Incoming First Year Students

Students may complete a housing agreement to participate in the housing selection process. Agreements should be completed online by logging into the New Hawks Portal or The Nest (nest.sju.edu). Follow the steps below:

1. Log into The Nest (nest.sju.edu) and go to the "Student Services & Resources" section.
2. Click on "Housing Application" to access the Housing Portal.
3. Once within the Housing Portal, select the appropriate academic year.
4. Items that are available to view and complete will have red text. If you find that you are not able to advance through the menu, look at the items that are available and be sure to click "Save & Continue" at the bottom of the page to verify that you have seen the information.*Please note that the housing agreement is a binding agreement for the entire academic year and students will not be released except for extraordinary circumstances.

If you are an incoming first-year student, you can complete the housing agreement on the New Hawks Portal by following the steps below:

1. Enter your username and password in the Secured Access Login box on The Nest home page.
2. Within the “New Hawks Portal," select “Complete Housing Agreement” located in the "To Do” List. Please note that the housing agreement is a binding agreement for the entire academic year and students will not be released except for extraordinary circumstances.

• On the designated date, students who have completed the housing agreement will be able to log in to the Nest to view their randomly assigned housing selection date and time.
• On this date, students can also begin to use the room search feature in the housing selection module in the Nest. This feature offers students an opportunity to view all available bed spaces. Once students begin making housing selections, fewer spaces will appear as available.

• Housing selection will occur for students by their class year. Selection typically occurs over the course of several dates.
• On their designated selection date and time, students will be able to log in and select a housing assignment through our online system.
• Please be aware, the Office of Residence Life cannot predict or control information shared through Facebook and other social media. All information regarding housing agreements, roommate profiles and housing selection can be accessed through the Nest. Outside organizations that are not accessible through this channel are not sponsored by or affiliated with Saint Joseph's University or the Office of Residence Life.

• Students who note a specific accommodation need within their housing agreement will receive an email with information about an administrative placement option for their specific need. You can learn more about the specific accommodation placement process below.
• Students who do not make a selection through the housing selection process will be administratively placed after the selection process is complete. This applies to any first- or second-year student and to any student with a completed housing agreement on file.

Hawk Hill

• May 14:  2025-2026 Housing Agreements become available in the Housing Portal for First Year Students
• June 16:  Housing Agreements Due to receive a Selection Date & Time
• June 18: Housing Selection Dates & Times and "Browse Rooms" feature available in the Housing Portal
• June 18: Honors Housing information emailed to students in the Honors program
• June 21-29:  Orientation
• July 7-10: First Year Student Housing Selection Process
• July 14-18: Administrative Placements completed for students who did not complete a selection

• Housing Selection Portal Tutorial: Take a walk-through the entire selection process from start to finish through this tutorial.
   
• Finding your Selection Date & Time in the Housing Portal
   
• Housing Options: View all housing options for First Year students.
   
• Selection based on Roommate Group:
  • Selecting as an Individual
  • Selecting with a Roommate Group of 2 people
  • Selecting with a Roommate Group larger than 2 people (Villiger & McShain only)

Visit us in Zoom during the following times to ask any questions you might have about the Housing Selection Process.

First Year Housing Selection Zoom Q&A Link (password: Hawks)

• July 3 (1pm-4:30pm)
• July 7-10 (during active selection times, 9am-6pm)

If your selection time is TODAY:

• Connect with a Residence Life Staff member during active selection times over Zoom.
  • First Year Housing Selection Zoom Link (Password: Hawks)
• Call our office at (610)660-1060.

If your selection time is later this week

• Email us at reslife@sju.edu.

The following email was sent to all deposited residential students as of 5/12/25.

Hello, 

Welcome to SJU and to Residence Life! We are excited that you will be joining us on-campus for the upcoming year! Below you will find some additional information about the Housing Selection Process, including important dates and helpful links. 

Housing Agreements for the 2025-2026 Academic Year will become available on Wednesday, May 14th in the Housing Portal within the Nest. This Housing Portal is where you will select your housing assignment and where you will be able to view your room, roommate, and dining plan information throughout the academic year. 

