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Overview

Online Room Selection Overview

Residence Hall Occupancy License

Students who live on campus must sign the Residence Hall Occupancy License and submit the Housing Profile. The occupancy license outlines the residential living obligations of both you and the university. The license is specific and both financially and legally binding for your entire tenure in the residence halls. It is important that you read the occupancy license thoroughly before signing and ask for clarification if there is something you do not understand. The Housing Profile provides basic information used when assigning roommates and is visible for prospective roommates during Online Room Selection.

Signing the Occupancy License
The Residence Hall Occupancy License is signed electronically through SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Occupancy License. The Occupancy License is linked above, as well as in SPIRE as well. 

Submitting Your Housing Profile
The Housing Profile asks five lifestyle questions that can be answered on SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Housing Profile. Once you answer each question click "Save/Confirm Profile". You will not be redirected, but the page will date stamp in the top right.

New Undergraduate Students will submit a preference application where they will rank order the areas of campus. Assignments will be released on a designated date after the preference application has closed.

Current Undergraduate Students will use Online Room Selection to select a new space from all available vacancies across campus. Students will receive email confirmation after they have selected a new assignment.

Priority

Room Selection Priority

 

Room Selection Priority Determination

A student's room selection priority is based on:

  • Priority – the number of semesters that the student has lived on campus.
  • Order within Priority – a randomly generated number used as a tie breaker for students with the same Priority.

These two numbers are used to order students' appointments for Online Room Selection and when room consolidation is completed. 

Students are able to view their room selection priority on SPIRE under the Housing > Room Selection Priority. An example of a student's room selection priority is listed below and a detailed description of each component follows:

Please note: Priority is not considered for students with Housing Accommodations from Disability Services or UHS.  Appointments for these students are based on the accommodation.  Students with an accommodation are encouraged to review the email they received from Residential Life Assignments at the time their accommodation was submitted.

Example:

Room Selection Priority 

Priority: 4
Order within Priority: 2525

The Priority listed for this student is 4. Priority is determined by the number of completed semesters that a student has lived in the residence halls at UMass Amherst. This is the most important number to look at when trying to understand your Room Selection Priority. This group of students will be housed before everyone who has lived on campus less than 4 semesters and after everyone who has lived on campus for more than 4 semesters.

Order within Priority is a randomly generated number that is given to all students who have the same number of semesters on campus from first to last. A student with the Order within Priority of 1 would be given the first place in line, followed by 2, then 3 and so on. Priority order only matters when compared to other students with the same number of semesters on campus. For the example student above, they have an order of 2525, which is their place in line out of all students with 4 priority points.

Please Note:  Appointments typically begin in batches of students.  Based on that, it is likely that appointments for students with similar orders within priority will begin at the same time.

Room Selection Priority Comparison

Please see below an example of two student's room selection priority who will be participating in Online Room Selection. Both of these students have 3 semesters on campus. As you can see, Ann has a lower (earlier) Order within Priority than Chelsea. When appointments are determined for Online Room Selection, Ann will have an earlier appointment start time than Chelsea.

Example #1: Ann

  • Priority: 3
  • Order within Priority: 945

Example #2: Chelsea

  • Priority: 3
  • Order within Priority: 1843
FAQ

Online Room Selection Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 1/09/2025

 

Newly Admitted Students for Fall 2025

I will be a new first-year or transfer student for Fall 2025, how do I apply for on-campus housing?

The University requires and guarantees housing for newly admitted first year students and additionally guarantees transfer students housing if they submit their preference application between June 2, 2025 and June 30, 2025. If you are a newly admitted student for Fall 2025, you will receive more information in May as students become fully matriculated. For now, please refer to the New Undergraduate Students page.

 

General Room Selection Questions

Who is eligible to participate in Fall 2025 room selection?

The following students are eligible to participate in Fall 2025 Room Selection:

  • All students who currently live on campus and are expected to be active students for Fall 2025.
  • All students returning from a University Approved Study Abroad Program, Co-Op or internship who lived on campus prior to leaving for their program.

Students included in the above groups who are also members of the Commonwealth Honors College in good standing will receive a separate appointment to select from available suite and apartment spaces in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community.

Students who are projected to graduate in spring or summer 2025 are not eligible to participate in fall room selection processes. If your projected graduation term in SPIRE is earlier than Fall 2025, but you expect to be an active student, please update your expected graduation term in SPIRE as soon as possible to be eligible for this process.

Detailed explanations of the available processes and eligibility can be found on the main Fall Online Room Selection website.
 

