First-Year Process

One way we help support our students is by requiring them to live on campus for their first four semesters. Through experience and research, we know that on-campus students have higher rates of retention, satisfaction, and academic success. A common residential experience helps students connect with peers, receive support from faculty and staff, and foster academic and social development. We look forward to your arrival and invite you to start exploring Learning Communities now!

Timeline

Submit Your Housing Contract

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February 10 through May 5 at 11:59 p.m. : Once you've paid your acceptance fee, you can access and review your housing and meal plan contract at  housing.uvm.edu. Explore Learning Community options and rank preferences on your contract.

How to submit your housing and meal plan contract:

  1. Log in to  housing.uvm.edu.
  2. Select  2025-2026 Housing and Meal Plan Contract.
  3. Explore your Learning Community options and rank preferences on your contract.
  4. You can add roommates by creating a roommate group in your contract. View the accordions on this page for more information about finding roommates.
  5. Contact  Student Accessibility Services (SAS) if you need an ADA housing accommodation.

Please note: you can go back in to edit your contract as many times as you'd like to add roommates or edit Learning Community preference, but please be sure to sign AND submit every time you go back in to make a change.

View Learning Community Placement

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Early June: Check your UVM email for your Learning Community placement. Be sure to follow your Learning Community on Instagram for exciting updates! 

More about Learning Communities

Select Your Room

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During June: Room selection by Learning Community (students will have an opportunity to pick their own rooms within their assigned learning communities). Every student will have a specifically assigned time slot within their Learning Communities selection window, usually ~2 days depending on the size of the community. View our Room Selection Process page for a complete timeline and Learning Community building locations. 

More about the Room Selection Process

Attend Virtual Insight Sessions (Optional)

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Late July through early August: Check out Virtual Insight Sessions to hear from Residential Life leadership about campus housing. 

  • Dates TBA

UVM Orientation

View Your Room Assignment

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August 5: Final room assignments will be confirmed via email notification. While most students are assigned to the space that they choose during room selection, certain circumstances like SAS accommodations can impact final assignments. 

Prepare for Move-in

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Throughout August: Connect with your roommates, solidify travel plans, and begin planning what you're going to bring. Our Move-in Guide will lead you through each step of the move-in process!

Move-in Guide

Move-in Day!

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Late August: You made it! We're so excited to welcome you to campus. Dates and details about move-in are soon to be announced. 

Roommates

Finding a Roommate
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You can find a roommate using the UVM official ZeeMee app, or by using the search tool in the housing portal to find roommates who may be compatible. You have until the contract deadline on May 5 to connect with roommates and create a group in the housing portal.

Creating a Roommate Group
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Once you have found a roommate, here's how to create a roommate group: 

  • You will need both your NetID and your potential roommate's to complete the roommate group selection process
  • Open your 2025-2026 Housing Application in the housing portal.
  • On the "Provide Lifestyle Information" tab, select "Opt in to appearing in Roommate Search Results"
    • Note that if you have opted in to gender inclusive housing, your roommate preference must also have opted in to gender inclusive housing
  • On the "Request Roommates" tab select "Search for Roommate by NetID"
  • Search for your desired roommate's NetID (NetIDs are 3-8 characters, e.g. jsmith) and select "Add to Group"
  • This student will then receive an email stating you have requested them as a roommate. They should follow the instructions in the email to accept the request on the "Request Roommates" tab of their housing application.
  • Once they accept your request all parties will receive a confirmation email. If you do not get this confirmation email, they have not successfully joined your group.
  • Talk with your roommate regarding your learning community preferences and ensure your responses on the "Rank Learning Communities" tab match we the housing team knows where to place you!

Keep In Mind:

  • Your roommate must have begun their 2025-2026 Housing Application to appear in the roommate search.
  • Roommate groups can be created and edited up until the contract closes on May 5th, even if you submit the application.
  • Roommate pairs may choose double or triple rooms. If a roommate pair selects a triple room, the third space will be available for another student.
  • Students in the Patrick Leahy Honors College, Liberal Art Scholars Program, Trail Blazers Leadership Program, and STEM Scholars Program must live with their cohorts in University Heights and must form roommate groups with other students in their program. We understand acceptances for these programs are not finalized. If you or your roommate are accepted into one of these programs, we will reach out regarding any necessary changes to your roommate group.