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Housing and Residence Life FAQ

Living on campus can be a fun and fulfilling experience as a UTampa student, though it can come with a lot of questions. Read below for the answers to some of the most commonly asked ones.

Table of Contents

General FAQ

Please see housing and meal rates.

Residents are required to participate in the University's meal plan. The 7-meal plan per week option is only available to students living in an apartment with a kitchen, which includes Urso, Palm and Straz halls. Students have the option to choose from four different meal plans and may also purchase Spartan Dollars for use at food establishments on campus. During academic breaks, dining hours and availability are subject to change. For more information, please see Dining Services.

Research in student development indicates that residential living supports student transition to a university. Residential living for new students may ease student transition to the UTampa environment and provide significant support for the inherent challenges of heightened academic rigor and increased independence in the first year of college.

 

Housing and Residence Life follows a residential curriculum, Spartan Living, which provides learning and social events for residents to “Thrive Where You Reside.” Additional information on curriculum goals can be found on the Spartan Living page.

Housing Agreement start and end dates and the length of the agreement  align with the University academic calendar. Residence halls remain open during Thanksgiving and spring break periods.

 

The residence halls are also open for winter break, but students wishing to remain on campus must sign up and pay an additional charge for winter break housing. Please see the application page for more information.

Contact information can be found on the Contact Housing and Residence Life page.

The Barrymore Hotel

The Barrymore Hotel is UTampa’s off-site residence hall. It is considered on-campus housing due to its proximity to campus and the availability of UTampa services to all residents, including Campus Safety patrols, free laundry and Resident Assistant/Area Coordinator presence. Additional information regarding The Barrymore Hotel can be found on The Barrymore Hotel page.

The Barrymore shuttle is a free service to UTampa students that provides drop offs between the Barrymore Hotel and the Vaughn Center 7-days a week throughout the academic year.
 

The Barrymore shuttles run every 30 minutes between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 5:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Meal plans are required for students living at the Barrymore Hotel.

Furniture in the Barrymore includes two queen-sized beds (linens are provided), a private bathroom, a desk, a chair, a dresser (3-4 drawers), a nightstand, a microwave, a mini-fridge and a TV with cable included.
 

Beds in the Barrymore Hotel are queen size, and linens are provided. If a student prefers to bring their own linens to the Barrymore, we ask that they bring linens that are not solid white.

The Barrymore Hotel includes resident assistants on each residential floor to help provide a traditional residence hall experience. In addition, their is a Residence Life office located at the Barrymore in room 330.

Room concerns can be reported to the front desk in person or via phone at (813) 223-1351. Students can also report concerns via email at reservations@barrymorehotel.com or can contact the Housing and Residence Life office via the contact information page. 
 

During the business day (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday) students can also visit the Residence Life office in Barrymore room 330 for support.
 

We encourage students to report any concerns immediately so that the issue can be addressed as soon as possible.

Yes, housekeeping is provided to Barrymore residents via the housekeeping team twice per week. This includes bathroom sanitizing, vacuuming and laundering of hotel-provided linens.

Both Campus Safety and private security officers regularly patrol the Barrymore Hotel. Additionally, the front desk is open 24 hours a day and resident assistant team members are available for student calls between the hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.

Applying for Housing

Housing applications must be completed in the StarRez software system, which is accessible via the StarRez chiclet in MyUTampa.  Due to high demand,  students are encouraged to apply for on campus housing as soon as possible. Additional information can found on the forms page.

Fall room and roommate assignments are released by mid-July at the latest via the StarRez system. Housing and Residence Life will email students via on their Spartan email account once these assignments are posted.

UTampa students are not required to live on campus.

New students should indicate roommate preferences on their housing application. Due to the volume of housing requests, requested roommates are not guaranteed.

 

Fall term students are allowed to request only one or two prospective roommates. Changes to roommate requests and groups can be made through the May 1 deadline. Please note if a student chooses none or only one roommate through our matching process, they may still be placed in a triple room with additional roommate(s). It is also possible that requested roommates be placed in the same suite rather than the same bedroom.
New incoming students (including transfers) cannot request to room with someone who is a current student at UTampa.

 

Continuing students are able to create roommate groups after they complete their continuing student housing application. Roommates will pick their own rooms as a group during the online housing selection process. Please see the Returning Resident Room Selection page for more information.

