HOUSING INFORMATION AND POLICIES

* All students are expected to depart from the halls within 24 hours after their last examination unless required to stay on campus for Commencement activities.

** All residence halls and apartments close Saturday, May 11 at noon for students not required to stay on campus for Commencement activities.

• Students admitted to the University as a "resident" are guaranteed three consecutive years (six consecutive semesters) of on-campus housing, beginning with the Fall semester of the academic year of their admission. Students who forego a semester(s) of housing for any reason (i.e. participation in a study abroad or internship program, deferred acceptance) are not guaranteed additional semester(s) of housing in their fourth year. 
• Housing assignments are made based on year of entry rather than credit hours. 
• Housing for a fourth year is not guaranteed, except to students who are admitted to the University with Presidential or certain scholarships that specifically guarantee a fourth year of housing. There is an annual housing lottery for seniors interested in on-campus housing.  
• First-year students may be housed in any section of campus, including Main, South and West campuses. 
  
• First-year students are housed by gender on each wing or floor. The residence halls are typically co-educational as a whole. First-year students may be housed in single, double, triple or quad rooms. 

Note: There are no room changes that can be made within the first two weeks of a semester. 

Students MUST go through the following process to be considered for a room change

1. Complete a Roommate Living Agreement (not applicable for students currently assigned to a Single)
2. If a roommate conflict occurs, students are required to report the situation to their Resident Assistant and begin a mediation process. 
3. If mediation process is unsuccessful, then the student with the concern(s) will meet with their Area Coordinator. 
4. Area Coordinator will determine room change eligibility. 
5. If a student is deemed eligible for a room change, they will be contacted by the Assistant Director for Housing Services or Housing Assignment Assistant. 

Approved Room Change Process

1. Approved resident(s) will have three days to transition to their new housing assignment. Students will have access to both spaces during this time. 
2. New roommate(s) (if applicable) will be given a day's notice of the approved room change. 
3. Former roommate(s) will be notified of vacancy within their space. As a courtesy, students will be given five days to identify a new preferred roommate. 
   • As stated in the Housing Agreement, The Office for Residence Life reserves the right to assign a new roommate at any time. 

Costs Associated With Room Change

The semester cost for housing may vary from room to room. Students accepting a room change may be charged more or less, depending on their new housing assignment. Before accepting a room change, please be certain to review current room rates. Costs will be prorated in accordance with the date of the room change.

Term Switches

Term switches are a separate process from room change requests. Term switches only apply to on-campus residents seeking a new housing assignment for the Spring semester. 

• Note: Term switches depend on available vacancies.
• Students with at least 1 vacancy in their housing assignment should expect these vacancies to be filled by The Office for Residence Life. 

Residence Life will make every effort to accommodate students who cannot leave campus during break periods. Depending on the length of the break period and the demand for housing, students may either be:

• permitted to remain in their own room, or
• asked to consolidate into another building for reasons of safety and security.

In order to remain on campus during a break period, students must register via the housing portal. 

• All University policies and terms of the housing contract remain in effect for students who remain in residence during break periods.
• Please note that Dining Halls are closed and meal plans are not active during break periods. For more information, please see Dining Services.

Fall, Thanksgiving, Spring, and Easter Breaks

• Given the demand for housing, residence halls will remain open during the Fall, Thanksgiving, Spring, and Easter Breaks for students who register online. 
  

Christmas/Winter Break

• For reasons of safety and security, the University closes all but a few halls during this break period. 
• Students who must stay on campus during this break for a University-sponsored program, may be required to take up temporary residence in a hall other than their own during this time.

Senior Week

• Graduating seniors and sponsored students participating in Commencement activities may register to remain in residence during this break period. 
• One dining hall will remain open for approved students during senior week.

Summer Housing 2024

Summer housing in the designated summer residence is available to Villanova undergraduate students who are enrolled in summer courses, who are employed by the University over the summer, who are participating in a University-sponsored internship program, or who are required to be on campus for a University program.

• To submit the online housing contract for summer housing, students must provide their reason for requesting summer housing and be approved by the Office for Residence Life.
• Residence Life will review all summer housing requests and will approve based on the criteria above.
  • Students will receive an email confirming their eligibility to reside on campus during the summer sessions within 10 business days.
• Students approved to reside on campus for the summer will be assigned as individuals, or with a roommate in: Moriarty, O'Dwyer, Simpson, and St. Mary's Halls.
  • There are no apartment style options available for summer housing. 
  • Housing assignments are typically available 1 week prior to the start of the summer session term.
    