What happens if I miss the appointment request deadline?

Residential Life expects more students to request an on-time appointment for Fall 2025 room selection than there will be available spaces on campus. Students who do not request a Fall 2025 room selection appointment by March 14 at 11:59 p.m. will not receive an appointment and will not be eligible to select an assignment or group from within the available processes. If you did not request an appointment before March 14 at 11:59 p.m., your next opportunity to secure an assignment will be as part of the Unassigned Fall Room Selection process. Timeline information will be updated soon. This process will take place after all new first-year and transfer students have been assigned.

Based on this, we are not able to guarantee that students who request an appointment for the Unassigned Fall Room Selection process will be able to select a space for Fall 2025 and strongly encourage them to begin researching Off Campus Housing options.
 

I am a Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) or University Without Walls (UWW) student. When can I select housing?

Residential Life is required to offer selection opportunities to all current on-campus and new undergraduate students before spaces can be offering to CPE or UWW students. Based on this, Residential Life is not able to offer CPE or UWW students housing options until all undergraduate student demand is met. Spaces will only be offered if there are vacancies at that time. Please check with Residential Life Assignments in mid-August if you are interested in living on campus for Fall 2025.
 

I haven't decided if I intend to live on campus for Fall 2025. What do you suggest?

Students who are unsure about their fall housing plans are strongly encouraged to request an appointment. This allows you to see available spaces and make a decision based on the options available when your appointment begins. Please only select an assignment if you intend to live on campus. Students who select an assignment and later cancel are subject to the Cancellation Fee Schedule.
 

I have a University hold on my SPIRE account. How does this affect participation in Fall Room Selection?

Holds do not prevent students from requesting an appointment or selecting a housing assignment. In some cases, having a hold on your account can result in you becoming withdrawn. If you are withdrawn, your housing assignment will be canceled and you will be subject to the Cancellation Fee Schedule.
 

What appointments will be offered in Fall 2025 Room Selection, what spaces will be available and who is eligible? 

In traditional residence halls, students can find single, double and triple occupancy spaces across campus. Economy triples will also be available in Southwest. Economy triples are large double rooms converted to triple occupancy and are billed at a reduced rate. Expanded Housing will be available in Central, Northeast, Orchard Hill and Southwest. Expanded housing  spaces are traditionally lounge spaces that have been converted into student rooms and are billed at a reduced rate.

Suites in the Sylvan Residential Area will offer single and double occupancy rooms. All suites include a bathroom and shared common room.

All apartments in North include four (4) single rooms and share two (2) bathrooms, a common space and kitchen area. Kitchen areas include a refrigerator, stovetop, and oven.

The following processes will be offered:

  1. Shared Room Selection - This process will include enough spaces to accommodate all students who request a Fall Room Selection appointment and who were admitted in Spring 2024, Fall 2024 or Spring 2025.  Spaces will include shared rooms across campus including doubles, triples, quads, expanded housing and economy triples. This process will also include limited single rooms in Sylvan. 

    This process is available to students who currently live on campus and who were admitted Spring 2024 - Spring 2025.  This process is also available to students admitted Spring 2024 - Spring 2025 who are currently on a university approved program (Study Abroad, Domestic Exchange, Co-Op, Internship) and who lived on campus the semester before their program began.
     
  2. Single+ Room Selection - This process will include North Apartments, single rooms and any shared rooms not included in the Shared Room Selection process. After all Shared Room Selection appointments have begun, any unselected spaces will be added to this process as well. More information on the exact date and time that spaces will be available will be shared when Fall Room Selection appointments post. This process is available to the following students:

    -Students who currently live on campus and were admitted fall 2023 or earlier.
    -Students who were admitted fall 2023 or earlier and are currently on a university approved program (Study Abroad, Domestic Exchange, Co-Op, Internship) and who lived on campus the semester before their program began
     
  3. Fall 2025 CHCRC Suite Selection - This process will include all single and double occupancy suite spaces in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community. The process is available to the following students:

    • Students who currently live on campus who are projected to be a freshman or sophomore for Fall 2025 and who are members of the Commonwealth Honors College in good standing.
    • Students currently on a university approved program (Study Abroad, Domestic Exchange, Co-Op, Internship) and who lived on campus the semester before their program began who are projected to be a freshman or sophomore for Fall 2025 and who are members of the Commonwealth Honors College in good standing.
     
