You are here: American University Campus Life Housing & Residence Life Returning Room Selection
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Main Office (Anderson Hall): Mon-Fri: 9 AM-5 PM; Sat-Sun: Closed;
Anderson, Room 1st Floor Anderson
Housing & Residence Life 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8101 United StatesJune 16, 2020: The 2020-2021 Returning Student Room Selection process is only available to sophomore classification students. Upperclass students are encouraged to utilize our Off-Campus Posting Site to secure housing.

Returning Student Room Selection
For the 2020-2021 academic year, all bedrooms on-campus will have a single resident regardless of their designed occupancy. As AU guarantees housing for first and second-year students, our adjusted housing capacity will not allow HRL to house upperclass students.
Please view these infographics for an overview of important information:
- Sophomore Housing Assignment Timeline.
- Learn about how HRL is investing in residents.
- Learn about Health & Safety in the residence halls.
Process Overview and Timeline
There are three steps for the 2020-2021 process. To live on campus, applicants must follow all three steps and their respective deadlines.
Extensive information about the process is available throughout this page. Please review the provided information before contacting the Housing office.
Step 1: Apply (due June 29 at 12 p.m. EST)
Complete the online housing application on the AU Housing Portal by June 29, 2020 at 12 p.m. No exceptions will be made.
Step 2: Group
Students may create or join a group of 2-4 students. Students can begin to create groups as each student completes the housing application. Students may make changes to their group configuration through selection. Based on limited living units that can house groups this year, groups will need to regroup into smaller sizes if those living units are unavailable during selection.
Step 3: Select or Confirm (randomly assigned time)
Specific times for selection will be assigned and communicated on Monday, July 6, 2020. Selection will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2020.
During Step 3 students will be able to view and select a housing assignment. Any member of a group can select for their group at or after their selection time begins. Students that are assigned housing by another group member must confirm their assignment by July 7, at 11:59 p.m. Students who do not confirm their housing assignment within the designated timeframe will lose their assignment.
Housing Options
Refer to the Residence Halls page for detailed information on each building and consider the associated housing rates.
Sophomores are eligible to live in the following buildings:
- Nebraska Hall
- Frequency Apartments
- Glover Park Hotel
- Scott Circle Hotel
- UC Building
Students who elect to live in semi-private living units with private baths are responsible for cleaning their in-unit bathrooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Returning Student Room Selection Process
When will my housing charges appear on Eagle Service?
Housing charges will be posted by July 24.
Is this for the entire 2020-2021 academic year?
Your participation in the room selection process is your agreement to live in AU-affiliated housing for fall 2020 and spring 2021. You are contractually committing to live on campus for the full academic year; cancellation fees will apply should you decide to move off campus at any point during the year. Students leaving the residence halls for an approved reason (study abroad, permanent withdrawal, or transfer) may not be subject to cancellation fees with proper documentation.
Will I be able to choose my suite/apartment-mate(s)?
Yes, you will have the opportunity to create a suite/apartment-mate group during Step 2: Group. Roommate/living unit groups will be able to select together if there are vacant living units still available at their time of selection. Groups can be made up of students without regard to sex, gender, gender identity, or gender expression.
What if I don't have a specific suite or apartment-mate in mind?
No problem. If you do not have an intended suite or apartment-mate, you will simply participate in RSRS as an individual. As such, you will not need to create a group in Step 2 and will select from an available space during Step 3: Select.
Living Off Campus
Is there help for finding off-campus housing?
HRL provides several off-campus resources and services, including a video guide to moving off campus and an off-campus posting tool.
Does moving off campus affect my financial aid?
Moving off-campus does not affect a student's eligibility for financial aid. The financial aid office approximates living expense for all students to the cost of a double room on-campus. If you would like to discuss your particular scholarship or loan arrangements related to moving off-campus, get in touch with the financial aid office.
General Housing
How much does it cost to live on campus?
Refer to the Academic Year Rates page for housing costs. For questions specific to your meal plan, eagleBucks, or dining dollars, contact One Card & Dining Services.
Who is guaranteed housing?
Rising sophomores who had a fall housing assignment or Waitlist application as of June 16, 2020 are guaranteed a space for the 2020-2021 academic year if they meet all deadlines and instructions. Sophomores should refer to the email they were sent on June 16 for specific information about securing a housing assignment on or off-campus. On-campus spaces are limited.
When will my housing charges appear on Eagle Service?
Housing charges will be posted by July 24.
Selection
How are room selection time slots assigned?
Selection time slots are assigned on a random basis.
What if there are no more living units to accommodate my group size or my group does not want what is still open?
If no living units are available for your group size, you can reduce your group size on the day of selection. If you or a group member do not want to live in the available spaces, do not select an on-campus housing assignment for fall 2020.
As cancellation fees go into effect immediately after a student selects or confirms a housing assignment, and there will be no room changes for fall 2020, do not select/confirm your housing assignment unless you want to live in that room for both fall 2020 and spring 2021.
HRL does not anticipate AU operated spaces to be available following room selection and encourage students who do not secure AU operated housing to secure off-campus housing.
What if I select housing and I no longer want to live on campus?
Students can cancel their housing assignment by submitting a housing cancellation through the AU Housing Portal. In advance of cancelling a housing assignment students should review the cancellation webpage and 2020-2021 Housing and License Agreement to cancellation fees based on the date and circumstances of their cancellation.
What if I want to change rooms?
Housing assignments are final and room changes are not offered during the fall 2020 semester.