2024 Opening and Closing Dates

Students approved for summer housing will have their Wildcard automatically loaded with access to their assigned residence hall beginning at 9 a.m. on the designated move-in date. RAs will be available and present in the halls should you need assistance. In an emergency, please call Public Safety.

Summer Session I
Move-in: Tuesday, May 28
Move-out: Thursday, June 27

Summer Session II
Move-in: Friday, June 28
Move-out: Tuesday, July 30

Both Sessions (Summer III)
Move-in: Tuesday, May 28
Move-out: Tuesday, July 30

Summer Housing Rates

Summer I: $1,137.00 | Meals (19/week): $1,006.00**

Summer II: $1,137.00 | Meals (19/week): $1,006.00**

Summer III: $2,274.00 | Meals (19/week): $1,258.00**

**Students approved for summer housing are required to purchase a meal plan**

Apply for Summer Housing

The Summer Housing Application will be available via the Housing Portal between April 2-May 2, 2024.

• Current Villanova students residing on campus will receive an email when the application is available. 
• Students newly admitted to the University who do not have a Villanova username or password (i.e., Pre-College or incoming First-Year students) should contact the Office for Residence Life.

If you have a vacancy in your room/apartment, Residence Life will fill your vacancy.

• You do not have the option to keep your vacancy open. 
• Residence Life will inform you by email that you have an impending vacancy in your room/apartment. You will be given five days to inform Residence Life if you have a preferred roommate to fill the vacancy. 
  • However, as circumstances require, we may exercise our ability under the terms of your housing contract to fill the vacancy without consulting you about your preferences. 

If you have a preferred roommate, the following MUST occur in order for Residence Life to process your request.

• Your requested roommate must be eligible to reside on campus. You and your preferred roommate must both email Residence Life to confirm this request. 

If you do not have a preferred roommate:

• Residence Life will offer your vacancy to someone seeking a room change.
• You will be contacted via email and given the name of the student who will be filling the vacancy in your room/apartment.

• Students who are not living on-campus because they are studying abroad or taking a leave of absence during the fall semester will receive an email from Residence Life in October with information about obtaining housing for the spring semester. 
  • Students will be directed to complete a housing application via the Housing Portal. 
  • Housing assignments will be available in early December. Billing will be added in January.
• Residence Life will guarantee a student an on-campus housing assignment upon their return from abroad/medical leave. However, Residence Life cannot guarantee a student a particular housing assignment. 
  • Residence Life will not remove a student from their assignment nor leave a space vacant to accommodate the needs of a returning student.
  • Vacancies will be filled throughout the Fall and Spring Semesters. Given this, preferred roommates and/or apartment groups may or may not be placed in a housing assignment together upon return to the University.

Prevention and Educational Efforts

• Residents are told not to bring: hot plates, toaster ovens, space heaters, any appliance with an open heating element, candles, incense, and potpourri burners.
• All appliances and cords must be UL-approved.
• The Department of Environmental Health & Safety provides information and safety brochures for Campus Fire Safety.
• Floor plans, evacuation routes, evacuation assembly locations, drill procedures, and fire safety policies are reviewed by RA’s during their first floor meeting.
• Laminated floor plans and evacuation routes are publicly posted on each floor of each residence hall.
• The University celebrates Fire Prevention Week to promote Campus Fire Safety

Enforcement

• Students will be fined heavily and are subject to other judicial action for any violation of Fire Safety
• Fire/Health Safety inspections are conducted for every room three times per year. Violations are documented with a corrective action plan implemented.

Evacuation Drills

• Evacuation drills are conducted to practice Emergency Preparedness such as escape routes & evacuation plans.
• Unannounced drill conducted each semester, including summer session.
• This joint effort involves Residence Life, Public Safety, Environmental Health & Safety and Facilities Management departments.

Evacuation Drill Process

• Alarm pulled by Facilities Management;
• Evacuation assistance and movement to the designated assembly area by Residence Life and Public Safety;
• FMS representatives check for proper operation of alarm horns, exit and stairwell lights, fire doors, and presence of fire extinguishers;
• Public Safety headquarters check to insure alarm relay working properly;
• Evacuation maintained until Public Safety and Fire Department sounds "all clear";
• FMS, Public Safety, EH&S, and Residence Life follow-up as required.

