Residence Life
2006–2007 HOUSING SELECTION PROCESS FOR RETURNING STUDENTS
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THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS FOR CONTRACT SIGNING AND ROOM SELECTION
The goal of the Office of Residence Life is to promote greater community in the residence halls and apartments. Due to the implementation of a new, integrated collegewide database system called Banner, we have developed a new housing sign-up process. In our attempt to simplify this process, we have implemented the following changes:
1. Housing Contract (online)
Why a contract? The housing contract allows students to know the majority of their rights and responsibilities during the room selection, including changes that will be made or added to the student handbook. The contract also provides some critical information upfront about housing such as dates for opening, breaks, and closings.
2. New Proxy Designation Process (online)
The new proxy system allows you and your proxy to get your housing information. Your proxy can do your room selection for you online. If you have Internet access, our office prefers that you sign your contract and select your own room. A proxy should only be used if a student has no or extremely-limited access to the Internet while away.
3. Housing Room Selection (online)
• You qualify for your room space/type based on your credit hours as of December 31, 2005. Room Selection can now be done in full or partial rooms. All students must qualify for spaces (such as apartments) individually, not as a group. However, if all members of the group qualify, then you can live together.
• Students who don’t have a roommate already selected can select their room in the partial room system. The other spaces are open to other current students or incoming transfers to become a roommate.
• Please be aware that AP/CLEP hours do not count toward the credit hours used to determine you eligibility.
HOUSING SELECTION PROCESS TIMELINE
Part One — Housing Contract
March 20–24:
Sign Housing Contract (online)
• Once the housing contract is signed, you will receive a confirmation with your housing information.
• Students who selected a proxy: your proxy will receive your housing information. We strongly recommend that if you have Internet access while you are away from campus that you process your own housing selection.
• You must select one of the seven housing options based on your plans or intention. In the case of off-campus, special-interest housing (satellites), or Harrisburg Housing: failure to sign the corresponding contract could void your approval.
• If you do not need housing because you are graduating, transferring, or are leaving Messiah College completely, please select this option and state the reason.
Part Two — Room Selection
Selecting Your Room (online)
April 7: Room Selection – Seniors (90 credits or more)
April 10–11 Room Selection – Juniors (57–89 credits)
April 12–13 Room Selection – Sophomores (24–56 credits)**
**Returning students with 45 credits or more are eligible to live in the apartments (Fry, Kelly, Mellinger, Smith) or in the upperclass residence halls.
April 18–19 Room Selection – First-Year Students (23 credits or less)
*Returning Students with less than 45 credits are eligible to live in the upperclass residence halls (Miller, Grantham, Solly, Bittner, Mountain View).
CONTRACT SIGNING — MARCH 20–24, 2006
STEP 1: Sign your housing contract online using MC Square 
between March 20–24.
1. Log on to MC Square
2. Choose "Housing Selection Process Channel"
3. Click on “Sign my 2006–07 Housing Contract”
4. You will receive a confirmation with your housing information
STEP 2: Once you have signed your housing contract, you will immediately receive your housing information.
• On-campus residents will receive a housing pin and room selection time slot.
• Housing pins/timeslots are assigned randomly based on your credit hours at the end of the fall semester – Dec. 31, 2005
Special Notes:
1. If another student selected you as a proxy, you will receive an e-mail with their housing information.
2.
Off-campus, special interest (satellites), Harrisburg Housing are not available housing options unless you have been approved for the process prior to contract signing.
3.
Philadelphia/Domestic and study-abroad students must select this option you have applied or intent to apply for either of these two programs.
4.
Commuters need to review and meet the new definition of a commuter as stated in the Commuter Policy, listed on the Residence Life Web site.
ROOM SELECTION – April 7–19, 2006
STEP 1: Select Roommates and Location
- Determine whom you would like to room with next year, what type of housing all of you prefer, and which buildings you prefer.
- Spaces will not be held for students who will be away from the Grantham campus during the fall semester. If you are a student who is away, you will receive information in October/November 2006 about the Spring Housing Preference Process.
- If you have Internet access, our office prefers that you sign your contract and select your own room. A proxy should only be used if a student has no or extremely-limited access to the Internet while away.
- If you are a proxy for a student that is currently at an off-campus program (Philly/Domestic, BCA, Los Angeles Film Studies, study abroad, etc.), you should have received your friend’s Housing Selection Information through e-mail. If you did not receive their notice, please contact Residence Life at ext. 5239.
- If you have NOT been approved for special-interest, Harrisburg or off-campus housing or External Programs (Philly/Domestic or study abroad), you must go through the on-campus housing process. If you have been approved for special-interest, Harrisburg or off-campus housing or to study abroad, you are NOT eligible for any on-campus housing.
- Please remember that you are only eligible to for one housing assignment (On-Campus, Off-campus, Commuter, External Programs (Philly/Domestic or Study Abroad), Special Interest, or Harrisburg).
STEP 2: Find your e-mail or check “Sign My 06-07 Housing Contract” on the Housing Selection Process channel on MC Square for your housing pin and room selection timeslot if you selected on-campus housing.
STEP 3: Room Selection
ONLINE INFORMATION
You can select your room as a full space with your friends, or as a partial space, allowing another student with the same level to live with you. Please note that homesteading is not an option for this year, due to the changes in Naugle, Witmer, and additional changes in Residence Life and Life Group staff rooms. Homesteading will return to the system for sophomores, juniors and seniors in 2007–2008.
1. Log on to MC Square 
2. Choose "Housing Selection Process Channel"
3. Click on the 2006-07 Room Selection
4. Find a room that is available, following the instructions provided to select that room
5. You will receive a confirmation of your housing assignment
Special Note:
- If you do not select a room before the end of room selection, you will be assigned a room by housing based on credit standing.
- In the event of an unforeseen circumstance that our office would need to make a change to your selected room, we will notify you within a reasonable time frame prior to your arrival in August 2006.
For any questions, please see your RA, ARD, RD, or call the Office of Residence Life at x5239.
