Assignment Procedures

When Going Away Autumn, or Autumn & Winter Quarters

1. If you are going away from campus Autumn Quarter, or both Autumn- and Winter Quarters, you should apply for the Winter- or Spring Waitlist by the “Draw” May application deadline via Axess.
2. Students who apply by the “Draw” deadline will receive a random first-round application number, obtaining a better position for assignment on the Waitlist.
3. If you apply later, you will receive a sequential number based on the date you apply. You will still be guaranteed an assignment as long as you apply by the Waitlist deadline. If you miss the Waitlist deadline, you will not be guaranteed an assignment, although you still have priority over non-guaranteed students.
4. Even when you apply early, you may continue to change your residence choices up to the later (final) Waitlist deadline. Changing your choices does not effect your position.

NOTE: The final deadlines to join the Waitlist, maintain housing guarantee, and terminate occupancy are included in the Calendar.

Away Winter Quarter Only
If you will be away from campus for Winter Quarter only and you want housing for both Autumn- and Spring Quarters, you should do the following:

1. Apply for “The Draw” for Autumn Quarter housing by the early May deadline in order to use your guarantee of housing and get a first-round Draw number.
2. Make sure you complete a Termination of Occupancy form (TOC) after taking occupancy for Autumn Quarter to give notice that you are leaving housing at the end of the term. (Filing a TOC after the deadline results in a late fee of $100-400 depending on the date it is received.)
3. Join the Spring Quarter Waitlist in Axess by early February. Your Autumn Draw number will be used for your Spring Waitlist application.
4. Change your housing application choices (if desired) before the final Waitlist deadline, which is early February for Spring Quarter.

NOTE: Students assigned to the Belden residence at Hopkins Marine Station are not eligible to keep a room on the home campus as well. Students may not keep two spaces at the same time.

Away Winter- and Spring Quarters, or Spring Quarter Only
If you will be away from campus for both Winter- and Spring Quarters or for Spring Quarter only, you should:

1. Apply for “The Draw” for Autumn Quarter housing by the early May deadline in order to use your guarantee of housing and get a first-round draw number.
2. Read Assignment Process pages for instructions on The Draw, Waitlist, and other pertinent information.
3. Complete a Termination of Occupancy form after taking occupancy in Autumn, or Autumn- and Winter Quarters, to give notice that you are leaving housing at the end of the term.

NOTE: If you file a termination of occupancy form late, the result is a $100-$400 late fee. See Termination of Occupancy for details and deadlines.

When You Return—You Change Categories

• If you attend an official Stanford off-campus program in the Autumn- and/or Winter Quarter(s) and return to campus for the Winter- and/or Spring Quarter(s), you will be considered to be moving from one category of Stanford housing to another.
• As such, you’ll be given priority for housing in the Winter- and Spring Waitlists.
• In order to receive this priority, you will have needed to apply for housing by the Waitlist deadline for the quarter you’re returning and indicate that you’re willing to live anywhere (through the application Final Choice “Assign me to any residence for which I am eligible.").
• If you meet these requirements, you will be given assignment priority and considered in the assignable pool (See "The Draw" for a definition of assignable pool) before students with guaranteed housing status but who are not attending an official Stanford program.
• If you are included in the assignable pool, you will still be assigned in draw-number order whether you have this priority or not. If you don’t have the Stanford overseas priority, you’ll retain your guarantee of housing and will still be assigned in the Winter- or Spring Waitlist or Walk-in rounds.

• If you decide to go on Leave before you check into your assigned residence, you should contact Housing Assignments to cancel your contract. (See Once You’re Assigned for cancellation information).
• If you go on Leave mid-quarter or anytime after your housing contract begins, you must complete a Termination of Occupancy form (TOC) to give notice that you are leaving housing. (See TOC page for important deadlines and fees.)

If your Leave begins mid-quarter you must file a TOC (as soon as the leave is approved) and move out.

NOTE: There is a $400 fee for breaking a contract mid-year. Remember to turn in your key on time and remove all of your belongings.

Graduate Early
Contracts for undergraduates go through Spring Quarter. If you graduate at the end of Winter Quarter, you may be allowed to stay for a post-graduation quarter.

1. You need to fill out a post-graduation petition with Housing Assignments by the Spring Quarter Waitlist deadline. (See petition information online in the Forms section.)
2. If you wish to leave campus when you graduate at the end of Winter Quarter, you need to file a Termination of Occupancy form.