Living on Campus FAQs

We recognize – and research supports – that undergraduate students thrive academically and socially when living on campus in community with their peers. On-campus living engages students in co-curricular activities, cultivates a sense of belonging, helps foster independence, and supports the development of skills essential to academic success.   

For that reason, Widener University requires that traditional, full-time undergraduate students live on campus during their first two years of study, unless they are living at their permanent address with their parents or guardians. 

If you do not register for on-campus housing as a first- or second-year student, we consider you to be a commuter living at your permanent residence with a parent or guardian. Commuters may qualify for less financial aid. In addition, commuters are ineligible for some Widener aid programs.

Married students, students with dependent children, students with at least two years of military service, and students age 24 or older are exempt from this policy.

Students wishing to commuter from the address of a parent or legal guardian should NOT submit a housing application. No other action needs to be taken with the Office of Student Living. Students are strongly encouraged to reach out to the Office of Financial Aid to discuss what impact changing from a residential to commuter student may have on their financial aid. Commuter students may qualify for less financial aid. In addition, commuters are ineligible for some Widener aid programs.

Undergraduate students who have commuted or lived on-campus for two years are eligible to live off-campus their junior and senior years. Students interested in living off-campus should NOT submit a housing application. First-year and sophomore students who have not met the residency requirement criteria are NOT permitted to live off-campus. First year and sophomore students who may be found living in off-campus housing may be referred for disciplinary action.

Smoking Policy

In July 2010, the university implemented a tobacco-free policy that prohibits the use of tobacco anywhere on campus.

Alcohol Policy

It is our policy that all first-year residence halls are alcohol-free residences. This means that the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages by anyone regardless of age is prohibited. The vast majority of our first-years are under age 21, so we believe that this policy will help to improve students’ living experiences in first-year residences. 

Please see the Student Drug and Alcohol Policy in the Student Handbook for a complete description of Widener's rules and regulations covering alcohol.

Except for fish tanks under 10 gallons, all animals—except for service and approved assistance animals—are not permitted in residence halls (or any University building).

Review the Service and Assistance Animal Policy in the Student Handbook for more details.

The Widener Student Handbook contains a list of prohibited items, including flammable/combustible, electric, appliances, and loft equipment. It is imperative that all students do not bring any items on that list as it has been deemed unsafe for those items to be brought into any residence hall. Any violations will be addressed appropriately, including the immediate removal of any prohibited item from campus.

A guest is defined as any person who is not assigned by Student Living to live in the room, even if that person is a Widener University student. No more than two (2) guests per resident of that space are allowed at any one time. Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests. Guests may stay a maximum of two consecutive nights in a 14-day period. Guests may not stay in the residence halls more than eight (8) days in a semester. 

Review the the guest policy in the Student Handbook for more details.

• March 1: The housing application for the 2026-2027 academic year opens on the housing portal. During this time students can select roommates to live together, indicate interest in specialty housing communities, rank their preference for communities and housing types, and update their information in the housing portal.
• May 1: Specialty Housing applications are due
• May 15: Priority due date for new student housing applications
• Mid-July: Students will receive their housing assignments sent to them via their Widener University email. Included in the email will be their building, room number, and name of their roommate. Students can view this information on the housing portal as well including the Widener University email of their roommate. 

First-year students at Widener live in several on-campus residence halls, all featuring fully furnished double rooms with tile flooring, in-unit heating and air conditioning, shared lounges, vending machines, and overhead or wall lighting. Some halls also host Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) focused on specific interests.

Residence Halls for First-Year Students:

• 500 Houses – Doubles

• Cann Hall – Doubles; LLCs: Honors

• Grasselli Hall – Doubles

• Hanna Hall – Doubles

• Howell Hall – Doubles; LLCs: Engineering

• Kapelski Hall – Doubles; LLCs: Nursing

• Moll Hall – Doubles

• Sharples Hall – Doubles; LLCs: Business, 1821 Experience

• Thayer Hall – Doubles

• Turrell Hall – Doubles

For more details about first-year housing options, room types, and Living-Learning Communities, visit the Living on Campus page.

