Contracts & Assignments

Advance payments/contract fees are a required part of the legal transaction for a University Residence Halls contract. The advance payment/contract fee along with a signed contract means that you have entered into a legally binding agreement with the Division of University Housing.

University Residence Halls contract advance payments/fees are a separate and different payment than the Admissions enrollment advanced payment.

Freshmen & Transfers

Contracts will require a $75 non-refundable contract fee in addition to a $225 advance payment that is paid when the contract is signed. Review the cancellation policy in our contract that specifies what must be met to qualify for cancellation and details of the forfeiture schedule, if applicable. Your final Housing bill will be reduced by the advance payment you have made.

Returning Residents & Current UW-Madison Students

Contracts will require a $300 advance payment. Current UW-Madison students who have previously lived with University Housing are not subject to the $75 non-refundable contract fee. Review the cancellation policy in our contract that specifies what must be met to qualify for cancellation and details of the forfeiture schedule, if applicable. Your final Housing bill will be reduced by the advance payment you have made.

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The terms and conditions listed under Sections 15, 16, and 17 in your contract fully explain the cancellation policy for University Residence Halls contracts. Here are a few highlights:

• If you are a new student not attending UW-Madison, you can be released from your contract:
  • To cancel, log in to My UW Housing and follow the instructions on the “Request a Cancellation” form under the “Contract and Room” section.
  • Notification by May 1 ensures a full refund of your housing advance payment.
• If you are a current student withdrawing or no longer attending UW-Madison, you can be released from your contract:
  • To be released, log in to My UW Housing and follow the instructions on the “Request a Cancellation” form under the “Contract and Room” section.
• Contract releases to live off-campus while attending UW-Madison are only considered when demand for housing exceeds occupancy. As always, you have an option of a buy-out of your contract at 85% of the remaining financial obligation.
  • To be considered for release, complete the release request form in My UW Housing and follow the instructions on the “Request a Cancellation” form under the “Contract and Room” section.
• You can be released from your University Residence Halls contract for the following reasons at the End of the Semester through My UW Housing starting in early November (you will forfeit your advance payment for all of these reasons except for graduation):
  • You are withdrawing from UW-Madison and will no longer be attending in the spring semester
  • You are studying abroad in the spring semester
  • You are transferring to a different school
  • You are an exchange/visiting international student for the fall semester only
  • You are graduating in the fall semester

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If you have a disability that may require special housing considerations, please submit a written description of your needs to the Assignment Office at assignMe@housing.wisc.edu when you are completing your contract for the University Residence Halls in My UW Housing.

You will also need to work with the McBurney Disability Resource Center regarding your University Housing accommodation needs.  We encourage you to learn more about becoming a McBurney Client. Please note, the Assignment Office does not collect or maintain medical documentation. Those materials should be sent to the McBurney Disability Resource Center.

Many of our residence halls are accessible to students with physical disabilities. Be sure to notify us if you need accommodations such as wheelchair-accessible facilities, devices/alarms for hearing impairments, or special dietary needs. Early notification and complete information about your needs allow us to best assist you.

Air Conditioners

Housing will only grant permission for a student to bring their own air conditioner for disability and medical-related reasons if they are not assigned to a room with central air. Students who qualify will be able to bring their own units as long as the unit meets the following requirements:

Requirements:

• Fully Self-Evaporative Portable Air Conditioner
• Cooling BTU Needed (DOE Standard) = 5,000 – 6,000 BTU
• ETL/UL Listed Machine
• Standard 115-volt electrical plug (NEMA 5 – 15)

Fully Self-Evaporative Portable Air Conditioners acceptable examples include:

• LG Model: LP0621WSR
• Friedrich Model: ZCP08SA
• Frigidaire Model: FHPC082AC1 or FHPC102AC1

Instructions for requesting permission to bring your own air conditioner will be available at My UW Housing after July 1st, 2023.

Wisconsin law [SS 36.25 (46)] requires students who live in a University Residence Hall to affirm whether they have received vaccination against meningococcal disease and hepatitis B and to provide the vaccination dates, if any. The University Health Services has a health record form for students to complete which is confidential and will be retained by University Health Services.

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Choosing a place to live is a very important decision, and our University of Wisconsin–Madison staff is committed to assisting you to see if the University Residence Halls will work for you. University Housing acknowledges that not all students may identify as female or male, and we want to create a welcoming environment for you in the residence halls. We would be happy to work with students who may identify as transgender, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, and/or non-binary regarding life in the halls.

Differently gendered and transgender students are encouraged to contact us as you consider your housing decision or if you would like to discuss any questions or issues related to your gender identity. Be sure to call prior to your contract deadline to discuss your options.

Director of Diversity Programs – Cleda Wang
608-265–5429

Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC)
608-265-3344
lgbt.wisc.edu

You may also want to consider our Open House: Gender Learning Community or the Multicultural Learning Community.

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University Housing is committed to serving the housing needs of our student veterans.

If you are considering University Residence Hall housing and would like to be placed together with other veterans, transfer students, or non-first-year students, please get in touch with one of our Coordinators for Assignments & Student Services at 608-262-2522 and we will talk with you about your on-campus housing needs.

Additional support is also available through the UW-Madison offices of the Dean of Students:

Assistant Dean of Students-Veterans
608-890-2701 (voice)
608-265-5646 (fax)

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