Residence Life and Housing
Living on Campus
The educational mission of Seattle Pacific University is not limited to the classroom experience. Faculty and staff members realize that the collegiate years are a period of significant developmental change for most students. It is in the context of community that the University can best fulfill its educational mission to the �whole person.� Living on campus is an integral part of a student�s educational experience.

Living in community offers many opportunities for fulfillment and growth. Students will meet many different people and have the chance to form lasting friendships. They will also have the opportunity to nurture their faith as they consider viewpoints other than their own. Our hope is that they will develop an appreciation and respect for their peers as they find their own unique ways to contribute to the group. Living on campus also carries with it the responsibility to uphold community standards that are designed to provide a positive learning environment for all students. (Please refer to the Residential Student Guidebook, which is received when contracting for campus housing.)

The Residential Living Requirement. Since it was founded in 1891, Seattle Pacific University has been committed to the education of the whole person. For this reason, the residential experience is considered an integral part of a student�s education. Research shows that students who belong to a campus residential community have a more productive, and ultimately more satisfying, college experience than those who live off campus.

A two-year guarantee of six consecutive quarters is given to incoming freshmen. SPU strongly encourages students to reside on campus subsequent quarters as space is available. The Residential Living Requirement is evaluated yearly to support the residential experience, as well as respond to housing demand.

For the 2008–09 academic year, students are required to live on campus unless:

• They are 20 years or older, or have achieved junior status (completed 90 SPU or transferable credits) prior to the first day of class for the quarter for which they are applying.
• They live at home with parent(s), legal guardian, spouse, or dependent children.
• They are graduate students.
• They are enrolled for 8 credits or less.

Infrequent exceptions to this policy are made if unusual circumstances warrant such a decision. Students who believe they have a situation warranting special consideration to live off campus must obtain approval from the Office of Residence Life by submitting an Off-Campus Petition form, which provides the opportunity to describe the student�s situation and reason for the request. The office must receive petitions for off-campus housing no later than July 15 for the subsequent academic year. For more information, call the Office of Residence Life at 206-281-2043.

Campus Housing
Undergraduates. SPU provides housing for approximately 1,600 undergraduate students in residence halls, apartments, and houses. The residence halls vary in size from approximately 120 to 420 residents. Ashton, Hill, and Moyer are traditional residence halls, consisting of two- and three-person rooms and common bathroom facilities. Emerson Hall features suite-style rooms; the typical configuration is a double room on either side of a connecting bathroom. All rooms are furnished with single beds, mattresses, dressers, desks, chairs, cable television service, and Internet access. Residence halls are closed during Christmas and Spring Breaks.

Campus houses and apartments offer a typical setting of kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom(s) and accommodate two or more residents, depending on the size. The Wesley at Seattle Pacific offers another option for apartment living at SPU. Each unit is fully furnished and comes with a washer/dryer, SPU telephone service, Internet, cable TV, and utilities. Returning and transfer students are given priority for these units.

Students must be admitted to the University before applying for housing. First-time freshmen and transfer students are prioritized separately by the date their admissions applications are received — the earlier your date, the higher your priority. First-time freshmen have priority for the residence halls. Transfer students have priority for Robbins Apartments and other campus apartments.

Beginning in early April, all admitted undergraduates will receive a Campus Living booklet with instructions on how to apply for housing. If a student is admitted after April 1, the packet will be mailed within two weeks of the student�s admission date. For more information, call Housing and Meal Plan Services at 206-281-2188.  For information on applying for the Wesley, call 206-378-5302.

Families and Graduates. SPU also has housing options available for students with families, graduate students, and adult learners (students 25 years of age and older).

Family, Graduate, and Adult Learner Housing consists of houses, apartments, and duplexes, located on campus or within walking distance. Units range from one to three bedrooms. Water, sewer, garbage, and basic cable are included in the rent. Each tenant is responsible for electricity, gas, and phone. Students who would like to apply for Family, Graduate, and Adult Learner Housing must be admitted to the University. Only the student, his or her spouse and/ or legal dependents may occupy campus housing. For more information, call Housing and Meal Plan Services at 206-281-2188.

