Housing and Accommodations | May 12, 2026 

Hello Jumbos!

We know that housing assignments and roommates are top of mind leading up to your move-in day. This week's email includes 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.

If you have a documented disability and need housing accommodations, apply now!

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:

If you have any questions, email staarcenter@tufts.edu or call 617-627-4539.

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.

You 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 will have the opportunity to learn more about substance-free housing during the housing webinar and can express interest in substance-free housing when you complete your 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 you to complete the survey and answer the 10 to 15 lifestyle questions fully and accurately so that we can match you with a compatible roommate or roommates. Through the survey, you will provide information regarding your typical bedtime, how tidy you keep your room, and other personal preferences. 

The Housing Survey is now open and must be completed by June 26. (Due date is June 19 for BEST and BLAST students.) You can access the survey through the housing portal within the Student Information System (SIS). The survey responses are all processed after June 26, which is to say there is no impact on your ultimate housing assignment based on when you complete the survey during this window as long as it is completed by June 26.

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

While new roommates could become your lifelong friends, your initial encounters with people you have not met previously will help you develop such skills as compromise, advocacy, negotiation, and even conflict resolution.

Residential Life has a very good rate of success for matching roommates using the Housing Survey process. However, conflict is normal and expected when you are sharing space with other people.

Healthy communication is critical from the very start. We have developed a Roommate Agreement to help you and your roommates navigate living and learning together. If concerns arise, reviewing the agreement with your Resident Assistant (RA) is a good place to start to resolve them and move forward.

As an incoming student, you will likely be assigned to either a double or triple room. There are very limited single rooms for incoming students unless you have been approved to receive an accommodation. You will receive your housing assignment and the Tufts email address(es) for your roommate(s) by Friday, July 31.

This summer, as you start to plan what to bring to campus, Residential Life recommends coordinating with your roommate(s) to make the most of your residence hall space and avoid duplicating items such as a minifridge or television. For other tips about what to pack and what to leave at home, visit the What to Bring page.

Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m. ET – Housing and Accommodations Members of the StAAR Center team and the Residential Life team will review everything you need to know about on-campus housing and accommodations. Register and submit any questions in advance.

Tuesday, June 2, 7 p.m. ET – New Student Checklist 101 (For students only; parents and families have been invited to attend a webinar just for them on Thursday, June 4.) Meet the Orientation team and review the New Student Checklist. Register and submit any questions in advance.

Save the date and register for the Welcome to your Academic Experience webinar with your degree program's Advising Dean and Senior Academic Advisors:

Orientation communications, including webinars, are archived on the Orientation web page.

Ahead of your arrival, each week, you will be receiving important reminders, key updates, and introductions to staff and resources. We will send all official University communications to your @tufts.edu email address starting on June 16, so if you haven’t already, please set up your Tufts email account now and check it often. Also, do not forward your Tufts email to any other account (Gmail, etc.) because forwarding can prevent your emails from being delivered.

You'll have a few responsibilities over the summer, and many of them can be completed online. Your customized New Student Checklist 2026 will be posted on June 1, and it will help you stay on track over the summer. Keep a lookout for this important summer "to-do" list. It will include Academic Essentials, your introduction to academics at Tufts, which will open in early June.

Pre-Orientation programs are an opportunity to get involved on campus early, meet upperclassmen mentors, gain leadership skills, and meet other students with similar interests. We'll be opening registration for "Pre-O" on June 1. If you'd like to participate in one of our eight programs, be sure to register by June 15 at 12 midnight ET.

Learn about upcoming events, get reminders about dates and deadlines, and stay in touch with all things Tufts! Follow Student Life on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook!

Please contact 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 week so there may be a delayed response. Rest assured, your housing and accommodations questions will be answered during the Housing and Accommodations webinar on May 21; please register and submit your questions in advance.