Housing Selection at Lock Haven

• 2-Year Residency Requirement
  • All full-time undergraduate students must live on-campus for their first two years as part of the residency requirement.
• Full Academic Year Agreement
  • Each housing application, also known as a Housing and Food Service Licensing Agreement, is a legally binding document that applies to the entire academic year. By completing and submitting it, you are stating you have read, understood, and accept the terms and conditions. Any student who signs and submits a housing application but does not finish the housing selection process will be assigned to a room and roommate automatically by Housing & Residence Life.
• Meal Plan Requirement
  • Students who live in on-campus housing are required to purchase a meal plan. Make sure to check out your meal plan options and the current meal plan costs before making your selection.
• Housing Options and Costs
  • Make sure to check out your housing options and our current housing rates before making your selection.

Steps to Complete Your Housing and Dining Agreement

• Log in MyHousing Self-Service using your Commonwealthu.edu email address and password.
• Along the left side, click on Housing & Dining Agreements then 1) Lock Haven NEW Student Housing & Dining Agreement Fall 2025-Spring 2026 (Fall 2025).
• After reading the Housing and Dining Agreement carefully, click the box at the end to type or sign your electronic signature and click Continue.
• Submit your answers and requested information to the application questions and click Continue.
• On the Addresses/Contacts screen, submit your primary home address and the name of one parent or legal guardian by clicking on the pencil icon next to each category to edit your information. Make sure you click the Save button in each category before you click the Continue button at the bottom of the screen.
• Select the meal plan that’s right for you with either $250 or $300 in FLEX. Students living in Fairview Suites or Smith Hall are required to select either the 19 Meals, 14 Meals, 10 Meals, or the 175 Block plans. If you accidently select a commuter meal plan, your meal plan will be changed to the 10 Meals plan.  After selecting your meal plan, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the Submit button.
• Click on the Home button to return to the MyHousing Self-Service homepage.
• Click on Personal Information on the left then My Info and select the term Fall 2025. Enter your answers to the personal information questions and click Submit.

Steps to Match With a Roommate

• Log in MyHousing Self-Service using your Commonwealthu.edu email address and password.
• To create your Roommate Profile, click Personal Information on the left then Roommate Profile.
• Fill in your information and click the Update Roommate Profile button at the bottom.
• Make sure the Profile Privacy is set to “Display my information and profile”. Otherwise, other students won’t be able to see and find your profile when searching/requesting you as a roommate in MyHousing Self-Service.
• To search for a roommate, click Room Selection on the left then Select Roommates and select the term Fall 2025.
• If you know who you want to live with then under Search for Roommate, enter the name of the person and click Begin Search. If the person does not appear in the search results, check the spelling of the name or search by only last name. Remember, your preferred roommate must have completed the Housing and Dining Agreement and set their Roommate Profile to “Display my information and profile” in order for their name to appear in the search.
• If you don’t know who you want to live with then under Search For Roommate, select one or two attribute choices and click Begin Search. If you get too many results, try adding in another attribute or two. If you get too few results, try subtracting an attribute or two.
• Click Request Roommate under the name of the person with whom you wish to live.
• Your chosen roommate must log in to MyHousing Self-Service and accept your roommate request in order for your roommate group to be fully matched.

Steps to Complete a Residency Requirement Exemption Request

As stated above, all first- and second-year students including transfer and readmitted students are required to live on-campus unless they meet one of the exemption rationales are met. Those students who qualify for and wish to be exempt from the 2-Year Residency Requirement will need to follow the steps below to apply for an exemption. Additional documentation related to their petition may be required. Students will not be considered exempt unless they receive an approval notice from the Office of Housing and Residence Life.

• Log on to MyHousing Self-Service using your Commonwealthu.edu email address and password.
• Along the left side, click on Housing & Dining Agreements then 2) Lock Haven Residency Requirement Exemption Request.
• Follow the prompts to complete your exemption request. Choose the exemption reason that applies to your situation. Only the exemptions listed are considered valid exemptions.

