General Information for New Freshmen
- The Housing Guarantee
- UCI guarantees two years of housing to all freshmen who are single, under the age of 25, who are enrolling in fall quarter 2008, and who meet the housing application and contract-return deadlines. Freshmen must return their Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and their housing application (with a non-refundable $20 processing fee) by May 1, 2008 in order to qualify for this guarantee. All applications received after May 1st are placed on a wait-list in the order received.
Information on the process for securing guaranteed housing for the second year will be available on the Web site in fall quarter. Students must live on campus for their entire first year to remain eligible for guaranteed housing in the second year.
Undergraduates who are married, with children, or 25 years of age or older are not eligible for the housing guarantee, but may apply to get on the housing wait-list for Verano Place. See additional information below under How to Apply. - How to Apply
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After you receive your admissions notification you can apply online via the Admission's Web site.
Go to www.admissions.uci.edu and click on 'MyAdmissionsApplication@UCI'.
Fall 2008 Quarter Applicants Newly admitted student must apply for housing online via the Admissions Web site. Go to www.admissions.uci.edu and click 'MyAdmissionsApplication@UCI'. A Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) must be submitted in order to access the online housing application. There is a non-refundable $20.00 processing fee required with your application, which can be paid either online with a credit card or by printing a payment coupon and mailing it with a check* or money order*, payable to UC Regents to:
Housing Cashier
G459 Student Center
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697-6175
*Checks and money orders must be payable through a U.S. bank.
Your on-time housing application will secure an offer of a space in either the residence halls or Arroyo Vista.Students will receive either a Residence Hall contract or an Arroyo Vista contract. Your housing contract will refer you to a Personal Information Form (online for Residence Halls, paper for Arroyo Vista) where you can state particular preferences for a community (Mesa Court or Middle Earth), hall/house themes, and roommates.
Important: Applications must be submitted online or received by mail by May 1, 2008 in order to receive guaranteed housing. Your Statement of Intent to Register must also be filed with Admissions by May 1, 2008 in order to qualify for the housing guarantee.
Late Applicants for Fall 2008 and
Winter and Spring 2009 Applicants
All applications are placed on a waiting list in the order received and room assignments are made as a space becomes available. To increase your chances for on-campus housing, submit your application as soon as possible.
Undergraduates over 25 years of age, married, or with children
Students who are married, with children, or who are 25 or older may apply for housing in Verano Place. Single students may also apply to live in Vista del Campo or Vista del Campo Norte. All three communities maintain a wait-list.
Verano Place is a graduate and family apartment community, housing roughly 1,150 students in 862 unfurnished apartments. Verano serves graduate students, undergraduates who are 25 or older, and students with families. For more information on Verano Place or the housing wait-list, click here. To apply to the Verano wait-list, download the application and return it with the non-refundable $20 application fee to the address on the application.
Vista del Campo and Vista del Campo Norte are privately owned and managed apartment communities for single students, located on the east campus. They offer furnished apartments to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students. To apply, please visit www.vistadelcampo.com
- Important Dates
- Please visit the Important Dates page for deadline and due dates.
- Freshman Housing Options
- Freshmen will be assigned to the residence halls (Mesa Court and Middle Earth) or (between 300-400) to Arroyo Vista theme houses. Assignment to the residence halls or Arroyo Vista will be based on student preferences and space availability.
Selection for specific Arroyo Vista theme houses will be guided by student preferences, declared major, and statements of interest (which will be submitted online after the application deadline of May 1st).
All freshman housing communities provide Internet and cable TV connections in each student room, a hall/house living room, study rooms, laundry facilities, recreational facilities, computer lab, and custodial service for public areas and bathrooms. The chart below outlines the main differences between residence halls and theme houses. The Student Housing Web site contains additional information about each community.
Feature Residence Halls
(Mesa Court & Middle Earth)Arroyo Vista
Theme HousesHall/House Size 48-75 residents per hall
24-48 residents per house Meal Plan/Dining Mandatory meal plan.
Dining commons in eachcommunity.
Students prepare own meals in house kitchen or may choose to purchase a meal plan for use in campus dining facilities, located in Mesa Court and Middle Earth.
Cost Room & Board: 2007-08 rate
for a double occupancy room
and 120 Block Meals per quarter/$75 Flex dollars plan is $10,364.
The 2007-08 room rate for double occupancy is $4,760. No meal plan is required, however several options are available. Community Residents Residence halls house predominantly freshman,
with some upperclass student staff.
