You've Got Questions? We've Got Answers!

Deciding where to live is just one of many big decisions that you’ll make this year. We’re here to help make sure you have what you need to make informed decisions. 

From trying to figure out how to get started to move-out processes, and general questions relating to campus life as a whole, we’ve got you covered with our Housing FAQs below. 

If you have a unique question that isn’t addressed, please feel free to contact us by emailing housing@nova.edu.

Room and Roommate Selection

You have the opportunity to take the lead when it comes to your room and roommate selection using the Housing Portal. While we’ve simplified the process to be as easy as selecting concert tickets, we also understand that this is a big decision and you may have additional questions. We’ve highlighted the most common questions to assist you below.

See Housing Options

All students wishing to live on campus are required to complete the housing contract through the Residence Hall Application portal. Upon completion of your contract, you will be emailed instructions about the next step in the process, which may include information on how to pick a new room or details about your assigned room.

Find more details on how to apply here.

Important dates and deadlines for completing your housing application can be found on the Room Selection Process page.
You should immediately receive an automated email confirmation of the submission of your housing application. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 48 hours, please contact us at housing@nova.edu.
No. You will need to pay the $500 deposit only one time prior to your first semester living on campus. This deposit will roll over until you choose to stop living on campus.

You should submit your immunization records via the CastleBranch Portal as soon as you are able after submitting your housing application and before you arrive at NSU for move-in.

Residence hall eligibility is determined on a per-year basis and can be reviewed in the Housing Portal. For a more comprehensive answer, please visit the Housing Options page for more information.

The roommate selection process begins after you and those you intend to room with have submitted your applications and received emails detailing your self-selection day and time. Deadlines and more information can be found on the Roommate Selection page.

Note: If you or one of your intended roommates do not submit your application by the deadline, you/they will not be able to match with those who did.
No. You will not be able to select your friend(s) during the roommate selection process until they have completed their housing application(s) and received their self-selection day and time via email.
Yes. You are allowed to live only with others who have the same roommate-matching criteria as you. The determining factors change from year to year based on supply and demand.
Yes. There is a 10–15 question Personal Preference Survey in the Housing Portal. You'll be able to review responses from others to identify potentially compatible roommates before the room self-select process begins.

 

Please note that we do not use this survey when manually assigning students to spaces.

Yes, single rooms are available in The Commons. However, remember that all rooms are subject to availability.
If the gender on your student profile is not the same as your requested roommate(s), you and your roommate(s) will need to email housing@nova.edu from your nova.edu email addresses to be recorded and processed manually. All requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
You won't be able to self-select a space that you are not currently eligible for; however, as long as you have a completed housing contract on file, you will be placed on the waitlist. Once you complete the requirement(s), space permitting, you'll be assigned to the first available space in the hall.
You do! All students who intend to live on campus will need to submit an application. You'll also have the option to participate in the room self-selection process, but your options will be limited to the spaces allocated for that particular program.

Residency Exemptions

  • You will reside with a parent or legal guardian within the tri-county area (Broward, Dade, or Palm Beach).
  • You are married or in a domestic partnership.
  • You are a veteran or active United States military personnel.
  • You are 20 years old or older.

If you fall into one of the categories above and do not intend to live on campus, you should not complete a housing contract.

Moving In and Moving Out

Moving is stressful—from deciding what to pack and boxing up your stuff to the joys of lugging everything from there to here. We’ve compiled information to help guide you through the process including important dates and step-by-step processes.

Learn More About the Moving Process

Move-in days are generally the weekend prior to the first day of classes. For specific dates and times, check the Important Dates on the Moving In and Moving Out page.

You are allowed to bring small appliances that do not have an external heating system. (A Kuerig is allowed; a hot plate or electric skillet is not.) You may also bring a microwave up to 900 watts and a mini-fridge up to four cubic feet.
 
