The Residence Life Office is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Connect virtually in our Zoom Drop-In on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. or request an appointment or questions by emailing us at [email protected].
The information provided below will help to clarify the returning student housing process and provide additional answers to frequently asked questions
All returning undergraduate students, including commuters, who pay their $200 housing deposit by March 1st.
Students that have paid the $200 housing deposit by the March 1st deadline will have access to the housing portal. On the portal students will be able to complete their application, form groups for apartment and suite housing, search for roommates or create roommate pairings for standard housing and select their housing and meal plans.
Students are expected to conduct themselves with integrity and respect at all times during the room selection process. Any attempted manipulation of the room selection process results in fewer housing options for all students and a more stressful experience overall.
All of the room selections will be completed via the online housing portal. Students will be able to log on to their myRider accounts and click the Housing Portal link that appears under the Campus Contac
Students participating in standard room selection are not required to designate a roommate. As part of the housing process, each student is required to complete a roommate matching questionnaire. This questionnaire is designed to provide students with the opportunity to search for potential roommates based on their online profile.
If you wish not to pair yourself with someone prior to room selection, you may select the space of your choice and the next person looking for a space will have the option to select the open bed in the space that you have chosen. Students participating in Apartment and suite Room Selection will be required to have a complete group that is able to fill the unit type, i.e. 4 person suite, which they are requesting on the first day of selection. If there are any spaces remaining on the second day of Apartment and Suite room selection groups will be allowed to select from whatever spaces remain, regardless of group size.
If you wish not to pair yourself with someone prior to room selection, you may select the space of your choice and the next person looking for a space will have the option to select the open bed in the space that you have chosen.
This applies only to standard room selections. Students participating in Apartment and suite Room Selection will be required to have a complete group that is able to fill the unit type, i.e. 4 person suite, that they are requesting.
No. Every student must go through the process and choose from the rooms that are available at their time slot.
You must notify the Office of Financial Aid whenever your housing status changes. Students who reside off campus, but not at home, are also required to provide a signed copy of their lease for review by a financial aid counselor.
To apply for housing as a returning student, you must follow the steps and requirements below.
Steps to Apply for Housing
All returning undergraduate students, including commuters, who pay their housing deposit by March 1 and submit their housing agreement by April 2nd will be able to reside on campus.
Housing Requirements
To qualify for housing, you must:
If you are a readmitted student, you are returning to Rider after having taken a leave of absence. To apply for housing as a readmitted student you must follow the steps and requirements below.
Steps to Apply for Housing
Housing Requirements
To qualify for housing, you must:
Deposits and housing applications will continue to be accepted however you may have limited residence hall choices and will not be eligible to participate in Apartment and suite Room Selection.
Once you have selected a room assignment, the deposit is not refundable. Students may request a refund before they have selected a standard room assignment.
Housing contracts are issued for a full academic year. When you sign your agreement to live on campus, you are committing to the terms of that agreement, including length of agreement and room rate. When you move out early, you are breaking the terms of the agreement. If you are considering canceling your housing agreement, please review the cancellation policy before making a final decision.
After students complete an application individual lottery numbers will be emailed to their Rider email account. Students that have formed a group for Apartment and suite selection will receive their group lottery number via email to the Group Leader. Students may also find the information on the housing portal. For specific dates please refer to the timeline in General Room Selection information.
Numbers will be assigned according to class year.
A random number will be given to each student after they pay their deposit. Students will be grouped by their class year. Higher numbers will be allowed to room select first.
No. Each number is specific to each student.
Based on our projected occupancy needs for Fall 2019 double singles will not be offered during this room selection process. Students that wish to be considered for a double single if they become available should select they are interested in a single room on their housing application.
Applications will be accepted on the housing portal through the end of Spring semester.
Students will see all eligible spaces for selection during their allotted timeslot. For specific dates please refer to the timeline in General Room Selection information.
Students who are interested in living in an apartment or suite must complete an online group application. Students wishing to participate in the group process must be in good judicial standing and financial standing with the University. The lottery numbers of each applicant will be averaged to get the group lottery numbers. The Group Leader will receive the Group Lottery number as well as the timeslot.
Judicial Holds
Financial Holds
No. There are gender-inclusive housing options to those students that wish to participate.
Once a space has been selected, all students are bound to the cancellation policy. This means for anyone canceling their assignment after they have already selected or been placed there is a financial penalty. A student leaving a group after an assignment has already been selected impacts the ability of the group to remain in that apartment and suite housing assignment.
The group could be removed from their apartment and suite housing assignment and placed in standard housing where available, the group could potentially fill the space with another student so long as that student has a comparable lottery number to the student that backed out or the group would be subject to have the space filled by the Residence Life office.
Please refer to the timeline in General Room Selection information for Greek Room Selection process dates.
Air conditioners are not permitted in student rooms unless approved by the Housing Accommodations committee. Students that have been approved in the past may have to reapply. Please refer to your approval email for more information. All new requests must be submitted via the Rider Housing Accommodations form by March 1st. The Housing Accommodations form can be found on the Students with Disability Services website.
Students seeking to be exempt from the meal plan based on a severe medical condition or disability must file for a Housing/Dining Accommodations. Students who qualify for an accommodation based on a disability can be exempt from the meal plan. The Housing/Dining Accommodations form can be found on the Housing Accomodations webpage. All requests should be submitted on or before March 1st to ensure a timely review prior to the start of room selection.
Yes, the individual with the higher lottery number will determine the time slot to select.
We cannot guarantee that your request can be accommodated. Housing is set aside for incoming first-year and transfer students. These beds are specifically designated and cannot be allotted for returning students. If the additional bed space in the room that you have selected is available at the time of new student selection, they may select it.
Yes, provided he or she has paid the $200 room deposit by March 1st and completed their online housing application by the appropriate deadline for selection.
Students studying abroad for the Fall 2020 semester should deposit for Spring 2021 in October 2020 and should NOT participate in Fall 2020 room selection.
In an effort to provide residence hall security during a time when the residence halls are closed, we have created guidelines for students who remain on campus through vacations.
Please note the information below and be cautious as you come and go. We ask your cooperation in abiding by these regulations as you have been granted the privilege of staying in the halls when school is not in session.
Violation of any of these guidelines may result in the immediate revocation of housing privileges.
Students enrolled in JTerm may take advantage of the JTerm housing rate. Housing is available for current residential students registered in JTerm. Housing is not available for high school students or visiting students.
Students requesting J-term housing should complete the J-term application available on the Housing Portal via their myRider accounts.
Important phone numbers:
The University is not liable for any loss of personal property by theft, fire, water or any other cause. Please procure personal insurance, since the University cannot purchase this protection for students.
Insurance vendor information is also included in the New Student Orientation Information.