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Frequently Asked Questions

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We’ve anticipated many of your questions and tried to answer them. If you are unable to find the answer here, don’t hesitate to contact us

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General

  • Am I allowed to have pets?

    Pets ARE NOT permitted, except fish in a 20 gallon or less aquarium. Breach of this provision will result in a non-negotiable fee for fumigation services in addition to any appropriate cleaning or repair charges deemed necessary. Keeping a pet is grounds for immediate eviction.

  • Are laundry services available?

    All laundry services at UC Riverside are paid for through the WASH-Connect app.  The app allows the user to find available machines, pay for washes, and get notified when the laundry is done, all within the secure app.  Follow the directions below to get started. Laundry costs per load are $1.50 to wash and $1.00 to dry.

    * Payments on the app can only be made through credit/debit cards.

    DIRECTIONS

  • Are there any hazardous building materials I should be aware of?

    Although there is no imminent danger to residents, there are some conditions about which the University is required to inform residents. 

    Bannockburn Village Apartments, Aberdeen-Inverness Residence Halls, and the first phase of Lothian Residence Halls (i.e. A, B, & C wings) were built prior to 1980 and therefore were constructed with asbestos-containing materials (ACM), as well as materials containing lead. 

    The main health risks associated with both ACM and lead result from inhaling airborne fibers or dust, or ingesting chipped or damaged building materials. Health risks are considered low because accessible ACM and lead-containing materials are not likely to become airborne unless, for instance, ceiling, wall or hard surface floor material is punctured or disturbed in some way, or if pieces of damaged building materials are inadvertently eaten. 

    Because Housing staff are aware of these conditions, all renovations in these buildings are performed in accordance with applicable work practice standards.

    You can help us protect our community further by avoiding puncturing or otherwise compromising interior walls, ceilings and hard surface flooring, including by using nails to hang pictures, plants, or other decor. Alternatively, we recommend using appropriate adhesive and Velcro products such as Command Strips to hang room décor. 

    We ask that you promptly report damaged ceiling, wall, or hard surface floor materials to your Resident Services Office (RSO) or UCR Environmental Health & Safety at (951) 827-4214.  

    Please reference the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informational brochure, Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home for more facts and resources, or visit the EPA website.

    For specific information and data regarding building material conditions in Bannockburn Village Apartments, Aberdeen-Inverness Residence Halls, or Lothian Residence Halls, please contact UCR Environmental Health & Safety at (951) 827-4214.  

  • Bed Bugs: What You Need to Know

    UC Riverside takes a proactive approach in addressing the issue of all types of household pests, including bed bugs. It is our goal to maintain the highest quality living environment for our residents. Housing Services has no prior knowledge of a bed bug infestation or has professionally treated the room for bed bugs. Any Resident who suspects they may have bed bugs in their room is required to notify their Resident Services Office to report the problem immediately. An inspection will be scheduled, and treatment will be done if bed bugs are present. Residents may be temporarily transferred to another space while their room is being treated and re-inspected. Residents will be asked to seal all bedding, clothing, and drapes/curtains in plastic bags. This helps prevent bed bugs spreading to other spaces. Sheets, pillows, and clothes can be washed in soap and hot water. Items that cannot be washed should be dried in the dryer at a high temperature for at least 30 minutes. Residents will leave all furniture and approved belongings in the room for treatment while they are relocated. Resident owned belongings that are found to have bed bugs must be permanently removed and re-inspected by a trained professional before being returned to the room.

    1. Appearance: Bed bugs have six legs. Adult bed bugs have flat bodies about 1/4" of an inch in length. Their color can vary from red to brown to copper. Young bed bugs are very small. Their bodies are about 1/16" of an inch in length. They have almost no color. When a bed bug feeds, its body swells, may lengthen, and can become bright red, sometimes making it appear to be a different inspect. Bed bugs do not fly. They can either crawl or be carried from place to place on objects, people, or animals. Bed bugs can be hard to find and identify because they are tiny and try to stay hidden.
    2. Life Cycle and Reproduction: An average bed bug lives for about 10 months. Female bed bugs lay one to five eggs per day. Bed bugs grow to full adulthood in about 21 days. Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding.
    3. Bed Bug Bites: Because bed bugs usually feed at night most people are bitten in their sleep and do not realized they were bitten. A person's reaction to insect bites is an immune response and so it varies from person to person. Sometimes, the red welts caused by the bites will not be noticed until many days after a person was bitten, if at all.
    4. Common Signs and Symptoms of Possible Bed Bug Infestation: Small red to reddish brown fecal spots on mattresses, box springs, bed frames, linens, upholstery, or walls. Molted bed bug skins, white sticky eggs, or empty eggshells. Very heavily infested areas may have a characteristically sweet odor. Red, itchy bite marks, especially on the legs, arms, and other body parts exposed while sleeping, though some people do not show bed bug lesions on their bodies even though bed bugs may have fed on them.
  • Can I change my Dining Plan throughout the year?

