Roommates can be the source of enjoyment and fun times, and can also be the cause of anxiety and frustration. Learning to live in close proximity with another person and having to share space and appliances is an exciting and challenging part of the college experience. Because we truly believe this, Residential Life and Housing is committed to providing students with the necessary tools to live successfully with other students. To that end, the Roommate Contracting Program was designed by students to serve as a proactive measure in achieving success.
All new students are introduced to the program when they receive their housing assignment letter. The program continues when students arrive on campus. To help set forth their expectations regarding a variety of issues including guests, cleanliness, and other communal living issues, students are given a Roommate Contract and Contract Guide. Completion of the contract takes place during the first week of classes and is referred to whenever a conflict arises. The key factor in utilizing the contract effectively is honesty. Students must state their expectations and be willing to compromise on those items that matter little to them.
View the roommate brochure to prepare for the contracting process.
Basic tenets of living with a roommate.
- Roommates agree to treat each other with courtesy and respect.
- Roommates agree to be conscious of each other’s needs and rights, i.e. the right to study in one’s room, the right to entertain friends in one’s room, etc.
- Roommates agree to discuss problems and work through disagreements, as well as to enlist the assistance of the RA or RD if necessary to settle disputes.
- Roommates agree to be conscious of the needs and rights of surrounding neighbors and other residents of the community.
- Roommates agree to be aware of and to adhere to all Residential Life policies (including the housing license) and the Institute Code of Conduct. This can be found in the Student Handbook.
When conflicts arise, it is vital that roommates first make an attempt at working out their difficulties. The following steps have proven successful in resolving a roommate conflict:
- Talk honestly with your roommate, clearly stating problems and expectations. It has been shown that consistently doing this avoids conflicts.
- If the problems persists, roommates go to their RA for advice and direction. The RA will talk with the roommates and may hold a mediation session to work on the conflicts.
- If the RA is not able to resolve the conflict, the RA will get the RD involved.