Contract Renewal Campaign

Contract Renewal Campaign for the 2020-2021 academic year begins on Monday, March 2, 2020 and ends on Friday April 10, 2020.

What is Contract Renewal Campaign?
Contract Renewal Campaign is an opportunity for current Columbia College students and residents to choose the specific room they want to live in for the 2020-2021 academic year. Students will easily be able to secure a contract through our online Housing Portal.
Who is Qualified?
If you are a current Columbia College on-campus resident or full-time student, and do not have any SFS holds for Spring 2020, you are able to participate in the Contract Renewal Campaign. Keep in mind that all returning students must end the Spring 2020 semester with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be eligible to live on campus.
If you do have a hold on your account for the Fall semester, please contact Columbia Central to resolve it.

Graduating Students - Those graduating upon the completion of Fall 2020 semester can still participate in Contract Renewal Campaign. Although you'll be securing an academic year contract, the college will release graduating students from the Spring portion of their contract, given that they are not registered for any Spring 2020 classes and are moved out by the end of the Fall semester. We only ask that you notify our office towards the end of the Fall semester, so we are aware of your future departure.

Spring 2021 Semester in L.A. & Spring 2021 Study Abroad Students - Same as graduating students. The college will release you from this portion of your contract, given that you have been officially accepted into the program, are not registered for any Spring 2021 classes (other than the program itself) and are moved out by the end of the Fall semester. Please notify our office towards the end of the Fall semester with documentation of your acceptance, so we are aware of your future departure.

Students Currently Studying Abroad - If you are Columbia College student currently studying abroad, and will be back in the Fall to continue your degree, you are eligible to participate. Beginning the second week of Contract Renewal Campaign, you would be able to log into the housing portal and secure a space.
What You Need
Housing Prepayment
Students will need to provide a non-refundable $250 prepayment online when completing the housing contract. This mandatory non-refundable payment is applied to your first semesters’ housing costs, and cannot be waived.
DO NOT USE CCCPAY TO MAKE THIS PREPAYMENT.

Medical Insurance Policy
All residents are required to have medical insurance coverage during the contract period. You will need to enter your medical insurance policy info online when completing a housing contract.
What to Expect
The entire process will be completed online. Your participation date will depend on your housing status at that time. The first week of Contract Renewal Campaign will be dedicated to students requesting the same exact space (apartment and bedroom) they currently reside in. The second and third week will be open to all current residents and current students. This means any space that was not selected during the first week will be available for selection.
Housing Contract Terms
Please be advised, all submitted housing contracts are binding and hold you financially accountable to your contract terms for the academic year. Do not submit a contract if you intend to use on-campus housing as a backup plan, or if you're unsure about living on campus.

It is strongly recommended that you plan ahead and contact Columbia Central to ensure that you are able to make this financial commitment PRIOR to signing your future housing contract. Do not complete a housing contract if your aren't sure what your financial situation will be in Fall.
Academic Housing
Students that participate in Contract Renewal Campaign will sign an academic year housing contract. This allows students to live on campus for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The academic contract starts on September 5, 2020 and ends on May 16, 2021. This includes any breaks or holidays within these dates.
On-Campus Residence Halls
The Dwight - 642 South Clark
This building was originally built in 1911 as the headquarters of the Dwight Brothers Paper Company. The Dwight has been fully renovated, but still stays true to its heritage as a place of aesthetics and creativity. (see more)

The University Center - 525 South State
Since the Fall of 2004, the University Center (UC) has created a home away from home for approximately 1,700 college students from Columbia College Chicago and nearby DePaul & Roosevelt Universities. (see more)

The Arc - 37 West Van Buren
Originally built in 1893, The Old Colony Building is an architectural masterpiece located right in the beating heart of Chicago’s downtown loop. But make no mistake: “Historic” doesn’t have to mean “Old”. The Arc has been fully remodeled and modernized, providing Columbia College Chicago students with contemporary design, stylish amenities, and engaging public spaces. (see more)

30 E. - 30 East Balbo
30 East is the newest addition to Columbia College Chicago's residence hall portfolio. It's just steps away from the new Student Center and a block away from Grant Park. It houses the Residence Life office and approximately 340 Columbia College Chicago students. (see more).
Students with Disabilities
If you require special room accommodations due to an ADA recognized disability, please contact the Residence Life Office in writing, via email: residencelife@colum.edu

These disabilities may include (but are not limited to):
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder
- Learning Disabilities
- Communication Disorders
- Psychological Disabilities
- Deafness/Hard-of-Hearing
- Blindness/Visual Impairment
- Other Health or Physical Impairment
Returning students must keep an up to date annual registration for their service or emotional support animal with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students will be required to reach out to SSD where they will be asked to provide appropriate documents to re-register their service or emotional support animal.

For additional accommodations, please visit The Services for Student’s with Disabilities Office (SSD) website.
Roommate Requests
Roommate Requests will vary depending on each persons housing and/or student status.
- If you CURRENTLY live in one of our Residence Halls and you would like to stay in that SAME EXACT ROOM, you would be completing your online contract during the Same-Room Sign-Up portion of Contract Renewal. If you have a friend that currently attends Columbia College, and would like to room with you, that person would need to complete their online contract during Open-To-All segment of Contract Campaign. Please be aware, the availability of spaces can change during the first week of the campaign.
- If you and a friend currently attend Columbia College and you both would like to find a space with each other, you would both need to select your room(s) during the Open-To-All segment of Contract Renewal. Please be aware, the availability of spaces will change frequently, as all vacant spaces will be an available option for other inquiring students.
Any vacant spaces will be assigned to regular applicants throughout the spring and summer.
Housing Prepayment

Students will need to provide a non-refundable $250 prepayment online while signing up for on-campus housing. This mandatory non-refundable payment is applied to your first semesters’ housing costs, and cannot be waived.
You will be provided prepayment instructions online while signing up for housing. DO NOT USE CCCPAY TO MAKE THIS PREPAYMENT.
On-Campus Housing Rates

The prices below reflect our current rates and are subject to change for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Traditional Shared Semi-Suite w/ Meal Plan — consists of a traditional two-person room at the University Center residence hall. Students share a bathroom with 1 to 3 other students. A 15-meal per week plan is mandatory and included in the cost of the room. In addition to the meal plan, students have access to a kitchenette and community lounge on each floor. Average semester costs: $7,000.

