National statistics indicate that more than 95 percent of entering first-year college students have never shared a bedroom, so chances are good that this is your first experience with a roommate. Don't fret! With a little effort, you can create a roommate experience that you will remember fondly for years to come.

Life with roommates can provide some of the most rewarding times you'll have at college. Your roommate may turn out to be a lifelong friend. It is helpful to set some ground rules to live together successfully.

Roommate selection

When you enroll, you'll receive an Enrollment Guide with a link to an online New Student Housing Form. The form asks you about your likes and dislikes, personal habits, study habits, and so on to help us match you with your roommate(s). First-year students will be assigned to triples or quads.

If you are a new student entering in the fall, you will receive your room assignment and roommate information by email in late July.

Information for students with allergies

Learning how to live with another person and how to compromise and resolve differences are critical life skills. Managing food and/or environmental allergies independently and self-advocating around allergy needs is a key skill to develop. Therefore, all new students, including those with allergies, will be matched with a roommate(s). 

Should you feel more comfortable navigating campus living with someone who may be more familiar with allergy needs, we will do our best to match you accordingly. We encourage all students to have conversations after matching about how best to support each other's needs. 

Before coming to campus

Break the ice! We encourage you to join the Facebook group for your incoming class and reach out to your roommate(s). It can be helpful to talk with your roommate(s) over the phone or videochat to learn about each other's interests and to coordinate who is bringing what.

Once you get to campus

Open communication is essential between roommates, right from the start. You and your roommate(s) should set some basic guidelines and expectations for life in your room. These can be renegotiated over the course of the year as individual needs change. It is important to take this process seriously.

Here are some topics to discuss when you meet with your roommate and housefellow during Orientation:

  • Visitors: When would you prefer not to have people in the room? Are the rules different for male and female visitors? How do you feel about having other people spend the night?
  • Sharing: What is shared, and what is yours? Do you mind if your roommate eats your food? Uses your toothpaste? In the room, what is communal space?
  • Noise: Do you study with music on? Do you like to watch TV late at night?
  • Cleanliness: How often do you plan on cleaning the room? Do you mind if it’s messy, or do you prefer it stays neat?

Roommate rights and responsibilities

As a member of our residential community, you possess certain individual rights and responsibilities which must be held in high regard and we encourage you to become familiar with them.

As a valued member of this residential community, you have the right to:

  • Read and study free from undue interference, unreasonable noise and other distractions inhibiting the exercise of this right.
  • Sleep without undue disturbance from noise and other distractions.
  • Expect that others will respect your personal belongings.
  • A clean environment in which to live.
  • Free access to your room at all times.
  • Personal privacy within the limits of the residential setting.
  • Refuse guests in your room.
  • Be free from fear of intimidation and physical or emotional harm.
  • Discuss any problems or concerns which may arise with your peer adviser, housefellow or Residential Education and Living staff.
  • Expect that these rights will be respected.

You also have the responsibility to:

  • Ensure your actions do not infridge upon the rights (as listed above) of your roommates and fellow residents.
  • Verbally express your views to the person(s) involved, should you feel your rights have been infringed upon.
  • Treat your roommate(s) and other residents with respect and consideration.
  • Be responsive to all reasonable requests of your roommate(s) and of fellow residents.
  • Accept responsibility for personal and community safety.
  • Discuss your expectations regarding guests.
  • Inform your guests of the behavioral standards and expectations of both the College and your roommate(s).
  • Complete in collaboration with your roommate(s) a Roommate Agreement

Need help? Contact your Housefellow or Floor Governor

Student Staff are trained to help with a wide variety of student issues. They are especially knowledgeable about roommate relationships, so they should be the first people you contact if problems happen to arise. During Orientation, your Housefellow and Floor Governor will meet with you and your roommate(s) to help facilitate a productive discussion on being better roommates.