After waiting anxiously, your housing assignment is finally announced, and you have been assigned to … an overflow room! What does that mean? Don’t fear- below we have answered our most frequently asked questions. We hope this information will leave you feeling more informed and ready for a positive housing experience.
First-Year Students: Triple Occupancy Rooms
Each year demand for campus housing continues to increase and, in an effort to comfortably accommodate our freshman residents, the Office of Residence Life & Housing has identified the rooms to accommodate triple occupancy by starting with the largest rooms within the residence halls and worked our way down, based on the size of the units. This process is common at colleges and universities where growth and demand for housing is strong. This means applicants currently on the waitlist will be assigned to the Lakeside triple occupancy rooms for all the fall semester. Our priority is to provide a bed space for each applicant, regardless of room or roommate preference.
Residence Life is confident that, while triple rooms may have less space and privacy than double or single rooms, students will have a successful experience and enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to foster new relationships, making the most of their first year of college.
Frequently asked questions:
Q. What is a triple room?
A. A triple room is a bedroom that is configured to have three residents on one side of the room. The 4-person suites in Lakeside have been modified to serve as 5-person and six-person suites, depending on the size of the room. These bedrooms are part of a traditional 2 bedroom/2-bathroom suite floor plan.
Q. Why was I assigned to an overflow room?
A. Due to the strong demand for housing, most of our residential spaces for Fall were filled early in the Spring semester. In addition, students who apply closer to the beginning of the fall semester for campus housing are likely to be placed in a triple occupancy room. Some students who are initially placed in a double occupancy room will receive a third roommate depending on the demand for housing. Students on the wait list are then placed in triple occupancy rooms based on their completed housing application date and are most likely to receive an overflow housing assignment.
Q. What does a triple room ABAC Lakeside room look like?
A. Because the size of each bedroom may vary, we are unable to give each student the exact measurements of their bedrooms in advance of move-in day. The average size of a triple occupancy room is 7’ 11” x 21’. While the size of the room may differ, each room does have three beds, 2 bunked (with bed rails) and one stand-alone, a stacked dresser for each student, 2 closets, and 1 desk. We recommend, that bunked students each have their own closet and the student in the stand-alone bed use a dresser, only. The students will share the desk.
Q. Will it be cramped in the room?
A. Well…maybe- how much stuff are you bringing? The rooms have been evaluated by the housing staff to have adequate living space for all
residents; but when each student brings a big screen tv, a puffy bean bag chair, and extra furniture, yes, it will be cramped. We would encourage you to contact your suitemates in advance of move-in day to coordinate who is bringing what for your bedrooms (extra storage, additional tv, area rug, iron/ironing board, etc.).
Q. Any communication tips for roommates?
A. We recognize that for some students this may be their first time sharing a space and now sharing a space with two other students may be stressful! However, a successful roommate relationship is possible in any space if the 3C’s are involved: Courtesy, Compromise, and Communication. Each Resident Assistant will provide a roommate agreement where roommates will openly communicate and compromise about the shared spaces within the bedroom and the suite.
Q. How will I be able to study and sleep?
A. This is a concern for a lot of new college students, but with three students sharing a room, it is crucial to be open and honest with each other about personal space. Talking through quiet hours, expectations about visitors, sleep schedule, calling home, and using headphones are important to a successful roommate experience. There are several common areas throughout Lakeside and campus that are open late and could be a positive study solution based on your habits. It is important to talk with your Resident Assistant and other students about the best places on campus to study if you are unable to study in your room. ABAC is currently working on adding additional study spaces on the second floor of the Carlton Center. Upon completion, these spaces will be open for additional hours in the evenings.
Q. How long do I have to live in an overflow assignment? Can I change rooms?
A. While many students will elect to stay in their overflow room, we realize that for all this may not be the most ideal situation. During the first week of November, all students in an overflow room will receive information via their ABAC email explaining the current openings and the room change request period, if available. We are unable to predict where vacancies will occur, and this may mean that a freshman will be offered a space in an upperclassmen housing area.
Q. Do I have to change rooms?
A. Making great connections with lasting friends is always a positive part of the roommate experience. We often have residents that would rather live in an overflow room with roommates that they have grown close with and do not want to start over with a new set of roommates. Students will be able to remain in an overflow room for the entire Fall semester, after which, if spaces are available and students which to move, they may but are not required to do so.