Shared Bedroom in a Shared Apartment — consists of a two-person bedroom in a 1 to 3 bedroom apartment. Residence Halls that include this room type are: 30 East Balbo, The Dwight, & The Arc. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, may house 2 to 6 students and will include one or more bathrooms, a living/dining area, and full kitchen. Average semester costs: $5,500.

Private Bedroom in a Shared Apartment — consists of a one-person bedroom in a 4 to 5 bedroom apartment. Residence Halls that include this room type are: 30 East Balbo, University Center, The Dwight & The Arc. The apartment, depending on the number of bedrooms, will house 4 to 5 students. Average semester costs: $7,100.

For specific prices per room, please refer to the Residence Hall Rates.

For financial planning purposes, contact Columbia Central.
Meal Plan

Students that choose to live in Traditional-Style Semi-Suites (available only in the University Center) are provided with a MANDATORY meal plan, as these units do not include kitchens. The meal plan offers 15 meals per week during the Fall and Spring semesters and is about $2,024 per semester, included cost of the room. It also includes $720 in "flex" dollars ($360 per semester) to spend at the student’s discretion within the dining center retail store, during the regular academic year.

Students who choose to live in apartment style housing can choose to sign up for a supplementary 150 Meal Plan. The plan costs approximately $1,900 with 150 meals for the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters) and $376 in "flex" dollars to spend at the student’s discretion within the dining center retail store, during the regular academic. Please understand that this plan is strictly supplementary, as it allows an average of five meals per week. Students in apartment units cook for themselves and use the 150 Meal Plan on occasion; perhaps only for lunch or dinner during the weekdays, in between classes. Several hundred plans are available for purchase each year and are made available on a first-come first-served basis until all are sold.
These prices are currently subject to change.
Paying for Housing

In general, payment, either full or partial, is due on the first day of class each semester. If your anticipated financial aid covers the total amount of housing, tuition and fees due, you do not need to sign up for a payment plan. If your anticipated financial aid covers only a partial amount of your total due, you may sign up for a payment plan for the remaining amount due. If you do not sign up for a payment plan for the remaining amount due, you must make all the necessary financial arrangements to ensure that the remaining amount is paid to the College. Inquiries regarding the relationship between housing costs and student's financial aid package can be answered only by Columbia Central.
Week 1: Same Room Sign-Up
Monday, March 2^nd - Wednesday, March 4^th

If you CURRENTLY live in one of our Residence Halls and you would like to stay in that SAME EXACT ROOM for the 2020-2021 academic year, you would need to sign up online during the dates listed above. Any room not claimed by its current resident during this time frame will be an available option for other students.

Please be aware that availability may be different for next year, and your current space may not be an option. If you have received this type of notification in your MyColumbia account, please view the information for Displaced Residents.

**Please be aware these dates are subject to change.
Week 1: Displaced Residents
Thursday, March 5th – Friday, March 6^th

If you received a notification (via your MyColumbia account) informing you that your current room is no longer an option for the 2020-2021 academic year. You will be able to log into the housing portal March 5^th – March 6^th to sign up for any available space on campus. After March 6^th, you will still be able to sign a housing contract for the upcoming year but will not be given priority on spaces or buildings.

Contract renewal will be Open-To-All starting Tuesday, March 10^th – Tuesday, March 31^st. During Open-To-All, you will be able to choose your desired building and room based on availability. Any room not claimed by current residents is up for grabs.

**Please be aware these dates are subject to change.
Week 2 - 4: Open-To-All
Tuesday, March 10th - Friday, April 10th
Starting at 10:00am

Current Residents will be given a priority timeslot which determines when residents will have access to select a room and sign a contract. Open Room Selection preference will be given to Rising Seniors (March 10^th & 11^th), Rising Juniors (March 12^th & 13^th), and Rising Sophomores (March 14^th & 15^th).

Priority timeslots will be viewable by logging into the housing portal at www.colum.edu/housingapp. If you missed your scheduled priority placement timeslot, you can log into the housing portal any time after your priority placement date.

Starting Tuesday, March 17^th, Contract Renewal will be open to ALL current residents and ALL currently enrolled full-time Columbia College students. Students attending Columbia but currently do not live on campus, will be eligible to choose housing online during these dates. Current residents can also select their housing at this time, if they had not done so already during priority timeslot. As always, buildings and room styles are based on availability.

**Please be aware these dates and times are subject to change.
Roommate Assignments

Official Roommate Assignments will be sent via email, in the beginning of July.

In the event your roommate preference has changed throughout Contract Renewal, please stop at our Residence Life Office so that we are able to relocate you to another room.
Move-In Information

Move-In Day for returning students, whether you've lived on campus before or not, will be Saturday, Sepember 5, 2020 and Sunday, September 6, 2020. This is Labor Day weekend, please plan accordingly.

If you have any additional questions concerning the 2020-2021 Contract Renewal Campaign, please contact the Residence Life Office at residencelife@colum.edu.