource as you navigate Housing Applications, Roommate Matching, Move-In, and your first few weeks living in the Pitzer residential community.

FAQ – Housing Application, Room Assignment, Move in

Residence Life supports both the residential experience and the administrative support related to students living on campus. Please see the FAQ section below in regards to the administrative functions of applying for housing as a New Student, learning your room assignment and arriving on campus.

  • How do I apply for housing? How do I use Residence?

    Residence‘ is the online platform, accessible via the student portal, in which New Students apply for housing and provide Residence Life additional information used for roommate matching and room assignments. After admitted students have committed to attending Pitzer, New Students will be able to use their Single Sign On (SSO) to log in to their student portal, access Residence, and complete their New Student Housing Application. The New Student Housing Process uses Residence for the following functions:

    Applications – Residence Life will often use applications or forms to collect information from students in regards to housing assignments, residential agreements, roommates, and meal plans.

    Roommate Groups (optional for New Students, Fall only) – forming roommate and suitemate groups during a housing selection process. Students will be able to search information provided on the ‘Roommate Matching Profile’, as well as provide direct roommate codes.

  • What are the important housing dates I need to know?

    New Students Housing Timeline

    • Step 1: Apply
      • Opens on Residence (for new students in fall) – TBD
      • Due – TBD
      • Complete ONE of the following applications
        • First-Year Housing Application on Residence
        • Housing Accommodations Application – for students who may need to be placed in a specific housing situation, such as a single room, or specific floor level, etc.
        • Off-Campus Housing Application
    • Optional – Make Roommate or Suitemate group – TBD.
      • Optional Events: First-Year Roommate Mixers: More information will be posted on @pzreslife Instagram as well!   
        • Virtual programs and posts to help First-Year students in getting to know our residence halls as well as connect with potential roommates and suitemates.
      • First-Year Roommate Groups (of 2 or 4).
        • After applications are approved, First Year students may choose to make groups of 2 or 4 in Residence.
        • Afterwards, Residence Life will match all remaining students into groups of 4 using their submitted Matching Profile information.
    • Room Assignments will be posted to Residence – TBD
  • What is in the New Student Housing Application?

    The New Student Housing Application will contain the following parts:

    • Name/email (pre-loaded)
    • COVID-19 information, if applicable
    • Choose a Meal Plan
    • Roommate Matching Profile
      • Majority of roommate matching information
      • Take your time to complete accurately, try to predict your college lifestyle!
      • Viewable by other students
    • Residence Hall Agreement to abide by policies
  • Meal Plans

    All students living in the residence halls are required to commit to a meal plan on their Housing Application. Students may also submit dietary needs on the application for communication with the Dining Hall staff. Any necessary medical documentation may also be attached to Housing Applications.

    Please note that meal plans are only active when classes are in session. You can find more information on Meal Plans on our website.

    No Meal Plan

    • Students applying for no meal plan status due to a medical condition must provide documentation from their personal physician stating why they are unable to be on the meal plan and a list of foods that they cannot eat.
    • All applications and documentation will be reviewed by the General Manager of Bon Appétit, Residence Life, and Pitzer Academic Support Services. Depending on your application, you may need to schedule a meeting with Dining Services to see if they can formulate a meal plan that meets the student’s dietary needs.
    • All students are financially responsible for board plan costs until notified in writing that there has been a change of status.

    Dining Hall hours and service

    • The dining hall is open three times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday – Friday. On the weekends it is open from brunch and dinner.
    • The Shakedown and PitStop Cafes will also offer food service.
  • How are Roommates and Suitemates matched? How are Rooms Assigned?

    Option 1: Make Roommate Groups (FALL ONLY)

    After Applications are reviewed and approved, New Students may then choose to make roommate groups (groups of 2 or 4). Students will be able to search information provided on the ‘Roommate Matching Profile’, as well as provide direct roommate codes. Groups of 2 will be roommates, while groups of 4 will be suitemates (two adjoining rooms). In the example below, the current group is 2 people, Malcolm and Paige.

    Option 2: Roommate and Suitemates Assigned by Residence Life

    For students that choose to not make 2/4 person Roommate Groups, Residence Life staff will review information provided in the Roommate Matching Profile section of the New Student Housing Application for best matches. It is important that students complete these fields with information that is accurate to how they predict they will live in college.

