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Housing & Residence Life
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509-963-1831
Housing@cwu.edu

Roommate FAQs

Meeting your college roommate can be one of the most exciting parts of coming to college! Please review the information below to learn how to request a specific roommate, how roommate assignment works, and what to do if you would like to change roommates.

  • How to select a Room with your Chosen Roommate

    One of the easiest ways to be assigned to the same room as your roommate of choice is to simply select the same residence hall room while room self-selection is open in MyHousing. We recommend that both roommates login at the same time so that they see the same list of available rooms. Once you and your roommate have decided which room you'd like to live in, each of you simply selects a bed within that room. You are now roommates!

  • How to select a Roommate Using the Roommate Request Option in MyHousing

    Another option for selecting a roommate in a double room is to use the Roommate Request tool in MyHousing.

    Before you attempt to use the Roommate Request tool, please ensure that you and your roommate(s):

    • Are both admitted to CWU and have accepted your admission
    • Have both filled out and completed the same application/contract type (i.e. first year contract, returning contract, etc.) in the MyHousing portal
    • Have both paid your $200 housing application fee

    To request a roommate in MyHousing:

    1. Login to MyHousing
    2. Go to the Room Selection tab and choose Select Roommate
    3. At the top of the request screen, use the For the Term dropdown to select the correct starting term for your housing contract
    4. Choose the Search for Roommate option and enter the name of the person you'd like to live with. You can search by first or last name, if you are unsure of spelling.
    5. Once you find the correct person, submit the roommate request.
    6. The person you request will receive an email letting them know that you are requesting them as a roommate. They will then need to follow the steps below to accept the request.
    7. Once your roommate has accepted the request, go back into MyHousing and use the Room Selection menu to pick a residence hall room. Because your roommate grouping is already formed, you will only see available rooms that could accommodate both you and your roommate (i.e. double rooms without any current residents in them).

    To accept a roommate request in MyHousing:

    1. Login to MyHousing
    2. Go to the Room Selection tab and choose Select Roommate
    3. At the top of the request screen, use the For the Term dropdown to select the correct starting term for your housing contract
    4. Choose Pending Roommate Requests to see roommate requests you've received
    5. To accept the request, click on the three dots to the left of the requestor's name and choose the icon of the person with a plus sign next to them
    6. To reject a request, click on the three dots to the left of the requestor's name and choose the trash can icon to delete the request
  • How to select Roommates for Triple Rooms and Suites

    If 3 or more students will be living together in the residence halls or apartments, you will need to use the steps below to confirm roommates using the Roommate Request tool in MyHousing. With this process, each roommate will have to request and accept all other roommates.

    Before you attempt to use the Roommate Request tool, please ensure that you and your roommates/suite-mates:

    • Are all admitted to CWU and have accepted your admission
    • Have all filled out and completed the same application/contract type (i.e. first year contract, returning contract, etc.) in the MyHousing portal
    • Have all paid your $200 housing application fee

    To request multiple roommates/suite-mates in MyHousing:

    1. Login to MyHousing
    2. Go to the Room Selection tab and choose Select Roommate
    3. At the top of the request screen, use the For the Term dropdown to select the correct starting term for your housing contract
    4. Choose the Search for Roommate option and enter the name of each person you'd like to live with. You can search by first or last name, if you are unsure of spelling.
    5. Once you find the correct person, submit the roommate request. Repeat this for all roommates.
      For example, if there were 4 roommates who wanted to live together:
      • Student 1 will request Students 2, 3, and 4 as roommates
      • Student 2 will request Students 1, 3, and 4 as roommates
      • Student 3 will request Students 1, 2, and 4 as roommates
      • Student 4 will request Students 1, 2, and 3 as roommates
    6. The people you request will receive emails letting them know that you are requesting them as a roommate. They will then need to follow the steps below to accept the request.
    7. Once your roommates have accepted the request, go back into MyHousing and use the Room Selection menu to pick a residence hall room or apartment. Because your roommate grouping is already formed, you will only see available rooms that could accommodate both you and your roommate (i.e. double rooms without any current residents in them).

    To accept a roommate request in MyHousing:

    1. Login to MyHousing
    2. Go to the Room Selection tab and choose Select Roommate
    3. At the top of the request screen, use the For the Term dropdown to select the correct starting term for your housing contract
    4. Choose Pending Roommate Requests to see roommate requests you've received
    5. To accept the request, click on the three dots to the left of the requestor's name and choose the icon of the person with a plus sign next to them
    6. To reject a request, click on the three dots to the left of the requestor's name and choose the trash can icon to delete the request
    7. If you will have more than one roommate, please accept the request from each roommate you've received
  • How are Roommates Paired?

