Frequently Asked Questions
The information provided on this page is for students who are interested in living on-campus in 2010-11. Off-campus housing information is available at www.housing.uci.edu/och/. |
2010-2011 Housing Application Window Opens
7:00 AM ~ Monday ~ 11/9/2009
- 1. Who is eligible for guaranteed housing? What are my chances if I am not guaranteed?
- New freshmen who live on campus for their entire first year are eligible for a second year of guaranteed housing in 2010-11.
Campuswide Honors Program students, Regents Scholars, and Chancellor's Excellence Scholars are also eligible for guaranteed housing. Eligible students must meet all application and contract deadlines to receive guaranteed housing. Students who miss deadlines will forfeit their guarantee.
More Housing Available for Non-guaranteed Students
Because of reduced freshman enrollment this year, there will be more housing available for non-guaranteed students in 2010-11. Non-guaranteed applicants will be served by application date/time order, and we expect to begin wait-list offers in February, 2010. - 2. Housing Time Line -- Important Dates
- October 2009: Find out about your options! Compare costs! Talk to your parents! Decide on your community preference rankings! Open House events will be offered in Arroyo Vista and Campus Village. See dates and times on the 2010-11 Continuing Student Housing Information page. Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte have regular hours when you can view a model room.
November 9 - 19, 2009: Submit your online application for 2010-11 guaranteed housing. The application window opens at 7 a.m. on November 9th. (Beginning at this time, non-guaranteed students may begin applying as well.) While the window is open, students may go back and make changes to their application if they wish to, but resubmitting your application will give it a new date/time stamp. The guaranteed housing application window remains open until 11:59 p.m., November 19, 2009. Once the window closes, students will no longer be able to access their application and make changes. From November 20th on, any student who has not yet applied for housing may apply for the waitlist at any time.
After 11:59 PM, November 19, 2009, only housing wait-list applications will be available online. Housing options will include Arroyo Vista, Campus Village, and Residence Halls (for current freshmen only). They will be placed on a wait-list and will only be offered a space after all guaranteed students are placed.
November 23, 2009, Guaranteed students who applied by 11/19/09 will receive an email update regarding their housing application. Students selected for VdC or VdC Norte offers will also receive an email from VdC/VdC Norte with instructions on how to submit a paper application and $150 security deposit directly to those communities by December 18, 2009.
December 1, 2009, Non-guaranteed students who want to get on a VdC / VdC Norte wait-list may submit a paper application directly to those communities beginning on December 1st. This wait-list application will be available on their website at www.vistadelcampo.com. Applications will be placed on the wait-list in the order that they are received, and wait-list offers will only be made after guaranteed students and current residents are offered housing.
Late January 2010 - April 2010: Housing offers and leases for Vista del Campo and VdC Norte will be completed. There is no guarantee that you will be offered any particular apartment type or lease term. It depends on what is still available when you receive your lease offer.
February 1 -15, 2010: Students selected for placement in the Residence Halls, Arroyo Vista, and Campus Village will be notified by UCI email.
March - April 2010: ONLINE contracts with specific completion deadlines will be offered for the Residence Halls, Arroyo Vista, and Campus Village. Instructions on how to complete your contract and when it will be due will be sent in advance.
March - May 2010: Room/Roommate/Apartment assignments will be completed by each community. After completing a 2010-11 housing contract/lease, check with your housing community for more specific information on the assignment process and time line. - 3. How do I apply for guaranteed housing for 2010-11?
-
Step 1: Online Application
Window opens at 7 a.m. on November 9, 2009. and
closes at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2009- - Beginning at 7 a.m. on 11/9/09, login to the Housing Gateway at
- https://my.housing.uci.edu/gateway/ to access the 2010-11
- Continuing Student Housing Application. No application fee required.
- - Rank your housing community preferences (guaranteed students must rank 4
- communities).
- Submit your application to complete it and it will receive a date/time stamp.
Important Notes:- Your application is not complete until you hit 'Submit'. When you hit 'Submit', your application will receive a date/time stamp that places it in order on an applicant list. Placement in high demand communities will be based on date/time stamps on a first come, first served basis.
- During the application window (11/9-11/19), you may re-enter the application system to view your application or change your preference rankings; however, if you re-submit your application, it will be given a new date/time stamp. If you re-enter the application to simply view your application without making any changes, do not hit 'submit'.
- After the guaranteed application window closes on 11/19, you will no longer be able to make changes to your housing application.
Step 2: Notification Process
- All guaranteed housing applicants will receive an email via their UCI email on November 23, 2009 with information about their 2010-11 housing offer.
- Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte
- Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte offers will be sent to students via UCI e-mail on November 23rd. Students receiving these offers will be instructed to submit a separate application and $150 security deposit to either the Vista del Campo or Vista del Campo Norte housing office by the specified deadline. Students who do not complete that application process on time will forfeit their housing guarantee.
