Returning Student Housing Selection

NOTE: This website is intended for returning students. New students should refer to their Admission materials for timelines and next steps.

What is Housing Selection?

Housing Selection is the process by which students declare their intention to live on campus, set their meal plan, and find their roommates and room for the following Fall semester. There are multiple ways in which students can get their room assignment, all of which are detailed throughout this website. Please be sure to check your Pitzer email and this website for updated information! Housing Selection for returning students has 3 main steps (Apply, Group and Explore, Selection). Residence Life reserves the right to pause and update the Housing Selection Process at any time to review room availability and/or procedures.

Fall 2021 Information

The following information on this website has been updated with the current Fall 2021 plan. Please note, many exact details are yet to be confirmed and everything is subject to change. Please note that all dates and times are subject to change but will be regularly updated to the campus via email notification and website updates.

Housing Selection Updates

  • What's New for 2021 - 2022?
    1. Sophomore Year Experience (SYE) (opt-in)
    2. COVID-19 Quarantine Housing
    3. Universal Room Rate
    4. Mead Refresh and Improvements.
  • Housing Processes, Sequence, and Timelines 2020-2021

    Housing Selection Processes

    • Off Campus
    • Room Accommodation for a Disability (RADA)
    • Class Year Experiences
      • First Year Experience (FYE)
      • Sophomore Year Experience (SYE) (opt-in)
    • Campus Housing Selection

    Sequence

    1. Off Campus applications will be reviewed.
    2. RADA applications will be reviewed (deadline TBA)
    3. Class Year Experiences
      • FYE – Entering First years will be placed into Pitzer, Atherton, Sanborn, and Skandera Halls.
      • SYE – Sophomores (rising and by credit) can choose to opt into the SYE housing experience in the remainder of Skandera, West, and East Halls.
    4. Housing Selection – all other students not in the prior 4 processes will be able to Step 2: Group and Explore and Step 3: Select any available rooms by selection time to fill the remainder of campus (WES, Mead, CCA).

     

    Timeline

    Process  Application Open/Closes  Application Review & Approval  Roommate Group & Explore Rooms  Select Rooms/Room Assignment 
    Off Campus Housing  Feb. 24 – April 22  Rolling until April 22  N/A  N/A 
    Room Accommodation due to a Disability (RADA)  April 23 – May 3  May 6  N/A  TBD – June/July, after LA County guidance 
    General Returning Student Housing Selection (including Sophomore Community)  April 30 – May 10 

     

    		 May 17  TBD – June/July, after LA County guidance  TBD – June/July, after LA County guidance 
  • Step 1: Applications - Eligibility, Sections, and Priority

    Who Applies?

    • ALL returning students (rising Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors) will complete one of the applications for the following Fall semester.
      • Only currently enrolled students planning to attend Pitzer College the following academic term are eligible to participate in Housing Selection.
      • Students currently on a Leave of Absence need to have declared their “Return from Leave” with the Registrar’s Office before participating in Housing Selection.
    • Off Campus and RADA applications will be reviewed and accepted or denied. Those denied will move into the Housing Selection process and must complete that new application.

    Parts of the Application

    • Resident Information – Will be auto-filled with your information
    • Unique Application Information – can differ depending on application (Off Campus, RADA, Housing Selection)
    • Meal Plan and Dietary Information – all students complete this and declare their meal plan (more info below).
    • Roommate Matching Profile – living preferences that will be searchable by other students looking for roommates
    • Residence Hall Agreement – Agreeing to live by the Pitzer Student Code of Conduct and Residential guidelines.
    • Document upload – for any documents (medical documentation, etc.) required for your application
    • Review

    Priority – Application Open vs. Submission time

    For the Housing Selection process, a student’s selection time is prioritized by their class year, with Seniors being most prioritized. Students often want to submit as soon as possible to get the best Individual Selection Time. To make it fair, the application will be ‘Open’ on Residence at least a few days before submission is allowed. This allows students to take their time and fully complete the application. Application data will be saved for submission when the time comes!

  • Step 2: Assignment OR Roommate Group and Room Explore

    Assign or Selection

    • Assign
      • Students in the RADA and SYE processes that don’t want to look for roommates, suitemates, or rooms will have the option for Residence Life to match students together and assign them rooms.
      • Residence Life will use the information provided on the Roommate Matching Profile of the application to assign roommates, suitemates, and rooms. As such, the information on this part of the application is very important! Those who are assigned into rooms will be notified via email of their room assignment.
      • These students will not continue into the Step 2: Roommate Group and Room Explore and Step 3: Selection steps since they already have rooms.
    • Selection
      • Students seeking to choose their roommates, suitemates and where they will live (RADA, SYE, Housing Selection).
      • These students will continue into Step 2: Roommate Group and Room Explore and Step 3: Selection.