• What is housing selection?
  • The housing selection process allows students to select their housing assignment for the upcoming academic year. The process involves signing a housing agreement, which is a legally binding document.
• What is the length of my housing agreement?
  • The on-campus housing agreement covers the full academic year (fall and spring semesters) or remaining portion thereof.
• What is parental verification?
  • Students under the age of 18 at the time they submit their housing agreement will need a parent/guardian to complete an electronic verification of the student housing agreement. Without the completed parental verification, you will be unable to access Step 3 and Step 4 of the housing selection process.  
  • After completing your housing application, an automated email will be sent to the email address you listed for your parent/guardian in the Addresses/Contacts section during Step 1.  Be sure to have your parent/guardian check their Spam or Junk folders in case your email provider flags it by accident.  If your parent/guardian does not receive the electronic verification email, please send an email to housing@lockhaven.edu and include the name and email address of your parent/guardian and we will work to send a new verification email.
• How much does it cost to live on campus?
  • For housing rates and meal plan fees, visit the Housing and Meal Plan Fees page of our website.
• Do new students have to live in a specific residence hall?
  • No, all students are welcome to live in our traditional residence halls and Fairview Suites. Transfer students with 30 or more completed college credits may also live in Campus Village, Lock Haven's  apartment-style housing.
• What is gender inclusive housing?
  • Recognizing that single-gender housing may not be preferred by all students, Housing and Residence Life has established residential spaces not defined by the traditional gender binary (male and female). Students who complete a gender inclusive housing application may choose a roommate/suitemate from across the gender spectrum regardless of biological sex, or may live on a gendered floor regardless of their biological sex.
    • Please note, Smith Hall has gender inclusive, single-occupant bathrooms on each floor. Gender inclusive means the bathroom is available for any gender to use at any time.
• What is a double-as-a-single?
  • A double-as-a-single is a space designed to house two students with two sets of furniture but it reserved for only one student without a roommate. A limited number of double rooms in the traditional residence halls, shared suites in Fairview Suites, and apartments in Campus Village are available as a double-as-a-single. Please note, the second set of furniture cannot be removed from double-as-a-singles.
• How do I find a roommate?
  • MyHousing offers a roommate searching feature to assist in matching compatible students. The feature will become available for your use when Step 3: Match With Your Roommate opens on May 6, 2024. To use the feature, log into MyHousing and go to My Personal Information > Roommate Profile and submit your profile. Then go to Room Selection > Select Roommates to find someone with a similar roommate profile. Reach out to them and see if you would be compatible to live together. To see more results, try clearing some of the search criteria to expand your options.
  • Zeemee, a social app for college offered by Admissions, and the LHU Current Students group in Facebook also are great places to search for a roommate. You’ll find a link in your application portal to download the Zeemee app.
• Do I need a roommate if I want to live in a private suite in Fairview Suites?
  • Yes. Even though the two students living in a private suite have their own bedrooms (hence why we call it a private suite), they still share a bathroom and a small common space inside the suite.
• What happens if my roommate cancels their housing agreement?
  • If for some reason, after you have selected your apartment/suite/room, your roommate notifies us that they are no longer attending Lock Haven, we will fill the vacancy. We encourage students to check their housing assignment in MyHousing throughout the summer for any changes. Students will not be notified directly about roommate changes when they occur.
• Can I be assigned a roommate?
  • If you don’t want to select your own roommate, you can have Housing and Residence Life place you with another student and assign the two of you to a room. To select this option, simply complete Step 1: Create Your Housing Profile and Step 2: Sign Your Housing Contract. Once finished, send an email to housing@lockhaven.edu letting us know you want to be automatically assigned. Please note, roommate assignments completed by the Office of Housing and Residence Life are generated randomly in mid-to-late July after Housing Selection for New Students has ended.
• What is pet-friendly housing?
  • Available in Smith Hall and Campus Village only, students may bring from home one dog, one cat, OR two caged rabbits/hamsters/gerbils/guinea pigs to live with them. Certain restrictions apply. Pet registration, approval, and fee required before pet’s arrival. To request a Pet Friendly Residence Hall Registration Packet, please email us at housing@lockhaven.edu.
    • Fish living in a 10-gallon tank or smaller are welcome in all residence halls and do not need to be registered.

• Why can't I find my chosen roommate when I search for them by name?
  • Most likely your chosen roommate hasn't signed up for housing yet. Another reason may be your chosen roommate accepted a roommate request from another person. Contact your chosen roommate to make sure they've completed Step1 and Step 2 and still want to be your roommate.
  • If your chosen roommate is an upper-level student, their name will not appear in your search. Instead both you and your chosen roommate must send an email to housing@lockhaven.edu to request to room with each other.
• Why am I not getting any results when I search for a roommate by interests or lifestyle preferences?
  • The roommate search tool functions by using all of the criteria you select for your search. The more questions you answer in the search tool, the fewer results you will receive. For your first search, we recommend only answering the question "What is your ideal roommate's first choice for housing?" If you get more results than you want to read through, simply go back to the search tool and answer a second question to narrow down your results.

