The FAQs below are sorted by general topic. If you cannot find your answers here, contact Housing Services by calling (610)758-3500 or emailing inhouse@lehigh.edu.
Who We Are
The Office of Housing Services is part of the Office of Student Auxiliary Services that reports to the Vice President for Finance and Administration, and has the responsibility of acting as landlords for the University. All housing agreements with residents originate in the Office of Housing Services. Housing Services works closely with the Office of Residence Life and with Facilities Services to ensure that these University assets are well maintained. Housing Services also provides billing services for all Residence Hall student charges related to room and meal plan charges through the Bursar's Office.
Residence Life works to create a living environment in which our students will be engaged, challenged, and encouraged to realize their full academic and person potential. They provide programming to foster students the opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive and inclusive community. They are responsible for staffing and managing all Gryphon positions.
The Office of Facilities Services reports to the Vice President for Finance and Administration and is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of our Residence Halls to ensure a safe and healthy living environment for our residents. Visit facilities.lehigh.edu to learn more or submit a Work Order Request.
Requirements and Regulations
Residents must be a registered full time Lehigh University student. As a residential campus, Lehigh University requires all first and second-year students to live in University Housing each semester of the academic year that they are enrolled. Married students, students residing with their parents or legal guardian within a 30-mile radius, students living with their dependents, and students 22 years or older may request to be exempted from this policy.
First-year and Second-year students are required to live on campus and therefore guaranteed housing. All upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) wishing to reside in residence hall housing will participate in a lottery for residential spaces.
No, each year students participate in a housing selection process to select a housing space for the next academic year.
No pets are allowed except non-predatory fish in properly maintained aquariums of 10 gallons or less (aquariums must have noise-free compressors for the filters) are allowed in the residence halls.
It is expected that all University provided furniture remains in a student's room throughout the academic year. Some furniture can be disassembled and stored within the room if not wanted (e.g., bed).
Personal refrigerators may be brought, but are not to exceed 4.6 cubic feet. MicroFridge units are available for rental from Campus Specialties.
1. Find a roommate so that he/she can let you in to retrieve your key.
2. Between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm call the University Police at 610-758-4200 for assistance.
3. Between the hours of 8:00 pm and 8:00 am Monday-Friday and all weekend long, call the Gryphon on duty cell phone for your building/area. Gryphon on duty cell phone numbers are posted on the staff office and Gryphon doors.
The student will not receive a charge for the first lockout.
Continued lockouts throughout the academic year will result in the following charges: 2nd lockout = $35 service fee; 3rd and each additional lockout = $75 service fee and a referral to the conduct process
Individuals who have lost their keys should go to the IDEAL Office.
Students who would like to change rooms should contact their Gryphon or any Gryphon in their building. The Gryphon will be able to assist the student with the room change procedure.
Problems related to your room or common areas within the building can be directed to a Gryphon within the building. Gryphons can direct and assist students with repairs and corrections.
Halogen lamps, candles of any kind (including decorative), incense, automatic drip coffee makers, percolators, all cooking appliances such as hot plates, electric kettles, hot pots, microwave ovens, rice cookers, air fryers, toasters, toaster ovens, electric fry pans, grills/griddles, portable heating units of any kind, electric blankets, and sun lamps. See GPO for a more complete list.
There are severe financial and disciplinary penalties for tampering or disabling fire safety equipment. Repeated offenses may result in individuals being removed from housing.
The security of theResidence Halls is a collective responsibility shared by the residents and University personnel. Residents are encouraged to keep all exterior doors, bedroom doors, and security windows locked so that only residents of that community and their guests can have access. University personnel, including the Lehigh University Police Department and University administrative offices all work together to keep the Residence Halls safe and secure.
Amenities
Gender inclusive restrooms can be found n the common areas of most Residence Halls. Additionally, apartments and suites participating in all-gender housing, as well as one floor in each of the first year housing areas, have all-gender bathrooms. Bathrooms are otherwise divide based on the designation for the specific floor or wing od the building. For example, a co-ed floor will have both a women's bathroom and a men's bathroom, each with showers.
Each room has a landline telephone jack. However, these jacks are inactive. If you have a medical need for activation of the jack to use a landline in your room, you must contact Library and Technology Services (LTS) to request activation of the line.
Floor plans and 3D images are available under each individual building listing on our housing website. You will need to sign in using your Lehigh username and password.
Lease Agreement and Insurance
The room charge for all Residence Hall students is set by the University. All Residence Halls as well as the Fraternity/Sorority houses are included in a common residential financial system. The University projects the costs for such items as building maintenance, custodial services and utilities, insurance related to Lehigh's role as landlord, trash removal, exterminator services, etc., which all factor into the rate that is set.
