Residential Living Frequently Asked Questions

• As soon as you are admitted to WTAMU! Hall/room assignments are made at your New Student Orientation (NSO). Learn more about the application process at wtamu.edu/apply-for-housing.
  

• During the housing application process, you will have the opportunity to search for a roommate or select a roommate you know if they have already applied. Both roommates must select each other and be "confirmed roommates" for the assignment to be made. We cannot guarantee that all roommate matches will be made through the initial assignment process, as space to accommodate such requests is limited.

• If you are a new student/first-time resident, you will have the opportunity to select your housing assignment during your scheduled New Student Orientation (NSO).

• Students are able to make changes for Fall terms within their myHousing portal until August 15. After this, due to the number of assignments that must be made and the process involved, all residents will stay in their assigned rooms until the residence halls open. After the halls open, we will work with you to make room and roommate changes, as space allows. You can submit the online room or hall change request form once we have determined our availability for changes. Information regarding this process will be sent to your Buff email account.

Students residing on campus are required to purchase a University meal plan (Silver Meal Plan (160) minimum) during the first two (2) years following their high school graduation (based on the graduation date on file with the University).

*Please note that this requirement is based upon high school graduation date, not academic standing based on credit hours

• Changes in meal plans may be pursued between semesters. Meal plans may be changed without an exemption through the last class day of the first week of classes, assuming the student qualifies for the selected meal plan. If the student does not qualify for the selected meal plan due to the established meal plan requirement, they must apply for and be approved through a Meal Plan Exemption.  For more information on meal plan exemptions and the requirements, visit our website at wtamu.edu/housing-requirement.
• Meal Plans can be changed for Academic Year housing contracts through the myHousing Portal up to August 15. Any other time, requests for meal plan changes can be made in person at Residential Living or via email; emails should come from the student's WTAMU email account and include their name, Buff ID#, their current meal plan, and the desired meal plan option. Changes will only be made IF the student qualifies for the selected meal plan.

• BuffCASH is a prepaid, stored-value account that's part of your Buffalo Gold Card (your official student ID card). BuffCASH can be used on and off campus and is a convenient, cashless way to pay for meals, goods, services, and much more.

• Similar to BuffCASH, Dining Dollars are a prepaid, stored-value account that's part of your Buffalo Gold Card. Dining Dollars can be used in the Dining Hall, JBK Food Court, and any on-campus convenience store.

• Residence halls are priced at various levels in an effort to meet the needs of all students. Students should select halls based on what they can afford. At times a student selects a hall through the application process and is assigned to that hall before realizing that s/he does not have the finances to live in that hall. Each semester, Residential Living helps students in this situation, which might include moving the student to a less expensive hall.
• Students that live with their parents/legal guardian at a permanent home address within a 50-mile radius of the campus, work a significant number of hours, or have financial difficulties may be eligible to lower their meal plan to the "Commuter 75 meal plan." There are options for students that may need assistance. Students with concerns related to housing or meal plan costs are encouraged to contact the Office of Residential Living.

• To receive a complete refund, cancel your application by June 1 for the fall semester, December 15 for the spring semester, May 15 for the summer I term, and June 15 for the summer II term. All cancellations after these dates will forfeit their deposits, even if your completed application was submitted after these dates.

• When you check out of the halls for the final time, you will fill out paperwork enabling you to have your deposit refunded. As long as a resident qualifies to live off campus and doesn't have any disciplinary holds, hasn't damaged property, checks out properly, cleans the room, and cancels prior to the cancellation deadlines, they will be refunded their housing deposit within 6-8 weeks after the cancellation request is approved.

• We make every effort to create a safe living environment for all residents. Our residence halls are equipped with an electronic card access system to provide monitored access to the halls. The card access system is in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students gain access to their residence hall by swiping their Buffalo Gold Card (student ID card) on the card reader located outside of each building.
• Many residence halls are equipped with surveillance cameras,  and every residence hall entrance is equipped with a camera monitoring system.
• The University Police Department (UPD) patrols the campus 24 hours a day, conducting rounds in our residence halls regularly day and night.  Our staff works closely with UPD and Operation Lock-Out Theft to maintain a secure living environment.
• Our best resource for security in the residence hall is our residents!  Our staff is trained to monitor and report various safety concerns and emergency procedures are addressed each semester with the residents. Students are encouraged to lock their doors when they're away from their rooms, prevent tailgating into the hall (letting someone following you into the entrance without swiping their Buffalo Gold Card), and report any suspicious activity to residence hall staff and/or UPD. Phones located outside of the residence halls act as emergency phones.