• 2-Year Residency Requirement
  • All full-time undergraduate students must live on-campus for their first two years as part of the residency requirement.
• Meal Plan Requirement
  • Students who live on-campus in a traditional residence hall and Fairview Suites must purchase a residential meal plan. Campus Village residents must also purchase a meal plan, but may select either a residential or commuter meal plan.
• Full Academic Year Agreement
  • Each housing application, also known as a Housing and Food Service Licensing Agreement, is a legally binding document that applies to the entire academic year. By completing and submitting it, you are stating you have read, understood, and accept the terms and conditions.
• Winter or Summer Semester Housing
  • Housing during the winter and summer semesters is not included in your fall - spring housing agreement. Students who anticipate needing on-campus housing during these time periods will need to complete the Winter Housing or Summer Housing sign-up process closer to the start of these sessions.
• Gender-Inclusive Housing
  • Smith Hall, Fairview Suites, and Campus Village offer housing options where students can share a 2-person occupancy room/suite/apartment regardless of the sex or gender identity of the occupants.
• Pet-Friendly Housing
  • Smith Hall and Campus Village are designated as pet-friendly for the Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 academic year. You may bring one cat, one dog, or two small caged animals (gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits) to campus* when you choose to live in either of these residence halls. Even if you do not bring a pet, please keep in mind that your neighbors may have pets. *Animal restrictions apply. Pets must be approved before they are brought to campus.

Step 1: Complete Agreement (Feb. 24 - April 4, 2025)

Complete the Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 Academic Year Returning Student Housing and Dining Agreement and pick your meal plan. This confirms your commitment to live on-campus for the full Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 academic year.

Step 2: Personal Information and Roommate (Feb. 24 - April 4, 2025)

Answer the Your Personal Information questions and request your roommate (if applicable). You must have the exact number of roommates requested in MyHousing Self-Service to fill the number of beds in the apartment, suite, or room you want to select. For example, if you want to select a 2-bedroom, 2-person suite (aka a Private Suite) in Fairview, you must request one roommate to do so.

Step 3: Housing Selection (March 12 - April 4, 2025)

Select your Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 apartment, suite, or residence hall room in MyHousing Self-Service during the room selection process.

Housing Selection Instructions

• What is housing selection?
  • The housing selection process allows students to select their housing assignment for the upcoming academic year. The process involves signing a housing agreement, which is a legally binding document.
• What is a double-as-a-single?
  • A double-as-a-single is a space designed to house two students with two sets of furniture but it reserved for only one student without a roommate. A limited number of double rooms in the traditional residence halls, shared suites in Fairview Suites, and apartments in Campus Village are available as a double-as-a-single. Please note, the second set of furniture cannot be removed from double-as-a-singles.
• How can I find a roommate?
  • MyHousing Self-Service offers a roommate searching feature to assist in matching compatible students. To use the feature, log into MyHousing Self-Service and go to My Personal Information > Roommate Profile and submit your profile. Then go to Room Selection > Select Roommates to find someone with a similar roommate profile. Reach out to them and see if you would be compatible to live together. To see more results, try clearing some of the search criteria to expand your options.
• Do I need a roommate to live in a Fairview Private Suite?
  • Yes. Even though the two students living in a private suite have their own bedrooms (hence why we call it a private suite), they still share a bathroom and a small common space inside the suite. That's why private suites are designated as two-person and are not eligible to be made into a double-as-a-single.
• How do I get approval to bring a pet to campus?
  • Select a room in our designated pet-friendly residence halls (Smith Hall or Campus Village) and contact us at housing@lockhaven.edu to request a Pet Friendly Residence Hall Registration Packet. Pet registration, approval, and fee required before pet’s arrival. Fish living in a 10-gallon tank or smaller are welcome in all residence halls and do not need to be registered.
  • Service animals and emotional support animals do not fall under the pet-friendly residence hall policy. Please contact Disability Services for assistance.
• What happens if my roommate cancels their housing agreement?
  • If for some reason, after you have selected your apartment/suite/room, your roommate notifies us that they are no longer attending LHU, we will fill the vacancy. We encourage students to check their housing assignment in MyHousing Self-Service throughout the summer for any changes. Students will not be notified directly about roommate changes when they occur.
• I selected the wrong room / meal plan. How do I change it?
  • MyHousing Self-Service will not allow you to make changes once you have selected housing. In order to make this type of change, you and your roommate will need to email housing@lockhaven.edu as soon as possible to request a change to be made.

Whether you're here for one session or the entire summer, our housing agreement allows you to select the dates you need. All students signed up for summer housing regardless of session will live in a Campus Village apartment without a roommate. Student dining services and meal plans will not be offered.

Eligibility Requirement

• To be eligible for on-campus summer housing, students must meet one of the following requirements:
  • Registered for Summer 2025 classes
  • Have an on-campus summer job
  • Unable to leave campus due to extenuating circumstances, which can be verified by the Office of Housing and Residence Life
  • Currently live in Campus Village and be assigned to live in the same apartment in Fall 2025 (e.g. Currently live in Campus Village 104 for the Spring 2025 semester AND be assigned to live in Campus Village 104 for the Fall 2025 semester)

Information coming soon.

All students registered for spring classes are welcome to live on campus at Lock Haven. If you didn't live on campus during the Fall Semester or you have been accepted to Lock Haven for the Spring Semester, follow the Spring Semester Housing Sign-Up process to secure on-campus housing.

Information on the Spring 2026 housing sign-up process will be available in October.