Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply to live on campus at Stetson University?

Students apply online. Visit Housing Central for more information.

To successfully apply for housing you must complete the following steps:

Be admitted to Stetson University for the academic period requested.
Pay the $400 enrollment deposit and confirm with the Office of Admission your intent to attend Stetson University.
Receive an invitation to Housing Central three to five business days after you receive your Stetson University email address. Sign up and complete the University Housing Lease.
Maintain your registered student status by paying all university tuition and fees by the designated deadlines. Failure to adhere to deadlines could jeopardize your housing assignment.

Why should you live on campus?

Students who live on campus have greater opportunities to become involved not only in student organizations across campus, but with their residence hall and the people living with them. There is evidence showing that students living on campus have higher academic achievement, stay in school until graduation at higher rates and are generally more satisfied with their college experience. Recognizing this evidence, Stetson University requires students with less than 90 earned credit hours to live on campus.

Are new students guaranteed housing?

All new students who are admitted, pay their enrollment deposit and submit their University Housing Agreement will be housed. If you delay deciding to attend, paying your deposit and/or submitting your University Housing Agreement, it could affect whether or not you receive your top choice of residence halls. This could include a temporary assignment in a common area space for a short period, depending on the demand and the date of your University Housing Agreement.

What are the housing options for new students?

Please visit the Our Residence Halls page in order to view our different communities and housing options.

How are students assigned rooms? How can I check my housing status?

Students are assigned a room based on when they paid their enrollment deposit and submitted their University Housing Agreement. Therefore it is to your advantage to apply as early as possible. You can check on your housing status through Housing Central.

Can I request a specific roommate choice?

Yes! Although we cannot guarantee that two roommates who request each other will be put together, we do our best to honor such requests based on space availability. To designate a preferred roommate on the online housing application you will need to know the preferred student's full name and whether they are a new or current* student. To increase the chances that you and your requested roommate are placed together, you will both need to mutually request each other and have the same building preferences.

* Given that some buildings have certain eligibility requirements and the Housing Sign Up process for current students occurs early in the spring, we may not be able to honor some roommate requests.

How much does it cost to live on campus?

Please visit the residence hall rates page for details on the cost of housing.

All first- and second-year students have to choose a meal plan.

Is there a residency requirement?

Stetson University has a three-year residency requirement. However, there are four exceptions to this requirement. If you meet any one or more of these exceptions, you may request to live off campus:

The student has earned 90 or more credit hours by August 1.
The student is married or is in a same-sex domestic partnership by August 1 (documentation required).
The student turns 22 years of age or older by August 1.
The student resides with immediate family (defined as parents, grandparents, guardians or siblings not also enrolled at Stetson University). Proof of student residency is required.

If a student does not meet any of the four exceptions listed above, they can request to live off campus, but will need to provide supporting documentation with their petition, which will be reviewed by the Office of Housing and Residential Life. A decision will be made and the student will be notified via email. Students who do not adhere to the residence requirement policy and choose to live off-campus will be assessed a housing charge equal to the average two-semester rate for university housing for the applicable year of enrollment.

Is it cheaper to live off campus?

For students who meet the criteria to request to live off campus a search of nearby apartments or houses might give you a lower rent rate, but please consider that there are many other factors involved with living off campus in which the cost is hard to calculate. These factors include:

Living within walking distance to all campus buildings
Easy access to on-campus dining options where you don't need to cook or clean your dishes
The safety and security of our buildings which are monitored by Public Safety and Housing and Residential Life staff
No additional utility bills (cable, wired/wireless internet, water, electricity, heating and laundry are all included)
Repairs within 24-48 hours after a request is submitted
Trash and recycling is picked up just down the hallway from you.

What items are allowed (and not allowed) on campus?

Now that you will be joining the Stetson residential community, we have compiled a list of items we suggest you bring and those that you leave at home. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but instead to give you a good idea as to what is and isn't allowed.

The list is divided into different areas to help you consider all the items you may want to bring with you. We encourage you to speak with your roommate, prior to moving in, about what each of you can bring to the room due to space and economic considerations.

Can I get a land-line phone installed?

While most residents have cell phones now, each residence hall has a public phone available in its main lobby and there are public phones available on the first floor of the Carlton Union Building. If you still wish to have a phone installed in your room, our Information Technology department can install a phone line in your room for $300.00 per year.

Note that this charge covers only the phone line and allows unlimited local calls. Students will still need to supply their own phone and, if they wish to call long-distance, a calling card.

Students who wish to sign-up for this service should email reslife@stetson.edu.

Is cable included? Can I upgrade service?

A standard cable package is built into housing costs for all residential students. Students have the option of leasing a digital cable box from Bright House Networks. Those leasing a cable box will enter into an agreement directly with Bright House and the relationship will be solely between the student and Bright House. All monthly fees will be billed directly to the resident by Bright House, and each student is responsible for paying Bright House directly. Neither the charge nor the payment will be done through your student account. When you pick up the cable box from the Bright House office, a $100 refundable deposit will be collected by Bright House. This secondary service is not affiliated with the university. Therefore, any technical support and billing issues need to be addressed directly with Bright House.

The Bright House office is located at 1195 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720. The phone number is 386-775-4444 ext. 7515. The office's hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bright House can be reached on the web at http://cfl.mybrighthouse.com/.

What are my meal plan options?

Please see the Dining Services meal plans page for information on meal plan options.

What is my room assignment?

There is no need to call or email the office; you can view your assignment by logging on to Housing Central. If Housing and Residential Life just informed you of a change in person it may take a day for the update to be reflected in the database.

Can I bring my pet to campus?

Absolutely! Stetson University is a pet-friendly campus, offering some pet-friendly residence halls where you have the ability to bring your small dog, cat, gerbil, turtle, hamster or fish. Review the requirements and find out how to apply.

How can I purchase bed sheets or care packages for my student?

For your convenience Stetson University is partnered with On Campus Marketing, an outside vendor, who sends letters to parents/guardians about such products. You can reach them at 1-800-892-8741. Of course everybody is welcome to use other stores, companies and products. Review linen offers at http://www.rhl.org/stu.

How do I report a broken laundry machine?

Post a sign on it and inform our laundry vendor immediately by calling 1-888-MAC-GRAY (888-622-4729) or reporting it online at Mac Gray's website. University Village Apartments and Stetson Cove machines should be reported to workdesk@stetson.edu.

Are there specific emergency response procedures for students with disabilities?

Working with Public Safety and the Academic Success Center, HRL has created a guide for Emergency Response Procedures for Students with Disabilities.