Room Selection 2026
Room Selection Overview 2026-27
Room Selection is the general term used to describe the process for residents selecting their rooms on campus for the Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 semester. Shepherd University provides double and single occupancy rooms across its 11 residence halls, representing a mix of traditional, suite, and apartment-style housing options. Students may also select their roommates as well or opt to meet someone new. There are three components of the process that will happen throughout the spring and summer, as well as during the school year.
#1: Complete the Resident Agreement and the Housing Application online
#2: Pay your $100 Housing Deposit – a one-time charge that is different than the Enrollment Deposit
##: Select your space at a designated time which are assigned on a rotating basis.
After completing the Housing Application and 2026-2027 Resident Agreement as well as submitting the $100 Housing Deposit, students have the opportunity to select roommates and become eligible to choose their rooms for Room Selection. Detailed information regarding the room selection process is provided below.
| 2026-27 Resident Agreement |
Room Selection Timeline
| Round | Submit Housing Application/ Resident Agreement: | Select Your Room On: |
| 1 | by February 6 | Returning Students: Select March 4-5
New Students: Select March 18 – 19 |
| 2 | February 7 – March 20 | Select a room from Mar. 31 – Apr. 1 |
| 3 | March 21 – June 30. | Select a room April 2 and beyond continuously, with a few maintenance breaks. |
| Rolling | July 1 and beyond | Residence Life will assign students based on available rooms. |
Round 1 Choice for Returning Students: Encore vs General Process
Residents who lived on campus during the Fall 2025 semester can select to participate in either the Encore or General Process for Room Selection. Students must apply and have their Housing Deposit paid by February 6 to be eligible for this option.
- Encore Process: residents can be guaranteed to live in the same style of housing in the 2026-27 academic year as they had in Fall 2025.
- General Process: residents can select a different style of housing and can choose their own housing.
We reserve 100 total single rooms across all halls for eligible students. For room selection, students will choose to participate in either the General process (enables the resident to select their own placement in one of the halls, depending on availability) or the Encore process (enables a student to return to the same housing style, not a specific room) for selecting a double or single occupancy room. Note: students must have occupied the space during the fall semester to be eligible for Room Encore.
Do I Qualify for the Room Encore Process?
My Fall Space was a buy-out Single or an ADA single and I want to remain in a Single in the same Housing style. |
Yes, select both the SINGLE and ENCORE processes on the 2026-27 Housing Application by February 6. Residence Life will place you in a room – you will not choose the space. |
My fall space was a buy-out Single or An ADA single and I want to live in a Single in a different Housing style |
No, not qualified for the Encore process. Select the SINGLE and GENERAL processes on the the 2026-27 Housing Application by February 6. If you had a Buy-Out Single in this situation, you are not guaranteed to have a single for 2026-27. You must be re-selected from all applications. You will select your space during the General Room Selection Process. |
My Fall Space was A “single by default “(paying double occupancy rates with no roommate) |
No, not qualified for the Encore process. Select the GENERAL process and either the SINGLE or DOUBLE process on the 2026-27 Housing Application. You will select your space during the General Room Selection Process. |
My Fall Space was a double and I wish to live in a double in the same community style |
Yes, select both ENCORE and DOUBLE processes on the 2026-27 Housing Application by February 6. Residence Life staff will place you in a room – you will not choose the space. |
I did not live on campus during Fall 2025. What should I do? |
Select GENERAL and either the SINGLE or DOUBLE process on the 2026-27 Housing Application. You will select your space during the General Room Selection Process. |
Applying for the Encore Process does not guarantee placement in a specific room/floor/building.
Community Styles
| Traditional Style | Shaw Hall, Thacher Hall |
| Potomac Suite Style | Potomac Place |
| West Woods Suite Style | Boteler Hall, Lurry Hall, Martin Hall (honors), Moler Hall (reserved for licensees through the WV Campus Self-Defense Act), Yost Hall |
| Apartment Style | Dunlop Hall, Printz Hall |
Round 1 Request Option for All Students: Single Room vs. Double Room Occupancy
- Single occupancy room: residents do not share a bedroom with anyone else, but their may be people in the other bedroom of suites and apartments. There is a higher cost for the room. Only 100 spaces offered across campus. Must submit Housing Application by Feb. 6 for top consideration. The specific location of the single room cannot be guaranteed.
- Double occupancy room: share a bedroom with another person. This is the most commonly selected option.
Order of Single Occupancy Room Eligibility
Note: There are only 100 singles available across all housing styles and every year we create a wait list as we have more requests than available spaces.
To be eligible for a single occupancy room in the first round, students must have their $100 Housing Deposit on file, be registered for Spring 2026 classes, and be in good financial standing with the University by February 6. The order for room selection is based on (1) the number of academic credits earned, (2) when the Housing Application/Resident Agreement is submitted, and (3) having the $100 Housing Deposit on file. Students who have earned more credit hours and who complete the Housing Application/Resident Agreement more quickly are more likely to have their first choices. Listed below is the order of single occupancy room eligibility:
- First, Students with Accommodations for Singles through Accessibility Services will have designated single occupancy rooms available throughout campus.
- Second, Singles Encore Process in which students who have bought-out singles in Fall 2025 and who mark that they want to stay in the same housing style and they submit the Housing Application by the February 6 deadline.
- Third, General Singles Process for students who are not currently in singles or people who are currently in bought-out singles but would like to live in a different housing style.
- All students with 75+ credit hours earned as of February 6 and requested a single, by the date the Housing Application was completed.
- All students with 45+ credit hours earned as of February 6 and requested a single, by the date the Housing Application was completed.
- All students with 15+ credit hours earned as of February 6 and requested a single, by the date the Housing Application was completed.
- All students with 0+ credit hours earned as of February 6 and requested a single, by the date the Housing Application was completed.
- Students who submit their Housing Application February 7 – March 27 and who mark that they want a Single Occupancy room on their online Housing Application.
- Students who submit their Housing Application March 28 and and who mark that they want a Single Occupancy room on their online Housing Application.
Additional Housing Preferences
- Accommodations – residents with Accommodations approved through the Office of Accessibility Services will select their own spaces in most situations. Spaces are reserved within all housing styles, but specific building or room placements are not guaranteed.
- AnyGender – residents of any gender may request to live together. Residents must completely fill all spaces within the entire suite or apartment; Residence Life does not match students for this housing option. Select this on “Additional Housing Placement Question” page of the Housing Application. The groups will meet with the Housing Assignments Coordinator to select a space.
- Honors – Martin Hall, located at West Woods Suites, is prioritized for students enrolled in the Honors Program. Select this option on “Additional Housing Placement Question” page of the Housing Application.
Have Questions?
If a student does not select their room during the designated times, Residence Life will assign students to available rooms. If you have questions regarding the room selection process, please do not hesitate to email residencelife@shepherd.edu.
