Student Housing

2008-2009 Housing Information for Students with Disabilities

The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) works collaboratively with Residential Life in order to provide housing accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. By federal law, a person with a disability is any person who: 1) has a physical or mental impairment; 2) has a record of such impairment; or 3) is regarded has having such an impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities such as self-care, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, or learning.

Reasonable accommodations depend upon the nature and degree of severity of the documented disability. While the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that priority consideration be given to the specific methods requested by the student, it does not imply that a particular accommodation must be granted if it is deemed not reasonable and other suitable techniques are available. Assignments are determined based on accommodation needs and not location preferences.

Housing Lottery

In past years, a high number of student requests for on-campus housing required the implementation of a housing lottery. On January 31, 2008, the Department of Residential Life will decide as to whether or not a housing lottery will be implemented. The decision will be distributed via University e-mail. Lottery numbers 1-2,500 have been randomly assigned to students. As the lottery number goes up, the chances are greater that a student will not be able to participate in the on-campus housing selection process if a lottery is implemented.

The following students are exempt from a housing lottery:

• Resident students who have lived on campus fewer than 5 semesters, including the fall 2007 semester,
• Resident students who receive full University funded scholarships,
• Resident students identified by the Honor's Program as University Scholars,
• Students returning in the fall 2008 from a UConn sponsored off campus program such as Study Abroad, Co-op, and National Student Exchange,
• Resident students with documented disabilities that require an on-campus accommodation, as determined by the Center for Students with Disabilities.

So what does this mean if I’m a student with a disability who has received a housing accommodation in previous semesters?

• Only students with significant disabilities resulting in SUBSTANTIAL LIMITATIONS, and for whom living off campus is NOT VIABLE, will be considered for an exemption. Students who received accommodations in previous semesters are not automatically exempt from the lottery.
• If you received a lottery number, you must wait for the outcome of the lottery.
• Accommodation requests from eligible students are reviewed on a case-by-case basis in order to determine if an accommodation is warranted.

Accommodation Request Procedure for Returning Students with Disabilities who are Eligible for Housing

Remember, you must be eligible for housing before you can request an accommodation.

Procedure:

1. You must complete Residential Life’s online 2008-2009 Housing Application by January 25, 2008. This application will be available at: www.reslife.uconn.edu. Students who do not complete this application by the deadline, including students with disabilities, WILL NOT be eligible for on-campus housing.
2. Once the online application is completed, students should contact the CSD by February 1, 2008 to request an accommodation in order to ensure that appropriate accommodations are available.
   • If you have previously been approved for an accommodation and you are eligible for housing, the CSD will make your assignment. Additional documentation is not required unless specifically requested by the CSD. Once an assignment is made, students WILL NOT be able to participate in Residential Life’s online selection process.
   • If you are requesting an accommodation for the first time, students must do the following by February 1, 2008 in order to allow sufficient time for review:
     • Fill out a brief student information packet available at the CSD in 201 Wilbur Cross.
     • Submit appropriate documentation to the CSD regarding your disability which establishes the need for an accommodation and relates the current impact of the condition to the requested accommodation. Guidelines for documentation can be found on the CSD website at http://www.csd.uconn.edu/doc_guidelines.html.
     • Documentation can be hand-carried to the CSD, confidentially faxed to the CSD at (860) 486-4412, or mailed to 233 Glenbrook Rd., Unit 4174, Storrs, CT 06269-4174.
     • Once appropriate documentation is received, the CSD will review the request and make a determination regarding an accommodation.
     • If approved for an accommodation, the CSD will notify you and make your assignment. Once an assignment is made, students WILL NOT be able to participate in Residential Life’s online selection process.
     • If you are not approved for an accommodation, the CSD will notify you and you will have the opportunity to participate in the online selection process.

Remember...

• If you are a student that requires an accommodation, it is suggested that you request one prior to February 1, 2008 in order to assure sufficient time to review your request.
• Housing assignments for students approved for an accommodation will be made prior to the online selection process.
• Students who do not request accommodations and choose to participate in the online housing selection process are not guaranteed that an accommodation will be available after assignments have been made.

Accommodation Request Procedure for 5th Year Neag School of Education and School of Pharmacy Students:

1. If you are entering into your 5th year in the Neag School of Education or School of Pharmacy (PharmD), you will be considered a new graduate student. Therefore, you do not need to complete the on-line housing application.
2. Neag School of Education students should request a graduate housing application from Graduate Admissions for 2008-2009 when you fill out the paperwork for graduate school. They will provide the housing application form to you at your request. PharmD students need to complete a 5th Year PharmD Student Graduate Housing application, which you should have already received.
3. Neag School of Education and School of Pharmacy students should submit their graduate housing application along with a payment of $140 as a non-refundable room deposit.
4. Once the appropriate application has been submitted, contact the CSD by February 1, 2008 to request an accommodation.
• If you have previously been approved for an accommodation, the CSD will make your assignment. Additional documentation is not required unless specifically requested by the CSD. Graduate housing is available in the Graduate Residences and a few buildings in Hilltop Apartments (Wu, Woodhouse, and a portion of Crawford). You will not be eligible to live in an undergraduate area for next year. Housing contracts are binding for the entire academic year.
• If you are requesting an accommodation for the first time, students must do the following by February 1, 2008 in order to allow sufficient time for review:
• Fill out a brief student information packet available at the CSD in 201 Wilbur Cross.
• Submit appropriate documentation to the CSD regarding your disability which establishes the need for an accommodation and relates the current impact of the condition to the requested accommodation. Guidelines for documentation can be found on the CSD website at http://www.csd.uconn.edu/doc_guidelines.html.
• Documentation can be hand-carried to the CSD, confidentially faxed to the CSD at (860) 486-4412, or mailed to 233 Glenbrook Rd., Unit 4174, Storrs, CT 06269-4174.
• Once appropriate documentation is received, the CSD will review the request and make a determination regarding an accommodation.
• If approved for an accommodation, the CSD will notify you and make your assignment. Graduate housing is available in the Graduate Residences and a few buildings in Hilltop Apartments (Wu, Woodhouse, and a portion of Crawford). You will not be eligible to live in an undergraduate area for next year. Housing contracts are binding for the entire academic year.
• If you are not approved for an accommodation, the CSD will notify you and you will be placed on Residential Life’s waiting list for graduate housing.

Cancellation Information

If you need to cancel your housing after you’ve secured a housing assignment, there are cancellation fees that you will incur if your cancellation is received after May 31, 2008. If you cancel between June 1 and June 30, 2008, you will be charged 25% of your fall semester room fee. Cancellations between July 1 and 31, 2008, incur a charge of 50% of the fall semester room fee. If you cancel after July 31, 2008, you will be charged for the entire fall semester room fee. If you cancel after July 31, 2008 until the first day of classes, you will be charged for the entire fall semester room fee. After the first day of classes, the Contract Release policy goes into effect. Students are encouraged to visit Residential Life’s website at www.reslife.uconn.edu for additional information. Students with questions about the accommodation process may also contact the CSD at 486-2020.