FAQ for Contract Campaign

GENERAL QUESTIONS
• What is Contract Renewal Campaign?
• What do I need to bring with me for the Contract Renewal Campaign?
• Why do you need Medical Insurance Policy Information?
• Where can I find my Medical Insurance Policy number?
• How can I make my payment?
• If I participate in the Contract Renewal Campaign, will I know what room I will be living in for next year?
• What if I miss the Contract Renewal Campaign dates?
• What are my chances of getting housing if I submitted an application after the Contract Renewal Campaign dates?

ROOMING / RESIDENCE / MOVE-IN QUESTIONS
• When will I find out who my roommates are?
• What do I do if I want to live with a friend that currently attends Columbia?
• What do I do if I want to live with a friend that currently does not attend Columbia, but plans on living on campus next year?
• What do I do if a current student has signed up to be in my room and I didn’t want them living with me for next year?
• What do you mean when you say you have re-designated floors in Residence Life for 2008-2009?
• What if my current room has been a re-designated room, and is not available for next year due to building/program changes?
• What is a 21 and older floor?
• How do I sign up for a 21 and older floor?
• What is Squatter’s Rights?
• What if I am going to be 21 next year by the start of the contract, and am currently living on the 14-20th floor in 59 East Van Buren?
• What if I want a friend to live in my squatting room that does not currently live there?
• Why can’t a returning student move in during New Student Move-in?
• Can I move in before my designated move in date?
• What are the early move in fees for Returning Students?
• What if I change my mind and don’t want my housing space after the contract renewal for returning students during the first two weeks in March?
• How do I receive a refund before May 1, 2008?
• What if I miss the May 1, 2008 deadline?
• Why do I have to make a $500.00 prepayment?
• Can the $500.00 prepayment be waived?
• Is there storage on campus for the summer?
• GPA requirements?

CONTRACT QUESTIONS
• Do I have to fill out an application?
• What if I want to live on campus this summer?
• Where can I live if I sign an Annual Contract?
• What are the dates for an Annual Contract?
• When can I move into my Annual Space?
• What if I want a summer space in Residence Life and do not intend on living in Residence Life for the 2008-2009 Academic year?
• How many weeks can I get a contract for summer only?
• What is the difference between an Academic Year Contract and an Annual Contract?
• What are the contract dates?
• What do I do if I am graduating in the fall, since the contract is an Academic Year contract?

MEAL PLAN QUESTIONS
• Do I have a meal plan?
• What is the 150 Meal Plan?
• How much does The 150 Meal Plan Cost?
• Can I sign up for The 150 Meal Plan if I don’t live in The University Center?
• If I don’t live in The University Center, how would I gain access to the Dining Center?
• If I don’t live in The University Center, can I bring a friend to eat with me?
• If I change my mind about 150 Meal Plan, can I get a refund?

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What is Contract Renewal Campaign?
Contract Renewal Campaign is an opportunity for current Columbia College students to come into the Residence Life Office to choose the specific room they want to live in for the 2008-2009 academic year.

What do I need to bring with me for the Contract Renewal Campaign?
• $500.00 prepayment or receipt of payment
• Medical Insurance Policy Information

Why do you need Medical Insurance Policy Information?
Your housing contract requires that you have medical insurance coverage during your contract period. We like to have updated information on file. This takes a few minutes to fill out. This form asks for emergency contact information in addition to your medical insurance policy number.

Where can I find my Medical Insurance Policy number?
This number generally can be found on the front of your Insurance Card.

If I participate in the Contract Renewal Campaign, will I know what room I will be living in for next year?
As a student participating in the Contract Renewal Campaign, after you have signed a housing contract, you will know exactly what building and what room number you will be living in for next year.

What if I miss the Contract Renewal Campaign dates?
If you miss the Contract Renewal dates, you would then need to download an application from the website at: http://www.colum.edu/Admissions/Residence_Life/Housing_Application_07-08.php and submit it through Admissions. Please keep in mind that right after the Contract Renewal Campaign is over, we begin offering spaces to new students that have applied for housing.
As of the beginning of the Contract Renewal Campaign, there are approximately 1,200 new students who have submitted a housing application and would be offered a space before you. You will then be assigned housing based off of the date that your application was received and availability of spaces.