Single rooms are extremely limited, and reserved for students with an approved medical accommodation. All students complete a questionnaire when submitting the housing application, and will be assigned a roommate based on compatibility. Students also have the ability to mutually select their own roommate. 

Absolutely! Students are welcome to select a preferred roommate. Every effort will be made to accommodate this request, as long as both students indicate a wish to room with one another and their housing applications are submitted. Please note that if one individual expresses in a themed or living-learning community that is different from the other person on their application, the students may only be assigned as roommates if space permits in the themed or living-learning community building. 

Students may choose to stay on campus over Thanksgiving and Spring breaks. If interested, students should complete the necessary forms or applications communicated by the Office of Student Living prior to break. Please note that meal plans may not be active during these times.

Summer housing is available for Widener students completing internships, working on-campus, conducting summer research, or taking classes. Summer housing is an additional cost from academic year housing. Students must be enrolled as full-time students by finals week in the spring semester to be eligible for summer housing.

Incoming international or transfer students who have completed at least 30 credits will have the opportunity to live in a returning student community.

Space in the community is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. International and transfer students can indicate desired roommates on their housing application or may be randomly assigned to live with other community members they match with based on the roommate questionnaire on the housing application. 

Last year, Widener had over 1600 students living on campus in our Residence Halls. Approximately 85% of first year students chose to live on campus. First and second year students are required to live on campus unless living at a permanent residence with a parent/guardian. The majority of students in their third and fourth year choose to live off-campus. 

No, there is no age limit to living on campus. Incoming students over the age of 21 may be housed in returning student communities regardless of their credits. To discuss your specific situation further, please email studentliving@widener.edu.

For more information on quiet hours, guest expectations, and the visitation policy, please see the Student Handbook.

New student housing assignments are anticipated to be sent to the student’s Widener University email and available on the Housing Portal in July and rolling throughout the summer.

Students will have the ability to change rooms during the third week of the semester. More information about this process will be emailed during the first few weeks of the semester.

Students wishing to have a room change outside of the room change process must meet with their Area Coordinator and possibly complete a roommate mediation, if appropriate before a room change will be approved.

Students may request gender-inclusive housing at any time and the office will do its best to place a student into gender-affirming housing as quickly as possible.

No, first-year and international students, unless approved for an exemption due to medical, religious, or cultural needs that are not met in on-campus housing, are not permitted to live off-campus. Widener University has a 2-year residency requirement policy. Please see the policy listed at the top of this page. Students found to be in non-compliance of this policy may be ineligible for some Widener aid programs, including the Campus Experience Grant, and may be referred for disciplinary action.

The Student Accessibility Services Office is here to help accommodate individual needs that necessitate special housing accommodations. 

Please forward your requests and all documentation to:
Widener University, Student Accessibility Services
c/o Rebecca Ross, Director
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013
610-499-1266
rross@widener.edu

All first-year residence halls are air-conditioned. The sorority houses do not have air conditioning, and are offered at a lower room rate. Students are welcome to bring fans to help cool off if the weather gets too warm.

Students can learn more about the dimensions of their rooms, amenities in their communities, and see a 360^O video of a room layout in their building on our residence hall web page.

Individual microwaves are not allowed in student rooms due to fire safety. Combination microfridge units are available to rent by going to mymicrofridge.com. The Office of Student Living coordinates with the company to have them delivered before move in day and removed after the end of the spring semester in May. 

• Mid-February: The housing application for the 2026-202 academic year will open on the housing porta7l. During this time students can form groups to select housing together, indicate interest in specialty housing communities, and update their information in the housing portal.
• Mid-March: Students with a completed housing application will receive their housing priority number and selection time via email. 
• March 30th - April 10th: Housing selection will occur in two parts: part 1 for apartments, suites, and triples will begin on March 30th, and then part 2 for double rooms will begin on April 6th. Students in a group should have the member with the earliest time-slot select housing for the entire group. Only one person in a group needs to select housing for the whole group. This should happen in consultation with members of the other group.