Arroyo Vista - Students who rank Arroyo Vista as a preference on their housing application will be directed (in the November 23rd email) to a EEE link where they select their theme house preferences and respond to a brief essay question (for some houses) by 8 a.m. on Friday December 4, 2009. Only ONE essay will be required for your Arroyo Vista application. Students will be notified of their Arroyo Vista theme house offer sometime between February 1-15, 2010.
Campus Village
Students selected for Campus Village housing offers will be notified via their
UCI e-mail address sometime between February 1-15, 2010.
Residence HallsStudents selected for the Residence Hall housing offers will be notified via their
UCI e-mail address sometime between February 1-15, 2010.
Step 3: Contract / Lease Process
Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte: Leases for both communities will be completed between December 2009 and March 2010. Only 12-month leases will be offered in these communities, running either from June - June or September - September.
Arroyo Vista, Campus Village, and the Residence Halls: Housing contracts for these communities will be completed in March 2010. Campus Village contracts are for 12 months, from June 2010-June 2011, and Arroyo Vista and Residence Hall contracts are for the academic year, from mid-Septmeber 2010 - mid-June 2011.
Step 4: Room/Roommate/Apartment Assignment Process
Room/Roommate/Apartment assignments will be completed by each housing community sometime between March and May, 2010. Specific information on the assignment process and timeline will be provided by your housing community. - 4. Can I still apply for housing after the November 19th deadline?
- Yes, online housing wait-list applications for Arroyo Vista, Campus Village, and the Residence Halls (current freshmen only) will continue to be available after 11/19/09.
Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte wait-list applications may be submitted beginning on December 1, 2009. You can download an application from their website and turn it in directly to the applicable community leasing office. As information becomes available, it will be posted at www.vistadelcampo.com. You can also contact them directly (VdC: 949.854.0900/VdC Norte: 949.856.4600 for more information. - 5. What are my Housing options for 2010-11?
- Housing Options during the Application Window of 11/9 - 11/19:
- Guaranteed Students:Options include Arroyo Vista, Campus Village, Vista del Campo, and Vista del Campo Norte. Students who are freshmen this year may also apply to live in Residence Halls in 2010-11. Your housing application will ask you to rank four of your options in order of preference. Students are NOT guaranteed placement in any particular community.
- Non- Guaranteed Students:Options include Arroyo Vista and Campus Village. Students who are freshmen this year may also apply to live in Residence Halls in 2010-11.
Housing Options after the Application Window Closes at 11:59 p.m. on 11/19:- After 11:59 p.m., November 19, 2009, ANY student applying for housing will do so without a guarantee of placement, and will be able to select Arroyo Vista and/or Campus Village. Students who are freshmen this year may also apply to live in Residence Halls in 2010-11.
East Campus Options
Non-guaranteed students who want to get on a wait-list for one of the east campus apartment communities (Vista del Campo, Vista del Campo Norte, or Camino del Sol) may submit a paper application directly to those communities beginning on December 1, 2009. No application fee is required for these wait-list applications. Offers will be made on a first come, first serve basis after guaranteed students and current residents are served. As information becomes available, it will be posted at www.vistadelcampo.com. You can also contact them directly (Vista del Campo (949) 854-0900/VdC Norte (949) 856-4600) for more information.
- Guaranteed Students:Options include Arroyo Vista, Campus Village, Vista del Campo, and Vista del Campo Norte. Students who are freshmen this year may also apply to live in Residence Halls in 2010-11. Your housing application will ask you to rank four of your options in order of preference. Students are NOT guaranteed placement in any particular community.
- 6. What are the main differences between the communities? And how much will it cost?
-
- The chart below highlights specific features of each housing options. Costs listed are for 2009-10, and 2010-11 costs are not yet determined. Be sure to note features that may be of specific importance to you, for example.
- Residence Halls include a mandatory meal plan, while other options do not.
- Campus Village, Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte require a 12 month contract, while Arroyo Vista and the Residence Halls offer academic year contracts.
- Campus Village offers 2-bedroom, 1 bath apartments for 4 students.
Vista del Campo and VDC Norte offer 1- to 4-bedroom apartments with both single and double occupancy room (Norte only).
Check specific community Web sites for more information.
*Rates listed are for 2009-10. Rates are subject to change for 2010-11. VDC and VDC Norte rates are examples only; other apartment types in those communities have higher rates. Check the Housing rates page and the Vista del Campo and VdC Norte Web sites for more information.2010-11 Housing Options Community
Theme House
Apartments
Apartments
Apartments
Residence
HallsContract Type Academic Year
(Sept - June)Year-Round
(June- June)Year-Round
(Sept –Sept
or June-June)Academic Year
(Sept - June)Bedrooms Double occupancy Double occupancy
(2 bedroom apts.)
