Living Witha Roommate

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ROOMMATE BILL OF RIGHTS

First-year students and their roommates are paired up based on information provided in the roommate questionnaire before arriving to campus. We try to bring together students with similar interests and living habits, but we also ask that you be open to and respectful of difference. Remember that every person is different. What seems normal to you may be different from your roommate’s lived experience so far. 

Communication is the key to living with a roommate. Whether you and your roommate get along or not, living with someone new will teach you valuable life lessons. You will learn to respect someone else’s space and articulate your wants and needs. 

Each roommate pair/group should complete the Roommate Agreement.

COMMUNICATION

We recommend that you and your roommate talk about the items below and continue to talk about them on a regular basis because your ideas and attitudes may change—sometimes without you even realizing it.

  1. I prefer to go to bed at/wake up at....
  2. In my free time, I like to...
  3. I like to study...alone/with others...in quiet/with music...in room/in library.
  4. My favorite music is...
  5. How neat do you like your room to be?
  6. How will we divide the cleaning duties?
  7. What temperature are you comfortable with? Do you prefer fans/open windows/heat?
  8. Do you feel comfortable sharing clothes, food, appliances, music, personal hygiene items, electronic equipment, computers, books, etc.?
  9. Which items are/are not appropriate to share or borrow?
  10. Would you prefer if I ask to borrow an item before I use it?
  11. Should we buy/rent any items together? How should we split the cost? Who should keep it at the end of the year?
  12. Do you mind anyone sitting on your bed?
  13. Do you smoke? Are you allergic to cigarette smoke?
  14. Are there any times when you would prefer not to have guests in the room? (Also friends of the opposite gender)
  15. Do you prefer advance notice when I plan to have guests?
  16. What hours are acceptable to watch television/listen to the stereo? At what volume?
  17. Where should messages be left for you?
  18. Do you live substance free?
  19. How do you handle stress?
  20. How should we communicate when there is a problem?
  21. My pet peeves are . . .