Traditional Halls Frequently Asked Questions

Contacting UNL Housing

How can I contact the Housing Office?
The Housing Office is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. You may call us at (402) 472-3561 or (800) 742-8800.

E-mail can be directed to: housing@unl.edu

When contacting us please be sure to indicate:
1) a subject
2) your name
3) your NUID#
UNL Housing responds to all e-mail. If you do not receive a response, the e-mail has not been received by our office.

Correspondence can be mailed to:
Division of University Housing
PO Box 880622
Lincoln, NE 68588-0622

Beginning The Contract Process

When are contracts available for students?
New Students: Only students admitted to the University are eligible to receive a housing contract. The first mailing of housing contracts for new Freshman fall entrants will be the end of January and thereafter daily after the student pays the $250 enrollment fee to Admissions. If you are an incoming FR the Admissions Office will advise us that you need a contract after you have submitted the $250 fee. It is not necessary for you to contact our office directly.

Returning Students: Students returning to the UNL Residence Halls will have contracts available in February. Summer Housing Contracts are available in early April.

How do I get a housing contract?

Transfer students - To receive a Housing contract, please e-mail UNL Housing or call 402-472-3561.
UNL students not currently residing in the halls - To receive a Housing contract, please e-mail UNL Housing or call 402-472-3561.
Students starting in the spring - Housing contract mailings for new freshmen starting in the spring will begin in November. The Admissions office will advise us that you need a contract after you are officially admitted.
Graduate students - To receive a housing contract, please e-mail us at: housing@unl.edu or call us at 402-472-3561. Students must be admitted to UNL in order to receive a contract.
Intensive English Students - Contact the IEP Office. They will forward your name to Housing. At that time, we will e-mail information to you so you can submit an online contract.

What is the contract deadline?
There is no deadline for new students. Students are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Returning students meet a deadline in March that allows them to have priority housing. Watch for postings in the residence halls for important dates and times regarding returning student contracts.

What is Kauffman Hall and how is it different from the other halls?
The Esther L. Kauffman Academic Residential Center is located west of Selleck Hall. All residents are Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management students.

How do I receive a contract for The Courtyards and The Village ("Apartment-Style" halls)?
Apartment-style halls are available to upperclass and graduate students. Please call (402) 472-3561 or (800) 742-8800 or e-mail housing@unl.edu to request a housing packet.

Assignment Information

When will I get my room assignment?
Assignment information for the 2009/2010 academic year will be sent out the end of July. Students who begin in the spring semester will be notified at the end of December. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

What happens if my roommate leaves?
You will be contacted by your Residence Director (RD) or Residence Life Services Supervisor (RLSS) to review the choices available. Your choices may include: selecting your own new roommate, moving to another room with another student with double room status, changing your contract to single room status (if eligible), or being assigned a roommate. Pound Hall rooms are sold as singles. If you and your roommate choose to share a room as a double, and your roommate moves out, the contract will automatically convert to a single. If you want the room to remain a double, you will need to talk to the Residence Director about your options.

Billing Information

What is an advance payment?
When you turn in your housing contract for the traditional residence halls, an advance payment of $400 is required. It can be paid by credit card, check or cash. To pay with cash, come to the Housing Contracts Office at 1115 N. 16th Street. Do not send cash. The Courtyards and The Village require a $500 advance payment.

Before June 15, students may submit a reduced amount for the advance payment: $100 for traditional halls and $200 for apartment-style. The entire advance payment must be paid by June 15.

For incoming freshmen, $100.00 of the $250.00 paid to Admissions will be sent to the Housing Office. Your balance due will be $300.00.

For students beginning in the spring, no enrollment deposit is due to Admissions; however, a $400 advance payment must be made to Housing when you submit a spring-only contract.

When will my advance payment of $400 be applied to my charges?
The total advance payment is applied to the last billing cycle of the second semester as directed by your preference choice of Billing Plan 1 or Billing Plan 2. If you requested Billing Plan 1, your advance payment will be applied in February. If you requested Billing Plan 2, your advance payment will be applied in April.

What are the payment plans?
For your convenience, we offer two payment plans: Plan 1 allows a student to pay for housing once a semester. The bills will be due in September and February. There is no additional fee for this payment plan. Pay Plan 1 is advisable for students who receive a substantial financial aid package to cover housing, tuition, books, etc.