Housing applications are submitted through the Housing Portal. Here, we'll ask you questions about your living preferences with a roommate and other interests; this questionnaire helps to place you with another student with similar interests.

To log into the Housing Portal, use your Widener credentials. 

For returning undergraduate students, applications are due by 12pm on March 6. After this time, the housing application will close, and students must reach out to the Office of Student Living via email to request access to the application.

The Housing Portal is powered by StarRez, a world-leading software that provides the most intuitive and easy-to-use system for students to apply for housing and find or select their own roommate.

Of course, you can! Students are welcome to select a preferred roommate. Every effort will be made to accommodate this request, as long as both students indicate a wish to room with one another and their housing applications are submitted by the deadline. 

We have a room change freeze in the beginning of the semester. After that period, students can request a room change, meet with their RA or area coordinator and talk about the room change process. If there are vacant spaces available and the area coordinator approves the room change, the students may change rooms.

Steps to Select a Preferred Roommate

Directions to select an intended roommate are part of the Housing Application. You will be directed to create a group with your intended roommate. Please note that once the group is created, requests need to be accepted by the individual who created the group in order for Student Living to honor the request.

Once a student occupies his or her assigned room, the roommate assignment may not be changed unless the Student Living office gives approval. 

What happens if you don’t select a roommate?

Students who do not have a roommate group that matches any room size will not be able to participate in housing selection. Once housing selection has ended, the Office of Student Living will assign students based on space availability. The Office of Student Living cannot guarantee any specific room type when assigning.

What do I do if I want to change rooms?

Students interested in applying for a romm change after the room change freeze can do so in the Housing Portal. If a student has not spoken to their RA or Area Coordinator about the need for a room change, a meeting may be scheduled to determine the need.

If a room change is approved, the Area Coordinator will determine a room change offer based on space availability. If a student knows an available space to move to, that will be taken into consideration when determining the offer. 

Getting Along with Your Roommate

Once you move in, you and your roommate will meet with your Resident Assistant (RA) to complete a roommate agreement. This agreement opens up the lines of communication to discuss living preferences and talk about any differences you might have.

The Student Living office reserves the right to reassign any student to a different room at any time. While every attempt will be made to notify the resident student of a change in room assignment prior to his or her arrival on campus, situations may arise that make this impossible.

The Student Accessibility Services Office is here to help accommodate individual needs that necessitate special housing accommodations. 

Please forward your requests and all documentation to:
Widener University, Student Accessibility Services
c/o Rebecca Ross, Director
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013
610-499-1266
rross@widener.edu

If you've submitted your housing application by the deadline, you should receive an official letter correspondence from the Student Living office via your Widener email indicating your housing assignment information.

Can't find the email? No worries!

Log onto the Housing Portal using your Widener credentials and select “Housing Application” this will provide you with housing assignment information.  

Please note, this information is not visible until letters have been officially sent to all residential students.

Here at Widener you will find a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive residential community with housing options that suit a variety of interests, living styles, and specific needs or wishes. At Widener, we use the term "residence halls" rather than "dorms." For more information about specific residence halls, including room and window dimensions, lighting, furniture included, etc, visit the Residence Halls page. 

All housing applications are for the entire academic year. The Office of Student Living will work with a student to determine if there is an approved reason to be released from the agreement after the fall semester. For students interested in housing for just the spring semester, a Spring Only application will be made available during the Fall semester.” 

Widener students who submitted their housing application may cancel their housing agreement by May 31, 2026 for any reason by completing the Housing Release Request Form through their Housing Portal accessible through MyWidener without being charged a cancellation fee.    

Students requesting a housing release for any reason between June 1-June 30, 2026 will be approved for any reason, but are responsible for a $200 housing cancellation fee. Students must complete the Housing Release Request Form through the Housing Portal to meet this criteria.  

Students wishing to cancel their housing on or after July 1, 2026, must submit the Housing Release Request Form, provide supporting documentation, and meet one of the cancellation criteria listed below. If approved, students are responsible for a $400 housing cancellation fee.  

