Room Selection for Current Students

On-campus living is an integral part of campus life. The experience of living in the residence halls and the support of the staff provided by the Department of Residential Living enhance the intellectual, personal and social development of our students. Accordingly, WCU requires new undergraduate students to live on campus in the residence hall for a specific period of time based on how a student is classified at enrollment.

In general terms, first-year students enrolling at WCU are required to live on campus for two academic years and new transfer students for one academic year.

For details, we encourage you to review WCU Policy 96 in full.

Students subject to WCU Policy 96 who maintain their enrollment at WCU must either live on campus or receive a residency exemption.

WCU Policy 96 allows for Residency Exemptions for students to receive a waiver of the on-campus living requirement.  Qualifying exemption reasons include:

• Students enrolled exclusively in a distance learning program.
• Students enrolled exclusively in extension courses.
• Students enrolled in less than 6 total hours a term.
• Non-degree students unless participating in a program that requires on-campus housing.
• Students over 21 upon initial enrollment - by August 1 for fall entry or December 1 for spring entry.
• Married students.
• Students with dependents.
• Students living with a parent or legal guardian in one of the following North Carolina counties: Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain or Translyvania.
• Military veterans with 18 months of active duty.
• Students who have earned 90 or more hours towards graduation.

Students who believe they qualify for an exemption should submit a request along with any requested supporting documentation.  The Residency Exemption Request should be submitted to housingquestions@wcu.edu.  Residency Exemptions must be applied for each academic year that the student is subject to WCU Policy 96.

Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal access to housing for all students living on campus with qualifying disabilities. Toward this goal, WCU provides accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Fair Housing Act, and other applicable laws.
Requests for a housing accommodation are reviewed and approved through the Office of Accessibility Resources (OARs).  Please refer to their Housing Accommodations page for information about the process and how you can submit your request.  Students should submit requests by the following dates:
Academic Year Assignments (Occupancy starting in Fall) - June 1
Spring Room Assignments (Occupancy starting in Spring) - November 1
Summer Housing - May 15
Housing Accommodations must be applied for each academic year.  

Continuing students who decide not to live on campus after completing a Residence Hall Agreement and/or selecting on-campus housing for the following academic year have until June 1 to request a cancellation of their agreement and/or housing without being subject to the Housing Cancellation Fee.   Cancellation of the Residence Hall Agreement after June 1 will be subject to a Housing Cancellation fee of $1,000.00.

The Housing Cancellation Request should be submitted to housingquestions@wcu.edu. 

The room selection process offers most students the opportunity to retain their room from one year to the next.  Certain rooms, however, cannot be retained.  Students impacted are notified in January each year.  Some reasons a student may be displaced and unable to retain their room for the following year include:

• The room is located in a building designated for first-year students.  Each year the department identified buildings for first-year student housing.  Students living in buildings designated for first-year students for the following academic year are displaced.
• The room is designated for special use.  These include rooms held for Resident Assistant staff, approved Housing Accommodation Requests, and theme or living learning communities.

How do I pay the $150 non-refundable housing deposit?
Information about how to pay the deposit will be released once we annouce the room selection process for 2025 - 2026.

What if I pay the deposit, complete the Agreement and then don’t select a room?
If you do not select a room, then Residential Living may assign you to a room.

What if I don’t get the room I want, can I change it later?
If the building you want to live in is full when it’s your log in time, then we suggest you find an alternate room. Once all students have had an opportunity to select a room you will be able to log in and change your fall assignment until June 23, 2025. After June 25th, no changes will be made until room changes begin the second week of fall classes.

Will I have to pay the cancellation fee if I cancel before June 1, 2025?
If you’re not subject to WCU Policy 96 and wish to cancel your agreement you will not be charged a cancellation fee if you cancel prior to June 1, 2025. If you are subject to WCU Policy 96, be sure you understand your ability to cancel and the assessment associated with cancelling if you are in the second year of your residency requirement. Please remember that all cancellations must be in writing by either submitting the Housing Cancellation Form or emailing housingquestions@wcu.edu. 

How much is the cancellation fee if I decide after June 1, 2024 that I want to commute to campus?
The cancellation fee is $1,000.00 and will be applied to your student account once we receive your Housing Cancellation Form.

Do I get my $150 deposit back when I cancel?
The deposit is non-refundable.

If I live in a room designated for students with accommodation needs will I be able to select it?
No. If you were assigned to a room based on an accommodation request or were placed in a room with accessibility features, then you cannot re-claim the room. If you have an accommodations request, you must re-apply and be approved each year.

Do I have to have a meal plan if I live on campus?
Yes, even students living in buildings with community kitchens or living in Robertson must have a meal plan.

If I select my double room by myself does that mean I won’tget a roommate?
Someone else could select it during their selection process or Residential Living will assign you a random roommate.

Will I be able to keep the same mailbox number?
Yes, if you participate in room selection prior to June 1, 2025.

What if I want to room with an incoming freshman or transferstudent for fall?
Please email housingquestions@wcu.edu with the name and WCU ID number of the incoming student(s) you would like to live with. They must also have paid their enrollment deposit, submitted a Residence Hall Agreement and requested you as their roommate on their preferences. Make sure that they also have your WCU ID number.