Plan 2 allows a student to spread out their payments via installments. The fall semester payments will be due in September, October and November. The spring payments will be due in February, March and April. There is an additional fee of $60.00 for this plan, which is paid in two $30.00 installments each semester.

Please refer to Billing Plan Options in your Contract Policy Booklet for complete information on amounts due and dates.

I expect to receive Financial Aid - which payment plan should I choose?
Your financial aid will be applied to your centralized bill. Students should select Payment Plan #1 if Financial Aid covers all or most of tuition and Housing costs as financial aid payments are applied only at the beginning of each semester. This will eliminate chances of a refund, which must then be retained by the student for future payments.

Where do my housing payments go?
After the advance payment has been sent to University Housing, your remaining payments will be sent to:

UNL Bursar
Payment Processing Center
P O Box 2119
Omaha, NE 68103-0119

Do not send cash through the mail. For further information on receipt of your payments (excluding advance payment), please contact the Bursar's Office at (402) 472-1734

Do I get a Returning Student Discount (RSD)?
To qualify for the RSD, you must meet two conditions. You must have lived in a residence hall for the entire second semester of the prior academic year, and you must continue to live in a residence hall for the entire academic year represented by the current contract.

Since students must live in the residence halls for the entire academic year represented by this contract, the RSD will appear on the Spring centralized bills. The RSD only applies to residents in traditional residence halls.

Information About Residence Halls And Rooms

What is the status of the Abel/Sandoz renovation project?
Abel Hall renovation will be completed by Fall 2009. Abel/Sandoz Dining Center will be closed during the 2009/2010 academic year. For the convenience of Abel/Sandoz residents, University Dining Services will provide on-site "grab 'n go" continental breakfasts and dinners, Monday through Friday. Sandoz is scheduled for completion Fall 2010. Please refer to the Abel/Sandoz renovation website for additional information.

What amenities are included in Abel/Harper/Schramm/Smith?
Abel/Harper/Schramm/Smith include resident room and lounge furniture, white message boards, windows/heating/cooling equipment and updated common areas. Student rooms include loftable/adjustable beds and 6 cf refrigerator/freezer units. Laundry facilites are available on each floor.

What amenities are included in Neihardt and Selleck?
These halls include resident room and lounge furniture, white message boards and windows/heating/cooling equipment. Student rooms include loftable/adjustable beds and 6 cf refrigerator/freezer units.

What amenities are included in Sandoz?
Student rooms in Sandoz include computer desk tops, white message boards, 6.0 cf refrigerator/freezer and loftable/adjustable beds.

What amenities are included in Burr/Fedde?
Student rooms in Burr/Fedde have traditional desks, microfridges, and one loftable/adjustable bed and one regular bed. Students needing a second loftable bed in their room should contact the Facilities office in their complex.

What amenities are included in Cather/Pound Halls?
Student rooms in Cather/Pound Halls have traditional desks, microfridges and an extra-long twin bed. Residents may request a loft bed, if available, at no charge..

Can I stay in the halls during breaks?
Only students who are permanently assigned to a break hall may stay in their room over break breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Break). Designated break halls are Selleck (except 8000 building), Fedde, and Husker Hall. During the summer a limited number of halls are available for student housing, making it possible to live in the residence halls year-round. Courtyards and Village also provide year-round housing for students.

Which halls are coed?
Love Memorial Co-op is an all female hall; the remaining halls are coed. Halls divided by floor include Harper, Schramm, Smith, Cather, Pound, Neihardt, Sandoz, Husker, Burr, and Fedde. Abel is coed by wing and Selleck is coed by floor/wing.

Which halls are smoke-free?
All UNL residence halls are smoke-free.

Where are laundry facilities located and are they coin operated? What is the cost?
Laundry facilities are located in each complex and are both coin and card operated. In Burr/Fedde/Love/Husker, the maximum cost for one load of wash is approximately $1.00 and one dryer load is 75 cents. In all other halls a wash is $1.75 and dry is free.

What size carpet should I purchase?
A double room would accommodate a maximum carpet size of 8' x 10' and a super double room would accommodate a maximum carpet size of 10' x 12'.

Do I need to bring my own vacuum cleaner?
UNL Housing will provide a vacuum cleaner for each floor.

