Housing Renewal

Living in the residence halls offers many advantages ranging from its close proximity to campus, to its strong community of artists, designers, & scholars, to awesome facilities that a include 24hr studio space and gallery space!  

What is Housing Renewal?

Housing Renewal is the process for current SAIC students to apply for housing for the upcoming academic year.

Students first complete a housing application at saic-housing.artic.edu which includes listing preferences, signing a housing contract & making a $550 prepayment. They are then invited to the virtual Housing Renewal Fair held on March 26th, 2023!

During the Housing Renewal Fair, students are able to select the exact residence hall, room, bed type and roommate(s) for the upcoming academic year. Students will be sent a lottery number in advance so they know when to attend the fair. Lottery numbers are given in a weighted system, prioritizing those who have lived on campus the longest.

When do applications open? When do they close?

Before applying to on campus housing, students should review the changes to the meal plan! Applications open on March 1st, 2023. Students can start applying then! Complete an application by March 21st to be invited to the Housing Renewal Fair, the event to pick the residence hall, room, bed type, and roommate(s) for the upcoming academic year. Applications will remain open after March 21st, but students who apply after this date will not be invited to participate in the Housing Renewal Fair.

What are lottery numbers? How are lottery numbers assigned?

The Housing Renewal Fair assigns lottery numbers to indicate to students when they should arrive to select their residence hall, room, bed type, and roommate(s). It is a weighted lottery, with students who have lived on campus the longest being assigned numbers first. Students who have lived on campus the longest will have the "best"/"lowest" lottery numbers.

What if I cannot make it to the Virtual Housing Renewal Fair? How do I pick my room?

If you cannot make it to Virtual Housing Renewal, you will receive information via your SAIC email account with information on how to sign up to select your housing.  

I want a single room. Can I be guaranteed a single room?

Single rooms are not guaranteed. Students will select the specific room they want in order of the lottery numbers. When all the single rooms are taken, a waiting list will begin. Over the summer, single rooms often become available. Residence Life will offer available single rooms to students in order of the waiting list. Many of the students who add their names to the single room waiting list at the Virtual Housing Renewal Fair will have a single room before the academic year begins. We also encourage students to consider private rooms at The Buckingham, as this option is a cost-effective way to get a private space and still enjoy the company of roommates.

I want to live in the Buckingham. Will space be available?

Although only a limited number of spaces will be available at The Buckingham for the Virtual Housing Renewal Fair, we expect to be able to offer more spaces over the summer. You can sign up for The Buckingham waiting list at the Virtual Housing Renewal Fair and Residence Life will contact you via phone call and e-mail to offer available spaces as they open.

I know who I want to be my roommate. How do we sign up for a room together?

Students who know who they want to be roommates with should arrive at the Virtual Housing Renewal Fair together. They should arrive at the fair with whichever roommate has the better/lowest lottery number. They will pick their room together. This applies to any roommate grouping in any building, including apartments in the Buckingham.

What if my desired roommate is an incoming student?

If your desired roommate is an incoming student, please contact Residence Life at reslife@saic.edu.

I’m not signing up for a single room, but I don’t have roommate(s) in mind. Is that okay?

Students who so not have a plan for their roommate(s) will be assigned a roommate by Residence Life based on the preferences listed in the application. The assigned roommate may be a new or returning student.

To assist students in finding a roommate, students are invited to the Roommate Finder Fair on March 20 at 5:00pm.

Are there any changes to the meal plan?

Yes, there are changes to the meal plan for the 23-24 academic year. Beginning in the 23-24 academic year, any unused meal plan funds from Fall semester will remain for Spring semester. Any money remaining at the end of the Spring semester will be forfeited. Students are encouraged to use their meal plan at any of the three dining halls! Please click here to view frequently asked questions to about these meal plan updates.

I don’t want the meal plan. Can I be waived out of the meal plan?

All students who live in the residence halls are required to have a meal plan.

What if I'm unsure if I want to live on campus for the 23-24 academic year?

There are many factors to consider when selecting housing, including proximity to campus, location, safety, price and more! We encourage students to discuss the decision with their family. For many reasons, students may still be unsure. Please see below for cancellation policies. Please note: the residence halls are typically filled early and housing may not be available if current students apply after the Housing Renewal Fair on March 26, 2023. Current students who complete a 23-24 housing application may cancel by May 1, 2023 without penalty. They will receive the $550 prepayment as a credit to their student account.

Current students who complete a 23-24 housing application and cancel after May 1, 2023 will forfeit the $550 prepayment. They will be released from their contract but will not receive any credit to their student account.