FAQ for Parents
How does my son/daughter apply for on-campus housing?
News students apply for housing after receiving a notification of admission from the University. General instructions can be found on the Residential Communities page under Apply for Housing. Please note that all housing applications must be submitted with a $250 prepayment.
Is on-campus housing guaranteed?
Priority for on campus housing is based upon specific criteria, such as academic classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, etc.) and grade point average. Old Dominion University makes every effort to accommodate housing requests, however, please note that due to space limitations, completion of a housing application/agreement and receipt of $250 does not guarantee a room assignment
When will we learn about our room assignment?
For Fall entry, housing assignments are emailed to students usually the last week of June. For other important dates and deadlines, visit Important Dates.
Where are housing payments made?
All payments are submitted to the Office of Finance. Payments may be made in person, by mail or online. Visit Payment Information for details.
How safe in on-campus housing?
Safety and security are of the utmost importance in each of our on-campus communities. Emergency phones, which connect directly to the ODU Campus Police, are located within each housing community and throughout the campus. ODUI also provides a safety escort service for students who are traveling by foot at night. Although there is no curfew in any on-campus Housing community, all residential facilities are locked 24 hours a day. Residents' ID cards open the front doors and they have keys for their own rooms, allowing them to come and go as they please. Residents are discouraged from permitting access to strangers, propping doors open, or leaving their room doors unlocked.
What activities are available for students?
Many different types of social and educational programs throughout the year for your student to participate in, including activities that take place on and off campus. If a resident ever says they are bored, ask them, "Have you talked to your RA to see what's going on?"
What if I have trouble getting in touch with a resident?
Remember, there are a lot of activities that take place in the residence halls and it is not unusual for your student to be more busy than normal and take longer to return a phone call. If you feel that there is a real concern about not hearing from your student, contact the Residence Life Office at 757.683.4283.
The university is a big place. How will my son or daughter know where to go?
It does take a while to learn the ropes, but every new student is assigned a Resident Advisor (RA) who is prepared to lead the way. As undergraduates who work with Residential Life and Orientation, the RAs are well-informed, easy to approach, and easy to find. If they can't answer a question, they know who can.
When are undergraduates expected to vacate housing during the academic year?
Housing contracts vary by building. Refer to the News and Announcements page for housing and dining opening and closing dates.
Detailed information regarding housing and food service close-downs is sent to students at the appropriate times throughout the year. Be certain that your student consults his or her exam schedule before booking flights home for mid-year break and at the end of the academic year. Your student is free to leave after his or her last exam or academic obligation; in many cases this will be a day or more before the formal end of the semester.
