Common Questions
Questions and Answers:
When is the deadline to submit a housing application?
There is no deadline to submit a housing application. We accept applications year round.
Applications received by May 1, 2020 will be guaranteed housing, and any applications received after August 1, 2020 will receive a room assignment after the first day of classes.
The sooner you submit your application, the greater chance you have at getting the room style you want.
Can I make changes to my application once it has been submitted?
No. Your preferences cannot be edited after submission, so please be careful when making your selections and be sure to review your application before it is submitted.
Am I signing a contract when I submit my housing application?
Yes. Completing your housing application is a binding agreement. So please understand the obligations, penalties and cancellation policies stated in the Housing and Residence Life contract before you submit your application.
Yes. You have the option of choosing your own roommate. You must select them on your application, and they must select you on their application. Once you all select each other as roommates double check that it is listed as confirmed on your application prior to submitting it. If it is listed as pending the request will not be granted.
At the time you request an application, we will also send you a Roommate Selection Form. The answers that you give will help us find a roommate similar in age and interests. Once all residents/roommates are checked-in, you will be asked to create a Roommate Agreement with your roommate over the rules of the room.
How are room assignments done?
Room assignments are primarily based on the date the application is submitted and the availability of rooms. It is crucial that you choose more than one room-style option on your housing application. In the event that your first choice is not available, the automated room assigning system will follow your list of preferences until it finds an available space within your room choices.
If you only choose one room-style and it is not available at the time you submit your application, the system will assign you to the next available room and it may not be your second choice.
If you selected a specific roommate on your application, you will be assigned to the room-style listed on the first application submitted. Please confirm on that your roommate selection is confirmed on the resident portal. If the roommate selection is not confirmed, the system will not know to assign you together.
If you did not select a specific roommate, you will be assigned to a roommate based on the way you answered the lifestyle questions on your application.
Can I cancel my application/room assignment after it has been submitted?
All students must complete the Housing Contract Cancellation form available in the Resident Portal available on website. Once you submit you Housing Application, you are bound to all Contract Cancellation policies listed on the Housing Contract.
I don’t like my room assignment; can I request to change it?
If you received your room assignment and it is not what you were expecting, you can submit a room change request via the resident portal. Request will only be available from June 1st to August 1st. Although we do our best to honor all request that are submitted it is not always possible. If your request is not approved before August 1st we ask that you move into your assigned space. UTEP does not allow any room changes for the first two weeks of classes. After that time the room change request form will be available again to request a change.
Rooms are only cleaned in the event of a maintenance-related emergency, and trash is collected at specific locations. Residents are responsible for the cleanliness of their rooms and can be charged for excessive cleaning if staff determine it is necessary.
Can my friend and I live together in the same apartment?
We suggest that if you are serious about living with a friend, that you turn in your applications together and that you both indicate that you wish to live together on both applications.
NOTE: We discourage friends from living together because while it is nice to live with someone you know, friendships tend to be tested and sometimes strained.
Can I have guests/visitors in my apartment?
Student housing has no restrictions on visitation by members of the opposite sex. However, we discourage you to have members of the opposite sex spend the night to not create conflicts among roommates. There are guidelines regarding the length of time an out of town visitor can stay with you, and all visitors must be approved by your roommate(s).
Card-access gates surround the complex and are monitored by video cameras. There are fourteen Resident Assistants that serve in an on-call rotation for the residents that live here. They try to stress safety to their residents and encourage them to lock their front doors and to keep us notified of strangers in the complex. There are emergency call boxes in and around the complex in the event a resident needed to contact the police immediately. The short answer would be, the complex is only as safe as the residents make it.
What kind of activities are available for residents?
Programming in the halls varies from month to month, and social and educational activities are planned by each staff member. Residents are invited to discuss issues going on in their hall, participate in community service projects, and plan activities for all residents. Student housing residents are also often asked to participate in focus groups for future housing projects and on-campus issues.
Because of the style housing we offer and traditional age of our current resident population, we cannot offer a family housing option at this time.
According to our Resident Handbook, only fish in aquariums are allowed in student housing. Pets that are found can be taken and the resident will be held judicially and financially responsible for any damage caused by the pet.
Individual housing units will be assigned by gender, and it is entirely possible for a building population to have male and female residents living in close proximity.
Furniture is not to be removed from student rooms under any circumstance unless the circumstance presented to staff is of a medical nature and/or emergency situation. Requests to move furniture should be submitted in writing to the Director.