Housing & Residence Life FAQ

The first-year live on requirement at the university is fulfilled by both the residence halls and through living in house with Fraternity & Sorority Life.

We have housing available to every first-year student who would like to live on campus. For the most recent updated housing availability, log-in to your housing application to view available rooms.

Students who are unable to see any available rooms should try the following options:

1) If you selected a specialized community on the "Choose your community" tab, the spaces may have filled. Navigate back to the "Choose your community" page and select "academic traditional" at the bottom of the page. Then click "save and continue" until you reach the room selection page.

2) If you are in a roommate group, there may no longer be spaces available to accommodate the entire group. If you leave the group, you will see additional room options on the room selection page.

We prioritize housing for all incoming first-year students. If you have completed the housing application and paid the required fees, you are guaranteed a space in on-campus housing. The waitlist you're hearing about is specifically for non-first-year students due to the high demand.

When we say non-first year, we mean students currently attending U of I and those transferring to U of I. Essentially, any student who will not be a first-time freshman for the Fall 2025 semester.

The number of non-first year students requesting on-campus housing exceeded the available spaces for non-first-year students. We created a waitlist to manage the remaining applications and offer students a chance to secure a spot if cancellations occur.

Being on the waitlist means you are in line to receive a housing assignment if space becomes available. We encourage you to also explore off-campus options. We will contact you if a space opens. We will notify you of your assignment through your Vandal email address. Checking your Vandal email regularly is very important. Not doing so, could result in missing an opportunity to live on-campus.

We understand the urgency of this situation. You will be provided an update to your Vandal student email on the waitlist status every week.  At this time, we strongly recommend exploring off-campus options in the meantime, as on-campus availability is uncertain. We don't want you to be without housing. To assist you with your search, please check out the off-campus housing page on the website.

Log into your housing application, and cancel your housing application. This will remove you from the waitlist.

You have until July 1 to cancel your housing application without any financial penalties.

We would encourage you to decline your on-campus assignment. Many times there are large fees associated with breaking a lease for an off campus housing option. It would be in your best interest to not break that lease agreement.

Housing and Residence Life will be putting on a few more “Renting 101” events this semester which will provide you with the tools to be successful when renting an off-campus apartment.

The next Renting 101 tabling event will be held from 5-6 p.m. on March 4. Empire, Republic, Palouse Properties, the Grove and Fortified Property Solutions will all be at the tabling event.

A list of local Moscow property managers and apartment complexes can be found on the Off-Campus Housing page.

Our waitlist is currently general for non-first-year students. We are not offering building-specific waitlists. Assignments are made based on availability.

If spaces become available, we will do our best to accommodate roommate requests for students on the waitlist. However, we cannot guarantee roommate placements due to the limited availability.

It's difficult to predict your exact chances as waitlist movement depends on cancellations and other factors. We will be moving through the waitlist as quickly as possible. You can view where you are on the waitlist through the housing portal.

We encourage you to explore off-campus options.

The timeslot system is typically used to manage room selection, but due to the high demand, we had to move to a waitlist system. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. We are always working to improve this process for future years.

For non-first-year students, we had the North Campus Communities (NCC), McConnell Hall and some Living Learning Communities (LLCs). However, due to high demand, we encouraged, and continue to encourage, you to explore off-campus options. To assist you with your search, please check out the off-campus housing page on the website.

To address the housing shortage in the long term, the university is undertaking the following strategic actions:

• Renovation of Existing Facilities: Starting this summer, the university will begin renovating the tower and Wallace to enhance their capacity and quality. These renovations are designed to make older dorms more comfortable and appealing, extending their usability and capacity and ensuring they meet the needs of today’s students.
• Exploration of Constructing New Residence Halls: The university is actively exploring the financial aspects and logistical requirements for constructing new residence halls. This effort aims to significantly increase the number of available on-campus housing units, accommodating the growing student population and alleviating pressure on existing facilities.
• Additionally, in planning these new constructions and renovations, the university is mindful of the need to adapt to natural fluctuations in enrollment over the lifespan of each building. This involves creating flexible housing solutions that can adjust to varying student numbers, ensuring that facilities remain effective and well-utilized throughout their operational life.
• By implementing these strategies, the university aims to create a more sustainable and student-friendly housing system that can effectively support both current and future student populations.