  4. Fall 2025 CHCRC Apartment Selection - This process will include all single and double occupancy apartment spaces in the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community. Also the 4th and 5th floors of North D will be available as a break housing option for CHC eligible students. After all Fall 2025 CHCRC Suite Selection appointments have begun, any unselected spaces will be added to this process as well. More information on the exact date and time that spaces will be available will be shared when Fall Room Selection appointments post. This process is available to the following students:

    • Students who currently live on campus who are projected to be a Junior or Senior for Fall 2025 and who are members of the Commonwealth Honors College in good standing.
    • Students currently on a university approved program (Study Abroad, Domestic Exchange, Co-Op, Internship) who lived on campus the semester before their program began, who are projected to be a Junior or Senior for Fall 2025, and who are members of the Commonwealth Honors College in good standing.

I am interested in living in a Defined Residential Community, what are the options for Fall?

Learn more about applying to one of the following Defined Residential Communities:

  • Asian/Asian American Student Community in Northeast
  • Disability Defined Residential Community in Central
  • El Barrio: Latinx Student Community in Southwest
  • Harambee: African American Student Community in Southwest
  • Spectrum: LGBTQIA+ Student Community in Central

Students who apply and are accepted will receive an earlier appointment to select from available spaces in their community. Any remaining spaces will be available in the main Fall Room Selection process for other interested students. The communities will be identified in the 'Living Options' column of the search results.
 

Where are Gender Inclusive rooms available?

Gender Inclusive rooms are intended for students who wish to live with another person who may have a different gender. Gender inclusive rooms are located on the ground, first and second floor of Baker Hall, several suites in Cashin Hall, and limited shared rooms in Southwest near Gender Inclusive Bathrooms. Students can search for these spaces by searching for Gender Inclusive under 'Step 3' of the room selection search tool. Learn more about gender inclusive options here, including bathrooms.

If you would like to update your name or gender marker on file with the university, please complete the steps outlined on the Stonewall Center's website.
 

I need to remain on campus for Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Breaks, what are my options?

Students who need housing over break periods are strongly encouraged to select a space in a Break Housing residence hall. These residence halls remain open over Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Breaks. Students who secure a break housing assignment are billed an additional $500 per semester. The following residence halls remain open over break periods:

  • Grayson (Orchard Hill)
  • Cashin (Sylvan)
  • Prince (Southwest)
  • Brett (Central, Students are not automatically billed for Break Housing but will have the option to opt-in after halls open for Fall 2025)
  • North Apartments
     

How much will on-campus housing cost for Fall 2025?

The Board of Trustees typically finalize housing rates in late June or early July. Learn more about Room Rates & Fees. Rates are projected to increase by 3-5% for Fall 2025. Once rates are finalized, they will be updated on the Room Rates & Fees paged linked earlier in this section.
 

I currently live off campus and am interested in living on campus in Fall 2025. When can I search for spaces on campus?

Residential Life is required to offer selection opportunities to all current on-campus and new undergraduate students before spaces can be offered to students currently living off campus. Based on this, Residential Life is not able to offer off campus students housing options until new students student demand is met. This process is expected to take place in late July. Updated timeline information for the Unassigned Room Selection process will be available soon.

 

Appointment Request

How do I request an appointment?

All students who wish to participate in Fall 2025 room selection must request their own appointment.  To request an appointment, complete the three steps below in SPIRE

  1. Sign the most recent version of the occupancy license under Housing > Room Selection > Occupancy License
  2. Resubmit your Housing Profile under Housing > Room Selection > Housing Profile
  3. Request an appointment under Housing > Room Selection > Room Selection Home between February 18 and March 14 at 11:59 p.m.

If steps 1 and 2 are not complete, the request a new appointment button will be grayed out. 

You will receive an email confirmation when you successfully request an appointment. Also, you can see your appointment requests on the Room Selection Home page in SPIRE under Requested Appointments. If you did not receive an email and you do not see 'Fall 2025 Room Selection Process' listed under your 'Requested Appointments,' you have not successfully requested an appointment to live on campus for Fall 2025. Please review the 'Getting Started and Requesting an Appointment' Video Tutorial or contact Residential Life Assignments if you need assistance.
 

How are appointment times determined?