Housing Agreements are due on June 16 to receive a Housing Selection Date/Time, however, we will continue to accept Housing Agreements after this date. Students who submit a Housing Agreement after this date will still receive a selection date/time but it may be at the end of the selection week.

Housing Selection will occur on July 7-10. You will be assigned a specific time on this date when you will be able to select a space - these selection times are randomly assigned to students who have submitted their agreements by the June 16th deadline. Selection times will be available to view on June 18.

The completion of the agreement should be done online through the Housing Application Portal on The Nest. You can access this through your To-Do list or by following the instructions below:

1. Log in to The Nest (nest.sju.edu) and select the "Student" tab at the top-right of the page.
2. Within the "Student Services & Resources" section at the bottom of the page, click on "Housing Application" under "Housing & Dining Services"
3. Once within the Housing Portal, select the “Housing & Dining Application” and the 2025-2026 Academic Year.

As a reminder, SJU has a 2-year Residency Requirement, requiring all first year and second year students to live in campus housing.  

To help you with this first step of the Housing process, we will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, May 14th, from 5-6pm - Join us for an overview of the Housing Portal, including information about completing the Housing Agreement, searching for roommates, and our Residential Learning Communities (RLCs). 

Housing Information Webinar - May 14th, 5-6pm 

If you are unable to join, we will post a recording of this webinar on our website, along with additional Housing Selection Information and Tips and information about our Residential Learning Communities.

This email is being sent to your SJU email address as well as your personal email address. The Office of Residence Life communicates updates and important information via SJU email. Please be sure to continue to check your SJU email for updates and information from all SJU offices through the summer. Future correspondence will be sent only to your SJU email address.

 If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our office!

The following email was sent to all students with a completed Housing Agreement on 6/18/25.

Your Housing Selection Date & Time has been assigned for your selection of your 2025-2026 housing assignment. Selection times for incoming first year students begin on Monday, July 7th and end on Thursday, July 10th, beginning at 9:00 am and ending at 6:00 pm each day. 

Your Housing Selection Date & Time is: {RoomSelectionTimeslot} (times may be listed in military time).

You may also view your selection date and time through the Housing Portal available through your Checklist on the Nest. Your selection date and time can be viewed in the "Room Selection Information" step. If you are not able to access the Housing Portal through the To Do List, you may follow the Instructions below to access this information in The Nest:

1. Log in to The Nest (nest.sju.edu) using your SJU username and password.
2. Find the "School Services & Resources" section at the bottom of the page.
3. Under the "Housing & Dining Services" section, click on "Housing & Dining Application."
4. Once within the Housing Portal, select the 2025-2026 Housing & Dining Application.

Additionally, the "Browse Rooms" feature is now available within the Housing Portal. You may use this to view additional details about the housing options available for selection, including floor plans and occupancy information. “Browse Rooms” is also very similar to the steps you will see when you are making your Housing Selection. Please pay attention to the following updates for housing options as you use this tool.

• All First Year Buildings are Traditional-Style. Traditional style buildings offer double and triple rooms off of a hallway corridor, sharing common bathrooms. As you look at rooms, be mindful of the location of available rooms in relation to lounges, hallway entrance/exits, and bathrooms to consider what your preferences might be. 
• Suite-style (Sourin) is not available for selection.  Due to occupancy needs for the upcoming year, Sourin will not be available for first year students and will not be available for selection. Large roommate groups will still be able to select rooms together in McShain and Villiger.
• 3-Person Rooms - McShain has a limited number of 3-person rooms. These rooms are larger than the other rooms in the building and have a standard occupancy of 3 people. You can search for these rooms specifically in the “Browse Rooms” filter.
• Entire 1st floor of McShain - Women - In order to accommodate a higher ratio of female identifying students, the entire 1st floor of McShain is designated as female.
• Residential Learning Communities - Applications are due by July 2nd if you are interested in living in any of these specific communities located in Villiger or Sister Thea Bowman Halls.