We have created a new FAQ page dedicated to answering your questions about the North Campus Communities. Visit the NCC FAQ Page for more information.

Our team puts in a great deal of effort to make sure your room is clean and in good condition. Rooms may have some normal wear from usage over time. Items such as small paint chips, scratches in wood/painted furniture, or pinholes in cork board are considered “normal wear”. It is the responsibility of each student to inspect their space at move-in and report the condition of the space.

When inspecting the room you should look for items such as: wall damage (holes, large paint chips, etc.), flooring damage (large stains or tears), mattress damage (inspect seams for tears/holes), and broken furniture. As with any rental we encourage you to take pictures/video of the space at move-in and keep them for your records.

All residents must complete a Room Condition Report within 72 hours of check-in.

To submit your Room Condition Report please visit our online Room Condition Form

Responsibility for Room Condition Information Document

Our beds are standard deep twin XL size. 

Residence hall rooms are furnished with:

• Extra-Long Twin Bed 
• Bookshelf
• Desk and Chair
• Closet
• Dresser or Wardrobe (depending on building)
• Garbage Bin (recycling bins are available upon request)
• Mirror
• Curtains

All items must remain in room. 

Yes we provide mini fridges so there is no need to bring one from home. There is one mini fridge provided per room in Wallace, Tower and McConnell. The LLCs come with a full size refrigerator and microwave in each suite.

Lounges, hallways, other common spaces and the Tower and McConnell residence hall bathrooms are cleaned daily by our dedicated custodial staff.

Students living in the LLCs and Wallace residence halls are responsible for cleaning their bathrooms.

The residence hall license agreement is a binding commitment to live on campus for the duration of the agreement contract. The University of Idaho residence hall license agreement includes both room and meals.

Yes and No. Students living in the LLC may continue to be on campus during winter break. Students with winter break housing needs should work directly with the housing office to make housing arrangements.

Residence Hall students who have lost their VandalCard can get a temporary key from the Information Desk. The Information Desk will provide a temporary key during their hours of operation. If you have lost your VandalCard while the Information Desk is closed please contact the RA on call using the number located in your hall.

Absolutely. In order to room with a friend, choose the same room during the Housing application process.

Students who would like to live together, but not in the same room, can choose Wallace Residence Center and the Living Learning Communities. Suite style options are a great choice for students wanting to live together but not wanting to share a bedroom.

We want you to be happy and comfortable living on campus. The first step to take if you and your roommate are having a hard time adjusting to living together is to talk with your RA. If you still feel you must change rooms, please visit the housing office, and we will help you apply for a room change.

There are no room changes during dead week and finals week.

Yes. Each year we are able to approve a limited number of room “buy outs” in Theophilus Tower and Wallace Residence Center. This means students buy the other half of the double-capacity room.

If interested, email housing@uidaho.edu to let us know you would like a single room. We let you know within a few days if we can approve your request.

Yes and no. Students have seven days after their roommate leaves to declare they would like to buy out the other half of the room. Students may also choose to move out and choose a single room (if rooms are available). If students do not declare the desire to purchase the other half of the room, housing will begin the process of moving in another student.

Please note: housing can not guarantee single rooms if there is no availability.

Resident safety and security is important to us.

Each residence hall is protected by a VandalCard reader that unlocks the door for residents of the building. Students are encouraged to keep the doors to their rooms locked and follow common sense safety precautions.

Resident Assistants also do nightly rounds of the buildings to ensure safety and enforce quiet hours. Additionally, campus security does two random rounds with RAs per day.

For more information, contact campus-security@uidaho.edu or 208-885-7233 (SAFE).

The University of Idaho has several precautions to ensure a safe and secure environment. Each residence hall is protected by a VandalCard ID reader that unlocks the exterior door for residents to enter the building. Exterior doors are locked 24 hours a day.

