Beginning next academic year, there will be a new housing application process for returning Cherrington Global Scholars that will allow students to select a specific room for winter quarter without paying for it during time spent abroad.

“The reason we have a new process is because the Nagel residence hall opened and we have more availability for students,” said Mandy Harris, assistant director of occupancy for Housing and Residential Education.

Although another student may occupy the space during the fall, the room will be reserved for the applicant, said Harris.

To follow this procedure, students will need to fill out a housing application by May 18. Additionally, the student will need to attend the study abroad sign-up day, which will also be held in May, and put down a $500 deposit for the space as well as the standard $200 housing deposit.

Students who choose this option will need to let Housing and Residential Education know of their finalized housing intentions by Dec. 2. Those who return to live in the spot reserved will have their $500 deposit credited to their housing account and will receive the $200 deposit at the end of the academic year, pending damage to the room. If a student decides not to return, they will lose both the $500 and $200 deposits.

Currently, the process for returning study abroad students to secure housing on campus includes two options:

You can participate in the general room selection process and pay for the reserved room during the quarter you go abroad.

You can submit a housing contract and deposit by May 18 and you will be notified if there is a space available on campus. Students who choose this option are not able to choose a specific room or choose a desired residence hall on campus.

Both of these options will still be available for Cherrington Global Scholars and for students who choose to study abroad on a non-Cherrington program.

The new option may also be extended to non-Cherrington students, pending an official decision.

“I think it’s a good idea [to add a third option] because paying for a room you’re not going to use for a whole quarter is a lot of money wasted,” said junior Tatianna Manzon-Gutzman, who studied abroad in Australia fall quarter. Manzon-Gutzman applied for on-campus housing before she left and took the available spot offered to her in winter.

Students who do not study abroad will continue to follow the established housing application process. The only addition to the general process will be a renewal option for juniors and seniors already living in Nagel Hall, similar to that currently used in the on-campus apartments.

“Juniors and seniors will get first crack at picking a new spot if they want a different one,” Harris said.