    • Roommate and Suitemate gender preferences
    • Any submitted requests for accommodation due to a disability
    • Level of cleanliness
    • Smoking practices
    • Wake/Sleep up schedule
    • Expectations of friendship with roommate
    • Social hosting preferences

    Room Assignments

    After roommates and suitemates are matched (either through Roommate Groups or Assigned by Residence Life), Residence Life will assign rooms and communicate those assignments via email.

  • Move-in Day Logistics: How will I get my ID? What is a Room Condition Report?

    ID Cards – Provided Pitzer Orientation has received your information and photo, your ID card will be ready for pick up when you arrive for Move-In. Your ID card is important, as it is how you access:

    • Residence hall exterior security doors
    • Residence hall individual room doors (non-Mead)
    • Claremont Cash (laundry, vending machine, and local community purchases)
    • Purchase food with Flex and swipe into the Dining halls

    It is important to always have your ID card on your person.

    Room Condition Reports – During Move In, students will be expected to complete a Room Condition Report on your Residence profile. On this form, students will note any pre-existing damage in the room. Rooms will be reviewed when each student moves out and any damage noted at that time will be compared to the Room Condition Report. That student will be financially billed for any ‘new’ damage (damage that the student did not originally report).

  • Earthquake and Fire Emergencies

    Evacuation Map

    Please review Pitzer’s Emergency Procedures site for evacuation plans and safety recommendations. 

    Personal Liability (Renter’s) Insurance

    • It is highly recommended that students explore purchasing Renter’s insurance for their belongings.

    Fire Emergencies

    • Fire drills of all residence halls are performed at least once a semester.
    • Please remember to keep a pair of shoes and a jacket next to your door in case of emergency.

    Earthquake preparedness

    • In an event of an earthquake or any sort of natural disaster, the power grid may be interrupted, water lines may not be function, and emergency services will be delayed. With these things in mind, we encourage all families to help prepare students in the case of an emergency, like an earthquake, by coming to campus with an emergency kit prepared. Below you will find a list of items that every person should have on hand. 
      • Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home) 
      • Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home). 
      • Flashlight 
      • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio) 
      • Extra batteries 
      • First aid Kit 
      • Medications (7-day supply) and medical items 
      • Whistle to signal for help 
      • Multi-purpose tool 
      • Sanitation and personal hygiene items 
      • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies) 
      • Cell phone with chargers 
      • Family and emergency contact information 
      • Extra cash 
      • Emergency Blanket 
      • Map(s) of the area 

      All items above are approved and recommended by the American Red Cross. 

      For more information, please visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/earthquake 

FAQs – Roommates, Suitemates, and Life in the Residence Halls

Pitzer Residence Life strives to “Create a Caring Living-Learning Community” in our on-campus residence halls.  The majority of Pitzer students live in four residence hall complexes across campus. Residential living enables students to share intellectual and educational pursuits while learning to live within a diverse community. It provides opportunities for individual growth through community involvement, interpersonal relationships, and social interaction. The first year residence halls are Pitzer, Atherton and Sanborn Halls (PAS).

Follow us on instagram @pzreslife to stay connected with Pitzer Residence Life.

More information about the Pitzer, Atherton and Sanborn Halls (P.A.S.)

For a virtual tour of the buildings, check out these videos.

  • What does a Resident Assistant do? What is a Residence Director?

    Resident Assistant: 

    Resident Assistants (RAs) are students who work to foster relationships and build positive communities on their floor and in their building as a whole. RAs support and facilitate social/educational programs, community meetings, connect students with campus resources, help with roommate conflicts, and perform nightly safety walks throughout the buildings.

    Each hall has a RA dedicated to building a community within their halls and you will meet your RA on move-in day during New Student Orientation!

    Residence Director: 

    Residence Directors (RDs) are professional staff members that live in the residence halls, including Pitzer, Atherton, and Sanborn Halls. The RD supervises the RAs in the building, meets with students in roommate and policy concerns, plans building-wide programs, and helps the whole residence hall community function smoothly.

    Learn more about our staff on our staff website. 

     

  • How can I get involved in life on campus?

    Student engagement is one of Pitzer’s core values and some ways to get involved are:

    • Residence Hall Council (RHC) – RHC is the students voice for the Pitzer Residence Halls. We work on ways to improve the student residential experience. RHC recruits during the first few weeks of the semester and is a great way to get involved your first year at Pitzer! If you are interested, make sure to apply. Applications will come out during the first few weeks of the fall semester. To stay up to date on RHC applications, visit the RHC website & follow @pzreslife on instagram.

    Here is more in the new student guide on getting involved at Pitzer!

  • What tips do you have for living with a Roommate?

