Changing or Cancelling Housing

Thinking about changing or cancelling your housing on campus? Explore the tabs above for:

• In-Semester Change – Find out about the Online Room Selection, Person-for-Person Swap, Roommate Pull-In, and more.
• Semesters Away – Plan your housing if participating in Education Abroad, Domestic Exchange, Co-Op and Internship programs.
• Spring Change – Explore Spring Pull-In, Spring Swap, Spring Online Room Selection, and more.
   

Cancellation Fee – Learn more about the cancellation fee and housing fee refund schedule.

Current On-Campus Students with a Housing Assignment

Students who are interested in changing their housing assignment have several options that they can use, which are outlined below. Since different spaces across campus are billed at different rates, students are strongly encouraged to review our Room Rates & Fees before securing a new assignment. If a student secures a new space that is billed at a different rate, the base room fee will be adjusted on their Bursar bill within ten days.
 

Online Room Selection

Students who are seeking vacancies across campus can use the online room selection process. Students can request an appointment in SPIRE during the appointment request period outlined below. The spaces in Online Room Selection will come from other students who have cancelled their assignment. Online Room Selection allows students to see the available options across campus and select the space they most prefer. Students who request an appointment and do not select an assignment will remain in their current space. The timeline for Fall In-Semester Room Selection is below:

• Round 1
  • Appointment Request: September 5 – September 8
  • Appointments Post: September 10 by 5pm
  • Room Selection: September 11 - September 12 at 4:00 p.m.
  • Final Move: Must complete move to new space by September 14 at 11:00 p.m.
• Round 2
  • Appointment Request: September 19 – September 22
  • Appointments Post: September 24 by 5pm
  • Room Selection: September 25 - September 26 at 4:00 p.m.
  • Final Move: Must complete move to new space by September 28 at 11:00 p.m.

To request an appointment for Online Room Selection, navigate to SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Room Selection Home and click the 'Request a New Appointment' button during the appointment request period.  Appointments are based on Room Selection Priority.  Students can find their priority in SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Room Selection Priority.
 

Person-for-Person Swap

Thursdays and Fridays, September 11 - October 31
Students who move must complete move to new space by Sunday at at 11:00 p.m.

Students can use the Room Swap process to exchange like assignments (ex. shared room to shared room, single to a single within the same hall, apartment to apartment). Students who are interested in swapping can do so on Thursday and Friday from September 11 through October 31.  This process is completed in SPIRE under Housing > Room Assignment Changes > Room Swap. When a student initiates a swap request, the person they intend to swap with will receive an email. Once both students have approved the swap, the assignment is automatically updated. Any students who are reassigned will have until Sunday to complete their move. Students must also properly exchange keys by going to their Residential Service Desks. Failure to exchange keys through the service desk will result in a $250 Lock Recore Fee.
 

Roommate Pull-In

Pull In Form Available Here

September 5-October 29, Assignments update each Thursday

Students who have a confirmed vacancy in their room are able to pull a preferred on-campus student into their room. In order to be pulled in, the student must be eligible for the space. For example, a senior could not be pulled into a space in a first-year residence hall. Students who wish to complete a pull-in can complete a Google form that will become available here from September 5 through October 29. Each Thursday, all matched pull-in requests will be updated in SPIRE. The pulled in student will have until Sunday to properly check out of their current assignment and complete their move into the new room.

Current Students without a Housing Assignment

Current students who do not hold a housing assignment as of opening can walk in to the Residential Life Assignments Office, located in Crampton Hall, to seek an on-campus assignment. Please note that most available vacant spaces will be shared rooms with a roommate.

This page includes instructions for students participating in Education Abroad, Domestic Exchange, Co-Op and Internship programs. Please review the information based on the semester you will be away below for instructions on how to cancel your assignment and secure housing again when you return.

Assignment Change Options for Current On-Campus Students

Current on-campus students have several options to seek an assignment change for spring 2026, which are outlined below. Students are only eligible to use one process to change their assignments. Students who complete a swap or who complete a pull in are not eligible to receive an appointment for the Spring change process.

Move Out Requirement for Students who secure a new assignment

Students who change their Spring 2026 housing assignment are required to check out of their fall assignment by removing their belongings from the space and returning their key to the Residential Service Desk by no later than 11:00 a.m. on December 18. Students will move into their spring 2026 assignment when halls reopen in January.

Students living in Break Housing: Students currently living in Break Housing (North Apartments, Grayson, Cashin, and Prince. Also, Brett, James and Gorman residents approved to stay over breaks) who select into a non-break spaces for spring 2026 are expected to fully check out by 4:00 p.m. on January 8. Students who do not properly check out by this time will be reassigned to their fall assignment. 

Students currently living in Break Housing who select another space in a break housing hall are able to remain in their fall assignment through winter break and will transition to their new spring assignment starting on January 26.
 

Spring Pull-In

Spring Pull-In Form

(Please Note: The Spring Pull-In Form has temporarily been closed while we work to support students impacted by the off-campus fire.  The Pull-In Form will reopen on Friday, November 14 at 12pm.)

November 10–26 at 5:00 p.m., December 5 at 4:00 p.m. – December 10 at 5:00 p.m.

