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Why is room draw so big and hectic, can it be done smaller?
Room draw may seem “big and hectic” from the outside, but
actually, it runs quite smoothly. We have developed a system that
streamlines the process so that assignments can be completed in a timely
manner. Rest assured that we do everything possible to accommodate
your request for your future housing assignment.
Why is my Room Draw Number, 9000 something, when I know there are not 9000 students on this campus?
If you have 9000 number, it signifies that you are one of
the students who did not fill out the first BannerWeb form on time. We
then allowed you to return to your house or enter the lottery, but
whatever house you end up in, you will choose after others in your class
year.
For example, if your number
is 9561, you originally were given
number 561, but because you did not
fill out the first BannerWeb form,
a 9 is put in front of your
original number to designate that you
must choose after others in your
class, in your house at room draw. So you are still able to choose
in your class year at room draw,
just after those who did fill out
the form on time.
What does “group” mean when you’ve received your lottery number?
This is simply a computer-generated term that enables the computer to sort by class year codes.
How does room draw work for suites and doubles?
Students interested in sharing suites or doubles must show up
together for room draw. Having the same assigned house, of course, is a
prerequisite. The best (lowest) room draw number will be called and
all those interested in the suite or double must be present.
What if I cannot make it on the night and time my class year and house are scheduled to draw?
You are responsible for making arrangements for a proxy to pick your room. You need to contact someone who will serve as you during room draw. Please email this person and include in the email, permission to be your proxy, your name and ID number. This person needs to bring the email to room draw. Please don't email housing@smith.edu with this information as we will not be supplying any permission emails during room draw.
Why don’t people already living in the house get priority over people moving into the house, when they have the same class year?
To make it fair for all students to have a chance to move
into any house on campus, lottery numbers are produced per class year
regardless of their assigned house. There are a few exceptions such as
specialty housing.
What if I don’t like the room I chose and want to change rooms or houses after Room Draw?
Post Room Draw Change Request forms will be available
after Room Draw in Clark Hall and on our room draw website.
You may fill out this
form and submit it to us. Depending on availability, we will consider you
for a room change later in the
spring and summer as rooms open for
various reasons. This Post Room
Draw Change Request is
just a request, there is no
guarantee that you will be
moved to another room. All available spaces on campus are
generally full once room draw has occured. Students in TBA status will
have priority over post-room draw changes.
I didn't get any of my five house choices!
Why?
All houses on campus (with the
exception of special houses such
as Chase substance free rooms, 150 Elm, Dawes, and Friedman are required
to house a percentage of each
class year in their house. This
means that there are only a certain
number of spaces available in
each house for each class year.
You may have selected houses
which had a limited number
of spaces for your class
year, or a large number of students
in your class may have selected
the same houses. Either way,
the students with the lowest
lottery numbers were able to
claim the available spaces.
What happens if I do a room change form during the housing lottery?
If you are requesting a room change within your house, that
is not a problem. If you are requesting to move to a different house
and have accepted it, you must wait to complete the House Decision form
until after you’ve received by email that your new house has been
changed in Banner. All changes are final once your housing assignment
as been changed in Banner and you’ve gone through the house decision
process. If you request a room change while the House Choice Form is up, it won't be processed until the form closes. If you do change your mind, you will need to fill out a Post
Room Draw form which is available online in mid-April.
Now that
I am TBA, how do I get a house and room?
After you complete the TBA housing form (distributed with Lottery Results
of March 27), you will be on the TBA list according
to your original lottery
number (on your House Choice Form). Vacancies primarily occur when
students
file for late leaves of absence or withdraw for the following
semester. Once your
TBA housing form is turned in, please be patient...the requests that
you originally selected during room draw and what you write
on your TBA housing form will be considered fully and you will be
notified
when a room in your house or area of preference is assigned to you.
If your
house choice does not become available, you will be contacted via
your Smith email account for more information and a placement.
If I withdraw
and I am readmitted to the college before the housing lottery process
begins, may I participate in the lottery process?
No. You will be housed through a separate process during the summer after you
are readmitted. Your room assignment will be mailed to you during the summer.
While
I am on leave from Smith, how will I find out about the housing lottery in
order to secure my housing for my return to Smith?
You will be receiving emails along with all other current students. You will be going through the process at the same time.
I have applied to study away for the fall 2012 semester, how do I notify you of this?
The Study Abroad Office notifies Housing of who is going
abroad before room draw. Those students don't participate. Housing information
for Spring 2013 will be emailed to you in October of 2012.
If a student changes their mind and decides not study
away, or will not be studying away due to circumstances beyond her control, that student’s
housing status will be considered TBA and will be houses as other TBAs.
I want to be off-campus, but
I didn't get one of the spaces in the Off-Campus lottery. What can I do?
If your number was not low enough to get one of the off-campus lottery spaces,
you can still petition to be off-campus for the fall semester. Off-campus
petitions can be picked up at the Office of Residence Life, Clark Hall 101 or from our housing website.
The deadline for submitting your off campus petition for the Fall 2012 semester is June 1, 2012.
How can I make sure my disability or medical needs will be taken into consideration during Room Draw?
Housing and the Disability Services Office will work together to arrange appropriate housing accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. Individuals with special medical needs should also apply through this process and will be accommodated to the extend possible. To apply for housing accommodations on the basis of a disability or significant medical condition, contact Laura Rauscher in College Hall 104, at ext. 2071 or via email at lrausche@smith.edu.
PLEASE NOTE: You must complete an accommodations request form and provide proper medical documentation from a qualified medical professional according to the guidelines available on the Office of Disability Services website. Forms and documentation must be received by the Disability Services Office no later than February 29, 2012. Laura Rauscher, the Director of Disability Services will review your situation and make any necessary recommendations to the housing coordinator. Based on these recommendations and any other relevant information, the housing coordinator will make every effort to accommodate your disability or medical needs during the Room Draw process. Your specific housing preferences will be given priority whenever possible. If you already receive housing accommodations on the basis of a disability or other medical condition, you should email Laura in Disability Services and Elizabeth Hait in Housing to indicate your continued need for accommodations by March 1st, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact the Disability Services Office directly.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the houses.
If I am applying for a Head Resident,
House Coordinator, or House Community Adviser position, should I
participate in the housing lottery?
YES. It is in your best interest to participate in the housing lottery as a
precaution. If you choose a room and then receive a position, then you will
be moved to the room in the house you were selected for. If you are not
selected then you have chosen a room for yourself for the fall semester.
If you have further questions, please
contact Housing, extension 4940, housing@smith.edu. |
