2020-2021 Academic Year Housing

Texas A&M University recently announced changes to the Fall 2020 academic calendar, which includes moving the start of classes from Monday, August 24 up to Wednesday, August 19 and the end of classes from Wednesday, December 2 to Tuesday, November 24 before Thanksgiving. Currently, final exams are still scheduled for the beginning of December, with the last day for finals occurring December 9. Commencement is scheduled for December 11-12.

As the dates of finals and Commencement have not changed for fall, the housing contract move-out date will not change. On-campus housing will remain open with services and staff accessible through the last day of Finals. As usual, students will still be allowed to stay until 24 hours after their last final unless formally approved for late-stay. 

Even with the addition of days to the start of fall semester classes, there will be no change to currently published semester housing rates. 

Students who choose to leave prior to Thanksgiving and not return until spring move-in will be held to the full contractual semester rate for the Fall 2020 semester. While we hope that we can follow our normal winter break procedures, students may be asked to inform staff what their plans are and/or return their hard key (if they got one) for the duration of the break. Students will not be refunded for checking out early for the semester.

We continue to meet daily in our planning to develop as safe as possible environment for your return to campus.  Part of that planning means the review of current policies and practices with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In considering our housing policy, we think it important for to understand that our University safety plan seeks to take advantage of the environmental control granted by the unique location of our campus.  The natural boundaries of our island location grants a level of security unlike any other.  Most of our students live on campus where we can offer all of Texas A&M’s considerable resources.  Students who live on campus will live with other students who have the same access to testing, guidance, healthcare, increased sanitation, expectations of behavior and with the singular mission of actively supporting their education through the use of best practices. Creating a campus bubble creates incomparable advantages, such as in the instance of a positive case, a closed community with clear access to any contacts and the ability to isolate in place with minimal disruption to the educational environment.  The natural advantage of this plan is predicated in limiting travel on-and-off campus.  To that end, we have added exemptions for students who will not be coming to campus at all, or only in limited circumstances, from the controlled environment of a permanent residence.

Our current housing requirement specifies that with limited exceptions, all single undergraduate students enrolled in more than nine credit hours are required to live in campus housing and participate in the board plan provided that space in campus housing is available. Exemptions to the housing requirement based on special circumstances will be considered upon written request to the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs or designee. Exemptions cannot be granted based upon economic consideration and will generally only be granted when a student qualifies as married, single parent and guardian, veteran, twenty one or older, has an approved medical or learning accommodation through the Office of Disability Services and Accommodations, or living with parent or guardian within Galveston County. Members of any LLC, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, or other programs with on-campus requirements may be subject to separate approval through those programs.

In response to the pandemic, we have expanded these considerations further as described below:

• [Consideration #1] - We have broadened the consideration under medical accommodations to include having certain underlying medical conditions which put the student at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 as defined by the Center for Disease Control.

1. Decisions on accommodations are evaluated solely through the Disability Services and Accommodations Office.  Students requesting Consideration #1 should:
   1. Visit https://www.tamug.edu/counsel/disabilities.html for details on how to apply for medical accommodations.  Supporting medical documentation will be required by the Disability Services and Accommodations Office; and
   2. Complete the Spring 2021 housing application through the housing portal (see instructions below).

• [Consideration #2] - Students attending completely online, living at home, and not physically coming to campus for any reason for the semester may be exempt from this housing rule.
  1. Students requesting Consideration #2 will:
     1. Complete the Spring 2021 housing application through the housing portal (see instructions below);
     2. Submit a copy of their Spring 2021 class schedule signed by their academic advisor; and
     3. Submit a personal letter stating they will not be coming to campus for the duration of the semester.

• [Consideration #3] - Students with 9 hours (or fewer) of face-to-face courses (including hybrid/hy-flex, or any labs, cadet assessments and training and contact/research requiring physical presence on campus) and intending to commute from an established permanent residence with immediate family or legal guardians, may be exempt from the housing rule if they meet the following requirements: 9 hours of face-to-face courses or less, and are commuting from their established permanent address with family or legal guardians located in Galveston, Brazoria, Harris, or Chambers Counties; and are doing so 2 days or fewer a week.
  1. Students requesting Consideration #3 will:
     1. Complete the Spring 2021 housing application through the housing portal (see instructions below);
     2. Submit a copy of their Spring 2021 class schedule signed by their academic advisor;
     3. Submit a personal letter stating they will not be coming to campus for the duration of the semester;
     4. Submit a letter from a parent, immediate family member, and/or guardian certifying that the student is living with them in said established residence full-time for the duration of the semester; and
     5. Submit recent proof of residence within an approved county (such as a recent bill or piece of mail with address).