Some freshman only and some mixed class level houses. Arroyo Vista houses all class levels, from freshmen to seniors.
Location
Near the campus core. On the east campus--a 10-15
minute walk. Free shuttle
service is available.
Theme Options Each community offers a wide range of theme options.
Visit the Residence Hall Theme Descriptions Web site for more information.
Many Theme Houses are offered in Arroyo Vista. Visit the Arroyo Vista Theme House Descriptions Web site for more information.
- What is Theme Housing? What are my theme options?
- Theme halls and houses bring together students with similar interests and provide specialized programming to explore those interests. Each freshman community provides a unique combination of theme options. Mesa Court also offers General Interest halls where residents and their Resident Advisor identify topics of interest for hall activities. The theme options offered in each freshman community are listed below. You will be able to indicate your interest in AV theme houses on your housing application. Preference for a particular residence hall community and theme will be asked for with residence hall contracts. Please note that although we try to match your preferences, placement in a particular housing community or theme is not guaranteed.
Freshman Theme Options - 2008-09 Mesa Court Theme Halls: - Academic Excellence
- Mass Media and Communications
- Campus Connections
- Campuswide Honors Program (CHP)* (see description below)
- "Community in a Diverse Society"
Class Experience - Sierra - Diversity: Advocasy & Activism
- Interest in Performing Arts
- Interest in Visual Arts
- First Year Excellence Program (FYEP)- for Undecided/ Undeclared students (see description below)
- General Interest
- Emerging Leaders
- Interest in Music
- Community Service & Social Justice
- Interest in Engineering & Technology
- Wellness
Middle Earth Special Interest Theme Hall Clusters (4 halls per cluster): - Intellectual Competence
- Academic & Career Options
- Health & Safety Strategies
- Personal Identity & Philosophy
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Involvement in Civic & Campus Life
Other Individual Theme Halls in Middle Earth - Changing the Future Through Education
- Campuswide Honors Program (CHP)* (see description below)
- Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
- Study Abroad Interest Hall
Arroyo Vista Theme Houses* -
African American Studies – Ele Si Rosa Parks
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Biology
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Careers in Teaching
- Casa Cesar Chavez
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Chemistry
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Engineering Design for the Community
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First Year Excellence Program (FYEP)
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Humanities
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Information and Computer Science
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International Peace and Conflict Studies (IPACS)
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Kaleidoscope
- SAGE - Business, Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Service
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Social Ecology
- Student Life and Engagement House
- Click here for AV theme house descriptions
*Themes are subject to change
- Halls/Houses with Special Programs for Freshmen
- In addition to the special interest halls listed above, some freshmen also have the opportunity to participate in either the First Year Excellence Program or the Campuswide Honors Program, described below.
First Year Excellence Program [FYEP] The First Year Excellence Program supports first-year students making the transition to life at the University, helps broaden their thinking about educational and career options, and teaches leadership skills that will serve them throughout their college years and beyond. The FYEP is especially designed for students who will not declare a major until the end of their first year. All FYEP participants take a two-unit course fall quarter, “A Freshmen Experience,” and a two-unit course winter quarter, “Overview of Majors.” FYEP participants are given opportunities to learn about leadership development. FYEP is offered in two residence halls in Mesa Court and in one AV freshman theme house.
Campuswide Honors Program [CHP] The Campuswide Honors Program supports the academic growth of highly committed students through seminar-styles classes, faculty mentoring, research opportunities and CHP housing. Freshmen who have been accepted into the Campuswide Honors Program can elect to live in academically-oriented community in either Mesa Court or Middle Earth. - How Much Will it Cost?
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The cost of living on-campus depends on which community you live in. The cost of living in Arroyo Vista is less than that of the Residence Halls, since no meal plan is included. The cost of living in the residence halls varies, too, with the number of residents per
room and which meal plan you choose. Most students in the Residence Halls live in double rooms, though
there are a limited number of single and triple occupancy rooms. Some freshmen living in Arroyo Vista are assigned to triple occupancy rooms.
To view 2007-08 housing rates, go to the UCI Student Housing Rates Web site. Housing rates for 2008-09 are subject to change.
- The On-Campus Experience-Why Live on Campus?