Residential Life uses a priority system to determined appointment times for Room Selection Processes. Students who have lived on campus longer will receive earlier appointments. Residential Life also uses a random number called 'Order within Priority' as a tie breaker for students with the same Priority. Priority for Fall 2025 selection processes will be calculated on February 18 and can be found in SPIRE under Housing > Room Selection > Room Selection Priority. Please review the example below:

Example:

  • John - Priority: 4
    Order within Priority: 2123
     
  • Mary - Priority: 2
    Order within Priority: 75
     
  • Alicia - Priority: 4
    Orde within Priority: 245

If all three of the students above requested an appointment and are eligible for the same process, Alicia’s appointment would begin first. They have lived on campus for the most semesters and have a priority order closest to one (1). Then, John’s appointment would begin. Finally, Mary’s appointment would start next as she has lived on campus for 2 semesters. For more information on eligibility, please review the 'What appointments will be offered in Fall 2025' question above.
 

I have a medical accommodation, which is already on file with Residential Life Assignments. How does this affect my room selection appointment?

If Residential Life has already received documentation about a medical accommodation and you have requested an appointment, then you will receive an earlier appointment based on the type of accommodation on file. Please refer to the email that you received from Residential Life when your accommodation was approved for more specific details. All students with a private room accommodation from Disability Services will receive an appointment for the Fall 2025 Single+ Selection Process to give them the best opportunity to secure a space based on their needs. 

Please note: There are some accommodations that do not provide you with an earlier appointment in our selection processes, such as being approved to have an assistance animal with you on-campus. Please refer to the email you received when your accommodation was approved or contact Residential Life Assignments to verify your eligibility. 

 

Group Formation

What is a roommate group?

A roommate group is a collection of 2-8 students who intend to share a space together. In traditional halls, this means that there must be enough vacant spaces in a room for all group members to be assigned. Groups are not able to select into multiple rooms.

In Sylvan, North and CHCRC, group members can be assigned to any vacant space in the same suite or apartment.

In all groups, one student will be the group leader. The group leader is responsible for inviting students into the group, assigning all group members to a space, or dissolving the group if necessary. We suggest that your group leader be the person who is most knowledgeable about Online Room Selection and who will be available when your group’s appointment begins. The group leader does not have to be the person with the earliest appointment time.

While part of a group, the group leader can select for their group at the earliest appointment assigned to all group members.
 

I plan to be a group leader, what do I need to know?

Remind all group members to request an appointment before March 14 at 11:59 p.m. If they do not request an appointment, you are not be able to invite them into your group.

You can begin forming a roommate group after appointments post on March 24 at 3:00 p.m. It is your responsibility to invite all group members and to verify that they respond to your invitation. Please remember that you can only form a roommate group if all preferred roommates have an appointment for the process. 

Example:

Maya and Alexa want to be roommates for Fall 2025 Room Selection.

  • Maya received appointments for the CHCRC Suite Selection and Fall 2025 Shared Selection processes.
  • Alexa only received an appointment for Fall 2025 Shared Selection process.

These students can only form a roommate group in the Fall 2025 Shared Selection process.

The group leader can select an assignment at the earliest appointment time within the group. Once a group leader selects a space, the group dissolves. If you and your group members wish to continue searching for spaces, please be sure to reform your group.
 

I plan to be a group member, what do I need to know?

All students must request their own appointment by March 14! Group formation takes place after appointments post and your group leader will not be able to add you to the group if you have missed this important step. Also, you will not be eligible to select a Fall 2025 housing assignment once you are invited into a roommate group unless you either decline the invitation or the group is dissolved.

Once you and your group members have requested your appointments, determine who will be the Group Leader. The group leader is ultimately responsible for assigning all group members to a space. Once appointments post, the group leader can invite you into a roommate group. By accepting membership into a roommate group, you are giving up your ability to select an assignment to your group leader. It is your responsibility to confirm that they have selected an assignment for you. All group members will receive email confirmation when the group leader selects an assignment. If you have not received email confirmation, please contact your group leader immediately.

Please note: It is critical that you respond to your group invitation by either accepting or declining membership. If you or another group member does not respond to the invitation, all group members will remain in a pending state and will not be able to select an assignment. If you accept membership into a group and later change your mind, please contact the group leader to request that they dissolve the group and reform it without you.
 

I am trying to form a roommate group, but can't find the person I wish to live with. Why?

There are several reasons this could happen:

  1. You are attempting to form a roommate group before appointments have posted. You can only form a group with other students with an appointment. Appointments will post by March 24 at 3:00 p.m. Once appointments post, you can form your group.
     
  2. The person you are attempting to form a group with does not have an appointment for this process. For example, you are not able to invite someone into a CHCRC Room Selection group if they do not have an appointment for the CHCRC selection process. If your preference is to live with your friend, please form your group in a process that you both have an appointment for. If your priority is a specific area (such as CHCRC), you will not be able to form a group with your friend.
     
