Student Handbook 2025-26 > Appendix > On Campus Housing Agreement

On Campus Housing Agreement

2025-2026 Housing Agreement
Residence Life serves as a resource to empower students toward self-actualization by fostering supportive environments that are safe and accessible to everyone.  On-Campus housing provides the foundation to the immersive student learning at the core of Olin’s student-centered founding precept.

Living in Olin student housing is a requirement paired with specific responsibilities. Students living in student housing are responsible for complying with Olin policies, for providing responsible stewardship, and encouraging a spirit of service to each other in an effort to further this commitment and achieve equitable rights and access within our residential community. The undersigned student’s adherence to this responsibility is required to retain eligibility for on-campus residency. 

Residence Life communicates directly with students via their @olin.edu email address and expect students to participate in communication via this address.  Specific information regarding Residence Life processes are communicated with students through this address including arrival, departure, closings, and maintenance activities.  This communication may occur over the summer, Residence Life assumes all students check their Olin email address at least once a week per summer and daily during the semester.

ELIGIBILITY                                                                                  

To be eligible to occupy Olin College housing, the student (and the student’s parent or legal guardian if the student is under age 18) must read and agree to the terms of this Housing Agreement (the “Agreement”) before the student moves into an assigned space (“Olin housing”) and must comply with the terms of this Agreement.

PERIOD OF AGREEMENT

This Agreement pertains to the 2025-2026 Academic Year. The Agreement period begins the first scheduled date of the arrival of residential students for the Fall semester and ends no later than the move-out date that Olin sets for the end of the Spring semester (typically, 12:00 PM on the day following the last College-recognized exam day) or the day after Commencement for graduating students by 12:00PM, or at such other dates as announced by Olin, except as stated in this Agreement. Olin students living in College housing must participate in the Olin dining plan.

Olin housing is not available
• during the periods when Olin is closed for designated breaks,
• if the student is no longer actively enrolled in a full-time load of classes on campus at Olin College as defined by the Registrar’s office,
• if the College restricts the student from housing due to conduct, safety, or eligibility issues, or
• due to situations beyond the control of the College (as described in a later section of this agreement).
Students are to review the academic calendar for details as to openings, school breaks and closings.

The undersigned student who enters Olin housing for the Fall semester will be bound by this Agreement for the full academic year and a student who enters Olin housing for the Spring semester will be bound by this Agreement the for the balance of the academic year.

NATURE OF USE OF OLIN HOUSING

It is agreed and understood that the undersigned student has only a limited license to occupy the assigned space in Olin housing and to use the common facilities in Olin housing, and that no landlord-tenant relationship is created or to be implied by the student’s use of the Olin housing.  The undersigned student’s use of this space is limited to its intended purpose as housing for the assigned students.  Soliciting and fundraising is prohibited on campus without written authorization of the Dean of Students
 

REQUIRED FEES AND PAYMENTS

Olin housing and meal plan rates are payable by the semester; visit the Student Accounts website for current rates. All payments must be made in accordance with due dates and process set by the Student Accounts office for the payment of tuition and fees. Failure to make the required payments constitutes a violation of this Agreement and can result in the loss of the student’s room assignment and meal plan and housing privilege.

2025-2026 Note: A new campus data system is currently being implemented which may result in changes to billing dates.  Please stay tuned to your Olin email account for details.

Fall bills will be mailed to students' permanent address by July 1st, with full payment, or enrollment in a payment plan, due by August 1st. Spring bills will be available on the portal by November 1st, with full payment, or enrollment in a payment plan, due by December 1st. Late payments are subject to a $150 late fee. For complete details regarding tuition and fees, please refer to the ‘Costs' section on the Olin website https://www.olin.edu/student-life/billing-payments

Students who officially withdraw, or who are withdrawn or suspended by Olin, or who otherwise are restricted from Olin housing will be charged according to the refund schedule published by Student Accounts. Students who are approved for a leave of absence or study away during the period of Agreement may be released from the remainder of the Agreement as per the refund schedule, but only upon written confirmation from Residence Life.
 

HOUSING ASSIGNMENT PROCESS

All students must submit their signed Housing Agreement to Residence Life on a timely basis. The following priority dates have been established as the deadlines for students to submit requests to Residence Life for best consideration of their housing needs.

Returning Students:

• Fall: March 14, 2025
• Spring: October 31, 2025

New and Exchange Students:

• Fall: June 15, 2025
• Spring: November 15, 2025

Olin makes no promises and no guaranties that a student will be assigned to or remain in a specific or requested housing location. Residence Life reserves the right to adjust selected housing assignments as needed during the course of the year.

During any housing assignment or consolidation process, Residence Life may share assigned student names and Olin email addresses with potential room and/or suitemate matches.

