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

Room Change Process

Spring 2026 Room Change Process

From time to time, students may wish to change their room assignment, either because of a desire for a different location, due to a roommate or community conflict or for other reasons. We ask that students first discuss a possible room change with their Resident Assistant. Oftentimes, the student staff member can provide helpful insight or guidance for how to navigate conflict, or alternatively, they can help residents work through the room change process and connect them with a professional staff member who can provide support.

Please note that our primary goal in this process is to have students resolve conflicts with one another and remain in their space. Changing rooms is considered a last resort after all other options have been exhausted.

Your Resident Assistant or Residential Life Coordinator will be able to provide additional information about the room change process. A list of staff and contact information is available here. Please note the Resident Assistants do not have the ability to approve room change requests or room swaps. 

The Room Change Request form closed on 5PM on Friday, March 13, 2026. 

Fall 2026 Room Change Process

The Fall 2026 Room Change Request Form will be available in the Housing Portal on Monday, June 1. Students must submit a room change request by 5PM on Friday, July 10 for full consideration ahead of fall semester move in. 

All requests will be reviewed after July 10 and students will receive a response no later than 5PM on Friday, July 17. 

Our ability to honor room change requests is subject to spaces available. Room changes cannot be guaranteed. Students must move into their assigned space on their approved move in day. Students who'd like to swap rooms within an apartment or wood frame house must go through the room change process for approval. 

Overview of the Room Change Process

  1. The student who wishes to move should contact their Resident Assistant.
  2. The Resident Assistant and 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 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 reach out to their Residence Life Coordinator. 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. The student you are requesting must already have submitted a housing application. 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.