Fill out this form to request a room change. Below you will find the Room Change Request Policy:
East Texas Baptist University Residence Life recognizes that roommate conflicts and concerns may arise during the academic year. Living with others is an important part of the residential experience and often requires communication, compromise, and conflict-resolution skills.
Once the semester has begun, room changes are generally not approved during the semester unless there is a legitimate concern for a student's safety or well-being or another significant circumstance that Residence Life determines warrants a move. Roommate disagreements, differences in lifestyles or personalities, personal preferences, or a desire for a different room or roommate generally do not constitute a reason for an immediate room change.
When there is not a legitimate threat or significant concern, students should expect to remain in their assigned room for the remainder of the semester and may request a room change for the following semester.
Requesting a Room Change
Students who believe their circumstances warrant consideration for a room change must begin the process by completing the Room Change Request Form available on the Residence Life website.
Submitting a Room Change Request Form does not guarantee that a room change will be approved. Residence Life will review the circumstances and determine the appropriate next steps.
Unless an immediate safety concern exists, students should expect to participate in a remediation process before a room change will be considered.
Remediation Process
Before requesting or receiving a room change, students may be asked to complete some or all of the following steps:
- Communicate with the roommate. Students should make a reasonable effort to discuss concerns directly and respectfully with their roommate when appropriate.
- Meet with the Resident Assistant (RA). The RA can help identify concerns, establish expectations, and assist roommates in communicating with one another.
- Complete or revisit a Roommate Agreement. Roommates may be asked to establish specific expectations regarding cleanliness, guests, noise, sleep schedules, shared belongings, communication, and other areas affecting the living environment.
- Participate in mediation. If concerns continue, the Resident Director (RD) or another Residence Life staff member may facilitate a conversation between the roommates to identify possible solutions.
- Allow time for improvement. Students may be expected to make a reasonable effort to follow the expectations established through the remediation process and allow time for the living situation to improve.
Completion of these steps does not automatically result in a room change. When there is no legitimate safety concern, Residence Life may determine that the student should remain in their current assignment through the end of the semester and request a change for the following semester.
Student Requesting the Change
If a room change is approved, the student requesting the room change will be the student who is reassigned.
Residence Life will not remove or relocate another student from their assigned room simply because their roommate has requested a change. A student requesting a different living arrangement should understand that they are requesting to give up their current assignment and move to another available space.
The student requesting the change may not require their roommate to move, select who replaces them in the room, or require Residence Life to relocate another student to accommodate the request.
Any exception to this practice will be determined by Residence Life based on significant safety concerns, conduct-related circumstances, University needs, or other exceptional situations.
Safety Concerns
Students should immediately report situations involving threats, violence, harassment, stalking, significant intimidation, or other behavior that may present a legitimate risk to their safety or well-being.
Residence Life may bypass the normal remediation process and consider an immediate room change or other appropriate action when a legitimate safety concern exists.
General roommate conflict, frustration, personality differences, disagreements regarding living habits, or discomfort with a roommate do not automatically constitute a safety threat.
Room Change Approval and Availability
All room changes must receive prior approval from Residence Life. Students may not switch rooms, exchange assignments, or move into another University housing space without authorization.
Room changes are dependent upon available housing and are not guaranteed. Approval of a request does not guarantee placement in a particular residence hall, room type, or location.
When a room change is approved, Residence Life will provide the student with their new assignment and instructions for completing the move. Students must remain in their currently assigned space until they receive official approval and move instructions.
For most roommate concerns that do not involve a legitimate safety threat or significant circumstance, students should plan to complete the remediation process, remain in their current assignment for the semester, and request a room change for the following semester.
Residence Life reserves the right to make final decisions regarding room assignments and room changes based on student safety, housing availability, University policy, conduct concerns, and the needs of the residential community.