Yes. Housing and Residence life works directly with Moscow Police to ensure safety in the residence halls. Campus Security also does nightly rounds of residence hall buildings, student safety checks and a 24-hour a day campus free campus security walking service. For more information on the Safe Walk program, go to Security Services site.

There are several options you can go to for help.

Information Desk

Information Desk, located in the Living Learning Communities is available for all students 24/7 every day. Students can visit the desk for emergencies, room lock-outs, lost keys, disturbances, complaints or any other safety needs.

RA On Call

Each hall has an RA on call number you can contact. Numbers are posted in each hall.

Campus Security

The Campus Security Team is on patrol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - including holidays and academic breaks. You can also contact Campus Security to utilize their safe walk program. This program is free for students, faculty, and staff. More information can be found at uidaho.edu/safe-walk. Campus Security can be reached at 208-885-7233 (SAFE).

Our Information Desk, located in the LLCs can help with emergencies and questions about Housing. The Information Desk is also where you pick up mail and packages. If you’re locked out of your room and need a temporary key, have an emergency in the halls or simply have questions about life on campus, come to our desk and we’ll help you. You may also call 208-885-7379.

Housing & Residence Life works directly with the Moscow Police Department and the Campus Security Team to ensure safety in the Residence Halls. The Campus Security Team is on patrol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including holidays and academic breaks.

Campus Security also provides residence hall walkthroughs, safety checks and 24-hour campus SAFE-WALK for students and employees. The Campus Security Team can be reached by calling 208-885-7233 (SAFE) or emailing campus-security@uidaho.edu.

Due to the risk of fire, the following items are prohibited in the Residence Halls: candles, incense, flammable liquids and cooking appliances with open heating elements. All small appliances, like coffee makers, must be equipped with an automatic shut off option. Items are not allowed to be hung on sprinkler heads located in rooms and hallways

Residents must accompany visitors at all times. Staff works to enforce this policy for the safety and comfort of all residents. If you would like an overnight guest, you should communicate with your roommate and suitemates. Guests may not stay for a prolonged time.

Live-in professionals and student staff live with you. Each of our residence halls are staffed with a Resident Director. Every floor has a Resident Assistant. Their job is to keep things safe. Let your RA know of any suspicious people/activities.

Make sure to lock your room door, take your key each time you leave your room and do not leave property unattended. Most on-campus thefts are crimes of opportunity, meaning that they can be prevented by keeping personal property locked up.

No vehicle? No Problem!

U of I is a beautiful, walkable campus adjacent to downtown Moscow. With free public transportation and nearly 2,500 bicycle rack spaces, your educational experience can truly be vehicle-free.

Parking on campus is extremely limited and students outnumber parking spaces. Students must purchase a parking permit before they bring their vehicle to campus. Residence Hall students are eligible to purchase a Silver or Economy parking permit from Parking and Transportation Services. Parking permits go on sale online starting July 6, 2022, for the fall semester. Students who do not purchase a parking permit before they arrive should not bring their vehicles to campus. Note that parking a motorcycle on campus does not require a parking permit.

Read more about student parking permits on the Parking and Transportation Services website.

The University of Idaho encourages bicycle transportation. Designated bike racks at located outside the entrances of Wallace Residence Center, McConnell, Tower and Living Learning Communities.

Please stop by the housing office if you would like to store your bike indoors. We have limited spaces available in Wallace, McConnell and the Tower residence halls. The housing office is located on the second floor of Wallace Residence Center.

There is motorcycle parking near the residence halls and no parking permit is necessary. You may not store motorized vehicles inside your room or residence hall at any time.

Students can pick up their mail at the LLC Information Desk located in Living Learning Community Building 2.

A VandalCard or other form of identification is required to pick up mail.

All students have an assigned MSC number which is unique to the student. The MSC number is required for the student to receive mail. Any mail that does not have the student's name and MSC number will be returned to sender. Students with a fall booking will be sent their MSC number for receiving packages in late July. This information will also be provided when they check into their room.

If a student wishes to have mail sent to be ready for move-in, they can start sending mail to their student mailing address 10 days prior to move-in day.