What are my chances of getting housing if I submitted an application after the Contract Renewal Campaign dates?
This all depends on when you actually submit a housing application. Residence Life Offers contracts to students on a rolling basis up until the beginning of the school year.
What are my chances of getting into another building or space during the 2nd week of Contract Renewal Campaign?
Each individual building does not fill to capacity during squatters right week of the Contract Renewal Campaign.

When will I find out who my roommates are?
Roommate Assignments will be mailed during the 1st week in July.

What do I do if I want to live with a friend that currently attends Columbia?
Please, bring your friend along to the Residence Life Office to sign a contract together! If your class schedules do not permit to come together, make sure you let your friend know what room you signed up for, so that they can inquire about the room when they come to The Residence Life Office themselves. We can not reserve spaces during the Contract Renewal Campaign since students have the opportunity during the 2nd week of the Contract Campaign to sign up for any open space.

What do I do if I want to live with a friend that currently does not attend Columbia, but plans on living on campus next year?
Please know that we do try to accommodate this, but it is not always successful. This is partly due to the fact that we assign spaces in Residence Life based on availability and the time that students have filled out a housing application. You and your friend would have to mutually request each other. When you come into Residence Life, please say that you would like to mutually request a friend that is not here, and we will do our best to make sure we have entered your friends information under your name.

What do I do if a current student has signed up to be in my room and I didn’t want them living with me for next year?
Since the 2nd week of the Contract Renewal Campaign is “Open Season” to any student on campus, this may happen. Please come to the Residence Life Office and we can try to find you another space to move to. We can not mandate that that individual move out of your space.

What if my current room has been a re-designated room, and is not available for next year due to building/program changes?
If this is the case, you may change your room during the 2nd week of the Contract Renewal Campaign. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.

What is a 21 and older floor?
21 and older floors are available to students that live in 59 East Van Buren. Students who are 21 or older by the time the housing contract starts are eligible to live on the 21 and older floors. 21 and older floors permit students to have alcohol in their units under the conditions outlined in the Residence Life Handbook.

How do I sign up for a 21 and older floor?
If you are currently in 59 East Van Buren, and will be 21 by the start of the contract, you may come into Residence Life during the Contract Renewal Campaign and request a room on the 12-26th floors.

What is Squatter’s Rights?
Love your room, your roommate, your view?
Squatter’s Rights lets you call dibs on the room you currently live in.

What if I am going to be 21 next year by the start of the contract, and am currently living on the 14-20th floor in 59 East Van Buren?
Please come into the Residence Life Office if you would like to squat in your current room on Thursday, March 6th OR during the 2nd week of March during the Contract Renewal Campaign.

What if I want a friend to live in my squatting room that does not currently live there?
Your friend will need to come during the 2nd week of the Contract Renewal Campaign and check the availability of the room at that time.

Why can’t a returning student move in during New Student Move-in?
New students are brought to campus one week before returning students in order to participate in the New Student Orientation Programs on campus. The purpose of this is to acclimate the new students to the campus environment prior to the beginning of the school year.

Can I move in before my designated move in date?
Due to space limitations, New Students may not move in before their designated move in dates and times. Move in dates and times are designed to have no more than 250 students moving into a building at one time. This is set to alleviate long lines for elevators, and so that our staff can be attentive to students as they are moving into Residence Life.
Returning students are designated to move into Residence Life during Labor Day weekend. If returning students are wanting to move in early, the student would need to pay an early move in fee.

What are the early move in fees for Returning Students?
For returning students, there is a $75.00 per day fee up until your scheduled check in time, in addition to a $100.00 early move in fee.

What if I change my mind and don’t want my housing space after the contract renewal for returning students during the first two weeks in March?
If you signed a housing contract during contract renewal and have changed your mind, you must notify the Residence Life in writing no later than May 1, 2008 to receive a refund on your $500.00 prepayment.
You may email Residence Life at: residencelife@colum.edu.

How do I receive a refund before May 1, 2008?
If you have an account balance, your $500.00 prepayment will be applied towards your student account. If you do not have an account balance, Student Financial Services will issue a refund. Please note that credit card payments are credited back to the credit card.