Instructions for Completing or Updating Spring 2021 Housing Application

NOTE:  The last day to complete or update the Spring 2021 Housing Application is 5:00pm on Monday, January 25.

1. Log onto the housing portal (https://reslife.tamug.edu/StarRezPortal/SingleSignIn/CAS.aspx).
2. Click on the link for “Application” in the maroon bar.
3. When the page updates, select the radio-dial for “Spring 2021 (1/11/2021-5/9/2021)” and click “Save & Continue.”
   1. After the page updates, you will need to complete the pages that follow.
4. When you get to the page titled “Corps of Cadets,” answer the question “Are you in the Corps of Cadets” accordingly and click “Save & Continue.”
   2021. IMPORTANT NOTE TO CADETS REGARDING APPLYING FOR TEMPORARY EXEMPTION TO THE ON-CAMPUS HOUSING RULE FOR SPRING 2021: The Corps of Cadets requires a number of compulsory activities including watch standing, maintenance, and other hands-on/face-to-face STCW competencies for the Merchant Mariner Credential.  This is in addition to Corps formation (multiple days a week), participation in the leadership process, call-to-quarters, and participation in mandatory random drug testing (as prescribed by the US Coast Guard).  As a result of these numerous requirements throughout the week requiring Cadets to be on campus for more than the two-day maximum, Cadets ARE NOT GOING TO QUALIFY for the temporary exemption to the on-campus housing rule for Spring 2021.  This is in line with the consistent guidance from the Superintendent that all Cadets are expected to live on campus within TAMMA Hall unless they meet the requirements to live off-campus as approved within the Corps Operations Manual.
5. When you get to the page “Request to Live Off-Campus,” scroll down, select your response, and click “Save & Continue.”
   1. On the page “Off-Campus Living Questionnaire,” select “Applying for Spring 2021 Temporary Exemption to On-Campus Housing Rule ** SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AND MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH REQUEST **”
   2. Click “Save & Continue.”
6. When the page updates, you will then have the opportunity to include your supporting documentation.  Without any supporting documentation, Campus Living & Learning may deny your request, which means your housing assignment remains in place and active.
   1. After you upload your supporting documentation, click “Save & Continue” to complete your request.
7. Once we receive your request, we will review it and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.
   1. The decision on your request will be sent to your University email.

As you evaluate new information and make decisions that suit your best interest, please keep in mind that the University has a campus live-on requirement which can be found here. For students who believe they may fit the criteria for being exempt from Campus Housing Rule, they can apply for exemption by logging onto the housing portal here. After you have logged on, click on the link for “Application” in the maroon ribbon bar at the top. When the page updates, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the radio dial for “Academic Year 2020-21.” You will proceed with completing the application pages as required. When you arrive at the “Request to Live Off-Campus” page, you will want to review the information and stipulations before making your response at the bottom of the page. The page that follows will then give you the option to identify the reason for your request followed by the opportunity to upload required supporting documentation.

Students with scholarship requirements to live on campus (e.g. Regent Scholars, Terry Scholars, etc.) will need to appeal the on-campus housing requirement with the scholarship program coordinator PRIOR to applying to live off-campus. Appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If you no longer intend to attend TAMUG, you will need to cancel your housing contract by logging onto the housing portal here. After you have logged on, click on the link for “Application” in the maroon ribbon bar at the top. When the page updates, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the radio dial for “Academic Year 2020-21.” When the page updates, click on “Cancel Application” above the blue navigation bar.  When the page updates, you will acknowledge your cancellation by clicking on the button for “Cancel Application.” By completing these steps, the system will automatically date stamp your cancellation.

If you are unable to cancel through the housing portal, then please email your name, UIN, with a cancellation statement and reason you are cancelling to cancelhousingcontract@tamug.edu. All cancellations must be in writing (through the housing portal or by email).