Student Mailing Address:
Student Name
MSC #____
901 Paradise Creek Street
Moscow ID 83843

Absolutely! Washers and dryers are located in all buildings and are free to use. You only need to provide your own soap and dryer sheets. Ask your RA on which floor your nearest laundry room is located. 

Use of our laundry machines for all residents is free.

Yes. Each residence hall has computer labs with printing capabilities. The LLCs are the exception. However, all students are welcome to use the large public computer lab in the bottom floor of Wallace Residence Center. All full-time students receive 250 pages of printing per semester.

Many network-compatible devices, such as game consoles and smart TVs, do not work on the main campus networks AirVandalGold and AirVandalHome. Instead, they will need to first be registered at help.uidaho.edu/avsetup, then connected to the AirVandalGuest network. Connecting a wired device (Ethernet) will also require registration of the device at help.uidaho.edu/avsetup. For support or questions, contact the Student Technology Center at 208-885-4357 or submit a ticket online at oit.uidaho.edu.

Yes, Wallace and McConnell have kitchens in their basements, while our Living Learning Communities each have a kitchen on the main floor. 

If you seen an elevator requiring maintenance, please report it to the LLC Information Desk immediately at 208-885-7379.

Wallace, Tower and McConnell Residents

Please report Microwave/Fridge concerns by calling 866-651-5638 to schedule a time to have the unit repaired or replaced.

LLC Residents

Please submit a service request using our online service request form.

Gender-inclusive housing allows for same gender, opposite-gender or gender nonconforming students to live together, regardless of biological sex.

This housing option provides an environment where housing is not restricted by traditional limitations of gender.

To sign up for Gender Inclusive Housing, select "Gender Inclusive Housing" on the application, agree to the terms and choose from the available gender-inclusive spaces.

All participants living in gender-inclusive housing are expected to adhere to philosophies of respect and inclusion and are expected to be a positive member of the larger campus housing community the same as any other resident.

Gender-inclusive housing for first-year students is offered in Wallace Residence Center.

Non-first year students, including non-first year transfers, options are located in the Living Learning Communities and Wallace Residence Center.

All gender-inclusive housing assignments are located in suites with private bathrooms.

Yes, all students can request a room change at any time. There may be limitations to room selection options depending on the time of year and if there is available space.

No. Students will never be placed in a gender inclusive suite if they have not selected that option on their application. If not enough students select this option, a student requesting gender inclusive housing may be placed in a single gender suite.

For questions about gender inclusive housing and other accommodations related to gender identity/expression, please contact our student assignments team at housing@uidaho.edu or 208-885-6571.

Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to designate units with openings as single gender at any time if needed.

Cancel Application

For students who have applied to live with Housing and Residence Life but have not yet moved in.

Canceling your housing application is simple. We would certainly like you to live with us, but understand that this may not be the best option for you. Please log-in to the Housing Portal to complete your cancellation request.

Request to Break Agreement

Current residents wishing to break their housing agreement after move-in, should log into the Housing Portal and click the “request to break agreement” button on the "Forms" page. Once the form is processed, we will notify you of the checkout procedure. If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact us at housing@uidaho.edu.

Note: Breaking a signed legally binding academic year agreement may result in a penalty.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 208-885-6571 or contact us at housing@uidaho.edu.

Students living in the residence halls can change their meal plan through the first week of classes each semester. View dining and meal plan options.

To change your meal plan please log into your Housing Portal and click the “Change Meal Plan” button on "Forms" page.

The Cleaning and Damage Charge Dispute Form form can be used if you have a charge after check-out that you need to dispute. Residents have 30 days from the date of their check-out to submit a charge dispute.

We strive to accommodate the full-spectrum of dietary needs and restrictions by providing daily rotating vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options as well as an allergen friendly station that is dedicated to menu options prepared without eggs, wheat, peanuts, fish, crustacean shellfish, sesame, soy, milk, tree nuts and gluten. We offer an allergen self-identification tool and an allergen-free station at the Eatery. If you have a dietary accommodation you feel cannot be met in the dining hall, please complete our Dietary Accommodation Form.

