Frequently Asked Questions

You may apply for an apartment online once you're admitted to the University, provided you meet eligibility requirements and provided the application is open. A contract will be offered to you, based on availability and eligibility.

We've developed a suggested packing list that should help make your packing a bit easier.

Internet is provided at Wall & Grand and Evergreen Terrace Apartments. See What's Included for more information.

Yes. Financial aid is applied first to tuition charges, then to fees, and lastly to housing charges.

No. Housing charges are posted to the Student Account for the entire semester. Fall semester is August through December 31, Spring semester is January through May 31, and Summer semester is June and July.

No. Rent is pro-rated based on the move in date.

University Housing does not provide, sponsor, approve of, partner with, or inspect off-campus housing.

Living on campus has been shown to help students do better academically and get more involved. Most of our first-year students are required to live on campus. Our upperclassman students are invited to live on campus. The SIU Carbondale Student Housing Policy offers more details regarding who is required to live on campus.

Once you're admitted to SIU, you may complete a residence halls contract provided the contract is open. Contract dates and times depend on the semester you enter SIU and on our contract schedule. Typically, the earlier you contract (once the contract opens), the more choices you have of where to live. Visit our Residence Hall Contracts page for more information.

Each residence hall bed may be lofted or bunked. Beds on West Campus and in some rooms in University Hall are lofted prior to students moving in. Residents in other residence hall areas may check out a lofting or bunking kit from their area Housekeeping Office. Lofting and bunking kits may be distributed special distribution locations during move-in. Signs will direct residents to these points. Residents must return all furniture to original layout prior to check-out.

• Mae Smith, Neely & Schneider Halls, East Campus
  • 17 feet x 14 feet
• University Hall, East Campus
  • 16 feet x 11 feet
• Thompson Point, West Campus
  • 19 feet x 12 feet

Students with a residence hall contract may select and change rooms online during their assigned room selection period. Students who contract after the online room selection has closed will be assigned a room. After move-in, students wishing to change rooms should go to their area office. Room changes will be processed as space become available. Students may not move until they receive an approved copy of the Contract Change Form from Residence Life staff. Room changes may be made only under the supervision of the Resident Assistant and Residence Life Staff.

University Housing reserves the right to change the room assignment of a student at any time, to authorize or deny room and roommate changes, to consolidate vacancies, and to over-assign spaces.

Laundry facilities are available in each residence hall. East Campus halls (Mae Smith, Neely, and Schneider) have washers and dryers located on each floor, beginning with floor two. West Campus halls (Thompson Point) have washers and dryers located on the lower level of each residence hall and in the commons building, Lentz Hall.

Visitation has been approved for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week unless visitation privileges are restricted or altered by staff. University Housing staff reserve the right to alter visitation privileges as situations may require for the proper operation of the residence halls. This includes declaring certain rooms off limits for visitation if the exercise of this privilege is creating problems. The right to privacy of roommates will be respected and permission must be granted by the roommate for a guest to be present. A resident may declare his or her room off limits to guests at any time. Guests must be accompanied by a host or hostess at all times. View the Resident Handbook (PDF) for detailed information on this policy.

New residents and their families often have many questions about what to bring. View the residence halls packing list for suggestions. Be sure to check with your roommate to see what s/he is bringing and willing to share before you purchase large or expensive items for your room. Also, refer to the Resident Handbook for more details on prohibited items.

You may bring a computer with you to your room. Wireless Internet is included with your residence halls contract. Computer labs are also available on campus. Be sure to read the Internet, Devices, and Support information prior to arrival to prepare your computer and to purchase the right items for your room.

The following sizes of carpets are the largest possible, based on the measurements that will not be obstructed by a convector, closet, door pillar, or sink (in suite-style rooms).

• Mae Smith, Schneider & Neely (Single, Double & Temporary Rooms): 9ft 8in X 14ft 6in
• Thompson Point (Single, Double & Temporary Rooms): 17ft 8in X 9ft 5in
• Thompson Point (Triple Rooms): front room is 13ft 6in X 11ft, rear room is 9ft X 12ft

We don't designate an entire area as "freshman housing". Our first-year students live in each of our residence halls.

A variety of University Housing student organizations are available for you to join. These are a great way for you to meet friends, develop connections to University Housing staff members, gain event planning skills and have fun.

Resident Assistants are students who have been selected and trained to provide a variety of services to residents. RAs answer questions about Housing and University policies and refer students to appropriate campus offices when they need help or services. They provide advice to students on personal and academic problems and mediate roommate conflicts. They are responsible for enforcing the rules in the Resident Handbook, the Student Code of Conduct and other University rules. RAs also help students plan educational and recreational activities.

The Housing contract states that a dining plan is required for students living in our traditional residence halls. However, Junior and Senior students living on the Junior/Senior floors have the choice of opting out of a dining plan.

Students living in an on-campus apartment, junior/senior housing or off campus may purchase the Saluki Anytime dining plan or the Block-20 dining plan. The Block-20 Plan offers 20 meals that can be used throughout the academic year at the discretion of the student. Additional blocks may be purchased as needed. View the dining plan page for more information.

Accommodations are made for a wide variety of food allergies, including gluten free areas for intolerances and Celiac disease diagnoses. A physician's documentation is required. Residents with specific needs should contact our Nutrition Team at (618) 453-2301.

Debit Dawg is the University’s debit card program.

Students and staff are automatically assigned a Debit Dawg Account. Funds can be added at any of the Debit Dawg cash machines — located in Lentz Hall, Trueblood Hall, the Student Center, Morris Library, Law School, Faner Computer Learning Center 1 and CASA Computer Learning Center 2.

You may dine at either of our dining halls in Trueblood and Lentz with a valid dining plan at the entrance to the dining hall.

Yes, a meal ticket can be purchased at the door for the current guest price.

No other individual can use your ID card. Doing so subjects both parties to disciplinary action.

View our dining hours to see when our dining facilities are open.

When school is in session, special hours are posted for the dining halls if there is an Administrative Closure or University Holiday.

Please visit the Parking Division or call (618) 453-5369 for questions and concerns about SIU Carbondale parking policies.

Yes. Campus transportation is available. We have VEO scooters along with the Saluki Express bus service, with routes around campus and throughout the Carbondale community. Saluki Express is free to students with a valid Student ID.

Bicycles are a great way to get around and very popular with our students. You may lock your bike up at any of our bike racks, located by each residence hall, or take your bike into your room. For room storage, many students simply place their bike against a wall.

Bicycles must be registered with the SIU Carbondale Department of Public Safety.