Housing, Roommates, and Accommodations | May 12, 2026

Dear Parents and Families,

We know that housing assignments and roommates are top of mind leading up to your student's move-in day. Your student also received an email this week with information about the Housing Survey that we use to match roommates, the housing assignment timeline and process, and how to apply for housing accommodations, as explained by Kirsten Behling and Jessica ("Jess") White of the Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center in this week's featured video.

In addition to housing information, this week's email includes upcoming webinars. Be sure to register and submit your questions in advance. 

Students with a documented disability (e.g., physical, mental, chronic, sensory, and/or mobility) who may need housing accommodations must submit their diagnostic documentation to the StAAR Center and have met with an Accessibility Specialist (online or in-person) by Thursday, June 18 to be considered for an accommodation. After the June 18 deadline, we are unable to guarantee housing accommodations for the fall semester.

As Jess and Kirsten explain in the video, there are three steps students must complete to secure housing accommodations (Students should start the process now!):

Note: The StAAR Center process is only required for students requesting disability-related housing accommodations. The Residential Life Housing Survey is required for all students, including those who submit the StAAR Center forms for a housing accommodation. (More information about the Housing Survey for all students follows below.)

Substance-free housing is a popular option for many Tufts students. Substance-free housing refers to a residential space where students agree not to have or consume alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs. Students living in substance-free housing also agree not to be in the space while intoxicated. Students might choose substance-free housing for a wide range of reasons, including:

All campus housing is subject to the Student Code of Conduct, which says: 

You and your student will have an opportunity to learn more about substance-free housing during the housing webinar on May 21. Students can express interest in substance-free housing when they complete their Housing Survey.

Students are matched with their roommate(s) based on their responses to Residential Life and Learning's Housing Survey. It's important for your student to complete the survey and answer the 10 to 15 lifestyle questions fully and accurately so that we can match them with a compatible roommate or roommates.

The Housing Survey is open now and must be completed by June 26. (Due date is June 19 for BEST and BLAST students.) Your student can access the survey though the housing portal in their Student Information System (SIS) account. 

Residential Life doesn't accept roommate requests. Meeting and living with people who have traveled a different life journey to arrive at Tufts—whose life experiences enable them to share different perspectives—is key to the Tufts residential life experience. 

Residential Life has a very good rate of success for matching roommates using the Housing Survey process. However, conflict is normal and expected when sharing space with other people. We have developed a Roommate Agreement to help your student and their roommates navigate living and learning together. If concerns arise, reviewing the agreement with their Resident Assistant (RA) is a good place to start to resolve them and move forward.

Incoming students will likely be assigned to either a double or triple room. There are very limited single rooms for incoming students unless they have been approved to receive an accommodation. Your student will receive their housing assignment and the Tufts email address(es) for their roommate(s) by Friday, July 31. Residential Life recommends students coordinate with their roommate(s) to make the most of their residence hall space and avoid duplicating items such as a mini-fridge or television. 

Register and submit any questions in advance for upcoming webinars:

Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m. ET –  Housing and Accommodations
Members of the StAAR Center and Residential Life teams will review on-campus housing and accommodations. 

Thursday, June 4, 7 p.m. ET – Welcome to Tufts, Parents and Families
Meet members of the Student Life team and campus partners. (This webinar is for parents and families only; your student has been invited to a webinar just for them on June 2.)

Welcome to Your Academic Experience webinar with your student's Advising Dean and Senior Academic Advisors for their degree program. Parents and families are welcome! 

Orientation communications, including recorded webinars, are archived on the Orientation website.  

Please reach out to Family Engagement contact Carole McFall at carole.mcfall@tufts.edu or Student Services at 617-627-2000 or StudentServices@tufts.edu .

Note: The Student Services team is managing degree certifications ahead of Tufts’ Commencement 2026 this weekend so there may be a delayed response. 

Family Engagement