- Roughly 80% of UCI Freshmen live on campus. Studies continue to show that students who live on campus perform better academically, have more contact with faculty, and are generally more satisfied with their overall college experience. Living on campus brings many advantages, including convenient access to campus resources, dining services, the support of our professional and student staff, and many opportunities to form new friendships and a sense of community. Another practical benefit of on-campus housing is that your housing contract locks in your housing costs for the full academic year. If your roommate leaves mid-year, you will not be asked to pay additional rent or find another roommate yourself.
- FYI: The First Year Initiative
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The First Year Initiative (FYI) provides new students living in the residence halls with the resources they need to make a smooth transition to college and begin a successful career at UC Irvine. FYI activities include:
- Academic support services: tutoring, group study, academic advising
- Credited classes held in the residence hall communities
- Co-curricular activities that support a broad range of interests
- Live-on Student Advisors: Providing Leadership, Support, and Fun!
- Upperclass student staff provide a live-in resource for information, support, and guidance in all freshman residence halls and theme houses. Hall Resident Advisors (RA) and House Assistants (HA) also organize a wide range of fun activities for freshmen residents. Community Programmers (CPs) organize community-wide social events such as sports or game tournaments, dances, and barbeques.
- Dining Services
- UCI Dining offers a variety of dining options to meet the nutritional needs and diverse tastes of UCI students. A meal plan is mandatory for all residence hall contract holders. Students living in the residence halls choose from the following 3 meal plan options. The cost of each plan is figured into your total (room and board) housing rate:
- 165 Block Meals (approx. 15 meals per week) w/$50.00 Flex Dollars (per quarter)
- 120 Block Meals (approx. 11 meals per week) w/$75.00 Flex Dollars (per quarter)
- 100 Block Meals (approx. 9 meals per week) w/$75.00 Flex Dollars (per quarter)
Students living in Arroyo Vista or off campus have the option to purchase one of the voluntary meal plans listed on the UCI Dining Web site. Your Student ID card is needed to use your meal plan and/or flex dollars. Meals can be used at Mesa Commons, Pippin, or Brandywine Commons. Each time a meal is used, it is subtracted from your quarterly allowance. You must use all of your meals by the end of the quarter, as they do not carry over to the next quarter. If you use up your meals before the end of the quarter, you may add additional meals to your card by purchasing Zot Bucks or a voluntary meal plan.
Flex Dollars can be used at all residential dining commons and campus dining venues as well. Use Flex Dollars to purchase beverages, snacks or full meals at any time. Flex Dollars are loaded onto meal cards at the beginning of each quarter, and each time a purchase is made the money is subtracted from your account. Unused Flex Dollars transfer from quarter to quarter. However, any unused Flex Dollars remaining at the end of the academic year (end of Spring quarter) are non-refundable and cannot be transferred to the new academic year. Once your Flex Dollars have been spent, students have the option of adding additional Zot Bucks to their meal cards. Zot Bucks roll-over year to year and are different than the flex dollars.
Please visit the UCI Dining Web site for sample menus and more information on meal plan options: www.ucidining.com
- Safety and Security
- Safety and security are of the utmost importance in each of our on-campus communities. Emergency phones, which connect to the UCI Police Department, are located within each housing community and throughout the campus. UCI also provides a safety escort service for students who are traveling by foot at night. Although there is no curfew in any on-campus community, all residential facilities are locked 24 hours a day. Residents’ keys open the front doors as well as their own rooms, allowing them to come and go as they please. Residents are discouraged from permitting access to strangers, propping doors open, or leaving doors unlocked.
- Can I bring my car? Where do I park?
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Parking on campus requires a parking permit. You can purchase a Resident parking permit from the UCI Parking & Transportation Services office. For rates and information, please visit www.parking.uci.edu
- Off Campus Housing Options
- Students choosing to live off campus are invited to come to Housing Outreach Services, located on the 4th floor of the Student Center (G465), for assistance in finding a place to live or a roommate. The Off Campus Housing Web Site provides a directory of nearby apartment communities, current rental rates, lists of local merchants and services, guidelines for signing a lease, living with roommates, and managing on a budget. Housing Outreach Services maintains both computerized listings of housing options available in the community, as well as a list of students looking for others to share a room or apartment. The best time to start your search for off-campus housing for the fall quarter is mid-summer. For information, stop by our office, call (949) 824-7247, email housing@uci.edu, or go to the Off Campus Housing Web Site.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Still have questions? Take a look at the Prospective Students Frequently Asked Questions.