Single occupancy
(1,2, 3 or 4 bedroom apts.)
Single or Double occupancy
(1 or 3 bedroom apts.)
Single, Double or Triple occupancy Avg. Monthly
or Quarterly Payment
(2009-10*)$545*
Furnished
$508*
(Furnished)
$450* (Unfurnished)
Example:
$661*4 bedroom/
2 bath,all singles
Example:
$533-679*3 bedroom/
2 bath1 shared room/
2 singles
Example:
$3,121,
$3,582,
$4,123*
per quarterTriple, Double, Single
120 block meals and $75 Flex Dollars
Total Yearly Cost depending on unit type and meal plan if applicable
(2009-10*)$5,255
$5,923-$6,624
$7,932 - $12,504
$6,396-$13,620
$9,584-$12,914
(Includes meal plan)
Furnished &
UnfurnishedFurnished Furnished/
UnfurnishedFurnished Furnished Bathrooms Shared by
12-16Shared by 4 Private or
Shared by 2Shared by
12-16Location Next to Anteater Recreation Center Next to Science Library East Campus Mesa Court next to School of the Arts. Middle Earth next to Social Sciences. Resident Parking
Permits
$80/month $225/quarter
$80/month Transportation to Campus Core Shuttle Walking distance Shuttle Walking distance Air Conditioning No No Yes No Included Utilities High-speed Internet Access, Cable television, Water, Electricity
(VDC and VDCN monthly electricity allowances is $60-$100
depending on unit type. Any excess cost is billed equally to
all residents in the apartment.
LINKS: Campus Map, Rates, Shuttle, Parking and Transportation, Vista del Campo - The chart below highlights specific features of each housing options. Costs listed are for 2009-10, and 2010-11 costs are not yet determined. Be sure to note features that may be of specific importance to you, for example.
- 7. How will people be selected for each community?
- Students are NOT guaranteed placement in any particular community. Housing offers are based on space availability, varying levels of demand for different communities, student preferences, and application order. Students should not assume that they will be offered their first or even their second choice.
- * Last year, we received many more requests for Vista del Campo than we were able to offer. If you want to increase your chances of being offered housing in Vista del Campo or Vista del Campo Norte, apply early and select them as your top two choices.
- * Acceptance into specific Arroyo Vista houses are made by House Sponsors, based on student responses on their theme house essay (completed separately from your application). Theme preferences and brief essay responses will be completed in EEE after the housing application window closes.
* Please note that making changes to your housing application during the
Nov 9-Nov 19 window will produce a new date/time stamp, and could impact which community you are offered. Research your options and decide on your preferences before the application window opens!
- 8. Can I apply for housing with another person?
- No. Every student applies for housing as an individual. However, if you and a friend are both offered housing in the same community, you may request to room with that person during the room/roommate assignment process. You will be more likely to be offered the same community as a friend if you both apply early and rank your community preferences in the same order.
- 9. How are roommates assigned? When will I find out about my room/roommate assignment?
- Roommate assignments are made separately by each housing community. Your assigned housing community will provide you with information on the roommate matching process when you receive your contract/lease. All assigned roommates are of the same gender. Factors heavily weighed are roommate requests, smoking/non-smoking requests, and sleeping habits. After you complete your contract, you will be notified of the time line for roommate assignments.
- 10. If I am assigned to Vista del Campo or Vista del Campo Norte, how do I request a specific type of unit?
- Students who are assigned to Vista del Campo or Vista del Campo Norte will make their unit type (and roommate) requests on the paper application that they turn in directly to those community leasing offices. Your guaranteed housing offer is NOT a guarantee of an offer for a specific unit or lease type (i.e., Sept-Sept vs. June-June). Lease offers will be based on available spaces at the time. Students who turn down a lease offer because it does not match their preferred unit or lease type will forfeit their housing guarantee for next year.
- 11. What questions will I be asked on the "EEE" Arroyo Vista theme preference form?
- All Academic Theme Houses (with the exception of the Campuswide Honors Program house) select residents based on brief essay responses. Greek Houses do not require essays, but applicants must belong to the chapter in order to be considered for residency in the house.
Theme house preferences and brief essay responses will be submitted via a EEE form. Students who select Arroyo Vista as a ranked community will be provided a link to the EEE form in their 11/23/09 email. Responses should be between 100-200 words in length, and the form must be submitted by December 4, 2009.
The essay question on the EEE theme preference form will ask you to:
Write a personal essay which includes: (1) Your reason for applying to live within Arroyo Vista’s themed community and what you expect to gain from living there. (2) Your reason for applying to the theme houses of your choice. (3) How you would positively contribute to both the house and the community. (4) List any extra-curricular activities/leadership roles in which you have been most active at UCI. - 12. How far are the housing communities from the center of campus?
- Campus Village is located near Ring Road next to the Science Library and the School of Biological Sciences. Campus Village is close to the center of campus.