    Roommate Groups: Under the Roommates tab

    • Once the Housing Application is approved by residence life staff, students will be able to create Roommate Groups using their roommate code, or invitations.
    • Students will also be able to search and find available roommates by reviewing the information provided on the Roommate Matching Profile section of the Housing Application.
    • Students can only search and create groups within the same process. (RADA approved, SYE, etc.)
    • Once a Roommate Group has been formed, students will be able to review suites and apartments that are available for selection.
    • Roommate Groups will designate a Group leader that will make the final housing selection.
    • The size and members of the roommate group will not be locked, membership in the group can change all the way through Step 3: Select.

    Room Explore: Under the Room Selection Tab

    • Students can explore what Suites and Apartments are currently available.
      • Beds still available in each Suite and Apartment will be viewable.
      • Each student can star favorite spaces for future reference.
    • The group leader can open each suite.
    • The current group size must match the available spaces in a suite/apartment. These matches will be highlighted in blue.

  • Step 3: Selection Times, Group Leaders, Finalize Selection

    Selection Times

    • Individual Selection Time
      • Each student will receive an individual selection time.
      • Individual selection times are based on class designation and the submission time of the approved Application.
      • This will only be used to inform the Group Selection Time.
    • Group Selection Time
      • The earliest individual selection time among the current members of a group will be the group selection time.
      • This will change according to the current members of the group.
      • This is when the Group Leader will make the final selection and room placements for each member in the group.
      • Only 1-2 groups will be introduced into the Selection process every 5 minutes. So there is time to make small adjustments if needed.

    Final Selection – you made it!

    • Remember that groups must fill the rest of an apartment/suite. The group size must perfectly match the available spaces. These apartments will be highlighted in blue.
    • The Group Leader will select the suite and place members of the group into each bed with drag and drop menus.
    • Click Finalize Selection!
    • Residence Life staff will monitor to ensure only those qualified for single spaces (Sophomores at CCA, Juniors, Seniors) will be placed there.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

     

    Q: How many people do I need in my roommate group?

    A: The Residence system will show you available suites/apartments based on the number of people in your group. Groups must ‘complete’ a suite/apartment so the number of group members much exactly match the number of available spaces in a suite/apartment. These spaces can easily be seen as they will be highlighted in Blue.

    • WES has options for 4 person groups (4 singles or 2 doubles)
    • Mead has options for 8 person groups (4 singles and 2 doubles) as well as 4 person groups (1 double and 2 singles). Suites will have students pre-placed before selection, so available spaces may differ.
    • CCA has options for 2 bed/1 bath apartments and 3 bed/2 bath apartments. All rooms are singles that sophomores are eligible for. All apartments have full kitchens.
    • Depending on where RADA, and Student Leaders are, some suites may have odd numbers of available spaces.

    Q: What if I need one more person in my group in order to fit a suite?

    A: Students are welcome to search for matches in the roommate search function. If groups need one more person, and would like an unknown transfer/exchange student to live with them, they can email Housing@pitzer.edu. We will add a placeholder student in Residence so that the group can complete the suite during selection.

    Q: I am the Leader for my Roommate Group.  What do I need to do?

    A: Roommate group leaders can be changed throughout the process by the members of the group. As leader you need to be logged into Residence during your Group Selection Time.  At your designated time you will choose your groups’ housing apartment/suite and rooms/beds.

    Q:  My friend is going abroad in the Spring but wants to live in our suite in the Fall. Do I need to find someone to fill their space in the Spring?

    A: No, we will be running a separate Spring semester Housing Selection process towards the end of the Fall semester. At that time you’ll be able to add new roommates for spring semester (or one will be assigned to you by Residence Life) based on availability and policy.

  • Off-Campus Qualifications, Financial Aid impacts, FAQs

    Qualifications

    All students seeking to live off-campus are required to submit an application to live off-campus for approval. This is regardless of class standing or previous housing arrangements (i.e. on or off-campus or abroad the previous semester). Only those students that receive written approval from the Residence Life will be permitted to live off-campus.

    Students are granted off-campus status following the priority criteria below:

    • Priority Qualifications (Documentation required)
      • Students living with family
      • Married students
      • Students with children
      • Students 24 years old or older
      • Students with verifiable medical documentation that warrants off-campus housing
      • Rising Senior students
    • And (as space remains)…
      • Rising Junior students
      • Rising Sophomore students

    If an off campus application is approved, the student will be notified of their application status via Pitzer Housing email prior to Housing Selection and forfeits the opportunity to participate in the Housing Selection process.

    All students who fail to submit an off-campus application by the deadline, are denied off campus approval, and/or do not attend room draw will be automatically placed in campus housing and will be responsible for all room and board fees.