• Laundry machines are located in every hall and are available for resident's personal use. Laundry cost is included in the price of housing.

• Community kitchens are available in some halls; see the Residence Hall Comparison Chart to compare the available amenities in each hall.  Due to updates in fire code, we are no longer permitted to provide stoves in our community kitchens.

• All of the community kitchens have cookware available for student use. Dishes (i.e. plates, bowls, utensils) are not available in all locations, so it is recommended to bring your own.

• Telephones are available in common areas throughout each residence hall for on-campus and local phone calls. Information is provided at check in for residents who wish to have a phone line in their residence hall rooms. Residents who choose to have a phone line in their room will be responsible for a service charge separate from the room rate.

• Each residence hall houses a Residence Hall Director (RHD) and 4-12 Resident Assistants. RHDs are graduate or senior level students that live in the building and are responsible for the operation of the hall. The RHD is responsible for supervising hall staff, daily management, and advising the hall council. Resident Assistants live among the residents and are responsible for creating programming and peer counseling in their living areas. The hall staff provides assistance to students 24 hours a day.
  

• A night duty staff member is on call Monday through Thursday nights from 9 p.m. until 8 a.m., and on weekends, a staff member is on call from 1 p.m. on Friday until 8 a.m. on Monday. Each hall has an outside phone, which enables calling the night duty number. For students requiring daytime assistance during the week, daytime desk hours vary by hall.

• You are encouraged to contact the Resident Assistant or Residence Hall Director in your hall. These individuals will be able to assist you. If you need additional information, you are welcome to contact the Office of Residential Living and we'll assist you in finding answers or solving problems.

• Students are allowed to stay in the halls over some holidays. All students staying over a break need to sign up in the Office of Residential Living or at their residence hall desk. There is no charge to stay in the hall over Thanksgiving, Easter, or Spring Break. Students staying over Christmas break or between semesters will be required to pay in advance. These nights are not covered in the standard semester rate. Students should also be aware that they may be required to relocate to a designated residence hall for the duration of the break.

• Yes, you can have a car on campus. Any vehicle parked on campus is required to have a parking permit. Permits can be purchased through the Office of Parking Services.

• No. Permits are required on all vehicles parked on campus 24 hours per day. For more information about parking permits, visit the Office of Parking Services.

• No. The only pets we permit in the residence halls, other than service animals, are fish.  You are allowed to have fish in a tank up to 20 gallons.

• We've compiled a list of items that students most often bring with them to campus, as well as a list of items that are not allowed on campus. Check out the list on our Move-In Information page.

• West Texas A&M University believes that living on campus plays a critical role in your academic and developmental success. Because of this, WTAMU has a University housing requirement for all students in their first two years at WT; for details, check out our requirements page.

• Yes. The University's housing requirement is not based on degrees or hours earned, but on your high school graduation date.  For more information check out our requirements page. If you fall under the University's housing requirement, you will then need to complete a housing application to live on campus.

• Yes, if you are required to live on campus and have not completed a housing application, charges will be applied to your University account. These charges will remain on your account until you complete a housing application and are assigned a residence hall or until you apply for and receive approval for an exemption. All questions related to these charges should be referred to the Office of Residential Living.

• Exemption information is available on our requirements page. "Living with Parent" exemptions are the most common exemption and are available to students living at home within a 50-mile driving radius of campus. Students who fail to comply with the housing requirement will have housing pending charges placed on their account. If you anticipate applying for an exemption, please do so as early as possible to avoid processing delays and charges.

• As a residential student you are expected to know and understand the rules that govern Residential Living and the larger University community, located within the Code of Student Life and the Residential Living Handbook. These are updated at the beginning of each Academic Year and are subject to change without notice. The information in these documents are an extension of your contract with Residential Living and West Texas A&M University.