Olin Housing Assignments for New Students
The Housing Application collects a series of roommate matching related questions, to assist in the process of assigning incoming students to rooms and/or gathering community groups. Residence Life team typically completes the assignment process in July with room and roommate information sent to the student’s Olin email address in late July.

Returning Student Room Selection
Returning students participate in a Room Selection process where they will select their specific room assignment with their intended room and/or suitemates during the Spring semester. Rooms are selected in descending class year through a randomly generated selection order.

Students returning from a leave of absence or withdrawal must request housing by the priority date listed above to assure space has been reserved for their return to campus. Please review the student handbook for the detailed process on returning from a leave of absence or withdrawal.

HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS REQUESTS DUE TO DISABILITY

Students seeking an accommodation to the housing assignment process or the assigned housing due to a disability-related reason are to request the accommodation through Disability Services. Given the limited on-campus housing, please submit accommodation requests before the deadlines listed in the Housing Assignment Process section above, where it is possible to do so.

Although Residence Life works with Disability Services to address disability-related housing accommodation requests, students must make those requests directly to Disability services. To contact Disability services, visit their section on Olin’s website: https://www.olin.edu/student-life/disability-services or email disability.services@olin.edu.

ROOM OCCUPANCY AND CHANGE REQUEST

Rooms are to be occupied only by the person(s) assigned by Residence Life. Residence Life has the sole right to make and change room assignments in College housing, determine the occupancy of any room, fill any vacancies, consolidate room assignments, and approve requests for room changes. Residence Life may change a student’s room assignment at any time if the College feels it is in in the best interest of a student or in the best interest of the College’s needs and operations. A person who has not been assigned a room by the College is not permitted to reside in College housing. Room assignments are not transferable, and subletting of any type is not permitted.

Residence Life will work with Campus Operations and Facilities Management should a room be determined to no longer be fit for occupancy due to an unforeseen maintenance issue.  Temporary or permanent relocation may be required for the College to address the situation.  In situations where the college requires a student to relocate temporarily or for the remainder of the term, students may request moving assistance. 

Room Change Requests
Students experiencing conflict with their room or suite mates should contact their Resident Resource(R2) for assistance in attempting to resolve the conflict at hand. Students seeking a room change to join a peer or change their room type must submit a written request to Residence Life via email. Requests will not be approved during the first two weeks or last four weeks of the semester. These room change freeze periods are established to limit changes while room assignments are being adjusted. The College does not provide moving assistance for students seeking a room change. In room change requests, students may only choose to change rooms; students cannot request their roommate move out.

Vacant Beds and Rooms
If there is an unassigned space in a room or suite, the College may assign someone to that vacancy at any time.  Notice of new room and/or suitemate assignments will be attempted within 24 hours when possible but is not guaranteed.  In double and triple rooms, the appropriate portion of the room and its furnishings must remain available for a new resident’s use upon assignment to the space.  Vacant rooms within suites are to remain locked at all times. Over winter break, students must leave vacant spaces and areas of rooms and suites move-in ready, including preparing and cleaning common spaces, in anticipation of new occupants.  Failure to do so may result in fines related to this improper occupancy.

DINING SERVICES

All students living on campus must participate in the Olin dining plan and will be automatically charged for and must pay the dining plan rate.  Students receive unlimited meals in the dining hall.  Each week the dining hall holds 19 meals times (i.e. breakfast or dinner).  Monday through Friday a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served except on holidays when Saturday/Sunday schedules are followed.  Saturdays & Sundays feature a brunch period with dinner.  Certain special occasions feature a continental breakfast, such as on the day of Commencement.  While specific dates can be found on the academic calendar, the dining plan availability is as follows:
 

• First Year Arrival Date – meal plan begins at Lunch for first year students
• Returning Student Arrival Date – meal plan begins at dinner service
• Thanksgiving break – meal plan pauses following hot breakfast on Saturday with no meals served for a full week, resuming with dinner service on Sunday.
• Residence Halls Close Date (December) – meal plan ends with brunch service
• Residence Halls Open Date (January) – meal plan begins at dinner service
• Spring Break – meal plan pauses following brunch on Saturday with no meals served for a full week, resuming with dinner service on Sunday.
• Move-Out Date (Non-graduating Students) – meal plan ends with Continental Breakfast service
• Graduating Students – last meal served is Continental Breakfast on day of commencement (no meals on graduating student move-out day)

The meal plan is not available during Olin designated break periods, in the event of situations beyond the control of the College, or if the College restricts the student’s access to the dining facilities due to conduct, safety, or eligibility issues.  Olin dining facilities are only open during the hours posted. During inclement weather closings, students should monitor their Olin email for any adjustments to the dining hall hours of operation.

Students may not use another person’s ID card for purchases, transfer their card to another person, or remove food or property from the Dining Hall.  Students who are sick are encouraged to communicate with the Dining Services team to have a friend deliver meals to their room.