    Students opting to live off-campus are responsible for the terms of their lease agreements and related expenses.  For example, if a student determines they will break their off-campus lease, then the student is responsible for related financial costs and any related terms of lease agreements. Additionally, students currently receiving financial aid are encouraged to contact the Office of Financial Aid with questions as they plan for the upcoming year

    Financial Aid Packaging

    • Students on financial aid are encouraged to review the updated Cost of Attendance (COA) calculation regarding how students’ financial aid packages change depending on their selection of campus housing, off-campus housing, or living at home/with relatives. Please see more here.

    FAQs

    • I am not a prioritized group for Off Campus housing, should I still apply? 
      • You may still apply. Applications from non-prioritized groups will only be approved near the deadline, as space allows, and in order of application submission.   
    • What if I am approved for off campus and don’t find an off-campus place and I then want campus housing again? Please let Housing@pitzer.edu to notify Residence Life. 
      • Before Room Selection Begins:  We will cancel your Off Campus housing application and provide an updated Campus Housing application for you to complete.  
      • After Room Selection and during Summer: Let housing@pitzer.edu know, you will be placed on the deferred housing wait list. This means that Residence Life may not be able to offer a bed at that time, but will communicate to you when a bed becomes available (often during summer).  
    • What if I don’t like my campus housing options and would rather move off campus? 
      • Off-campus applications after the initial deadline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. An Off-campus Application must be approved in writing to be released from a signed Residence Hall Agreement, as well as associated financial obligations.  
      • Priority qualifications for off-campus housing are no longer automatically approved after the initial deadline. 
        • This does not apply to Off-Campus Accommodation due to a Disability (Documentation required).  

     

  • Single Rooms

    Who is eligible for a single room?

    • Resident Assistants, approved RADA applications, Rising Juniors and Seniors are eligible for single rooms in WES, PAS, and Mead halls.
    • Rising Sophomores are not eligible for main campus single rooms regardless of credits recorded in the Registrar’s Office. Sophomores are eligible for CCA single rooms.
    • Please note single and double rooms are all charged the universal room rate

    How can I secure a single room?

    Single rooms are assigned in a variety of ways including:

    • Housing Selection process with a Roommate Group.
    • Room Accommodations for Disabilities for students with specific disability accommodations.
    • Assigned to RAs to fulfill their position requirements.

    How many single rooms are there?

    • Only 23% of main campus residence halls rooms are singles.
    • CCA is a combination of singles and doubles
  • Gender-Inclusive Housing

    Gender-inclusive housing options are available campus wide. Gender-inclusive housing provides a living environment where student housing is not restricted to traditional limitations imposed by gender and/or sex definitions. This option is ideal for students whose gender expression, gender identity and/or biological sex varies from the standard paradigm and for students who believe that their gender and/or biological sex should not be limiting factors in roommate decisions. No student will be restricted by traditional limitations of gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, or other identities pertaining thereto.

    • Roommate and Suitemate Selection
      • For students choosing their own roommates, suitemates, and room assignments, there will be no gender limitations on student-made roommate groups imposed by Residence Life.
    • Roommate and Suitemate Assignment by Resident Life
      • All students will have the option to designate roommate/suitemate gender preferences on their Roommate Matching profile of their Housing Application. Residence Life will use this data to inform matching and assignments.
  • Room Accommodation for Disabilities Application (RADA)

    Any student who is seeking an accommodation in their housing arrangement (i.e. single room, ground floor, allergies notice, etc.) must apply via the Room Accommodations for Disabilities Application on the Residence site each year.  Residence Life will work with  Academic Support Services to make determinations on each RADA application submitted.

    As noted above, approved RADA applications will be able to be assigned a space by Residence Life OR form groups with other RADA approved students and select their own rooms. Individual Selection Times will be determined by class year but not submission time.

    For more information regarding housing accommodations, please visit the Pitzer Academic Support website here: https://www.pitzer.edu/student-life/academic-support-services/. RADA applications will be available on Residence according to the Housing Selection timeline detailed above.

  • Roommate Groups

    What if we don’t have enough people to fill a full suite?

    In the case your Roommate Group loses 50% of its participants after a suite is secured, the open spaces in your suite will be filled by Residence Life.

    What if someone in our suite does not return to Pitzer in the fall or spring after we secure housing with a Roommate Group?

    In the case one of your applicants pulls out of your Roommate Group because they will not be on campus (i.e. taking a leave or late abroad decision), your Leader may be able to meet with the Residence Life Office to explore the different options available for the space.

    If the Residence Life Office is given official notice from the College that someone will no longer be attending Pitzer BEFORE the specific dates below, the suite may have the opportunity to replace the person vacating the space.

    • Fall occupancy – July 1st
    • Spring Occupancy – November 1st

    In the case the Residence Life Office is notified AFTER the dates above, someone will be placed in the space that will be vacated for the next semester.

  • Meal Plans

    All students living in the residence halls are required to commit to a meal plan on their Housing Application (Off campus, RADA, Housing Selection). Students may also submit dietary needs on the application for communication with the Dining Hall staff.

