Northern Illinois University

Housing and Dining

Living with a Roommate

  • Give each other a chance. Take some time to get acquainted. The first week on campus is stressful for everyone.
  • All students do not arrive by the first day of classes. We do not begin making room changes until 10 days after the start of each semester to ensure that we know where there really are available spaces.
  • Hall staff is available to assist you in exploring your concerns and mediating roommate conflicts.
  • Housing administration does not make one resident move out because the other student is requesting his/her roommate be removed except in very few documented and confirmed serious cases of policy/criminal violations (Incident or police reports have been filed; there was a finding of guilt or arrest), and these violations are directly related to the residential living situation.

Roommate Changes

Housing & Dining provides every opportunity for students to as be comfortable in their living environment as possible. If students would like to change their living situation, they should contact their Community Advisor and Hall Director for assistance. In accordance with room change procedures, room changes may not take place during the first ten days of the semester. Students making an unauthorized room change are subject to a $25 fine and will be required to move back to their University-assigned rooms.

If students are in disagreement with a roommate and unable to reach a compromise, they should contact their Community Advisor and Hall Director for mediation assistance.


Semester Break Room Changes

Students who negotiate a room change during the period immediately prior to Winter Break must check out of their current assignment, including remove all of their items and returning their key to the front desk, prior to winter break closing. If students are able to negotiate with the current occupant of their new room it may be possible for the student to move things into the new room assignment before leaving for the Winter Break period. If the student is unable to reach an agreement, then he/she must still check out of the current assignment, take all belongings home, and check into the new room assignment when the halls re-open. All students who make room changes for the new semester will need to check-in at the hall main desk to get their keys in January.