Olin students can also utilize up to 20 meal swipes per semester at Babson’s Trim Dining Hall in place of the Olin Dining Hall meal that period.  This cross dining is designed to amplify options and build community connections.  At the start of each term, the dining services team will email out blackout dates where cross dining is paused for various reasons.

In addition to their own meals, each Olin Dining Hall Plan comes with 5 guest meal swipes per semester.  This allows for students to bring a friend or family member to join them within the dining hall.

For inquiries about dining for students with special dietary needs related to a disability, please contact Disability Services at disability.services@olin.edu. For all other special dietary needs, please contact the Dining Hall directly at dining.services@olin.edu

LIABILITY, LOSS, DAMAGE, OR THEFT; PERSONAL INSURANCE

The undersigned student is solely responsible and agrees to accept full liability for the loss or theft of, and damage or injury to, Olin property and/or to the person or property of the undersigned student or of other individuals that is caused by or results from, in whole or in part, the actions of the undersigned student and/or the student’s guest, and Olin assumes no liability for any of the foregoing.

Olin recommends that all students purchase (at their own expense) personal insurance to cover their personal belongings prior to their move-in to Olin housing and that they take steps to safeguard their personal property.

Door Locks & Access

Room and suite doors are to be locked at all times. The undersigned student agrees to carry their room keys and ID when not in their room. All students are prohibited from lending room keys or Olin ID cards to any other person. All students are prohibited from duplicating college issued keys and ID cards.  All students are prohibited from modifying or tampering with building, apartment, or room door locks. Failure to comply with this directive constitutes a violation of this Agreement, and any such violation involving the actual or potential loss of safety or property may be grounds for Olin terminating this Agreement with forfeiture by the undersigned student of monies paid.

The undersigned student agrees to not provide building access to any persons they do not know.  No student shall enter resident bedrooms other than the one they are assigned to unless accompanied by a resident of that space.

RESIDENCE HALL USE, OPERATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE

Use of Residence Hall
The undersigned student agrees to maintain the assigned Olin housing and the common areas of the residence hall in good condition, to make no alterations or repairs, and to leave the premises in as good condition as when the student first occupied the space (with reasonable wear and tear excepted). 

Shall a maintenance need occur, the undersigned student commits to complete a work order via facilities management as soon as possible to assure repairs are coordinated. Should an emergency facilities need arise, students shall contact the R2 On Call or Public Safety for immediate assistance.  Further damage to college property or buildings caused by delays in reporting facilities issues may result in referral to the Honor Board.

Each housing assignment contains College owned furniture. Students may not remove College furniture from any Olin housing or common areas. Students may not put furniture in hallways or common areas, or block any points of entry or egress. Furniture left in unapproved areas may present a safety concern and may result in a fine and/or disciplinary action.  No students or guests shall sleep anywhere outside of bedrooms.

Students may not bring into College housing items that bring risk to the safety and health of others. The College reserves the right to make a determination as to the safety of items that students bring into College housing. The student will be required to remove immediately any item from Olin housing that the College deems to raise a safety concern.  The College reserves the right to confiscate items that cause safety risk or violate policy.

Moving Into the Residence Hall

Students are expected to arrive during the appropriate move-in dates and times.  Requests for early arrival may be considered, but students shall not arrive to campus early without permission of Residence Life.  Some students may be invited to campus early to support campus opening programs such as New Student Orientation.  Following said invite students must confirm their arrival plans with Residence Life according to procedures sent to student emails.  When possible, Residence Life may offer early arrival housing with an early arrival cost.  All students should expect reduced campus services prior to the first day of classes each semester.

The undersigned student shall complete check-in procedures as described via email; acceptance of room keys constitutes official check-in.

Moving Out of the Residence Hall

The undersigned student agrees to complete published move-out procedures.  Should a student need to vacate in advance of the move-out period, students must notify Residence Life in writing of their departure.

The undersigned student agrees to remove all personal effects, valuables, or other property from the Olin housing no later than the expiration of the period of this Agreement or earlier upon written request by Olin. Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence are expected to vacate Olin housing within two business days, or sooner if Olin deems appropriate. Any property or items not removed from the Olin housing by the required date may be considered abandoned and become the property of Olin College.  Costs to remove these items shall be considered damages and will utilize the cost of repair system outlined in the next section of this agreement.

The undersigned student is responsible for and agrees to return the Olin housing and its Olin contents to their original and clean condition no later than the date required for vacating the Olin housing. Failure to leave the Olin housing appropriately clean may result in a cleaning charge. Students who fail to properly turn in their key at the time of check out will be charged $75.00, to address Olin’s need to change the lock and replace keys, for each lock where a key is not returned.