To help you with this first step of the Housing process, we will be hosting a webinar this evening, Wednesday, June 18th, from 5-6pm - Join us for more information about viewing your Housing Selection date/time, an overview of the "Browse Rooms" feature and a general Q&A about the upcoming Housing Selection Process.

Housing Selection Webinar - June 18th, 5-6pm 

If you are unable to join, we will post a recording of this webinar on our website, along with additional Housing Selection Information and Tips and information about our Residential Learning Communities.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions!
 

The following email was sent to students accepted in the Honors program.

The Office of Admissions has indicated that you have been accepted into the Honors program at SJU. As such, you are able to make a special request to be administratively placed into McShain Hall as an Honors Program participant. This option allows Honors students to live together and get to know one another on a personal level, outside of class time. McShain Hall is also the closest first year residence hall to Claver House, the hub of the Honors Program.

Please review the following options carefully and complete the Honors Housing Preference Form below:

1. Administrative Placement into McShain with another Honors student.  Our office is able to accommodate one mutual roommate request, however, this requested roommate must also be a part of the Honors program. If you wish to be assigned with a specific roommate, please make sure that you and your roommate have requested and accepted each other within the Housing Portal
    
2. No interest in Honors Housing: If you do not wish to be placed into Honors housing in McShain you may participate in the general Housing Self-Selection at your originally assigned time (between July 7-10).

Please complete the following Honors Preference Form by 5pm on July 2nd to indicate your preference from these options.

Honors Preference Form

Please note that after 5 PM, July 2nd, 2025, we will not be able to offer priority placement into McShain Hall. Similarly, we are not able to remove you from a room assignment once it has been made for 2025-2026. Therefore, you are encouraged to give this option careful consideration and thought before making a commitment.

As we continue to prepare and plan for the upcoming year, The Office of Residence Life will be sending additional information about housing options and updates so be sure to check your emails and please let us know if you have any questions!

Sent to students who indicated interest in more information about Gender Inclusive Housing.

We have received your interest in the Gender Inclusive Housing option for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. Below is a link containing some additional information about Gender Inclusive Housing, including the Gender Inclusive Housing Agreement that includes our expectations of students living in this community. 

Gender Inclusive Housing Information

Although the Housing Selection Process is not scheduled to occur until mid-July, we are starting to reach out to students who are interested in specific housing options, such as Gender Inclusive Housing, to provide additional information. 

Students interested in a gender-inclusive housing option may select a space in Sister Thea Bowman Hall. Sister Thea Bowman offers Men’s, Women’s, and All Gender community bathrooms on each floor. All of these bathrooms are equipped with multiple shower and toilet stalls with full privacy doors. 

If you wish to create a gender-inclusive roommate group, please respond to this email and attach the Gender Inclusive Housing Agreement (this can be a scanned or photo document). Please respond by 5pm Wednesday, July 2nd, to confirm your interest. In your response, please also include if you are interested in living with a roommate or if you are seeking a single room accommodation. If you are interested in having a roommate, do you have a known roommate you plan to select with or are you looking for a roommate?

We will be in contact with you with more details as we get more information from others who are exploring this option. Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions in the meantime!

Sent to students with roommate groups larger than 3 students.

We can see that you have created a large roommate group which previously would have restricted you to only select into a suite-style community. Due to changes in our occupancy needs, the limited number of suites that were originally held for first year students will no longer be available for the upcoming selection process. 

We recognize that this change may alter your selection plans and we want to confirm that you may still select as a large group in McShain and Villiger, allowing your large group to select adjacent rooms in the same wing, maintaining the proximity that would be offered in the suite style. 

Below are a few important things to remember when making a selection as a group:

• Whoever has the earliest selection time in the group can make the selection for the group.
• Make sure that the space you are selecting has enough available spaces for your group. This will be noted as “Spaces on Floor” and “Spaces in Room” in the selection pages. 
• Make sure to assign your group into the same ROOMS. If you assign you and your roommates to different bedrooms leaving vacant spaces, you will receive random roommates.
• Make sure to discuss back-up plans with your roommate group in case your first choices are no longer available at your selection time.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office if you have any questions!