Living On Campus
What’s the good news?
The good news is that Boise State is reopening and students will have the opportunity to live on campus in the fall. Research continually shows that students who live on campus have higher GPAs, greater levels of engagement and satisfaction, continue their college journeys at higher numbers, and graduate faster.
Opening housing amidst a global pandemic is full of challenges and opportunities. We believe this is an exciting time to build friendships, examine our values, uncover our ideas of ourselves and society, and build connections as we (re)discover and redesign how we relate to one another.
Our community’s success will depend on each one of us caring for and looking out for one another. We’ll focus on meaningful interactions in small environments and forging deep friendships.
Because this is a very dynamic situation, these plans are based on the most up-to-date information we have at this time and may change depending on many factors that are largely out of our control.
Can I still apply to live on campus?
Yes, we receive applications every day. The demand for living on campus is strong and we’re processing room assignments as quickly as we can. Processing continues all summer so don’t be alarmed if you don’t hear from us right away.
Does Housing and Residence Life plan to reduce occupancy in residence halls?
At this time, we intend on reducing our inventory by a small number of beds to set aside space for use by students who need to self-isolate during the fall term. This won’t reduce our space dramatically but will allow us to ensure that we have rooms available if and when students need to distance themselves from the community.
Do I have to get tested prior to arrival for move-in?
Due to the lack of capacity for testing, asymptomatic testing will not be required of residential students before they move into Boise State residence halls and apartments for the Fall semester.
Will students room together in doubles this year?
Yes. After consultation with medical and public health experts, we’ve decided to continue double and single room occupancy. We’ll be following the recommendations of the CDC to reduce the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19. Each student will also need to follow CDC and university guidelines for community living as detailed in our housing license agreement addendum and community standards.
How can I request to live in a single room?
We collect your preferred room type when you apply for housing at Boise State. While we take those preferences into consideration when making your room assignments, we make those assignments based on the date and time you completed your application. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis, and we can’t guarantee that you’ll be assigned to the specific room type you requested.
How do I request a room change?
You may email your request to housing@boisestate.edu. While we do make note of these requests and do our best to accommodate, the strong demand for on-campus housing severely limits our ability to process room or community changes during the months of June, July, and August.
Will I be able to have guests in my room?
You will not be allowed to have guests in your room, even if they are residents of your community.
What will life be like in on-campus housing this fall?
We provide programming, events and activities, as well as educational and professional opportunities only available to on-campus residents. We’re committed to providing you with a fun and engaging place to call home.
What support staff is available?
Each community has an assigned Resident Director (RD) responsible for the operations and residential health of that community. Reporting to the RD is a team of Resident Assistants (RAs) who live in the communities as embedded resources for our residents. Our maintenance and custodial staff handle the cleaning and support our physical infrastructure. Our desk staff provides extended hour assistance to students who need to pick up packages and mail, submit maintenance requests or ask questions. Our department has on-call staff available 24/7 to support residents if any issues arise outside of normal business hours.
What about food?
The latest guidelines from the CDC are being incorporated into our day-to-day operations. Information about these new protocols can be found on the Dining Services website. Meal plans are mandatory for first-year students. Choose your meal plan through your myHousing portal before September 4. After then, you’ll be automatically enrolled in the Big Blue All Access meal plan.
Will I be able to attend online class sessions from my residence hall?
We’re very confident that, even with increases in students logging into virtual class sessions, we’ll be able to handle the load. You’ll have access to the Help Desk at the Zones, the campus support system with phone, email, and in-person support. Support staff can even conduct remote sessions with you to walk you through processes, install software, and solve any problems you may have with your personal computer.
What are the housing options after most classes go online following fall (Thanksgiving) break, November 23-29?
On-campus housing will remain open and staffed through the end of the semester. Students living in the residence halls who go home for break are asked to stay at home to finish the remaining three weeks of courses. This allows for the campus to reduce the risk of exposure to and spread of COVID-19. If you choose to come back to campus after traveling home for the break you’ll need to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. Self-isolation rooms will not be provided in this case. Please talk with your roommate about the impact of travel on one another and make plans accordingly.
Students who elect to stay home after the break will not receive a housing or dining refund.
Students may also choose to remain on campus over fall break. Services on campus will remain open and students can finish out the semester without the need to self-isolate.
My family wants to see my room, can they come into the room?
Non-residents will only be allowed to enter the space on your assigned move-in day if they are assisting you with the moving process. Please see our Fall 2020 Move-in FAQ page for more information on the logistics of move-in day. After move-in day, only residents of your room/suite will be allowed to be present in the space.
We encourage you to explore our outdoor spaces, such as walking the Boise Green Belt, touring outside campus art and buildings, or having dinner at one of our downtown restaurants.
If my roommate says it is okay to have guests and we agree to follow all guidelines, can we still bring in a guest?
At this time, guests will not be allowed in the residence hall or apartment communities, even with permission from roommates/suitemates. The department will continue to assess and update the guest policy throughout the semester.
My friends living in the building can’t visit my suite/apartment?
Correct. We encourage you to hang out outside or in spaces where you can adequately social distance. Look for the virtual programs offered by your RA or Boise State community.
If the university makes the decision to close on-campus housing, will I be refunded for housing fees?
If the university decides to close the residence halls in order to protect the health and safety of the campus, as we did in the spring 2020 semester, we will coordinate decisions on prorated refunds with the State Board of Education. Future decisions like this one will be made with the best information available at that time and with the input of state and local officials.