• Student is no longer a full-time student and is below 12-credits for the semester.  
• Student is experiencing a financial hardship that was unknown at the time they entered into their housing agreement.  
• Student accepted a co-op or internship experience that is more than 25-commutable miles from campus and has housing accommodations at a location in closer proximity than campus.  
• Student is accepted and attending a study abroad program.  
• Student has an approved accommodation by the Office of Student Accessibility Services that is unable to be met in on-campus housing.  

Students requesting a housing release for the Spring semester before December 1, 2026, must submit the Housing Release Request Form, provide supporting documentation, and meet one of the cancellation criteria. If approved, students are responsible for a $200 housing cancellation fee.  

Students requesting a housing release for the Spring semester after December 1, 2026 must submit the Housing Release Request Form, provide supporting documentation, and meet one of the cancellation criteria. If approved, students are responsible for a $400 housing cancellation fee.  

For both the Fall and Spring semester, once classes begin, housing charges and refunds are based on the Tuition Rate and Payment Guide. The refund schedule from the guide can also be found below. Students wishing to cancel their housing after classes begin will be responsible for the relative charge based on the guide, as well as a $400 cancellation fee.   

Most residence halls have the following basic amenities: an XL twin bed, desk, study chair, wardrobe, and one dresser for you and your roommate to share.* Wired and wireless Internet access, and laundry facilities are also included.

*Please note some residence halls vary in furniture type. Refer to the Residence Halls page for more details. 

Items for Move-In Day

For move-in day, you might want to bring cold drinks, a hand cart, and a towel. It is also highlight recommended that you label all boxes with the student’s hall and room number.

Recommended Items to Bring to Campus

Roommate Tip: Avoid Doubles! We encourage new students to contact their roommate before move-in to coordinate who is bringing what to campus. It’s a good idea to check with your roommate to avoid duplicating certain items like a TV or refrigerator.

Bathroom Essentials

• Hair dryer
• Personal care products 
• Rubber shower shoes
• Shower caddy to transport items from room to shower 
• Towels & washcloths 

Room Essentials

• Alarm clock
• Cleaning supplies
• Desk lamp & light bulbs
• First-aid kit 
• Flashlight & batteries
• Iron & ironing board
• Laundry supplies & clothes basket
• Pillows & linens for extra-long bed
• Plates, mugs, cups, & silverware
• Radio
• Refrigerator (5 cubic feet or smaller) or micro-fridge unit 
• Room fan
• Study lamp
• Surge protectors
• Television
• Wastebasket

There are no elevators in any of the first-year student residence halls. Please be sure that family members or friends joining you for move-in day know and plan for this as well. There are elevators in Harris and Metropolitan Halls, available to returning students only. 

Reach out to the Office of Student Living at studentliving@widener.edu and we may be able to provide further contact information.

Widener is your home away from home so we know that you want to make it as comfortable as possible! Below is a partial list of appliances that you can have in the residence halls.

• Computers (laptop or desktop)
• Curling/Hair Irons (required auto-off feature)
• Cooking appliances (e.g. toasters, microwaves, air fryers) permitted in kitchen or kitchenette areas only in Metropolitan Hall, Harris Hall, and Dixon Halls.
• Energy Star certified mini or compact refrigerators up to 4.3 cubic feet
• Sealed unit coffee makers (e.g. Keurig, coffee makers without exposed heating elements)
• Sealed unit electric water kettle
• Portable hair dryers
• Micro-fridge unit either rented from university-designated provider or student purchased (limited to Energy Star certified, 700-watt micro fridge, .7 cubic feet microwave, and under 3 cubic feet refrigerator) 

Kitchen appliances with exposed heating elements (e.g. toasters, coffee makers, air fryers) are only permitted in kitchen or kitchenette areas in Metropolitan Hall, Harris Hall, and Dixon Halls, which are not first-year student spaces. For a full list, please see “Permitted Appliances and Equipment” the Student Living Handbook.

The beds in the residence halls can be lofted with approved materials to a maximum of 8 inches. Cinder blocks are not permitted in the dorms. Bed heights are adjustable and can be moved up to allow for at least 30” of clearance below the bed.

No. Unfortunately, the beds are not bunkable.

