Room for Error: Residence Life Process for Next Year

Lily Goedeke

Housing selection for the 2026-2027 school year has been a struggle for most students, with missent emails, Symplicity errors and general confusion. Residence Life has worked to fix the issues, and the housing process was redone to make the housing process fair for all students.  

The issues started with emails sent by Residence Life concerning the housing for Apartments and Powell. An initial email announcing the opt-in and housing selection times went out on March 19, saying the opt-in window would be open from March 23 at 9 a.m. to March 24 at 5 p.m.   

The email also stated that these housing options are available to students entering their second year at the Mount. However, some students received personal emails stating that these housing options were for rising Juniors and Seniors, which they tend to have been in previous years.    

Many students never got the option to opt-in to the housing selection, while others did when they were not supposed to.   

An automated email was sent out on March 26 stating that the housing selection was closed shortly after the opt-in for Apartments and Powell opened, before students even got their selection time. Students who were able to opt-in were able to select housing options.   

Residence Life quickly sent a follow-up email the following morning to clear up the confusion. This email explained that Symplicity, the platform used for housing at the Mount, had experienced a system issue which resulted in the automated message. They did not clarify if this issue is what also caused students to receive the option to opt-in when they were not supposed to.  

Even after this when students selected their rooms, an error on Symplicity occurred where many students were unable to see their selection time window. The housing team quickly sent out an email on April 7 addressing that they were aware of this and working on the issue, and assured everyone that this would not affect their ability to select housing. They sent a follow-up email within the hour that the issue was fixed.    

After all this trouble, housing selection for Apartments and Powell went smoothly, and the selection for Terrace housing began soon after. Despite the issues with Symplicity, the Residence Life and Housing teams have done their best to keep everything running smoothly and get all students the housing they require.  

When Residence Life was contacted for an interview, they declined. This housing selection process has been confusing for a lot of students, especially rising juniors and seniors. 

John Mills (C’29) is currently a first-year student, but a sophomore by credit. He described the housing process as a “bit funky.” The first housing selection round, he and his roommate group got an apartment, but after Residence Life decided to redo the housing process, their selection time was pushed back, but by chance they were able to select the same apartment they had previously wanted.   

Mills said, “Granted, I know that many people did not have the same experience, and ours was a little bit of luck, but overall, the selection process was a little messy and disorganized. It could be improved upon next year.”   

Travis Cleveland (C’27) and his roommates had the opposite issue. When Residence Life sent out the slots for Apartments, Powell, and Cottages, they got a late time slot and did not get in, even though they were all rising seniors. 

After Residence Life redid housing, they were able to get an apartment, which they had wanted.  

Cleveland added, “It’s kind of weird that they changed [the way the intention form worked],” but he was glad that they made it right and redid the process.   

Meghan Hanley (C’28) experienced a similar issue, describing her housing situation as “pretty stressful.” She and her roommates are all rising juniors and seniors and were unable to get housing in Apartments or Powell, and they were confused because they knew people with less credits with earlier housing times. After Residence Life redid the process, they were easily able to get an apartment.   

Hanley added, “The whole process was very confusing and we were left with little explanation, but I’m grateful it all worked out.”  

The students are appreciative that Residence Life worked out the issues and ensured everyone had a fair chance at housing, especially in Apartments and Powell.