University Housing Selection

Incoming first-year, transfer and exchange students will receive different housing instructions. Information will be sent to the student's email address by May 27th.

• A link to the Housing Portal will be available starting May 27, 2020. You need the portal to access the housing contract and application.
• In the portal, select Forms and Applications at the top of the page. Read the entire housing contract.
• All housing applications and contracts are due by June 30th, 2020.
• Housing assignments will be emailed to all residents on July 22nd, 2020.
• Electronic student bills will be emailed in early July and will include a housing charge for a double room and the unlimited meal plan. Once actual assignments are completed, your student account will be adjusted to reflect the appropriate charge.
• For more information regarding the First Year Living Experience at Bentley, contact Sabrina Cruz, Assistant Director for the First Year Area.  
• More information about the Defined Community Program can be found here: Defined Communities Information.
• More information about dining at Bentley can be found here: Dining at Bentley Information.

Timeline

Feb. 5th: Students can begin signing the 2020-2021 Housing Contract through the Housing Portal and will receive an email with their Cluster Assignment.

Feb. 11th: Last day for students to appeal their Cluster Assignment.

Feb. 18th: Last day for students to sign the 2020-2021 Housing Contract through the Housing Portal.

Feb. 19th: Roommate Registration & Confirmation begins. This is when you will let the Residential Center know (through the Housing Portal) if you will be participating in selection as a group or an individual. Students will also receive an email with their priority number.

Feb 28th: Roommate Registration & Confirmation (through the Housing Portal) comes to an end.

March 4th: The Residential Center will host a Housing Showcase throughout campus for students to take a look at the room styles we currently have available on campus.

March 5th: Students will receive an email with their calculated Group Number via their Bentley email address.

April 2nd: Students will receive their selection date and time via their Bentley email address. The Room Availability Page will become available through the Housing Portal.

April 6th-10th: Housing Selection Part 1 the Housing Portal (for Clusters 1–3).

April 6th-10th: Housing Selection Part 2 the Housing Portal (for  clusters 3 [cont.] & 4).

Resources

1. Watch this video that explains the housing selection process.

2. Review this presentation about the housing selection process. 

Clusters

Students will be placed into a cluster assignment based on the number of  credits they have earned as of Jan. 13, 2019. 

Priority Numbers

Students will be randomly assigned a priority number within their cluster assignment.

A priority number is a four-digit number that begins with your Cluster Number (i.e., 1000, 2000). This number is computer-generated and randomly assigned.

If you plan to go through selection with roommates, the Residential Center will average the priority numbers of everyone in your group to create your Group Number.

Students who go through selection without roommates will been assigned an individual priority number as their Group Number. The Residential Center will place all Group Numbers in order and assign students with a housing selection date and time based on ascending order.

Bentley University recognizes that we will need to make particular accommodations for students who have an existing medical diagnosis (with documentation from a specialist) and/or religious needs (with documentation from their clergy). 

The petition process for a Housing & Meal Plan Accommodation is a pre-selection process, with all approved applicants securing an appropriate assignment before their respective Housing Selection Process begins. Each applicant must complete the following steps to petition for a housing and/or meal plan accommodation:

1. Carefully read the guidelines for a housing and meal plan accommodation and complete the petition as thoroughly as possible.
    
2. Submit a typed letter or statement (from the applicant) detailing either:
   • Your current medical diagnosis, identifying the specific style of housing your diagnosis requires and explaining why your diagnosis requires such an accommodation.
   • Your current religious/faith practice, identifying the specific style of housing your practice requires and explaining why your practice requires such an accommodation
      
3. Submit supporting documentation in a detailed typed-letter, on letterhead, with a hand signature and date:
   • If petition for a medical reason, your medical specialist will need to submit supporting documentation, detailing:
     • Your official diagnosis,
     • History of the diagnosis (including how long you've been treated by the specialist),
     • The impact (how it affects you),
     • Treatment plan,
     • Their recommendation (including the style of housing needed to support this diagnosis and why your diagnosis requires such an accommodation).
   • If petition is for religious consideration, your clergyperson will need to submit supporting documentation, detailing
     • Your religion/faith identity,
     • History of their relationship with you,
     • How your request aligns with your religion/faith practice,
     • Their recommendation (including the style of housing needed to support your request).

4. If you have questions, call 781-891-2148 to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Director of Housing Operations in the Residential Center.

All petitions must be submitted by the appropriate deadline. You may submit your petition via email to housing@bentley.edu, to the Residential Center (3rd Floor of the Student Center) or by fax to 781-891-2505.