No. University provided furniture cannot be removed from rooms without written permission.

Quiet hours in all residence halls and apartments will be from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday during normal school session. In addition, 24-hour/day quiet hours go into effect prior to final exam week and continue through closing. 

Residents are expected to be considerate of others at all hours and are expected to act in a manner conducive to effective study.

Review more information about Quiet Hours in the Student Handbook for more details.

Widener University’s Office of Student Living provides housing options for residential students of all gender identities to live as neighbors in the community. This is often referred to as coed housing. Depending on the community, students may be assigned to housing where there is a single-gender floor or gender is divided by wings of the floor.

Yes. Gender Inclusive Housing provides students the opportunity, without regard to gender identity or legal sex, to live together in the same room or wing. Students will not be randomly assigned to Gender Inclusive Housing.

If keys are lost, you must report the lost key to the Office of Student Living, the lock will be replaced and new keys will be issued. 

Students will be charged a fee to cover the cost of having a lock replaced. If a key is damaged or broken the student will not be charged any fees as long as all parts of the key are returned to the Office of Student Living.

If you are ever locked out of your room, you can call the RA on duty or call Campus Safety. If your lock is broken, a locksmith can be called to fix your lock. Safety and security are of paramount importance at Widener. 

Damage and billing costs are assessed by Student Living during the semester closing process. Damage billing may occur throughout the academic year as students check out of the residence halls during withdrawals, room changes, or suspensions. If damages are discovered during check-out at the end of the semester, students will be responsible for any cost of $20 or more per resident. If you have incurred a damage charge, you will receive charges added to your student account within 30 days of move out. Students will be notified via email of all damages and the appeals process.

The university does not assume responsibility for lost or damaged personal property by any means or for any cause. Please see the Student Handbook under Student Living: Program Policies, Procedures, and Regulations section F 7 Personal Property Insurance Coverage.

The safety of your belongings is important to us, and having insurance is the sure way to be safe. You are strongly encouraged to see if you are covered under your parents' or guardians' homeowner policies or take advantage of special insurance programs available for college students. Student personal property insurance can be purchased from companies such as National Student Services, Inc and GradGuard. This is something that you and your parents/guardians should discuss at length.

The staff members in the Office of Student Living are committed to your success during your time living on campus. Our live-in staff includes several area coordinators and resident assistants. The office also has student office assistants available to answer questions in the Student Living Office in Cann Hall. They serve as valuable resources and are trained to assist you in a variety of situations. 

• Resident Assistants (RA): RAs are student staff members responsible for creating a feeling of community among their residents by establishing community standards, advising roommate agreements, enforcing university policy, and being a resource to campus services and activities.
• Area Coordinators (AC): ACs are full-time professional staff members whose primary role is to assist students in building an inclusive community to enhance personal and academic growth. The AC's work is performed within the framework of the Student Living mission and includes intentional efforts to interact with students, assess their needs, and promote community growth and development. Supervision of RA staff and undertaking various leadership areas are also central to the AC role. 

Meet the Student Living Team

No. Unfortunately, you are unable to ship items to your residence hall prior to arrival.

We take pride in our campus and work to keep it clean, safe, and beautiful for everyone to enjoy! Widener’s housekeeping team works tirelessly across campus to keep a clean environment in public spaces and common living spaces such as lounges and bathrooms.

Students living in the residence halls also play a big role in keeping shared and common living spaces clean. This includes removing trash and recycling from your room, cleaning all dishes and cookware, and cleaning up after yourself when using a common space such as a lounge or shared bathroom.

To request housing to accommodate a disability, please visit Accessibility & Disability Support on mySuccess for step-by-step instructions. Accommodation requests are reviewed once all documentation is received. Please note that your enrollment must be confirmed and application deadlines for housing must be met. Late requests will be considered on a space available basis. 

Resident Assistants share their methods of contact to their floor/building at the start of the year. While your individual RA may not be available every night due to their own responsibilities as a Widener student, there is always an RA on duty that you can call each night for assistance. If you have difficulty reaching your RA, you can always call Campus Safety and they will be able to get in contact with a Student Living staff member.

