Returning Student Housing

2024-2025 Returning Student Housing Selection Process

The Returning Student Housing Selection Process is an opportunity for TU residential students currently asssigned for Spring semester to select their housing assignment for the following academic year. Students should take the time to review the information on this webpage to learn about the process and its deadlines, so they are properly prepared. If students have any questions after reviewing all the information at any point throughout the process, they can contact the Department of Housing and Residence Life via email at housing@towson.edu or phone at 410-704-2516.

Eligibility

Residential students who currently live in University Housing, Harris Hall, and Tubman House for the Spring semester are eligible to participate in the Returning Student Housing Selection Process. All other students without a current university housing assignment (including Millennium Hall) are considered off-campus students and are not eligible to participate in this process, however, these students will be able to add themselves to the Housing Waitlist. Off-Campus students should visit the Housing Eligibility webpage for updated Housing Request/Waitlist information.

Process Guides

• Guide: Housing Contract Guide (PDF)
• Guide: Roommate Group Process
• Guide: Room Selection Guide

Contents of this Process

• Email Communication
• Housing Contract
• Housing & Meal Plan Rates
• Timeline at-a-Glance
• ADS Approved Accommodations
• Same Building Room Selection Process
• Gender Inclusive Housing
• Contract Cancellation Requests

Email Communication

All communication regarding the Returning Student Housing Selection Process will be sent to students via their TU email address. Once the information has been sent to students, they are considered to be notified. It is important for students to check their email regularly to ensure they have all the information they need to navigate the selection process.  

Housing Contract

The Housing Contract is a binding document similar to that of a Landlord/Tenant lease agreement so it is very important that students carefully review the Housing Contract as they are adhering to its terms and conditions and will be financially responsible for all housing charges for the academic year.  For detailed information, view the 2024-2025 Housing Contract (PDF).

Housing & Meal Plan Rates

It is important for all students to review the Housing and Meal Plan rates for 2024-2025 to ensure they understand their financial obligations. Students will be able to choose their meal plans via the OneCard & Meal Plan Portal starting July 1, 2024.

Process Timeline At-A-Glance (2024-2025)

Phase / Process	Starts	Ends
PHASE 1. COMPLETE HOUSING CONTRACT: Student logs in to the Student Housing Gateway to complete the 2024-2025 Housing Contract.	Feb 5	Mar 15
PHASE 2. ROOMMATE GROUP PROCESS: Students have an opportunity to log on to Student Housing Gateway to search for other students to form roommate groups to live with next year. If students prefer to go through the process individually/without a roommate, they can go “Solo”.	Feb 19	Mar 22
PHASE 3. ENSURE YOU HAVE NO HOLDS ON STUDENT ACCOUNT: Review Student Account and ensure that any Student Account, Conduct, or Housing holds are removed.	Feb 5	Mar 22
SAME BUILDING AGREEMENTS: Students wishing to stay in the same building for the next academic year must submit a Same Building Agreement by the deadline to participate in this process. All roommates must be matched.	Feb 19	Mar 22
SAME BUILDING ROOM SELECTION: Students who completed Same Building Agreements will be able to select their room during this process.	Apr 8	Apr 9
PHASE 4. RECEIVE SELECTION TIMESLOT: Students will receive their selection timeslot which indicates when they can log on to “Student Housing Gateway” and select a space online for next year. Selection timeslots are generated by cumulative credit hours.	Apr 12	Apr 12
PHASE 5. SELECT A ROOM THROUGH ROOM SELECTION PROCESS:  Students will log on to Student Housing Gateway during their selection timeslot to select their space for next year. A student’s selection timeslot is determined by their cumulative credits as of the end of the Fall 2023 semester.	Apr 22	Apr 26
SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTION PROCESSES: The important dates for Supplemental Selection Processes are provided below. Additional information regarding each process will be provided during the month of February and discussed during information sessions. ADS Approved Accommodations: Requests and Documentation due to ADS by February 28th  Same Building Selection Process: Agreements due by March 22nd

Approved Medical Housing Accommodations and Emotional Support Animal Requests

Students requesting disability-related housing accommodations, including a service animal or emotional support animal (ESA) must register and submit appropriate documentation for approval to the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services. These requests will be reviewed on an annual basis. Requests for residential accommodations must be based on a documented disability and supported by disability documentation that illustrates clear and substantial barriers to being placed in a standard housing assignment. Requests are reviewed on an annual basis. Visit the ADS Residential Accommodations webpage to review and start the process. Although requests can be submitted to ADS at any time, for best consideration in terms of availability, returning students should submit their requests no later than February 28th.

Same Building Room Selection Process

Students wishing to stay in their current building must complete the Same Building Agreement and select their space during the Same Building Room Selection Process as long as their building is available for returning students. During this process, the Selection Leader can only select to live in the building they are currently assigned to. 

Same Building Process Exceptions

• Tower D will be closed for renovations next year, so current Tower D residents who would like to remain in the Glen Complex will have to select spaces in Towers A, B, or C. 
• Current Douglass House residents will only be able to participate in the Same Building Selection Process if they are an honors student who currently lives in Douglass House or if they are in a roommate group with an honors student who is a current Douglass House resident.
• Current Richmond Hall residents are unable to participate in the Same Building Process as this is a First Year Living Learning Community building.

