Campus Housing FAQ's
There is no housing deposit/pre-payment required if you want to live on campus for January/Spring 2021 terms. Students not currently living on campus may cancel their housing by December 4, 2020 to avoid financial penalties. After December 4, 2020 and through the date of a student's move-in, a $350.00 cancellation fee applies. Upon a student's move-in day, charges for the entirety of the term applies. If you currently live off campus and are planning to live on campus for January 2021, please keep in mind that there are additional costs/fees to living on campus.
Fees can be found here. Projected spring payment due date is January 8, 2021.
January/Spring 2021 Cancellation Fees:
- If you cancel before December 4, 2020, there is no cancellation fee.
- If you cancel between December 4, 2020 through move-in day, a $350 cancellation fee will be placed on your student account.
- If you cancel on or after move-in day, your student account will be charged for the entire semester.
Students will be notified of their room type by November 15, 2020. Students living on campus for January Term will learn their specific room assignments by December 15, 2020. Students living on campus for Spring Term will be notified of their specific room assignment by January 26, 2021.
First year students living in traditional first-year halls will continue to remain in single-occupancy spaces due to the size of rooms and use of shared bathrooms to reduce density.
January 2021 Move In Date: Sunday, January 3, 2021.
Spring 2021 Move In Date: Saturday, February 6, 2021.
Residential students will receive information from the Health and Wellness Center about scheduling COVID tests upon move-in.
Fees can be found here. Projected spring payment due date is January 8, 2021.
Yes. Students will be tested upon their move-in and regularly throughout the term. Testing is free to students. The Health and Wellness Center will be available to provide additional testing for any students experiencing symptoms.
Yes. Download the LiveSafe App and be sure to take the screening daily before you leave your room.. You will need a thermometer to take your own temperature. Learn more about Daily Health Screenings.
Yes.
No.
When you complete the housing application.
Be honest about your living habits on your questionnaire. This is what other students will see when they are choosing a room space, so they know more about who they are choosing to room with. If you do want to request a specific roommate, make sure to coordinate with them outside of StarRez.
Priority is based on when you submit your housing application. The sooner you submit, the earlier time slot you will receive to choose your room.
No. Each student chooses their own space, but it is up to students to coordinate outside of StarRez if they want to be with specific roommates. You will fill out a questionnaire about your living habits, which other students can view during the room selection process.
Yes, the deadline to cancel housing without financial penalty was August 7, 2020.
Yes, please visit this webpage with information regarding the styles of housing.
Yes. Campus Housing will send email communication close to November regarding January and Spring on-campus housing options.
Students are allowed to work on-campus or remotely; however, this is only applicable to students within California.
The College made the decision for all students moving onto campus to be required to be tested upon their arrival, and then take a second test 7 days after their first test. The tests help create a bubble of students who are beginning at the same point of entry and following same guidelines to remain healthy. Students moving onto campus are required to sequester from the point of their first test until successful completion of their second test 7 days later. During the period of sequester, students are only allowed to engage in essential activities. Essential activities include using a shared restroom (in halls in which have shared restrooms), attending an in-person class, going to & from campus dining facility to pick up food, and going to an off-campus job or internship. Students should plan accordingly before their arrival to remain in sequester. Examples of tasks that should be done before entering sequester include buying items for your room, picking up books or mail, visiting friends or family in the area, and other non-essential activities.
If you currently live on campus, you do not need to do anything in preparation for Jan Term 2021. Your housing contract remains in place and you do not need to move rooms. Be sure to take anything you need with you over Christmas Recess!
As of August 3, 2020, Campus Housing will provide single-occupancy rooms to promote physical distancing.
Yes, please visit the COVID resources webpage for details.
Yes. Students will be tested on move-in day with a Rapid COVID test. Results will be delivered in 15 mins. Upon clearance, the student(s) will be allowed to proceed with their move. Another test will be administered one week later. Testing is free. The Health and Wellness center will be available to provide additional testing for any students experiencing symptoms.
Yes. We will isolate or quarantine residents who become ill with COVID-19 and are unable to travel home. This will include procedures for health checks, emotional support, meal delivery and other support services. Quarantine and isolated living areas are available on campus should any student test positive.
Masks must be worn at all times on campus, with the exception of when students are inside their own room and eating and drinking.
Yes. Residential staff will continue to engage and connect with residents through virtual and unique programming. Safe and physically distanced in-person activities are also hosted by residential staff. Activities have included on-site food trucks, outdoor movie nights, ice cream pint pick-up nights, and pumpkin carving contests. Residential staff including Resident Advisors, Resident Directorss and the Residence Hall Association will continue to provide programming for residential students.
Yes, students living on campus are free to enjoy the beauty of the campus; however, the strict guidelines of physical distancing and the mandatory wearing of a facial covering must be followed.
Visitors & Guests of Residence
Visitors and guests of residential students are allowed on campus, as long as they adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Residence Hall Visitor Policy for Residential Students. In Contra Costa County's purple “Tier One - Widespread,” visitors/guests are registered via the Gael Visitor/Guest Registration form 72 hours prior to arriving to campus, and must be approved by the Office of Residential Experience. Visitors/guests are expected to follow the College guidelines. When the County progresses to Tiers Two, Three, or Four, certain allowances (no sooner than January 3, 2021) can be made for residents to visit other residents, or for commuter students and non-student guests to visit residents. The Office of Residential Experience will communicate with residents in advance with the process and appropriate registration forms to register visitors/guests. Please contact the Office of Residential Experience for any questions/concerns: reslife@stmarys-ca.edu; (925) 631-4236.
Some buildings share laundry facilities. Please observe maximum capacity modifications in all laundry rooms. All laundry costs are included with housing, so no coins or swipe cards are needed. Bring your own detergent (no pods, please).
Yes, but coordinate with your roommates to make sure you aren’t bringing duplicates. We also have microwave-mini-fridge combos to rent for the school year.
There is no standard wattage or bed lift measurements because these vary from building to building. Some beds can be lofted (which could accommodate a desk underneath) and some beds can only be lifted (which will accommodate under-bed storage). You can request these changes via a Work Order after you move in.
Only in sophomore, junior and senior residence halls, with the exception of De La Salle and Assumption Halls.
First year residence halls only have heating. Townhouses have A/C and heating.
Only two residence halls have elevators (Augustine and Aquinas).
As of August 3, 2020, most on-campus housing will be single-occupancy accommodations.
Yes.
Only for students living (all first years and students in the suite style housing) on campus. If you don’t live on campus, you can purchase an optional meal plan.
Flex dollars are loaded to your student ID card and can be used to purchase food on campus at the dining hall or cafe louis, and off-campus at certain restaurants and stores in town.
Click here to learn more about flex dollars and where to use it!
The supercharged flex dollars plan purchased with your meal plan will roll over from fall to spring semesters but not year-to-year. Supercharged flex dollars not used by the end of spring are lost. Any additional flex dollars you add yourself during the school year do rollover year-to-year.
No. The only difference is some meal plans provide more Flex Dollars than meals in Oliver Hall.
Visit the Covid resources page for more information.
Yes, you must meet the delivery service outside the front gate and complete your health quiz to re-enter campus.
Per state guidelines, all lounges have been closed or taped off. There are many spots outside on campus to sit and dine as long as 6ft of physical distance is followed.