All non-urgent maintenance requests can be submitted through TMA. You can also find the link on myWidener by searching “maintenance.”

For example: If you experience an urgent issue that affects safety or building access (such as flooding, broken locks, or electrical hazards), please contact Campus Safety immediately instead of submitting a TMA request.

The university's post office is located in the University Center, lower level. Your address is:
Your Name
Widener University, WU P.O. Box #
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013

For more information, visit: https://sites.widener.edu/postoffice/

Parents, guardians, and families, do you want to surprise your student? Give the gift of bedding and linens or other gifts, collectibles, and more!

Good news—our Amazon Locker is here!

We’re excited to share that our new Amazon locker is now available on the ground floor of the University Center across from the Post Office.

You can pick up your Amazon packages right on campus, whenever it’s convenient for you.

How it works:

1. Add to address book – Visit amazon.com/packagepickup to add your campus locker to your Amazon address book.

2. Check out – Select your saved locker as your delivery address at checkout.

3. Pick up – Once you get your delivery confirmation, head to the locker and grab your package.

👉 Tip: Share your locker address with your parents so they can send packages to you, too!

Helpful resources:

• Order to a pickup point (locker)

• Ship to a pickup location (locker)

• Collect a package at an Amazon Locker

Need help?

• Customer support (24/7): 1-877-346-6244

• Locker delivery issues (carriers): Please direct carriers to the locker only. If packages are left outside the locker, call Partner Support at 1-844-370-7449.

• Locker not working?: Call Amazon Customer Service at 1-877-346-6244.

An ATM can be found in the lobby of Old Main and TD Bank is located in University Crossings at 1410 Providence Ave, Chester, PA 19013. 

For hours and services offered, visit TD Bank. 

Each residence hall has laundry facilities. These services are included in your housing fee and are available to all residential students.

Residential students can use the Speed Queen app to check for available machines in their residence halls and report any issues. The app is being updated to include all laundry rooms and machines across campus. It can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store using the location pin PRIDE1 to get started.

Information for driving directions, public transportation, campus maps, parking permits, and shuttle information can be found on our Maps & Directions page.

Yes! However, since parking is at a premium at Widener, students without a specific need are advised not to bring a vehicle to campus. Both university and public transportation provide access to the entire university and surrounding areas every day.

If you choose to bring a car to campus, parking permits are required to park in campus lots. For more information, visit our Maps & Directions page.

Your widener login will be key to accessing the internet. On a computer, smartphone, or tablet, connect to our WiFi and login using your Widener credentials. On a smart tv or gaming device, please use the Game Stream network. If you have any issues, please submit an IT HelpDesk Quick Ticket.

A wellness vending machine is located on the third floor of the University Center. It offers pain relief, hygiene, and sexual health essentials for convenient, on-campus access.

The university is in the process of acquiring the Best Western hotel located at 1450 Providence Ave.

No. It is across Providence Avenue from Harris Hall and across East 15^th Street from Pizzeria Uno. 

Providence Hall is planned to open for student occupancy in August, for the fall 2026 semester.

The decision responds to strong student interest in campus housing and reflects Widener’s commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive residential experience.

No. Widener is purchasing only the hotel portion of the building, located across the street from Harris Hall. This does not include the Hub condominiums or retail spaces on the street level.

Construction is expected to begin around June 1 and last approximately two months.

Among the planned improvements are:

• Painting and new carpeting
• Brand-new furniture in all rooms
• All new laundry machines
• Enhanced gathering space in the lobby

Providence Hall will include 60 rooms, most of which are double occupancy, and all rooms will have private bathrooms.

Plans are centered on ensuring Providence Hall is safe, comfortable, and that shared spaces reflect Widener’s identity, pride, and culture of belonging.

Yes. Campus Safety will cover this residence hall, just like it does all the others on campus. It, too, will have secure access.

Yes. During the fall 2024 semester, Widener leased two floors of the building to house 80 students after experiencing high demand from returning students for on-campus living.

No. The bookstore will be relocated to the University Center this summer.