Current Residents

Priority Housing Selection

If you want to participate in priority on-campus housing selection, you must declare your intent. All returning students must tell us their housing plans via the housing intent form. Visit the Get Ready page for everything you need to do for fall!

Who’s eligible?

Only current full-time undergraduate day students who are eligible to be registered at Oglethorpe for the following academic year are able to participate in room selection. You must not have any “holds” on your account in order to select a room. You must register for classes by the specified deadline or you may be dropped from your selected room. Visit the Get Ready page for details on these topics.

All students are required to live on campus for three years, or to commute from the primary residence of a parent or guardian. Exceptions to this rule include an approved exemption from Residence Life (forms available online in eRezLife) or a signed lease from Gables. Only returning students are eligible to live at Gables. First-year students are not eligible to live at Gables. Transfer students’ residency requirements are determined by the number of credit hours they have completed at other institutions.

Themed housing

Themed Communities allow students to live and learn with other students who share their passions. Together, residents host activities connect their academic, co-curricular, and career interests. Potential residents choose a focus for their community and identify a faculty advisor to help them develop their plan for the year. Themed Community topics may be broad or specific – for example, a community can explore a broad category like visual and performing arts or a specific topic like film. The only requirement is that residents identify a link between their community focus and the academic curriculum.

• Two newly refreshed buildings will be available to Themed Community applicants. Both buildings include a full kitchen, 3 full bathrooms, and a communal living space large enough for small events, study sessions, and gatherings. Building 1 will house a resident assistant and five members of a Themed Community in two doubles and one single room. Building 2 will house six residents in 2 double and 2 single bedrooms.
• Students will fill out an application, which can be found on their eRezLife account under the “Forms” tab. You will be required to organize a “Theme” that betters the Oglethorpe Community and aligns with the Universities academic goals. Students who are chosen for the themed communities must organize four events tailored to the members of the house as well as one event, project, or community service opportunity each semester that is open to the entire Oglethorpe community.
  • Applications Open: March 3
  • Application Closes: April 1
  • Decisions Communicated: April 8

Residence hall agreement

All students who select a room must electronically sign a “Residence Hall Agreement.” This agreement appears as the “terms and conditions” when completing an application in eRezLife. If you do not sign an agreement, your space will not be held. Please also note that the housing contract is binding for the entire academic year. Students who wish to cancel their contract prior to the start of the academic year will be subject to a contract breakage fee. Students who wish to cancel their contract after the start of the academic year will be charged a breakage fee and will be charged a daily prorated fee of room and board charges. Students are released, without penalty, only in the case of graduation and study abroad. There is no grace period for breaking the agreement. The agreement is considered binding once completed. If you sign an agreement and fail to occupy the space while enrolled, the university reserves the right to charge you for the space. Requests to be released from the contract must be submitted, in writing, to the Director of Residence Life. The exemption approval will be determined by a special committee that meets twice per month beginning in April.

Breaks and closings

If you are leaving over break:

• Remove any trash or food from your room
• Turn off all lights and turn heater down to 55 degrees.
• Check to make sure window(s) and door(s) are closed and locked.
• Shut drapes and/or blinds.
• Unplug items that do not need to be plugged in (e.g., lamps, clocks, etc.).
• If you have a vehicle on campus and will be leaving it over the break, park it in a well lit area and do not leave belongings in the vehicle.
• During winter break, defrost any refrigerators and unplug all appliances.
• If you have fish, please make sure to make arrangements for their care during the break.
• Remove all valuables and any items that you think you will need during the Winter Break as you will not be permitted to return to the residence halls or Greek Row reslife.

If you are staying for break*:

Be extra aware in your community: make sure building entries are locked, know who is staying on your floor, and as you would normally do, do not allow strangers into your living areas.

If you need staff assistance during the break, please call 404-504-8520 or come by the Residence Life Office during operational hours. When the Residence Life Office is closed, please call your Resident Assistant Duty Phone or the University Campus Safety at 404-364-1998.

*Please note: Residence Halls close for winter break and all students must vacate their rooms during this time. 

Closing for the summer

• Sign up for a checkout appointment with your RA.
• Remove all of your trash and dispose of properly.
• Clean the room, bathroom, and common space.
• Place the University’s furniture in its original positions.
• Turn in room key to RA after checkout.

The RA for your area will be checking your room upon your departure to ensure that all of your items have been removed and that your room has been locked. You MUST properly checkout with your RA or else you will face disciplinary measures and/or fines.

Closing for the Spring

Residence halls generally close the first day after the last scheduled day of final exams.

Students participating in commencement activities generally are allowed to remain living on campus until the Sunday after commencement.

Few, if any, late stays are possible, but if you need to request to stay late, please complete the Stay Late Form in eRezLife.

No Students will be approved to stay late unless they are participating in an Oglethorpe Related activity, volunteering or participating in commencement, or are working for a university office that is required to assist in commencement related events.

No students will be approved to stay any later than the dates above. There is a $100 per day fee to stay late, unless you are volunteering at Commencement activities or another approved senior activity. If you are volunteering at Commencement, you will be contacted by a staff member; if you do not volunteer to help with Commencement or another senior event, you will be charged the $100 a day fee. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or request for additional information