Housing and Residence Life is committed to helping Tulane’s residential students thrive in their living environments. For some students that necessitates a change to their housing assignment. Room swaps and room changes can be requested during our Room Change Request processes by submitting a Room Change Request Form via the Housing Portal.
The Room Change Request Process is available for approximately a two week period, three times during the academic year. On-campus residents will be notified via email of the specific dates once the academic year begins each year.
Room Change Process Overview:
- Submit a room change request application. The form allows you to request a mutual swap with another person or a general room change to a new type of space or building.
- Room availability: Spaces for room changes will open as Housing receives and processes cancellation forms, so finding a matching space may take time. Students are encouraged to be patient, but may check in with Housing for a status update.
- Room change offer: Students will receive an email offering a space that meets the criteria they submitted. Students will have 48 hours to accept the space offered.
- Declining an offer: Students who decline the space offered will not receive another offer until all other outstanding requests have been processed.
- Accepting an offer: Students who accept their offer (via email) will receive an email with moving procedures. Students will move into their new assignment, following the instructions in the moving email.
- Move instructions: Students must follow the instructions in their move letter. Failure to do so may result in improper check-out or improper room change charges.
- Unfulfilled requests: Students requesting a type of space not available during the Room Change period may submit a new request during the next open room change period.
Room Change Request Process dates:
- Fall Semester Room Change - Early September
- Mid-Year Room Change - Early November (Requires students to move out completely at the end of the Fall semester and move into the new space for Spring)
- Spring Room Change - Early Spring Semester
*Specific dates are communicated to students via email in advance, and also provided in our Important Dates webpage.
Housing and Residence Life will do its best to accommodate requests. Room changes are easier to accommodate for students requesting a mutual swap or those that provide a broader range of options in which they would live.
A Room Swap is defined as two students who wish to trade housing assignments. For those residents requesting a Room Swap, both parties interested in moving must submit a Room Change Request Form.
A Room Change is defined as a student who wishes to move to an unoccupied space. Specific roommates may be requested on the application but are not necessary. Two students wishing to move to a new room together will each have to complete the Room Change Request Form and list each other as preferred roommates.
We will work on these changes as rooms become available. Students will receive a room offer via email from Housing and Residence Life once a room has been identified and will have 48-hours to accept or decline the offer. Students are highly encouraged to use this time to connect with potential roommates and suitemates and ensure the offered room would be a good fit. Students will be able to gain access to their new assignments 24-hours after move instructions have been sent to allow for roommate and/or suitemate notification. 48-hours will be given to complete the move and a move timeline will be provided in the move instruction email.
Due to current occupancy, not all requests can be accommodated. Should Housing and Residence Life be unable to meet your request, you will be notified once all applications have been processed.
As we move through the process, Housing and Residence Life must approve all room changes. Students cannot change rooms without permission. All unauthorized room changes or room swaps will be subject to a $300 USD improper room change fee. Unauthorized room changes can become problematic in cases of emergencies, so it is imperative that Housing and Residence Life's assignments list is accurate.
Before requesting a room change, students are encouraged to speak with their Resident Advisor and utilize Living Cooperatively Resources.
