Your Contract with University Housing
The residence hall contract is the basic contract or agreement outlining the rules and policies of University Housing under terms and conditions authorized by the University's Board of Regents. Once signed, it is legally binding on both the University and the student as the resident. University Housing requires no security deposit or advance payment prior to the start of the academic term covered by the contract. Rates for room and board are established annually by the University. The University reserves the right to revise rates when circumstances require.

• The student agrees to abide by all the terms of the contract and to comply with the policies and procedures described in the Community Living at Michigan handbook.
• Review thoroughly the web section, "Your One-Stop Info-Shopping Place" which is updated May 1st of each year.
• Once the contract is offered, University Housing does not change the assignment.
• Once the contract is signed, it can't be canceled unless the student withdraws from the University.
• The student will not be released from the contract to move to off-campus housing (fraternity, sorority, apartment).
• Room changes
  • Students may do room swaps by finding another student to exchange rooms with.
  • Room or hall changes into vacant spaces are not permitted during the first two weeks of the term. Residents who want to change their room type or residence hall are eligible to place their name on a waitlist that will be established the second week in September for the Fall Term and the second week in January for the Winter Term.
  • Contract reassignment allows one student to turn over his or her contract to another eligible student. (For Fall Term, only newly admitted students are eligible.) The student taking over the contract must not have already signed a contract and must be eligible for the specific space being reassigned. Both students must appear in person at the Housing Information Office after August 1 to complete the reassignment. The student taking over the assignment will assume all responsibility for the contract.
• The resident is responsible for all room and board fees that appear on his or her contract and any other charges that are assessed under the terms of the contract for its full duration or until the contract is terminated by University Housing.
• Please do not send any payment when returning the signed contract to University Housing. The first payment is not due until the end of the first month of the term after the start of the contract. (A different timetable applies for residents who have signed up for the University's budget payment plan.)
• All on-campus residence hall contracts are for a specified time period and are not automatically renewable.

Rate Information
Residence hall room and board fees and apartment rental charges are the same for residents of the State of Michigan and out-of-state residents.

Residence hall rates for the next academic year are discussed during the fall term by a student and staff rate-setting committee that develops a recommended rate increase that is presented to the Director of University Housing. University Housing, through the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, ultimately proposes a rate schedule to the board of Regents. The Board of Regents has the final authority in setting major University fees, including room and board. A list of the current rates for residence halls, apartments, and spring-summer rates can be found on the Housing Rate Information page.

Contract Termination
Plans for enrollment changed before start of contract?
If you are not enrolling for fall, winter, or spring/summer term at the University of Michigan, you need to email housing@umich.edu and inform us that you need to cancel your signed University Housing contract. You will be held accountable for your contract if you are enrolled in "any" UM credits.

Withdrawal during fall, winter or spring/summer term?
If you are withdrawing during an academic term, your contract will be terminated but you must complete and submit a Petition for Termination of Contract Form. The resident is responsible for all room and board charges up until the date of check-out, regardless of the date of withdrawal from the University.

Not enrolling or studying on campus for winter term?
If you hold a contract with University Housing, and are NOT enrolling for winter term at the University of Michigan, due to (1) Co-operative Program, (2) Study Abroad or (3) Disenrollment, you need to submit a "Projected Withdrawal" On-Line Form on our website, available October - December only. Any student who fails to follow the procedure for check-out at their Residence Hall Front Desk after being granted a contract termination via the "Projected Withdrawal" On-Line Form process may be held accountable for full payment of the contract.

Enrolled at U-M, but wanting a contract termination?
After signing a University Housing contract, all requests to terminate a contract must be submitted in writing. Students requesting termination of their contracts and continue to be an enrolled University of Michigan student, need to complete a Petition for Termination of Contract form, including the Supplementary Financial Statement (if the request is based on compelling financial need.) If the reason for the petition stems from medical or psychological reasons, along with the Petition for Termination of Contract, students need to submit the Medical and or Psychological Petition Form. Forms are available in the Forms section of the Housing website.

All terminations must be approved in writing by the Chair of the Housing Review Board or the Director of Housing. Petition approvals are not automatic and are granted only when the Review Board determines that circumstances as explained in the petition are substantially different than at the time of original contract signing.No other member of the Housing staff may terminate a contract or board contract, and University Housing will not be liable for promises or actions of any non-authorized staff member regarding contract obligations.

Decisions regarding petitions are made at weekly Housing Review Board sessions. When reviewing a petition, the Board will carefully review the documentation supplied. The Board may determine there are on-campus housing options different from the resident's current assignment that could satisfactorily meet stated needs; it could grant the petition; or it could decline the petition.

Enrolled students who move out of a residence hall without having an approved contract termination remain liable for all room fees remaining on the full term of the contract. Any student who fails to follow the procedure for check-out at their Residence Hall Front Desk after being granted contract termination may also be held accountable for full payment of the contract.

Projected Withdrawal Instructions
All Fall Term residents who know they will not be returning to the University as an enrolled U-M student for Winter Term should submit the Online Projected Withdrawal Notice by November 16th, 2007, if possible. The Office Coordinator in your Residence Hall will receive and process this on-line form.

Meal Plan Rebates and Cancellations
During the first month of the Fall and Winter terms, residents can choose to change from one meal plan to any other meal plan for which they are eligible by completing the online Meal Plan Modification Process provided by the Mcard Center. If your contract is terminated, you will be charged for meals until your termination date.