Housing Accommodations for Students With Disabilities
Students requesting special housing accommodations due to a documented disability should inform the coordinator for Disability Support Service (DSS) in the Center for Learning. New students must contact the coordinator for DSS by June 1 for Autumn Quarter housing accommodations. Returning students must notify the coordinator for DSS by April 1 for Autumn Quarter housing accommodations. For more information on services and accommodations for students with disabilities see the Disability Support Services section under the Center for Learning.

Leadership
Seattle Pacific has staff to help students adapt to living in community on campus. Peer advisors (PAs) are student leaders who live on each residence hall floor and in the campus apartments. PAs are trained to provide leadership to the residents and plan activities and programs. Residence life coordinators (RLCs) are professional staff members who live in each residence hall. They train and work with the PAs and oversee the administration of the building. Student ministry coordinators (SMCs) live in the halls and focus specifically on meeting students� spiritual needs.

Residence hall students elect a hall council each year to oversee the hall budget, plan activities, and represent them at the Student Senate. Students may choose to become a hall council member and represent their floor at the meetings.

Campus Dining

Our main dining facility, Crossroads at Gwinn Commons, offers a restaurant-style atmosphere and menu to accommodate student preferences. SPU also has a campus convenience store (Corner Place Market), and a retail restaurant and grill (Falcon’s Landing). Espresso drinks and snacks are served at Academic Perks in Falcon’s Landing and Pura Vida coffee house in Weter Lounge.

Crossroads provides food service beginning with the evening meal the day residence halls open and ending with the evening meal on the last day of finals. Food service is not provided in Crossroads or Falcon’s Landing during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Spring breaks. Corner Place Market and Pura Vida operate on a limited schedule during breaks. Retail hours are subject to change.

Residence Halls. All students who reside Ashton, Hill, Emerson, and Moyer are required to choose one of five “metal” meal plans: Platinum, Gold, Copper, Silver, or Bronze.

Each plan combines access to SPU’s main dining facility, Crossroads at Gwinn Commons, with a set amount of SPU Points to spend at any dining location. SPU Points are worth a penny a point and save the user sales tax. Unused SPU Points will roll from quarter to quarter, but not from year to year.

Campus Apartments. Although not required to have one, students living in campus apartments may choose any meal plan, including a Block 25 (25 entrances into Crossroads at Gwinn Commons), Block 50 (50 entrances into Crossroads at Gwinn Commons), or Advantage Points.

Advantage Points are used in the same manner as SPU Points but are not linked to a metal meal plan. A minimum purchase of $15 is required. Unused Advantage Points will roll from quarter to quarter and from year to year. Blocks and Advantage Point plans are nonrefundable.

Theme Housing. Theme housing residents must choose a minimum of one Block 25 plan per year, but may choose an expanded meal plan if desired.

Meal plans are nontransferable. There are no refunds or adjustments made for meals missed. Meal-plan changes may be made at the end of each quarter to be effective the following quarter. Please refer to the Residential Student Guidebook for specific dates. Additional information regarding meal plans is available from Housing and Meal Plan Services at 206-281-2188.

Room and Meal Plan Contract

The Residential Student Guidebook is incorporated in and is binding as part of the Room and Meal Plan Contract. The University reserves the right to make changes to the contract as appropriate. It is the student’s responsibility to read and comprehend the University regulations including those in the Room and Meal Plan Contract, Residential Student Guidebook, and this document.

A Room and Meal Plan Contract remains in effect until the end of the contract period, but may be terminated under the following conditions:

• If a student officially cancels his or her enrollment.
• If a student violates the terms of this contract, University regulations, local, state or federal laws. (SPU reserves the right to cancel the contract with no refund of room and meal plan charges.)
• If a student is not required to live on campus (see Residential Living Requirement above).

A student contracts for a space on campus but not for a specific hall, room, apartment, or roommate. The University reserves the right to the following:

• Assign roommates unilaterally.
• Reassign students who are without roommates.
• Use a room when it is not occupied.
• Assign single rooms.
• Reassign students to different units in the event such reassignments are determined necessary.

Priority for University housing is given to matriculated (admitted) students registered for nine credits or more each quarter. Students enrolled for three to eight credits are housed as space permits. Dropping to part-time status from full-time status does not automatically cancel the Room and Meal Plan Contract.

Room and meal plan costs are listed under the Tuition and Fees section of the Catalog. Refund schedules and cancellation charges are outlined in the Refunds and Account Adjustments section of the Catalog.

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