Contract Completion Guide

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If you are having issues logging in to the Housing & Dining contract portal, please verify that you do not fall into one of the following categories:

• You are not an admitted student.
• Your admission was just completed today. This means your information is not yet in our housing database. (Please allow overnight processes to run for your information to be added.)
• You are a student currently living on campus and the contract renewal process has not yet started.
• You are an admitted student at one of our partner schools (Hawkeye Community College and Allen College) and your information is not yet in our housing database.
• You changed your CatID username and the new information is not yet updated. (Please allow 48 hours for information to be updated.)
• You do not have internet restrictions (international students).

If you need further assistance with getting logged in, please contact Housing & Dining at 319-273-2333 or housing@uni.edu.

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• You will need your CatID to access the online contract. For questions regarding your CatID, contact the IT Service Desk at (319) 273-5555, servicedesk@uni.edu.
• Once logged-in, carefully review your personal information and contact Admissions to correct any errors as necessary. You will also be asked to provide Missing Person Contact Information on your Housing & Dining Contract.
• Students who are under the age of 18 at the time of starting the contract will provide their CatID user name and birth date, and will have their parent or guardian provide their electronic signature online in the contract.

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All-gender housing allows students the freedom to choose a roommate of another gender. You must opt-in within the housing contract portal in order to search for other students who are also interested in all-gender housing and to see these corresponding spaces during room selection.

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You have the option to be included in the roommate search process via Roommate Profile. Roommate Selection is designed to assist you in finding a compatible roommate based on each other’s Roommate Profile. It’s also necessary in order to designate a specific roommate of your choice. In order to request a roommate, both of you must have a contract started.

If you would like to use this feature for roommate selection, you must first complete your Roommate Profile (returning students should update their profile). Make sure to include yourself in the roommate searching process on Roommate Profile by checking Include in Search box. To search for a roommate, you can:

• Suggested Roommates – this option provides you with a list of students who best match your Roommate Profile. You can view profiles, communicate with potential roommates and add a student to your group. You can also view groups looking for a roommate.
• Search by Details – this option will allow you to send a specific roommate request. You will do so by entering their full first (legal) and last name and birth date (optional). The requested roommate must accept the request to join the group to complete this process.
• Search by Profiles – this option will allow you to search for a roommate by any of the profiles in the roommate matching system. Select the profile you want to search by and click the Search button. A list of students matching this profile will be shown. You can view the entire profile, communicate with potential roommates and add a student to your group.
• Create Group – you must create a group to complete a roommate request. When you have found someone you want to room with you will create your group in Roommate Selection.
  • Choose a group name and password you will remember. Passwords can be as short as one character and suggestions are provided for creating a strong password. This password will be shared with any student you request to join your group.
  • Groups contain 2 to 4 members.
  • You will receive a message that your group has been created.
  • Invite your requested roommate(s) to join your group. Your requested roommate(s) will receive a message via email and will need to log back in to their contract to complete the roommate request (accept or decline).
• Join Group – you can send a request to join a group you find in the Suggested Roommates section. A message will be sent to the group leader to reply to your request.

If you are in a roommate group, the group leader should be the person with the earliest room selection timeslot. They will be the one who selects the room and pulls the other roommates in. That can only happen if you are a confirmed group, so be sure to accept (or decline) any roommate invites.

All information captured in your profile remains confidential and will not be shared with a third party. If you do not participate in Roommate Selection, you may be assigned a roommate through random selection.

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Dorm priorities (preferences) are not entered on the contract as most students select their own room.

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View our Meal Plans to determine which plans you are eligible for and to choose the one that best fits your needs. You will choose your meal plan after you select your room.

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Students with disabilities, who feel they would benefit from housing and dining accommodations, should contact Student Accessibility Services or begin the application process through the online system, Accommodate. Please note that housing and dining accommodations approved by June 30 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester are prioritized and will be implemented by move-in. UNI cannot guarantee that accommodations approved after those dates will be available by move-in.

• Air Conditioners – The University of Northern Iowa will provide window air conditioners in select dorm rooms for students with disabilities if they have an approved accommodation. Please be aware that environmental allergies are not typically considered a disability; however, all accommodations are determined on an individualized basis. The priority approval deadline is June 30 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. Approved requests after the deadline may not be accommodated by your move-in date. Room assignments may need to be changed as not all rooms and dorms are set up to accommodate an air conditioning unit. Requests will be reviewed and a written decision will be provided via email to both the student and Housing & Dining. Bringing your own window or portable air conditioners are not permitted, please see the Guide to Living for more information.

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We recommend that you thoroughly read the contract Terms & Conditions. Agreeing to the terms and conditions will be the first step completed on the Housing & Dining Contract. Please note that this contract is for the full academic year (fall and spring semester) unless:

• You are a new resident spring semester.
• You selected the Live 2 Succeed Program, then it is for two academic years.

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New students: If you wish to make any changes to your contract (including cancellation), you must do so by May 1 for fall semester or November 1 for spring semester by logging back in to your contract. Any changes that need to be made after those dates may need to wait until classes start.

Returning students: If you wish to make any changes to your contract (including cancellation), you must do so within 24 hours of agreeing to the Terms & Conditions. 

Cancellation of a contract for a future term should be submitted through our Intent to Cancel Contract form; cancellation of a contract for the current term (students currently living on campus) are handled through the respective Mail & Information Desk.

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Students moving in in the fall/August will select their room in the spring. This generally happens in February for new graduate students, March for new transfer students and April for incoming first-year students. Students moving in in the spring/January will select their room in December. The sooner you complete your housing contract, the earlier your room selection timeslot will be for room selection.

After you select your room, you will also need to select your meal plan.

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