What size microwave is allowed in the residence halls?
Microwaves that are used in the residence hall rooms must have a wattage of 750 or less.

What type of bathroom facilities does UNL have?
Community baths are located on each floor.

What should I bring to the Residence Hall?
These are suggestions on what to bring with you to your room.

• Alarm Clock
• Backpack
• Bedspread or Comforter
• Coffee Mug
• Computer
• Circuit-Protected Multi-Plug for Computer
• Extension Cord
• Extra Pillows/Bean Bag Chair
• First Aid Kit
• Flashlight
• Hangers
• Laundry Basket/Soap
• Photos of Family, Pets & Friends
• Pictures/Posters
• School Supplies
• Sewing Kit
• Shower Tote & Flip Flops
• Sheets/Blankets (extra long twin)
• Stereo/CD's
• TV/VCR/DVD
• Throw Rugs or Carpet
• Toiletries
• Towels & Washcloths
• Umbrella

Cancellation Information

How do I cancel my contract?
Prior to hall opening:
Notification for cancellation must be made in writing to UNL Housing. Send or e-mail your cancellation notice to: UNL Housing, 1115 N. 16th St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0622, or by e-mail. Withdrawing or suspension from school will not automatically cancel your contract. In any instance where you want to cancel your housing contract, you must contact the Housing Office directly - it is not possible for another UNL Department to cancel your contract.

After hall opening:
Contact the Residence Director of your assigned hall to cancel your contract. Students are held liable for room and board charges until the cancellation is approved in writing by University Housing.

Will I have a cancellation fee if I leave the residence halls?
Yes, the amount of the cancellation fee depends on the date and reason for the cancellation. Please refer to the contract policies regarding specific dates and amounts. [Contract Policy Booklet]

How do I check out of the halls?
Check out arrangements should be made with your Residence Director and your Resident Assistant at least three weeks prior to the anticipated checkout date. An improper check out will result in an additional fee of $50.00.

Calendar Dates

What if I need to move into the halls before my housing contract starts in August?
Checking into the halls before the official opening day is highly discouraged. However, if circumstances necessitate your having to move in before official opening, you must submit a Request for Early Check-in Form to the Assistant Director of Housing for Contracts and Student Services 2 weeks prior to your requested move-in. Permission may be granted according to the hall and room assignment and move-in date.

The guest room rate is charged when a resident moves in early. The rate for double rooms is $19.00 per day. The rate for single rooms in our regular residence halls, Kauffman Academic Residential Center, Courtyards and Village is $38.00 per day. The same fee will be applied for storage and/or occupancy.

When do the halls open for Fall Semester?
August 20, 2009@ 8 a.m. [Contract Policy Booklet]

When do the halls open for Spring Semester?
January 8, 2010 @ 1 p.m. [Contract Policy Booklet]

Contract Information

Who is required to live on campus?
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln requires all unmarried students who have less than 27 credit hours and who are under 19 years of age after the first day of classes for the fall semester to live in University-approved housing (residence halls, fraternities, sororities, or co-ops) for the entire academic year. Students may also be given special permission to live with a parent or immediate relative and commute, provided that family member lives within a 30-mile radius of the UNL Campus. Please see the detailed information in your contract booklet.

How many credits must I be taking to live in the halls?
During the academic year, a student must be enrolled for at least six semester hours (not to include extension or correspondence courses). During the summer, students will be required to take at least three credit hours total during the summer sessions.

What does my Residence Hall Contract include?
The contract includes room (with utilities), board, refrigerator, basic cable TV service, computer access, high speed wireless internet service and membership in the Residence Hall Association (RHA).

Can I have a room only contract?
Housing contracts are room and board for the full academic year. Exceptions to the Room and Board requirement are made for a Husker Hall contract and Love Memorial Cooperative female housing where students pay a food allowance of approximately $750.

How do I get a board-only contract?
If you are a current UNL student living in Greek houses, Husker Hall or off campus and are interested in having a meal plan, contact the Housing office. You can choose from a 7 day meal plan or a 5 day meal plan. Your NCard will be scanned at the cafeteria each time you eat.

Who should I talk to about my disability or special need?
Students requiring special room accommodations because of a disability or medical condition need to contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, (402) 472-3787, a minimum of six weeks prior to the desired move-in date.