Current residence hall students may request a late stay of 1 additional night if they are graduating, have an international flight or have another extenuating circumstance. To request a late stay, please log into your Housing Portal and click the “Late Stay Request” button on "Forms" page.

The University of Idaho requires all full-time, first year students under 21 years of age to live in organized living groups officially recognized by the university (residence halls, fraternities and sororities, women's cooperative) for one academic year.

Students who live on campus have higher GPAs, are more likely to graduate and to be more satisfied with their college experience than students who in live off campus apartments or houses.

Any students who wish to apply for an exemption to live off campus must fill-out the First-Year Residency Requirement Exemption Form with the Dean of Students Office.

Once you check in to your residence hall and accept your room key, the terms of your License Agreement and Handbook are in effect. This means that you are committed to paying room and board for the contract period specified in the License Agreement. Additionally, you agree to abide by the Student Code of Conduct and the Housing Handbook.

Housing contract periods are dependent on when you move in: Academic year, Spring only or Summer session. 

2024-2025 Academic Year

• Residence Hall License Agreement
• Residence Hall Handbook

Current residents who are interested in a room change, including room changes within a suite, must submit a room change request form for consideration. Submitting this request does not guarantee approval, which will be based on housing availability and eligibility requirements.

To request a room change, please log into your Housing Portal and click the “Room Change Request” button on "Forms" page.

If this is an emergency, please contact the Housing and Residence Life office at 208-885-6571.

All residents must complete a Room Condition Report within 72 hours of check-in.

To submit your Room Condition Report please visit our online Room Condition Form

 

Responsibility for Room Condition Information Document

Once residents pay the $500 deposit, the terms of the License Agreement are in effect. Additionally, residents must agree to abide by the Student Code of Conduct and the Apartment Handbook guidelines and regulations. It is highly recommended that residents read the Apartment Handbook, as it will answer many of your questions.

• 2024-25 Apartment Handbook
• 2024-25 Apartment License Agreement

Please be sure to follow the Apartment Checklist to make sure you have taken care of everything you need to do when you move into your new apartment.

Your mailbox location and number can be found in your welcome email, with your address. Our mailbox location map will show you where each of the mailboxes are located for each apartment complex.

If you have any questions, contact our Apartment Coordinator at 208-885-6573 or apartments@uidaho.edu.

Any damages not recorded on this inventory at the beginning of your occupancy and found when you check out can be attributed to you, so please be descriptive and thorough. After you have checked your apartment, please return this form to the information desk located in Housing’s Living Learning Community building #2. Please do this within 72 hours of your check in. If there are items needing repair at any time during your stay, please submit a service request.

Link to form: Apartment Move-In Condition Form

The Cleaning and Damage Charge Dispute Form form can be used if you have a charge after check-out that you need to dispute. Residents have 30 days from the date of their check-out to submit a charge dispute.

Residents are required to complete an Intent to Vacate form 60 days prior to moving out. A $100 fee applies if less than 60 days notice is given.

Yes, you can cancel your room application, however you will not receive a refund on your application fee and your room assignment will be released.

You can cancel your room application using the Cancel Application Form located in the Housing Portal.

Yes, you can request to break your agreement, however, doing so will result in a penalty of up to $1,200. The cancellation policy for students breaking their agreement early can be found in Section 9 and Section 10 of the Residence Hall License Agreement.

If we can do anything to convince you to stay, please contact us a housing@uidaho.edu. Otherwise, complete the Request to Break License Agreement Form located in the Housing Portal. Once the form is processed you will receive an email with instructions on checking out properly.

The residence hall application fee is non-refundable.

In the case of extreme, unforeseeable and uncontrollable problems the early cancellation fee may be appealed. Breaking your Agreement is your last resort to solve a problem. You must seek assistance from Housing and Residence Life staff to resolve the problem, and you must try all other, less extreme options offered to you before submitting a request to break your agreement. The other options might include, transferring to a different campus housing room, room type, residence hall or apartment for which you are eligible.

To appeal the early cancellation fee, please complete the Housing and Residence Life Agreement Appeal Form within 30 days of your checkout. Appeals submitted after 30 days from your checkout will be automatically denied.