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.

Students who are not required to live on campus per WCU Policy 96 are now being directed to add themselves to the wait list for on-campus housing for 2024 - 2025.  Students will be provided a Waitlist Agreement with important information about what the waitlist means for them.  Included here is a summary of that information.

What joining the waitlist means
Placement on the waiting list means that we will try our best to accommodate you; however, we may, or may not be able to assign you to a room for Fall 2024.  As space becomes available, those on the waiting list will be assigned.

Knowing your position on the waitlist
Students who complete a Waitlist Agreement can contact Residential Living to find out their current position on the Waitlist.  The best way to do this is by emailing housingquestions@wcu.edu.  Keep in mind that as students remove themselves from the waitlist or as assignments are made from the waitlist a student's position on the waitlist will change.

Getting moved off the Waitlist / Prioirty for On-Campus Housing
Students will be assigned off of the waitlist based on the date they paid their non-refundable housing deposit and submitted a Waitlist Agreement.  Be aware that gender, as well as graduate/undergraduate availability will also factor into assigning from the wait list.

When to expect updates
Residential Living will provide updates to all students remaining on the wait list on the following dates:
May 1, 2024
June 5, 2024
July 17, 2024
August 1, 2024
Students should check their catamount email and voicemail messages regularly for updates.  Please note that the above dates are when updates will be sent to all students.  You may receive a notice/update outside of these dates and will need to respond in a timely manner.

Removing yourself from the waitlist and having housing deposit refunded
If a student who is on the wiating list decides they are no longer interested in on-campus housing they may request a refund of the $150.00 hosuing deposit prior to being assigned a space.  They can make the request by submitting a Housing Cancellation Request to housingquestions@wcu.edu.  Once an assignment is made, the deposit will not be refunded.  In addition if a student completes a 2024 - 2025 Residence Hall Agreement and cancels after June 1, 2024 they would be subject to the $1,000 Housing Cancellation fee.

Where to start looking for off-campus housing
Since we cannot guarantee a space for a student on the waitlist, those with waitlist agreements are encouraged to look into other housing options.  The Student Affairs Off-Campus Housing Website is a good place to start.

Housing Accommodations and the Waitlist
Housing Accommodation Requests, included an approved Housing Accommodation Request does not impact a student's position on the waitlist or priority for on-campus housing.

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?
You can pay online with a debit or credit card through your MyWCU Account or you can pay with cash or check at Student Accounts in Killian Annex.

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 1, 2024. After June 1st, 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, 2024?
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, 2024. 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, 2024.

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.