    Central Washington University's Housing Services Department does not use a roommate "quiz" or matching software. We do not find that those services result in any fewer requests for room changes than simple chance. If your student would like to meet more students looking for roommates before selecting a room, we encourage them to login to MyHousing and use the Roommate Finder function. This is a message board where students can introduce themselves and connect with other students.

    If you do not request a specific roommate, then your roommate will simply be the student who chooses another bed in the room you have selected. All rooms are single gender, and the gender of the room is determined by the first person who selects the room, in most cases.

  • How do I find a Roommate?

    If you would like to attempt to find a roommate before selecting a residence hall room or apartment, you have several options.

    Roommate Wanted Board

    In the MyHousing portal, you will see a quick link on the right side for Roommate Wanted. This will connect you to a message board where you can tell others about yourself and request potential roommates contact you, read through other roommate requests, or if you live in Brooklane Village or Short Getz, you can advertise an open room in your unit.

    Fill Out Your Roommate Profile

    In MyHousing, look for Personal Information in the left-side navigation. You can fill out your Roommate Profile section to tell potential roommates a little about yourself. This is a great option for first year students that will be living in the Residence Halls. After you have selected a room, you will be able to see your roommate's name on your Home screen in MyHousing. If you click on their name, you will be able to see their contact information and their Roommate Profile, if they have written one.

ROOMPACT Roommate Agreement

ROOMPACT is a roommate agreement resource available to all students living on-campus at Central Washington University when they move in. This online resource helps start discussions between new roommates on their expectations, likes, and dislikes regarding their living space. Roommate conflicts are a natural part of learning to live with another person. However, many roommate conflicts can be avoided with open and honest conversations about potential issues and solutions at the start of the quarter. You can revisit your agreement as needed throughout the academic year.

Your Resident Assistant (RA) or Apartment Manager (AM) is ready and willing to mediate conversations on these topics with you and your roommate(s). Let them help you reach an agreement that is fair to all involved.

To use ROOMPACT:

  1. Login to your MyHousing portal
  2. On the right side under “Helpful Links,” click on Roompact
  3. When in Roompact, look under “Agreements” for roommate and, if applicable, suite-mate agreements
  4. Discuss topics, such as guests, cleaning, and noise
  5. Fill out the agreement together and sign

Roommate Conflicts

While we wish roommate conflicts were never a problem, it occasionally happens. If you experience a disagreement with your roommate or are considering changing rooms or apartments due to a roommate issue, please consider the information below:

The first step that should be taken in a roommate conflict is to talk to your roommate. Here are a few tips:

  • Plan to talk with your roommate when you can both focus on the conversation and are not headed to class or another pressing activity
  • Try to stay calm and keep in mind the goal of the conversation when talking to your roommate
  • Ask questions to help you fully understand the problem, such as "why?" or "how?" questions
  • Work to come to a mutually agreeable solution
  • Refer to your roommate contract to help with previously discussed issues and update your contract after you discuss the current issue to document what steps both sides have agreed to

Conflict Resolution Resources

Your Resident Assistant (RA) or Apartment Manager (AM) is well versed in conflict resolution and would be happy to meet with you and your roommate to talk through any issues and help come to a equitable agreement between all parties involved. Should your RA/AM be unavailable, your Residence Hall Coordinator (RHC)/Apartment Complex Coordinator (ACC) is a senior level staff member and can also be of assistance to you.

Changing Rooms

Residence Halls:
If you have been unable to resolve the conflict between your roommate and yourself, you may request a room change on the third Thursday of each quarter (called Transfer Day) for any reason. To participate in that process, login to your MyHousing portal and fill out the transfer request form on Transfer Day. The form becomes available at 7 AM and works on a first-come-first-served basis.

Apartments:
If you have been unable to resolve the conflict between your roommate and yourself, you may request a room change through your Apartment Manager (AM) or the Apartment Complex Coordinator (ACC). We will work to move you to another unit within your apartment complex, if possible.

If you require a room change more urgently, please talk to your RA/AM or RHC/ACC for options. They will be able to assist you quickly and to the best of our ability.

Please Note:
We will happily help you move to a different room/apartment as quickly as we can; however, we cannot force your roommate to move out of your shared room/suite/apartment. It will be your responsibility to move in most situations.