 

The Standby List is intended for continuing students only.  New students should apply for housing using the New Student Housing Application.

In accordance with applicable federal, state and local disability laws, The University of Tampa will make every effort to provide reasonable housing accommodations for students who have a qualifying disability. Any student needing accommodations related to University housing or meal plan options should contact Student Accessibility Services to request appropriate accommodations and provide supporting documentation. Student Accessibility Services and Housing and Residence Life work collaboratively in order to provide appropriate housing accommodations for eligible students living on-campus.

 

Accommodation requests and documentation should be submitted by the deadlines (New fall students – May 1, New spring students – Oct. 1, Continuing students – Feb.1); requests submitted after posted deadlines will still be considered but will be subject to space availability. Student Accessibility Services will notify Housing and Residence Life regarding students who are approved for accommodations. Assignments will be made directly by Housing and Residence Life based on the approved accommodation(s).

 

If reasonable accommodations cannot immediately be satisfied due to capacity/facility design/availability/etc., the student’s request will be given priority over other housing requests. Each student’s request will be reviewed on an individual basis..

 

Any questions concerning documentation requirements should be directed to Student Accessibility Services at accessibility.services@ut.edu or (813) 257-3266.

Information on the emotional support animal approval process can be found on the Student Accessibility Services website. Animals must be approved by Student Accessibility Services prior to coming to campus.

The University of Tampa welcomes service animals in all of its facilities when the animal is accompanied by a handler and has been individually trained to perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.

Information on service animals can be found on the Student Accessibility Services website.

On Campus Services

Yes, refrigerators and microwaves are welcome on-campus, provided the restrictions below are met:

  1. With the exception of Urso Hall, Palm Apartments and Straz Hall apartments (which already have full-size refrigerators), refrigerators should be no larger than 4.4 cubic feet, 36 inches high, 24 inches wide, 26 inches deep, 1.8 amps, 110 volts. In the interest of fire prevention, electrical outlets must not be overloaded.
  2. No devices for the purpose of cooking are allowed in residence hall rooms, with the exception of the following: blenders, can openers, and coffee makers. Microwave ovens are permitted in student rooms provided the microwave oven has been UL approved and does not exceed 700 watts.
  3. Residents in communities with provided appliances are responsible for cleaning their own stoves and refrigerators. Appliances are expected to be clean at checkout time.

For student convenience, Housing and Residence Life has partnered with a reputable vendor to service your MicroFridge needs, Campus Specialties, inc. MicroFridge units are perfect for any residence hall and are equipped with a microwave, freezer and refrigerator all in one attached unit. Before students move in, MicroFridges are delivered to rooms and are also picked up at the end of the year. All MicroFridge units must be purchased through the Campus Specialties website, www.mymicrofridge.com, or by phone at (800) 525-7307.

Each student gets a desk, desk chair, bed, dresser and closet space/wardrobe.

The University employs custodial workers to sanitize bathroom areas, lounges, lobbies, hallways, laundry rooms, study and TV lounges. Residents are responsible for cleaning their own rooms, including bathrooms and should clear spaces of personal belongings prior to weekly staff cleanings. 

 

 Maintenance concerns in student rooms should be reported promptly to the Office of Facilities Management. Requests are addressed in the order they are received unless the issue is considered an emergency. Most maintenance requests are completed within 24–48 hours. Maintenance staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with emergency assistance available outside of regular business hours.

The housekeeping team prioritizes the cleaning and sanitizing of common areas, such as bathrooms, lounges, lobbies, hallways, laundry rooms and community lounges. These cleaning are scheduled throughout the week, with a daily emphasis on common-touch locations such as door handles. Specific schedule and/or product questions can be directed to the Facilities Management Department.

All student addresses are "401 W. Kennedy Blvd.; Campus Box #___; Tampa , FL 33606." Please inform those sending you mail and packages of the correct address. With the proper address, your mail will arrive faster and be distributed efficiently.

 

Mail Services is located in the Southard Family Building. Packages may be sent to students at their post office box. Residential students living on campus with properly addressed packages and first-class mail will receive an email notification from mail services indicating they have items to pick up. The email will direct students as to what type of item they have and where to pick up the item.