Arroyo Vista, Vista del Campo, and Vista del Campo Norte, and Camino del Sol are all located on the east campus, near the Anteater Recreation Center (ARC). The walk to campus is about 10-15 minutes, biking takes even less time, and you can also use the ASUCI shuttle service which brings students to and around the center of campus.
LINK: Campus Map - 13. Can I bring a car? Where do I park?
- Parking on campus requires a parking permit. You can purchase a Resident parking permit for Arroyo Vista, Campus Village, or the Residence Halls from the UCI Parking & Transportation Services office. For rates and information, please visit www.parking.uci.edu.
In Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte there is a fee for parking and spaces are limited. Residents will be notified whether or not they will receive parking when they receive their lease. There are also a limited number of campus resident permits available for VDC/VDC Norte residents. Please refer to the UCI Parking and Transportation Services Web site for more information.
Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte parking permits are valid for use in those communities only and cannot be used in campus lots. Undergraduate residents of VdC and VdC Norte are not eligible for commuter parking on the campus before 5 p.m. Evening commuter permits can be purchased from the UCI Parking and Transportation Services office.
Shuttle service runs regularly between Arroyo Vista, Vista del Campo and the main campus. Check the ASUCI Shuttles Web page for schedules.
- 14. Are utilities included in the rent?
- All utilities except for telephone are included in the rent. Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte have monthly electricity “caps” ranging from $60-$120 depending on the unit type. If residents exceed the cap in any given month, the excess cost above the cap is billed equally to all residents of the apartment.
- 15. Are the rooms/apartments furnished?
- Arroyo Vista, Vista del Campo, Vista del Campo Norte and Camino del Sol offer furnished rooms/apartments. Campus Village offers mostly furnished units, but does have a limited number of unfurnished apartments. For more information, please visit the respective community Web sites.
- 16. Are there facilities for washing and drying clothes?
- In Campus Village there are 2 card-operated laundry rooms, which are open 24 hours for all Campus Village residents. In Arroyo Vista, card-operated washers and dryers are located in each house. In Vista del Campo, Vista del Campo Norte and Camino del Sol there are laundry facilities located throughout the communities. Residence hall communities have card operated washers and dryers in the halls.
- 17. What kinds of housekeeping facilities are provided?
- In Arroyo Vista and the Residence Halls, housekeeping services for public areas (including bathrooms) are provided on a daily basis, Monday through Friday. Individual rooms are NOT cleaned by the housekeeping staff, although vacuums are available for resident use. Roommates are expected to work together to keep individual rooms clean.
Residents in Campus Village, Vista del Campo, Vista del Campo Norte and Camino del Sol are responsible for cleaning their own apartments.
- 18. Dining Options
- Students living in the residence halls must select one of three mandatory meal plan options, and each residence hall community has its own dining commons. All other students (living on- or off-campus) may purchase voluntary meal plans from UCI Dining at www.ucidining.com. Meals are served in three dining commons located in the residence hall communities, Middle Earth and Mesa Court. FlexDine dollars and Zot Bucks may also be used at several campus dining venues. Visit the UCI Dining Web site for sample menus and more information on meal plan options.
- 19. How do I cancel my contract if I decide not to live on-campus?
- Your housing contract is a legally binding agreement, and liquidated damages will be assessed should you decide to cancel. The amount of damages depends on when you cancel (check your contract for details). If you decide to cancel prior to move-in, you need to send Student Housing a dated written request to cancel (with your signature) that includes your UCI Student ID# and contract type. If you were under 18 years old at the time you signed your contract, the cancellation request must include the signatures of both the student and the parent (“guarantor”). Cancellation requests should be brought or mailed to Housing Administrative Services, G458 Student Center, Irvine, CA 92697-3250. They may also be faxed to (949) 824-4181. For more information call Student Housing at (949) 824-6811. Cancellation requests after move-in are subject to administrative review.
Contract cancellations for Vista del Campo or VDC Norte are handled directly by those communities. Consult your community housing office (VdC 949.854.0900 or VdC Norte 949.856.4600). - 20. What are my off-campus housing options?
- Off Campus Housing Options
Students who choose to live off campus can visit the Housing Outreach Services on the 4th floor of the Student Center (G465) for assistance with finding a place to live or a roommate. You can view computerized listings of housing options available in the community, as well as a list of students looking for others to share a room or apartment. If you are looking for housing for fall 2009 with a group of people, you should begin your search no later than March 2009. If you do not have roommates and are looking for a room or shared bedroom, mid-summer is the best time to begin your search. For information, stop by our office, call (949) 824-7247, email housing@uci.edu, or go to the Off Campus Housing Web Site at www.housing.uci.edu/och/ - 21. Still have questions?
- Please contact a Housing Advisor at housing@uci.edu or (949) 824-7247.
