I am a new student. What are my chances of receiving housing?

All incoming freshmen who pay the $300 enrollment confirmation deposit to the Admissions Office AND complete the housing application by May 1st are guaranteed on-campus housing. After May 1st, students are offered housing as space becomes available. Housing is offered to students in the order of the deposit dates.

How do new students request housing?

Once students are accepted to the College of Charleston, Admissions sends each student an Enrollment Confirmation Form with their acceptance letter. Residence Life and Housing will be notified once the $300 enrollment confirmation deposit has been paid. Housing information will be mailed to all students who have paid the $300 enrollment confirmation deposit.

Should I wait until I receive information from other schools before I pay my housing deposit and apply?

No. Waiting could mean forfeiting the space we have for you. The sooner you pay the higher in order you are. Please be aware, housing deposits for Incoming Freshmen are non-refundable. Returners have until May 1st to cancel for a refund of the housing deposit, but not the application fee.

How Are room assignments made?

Assignments are made in deposit date order. Roommate matches are made by matching your answers to our questions on the Profile Questions, which is included with the online application. On the indicator, you designate your lifestyle patterns, such as when you go to bed and when you wake up, how neat or messy you like your room to be, and your smoking/non-smoking preference.

When we receive your application and are ready to make assignments, we look for individuals who match you as closely as possible. Then we place you in a residence hall/house with your new roommate.

Is there a deadline for me to complete my application?

YES! When a student receives information from Residence Life, there is a deadline to apply. If the student doesn't apply by this deadline, the student forfeits his/her space and his/her name is removed from the list for students requesting on campus housing.

Can I request to share a room with someone that I know?

Yes. We will do our best to honor your roommate requests; however we cannot guarantee them. Students wishing to be roommates must opt into the roommate search process and request each other in their applications. We do not hold applications to wait for a specific roommate requests.

Is there a certain residence hall for new students?

No. New students can live in any of our residence halls except Kelly House, Warren Place, and George Street Apartments, which are for upper-class students only.

When will I receive my housing assignment?

Applicants will begin receiving their room assignments in June and on an on-going basis thereafter. Room assignments and roommate/suitemate information can be viewed via MyCharleston beginning mid June and is sent via email as well.

What does it mean to be assigned to a "suite"?

It means that you have been assigned to a living unit that has a living (or common) room with two, three, or four bedrooms in the unit, and a shared bathroom(s).

What if I am not getting along with my roommate or want to change rooms?

To verify assignments, room change requests are not taken until two weeks after the beginning of the semester. This gives students an opportunity to work out problems and make the initial transition from home to college. If students want to talk to someone about their situation, they can contact their Resident Assistant and/or their Residence Hall Director.

What if I receive an assignment, but change my mind about attending the College of Charleston?

Immediately notify the Department of Residence Life and Housing and Admissions in writing of your decision to not attend the College of Charleston. (Note: Notifying the Admissions Office does not constitute notice to the Department of Residence Life and Housing). Policies concerning a refund of prepayment/deposits can be found in your contract or on our Pricing Information page. Unless you are released from the terms of the contract, once you are enrolled at the College of Charleston you are liable for the full housing fee even if you do not occupy the space.

What do I do if I want to cancel my contract?

The Residence Life contract is a binding agreement for both the fall and spring semesters. If you decide to live off-campus or not to attend the College, you must notify the Residence Life Office in writing.  The housing deposit is non-refundable for incoming students.  Returning students must notify our office by May 1st in order to receive a prepayment refund. The application fee is not refundable for any reason. Please see the detailed contract cancellation information listed in your housing contract.

My roommate's girlfriend/boyfriend is over all the time. What can I do about this?

We strongly encourage the roommates to first discuss problems among themselves. If the students feel that they are having a hard time working it out, they should contact the Resident Assistant (RA), Residence Hall Director (RHD), or the Residence Life Office for assistance.

It is very noisy on my floor. What can I do?

Contact the Resident Assistant (RA) for the floor or the Residence Hall Director.

My student seems homesick. What can be done to help?

Try not to encourage the behavior by calling them every day. Encourage the student to get more involved by joining campus organizations and attending programs. The student may wish to contact his/her RA for assistance.

What if a maintenance problem occurs?

For non-emergency services, the student should submit a work order form online through the Work Order Online System. The maintenance team assigned to the building will then handle the request on a priority basis as they come in. For emergency needs, the resident should contact the front desk of their building immediately!

Are there washer/dryer facilities?

Yes, free washing machines and dryers are located in all residence halls and designated houses. Laundry View allows residents to monitor the status of washers and dryers in connected laundry rooms through a web browser. Residents who live in a house that does not have washer/dryer facilities may go to one of the nearby residence halls to use the washer/dryer facilities.

What are the alternatives to living on-campus?

A student may live off-campus. Many apartment possibilities exist in the Charleston area. Price, quality, and location vary greatly depending on individual needs. View our web pages on off-campus housing for more information.

Will I have to move off-campus after my freshman year?

No. An allotted number of spaces are given to returning students. Current resident students may go to "Room Sign-Up" in February to secure housing for the following academic year.

Is there any housing for married or graduate students?

Presently we do not provide housing for married or graduate students. Our priority is undergraduate students because of the demand for on-campus housing.

Is there an age limit for living on-campus?

Yes. The age limit is 24. The residence halls are set up for traditional students. At this time, we do not offer older student housing.

If I have a physical disability which requires special housing, what should I do?

Submit your housing application, then contact the Center for Disability Services.  We will work with you to find a situation which will best accommodate your needs.

Are there any curfews in the residence halls?

No, resident students are not required to be in their residence halls at a specific time. However, we do have visitation policies.

Can I have visitors in my room?

Yes. Refer to the Visitation Policy for details.
Residents are required to check in their guests at the front desk of the residence hall. The resident must leave her/his ID card at the front desk. The visitor must show a picture ID.

What furniture is provided for me as a student living on-campus?

At the College of Charleston, two or three students normally share a room. Extra long loftable beds are provided in most cases. Closets or wardrobes, chest of drawers, desks, desk chairs, and other furnishings are provided and shared. In Warren Place and George Street Apartments, full size beds are provided.

How do I get a meal plan?

You can contact Campus Dining Services at 843.953.5539 for more information about meal plans or about the Cougar Card as an optional meal plan card. Meal plans are required for all first time freshmen at the college.

What about mail? Parking on-campus? Telephone service?

For answers to these questions, please contact:

• Mail Services
  843.953.5534
• Parking Services
  843.953.7834
• Telephone Services
  843.953.5524
  

  For information about other services, please see our Auxiliary Services page.