Susquehanna UniversitySusquehanna University - Student Life

Department of Residence Life
 

Living On Campus: Traditional Doubles Lottery

Helpful Information about the Traditional Doubles Lottery

What is the Traditional Doubles Lottery?

The Traditional Doubles Lottery is the last stage of the housing lottery process in which the double-occupancy rooms in Aikens Hall, North Hall, Tudor House, the Sassafras Complex, West Hall, and West Village will be assigned for next year. It takes place Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 6:00pm in Weber Chapel.

What time should I come to the lottery?

If you are concerned that you might miss the calling of your lottery number, you should come promptly at 6pm. However, we will call numbers 1-1000 from 6-7pm and lottery numbers 1001-1500 from 7-9pm. The numbers are called in order, so if you are not there when your number is called, we will move on to the next set of numbers.

Do I have to attend the Doubles Lottery?

All students returning to SU in Fall 2008 must attend the Traditional Doubles Lottery unless you:

  • have gone through the off campus lottery and been released to move off campus.
  • are involved in the Volunteer Project House System and have been assigned to an Avenue House, Seibert Hall or the Sassafras Complex or West Village.
  • are living in a fraternity or sorority house and your assignment has been reported to the Office of Residence Life by your group's president.
  • have been awarded a single room in North Hall, Theta Chi, Tudor House, or West Village.
  • have been awarded a room in the Scholars House.
  • have been awarded a suite, apartment or townhouse in the Sassafras Complex, Liberty Alley, or West Village
  • have been awarded a designed triple.
  • have been awarded a room in 313 UA, 312 UA, or 409 UA.

Where are the double rooms available?

Aikens Hall

  • Approximately 15 rooms for men, located on the first floor of the south wing
  • Approximately 19 rooms for women, located on the second floor of the south wing

North Hall
  • Approximately 38 rooms for men and women on three floors

Sassafras Complex

  • Approximately 29 double rooms for men and women in apartments, suites and townhouses

West Hall

  • Approximately 74 rooms for men and women on three floors

West Village

  • Approximately 24 double rooms for men and women

 

Do I use my lottery number, my roommate's number, or an average of the two?

For the Traditional Doubles Lottery, you use the lower of the two lottery numbers. So, if your number is 610 and your roommate's number is 740, the two of you would come up to choose a room when 610 is called.

*You may not sign up with a student with a good lottery number but with whom you do not intend to live with.

What if my roommate can't be at the lottery?

Students are allowed to sign up for a room on behalf of their roommate. However, you must bring a signed "substitution form" from your roommate stating that you have permission to choose a room for the two of you. These forms can be picked up in the Office of Residence Life. If he/she is not on campus right now, an email from them will be sufficient.

What if both my roommate and I can't be at the lottery?

If neither of you can attend the lottery, you have two choices. You can have a friend choose a room for the two of you, but they will need to bring a signed "substitution form" stating that they have permission to do so. Or you can fill out a "ghost form" in the Office of Residence Life. The form will have you list your preferences for housing. The "ghost" will then choose a room for you based on your preferences when your lottery number is called.

What if I don't have a roommate lined up for next year?

If you attend the Doubles Lottery without having secured a roommate for next year, you will take part in a process that may result in your being assigned a roommate. The process runs parallel for men and women, so for the sake of this explanation, single women are used to illustrate the system.

  • The first single woman to have her lottery number called may choose a double room from any of the rooms that are available at that point in the lottery.
  • The second single woman may choose to live with the first or choose a different open room.
  • At this point, there are two rooms that have only one occupant signed up for them. There may never be more than two rooms with only one occupant in each.
  • Therefore, the third woman must choose to live with one of the two women that have already signed up alone.
  • Now there is only one room with a single occupant, so the fourth woman can choose to move into that room or choose a different open room.
  • The fifth single woman must choose between the two rooms with single occupants.
  • The sixth can move into the room where there is an opening or choose a different room.

Essentially, if there is only one room that is half-full when your number is called, you can choose a different room. But if there are two, half-full rooms when your number is called, you must choose between those two rooms.

The process will be explained at the lottery and any questions addressed at that time. In addition, someone will be available to walk you through your specific options when your number is called.

So how does the lottery work? What can I expect when I get there?

  • Students should plan to be present in Weber Chapel at 6:00pm.
  • Look for the large table in the auditorium where you can pick up and fill out your housing card. It is important that you do this right away because you can not choose a room without a completed housing card.
  • Wait until your lottery number is called. Remember, you and your roommate come up to choose a room when the lower of your two numbers is called.
  • Lottery numbers are called in groups. So, when your number is called, you come up to the stage with the other students in the grouping.
  • You will be instructed to arrange yourselves according to lottery number.
  • You and your roommate will be asked to check in first at a table at the front of the stage. Your lottery number and housing status will be verified there.
  • You may then proceed to the tables where you look over what rooms are still available and choose one of them. The attendant at the table will write down your names on the floor plans and will take your housing card from you.
  • At this point, you are finished!

What if I'm not there when my number is called?

If you are not present when your number is called, the lottery proceeds without you. However, the calling of each new set of numbers always includes all the numbers that preceded it (i.e. we call 1-10, then 1-20, then 1-30 and so on) so you can come up and choose a room with the next group.

What if I miss the lottery completely?

All students that have not secured housing prior to the lottery but also do not attend the lottery will be contacted via email. You will then be offered the available spaces on campus at that time. If you fail to secure housing through this process, you may be assigned to housing.

What if the person I want to live with next year is not currently a student?

Unfortunately, due to constraints on space, only currently enrolled students can sign up for housing through the lottery.

Can I sign up for a room if I'm going to be abroad in the fall?

No, students that will be abroad in the fall can not apply for any on campus housing. The university can not hold a space empty for you while you are away. Thus, if you applied for campus housing and then went abroad in the fall, your space would be filled with another student and that student would not be forced to move when you return in the spring.

I've heard that sometimes you run out of rooms. Is this true?

Yes, some years the number of students that attend the Doubles Lottery is greater than the number of rooms that are available. This is due to a myriad of factors involving students signing up for double rooms that will eventually not be occupying them:

  • Students that are undecided as to whether or not they will go abroad
  • Students that may not be returning to the university
  • Students that have already signed up for another type of housing

When this situation occurs, we ask the remaining students to fill out a preference card and we place them on a waiting list. Then over the course of next few months, as rooms open up, we offer those rooms to the waiting list based on what they indicated on their preference card. We have never, in recent history, had a situation in which we were unable to house students with their desired roommate.
Susquehanna University Last updated
Cindi Baralt, Secretary, Residence Life
Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870
570-372-4133