    BEFORE MOVING IN: 

    Take the initiative and email your roommate once you know who they are. Introduce yourself and get the conversation going. And to avoid bringing too many items on move-in day, you can talk about larger items and who plans to bring what (microfridge, microwave, etc…)

    The following are some tips we have for living with a roommate & suitemates:

    1. COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE
      • Communication is vital to roommate relationships. Share openly on such issues as cleanliness, guest visitation, music, study time and lights out.  It is best to talk about issues early which is why we require all students to complete a Roommate Agreement form. After completion, your Resident Assistant(RA) will meet with you to go over it and discuss the expectations you all set for the year.
        • **Remember to chat with your suitemates as well and agree on community expectations for the bathroom since all of you will sharing that space.
    2. What to do if a problem arises?
      • It may be necessary to make adjustments as new issues arise (this is normal). A big part of the college experience is learning effective confrontational skills and initiating communication when there are problems. Often time, students try to live with the problem or ignore it which isn’t healthy. When a problem arises, take the following steps:
        1. Talk directly to your roommate first. Schedule a time to talk. The sooner the better!
        2. Don’t beat around the bush or drop hints. If it is an issue that was discussed in the roommate agreement, bring up what you both agreed upon. If it’s a new issue, edit the roommate agreement to include a solution for this new issue. Get some advice from your RA before having the conversation!
        3. If the problem persists, contact your RA to talk to them about this issue. They are trained to mediate conflicts and it can be really helpful during these situations.
    3. Things to remember when living with another person
      • Practice common courtesy when it comes to visitation. Make sure to communicate when someone is coming over. Your roommate might have a midterm the next day and you want to make sure they can study and sleep on time.
      • Express issues!! (Communicate!)
      • Honor your roommates’ rights to guests and socializing but not at the expense of your studies or health. Communication is key!
      • Communicate about borrowing each other’s stuff. Some roommates share everything and others share nothing. Try to find a balance. Share the microfridge but not your hot pockets! & if you would like a hot pocket, ask your roommate for permission!
      • Lastly, it is completely normal if you and your roommate are not best friends. The important piece is that you both respect one another, communicate, and are comfortable in your room.

    And remember, you aren’t the only one who might be feeling homesick, transitioning to college, or undergoing roommate conflict. There is help available from your RA, your resident director, and even your roommates! We are here for you and want to help Pitzer College become your home away from home.

  • What should I bring to campus when I move in?

    Check this out for a list of what you should bring!

    Room Specifics & What To Bring

    Some common things some students forget are the following: 

      • Waterproof jacket or an umbrella! We know it’s Southern California but it has been raining more than usual these last two winters. 
      • If you enjoy the pool, some swim clothes.
      • At least one interview and/or events outfit.
  • What should we NOT bring to the Residence halls?

    It can be tempting to pack everything you have and bring it to campus – but remember you have to move out as well! We recommend our students think about what they would really need. When asked what NOT to bring to the residence halls, most students say:

    • Don’t bring too many clothes, shoes, or too many personal items! Think about what you really need versus what you want. 
    • Consider how often you would use a bike before bringing one! Look into the Pitzer Green Bike Program (GBP)! 
    • Big screen TVs! Not a lot of space for those unless you loft a bed or two in the room. 
    • Take a look at our student handbook for prohibited items (ex: candles, toasters, drugs, incense, hookah, drug paraphernalia, pets, drones, fireworks, halogen lamps, oil fueled lamps, weapons…)
  • Should I bring my own cooking/kitchen supplies?

    Feel free to bring some reusable dishes (plates, cups, utensils) but only bring pots/pans if you plan to cook. We have one kitchen in the PAS complex. You can also use the two other kitchens in the other complexes as well. Remember to chat with your roommate about bringing a microwave and/or mini-fridge so you don’t duplicate items! 

  • Should we bring a vacuum and other cleaning supplies?

    Vacuums and brooms are available for check out in the Residence Life Office in East Sanborn C300! You can also pick up toilet paper there. We recommend bringing some cleaning supplies like a glass cleaner, toilet cleaning supplies or buy them at a store nearby! (We have several stores near us)

  • Should I get Renter's Insurance?

    Personal Liability (Renter’s) Insurance

    • It is highly recommended that students explore purchasing Renter’s insurance for their belongings in case of damages, theft, etc.
  • What does laundry look like?

    Each residence hall is equipped with coin and ID card operated laundry machines.

    • Claremont Cash or quarters must be used (see Claremont Card Center for additional instructions about how to add Claremont Cash to your ID card).