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Frequently Asked Questions

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Residence Life

You've got questions. We've got answers. 

Wondering how you check out of your room? Need to know where to park your scooter? Want to know about laundry, kitchen spaces, lost and found, and more? We're here to answer your questions.

FAQ

Getting started

Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate showings of your room prior to moving in. Our residence halls are occupied with summer conference groups and student housing.
You will be able to indicate your hall preferences on your application. However, we cannot accommodate specific room requests.
Yes. The student must be accepted, their fee must be paid with the Admissions Office, and they must complete a housing application by the deadline.

Applying

All room selection steps are completed in the Residence Life Housing Portal.
No. Room preferences are based on availability at the time of room selection and are not guaranteed. Availability in the hall will depend on your individual or group's room selection number.

Complete the application. Your time to choose a room will be later than those who met the deadline.

No, the returning student process is based on years in housing. Students will be assigned room selection numbers randomly based on years in housing. All students with completed applications by the deadlines have equal opportunity.

Priority room selection numbers are given to those who've completed their housing application by 10 a.m. on February 26.
A low number means an earlier chance at choosing a room on room selection night.

At the close of roommate selection time, room selection numbers of the mutually chosen roommates will be averaged. The entire group will then be reassigned this new averaged room selection number.

On the night of room selection, the group with the lowest number will be able to select a room first. A low number means your group will have many rooms to choose from. A higher number means more rooms will be chosen ahead of you.

Roommate selection

Once you have applied for housing, you may begin selecting your roommates to match with. Keep in mind the people you would like to roommate match with have to have also applied for housing for them to show up as roommate options.

Please see the articles below for instructions on how to match with roommates.

Groups that completely fill the occupancy of a suite/apartment have priority in opening room selection nights. After full groups have chosen, room selection will open to smaller groups.
No. North Village Apartment Selection is for three-plus years in housing students only.
Yes. Please complete the appeal form.
Yes, but the group's room selection number will be impacted. The longer a student has lived on campus, the lower their selection number will be. After the roommate deadline, the group number will be averaged based on all matched roommates. Selection times are assigned beginning with the lowest group number.
No. Overloading is not accepted in housing. No exceptions.

Room selection

Each group should assign one student to log in to select the room for the entire group. Be sure to discuss who will be in each bedroom as this student will be selecting bedroom placements in this step.
Your entire group will need to reduce or increase the students requested on your MyHousing page. After each student has reduced roommates, your group can then see what rooms are available for the new group size.
Each student will need to add or reduce roommates on their individual MyHousing pages. After roommate adjustments are revised, "Select a Room/Suite" lists available room choices for the new group.

Meal plan requirements

A meal plan is required for all students with housing in Bodien, Edgren, Getsch, Nelson, Lissner, Arden Village, and Heritage.

A meal plan is optional for students with housing in the North Village apartments. These apartments are equipped with full kitchens.

Meal plan requirements

Off campus housing

All students who are seeking an undergraduate degree and are under the age of 21 as of September 1 in the fall semester are required to live in university housing the entire academic year.

Students who are part time (less than 12 credits), married, or living with one or both parents are exempt from this policy.

The requirement is not based on academic credit status. Students who are over the age of 21 are encouraged to live in campus housing but are not required to. Learn more and find out if you qualify to appeal.

No. Frozen rates are guaranteed only as long as you live on campus. This rate is canceled as soon as you leave campus. Upon return to campus housing, the new rate is put on your account, and you are guaranteed this new rate until you graduate.

Things to consider when thinking about moving off campus

  • Utilities are all-inclusive in campus housing. These are extra costs at most off-campus options (electric, gas, water, garbage, internet, laundry).
  • You'll no longer have easy access to your room between classes.
  • Finding a parking spot each time you come to campus can be challenging.
  • You'll be farther away from Bethel friends.
  • No 24/7 support from Facilities Management and Safety and Security when problems arise.
  • Frozen housing rate is lost. If you plan to return to campus housing the following year, your rate will be higher.
  • Room selection numbers are based on years in housing. If you were to return to campus housing next year, your room selection number would be the same as now.

A great option to consider—Move "up north" to live in North Village for independent, apartment-style living. It offers the benefits of independent living while still in a Bethel community.

RA and BUILD housing mentors

Apply for housing, submit roommate requests and select your assigned room.
Contact the friend to confirm they have submitted a housing application. Confirm you both selected the same room selection process.
Begin as soon as the student hired as an RA has been notified. Complete this as soon as possible or by February 26, at the very latest.
Upperclass room selection must be selected.
The student hired for the RA or BUILD housing mentor role selects the assigned room for the matched roommate group. Roommate group must be able to completely fill the assigned room before the room can be selected.

Study abroad

In collaboration with the Office of Study Abroad, potential fall 2025 study abroad students should participate in the spring 2025 Bethel room selection process, even though we intend for you to be off campus in the fall. Please proceed to apply for Bethel housing as you normally would. The Office of Study Abroad will notify Residence Life near the end of the spring semester with the final list of confirmed students. Residence Life will then use this list to waive the $150 housing cancellation fee for students participating in study abroad.

Later this spring, your MyHousing page will have a form for you to complete outlining your housing needs and requests for when you return from abroad. An information sheet will be given out at your information meeting with the Office of International Studies.
First, check to see if they have access to the internet. If so, they will be able to complete this step themselves. If not, stop by the Student Life office for assistance in completing an application. All deadline dates apply.
Yes. On the application you are asked to give the location you lived in for the past years. Choose the location you live at for the semester you were on the Bethel campus.
No, a spot cannot be held or reserved for the semester while you are gone. Each semester 40-80 students study abroad. The beds are needed for students that are on campus that semester.
Yes, often students talk amongst themselves and make these types of plans. Students abroad for the fall will note the room location on their application in November.