University Housing Selection
We take great care to make sure Bentley is a welcome home for every student on campus. Dorm life may suit you perfectly, or you may prefer an apartment or suite-style living arrangement. We also offer defined living communities based on common goals and personal interests.
The housing selection process is an exciting time. The process for returning students begins in February and the process for new students begins in May. This coincides with when you would start planning your academic and social needs for the upcoming academic year.
We are excited to welcome our new first-year, transfer, and exchange students for the fall 2021 semester!
If you plan to live on campus for the 2021-2022 academic year, you will need to pay attention to the important dates below. New students who are accepted to Bentley as residential students will receive more detailed information to their Bentley email address about housing processes and due dates in late May.
Important Dates:
May 26th: Housing Contract & Housing Application are available in the Housing Portal
- Once you complete the 2021-2022 Housing & Meal Plan Contract, then you will have access to complete the Housing Application
- Defined Community applications will also be made available beginning this day for students who are interested in applying to one of those communities.
- Students may also begin submitting Housing and Meal Plan Accommodation Petitions if they have a medical or religious need for an accommodation. Please see the section below on accommodations for more information.
June 23rd: Housing Contract & Housing Application due
- Students who choose to submit a Defined Community application and/or Housing and Meal Plan Accommodation Petition will also need to submit those materials by this date.
Late July: Housing assignments communicated to incoming students, including roommate information
September 1st: Move-in for new students accepted to live in Defined Communities
September 2nd: Move-in for all other new students (more information about move-in specifics will be sent out over the summer)
Overview of Summer 2021 vs Fall 2021 Processes
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Summer 2021 Housing Process |
Fall 2021 Housing Process |
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Step 1: Contract Signing |
Complete the “2021-2022 Housing & Meal Plan Contract” in the Housing Portal. In the application questions, please choose the semester(s) (summer 2021 and/or fall 2021) that you plan to live on campus. |
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Step 2: Roommate Registration |
Select your roommate group via the “Summer 2021 Roommate Registration” Module in the Housing Portal.
Students can form groups of 1, 2, or 4. |
Select your roommate group via the “Fall 2021 Roommate Registration” Module in the Housing Portal.
Students can form groups of 1, 2, 4, or 5. |
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Step 3: Housing Selection |
The Residential Center will place you into a housing assignment based upon your roommate group and available housing options.
All students living on campus in summer 2021 will reside in apartment-style buildings. Housing assignments will be communicated by March 25th. |
You and your group will select your specific housing assignment via the Housing Portal at a designated selection time/date. Housing Selection will take place from March 30th – April 2nd and April 5th – April 8th. |
Timeline & Important Dates
March 1st - 9th: Sign the 2021-2022 Housing & Meal Plan Contract in the Housing Portal (students can specify whether they are signing up for Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or both)
March 5th: Last day to appeal cluster assignment
March 10th: Last day to apply to live in a Defined Community (Honors Upperclass & Emerging Leaders communities - Fall 2021 only; no Defined Communities will be offered for Summer 2021)
March 10th - 17th: Roommate Registration & Confirmation Process via the Housing Portal (students will register roommates for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 in two separate, concurrent processes)
March 12th: Last day to submit a petition for Housing & Meal Plan Accommodations (see specific section below)
March 23rd: Group numbers sent via email for Fall 2021 Housing Selection
March 25th: Housing assignments sent via email for Summer 2021
March 29th: Fall 2021 Selection dates & times sent via email; Room Availability released in Housing Portal
March 30th - April 2nd: Fall 2021 Housing Selection, Part 1
April 5th - 8th: Fall 2021 Housing Selection, Part 2
For more information, please refer to our Housing Selection Information Packet:
Housing%20Information%20for%20Summer%202021%20%26%20Fall%202021%20%286%29.pdf
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:
- Carefully read the guidelines for a housing and meal plan accommodation and complete the petition as thoroughly as possible.
- 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
- 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).
- If petition for a medical reason, your medical specialist will need to submit supporting documentation, detailing:
4. If you have questions, call 781-891-2148 or email housing@bentley.edu to schedule a meeting with Jeff Funk, Assistant Director of Housing Operations.
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 2021: Due by 4:00PM on Friday, March 12th, 2021 (Committee will review in March 2021)
• New Students for Fall 2021: Due by 4:00PM on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021 (Committee will review in July 2021)
• New Students for Spring 2022: Due by 4:00PM on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 (Committee will review in Dec 2021)
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 Jeff Funk, 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 Jeff Funk, Assistant Director of Housing Operations.
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.