Personal property of the residents living in Residence Halls is not covered by the University insurance. Residents should cover their personal property through student personal property insurance purchased by the resident at their expense, or their parent's homeowner's insurance.
Other students living in the building, maintenance, custodial staff, Residence Life and Housing Services professional staff are the only individuals with access to a specific building. Custodial staff has access to common areas. If requested by the student, maintenance staff has the ability to access individual rooms to make repairs.
- to inspect the condition of the building;
- to inspect for fire and health hazards;
- to make repairs, installments, additions, or alterations to the rooms or to the building, to paint, or to perform housekeeping functions;
- to remove both university and personal property, equipment, placards, signs, fixtures, alterations, or additions to the leased premises that are in violation of the lease;
- to verify room occupancy, and to search (by authorized University officials) when there is cause to believe that a violation of University regulations is being, or has been, committed.
Dining and Meal Plans
All first-year students are required to be on one of four meal plans: The Unlimited, 225 Block, 200 Block plan, or the 175 Block plan (per semester). Upperclass students residing in Trembley Park, Sayre Park and Farrington Square apartments are not required to be on a meal plan. All other on-campus upper class students are required to be on at least a 125 block meal plan. More information on Meal Plans can be found on the Dining Services page. Students living in Fraternity or Sorority housing may have a meal plan through their chapter.
Meal plans may be changed within the requirements of the living area up to the 10th day of class of each semester. Changes can be made through Housing and Dining Self Service. Changes outside of the required meal plan or after the 10th day of class for reasons such as medical condition must petition and receive approval from The Executive Director of Student Auxiliary Services. If such changes are approved, cost adjustments will be processed on a pro-rated basis.
Dining dollars can be added throughout the semester as long as a meal plan was purchased.
Meal Plan rates – The meal plan rates for the Residence Hall areas are set and billed by the university in conjunction with the Dining Services.
Maintenance and Damage
All air conditioners are owned and installed by Lehigh University hired staff and will remain in windows year round. Maintenance concerns regarding the air conditioning units are to be reported as a work order to Facilities Services. Air conditioner filters will be checked and changed as necessary over breaks.
Air conditioners are not to be removed or tampered with by the resident(s) under any circumstance. Unauthorized air conditioner units will be removed and the resident responsible will be fined. Residents are not permitted to install their own air conditioners.
Student damage is repaired by maintenance personnel via a work order. The total charge reflects the material cost and labor cost of the particular student damage repair. Work orders are reviewed by University personnel and those that fall out of the realm of normal “wear and tear” are sent to building staff as student damage. Responsibilities for costs of damages are assigned on a bi-semester basis. An itemized list is prepared and distributed to the Residence Life staff members. Twice a semester (at the middle and end of each) a summary of possible student damage is prepared and distributed to building staff or House Managers who provide the summary to the residents. If an individual (or group of people) is responsible for a damage the charge is applied to their Bursar account.
- Trash and recycling pick-up five times per week
- Extermination Services
- Snow removal
- Cleaning/custodial services
- Grounds maintenance
- Monthly - Emergency lighting
- Monthly - Fire extinguisher
- Monthly - Fire system, includes smoke and heat detectors, pull stations, horns and sprinklers
- Three times each semester - Cleaning inspections (common areas only)
- Once each semester - Room inspections
- Once each semester - Fire system, alarm and drill test
In the Residence Halls, a professional cleaning contractor will supply full cleaning services in common areas five days per week and general clean up and trash removal on weekends. This cleaning includes all hallways, stairwells, bathrooms, lounges, and common area kitchens. NOTE: The cleaning in kitchens does not include pots, pans, dishes, and dining tables etc., which, along with other cleaning not handled by the contractor, are the responsibility of the building residents.
As owner and landlord of theResidence Hall buildings, Lehigh is responsible for all day-to-day maintenance and repairs. Facilities Services oversees a staff of maintenance technicians who perform maintenance services in the buildings. The individual crafts include electric, carpentry, plumbing, locksmith, preventive maintenance, and HVAC. On some occasions, outside contractors are also used. Residents, usually through the Gryphon staff, are responsible for reporting repairs or maintenance that they are aware of in a timely fashion, but should not perform any maintenance repairs on their own. Students are responsible for maintaining a clean and safe living environment.