Students with roommate groups can pull-in their group members. Students in a roommate group should designate the Room Selection Leader role to the person currently living in the building their group wants to live in. Selection Leaders will be confirmed and can be changed once the group receives their Same Building Selection Timeslot.

Steps for Completing Same Building Room Selection Process:

• Complete 2024-2025 Housing Application Process via the Student Housing Gateway by March 15th
• Complete Same Building Agreement via Student Housing Gateway by March 22nd (all roommates must complete this agreement)
• Receive Same Building Selection Timeslot on April 4th
• Selection Leader (or Solo student) assigns themselves and/or roommates to a space in Selection Leader’s current building
  
  • Same Building Room Selection Process will take place April 8th and April 9th
• Students who miss the same building process will be able to participate in General Room Selection.

Gender Inclusive Housing

Gender Inclusive Housing (GIH) is a voluntary housing option where students can be assigned to live in the same room with any other student regardless of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Students who are interested in Gender Inclusive Housing can indicate their interest and sign the GIH Agreement within the housing application.

Housing Contract Cancellation Requests

A student who wishes to be released from this Contract prior to the first day of fall classes (the “Fall Pre-Term Period”) but who does not meet the criteria listed for cancellation set in the 2024-2025 Housing Contract (PDF), may elect to pay a Fall Pre-Term Cancellation Fee and be released.  A Fall Pre-Term Cancellation Request Form must be completed and submitted by the student before the first day of Fall Classes. The applicable Pre-Term Cancellation Fee amount will be assessed in accordance with the following fee schedule below.

Pre-Term Cancellation Fee Amount	Start Date	End Date
No Fee	February 5	May 15
$350	May 16	June 15
$550	June 16	July 15
$700	July 16	Aug 25

NOTE:  Harris Hall and Tubman House are considered on-campus housing for purposes of eligibility. Any current student is eligible to contract with Capstone for Harris Hall and Tubman regardless of credits. You can reach them at harristubman@cocm.com or 410-704-7484. 

Millennium Hall is not considered on-campus housing for purposes of eligibility. Any current student is eligible to contract with Capstone for Millennium Hall regardless of credits. You can reach them at millenniumhall@cocm.com or 410-704-6455. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I want to live in Gender Inclusive Housing?

Applications are due by March 15, 2024 and can be found under Additional Housing Options at towson.edu/housing.

Are current on-campus students who move off campus for Fall 2024 eligible to move back on-campus for Spring 2025?

If students decide to move off campus, they will be eligible to move back on-campus for spring 2025 pending housing availability. Please contact Housing & Residence Life if you have questions about availability. 

Aren’t students who currently live on-campus guaranteed housing?

New freshmen are guaranteed on-campus housing for four consecutive semesters as long as they meet all deadlines.  All other students are offered housing on a space available basis.

Will this same process be in place the following year (2025-2026)?

We will review our process at that time and adjust as necessary.  

Am I eligible to live in Harris Hall or Tubman House and how do I apply?

Any student looking to apply, please visit www.harristubman.com. 

If I cannot return to live on-campus, how will this affect my financial aid?

Financial Aid eligibility does not change for a student who moves off campus, unless you are a recipient of the MHEC guaranteed access grant.  The only other exception is when a student moves back into their parent’s house.  Please call the Financial Aid Office if you have any questions at 410-704-4236. 

What are the housing rates for 2024-2025?

Please see the Housing and Meal Plan Rates webpage for the 2024-2025 proposed rates. 

Please note, room rates are tentative and subject to approval.

Do I need to have a meal plan if I live in university housing?

Meal plans are not required in the following housing options:

• Capstone Properties:  Harris Hall, Tubman, Millennium AND university housing apartments: Marshall, Barnes Hall, Towson Run 
• 10 W. Burke (floor 6 and above) 

Meal plans are required in the following housing options:

• 10 W. Burke (floors 2-5)
• Tower A, Tower B, Tower D, Newell, Richmond, Prettyman, Scarborough, Residence Tower, Barton, and Douglass 

Where will I be able to live if I am eligible for on campus housing?

Current residents will participate in the Returning Student Housing Selection Process which is a multi-layered process that starts in February and ends in April every year. Current residents will be able to select from any space available on campus.

How do I select my roommate?

If you have other students that you want to live with, you will have to create a roommate group before room selection. All roommate groups must be of the same legal sex unless requesting gender-inclusive housing.

Roommate groups are composed of a leader and members. The leader is the person that creates the roommate group and sends invites to students they would like in their roommate group.

To do so,

• The leader will need to know the TU ID numbers of the students they would like in a roommate group.
• Once a student accepts the invite, they will become a member of that leader's roommate group.
• To accept or deny a roommate group invitation, visit the student housing gateway and click on “roommate groups”.
• The leader can use that same link to add or remove members of the roommate group.

There is no need to create a roommate group for yourself if you are not looking for a roommate. You can only be a member of ONE roommate group. Only students with a signed contract for 2024-2025 will be able to be pulled into a roommate group.

 

What if I have other questions?

Please reach out to us Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling the Housing & Residence Life at 410-704-2516 or email housing AT_TOWSON.