Residence Life

The University maintains a four-year residency requirement for most students. Exceptions are granted to students who meet any of the following conditions:

1. Be a resident of one of the seven cities of Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton) for the year prior to their initial application for admission.
2. Are married.
3. Be enrolled in less than a full-time course load (fewer than 12 semester hours).
4. Request permission to be exempt from the residency requirement (approval is not guaranteed).

Students who are 17 years of age or younger or who are 23 years of age or older must request permission to reside in recognized University housing facilities.

Students will have the opportunity to request a roommate when completing their housing application within the student housing portal. In order to be placed with the requested roommate, that student must accept the request when completing their housing application.

Yes, however, there is a housing "freeze" during the first two weeks of each semester. After this two-week period, students may request a room change during the advertised Open Room Change period. Room change requests after Open Room Change will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

New students can expect to receive their housing assignment in mid to late July. It will be emailed as well as be viewable in the student housing portal.

Returning students will self-select their housing assignment during housing selection in the spring semester. If a non-local student misses the housing selection process, they will be assigned a space over the summer.

Mail and packages are handled by Duplication and Postal Services located within the Scriber University Store inside the Batten Student Center. Students will receive an email when they have mail to pick up. Address mail to students as follows:

First Name Last Name
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Single rooms are in high demand and there is a limited number. Outside of sufficient medical documentation and approval by the medical accommodations review panel, single rooms are assigned based on seniority starting with seniors. However, first-year students may get assigned to a single room based on availability, likely in Bray Village.

Requests are reviewed during the summer and decisions are typically made in July. Decisions are made based on overall campus occupancy, with approvals based on seniority beginning with those who have the least remaining time as students.

There is no housing deposit, however there is a damage deposit applied to your student account that will be refunded to you if no damages are found in your room after checking out at the end of the semester/year.

For summer sessions, you are not required to live on campus. However, for January Term, you must request permission from the Office of Residence Life to commute prior to the start of January Term.

You may keep belongings in your room during break periods, except for summer. All items must be cleared out at spring move-out or if you won't be returning to the same room after the fall semester. Any items left behind after Spring Commencement in May will be disposed of.

Yes. Residents wishing to host overnight guests must complete the Overnight Guest Form available in the Residence Life office. The form must be submitted no later than the business day prior to arrival. All roommates must approve the guest before submission.

Guests are not permitted to stay with a host of a different gender except in designated gender-inclusive spaces. Guests may stay for a maximum of three consecutive nights. The host resident is responsible for their guest's behavior and must ensure adherence to all University policies, including covering any damages caused by their guest.