What if I miss the May 1, 2008 deadline?
If you signed a housing contract during contract renewal and have changed your mind, after May 1, 2008, you would need to petition the Residence Life Office at residencelife@colum.edu to be released from any further financial obligations of your housing contract. You may be released from any further financial obligations of your housing contract, but you will not receive a refund on your $500.00 prepayment.

Why do I have to make a $500.00 prepayment?
The $500.00 prepayment is applied towards your first semesters housing costs.

Can the $500.00 prepayment be waived?
Unfortunately, the $500.00 prepayment can not be waived.

Is there storage on campus for the summer?
Unfortunately, there is not storage on campus available. You may want to start our research now for storage companies in the South Loop area, or even plan on taking all of your belongings home with you for the summer months.

GPA requirements?
Please keep in mind that students who live in Residence Life are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 If students do not maintain a 2.0 or higher, they will not be allowed to live in Residence Life, and their housing contract may be terminated for the 2008-2009 Academic year, if the students GPA falls below a 2.0

Do I have to fill out an application?
Returning Columbia students DO NOT have to fill out an application. This is due to the fact that you will be signing a contract the day you come into the office.

What if I want to live on campus this summer?
If you want to live on campus this summer, and are planning on living on campus for the 2008-2009 academic year, you can sign an Annual Contract.

Where can I live if I sign an Annual Contract?
Annual Contracts are available on designated floors in 2 East 8th Street, and in The University Center.

What are the dates for an Annual Contract?
Annual contract dates are May 19, 2008- May 17, 2009

When can I move into my Annual Space?
Occupancy date of Annual spaces are contingent upon turnover and preparation of the room from the previous semester. You may be asked to hold tight in your current space and then given a date during the week of May 19th as to when you can move into your Annual space.

What if I want a summer space in Residence Life and do not intend on living in Residence Life for the 2008-2009 Academic year?
If you are not returning to Residence Life for the 2008-2009 academic year, and still want a summer space, please stop by the Residence Life office the 2nd week in April to enter into a Summer Contract. These spaces are designated in the University Center. You would be required to move into the University Center at a designated time.

How many weeks can I get a contract for summer only?
Summer only contracts are available for 8 and 12 week class sessions. These spaces are only available at the University Center.

What is the difference between an Academic Year Contract and an Annual Contract?
• An Academic Year contract allows students to stay in Residence Life for the fall and spring terms for the 2008-2009 academic year.
• An Annual contract allows students to stay in Residence Life for the 2008 summer, and for the fall and spring terms for the 2008-2009 academic year.

What do I do if I am graduating in the fall, since the contract is an Academic Year contract?
If you plan on graduating in the fall of 2008, Congratulations! You can still sign up for housing. Although it is an Academic year contract, you would need to petition to be released from your 2008-2009 spring only portion of your contract in October of 2008.
Students graduating, and able to provide proper documentation from their College Advisor, will be released from the spring only portion of their contract with no contract termination fees.

Do I have a meal plan?
Students living in a suite at The University Center have a meal plan included in their housing costs. This meal plan is required.

What is the 150 Meal Plan?
The 150 Meal Plan is a supplementary plan that is voluntary for students that live in apartment style housing in Residence Life at Columbia College Chicago for the 2008-2009 Academic year. Meals are served in the Dining Center at The University Center during specific meal times.

How much does The 150 Meal Plan Cost?
Students may purchase 150 meals plus $280.00 flex spending for the cost of $1,550.00. This amount is billed directly to the student’s account in the full amount at the beginning of the term.

Can I sign up for The 150 Meal Plan if I don’t live in The University Center?
Non-University Center students are allowed to sign up for the meal plan.

If I don’t live in The University Center, how would I gain access to the Dining Center?
Non-University Center students will be required to enter through a special entrance.

If I don’t live in The University Center, can I bring a friend to eat with me?
Non-University Center residents are not allowed to bring guests with them to dine in the University Center. However, if you have a friend that lives in The UC, they may join you during your meals.

If I change my mind about 150 Meal Plan, can I get a refund?
Refunds on any used or unused portion of the 150 Meal Plan are not available.