2013-2014 Housing Costs:
The cost for living on-campus for the 2013-2014 academic year is $4,278.00 for a double room in one of the traditional halls (Pierce, White, Swope, Grand, or liberty). An additional $200 an academic year ($100 per semester) is assessed to residents who live in the Suites (Briscoe, Constitution, McCorkle Halls).

Floor Meetings: 
Each RA will be holding a floor meeting between March 10th and March 16th to discuss the Room Draw process and to help answer any questions you may have about any of the processes included in Room Draw 2013. Ask your RA for more details about time and location of this meeting.

Residence Life Housing Contracts:
Residence Life Housing Contracts for the 2013-2014 academic year must be filled out and signed before a room can be officially reserved. Contracts for suite residents will be included when residents are notified of their suite placement. Contracts for students selecting a single or double room will be available at Room Draw for your convenience. Individuals who send a proxy to room draw are asked to complete a Residence Life Housing Contract prior to selection when possible. Individuals living in Substance Free areas of campus are required to sign a Wellness Housing Agreement with their Residence Life Housing Contract.

Proxies:
If you are unable to sign up for your room at the appointed time, you must send someone else with your room deposit receipt AND signed Residence Life Contract as your proxy. Your proxy can select a space for you from the available spaces at the appointed time.

Room Deposits: 
Room Reservation Deposits are required to sign up for a room. This $25.00 is credited to your account and will be applied toward your room charges for 2013-2014. Room Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE. Pay your $25.00 Room Reservation Deposit at the Business Office and bring your receipt to room draw or include with your suite application. You must have this receipt to reserve a room, and without it you forfeit your place in the priority system. NO CASH OR CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE TIME A ROOM IS BEING SELECTED; only receipts from the Business Office. If you lose your receipt, you can get a photocopy of the receipt at the Business Office. The Business Office closes at 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Be sure to plan ahead! Don't wait until the last minute.

Roommates: 
Roommate pairs should sign up together during the earliest appropriate time slot for either individual: room selection is based on individuals with the highest to lowest point total for each class (senior, junior, sophomore, freshman).  If you do not sign up with a roommate, you will not be allowed to select an empty double-occupancy room. You will have the option to sign up for single room at the cost of a single room OR you will be placed on a list and assigned a current BVU student as a roommate for the upcoming year..  Self-selection of International roommates? As is the case every year, we anticipate all spaces will be filled, thus every student not living in a designated single will have a roommate/s.  Self-selection of your roommate is highly encouraged.

Live On Policy:
Because Buena Vista University recognizes the important role residential life plays in a student's academic career, students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours in any semester at Buena Vista University are required to live on campus unless they meet one of the following 5 exceptions: (1) students over the age of 23 by August 8, 2013 (2) students who have served active military duty (3) students who are legally married (4) students who have already lived in residence halls eight consecutive semesters or (5) students living with parents or legal guardians in the Storm Lake area. Students who wish to live off campus for any of the above reasons are expected to notify the Office for Student Affairs and provide necessary evidence to be granted commuter status immediately.

Appeal for Commuter Status:
While students can appeal for commuter status for reasons other than those listed above, only in rare situations where extenuating circumstances can be proven, will such status be considered. Those students who wish to appeal for commuter status can do so by submitting a letter of request to the Director of Residence Life. This letter can be in hard copy or via email and should include any information that can prove extenuating circumstances.

Binding Contracts:
Once a student has completed and turned in a Residence Life Housing Contract, that contract is binding. Once a contract is signed, ALL above exceptions are waived and the student must go through the appeal process as outlined above to be released from the contract (with the exception of complete withdrawal from Buena Vista University).

Closed Breaks:
As outlined in the Residence Life Housing Contract, the length of the contract is the academic year with the exception for times when the University is closed for breaks. Closed breaks include: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Interim, Spring and Easter. The beginning and end times for these breaks are listed in the academic calendar and only students with official University obligations and have prior approval through the Break Request process will be allowed to reside on campus during closed breaks.

Students Currently Studying Abroad
Students who are currently studying abroad (or from extended distances within the United States) and returning to campus for the Fall 2013 semester can be included in the room draw process. If such a student will be included on a suite application, that student simply needs to send an email to the Director of Residence Life to confirm that she/he wishes to live with that group of students. The $25 Room Reservation Deposit must be paid and the receipt in her/his name provided at time of room selection. If a person who is currently studying abroad has asked you to be her/his proxy and select a room in Liberty, Grand, Pierce, White or Swope, you will need to complete any/all appropriate applications, meeting the appropriate deadlines, and bring their receipt for the $25 Room Reservation Deposit to the appropriate room draw location. 

Students Studying Abroad for the Fall 2013 Semester
Students who will be studying abroad (or from extended distances within the United States) during the Fall 2013 semester and returning to campus for either Interim 2014 or Spring semester 2014 need to stop by the Office for Student Affairs and complete a Change of Status Form. This form will allow the student to inform the University where she/he is hoping to reside upon returning to campus. While every attempt is made to place a returning student in the desired location, no empty space will be held during the fall semester for a student returning in the spring. As is the case every year, we anticipate needing every space available during the fall semester.