All-Gender Housing
Lehigh University offers all-gender housing to support our ongoing commitment to developing environments that are welcoming and inclusive. All-gender housing at Lehigh exists alongside co-ed buildings and co-ed or single-gender floors or wings, meaning that there are options for every student. The webpage for each Residence Hall will list the breakdown of the building.
All-gender housing is an option for all undergraduate students who are eligible for University housing. Anyone of any gender can live in all-gender housing. However, any on-campus housing, including all-gender housing, is not intended for romantic couples.
All-gender housing for first-year students, currently housed in a wing of McClintic-Marshall House, includes two multi-stall gender-inclusive restroom and shower facilities. All-gender housing in suite- and apartment-style locations, including Brodhead, Sayre Park, and Farrington Square, includes private restrooms.
No. Sign-ups for all-gender housing do not include or require a rationale.
Housing at Lehigh is completed by the student, so it is your decision as to where you will live.
Parents are not notified of where their student chooses housing.
If a vacancy occurs during the year, the current resident is encouraged to find a new roommate to fill the vacancy. If that is not possible, we will work with the current students on the waiting list to identify the best solution, ideally placing someone into the space who has requested all gender housing. The University does reserve the right to assign the room as a single-gender space in a situation where housing is needed for people on the waiting list and no other single-gender space is available.
They follow the room change process, just as any student living in our buildings would.
Break Housing
The Residence Halls are open over Thanksgiving Break. Students who will be remaining on campus over Thanksgiving break should register with Housing Services. There are limited dining options during breaks. Students interested in staying during breaks should consult the Lehigh Dining Services website for further dining information.
The availability of break housing over the Semester Break will be limited during the upcoming academic year to only students who are required to remain on campus for NCAA sanctioned practices and events and/or international students. All other residents are expected to make alternative housing arrangements during these break periods.
The availability of break housing over the Spring Break will be limited during the upcoming academic year to only students who are required to remain on campus for NCAA sanctioned practices and events and/or international students. All other residents are expected to make alternative housing arrangements during these break periods.
First Year Housing
Lehigh houses all genders in each first year building. How they are housed within the buildings varies. We have three types of housing styles in regards to gender: single-gender floor/wing, co-ed floor/wing, and all-gender. Students are able to preference gender type on their housing application.
To accommodate all students, halls are pre-designated by gender based on enrollment. Lehigh assigns rooms based on desired gender and thematic preferences.
A random process will be utilized to determine your housing assignment along with others who have made similar selections
If you are matched with a roommate using the information you provide through My College Roomie, you will be placed together whenever possible. Please be sure that your gender and theme preferences match those of your roommate.
Past experience has shown that as the student becomes part of the camaraderie of the building, they usually no longer wish to change. No room changes will be done prior to arrival. Students are asked to give their assignment a 10-day trial period. If the student is unhappy after that time, everything possible will be done to try to relocate them. Room change requests should be directed to your Gryphon or Residence Life Staff member assigned to your building.
You can re-enter the housing contract and update your housing information. You can continue to search and add or change roommates through My College Roommate until the deadline. Assignments are processed in June; therefore, the application must be complete by the deadline in order for it to be considered.
More information about medical or disability related considerations for housing can be found of the Disability Support Services website.
Room assignments and arrival information will be emailed through your Lehigh email in mid-July.
Opening in August
The Office of Housing Services recognizes that specific individuals may need to be permitted to occupy their Residence Hall rooms earlier than the scheduled check-in. Early arrival information will be available in mid-July. Early Arrival requests must be must be submitted by the first Friday in August. Housing Services will review your request and notify you by e-mail if your request has been approved. If so, you will be informed of the date, time, and check-in location that have been scheduled for your arrival.
Throughout the summer months, Residence Halls at Lehigh University are utilized for conference programs. Since the rooms are in use, they are not available for viewing. For more information, details, and floor plans about our, go to our Residence Halls page.
Each room has all of the basic furniture for each student. A bed frame, mattress, desk, desk chair, closet or wardrobe, and dresser are provided. There is a ceiling light and mini blinds. For more information, details, and floor plans, go to our Residence Halls page. Apartment Style housing will include additional furniture in the common space of the apartment.
Personal belongings should be shipped after the student arrives on campus and should be addressed directly to the University box number where you will receive all mail being sent to you. This box number will be available for you to view through the portal in August. For more information regarding sending items to your student mailbox, see Student Mailing Tips on the Mail Center website.
All mattresses are 36" wide and 80" long and take Twin XL sheets except for McClintic-Marshall (M&M) and a limited number of rooms in Dravo, which have mattresses that are 36" wide and 75" long. Extra-long sheets will fit these smaller mattresses as well.