STUDENT RENTAL PROPERTIES HOUSING LOTTERY 2013– GENERAL INFORMATION

What Is the Student Rental Properties Lottery?

Housing Lottery is the process by which our current registered students select Student Rental Property  housing for the next academic year.  Students are required to reside in Wittenberg housing the entire time they are enrolled.  Typically, that means that the first two years are spent in the residence halls and the remaining years (after earning 60 credit hours) in a Wittenberg-owned rental house or apartment.

Sophomores are required to live in residence halls.  Juniors and Seniors can select residence hall rooms or houses and apartments.

The only students who would not be required to participate in housing lottery are students previously approved to:  Commute; Live privately; Live in the Campus Ministries House, Eco House, Geek House, Fraternity or Sorority House or students who have renewed a Wittenberg rental property, and Non-returning RA's.

How Are Housing Lottery Numbers Assigned?

Our on-line system uses computer-generated random numbers to determine housing assignments, but these lottery numbers are not assigned until near the end of the process, so they will not be announced.  Students organize into groups and submit housing preferences first.  Then, on lottery day, the system sorts all participating students into three pools - seniors, juniors and sophomores - and randomly assigns lottery numbers to each person in each pool.  Finally, the system moves through each pool in lottery number order, matching housing preferences with the properties that are available when each number comes up.  The system assigns groups together based on the person it encounters first, i.e., the person with the "best" lottery number.

Is There Anything I Must Do In Order To Participate In The Housing Lottery?

Yes.  Holds:  Log onto the WittLink portal and click on "Register/Student Holds".  If you have any type of restriction, such as an unpaid balance on your student account, Dean of Students hold, library fine, etc., you must contact the appropriate office to correct the restriction(s) before proceeding through the housing lottery module.  You will not be allowed to proceed if any holds or restrictions exist.  If you want to be included in a group of 2, 3, 4, or 5, a hold will prohibit your group from entering preferences.  All balances must be cleared by March 8, 2013 at 5 p.m. in order to participate.

Can I Stay In My Current Residence Next Year?

Students who wish to stay in their current house or apartment have the opportunity to renew their contract for next year.  If a student has a current housemate graduating or moving to another rental property, the remaining student(s) has the right to add other qualified student(s) through the renewal process.  Starting Friday, February 8, 2013, the Renewal process will begin on the Lottery web site.  All assignments need to be complete and contracts signed by Monday, February 25, 2013.

How Does The Housing Lottery Process Work?

• Students organize into housing groups of 1-5 people according to the size of the unit in which they want to live.
• One student creates a housing group on the system and invites the others to join it.
• Individual students accept or deny their membership and confirm their eligibility to continue in the process by removing any holds that might be on their accounts.
• Once all members have accepted, the primary member creates a rank-order list of the units they prefer to live in, choosing from among the houses/apartments that are available.
• Only the primary member is empowered to create the preference list, but the other members may view it on the system at any time.
• On the assigned date, the on-line system matches groups with the units they prefer.
• 5 bedroom units are assigned on March 19th, 4 bedroom units assigned on March 21st, 3 bedroom units assigned on March 26th and 1 & 2 units assigned on March 28th.
• In the event that groups of 5, 4, or 3 are unable to be matched with a unit they preferenced, those groups can re-organize into 4's, 3's and 2's and try again on the later dates.
• For the purposes of the Housing Lottery, current students with fewer than 60 credits are sophomores; 60-92 credits are juniors; and 93+ credits are seniors.
• Housing assignments are made in order according to computer-generated random numbers.
• These computer-generated random numbers are generated in three pools - seniors, juniors and sophomores.
• Seniors are assigned before juniors and juniors are assigned before sophomores.
• Groups are assigned together based on the individual whose random number comes up first (e.g. a group with one senior and three juniors will be assigned when it is the senior's turn because seniors go before juniors).
• Students who fail to participate in the on-line process will be assigned to any open units that remain at the end.
• If all available Wittenberg-owned units are filled, then unassigned students will be released to rent from private landlords.
• Typically, Wittenberg has enough housing to accommodate all students - and none are released.

We recommend that you preference as many units as possible, as this will increase the likelihood of a match between your preference and housing availability.  At important stages in the Housing Lottery process, you will receive messages to your Wittenberg e-mail account confirming details and asking you to take certain actions.  It is essential that you check your e-mail frequently.

Student Rental Property Housing Lottery Dates :

• 5 bedroom houses - March 19th
• 4 bedroom houses/apartments - March 21st
• 3 bedroom houses/apartments - March 26th
• 1 & 2 bedroom houses - March 28th

Where Can I Find the Available Housing List? :

The list of Available Rental Properties can be found on the Housing Lottery web site and on the Student Rental Properties web site.  The complete list will not be available until after the Renewal/RA Selection process is complete.

What If My Housemate Withdraws?

If a housemate withdraws before June 15, 2013 you and any other housemates will split the entire cost for the unit, or find another student to take their place. If a housemate withdraws after June 15, 2013 the housing office may contact you during the year to meet with a student needing a place to live.  Placing another person in your rental would have to be a mutual agreement between all students involved.

What If I Don’t Get The Rental I Want?

Be sure that you keep your options open.  Remember that people are most likely choosing open units before you.  When you preference your choice of housing, we strongly recommend that you include as many units in your list as possible.  This will increase the likelihood of finding a match between your preferences and the units that are available when your group's turn comes.

Contract Signing

Once you have received notification that your housing has been assigned, you will be directed to the on-line contract. Once your contract is electronically signed, your Off-Campus housing for 2013-2014 will be complete.

If I Have A Question Or Concern About Housing Lottery That Hasn’t Been Addressed, Whom Should I Contact?

Please feel free to contact Jeanne Riedel, Coordinator of Off-Campus Housing at 327-7802 for assistance.