Equipment

• Comprehensive alarm system installed in every building.
• FMS checks & tests fire alarm systems, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers.
• Buildings zoned with sensitive smoke detectors that sound alarm for smoke or fumes.
• Alarms sound in building and also sent to Public Safety department manned 24/7.
• The Annunciator panel at the main entrance identifies the location of tripped detector or pull box.
• The strobe light at top of each building alerts the fire department to the correct building.
• Sprinklers are an important part of the fire protection system. All residential living areas are equipped with sprinkler systems in student rooms and common areas.
• All Villanova halls are equipped with fast-acting smoke detectors that sound fire alarms when triggered.
• All hallways are equipped with fire extinguishers; all apartment kitchens have extinguishers.
• Doors and interior walls are one-hour fire-rated, i.e., would take a fire one hour to burn through these items and reach a corridor.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Before a fire:

• Students should know the location and route for their first and second means of egress
• Students should keep fire doors closed.
• Students should know the location of all fire extinguishers in their area.
  (Note: Do not attempt to extinguish a fire unless you have been trained or the fire is between you and the exit.)

Whether you sense a fire or the building fire alarm system is activated, put the evacuation procedures in action.

Never ignore a fire alarm!

When a fire alarm sounds, you must evacuate the building. In the event of a fire alarm or if a student suspects a fire:

1. Activate the building alarm. (Pull the alarm on your way out of the building if the alarm horn is not already suspended.)
2. Call Public Safety (610) 519-4444 …give as much information as possible. Your first action should be to grab your room keys and proceed to the nearest exit. Be sure to alert any other occupants in the room.
3. Evacuate from the building quickly and quietly. (If the hallway is clear of smoke, walk to the nearest fire exit and evacuate the building. Close your door behind you. Leave the fire fighting to the professionals.)
   1. Feel the door from top to bottom: if it is hot, do not open. Keep calm. If trapped in a room, do the following if possible.
      1. Place towels or clothing, preferably wet under the door to keep smoke out.
      2. Clear the window of blinds, attract attention. If you have a phone available contact Public Safety at (610) 519-4444 and tell the dispatcher that you are trapped, give your name and room number.
      3. Stay low; breathe fresh air near the ground.
      4. Stay calm and await help.
   2. If the door is cool, crouch low and open the door slowly. Close the door quickly if smoke or fire is present.
   3. If it is clear, exit via the nearest stairwell. Stay low if smoke conditions exist. Report to your designated evacuation area.
   4. If you encounter heavy smoke in a stairwell, go back and use an alternate route.
4. Never use elevators! Elevators will stop during a fire.
5. Follow the evacuation plan established for this building.
6. Do not re-enter this building until instructed by Public Safety and/or
   Fire Department.
7. Tampering with or misuse of fire safety equipment is illegal. Violators are subject to appropriate sanctions and prosecution.

A report of suspected mold may be made using the maintenance request form, or by calling (610) 519-4420, from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. During other hours, please call Public Safety at (610) 519-6979, which will contact Facilities personnel for an in-person response.

Below is additional information related to reports of suspected mold:

• Any time the University receives a report of suspected mold in a residence hall, there is a swift and coordinated response from Villanova’s Offices of Environmental Health and Safety, Facilities Management, and Residence Life.
• When the report references an air conditioning unit, our Maintenance Department immediately cleans it appropriately, whether we believe there is mold or not.
• When the reported concern is unrelated to an air conditioning unit, the room is first evaluated by trained staff from our Environmental Health and Safety Team who use the Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool created by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health—a branch of the CDC.

When mold is identified, we work quickly to address the situation by:

• Cleaning and disinfecting affected areas.
• Assessing and ensuring proper air circulation.
• Having maintenance staff check the HVAC unit to make sure it’s working optimally.
• Providing a dehumidifier (delivered within 24 hours) in instances where the humidity levels are found to be elevated.
• As a note: The air conditioning and ventilation in the residence hall rooms are not interconnected. Each room has an individual air conditioning unit. So, an issue in one room is not symptomatic of a larger issue within the entire residence hall.