Residents with a confirmed vacancy in their room/apartment may pull in another student into their space for spring 2026. A confirmed vacancy exists if you currently have a vacant space in your room/apartment, your fall roommate has cancelled for spring 2026 or your fall roommate has been pulled into another space for spring 2026. All students participating in the pull-in will complete the online form from November 10 through November 26. 

The student who is being pulled in is expected to fully check out by removing their belongings from their fall assignment and turning in their key to the Residential Service Desk prior to halls closing. Students must wait to move into their new assignment until halls reopen for spring semester.

Students with a vacancy after spring room selection ends on December 5 will have another opportunity to pull students into their space. After spring room selection, Spring Pull-In is available to any on-campus student with a vacancy, and they are able to Pull-In any currently active student. Please note that the student who is being pulled in is expected to fully check out by removing their belongings from their fall assignment and turning in their key to the Residential Service Desk prior to halls closing if they hold a fall housing assignment. Students can move in to their new assignment when halls open for spring semester.

Important: Spring Roommate Pull-In is offered to allow residents who have a confirmed vacancy to choose their roommate for the spring semester. Residents should only pull in a roommate if they plan to remain in their assignment for spring semester. Residents who pull-in another student and later cancel their assignment co-opt the priority system we use for assignment changes. Based on this, Residential Life will void any roommate pull-in where a participant has cancelled and return the pulled in student to their original fall assignment.
 

Spring Swap

November 10–26

Students can use the Room Swap process to exchange like assignments (ex. shared room to shared room, single to a single within the same hall, apartment to apartment). Students who are interested in swapping can complete the process from November 10 through November 26. This process is completed in SPIRE under Housing > Room Assignment Changes > Room Swap. When a student initiates a swap request, the person they intend to swap with will receive an email. Once both students have approved the swap, the assignment is automatically updated. Please note that any student who completes a swap is expected to fully check out by removing their belongings from their fall assignment and turning in their key to the Residential Service Desk prior to halls closing. Students can move in to their new assignment when halls open for spring semester.

Please Note: Students in Economy Triples are able to swap with students in shared rooms. If your swap includes a student living in Expanded Housing, please contact Residential Life Assignments for assistance.
 

Spring Online Room Selection

• Appointment Request: November 10 – November 24
• Appointment Post: November 26 by 5:00 p.m.
• Room Selection: December 1 – December 5 at 4:00 p.m.

Students are able to select from available vacancies across campus for spring 2026 using spring Online Room Selection. Students can request an appointment in SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Room Selection Home from Monday, November 10 through Monday, November 24. Appointments will post for all on time requests on November 26 and Room Selection will take place from December 1 through December 5 at 4:00 p.m. 

Students who select a new assignment for spring semester will be expected to fully check out of their space by removing their belongings and returning their key to the Residential Service Desk before halls close for fall semester on December 18 at 11:00 a.m. Students who do not properly check out of their assignment will be reassigned to their original fall 2025 space. Students will check in to their spring assignment when halls open on January 27, 2026.

Current Students without an Assignment

Unassigned students who are interested in securing an on-campus assignment, including students readmitting for spring 2026, can use Spring Online Room Selection. Please note that appointments for unassigned students will begin after on-campus students have had an opportunity to select.

Spring Online Room Selection

• Appointment Request: November 10 – November 24
• Appointment Post: November 26 by 5:00 p.m.
• Room Selection: December 1 – December 5 at 4:00 p.m.

Students can select from available vacancies across campus for spring 2026 using spring Online Room Selection. Students can request an appointment in SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Room Selection Home from Monday, November 10 through Monday, November 24. Appointments will post for all on time requests on November 26 by 3:00 p.m. and Room Selection will take place from December 1 through December 5 at 4:00 p.m. 

Late Unassigned Spring Room Selection

• Appointment Request: December 22, 2025 – January 5, 2026
• Appointment Post: January 7 by 5:00 p.m.
• Room Selection: January 8 – January 12 at 4:00 p.m.

Students are able to select from available vacancies across campus for spring 2026 using spring Online Room Selection. Students can request an appointment in SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Room Selection Home from December 22 through January 5. Appointments will post for all on time requests on January 7 and Room Selection will take place from January 8 through January 12. Students will check in to their spring assignment when halls open on January 27, 2026. 

Current students who properly checked out of their assignment by removing their belongings from their room and returning their key to the Residential Service Desk prior to halls closing on December 18 can also participate in this process.  In order to participate, students must email @email after checking out of their assignment.  Once your check-out is verified, you will receive additional instructions in order to request an appointment.

Current Students on Co-Op and Internship in the Boston Area

Students participating in a Co-Op or Internship in the Newton/Boston area can apply to live on-campus at Mt. Ida at UMass. Students will be able to select from available spaces on campus using Online Room Selection.

Room Selection Resources

Studying Abroad or Going on a Co-Op/Internship?
Specific instructions for students participating in a University approved semester away.

Room Selection Priority
Learn how to interpret your room selection priority listed in SPIRE.

Residence Halls
View the different areas of campus through floor plans and discover community features.

Cancellation Information
Review the Cancellation Fee Schedule in case you are considering cancelling your spring 2026 assignment.