Damages and Repairs
The cost of any necessary repairs to the residence hall, suite, or room to which the student is assigned may be charged against the student’s College account. Similarly, the cost for repair or replacement of any missing or damaged College furniture from the residence hall, suite or room to which the student is assigned will be billed to the student’s account. If the student(s) whose actions necessitated the repairs, replacement, or cleaning cannot be readily identified, then the cost of such repairs or cleaning will be charged equally among the residents of the room, suite, floor, or building. Room cleaning charges will be applied to students’ accounts who vacate without properly returning their room/apartment to its original condition. The undersigned agrees to pay any charges placed on the undersigned student’s account for any cleaning, disposal, repairs, and damages.

The College will assure all rooms receive adequate heat, specifically temperatures of at least 64 degrees Fahrenheit at night and 68 degrees during the day from September 15 to May 31.  In situations where heating units need repair, the College will provide temporary measures to assure adequate heat.  Air conditioning is supplied seasonally, in accordance with long-range weather forecasts, as determined by Campus Operations.  In situations where air conditioning units need repair, the college may not have temporary measures to provide nor will air conditioning repair be considered an emergency.

RIGHT TO ENTRY; SAFETY; EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

Olin reserves the right to enter Olin housing, including the residence halls, common areas, suites, and individual rooms assigned to students, for verification of occupancy; for performance of housekeeping, maintenance and repairs functions; to respond to, address or investigate suspicion of activity that may be illegal or that may be in violation of any College rule, regulation, or policy; for safety, health or sanitary reasons; and in any other situation when Olin deems entry necessary to address the welfare or interests of a student or the Olin community.

The College values the role and contributions of fire, emergency responders, and law enforcement personnel. Fire, emergency responders, and law enforcement personnel will be provided access to enter the residence halls and students’ assigned suites and rooms in Olin housing to respond matters of personal or public health and safety at the discretion of appropriate Olin College Staff. The residence halls and individually assigned suites and rooms are subject to fire/smoke/CO alarms, periodic fire safety inspection visits, and access by fire, emergency responders and law enforcement personnel, including entry into individual rooms and suites. Without limiting the above, the College strictly enforces safety and fire regulations. Persons who are identified removing, destroying, or otherwise tampering with safety equipment will be subject to disciplinary actions.

By signing this Agreement and residing in College housing, the undersigned student specifically authorizes Olin and the personnel referenced above to enter and inspect the undersigned student’s assigned space and its contents in College housing.

SITUATIONS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF OLIN

There could be situations when Olin is prevented from or delayed in continuing operation of some or all student housing or completing performance of any or all of its obligations under this Agreement as a result of

• a natural or manmade disaster, casualty, act of god (for example, without limitation, hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake), substantiated threat or actual terrorist attack, cyber-attack, violence, epidemic, or pandemic;
• the directives, actions, or policies of any federal, state, county or local governmental authority, including closure orders, quarantine regimes, or travel restrictions;
• strikes, labor shortages; or
• other events beyond the control of Olin.

(The foregoing are referred to as situations beyond the control of Olin.)
In the event of such prevention or delay arising from any situations beyond the control of Olin, Olin may take actions that it determines to be reasonable and appropriate (including, without limitation, closing some or all residential or dining facilities, relocating some or all residents, and/or quarantining or restricting access for some or all students) and Olin shall not be liable to the undersigned student for any consequences arising from actions Olin takes to address any of the above types of situations beyond the control of Olin. Due to the nature of situations beyond the control of the College, Olin will be excused from performance of its obligations, in whole or in part, under this Agreement during the period of such disruption and any reasonable period needed to resume performance safely after the disruption has ended.

STUDENT CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLY WITH OLIN POLICIES

All Olin students are responsible for adhering to Olin policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, including without limitation,

• Olin Honor Code,
• fire safety expectations,
• all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations,
• Olin information technology policies and procedures,
• campus policies,
• ·official Olin publications (see, for example, www.Olin.edu),
• safety and health protocols,
• and new or modified policies that Olin makes from time to time, during the period of this Agreement.

All students have a responsibility to not cause, and to report to Olin any observation of, any threats to personal safety, compromise of the learning environment, and disruptions of students’ rights to live with a reasonable degree of peace, and to comply with community health and safety living standards.  All of the foregoing are referred to collectively as the “Olin Policies”. Olin students are responsible to engage in conduct in a manner consistent with Olin’s mission and the Olin Polices.

The undersigned student is responsible for complying with the Olin Policies, and for ensuring that their guests comply with the Olin Policies. The undersigned student’s failure to comply with the Olin Policies may result in the student no longer being eligible to reside in Olin housing in addition to the undersigned student being subject to disciplinary actions and sanctions. If, as a result of any disciplinary action, the College issues a sanction removing the student from the residence halls, or suspending, dismissing or expelling the student, the student will be eligible for any refund of housing or meal charges only as specifically stated on Olin’s Student Accounts webpage.