Petition Timeline

• Returning Students for Fall 2020: Due by 4:00PM on Friday, February 14th, 2020 (Committee will review mid Feb 2020)
• New Students for Fall 2020: Due by 4:00PM on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020 (Committee will review in July 2020)
• Students Returning from Fall 2020 Abroad: Due by 4:00PM on November 11th, 2020 (Committee will review in Nov 2020)
• New Students for Spring 2020: Due by 4:00PM on December 14th, 2020 (Committee will review on Dec 2020)

If your petition is accepted by the committee, you will receive a housing offer, as well as additional instructions that must be completed to finalize the process. If documentation is received after this date, the Residential Center will consider it, but cannot guarantee that an appropriate accommodation will be available.

Petition Form and Support

Housing and Meal Plan Accommodation Petition

If you are having difficulty or need the petition in an alternate format, email Antonio Willis-Berry, Assistant Director of Housing Operations, at housing@bentley.edu.

Residence hall floors are designed for co-ed living and, if you are interested in a floor that is single sex, you may request this, but it is not guaranteed. Bentley University is committed to creating an affirming community for our transgender, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming students. The Residential Center will work with students to find a housing situation that is affirming and will support each student's academic growth. If you would like to speak with someone regarding your specific request, please contact Antonio Willis-Berry, Associate Director of Housing & Residential Services.

Students returning to campus from an education abroad experience who want to live on campus must complete a housing request form. Please note: 

• Roommate Requests: List the name(s) of the person(s) you wish to live with. Place the name of the person you would like to be your direct roommate in the “Direct Roommate Request 1” field. All roommate requests must be mutual to be considered.
• Room Style: Select a room style preference, either a single-bedroom or double-bedroom, within an Apartment or Suite-style option. You will be asked to rank your preferences.
  Note: Suite-style housing requires a meal plan.
• Global Living Community Interest: The Global Living Community (GLC) in Orchard North is designed to connect peers either awaiting to or returning from an experience abroad. Programs and events within the community will center on cross-cultural dialogue and education to broaden global perspectives and knowledge. In addition, spring semester residents can expect re-immersion programming to foster reflection and critical consideration of one’s time abroad. 
  If you are interested in living in the GLC, select “Yes” on the application and complete the corresponding essay.
  Note: Only students who are returning from a Fall Education Abroad experience and incoming exchange students will be considered for the GLC. Selection is based on essay response, diversity of education abroad locations, and availability.

Specific Assignment Requests

If you are requesting assignment to a partially occupied apartment or suite, confirm with the fall resident(s) of the room when completing the Spring Housing Request for Education Abroad Participants form. 

Additionally, the fall resident(s) must email housing@bentley.edu and request you as their spring roommate. You will not be assigned to the requested space until we receive all confirmation emails.

Spring Billing 

The Office of Student Financial Services will bill for the spring semester in late November/early December. Spring bills are sent before spring assignments are completed, so temporary room and board charges will be added to your account before bills are sent out. The temporary charges will reflect the two-person, double-bedroom suite rate and Value 15 meal plan, which covers the cost for the majority of campus housing. Spring room charges will be updated once spring assignments are complete. Meal Plans can be adjusted or dropped (if the spring assignment allows) after spring assignments are completed. 

When you are ready to return to campus, follow the Leave of Absence/Return process. Then email housing@bentley.edu to request housing.

Interim Housing and Summer Housing applications will be available to current Bentley students through the Housing Portal. 

Interim Housing

Interim residents will remain in their spring assignments until they transition to Slade Hall between 9 a.m. and Noon on Saturday, May 11, 2019.

• Interim Housing Dates: May 11–May 18
• Location: Miller Hall in a double occupancy room. A meal plan is required and included in the cost per night.
• Cost: $400
• Prices and dates are subject to change. 

Summer Housing

Summer Housing will be in the Orchards. This is for students who are taking summer courses or working at internships.

Summer Housing is divided into two sessions. Students can sign up for one or both sessions.

• Session 1: Sunday, May 19—Thursday, June 27
  • Single-occupancy Rate (Limited Amount): $2,240 per person
  • Double-occupancy Rate (Limited Amount): $1,920 per person
     
• Session 2: Sunday, June 30—Thursday, Aug. 8
  • Single-occupancy Rate (Limited Amount): $2,240 per person
  • Double-occupancy Rate (Limited Amount): $1,920 per person

Please note: Another type of summer housing is geared toward summer student employees. There are a limited number of designated spaces. Department Heads must formally request student employee summer housing.