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Roommate & Room Change Resources

To best prepare yourself for life with your roommate(s), we have put together some helpful hints. While you and your roommate do not have to be close friends or share every aspect of each other’s lives, you do have to learn to live together and will experience parts of college life as a team. The best way for you and your roommate(s) to get to know each other and avoid unintentional conflicts is to talk about your likes, dislikes, personalities, and attitudes.

Roommate Agreement

Whether this is your first time sharing a room, or you have for several years, it is important to spend time setting expectations about shared living spaces. Housing & Residential has tools to help you accomplish this. One of these tools is a “Roommate Agreement.” This is a document that highlights major aspects of shared living so you can set clear, successful expectations for your space. All students should complete a roommate agreement via Roompact. We encourage you to take this seriously and complete within the first two weeks of school. Your Resistant Assistant, Assistant Residential Life Coordinator, or Residential Life Coordinator are available to assist, if needed.

Having Conflict?

You and your roommate(s) are bound to hit some tough patches- all relationships do. That is why it is important to establish clear, healthy patterns of communication.

Here are some steps you can make to resolve things on your own:

1) Talk to each other! Communication is the first step to resolving a conflict.

2) Compromise: This will require you to spend the time to understand what each person in the conflict values/wants and will require you to try to find a middle ground.

3) Expect Success: Entering a difficult conversation or conflict with optimism can help set you up for success. This also applies to goals/ changes you create and commit to in response to the conflict.

4) Use your RA: Your RA is a great resource for many things, including being a neutral source to help you and your roommate(s) work through conflict. Your RA can help you in steps 1-3 as well and/or set up a time for a roommate mediation. Your RA can connect you to your ARLC or RLC for additional assistance.

Need Help?

All of our Residence Halls have live-in professional, graduate and undergraduate student staff.

RA: Resident Assistant - RAs live on the floors with students. These are student staff who have been selected and trained as a resource within the halls. If you are having a roommate concern, we suggest first visiting your RA. In addition to your own RA, RAs on duty are available after 6:00PM each weekday and always on the weekend.

RLC: Residential Life Coordinator: Full-time staff member who supervises the RAs and live in the Village.

ARLC: Assistant Residential Life Coordinator: Graduate staff member assists the RLC and live in the Village.

The ARLC and RLC are there to assist in a multitude of ways. Visit your ARLC or RLC if you need additional assistance with your roommate issue. They have an office in your Village and can assist you with any concerns.

Where can you find your RLC/ARLC offices?

Parkside North: Parkside North Desk

Parkside South: Parkside Commons

Parkside Central: Parkside Commons

Hillside East: RLC-Hillside Commons; ARLC - Los Alamitos Lobby

Hillside West: Hillside Commons

Beachside Village: RLC Office – Pacific Hall ; ARLCs – Atlantic Hall

Room Change Form

Whether it be because of a roommate issue or hall preference, we understand that at times you may be interested in changing rooms. If you are interested in a room change, please complete the Room Change Request Form and follow all steps provided. If you have not already spoken with your ARLC or RLC, they will reach out to you after completion of a form. Please note that room changes are not guaranteed.