The Office of Disability Services (ODS) provides the opportunity for students to request housing accommodations based on a diagnosed disability. This process is not intended to address requests based on religion or gender.
Housing accommodations are considered by the Office of Disability Services for students who have diagnosed disabilities in an annual pre-draw process that occurs prior to the regular undergraduate student room draw period. Students may also request housing accommodations outside of this annual pre-draw process, but any accommodations found to be reasonable and supported will be implemented based on availability of housing that aligns with the specified accommodations.
Process to request housing accommodations
Housing accommodation requests are made through the University’s disability management system (“Accommodate”). Requests in Accommodate can be made through one of the following methods:
- First-time requests: Students making a first-time accommodation request must submit their request using the following form.
- If a prior accommodation request has been made: Students who have requested any type of accommodation (academic, housing, or dining) previously must submit a Supplemental Request.
Housing accommodations requests will require accompanying documentation. Documentation-related guidelines can be found here. Requests for housing accommodations will not be reviewed until documentation meeting these guidelines has been uploaded into Accommodate.
Spring 2025 Undergraduate Housing Accommodations Deadline
For Spring 2025 reinstatement, the Undergraduate Housing Office will send you an email with details about how to apply for spring housing. The online spring housing application portal will be accessible from December 1 to December 15, 2024. When you access the application, you'll be able to specify your preferences.
To make housing accommodations requests, please refer to the ODS website. To ensure your request is fully considered, make sure to submit your completed request, including all documentation, by December 15.
Timeline of the process to request housing accommodations for the 2025-2026 academic year
January 27, 2025 | Pre-draw housing applications open |
February 21, 2025 | Deadline for pre-draw housing accommodations applications |
February 27, 2025 | Pre-Draw Decisions Released and Contract Distribution Begins |
March 13, 2025 | Reconsiderations due |
March 13, 2025 | Room Draw applications opens |
March 24, 2025 | Room Draw applications due |
Frequently Asked Questions
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All requests for housing accommodations must be supported by documentation from a qualified professional. ODS offers forms that can be completed by professionals to submit as documentation depending on the type of disability: Medical Disability Documentation Form (MDD) and Psychological Disabilities Diagnostic Report Form (PDDR). For more information on documentation requirements, please visit Documentation Requirements.
Documentation must be submitted by the pre-draw housing accommodations request deadline in order to be reviewed during the pre-draw period. If you are unable to submit documentation by the deadline, you must still submit the request by the deadline and notify ODS that you are unable to submit documentation at that time. ODS will review whatever has been submitted in support of the housing request, but cannot guarantee a decision can be made without sufficient supporting documentation.
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The Office of Disability Services (ODS) oversees the housing accommodations process, and the Housing Office assigns students to a space that meets the approved accommodation based upon availability. ODS does not review or consider student requests for preferred roommates. ODS solely evaluates and recommends housing accommodations based on disability-related needs.
In past years, students approved for an accommodation were permitted to indicate a pre-drawmate to be assigned with or near them during the pre-draw process. For AY25-26 and going forward, students participating in the pre-draw process will no longer be able to indicate a pre-drawmate.
For those who wish to live near a specific student, the Housing Office recommends communicating with that student to prioritize selecting a room near you during the standard Room Draw process.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact The Service Point at 609.258.8300 or via [email protected].
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All housing accommodation assignments are made to a specific room type in accordance with ODS’s assessment. A particular room on campus cannot be guaranteed through the accommodations process.
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Housing assignments for approved accommodations will be made within the student’s current residential college. A request to change colleges can only be made if there is a disability-based reason the accommodation cannot be provided in the current residential college or through other available resources on campus. However, in most cases, the supported accommodation can be provided within the student’s current residential college.
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If you plan to live on campus for AY 24/25 and did not request housing accommodations by the request period deadline, you must go through the standard room draw process and self-select a room that best meets your needs.
If you are unable to self-select a room that meets your needs in the standard room draw, you can make an out of cycle housing accommodation request (see “Process to request accommodations” above). Regardless, to ensure that you have a space on campus please make sure to sign the contract for the room you self-selected during the standard draw process.
If ODS determines that you are eligible for an out of cycle accommodation, the University’s housing department will work to assign or reassign you to an appropriate available space. Students can expect varied wait times depending on availability. If an appropriate room is not immediately available, you will be placed on a housing accommodations waitlist. While you will be prioritized for an assignment, please note that room assignments are not guaranteed and are subject to availability.
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Students who are not approved for some or all of their requested housing accommodations may request reconsideration through the Office of Disability Services’ Process for Resolving Issues (Process for Resolving Issues | Office of Disability Services (princeton.edu).
If you are pursuing a reconsideration of a pre-draw housing accommodation request, the reconsideration request must be made no later than two weeks after you receive your pre-draw housing accommodation response letter in order to receive a response by the standard room draw application deadline.
It is strongly recommended that students who have been denied pre-draw housing accommodations submit a standard room draw application in case the reconsideration process does not result in an approval for the requested accommodations. Students who are not approved for a housing assignment in the pre-draw process and do not apply in the standard housing draw will need to apply to be on the housing waitlist and may not have a choice in their room assignment.
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Students who feel that their pre-draw housing assignment does not meet the accommodations the Office of Disability Services has determined they are eligible for should email [email protected] . The email should explain the reason why the assignment does not meet the accommodations the student is eligible for but should not contain any confidential disability or medical information or documentation. Reconsideration of the housing assignment will not be based on the functional impact of the disability but will be assessed for alignment with the type of room specified by the Office of Disability Services.
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Once the Office of Disability Services (ODS) recommends housing accommodations, the Housing Office will assign you a space that meets those recommendations based on availability. You may either accept the assigned room or decline it and choose to participate in the regular room draw process. If you decline the assigned room and opt for the room draw, however, you will forfeit your ability to re-engage in the housing accommodation process for that academic year, unless you have a new accommodation need that was not previously addressed. Additionally, you will not be placed on the housing accommodation waitlist for the 2025-2026 academic year. You may, however, re-engage in the housing accommodation process for the 2026-2027 academic year. If you feel the space provided did not meet your medical needs as indicated by the medical documentation provided, please see the ODS Process for Resolving Issues (Process for Resolving Issues | Office of Disability Services (princeton.edu)
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Students may request housing accommodations at any time during the current academic year. Please refer to the “Process to request accommodations” information above for guidance.
If ODS determines that you are eligible for an out of cycle accommodation, the University’s housing department will work to assign or reassign you to an appropriate available space. Students can expect varied wait times depending on availability. If an appropriate room is not immediately available, you will be placed on a housing accommodations waitlist. While you will be prioritized for an assignment, please note that room assignments are not guaranteed and are subject to availability.
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Pre-draw rooms will be a single or double; rooms larger than a two-room double will not be made available during the housing accommodations process.
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ODS may determine that a student is eligible for accommodations for one or more academic years. At the time of the determination, ODS specifies the accommodation time period for which the student is eligible.
If ODS determines that a student is eligible for multiple years, the student should not submit a new request for housing accommodations in the Accommodate portal; the University’s housing department will automatically give you a pre-draw housing assignment to an appropriate available space.
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If you require additional or different housing accommodations for next academic year (i.e. different than what you were previously determined to be eligible for), you must reapply. Please refer to the “Process to request housing accommodations” information above for guidance.
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For questions or concerns about your requested accommodations, contact ODS at [email protected] or 609-258-8840.
For questions relating to your pre-draw housing assignment or other housing questions, contact the Housing Office at [email protected].