    The Dining Plan selected is for the entire academic year. No, you are not allowed to change your dining plan throughout the year. You may change it during the designated period outlined in your housing contract.  A Dining Plan Change Request Form needs to be completed and all instructions for documentation followed. Submit a Dining Plan Change Request Form at your respective RSO. Please allow two weeks for your request to be processed.

  • Can I pick my own roommate?

    Yes. If you know the name of another student who you would like to room with, you may enter their name(s) in the appropriate space of your online contract or application. In order to be placed with that roommate, the roommate you have chosen will also need to submit an online contract or application and enter your name in the appropriate space.

    If you meet someone you would like to room with after you have already submitted your online contract or application, you can log back in to edit it or you may email Housing Services to let us know the roommate’s full name. Again, your chosen roommate will need to do the same.

    Roommate requests cannot be honored unless both students request each other in writing.

  • How safe is the on-campus community?

    While it is impossible for anyone to guarantee safety and security anywhere, Housing Services has implemented many programs to help ensure students’ safety and demonstrate our commitment to students’ well-being. Pedestrian traffic is limited in the Residence Halls by student key/card access and limited-access parking lots. Most common areas and passageways are outfitted with surveillance security cameras. Emergency-response phones are located in all Residence Hall communities. The university also has a police department that monitors the campus, including housing facilities. Learn more about our safety measures

  • Is on-campus housing guaranteed?

    Available campus housing will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Campus Apartment applications are accepted year round for non-Freshman university students. The Residence Hall Contract is available for all student levels beginning March 1.

  • What are the Housing deadlines for fall quarter?

    Available campus housing will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Campus Apartment applications are accepted year round for non-Freshman university students. The Residence Hall Contract is available for all student levels beginning March 1.

  • Where do I find my NetID and Password?

    Your NetID is issued after submitting a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) with UCR. This NetID will be available when you log in to MyUCR 1-3 days after your SIR is received by UCR.

    Your Password is issued by the Admissions Office once you are admitted to the University. Passwords are required for many Web transactions. The Password is used throughout your undergraduate career to verify access to a variety of data, such as grades and confirmations.

  • Why would a student want to live on-campus vs. commute?

    Convenience

    • No cooking, cleaning, shopping or real need for transportation
    • Proximity to resources, both in the campus housing communities and campus

    Support

    • More than 1,000 educational, cultural, social and recreational activities annually
    • On-site tutoring and counseling
    • 24-hour emergency assistance for both maintenance and personal challenges

    Safety

    • Restricted access to all Residence Hall living areas
    • Security cameras
    • On-site Community Service Officer patrols
    • UCR Police patrols

    Academics

    • Students who live on campus perform better academically and are happier in general with their college experience than those who live off campus or commute.

    Finances

    • Residents are eligible for more housing aid (as part of their Financial Aid Package) than those who live off-campus or commute.

    See more reasons why students live on campus.

Residence Halls

  • How do I choose a Dining Plan?

    You must make your Dining Plan selection as part of your online contract. When choosing a Dining Plan, consider your current eating habits. For instance, if you do not eat breakfast now, you are not likely to eat breakfast with any regularity in the Residence Halls. You may change your dining plan during the designated period outlined in your housing contract, if necessary, by submitting a change at your Resident Services Office

  • How do I contract to live in the Residence Halls?

    Beginning March 1, the Residence Hall Contract is available online for fall quarter. All admitted students who Submit Intent to Register (SIR) with UCR may submit a contract using their NetID and Password as issued by UCR.

    Please note: It usually takes 1-3 days for a NetID to be issued after a student submits their SIR.

Family Housing

  • Am I allowed to have pets?

    No. No pets are allowed at Oban Family Housing, with the exception of service animals, pets in cages (birds and small rodents) and fish in an aquarium (20-gallon maximum). If other pets — dogs, cats, etc. — are discovered in a unit at any time during residency, residents will be asked to remove them and may themselves be subject to legal eviction.