  3. You or the person you are attempting to form a group with did not request an appointment before March 14 at 11:59 p.m. If this is the case, you will not be able to form a roommate group with this person.

 

Boston Area Coop/Internship Housing

I am interested in housing on the Mount Ida campus, what are my options?

If you're on an internship, part of a program on campus, or taking online classes, you can sign up to live on the Mount Ida Campus. At Mount Ida, you'll enjoy everything you love about UMass Amherst living and more - free fitness center, free on-campus parking and free transportation to the MBTA green line, offering easy access to Boston.

Find more information about living on Mount Ida Campus today! On this page, you can find information for securing Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 Housing.

 

Room Selection Tips and Resources

What does 'Selection Opportunities Remaining' mean?

This is the number of times that you can select or change your housing assignment within a process. When your appointment posts, you will have 3 selection opportunities for each appointment process that you receive. When you select an assignment, you release any previously held space for other students to select, your assignment is updated to the new space you selected, and your Selection Opportunities are reduced by 1. If you have no remaining selection opportunities, you are not able to change your assignment again within that process.

The select button on the Room Selection Home page is grayed out. Why?

There are several reasons why this button may be grayed out:

  1. Your appointment has not begun. Please verify this by checking your appointment start date and time on the Room Selection Home page in SPIRE.
  2. You are a member of a roommate group or you have been invited into a roommate group. Only the leader is able to select assignments on behalf of their group members. If you were invited into a group and do not wish to be a part of it, decline your invitation. If you accepted group membership but have changed your mind, please contact the group leader to dissolve and reform the group. You can also confirm the status of your group by clicking the 'View/Change Group Member Status' button
  3. Someone in your roommate group has not responded to their group invitation. This will leave the group in a pending state and prevent all members from securing a housing assignment. Please contact this person to verify their intention with the group or contact the group leader to dissolve and reform the group if necessary.
  4. You or a member of your group have no Selection Opportunities Remaining. If you have used up all of your selection opportunities, then you are not able to change your assignment for the remainder of the process.

If none of the situations above are true, please contact Residential Life Assignments as soon as possible for assistance.

Video Tutorials

Online Room Selection Video Tutorials

Online Room Selection is the system that students use to self-select their housing assignments for the following semester. This system is on SPIRE and is very similar to the system that students use to select their classes. Like class selection, this is a live process which allows students to search and see what is available at that exact moment. One of the advantages to using this system is that students are able to select their own assignments and know where they will be living as soon as they select.

The video tutorials posted below take you step-by-step through the online room selection process in SPIRE. Each step in the process has been posted as a separate video, and the transcript for each has been posted as well. You may click below to view only the step you need, or view all steps to get a better understanding of the entire process.

For more information, please contact the Residential Life Student Services Office at 413-545-2100 or visit us at 235 Whitmore, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
 

VIDEO TUTORIALS

Requesting an Appointment

Forming a Roommate Group & Leader Instructions

Accepting or Declining a Roommate Group Invitation (Members)

Dissolving a Roommate Group (Leader Only)

Searching and Selecting as a Roommate Group

Searching and Selecting as an Individual

 

Preference Application Video Tutorials

New incoming students who wish to apply for on-campus housing will complete a Preference Application. All of the steps involved in this application are completed on SPIRE.
The video tutorials posted below take you step-by-step through the New Student Preference Application process in SPIRE. Each step in the process has been posted as a separate video, and the transcript for each has been posted as well. You may click below to view only the step you need, or view all steps to get a better understanding of the entire process.

For more information, please contact the Residential Life Student Services Office at 413-545-2100 or visit us at 235 Whitmore Administration Building, Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm.
 

PREFERENCE APPLICATION VIDEO TUTORIALS 

First Year Students with RAP - 2:45 min.

First Year Students with no RAP - 3:31 min.

First Year Students with no RAP Break Housing - 2:32 min.

Transfer Students - 3:36 min.

Editing Your Preference Application - 3:08 min.

Cancelling Your Preference Application - 0:54 min.

 

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Youku Video Links

First Year Students with RAP
住宿倾向申请是给予即将成为第一年想参与学术性住宿项目(RAP)的大学生。

First Year Students with no RAP
住宿倾向申请流程指南针对于第一年没有参与学术性住宿项目(RAP)的大学生。

First Year Students with no RAP Break Housing
申请流程对于第一年假期依旧居住在 UMass Amherst

Transfer Students
转学生倾向申请流程

Editing Your Preference Application
修改你的倾向申请流程

Cancelling Your Preference Application
取消你的倾向申请流程