Residence Hall Living

Shared Living Space: Roomates

Roommates share space, but more importantly they share a larger part of their college experience with each other. To promote a positive and considerate relationship, roommates should achieve a basic understanding and agreement, in order to maintain a comfortable and respectful living environment. Roommates are urged to discuss their living arrangements at the beginning of the semester. A "Roommates Cooperative Agreement" is provided in the residence hall for this purpose. You can read more about the Roomate Contract in the Residence Hall Handbook.

Residence Hall Staffing

Residence halls have staff that help with all aspects of managing the residence and planning programs and helping students adjust to group living. Learn more about residence hall staff and your rights and responsibilities in the Residence Hall Handbook.

Residence Hall Closures

Please keep the information below in mind when making travel arrangements.

Fall Semester Closing

During Winter Break, the Residence halls are closed. Refer to the academic calendar for the specific dates. The residence halls will remain open during the Thanksgiving Holiday and Spring Break, although visitation will be suspended during this time. 

Spring Semester Closing

All students are required to check out by the official Residence Hall closing date, which is typically the day after the Commencement ceremony (refer to the academic calendar for specific dates). 

Summer School Closing

For students residing in summer school housing, there are specific checkout dates corresponding to the session(s) for which they are enrolled. 

Students are urged not to apply for summer school housing if they cannot move out on (or before) these dates. 

Notice: The Residence Hall Agreement indicates that failure to check out on time may jeopardize a student’s future residency in the residency halls and/or result in additional fines. It is important that students adhere to the residential policies and procedures to allow our teams to avoid delays in room readiness for the next semester. 

Early Checkout

Students who check out of University housing are subject to the Room Charge Adjustment Schedule. 

Note: The amount a student may be refunded is in relation to the date and time that he/she officially checks out of the residence hall. 

Room Charge Adjustment Schedule: (Refunds for Checkout) 

Students with current housing assignments may only relinquish housing due to withdrawal, deferral, suspension, graduation, study abroad, or active military status. Students will remain responsible for all charges if they decide to move out of the hall for any other reason. Students may try to locate another student without housing to transfer to their residence hall unit to. For each semester, room rate refunds for validated students who check out of the residence halls will follow the tuition refund schedule located in the academic calendar.

Student Programming

The only Howard University-sanctioned events will be organized and sponsored by University Departments. Please be wary of non-university sanctioned events that frequently target Howard students. We encourage residence hall students to participate in Move-In Week activities planned by the Office of Residence Life; Bison Week organized by the Office of Campus Life; and Welcome Week activities that are hosted by various student organizations.  

Residence Hall Rules and Guidelines

Students are expected to adhere to the Student Code of Conduct. Students are subject to housing fines for damage and behavior including broken furniture, tampering with emergency equipment, not following policies, etc.

Co-Educational Visitation 

Residents are responsible for their guests’ actions during their visit. All guests must be signed in and signed out of the building and escorted at all times while in the building. The start of visitation will be announced by your Building Manager and is only inclusive of Howard University students. Visitation typically begins 2 weeks after the end of the registration period.  

Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking and Alcohol is not permitted in the residence halls. Residents who violate University regulations in the residence halls are subject to possible fines, immediate removal from the residence halls, and additional disciplinary actions. No refunds will be issued to violators of this policy. 

Illegal Drugs and Weapons

Residents who violate Howard University regulations by possessing or using weapons or illegal drugs, are subject to immediate dismissal from the residence halls and further sanctions. No refunds will be issued to violators of this policy. 

Bison Safe App

In January of 2020, Howard University announced the launch of Bison Safe, a mobile app designed to enhance the University’s ability to communicate with the campus community in the event of an emergency. The app, downloadable from the App Store (iOS) and Google Play, offers several features.

Mail Information 

Below please find required contact information when sending mail. 

Mailing Address: 

Student Name 
Residence Hall Name  
Residence Hall Address  
Howard University  
Washington, DC and Zip Code 

Note: Wish and Mazza have a private mail system that uses the official address for those properties. Please see Building Managers for additional information. 

Please see University Mail Services for even more resources.