 

Residents receiving deliveries of perishable items such as flowers will not be delivered to their room or box number directly, but to the Information Desk at the Vaughn Center, where they will be contacted to pick up their item(s). A picture ID is required to retrieve deliveries. Food delivery services (including but not limited to GrubHub, Instacart, DoorDash) are not managed or collected at the Vaughn Information Desk.

Residents must immediately report lost keys or missing keys at the Vaughn Information Desk. Loan keys can be also issued at the Information Desk for temporary needs. If a loan key is not returned within the designated time frame, the student will automatically be charged for a lock change. There is a charge of $150 for lock and key replacements and the total amount will be billed to the resident's student account. New keys are issued within two to three business days.

Laundry facilities are free to on-campus residents and located in each residence hall. Campus laundry rooms are equipped with High-Efficiency (HE) washers and dryers and HE detergent is recommended. 

 

Another option for UTampa students is to utilize the Tampa Laundry Company, a family-owned Tampa business that offers pick-up and delivery laundry services.  To sign up or for more information, visit tampalaundry.com.

For student comfort, all residence hall mattresses are extra-long twins, measuring 80" x 36". This is longer than the average 76 inches.

 

Beds in the Barrymore Hotel are queen size, and linens are provided. If a student prefers to bring their own linens to the Barrymore, we ask that they bring linens that are not solid white.

Linens are not provided to students, with the exception of those at the Barrymore Hotel. All residence hall mattresses are extra-long twins, measuring 80" x 36". This is longer than the average 76 inches.

Beds in the Barrymore Hotel are queen size, and linens are provided. If a student prefers to bring their own linens to the Barrymore, we ask that they bring linens that are not solid white.

Resident rooms are carpeted in the Barrymore Hotel. All other residence halls do not have carpet in bedrooms.

With a computer equipped with an Ethernet or wireless card, students can enjoy free, direct, unlimited access to email and the Internet from any residence hall room. Wireless networking is also available throughout much of campus. Students without their own computer can use the conveniently located computer labs in the Vaughn Center and Plant Hall. Visit the Incoming Student ITS Checklist page for more tips on-campus technology.

All residential students have the ability to connect to the University Wi-Fi using their student credentials. Information on setting up connections, including placing work/support tickets can be found on the Information Technology webpage.

Housing and Residence Life staff are available to assist students 24 hours a day through community desks, the Vaughn Information Desk and the resident assistant on-call team. Additionally, the Department of Campus Safety patrols campus 24 hours a day, every day of the year. For more detailed information, please review the Department of Campus Safety’s webpage.

The Vaughn Center Information Desk serves as a hub for general campus services information, residential loan key checkouts, small item lost and found, and special deliveries. More information on the Vaughn Information Desk can be found on their Vaughn webpage.

Living On Campus

Please see the Packing List for information on what to bring to campus. A detailed list of items to leave at home can also be found on the Packing List website.

 

We encourage students to review the Campus Living Policies page to ensure that prohibited items are not brought to campus.

Throughout the academic year, social events and learning opportunities will be provided to on-campus students within the Spartan Living Residential Curriculum. For more information, please refer to the Spartan Living webpage. Housing and Residence Life staff plan and participate in the programs offered and can provide additional information on events.

Adjusting to life with a roommate can be a challenging transition for students. To support students, it is encouraged that roommates address issues as they arise. When roommates are experiencing concerns, resident assistants (RA) can mediate student conflict or refer them to the Area Coordinator of the community.
 

Residents are permitted to change rooms on a voluntary basis during the open room change period that will occur during the third week of classes each semester. Information on the process can be found on the Room Change website.

Renters/property insurance is not currently required but is strongly recommended to all on campus residents. Students and families are encouraged to determine if personal belongings are also covered under their family's homeowner's insurance policy, if applicable.

 

To provide an affordable renter's insurance option, Housing and Residence Life has partnered with GradGuard student Renter's Insurance. Additional information can be found on the GradGuard website.

 

The University of Tampa is not responsible for loss or damage to personal property from any cause.  

Residential Guests are defined as any persons who are not affiliated but invited to The University of Tampa by a resident assigned to on-campus housing. Residents may have guests (including overnight) with authorization from their roommate(s). This authorization may be in the form of verbal or written consent.
 

