Honors Community Housing

The 2011-12 Housing Application for current residents is now available.

Honors housing is an exciting way to expand your experience in the Honors community beyond the classroom and into your living situation. Residential Honors Communities are in Poplar Hall and Hagget Hall. Students will be assigned to either a double or triple room based on housing priority and date of application.

The 2010-11 Housing application for new students will be available May 5. Please watch your UW email for information about dates, deadlines and application tips. Housing is in high demand, so be sure to apply as early as possible during the application period. New incoming Freshmen who apply by June 1 will be given priority assignments.

Please visit hfs.washington.edu for additional information about the residence halls and campus living. Specifics to Honors Housing are addressed below.

Resident Advisers work with students to facilitate activities on the Honors Community floors, which may include:

• Sight-seeing excursions around Seattle and Western Washington
• Floor dinners hosted by Honors faculty and students
• Community-based volunteer opportunities
• Workshops on scholarships, personal statements, and research opportunities
• Social activities planned by the Resident Advisers and Honors students. Previous events include trivia and movie nights, monthly gallery or museum visits, pumpkin carving, research nights, and hiking and skiing trips.
• In-hall advising with the Honors advisers

If you would like to live in Honors Community, select Honors Community in the Theme Community Preference portion of the housing application. Placement in Honors Community is not guaranteed. Please apply as early as possible to increase your chances of being assigned to Honors Community. Housing assignments are based on assignment priority and on date of application within priority groups. A request for placement in Honors Community will supersede a request for other residence halls, and you may be assigned to a different room type than you would otherwise be assigned to in order to accommodate your Honors Community request. Visit the UW Housing website for information on assignment priorities.

We hope many of you will choose to participate in this housing option. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why should I choose to live on an Honors floor rather than somewhere else in the residence halls or in the Greek system?

A: The primary benefit of the Honors floors is their dynamic community. Honors students are a diverse and interesting group; these floors allow students to live with peers engaged in similar academic pursuits and to experience Honors community outside of the classroom environment. In addition to getting to know other Honors students, residents of these floors will also get to know students from other residence halls and different parts of campus through collaborative activities and events. This housing option is not intended to replace our students' residential experience but rather to enhance it through additional special events such as workshops, faculty speakers, and Honors community gatherings.

Q: Can I room with a student who is not in the Honors Program?

A: Yes! If you want to room with a student who is not in the Honors Program, both of you will need to request each other on your respective housing applications, in addition to selecting Honors Community in the Theme Community Preference portion.

Q: I filled out the application with Housing and Food Services (HFS) but still haven't received my assignment - what should I do?

A: Housing applications are administered and processed by HFS, and assignment emails are sent in early August. If you do not hear from HFS regarding your assignment by August 15, please contact them directly at hfsinfo@uw.edu or by phone at (206) 543-4059.

Q: Are the Honors floors freshmen-only?

A: No, they are available to students of all years.

Q: Do I get a price discount if I choose to live on one of the Honors floors?

A: No, we do not offer students discounts on housing. The primary benefits of the Honors floors are their unique community and atmosphere; other aspects of the floors operate in accordance with HFS policies and practices.

Q: What types of activities can I expect on an Honors floor?

A: Activities will vary greatly depending on the interests of the Resident Advisers and residents on the floors. The floors' two Resident Advisers are their primary source of event planning and community building, but Honors Program faculty, staff, and student organizations will also work with them in order to provide unique opportunities such as faculty dinners, academic/professional workshops, speakers, trips, and other events. Residents should feel free to talk to and/or work with their RAs in order to suggest or plan activities that fit their interests and hobbies.

Q: What other kinds of student activities and events are there for Honors students?

A: Honors is an exciting place to be! The Honors Program hosts periodic events, talks, experiential learning opportunities, and more; students will receive announcements about these events as the year progresses. Honors also has student organizations with their own events and activities. The Honors hiking club We the Wild Things (wildthingsgo@gmail.com) organizes several hikes into the surrounding mountains several times per quarter. The Honors Croquet League hosts croquet matches open to all students on campus and has occasionally taken trips to Canada or other cities to challenge rival croquet organizations. The Honors Student Advisory Panel (HSAP), in addition to advising the Honors Program administration, organizes the HSAP Honors Open Mic Night and the Honors Research Colloquium.

Q: I'm interested in becoming a Resident Adviser for one of the Honors floors - what should I do?

A: We're always looking for enthusiastic students to become leaders in the Honors community. In order to be a Resident Adviser for one of the Honors floors, you must first successfully complete the RA application process administered by HFS. Applications are generally available in late November or December and due sometime in early January. You must indicate your interest and participation in Honors to HFS during the RA placement process. The Honors Program and HFS will work together to select the individuals that we think will fit best with our idea of floor and program community.

Q: I still need more information - where should I go now?

A: You are always welcome to contact us with any questions or concerns. You can reach us by e-mail at uwhonors@uw.edu, by phone at (206) 543-7444. HFS is also a great resource, particularly for questions relating to details about the residence halls, problems with the application website, pricing information, etc. Check out their website at http://hfs.washington.edu, e-mail them at hfsinfo@uw.edu, or call them at (206) 543-4059. If you're interested in student perspectives on the residence halls, don't forget about your Honors Peer Mentor, who's always there to give you student input. If your Peer Mentor hasn't lived in the halls, he or she can probably get you in contact with a student who has, or you can search through various Peer Mentors.