Living On Campus
Providence has two campuses that students from all colleges can choose to live on. The Downcity Campus is located in the heart of Providence and Harborside Campus overlooks the Narragansett Bay. Most of our residence halls are centrally located. Explore our res halls and related forms, requests, and processes.
Join our Res Life Team: Apply Here
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Pet & Animal Friendly CommunitiesWe offer pet & animal friendly communities for our students in select residence halls. Applying for a pet & animal is completed through the online housing application found through your jwuLink account. Please click below for additional information. Community Guide (PDF) |
FORMS & PROCESSES
Resources
- Wildcat Packing List
- Underage Guest Form (PDF):
- Guests Under 18 Years Old (16 and 17 year olds): Any guests under 18 must be approved by the Area Coordinator/Graduate Assistants at least one week in advance along with a parent/guardian note with a signature, emergency contact name and phone number, and valid government issued ID to spend the night or visit during the day.
Guide to On-Campus Living
View Residential Life’s policies and procedures, including:
- Room safety
- Guest policy
- Room changes
- Holiday break
- End-of-year shut-down
- Mailing addresses
Wildcat Housing Selection
At JWU each student selects their own on campus home through an online application found in JWU Link. Selection is split into two phases. Phase 1 is all about you — this is where you will answer profile questions and begin your search for potential roommates. Phase 2 is where you select your hall, room and if desired, your roommate(s).
Medical Need Accommodations
If you have a disability and want to request any type of housing accommodation, you must submit adequate documentation to the Accessibility Services. You will have the opportunity to indicate your need for an on-campus medical accommodation in the online housing application found through your jwuLink account, however, you will still need to work directly with Accessibility Services to receive that accommodation.

General FAQs
Fall Semester Move In Date
Our residence halls typically open on Saturday before the classes begin. To learn when the classes will begin for the fall, please check the academic calendar.
For academic year 2023-2024 our halls will open on Saturday, August 26. Your specific move in time will be emailed to your JWU email address approximately a week prior to move-in date.
Fall Semester Move Out Date
Our residence halls close for the winter break on finals week Friday at noon. To learn when the finals week is for the semester, please check the academic calendar. Students are required to move out of their room within 24 hours of their last final exam or by the closing time, whichever comes first.
For academic year 2023-2024 our halls will close on Friday, December 15, 2023 at noon.
Winter Break Housing
If you need to stay on campus during the winter break, you may do so by applying for winter break housing through the housing portal. We send detailed information to all students through JWU email in early to mid-October.
Students who stay in housing for winter break may need to relocate to a different residence hall and access to their semester room is turned off for the break, so plan on packing the belongings you will need for the few weeks.
Winter break housing is offered at additional cost and the cost is the same regardless whether the student will remain on campus for one night or the entire break.
Spring 2024 Semester Move In Date
Our residence halls typically open on Sunday at 10am before the classes begin for Spring. To learn when the classes will begin for the fall, please check the academic calendar.
For academic year 2023-2024 our halls will open on Sunday, January 7th, 2024 at 10am.
Spring 2023 Year-End Move-Out Date
Our residence halls close for the year the day after the last day of exams at noon.To learn when the finals week is for the semester, please check the academic calendar.
Students are required to move out of their room within 24 hours of their last final exam or by the closing time, whichever comes first.
For academic year 2022-2023 our halls will close on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at noon.
If you are a student who is graduating or participating in graduation in an official university role, your move out day is Sunday after graduation by 10am. For academic year 2022-2023, your move-out date is Sunday, May 7, 2023 by 10am.
Mid-Semester Breaks
Thanksgiving Break (Fall Semester):
Our halls are open during the Thanksgiving break and students may remain in their rooms at no additional cost and with limited services (front desk, mail delivery, meals, transportation, etc.).
Spring Break (Spring Semester):
Our halls are open during the Spring break and students may remain in their rooms at no additional cost and with limited services (front desk, mail delivery, meals, transportation, etc.).
Summer Housing
Students needing to stay on campus during summer may do so by applying for summer housing. You can expect to get an email from housing (to your JWU email address) between mid-March and mid-April of every year with details on application, location, costs, etc.
FAQs
Do I have to live on campus?
All first and second year students are required to live in university housing unless the student meets one or more of the following criteria: the student is married; is a parent; is at least 21 years of age; is living at home with a relative, parent, or guardian and commuting within a 50-mile radius of campus; is a transfer student; or is not eligible to live on campus.
Students who have been convicted of certain felonies (or have had certain felony-type charges sustained in a juvenile proceeding), such as crimes of violence, serious drug offenses and sex offenses, are not eligible to live in university housing.
Students must maintain full-time day student status in order to remain in university housing.
When is Move-In for the fall of 2023?
Saturday, August 26
When is Move-In for the spring of 2024?
Sunday, January 7
Can I change my room?
We offer room change requests a couple of times per year. The first opportunity will be during week 3 when the application opens. During the room change window you can put in for a room change and we'll do our best to fulfill your request.
After I arrive, can I just switch rooms with another person if they want to move, too?
Please check with your Hall Staff before you take any action.
Can I move in early for fall?
You can request to move in up to 2 days prior to the official move-in day at an additional fee. The application to request for early arrival typically opens mid-August in our housing portal.
I am in a triple, but there are only 2 people assigned to my room. Does that mean I will have extra space in my room?
If you have an empty space in your room please keep it available for a potential new roommate to move in. (This includes leaving the extra bed, closet, dresser and desk free of personal items and ready for a new occupant.)
How do I get a micro-fridge for my room?
Students that want a micro-fridge must pre-order a unit. Units will be delivered to rooms in August only for those students that have rented it prior to the deadline. More information regarding deadlines will be emailed to students during the summer. To obtain pricing information and make rental arrangements, please contact My MicroFridge or call them at 1-800-637-7567.
What’s in my room?
The university provides each resident with a twin extra-long bed, a desk and chair, dresser, and closet space.
What’s in my hall?
Each hall conveniently provides study rooms, TV lounges, game rooms, laundry, a printing station for the course work, and vending machines.
Where can I do laundry?
Laundry facilities are located in each residence hall. The cost is $1.65 to wash and $1.65 dry. Washing machines and dryers are paid for through the new mobile pay system that is being installed this summer. Students will be receiving more information regarding laundry payments and process in the upcoming months.
How do I use the new laundry system?
Can I have pets?
Freshwater fish in 5-gallon tanks or smaller are allowed in all residence halls. We do have pet friendly communities. Students must submit and have their pet application approved before bringing their pet to campus (no application needed for freshwater fish).
How are residence halls secured?
All residence halls require ID card access to enter. All of our traditional halls have the front desk that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when the halls are open.
Can I ship items ahead?
We do not staff the residence halls until students arrive, so mail will not be accepted prior to move-in weekend. If packages or mail are sent ahead of time, they will be returned. Please plan for any and all shipments to arrive after your student has moved into a residence hall.