Contract Renewal FAQs

What is contract renewal?

Contract renewal is for students currently living in university housing and completing a contract to return to living on campus the following academic year. During contract renewal, students will select their roommate(s), meal plan, dorm/apartment and room for the following academic year.

What is the contract renewal timeline?

Jan. 28, 2026 – Roommate groups can be set up within housing contract portal

Feb. 2, 2026 – Same Room Selection; ends February 3

Feb. 4, 2026 – Same Room Roommate Placement (this step is only for those who are remaining in their same room); ends February 8

Feb. 9, 2026 – Room Selection Timeslots begin; runs through February 19

How is my room selection timeslot determined?

Your room selection timeslot is based on the date you originally completed your housing contract, most likely prior to your first year on campus. Students on the Live 2 Succeed program have first priority. Timeslots are announced in January.

I lost the information with my timeslot and can’t remember the date and time, where can I go to find out this information?

Log-in to the Housing & Dining contract portal to find out your timeslot.

Is there a deadline to renew my contract?

Room selection is available through the end of the spring semester. However, we encourage students to select a room and complete the Terms & Conditions as soon as possible, as spaces will fill quickly. Students who complete their contract (by selecting a room and agreeing to the Terms & Conditions) no later than midnight of their timeslot will receive a special gift.

Do I have to agree to the Terms & Conditions before my room is reserved?

Yes. Your room is not saved until you have agreed to the Terms & Conditions which completes your contract.

Do I have to physically sign the Terms & Conditions?

No. Your typed CatID & birthdate serve as a legally binding digital signature.

Is there a deposit or prepayment?

No.

What if I change my mind about living on campus after agreeing to the Terms & Conditions?

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. After that, the contract becomes legally binding. You may request a buyout of your contract. The rate will be adjusted based on the date the buyout is effective. The buyout is only assessed for those who remain enrolled at UNI, Hawkeye Community College or Allen College and choose to live off campus.

What if I’m only going to be on campus for the fall semester?

Students should complete the contract renewal process as normal and then at the end of the fall semester complete the intent to cancel form within the housing contract portal. Students graduating, transferring or participating in a university sponsored program (student teaching, study abroad, etc.) will have their contract canceled with no buyout.

What if I’m not going to be on campus for the fall semester, but will return and want to live on campus in the spring semester?

Those students should complete a spring-only contract, which opens in October.

I signed the Live 2 Succeed two-year contract. When do I get to pick my room?

Students on a two-year contract as part of the Live 2 Succeed program have a timeslot for room selection during contract renewal before those students who are not on Live 2 Succeed. Priority goes to all students who signed up for Live 2 Succeed for the consecutive years they live on campus.

How do I pick my room for year two of the Live 2 Succeed contract?

You will login to your housing contract and complete the steps of the contract to select your room and meal plan for next year. If you do not pick a room, one will be assigned by Housing & Dining staff.

How do I request CP Parking?

Parking is controlled by the Parking Division. They will send an email with instructions for ordering the permit.

Do I need to request CP Parking since I already have it?

Students who have a CP Parking permit for the current year are not automatically granted CP Parking for the following year, it must be renewed each year. Contact the Parking Division office with further questions about parking permits.

How does a roommate group work?

Identify the person with the earliest room selection timeslot to be the leader of your group. That student should create the group and request all other students they want to room with to join the group. Students receiving a request to join a group should log in to their housing portal and either accept or decline the request. The group leader will be able to search for open spaces that will accommodate everyone in the group and will then assign themselves and all other confirmed roommates to bed spaces in that room or apartment.

It is important to remember that a confirmed roommate does not equal a reserved space in a room or apartment. Roommates must be assigned by the group leader to bed spaces to reserve these spaces and then they must go to their housing contract portal to complete their contract.

How do I create a roommate 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. You will share this password 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 on to their contract to complete the roommate request.

How do I assign my accepted roommates to the other bed spaces in the room or apartment I pick?

Create a roommate group of 1-3 other students, send them a roommate request and make sure they accept the request before you pick your room. If the roommate group is set before you pick your room you will be able to assign them to the other bed spaces in the room or apartment. They will be able to log on to their contracts when their timeslot opens to complete the remaining steps of the contract, including agreeing to Terms & Conditions.

Do I need to take further action if our roommate group leader saves a room for me?

Yes. Once the roommate group leader assigns you to the bed space in the room, suite or apartment, you will then need to confirm that you have been assigned to that room, make a meal plan selection and complete the remaining steps of the contract including agreeing to the Terms & Conditions, all within the housing contract portal.

Do I need to update my Roommate Profile prior to room selection?

The Roommate Profile is useful for students who are looking for a new roommate for the upcoming year. If you will be looking for a new roommate we encourage you to review your profile as the way you answer the questions may have changed.

What is All-Gender Housing?

All-gender housing gives students the option to choose a roommate of a different gender and is something that you need to opt-in to within the housing contract portal. When you choose this option, you will only see students who also selected all-gender housing. All-gender rooms are limited based on the dorm.

Can I save space in my room for a student who does not currently live on campus?

Yes, so long as that student has a completed contract on file and they meet eligibility requirements for the room/building being requested. Simply follow the steps mentioned above to search for and request that student within the Roommate Matching System.

I am currently living in a First-Year Experience Community; can I stay in my same room next year?

Check house assignments on your dorms' webpage to see if your room is within a community that you are eligible to live in. That will determine whether or not you are able to stay in your same room.

My house designation is changing next year. If I don’t meet the requirements for that specific community, can I still keep my same room?

If you do not meet the qualifications for the residential community that will be designated to your current room for next year, you will need to search for another room, possibly in the same dorm or a different dorm.

How do I get a single room in a traditional dorm?

Both Dancer and Shull Hall are all single rooms and Rider is a mix of singles and doubles. Some years there may be the option to buyout a double as a single in other dorms; however, availability would be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that double rooms bought out as a single will retain the double room furniture.

Have there been any changes or additions to meal plans for next year?

No.

Do I have to sign up for a meal plan?

Any student living in our traditional and suite-style dorms can select from the All-Access or Block 220 meal plan. Students living in our apartment-style dorms have additional options to select from. Visit Meal Plans to find out which plans are available.

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Can I select an apartment at Trailside during room selection?

Yes.

Are there restrictions on who can live in Trailside Apartments?

Trailside is reserved for students who have at least one year post high school experience.

When will I know if I got the room I requested?

The room is confirmed when the student agrees to the contract Terms & Conditions. An email confirmation will be sent to the active email on file and you can log in anytime to see your room assignment on the housing contract portal. Additionally, assignment letters are emailed the beginning of summer confirming room and meal plan selection.

If I currently live off-campus, can I live on-campus next year?

Absolutely! You need to complete a Housing & Dining Contract online. Once complete, you can be pulled in as a roommate or select your own room starting in February.

I am applying to be an RA next year, should I still complete the contract renewal process?

All those interested in being Resident Assistant candidates should renew their contract for a space only IF you are planning to live on campus next year regardless of whether or not you become an RA. If a job offer is extended and accepted, your contract will be changed as necessary by UHD staff.

What dorms are open over the summer?

Visit our Summer Student Housing page for details.