AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
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AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
Residential Life and Learning

Room Change Process

Fall 2026 Room Change Process

Residential Life is a room change freeze period while we determine which students are arriving late and may not move in. Collecting information about how is on campus and who has decided not to move in is crucial so Residential Life knows which spaces are vacant and can be offered during the room change process.  The Room Change Request Form will be available again on Wednesday, September 23 in the Housing Portal. Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis and students should typically hear from a Residential Life staff member 2-3 business days after submitted a Room Change Request Form. 

Our ability to honor room change requests is subject to availability. 

Overview of the Room Change Process during the Academic Year

  1. The student who wishes to move should contact their Resident Assistant (first year, sophomore and Fletcher students) or their Residential Life Coordinator (juniors and seniors).
  2. Residential Life staff and the student meet to talk about reasons for the room change request and discuss possible solutions, including mediation and conflict resolution options.
  3. Students should have a conversation with the involved parties regarding potential solutions. An RA or RLC can be present, if requested.
  4. If the student is continuing to experience difficulty living with their roommate(s) after having a mediation conversation, they should update Residential Life staff. If new agreements or compromises are agreed upon during the initial conversation, students should try to live with those new agreements for about two weeks.
  5. After a student submits a room change request form, the Associate Director of Residential Operations will contact the student via email to discuss their preferences and options for a room change. 

Roommate Agreement

All students at Tufts are required to complete a roommate agreement regardless of class year. Students should use these agreements to set shared living expectations of a space.

Important Details

  • Switching Rooms Within a Suite/Apartment: If you are interested in switching rooms with a suitemate/apartment-mate, you must submit a Room Change Request Form in your Housing Portal and wait for your request to be approved.
    • Students who switch rooms without authorization are subject to a $150.00 improper room change fee, the student conduct process, and are responsible for any damage in the space to which they are assigned whether they lived there or in another space.
  • Advance Notice: We try to provide 24-48 hours' notice of a new roommate moving in. This is not guaranteed depending on the timeliness of the move.
  • If you are approved to change rooms, you will be given temporary access to your current space and new space for 48 hours so you have time to move.
  • If a student vacates your room, you (and roommates, if applicable) will be given 72 hours to request a student to move into that space. Once 72 hours has passed, RLL will fill the vacancy as needed.
  • Students requesting a room change will be matched with a student whose has a vacancy in their space using their housing survey responses. The student with the vacancy in their space will be notified that a new student has been assigned to their space and given 24-48 hours' notice.
  • Students are expected to kindly welcome new roommates into vacancies in their space and take reasonable steps to make them feel welcome in their new assignment.