The Fine Print

Students returning from leave of absence or study away programs:

Duke University highly values and supports students' participation in study abroad and away programs. In recent years, more than four times as many Duke students have elected to participate in fall programs than during other times of the year. The large volume of students applying to participate in study abroad/away programs during the fall semester creates a significant challenge to the housing assignment process. This phenomenon also creates a huge stress on the housing situation for the Spring when these students return to Durham. 

For Spring 2010, we anticipate that the majority of available space will be in partially-filled rooms (doubles, triples, and apartments where one resident has canceled their housing or moved).  Given this limitation, it is going to be difficult to keep preferred roommates together.  If your top priority is to live with your preferred roommate, we encourage you to consider the off-campus lottery.  We will not be able to guarantee placement with your preferred roommate on-campus.

All students who have not completed the three-year on-campus requirement are required to apply for and live in on-campus housing for the Spring 2010 semester.   The only exception will be those students who enter the off-campus lottery and are released one-semester early from this requirement.

We will do our best to accommodate the housing preferences of students returning from abroad. However, given the many variables in this process, there is no way to guarantee that a student will receive his/her preferred location, room type, or roommate.

Students leaving campus for Spring 2010:

We ask that all students who are sure of their plans to be off-campus for Spring 2010 inform RLHS as soon as possible.  Valid reasons for canceling Spring 2010 housing include participation in study away programs, taking a leave of absence, graduation, and, for eligible seniors, moving off-campus.  Students are responsible for informing roommates of their plans so that they may plan accordingly and request a new roommate or reassignnment.

Students who expect to return to campus in Fall 2010 will participate in the Room Picks process in March. You will receive information at your Duke email address in early February reminding you to participate in Room Picks. For most students, this will involve sending a proxy to pick your assignment in your absence. You are responsible for completing your application and ensuring that a proxy picks your assignment for the Fall 2010 semester.