As the spring semester continues to move at a lightning fast pace, it is getting close to the time when your student will choose their room (and roommate(s)) for the next year. While there are many communications sent to students and multiple avenues for them to learn about how to navigate ORL’s Online Room Selection (ORS), it can still cause some stress. You will be able to help them by familiarizing yourself with the ORS process.
Beginning in late January students have been able to create roommate groups and search for others looking for a roommate. This is done through the online housing system and after the housing contract is signed it is the next step in securing a spot for the fall. Students can easily create a group or look for a roommate when they are ready.
Upper class students will be able to select from a number of on campus housing options: Ashby, Logan, Gifford, Converse, and Wampler Halls in the Bluestone Area; The Apartments on Grace; Jennings Hall and Shenandoah B section in Skyline Area. Almost all rooms are double rooms, so it is highly likely your student will need to select a roommate (there are less than 12 single occupancy rooms and they are normally assigned to students with approved housing accommodations through the Office of Disability Services). Students are encouraged to have a number of options in mind as they go through room selection because spaces do fill up.
If your student would like to see what is available for next year, be sure to have them check our website (https://www.jmu.edu/orl/) or call the office to see if we have any Open Houses scheduled.
Students can choose to stay in their current room if they currently live in Ashby, Logan, Gifford, Converse, Wampler, Shenandoah B section, or the Apartments on Grace* (*To retain your room in the Apartments on Grace, you have to fill the apartment) . We just ask that the student respond to a Room Retention Survey that they were notified about in late January. Room retention request forms are typically due at the beginning of March. All other students will go through ORS.
In March, all students who have signed housing contracts for the next school year will be assigned a room selection time slot. All time slots are associated with a time to log into the online housing system. The room selection schedule is currently posted to the ORL website and includes all the dates and times your student will be able to log in and choose from the available rooms.
Fortunately this, and other Online Room Selection information for First Year and Returning Students can be found by clicking either of the buttons below. Your student will continue to receive information via their JMU dukes email account, please remind them to check it frequently.
Don’t worry if your student hasn’t signed their housing contract yet. There is still time, however upperclass spaces are projected to fill. They may want to act soon to secure a space. If you or your student have any questions about living on campus again in the fall, please have them contact the housing office at 540-JMU-HOME or res-life@jmu.edu.
Other common stressors may include: roommate conflicts, initial adjustments to a new academic environment, values exploration, social life adjustments, initial social reflections, becoming familiar with campus, long distance relationships, feeling inadequate, and/or financial adjustments. Short articles on these and other topics can be found throughout the year at www.jmu.edu/orl/families/newsletter.shtml.