Guests in the residence halls are not a right but a privilege granted with the agreement of the roommate(s). Guests are not permitted in a room unless all occupants of that room are in agreement; consent to a guest may be withdrawn by a resident or roommate at any time. Guests are subject to University regulations and residence hall policies and must be escorted by their resident host at all times.
 

Resident hosts are responsible for the actions of their guests and may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for the actions of their guests or any violations of the residential guest policy. Students are not permitted to give their Spartan Cards or room keys for a guest to access the residence hall or room under any circumstances.
 

Residential Guests may stay a maximum of three consecutive nights and 15 total nights per semester in the residence halls. Cohabitation by anyone other than the individual assigned to that room is prohibited.
 

Residential Guests may stay in a room overnight with a maximum of two overnight guests per host at a time. Gatherings with more than three times the designated occupancy of a residence hall room/apartment is prohibited. For example, an apartment with four residents cannot exceed twelve occupants at any time, a room with two residents cannot exceed six occupants at any time, etc.
 

If a student feels their roommate(s) are not abiding by this policy, it is the responsibility of the student to notify a Housing and Residence Life or Campus Safety staff member.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest hospital or urgent care center immediately.

Students experiencing illness are encouraged to contact Medical Services through the Dickey Health and Wellness Center for support and guidance.
 

Students who are unable to pick up meals due to illness may arrange for meal pick-up assistance by emailing reslife@ut.edu. In the email, students must include the name of the individual(s) authorized to assist with meal pick-up. Meal pick-up accommodations are limited to students experiencing illness who are working with a medical provider.
 

Students who are unable to attend class due to illness should communicate directly with their instructors regarding missed coursework and attendance expectations. Please refer to the UTampa Attendance Policy for additional information.

Transportation

Sophomores, juniors and seniors are permitted to bring cars to campus. Learn more about vehicle registration and parking regulations.

Pedal-powered bicycles may be stored in student rooms with the agreement of all roommates. Bicycle racks are also available outside the residence halls. Students who bring bicycles to campus are encouraged to register them with Campus Safety.

 

Motorcycles, motor scooters, mopeds and other fuel or electric-powered vehicles are prohibited in residence halls (unless approved as a medical device), and must be parked in accordance with University parking regulations.

 

Devices or other equipment intended for the moving of persons medically issued, including but not limited to Segways and self-balancing scooters, must be approved by Student Accessibility Services. Approved medical devices or equipment must adhere to a respectable and reasonable speed limit when operated indoors. Skateboards, bicycles and approved medical devices or equipment may be stored in rooms as long as a clear exit emergency path is maintained.

Currently, shuttle services are provided to residents of the Barrymore, the Henry and 220 Madison. For off-campus resources and information, please refer to the Off-Campus Housing page.

Please refer to the transportation resources page through the Office of Campus Safety.

The University of Tampa welcomes outside storage and moving companies and their box trucks on campus to assist students and their families with their move-in and move-out process with the exception of designated University move-in and move-out days. Box trucks will not be permitted on campus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on university designated move-in days.typically held in August and January as well as designated move-out days in December and May.

 

Students must be checked into their residence hall assignment, present on campus, and must escort the representative from their chosen storage or moving company at all times inside the residence hall. Storage and moving companies cannot be scheduled prior to a student’s arrival to or after their departure from campus. Housing and Residence Life  staff cannot give storage and moving companies access to any residential facility on campus. Any box truck blocking campus or city traffic will be required to move regardless of whether their move is complete.

 

Housing and Residence Life has partnered with Collegeboxes, powered by U-Haul. The Collegeboxes program is the only UTampa-approved move-in and storage program that offers in-room pre-arrival deliveries, allowing students to have their items placed in their Fall room assignments prior to move-in day.

 

Current on-campus residents will be able to sign up with Collegeboxes for select dates this spring to drop off items on campus, which the company can store over the summer months. Current on-campus residents who are planning to live off-campus may also have the items shipped to their off-campus residences.

 

Incoming residents can also utilize the service to direct ship their items from home, including international locations as an affordable and convenient way for students to get their items shipped and delivered to school. Additional information is available at https://www.collegeboxes.com.