Check the amenities for your assigned hall to determine what appliances will best enhance your comfort. 
This depends on your housing assignment:
Twin XL: Leo Goodwin Sr. Hall, The Commons, FFV, CLC, and Rolling Hills Building C quad rooms
Full XL: Mako Hall
Queen: Rolling Hills Building A and C studios

Yes, you can; but before you do, please consider the following:

  • You may not remove the University-provided bed from your room.
  • The mattresses we provide comply with the strictest state fire codes and have a strong resistance to bedbugs.
Prior to your move-in date, your RA will walk through your room, suite, and/or apartment and notate the condition in the room assessment form. This form will be given to you when you arrive for move-in. You will have 24 hours from your assigned move-in date to make any adjustments or corrections to this form.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a cut-and-dried answer due to a number of ever-changing factors.
 
In general, move-over into summer housing occurs within the first week of the summer housing term, and move-over from summer to fall housing occurs at the end of the summer housing term or shortly after. We will send relevant and detailed notices, including dates and deadlines, via email.
 
While specific move-over details may be fluid, please rest assured that if you are slated to live on campus continuously from winter through summer to fall, you will never be completely without housing. 
No, we do not provide summer storage. If you will be living on campus over the summer, you can move your belongings to your summer assignment, otherwise, you will need to remove your belongings from the residence halls.
No. You are not required to move out of housing at any point during your contract, with the exception of emergency evacuation periods. That said, if you will be remaining on campus during longer breaks, i.e., winter break, please let your RA and Area Coordinator know your intentions.
This is outlined on the Housing Contract Release Process page. If you have questions not clarified there, please email us at housing@nova.edu
If you are leaving housing early for academic reasons, you may be exempt from buying out your contract. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis.
 
Visit the Housing Contract Release Process page for more information. 

It can take up to a week from your move-out date for the checkout to be completely processed by our office. Once that process is complete, one of two things will happen:

  • If your student account has a balance, the Bursar’s office will release your deposit back into your student account to go toward paying off that balance. 
  • If you do not have an account balance, the balance will be released back to the card originally used to pay or sent to you as a check.

For more information, please reach out to the Bursar’s office at (954) 262-5200.

Living on Campus

For most, adjusting to life on campus is a big change in lifestyle. You’ll be taking on new responsibilities and accountability shifts squarely on your shoulders. For a more comprehensive look at resources on campus, we encourage you to explore our Residential Living Guide.

Explore Resources for Living on Campus

No, if you’re not registered for classes, you will not be able to live on campus. Aside from the obvious, this means that if you have chosen to register for only eight-week classes and are not registered for classes during the other eight weeks, you will not be allowed to live on campus during the eight weeks that you are not registered for classes.
 
Summer Exception: You may live on campus during the summer without being registered for summer classes if you are registered for classes in the following fall semester.  

You’ve likely lived with people your whole life, so you know it’s not always clear skies and smooth waters. Conflicts of varying degrees arise, and we’re here to support you. We have established practices to help you and your roommates communicate your needs and expectations (i.e., a Roommate Agreement) early on in your time living together. 

That said, sometimes further intervention is necessary. The following steps should be taken in this order until the conflict has been resolved:

  • Speak with your roommate(s). Communication is key, and we encourage you to strive to maintain healthy and honest dialogs with your roommate(s) at all times. You owe it to yourself and others to enhance/develop incredible communication skills that will propel you throughout your lifetime.
  • Reach out to your RA. RAs are trained to assist in the development of good roommate relations.
  • Set up roommate mediation. The Office of Mediation Services provides conflict coaching appointments.
  • Request a room change. A room change should be considered a final resort and will be considered only after all parties have completed the mediation process.

Service animals must be approved by the Office of Student Disability Services. You’ll need to submit the Housing Accommodation Request prior to the self-selection process. 

Fish are also allowed (maximum 20-gallon tank).

All other pets and animals are not allowed in the residence halls. If you are found to have pets in your room/apartment, you will incur a $100 charge per occurrence and face disciplinary action.

Each assigned space has one to two bathrooms. At most, you’ll be sharing a bathroom with two other roommates in Leo Goodwin or The Commons.

No. At this point, we do not have family housing and do not allow children to live on campus.

Our complete alcohol policy is detailed in the Residential Living Guide. 

If you are 21+ years old, you may responsibly possess and consume alcoholic beverages in your room or apartment. You are prohibited from consuming alcohol in common areas, including hallways, lounges, and outdoor living spaces.

Additionally, with the exception of your roommate, you are not allowed to consume alcohol in the presence of underage guests.