    Students wishing to change their meal plan may request a change it throughout summer, up through the first full week of classes each semester. Afterwards, only increases are permitted.

    The meal plans available are:

    • 16 meal plan: 16 meals in a one week period including $160 flex dollars per semester
    • 12 meal plan: 12 meals in a one week period including $120 flex dollars per semester

    —————–

    • 5 meal plan: 5 meals in a one week period, $0 flex per semester – CCA, Off Campus, and Accommodation due to disability only (documentation required)
    • No meal plan: CCA, Off Campus and Accommodation due to a disability only (documentation required)

    Flex dollars – are included with the 16 and 12 board plans and can be used for additional meals. Additional flex dollars cannot be purchased.

    Claremont Cash – A credit applied to a student’s ID card, can also be used for both food and non-food items throughout the Claremont Colleges and at select merchants in the Claremont Village. For more information please visit http://cards.cuc.claremont.edu/

    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.
  • Deferred Housing Wait List

    Typically there is a Deferred Housing wait list generated prior to each semester.  This Deferred Housing list is for students who still need housing for the coming semester and will be placed by Residence Life.

    Deferred Housing means that these students will typically get a housing assignment in early August after all the summer movement is complete or, for spring semester, in mid-December.  Housing is freed up over the summer due to: study abroad, leave of absences, first-year class enrollment, etc.  The Residence Life Office will contact students on the Deferred Housing list in room draw number order to give them their housing placement as soon as something becomes available.

  • Students Going Abroad

    Fall Only Abroad

    • Spring Off Campus 
      • Current application required – Please complete an Off Campus Application now, indicating on the form you will seeking off campus for spring only due to a Fall Study Abroad. 
        • Must be approved according to the current Off Campus Application process detailed in the Housing Selection timeline.  
        • Please note that if you did not participate in the Off-Campus Application process. , you are not eligible to apply for Off-Campus housing later. 
      • Actions while abroad 
        • You may continue to move forward with your off-campus housing plans. 
    • Spring Campus Housing 
      • Current application required – Please complete a Housing Selection Application indicating that you will be abroad during Fall. 
      • Actions while abroad 
        • Group Leaders with suites that are slated to have spring openings will be contacted if they would like to pull in any Fall Abroad students for Spring Semester. 
        • If you know a suite that has an opening for Spring and wants you in for Spring, please communicate to Housing@pitzer.edu so we can coordinate that easy placement.  
        • If you are not pulled in to a suite, complete an updated Housing Application in November 
        • Roommate Matching/Group Explore 
        • Assignment process 

    Spring Only Abroad (Not Graduating)

    • Fall Off Campus 
      • Current application required – Please complete an Off Campus Application now, indicating on the form you will seeking off campus for Fall only due to a Spring Study Abroad. 
        • Must be approved according to the current Off Campus Application process detailed in the Housing Selection timeline. 
        • Please note that if you did not participate in the Off-Campus Application process. , you are not eligible to apply for Off-Campus housing later. 
      • Actions while abroad 
        • You may continue to move forward with your off-campus housing plans. 
    • Fall Campus Housing 
      • Current application required – Please complete a Housing Selection Application indicating that you will be abroad during Spring. 
        • Move forward with Roommate Matching/Group Explore and Final Selection steps. 
      • Actions while abroad 
        • You will have to submit a housing application for the following year since you are returning to Claremont.  
        • Be up to date on your Pitzer email for communication regarding the following year’s Housing Selection process (typically begins each February) 
        • Complete your Housing Application online for the following year (Off Campus, RADA, or Housing Selection).  
        • You must complete your own Housing Application according to the Housing Selection timeline. 
        • Find a roommate group in Residence. 
        • Once in a roommate group, your Group Leader will be responsible for your room/bed selection. 

    Full Year Abroad (Not Graduating)

    • Current application required – Please complete a Housing Selection Application, indicating you will be abroad all year. 
    • Actions while abroad 
      • You will have to submit a housing application for the following Fall since you are returning to Claremont.  
      • Be up to date on your Pitzer email for communication in spring regarding the following fall’s Housing Selection process (typically begins each February) 
      • Complete your Housing Application online for the following fall (Off Campus, RADA, or Housing Selection).  
      • You must complete your own Housing Application according to the Housing Selection timeline. 
      • Find a roommate group in Residence. 
      • Once in a roommate group, your Group Leader will be responsible for your room/bed selection. 

     

    What happens if my Study Abroad Plans change?

    • If you now need Campus Housing, please notify us by emailing Housing@piter.edu as soon as possible.  
    • Depending on timing in relation to the the Housing Selection process, you may search to see what groups/beds are still available. If no beds are available at that time you will be placed on the Double Deferred Housing List, to be assigned by Residence Life when space becomes available.