Senior Suites
Senior Suites - Conveniently located in the Loyola Residence, the suites feature private, lockable single bedrooms in an apartment-like unit with self-contained bathroom and kitchen(ette) and include the latest upgrades in technology. Each suite has a lockable front door and is for the private use of the students sharing the suite. Meal plans are optional.
Photos and sample floor plans (pdf)
Eligibility:
Senior suites were primarily designed to house students in their final year of study in undergraduate degree programs and students in graduate programs .
Features:
Life Style: The suites feature a choice of “private” or “shared”. All bedrooms are private in the sense that each student has his/her own private, lockable room. The private suites have single bedrooms, each with private bath. Shared suites have single bedrooms with shared bath. Single-sex and co-ed suites are available based on demand.
Size: Senior suites vary in size. Some are designed to house two students, while others have three and four students sharing a suite. The four-student suites feature two bathrooms, one with a tub and the other with a shower unit.
Kitchens: The private suites feature small kitchenettes with combined microwave/convection oven and half refrigerator. Shared suites have full kitchens with range and full-sized refrigerator.
Furnishings: All bedrooms feature a captain-style bed with clothes drawers underneath and a full-sized computer desk with large hutch, CPU sling, slide-out keyboard tray drawer unit and task light. A comfortable multi-purpose chair is also provided. Some rooms feature freestanding closet units, while others have built in closets. The “shared” suites have small dining tables, chairs and bar stools. Window drapes are included in all bedrooms.
Technology: Each student will have voice, data and cable outlets in their bedroom. Phone set, local phone service, voice mail, access to the University's network and high speed internet is included in the rental fee. Televisions, coaxial cable, computers and necessary patch cords are not provided.
Looking For More Information on Senior Suites?
Contact the Off Campus, Senior, and Graduate Housing Office
Loyola Building (L107)
Phone: 902.491.8606
Fax: 902.496.8107
Email: Senior.Suites@smu.ca
Application Procedure - Senior Suites Application (pdf)
Students attending Saint Mary's for the first time whom are interested in living in residence, must complete the residence application attached to the application for admission to the University, you can also find it here. Applications for the current academic year are accepted continuously throughout the year, provided spaces are available.
Completed applications, along with a $25 application processing fee, must be sent to the Admissions Office, if you are a first year student. Returning students should forward completed applications directly to the Off-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office (LR 107). Applications are not considered without the fees, nor fees without the application. Application fees are non-refundable.
If paying by mail, the application processing fee should be in the form of a cheque or money order, in Canadian funds, payable to Saint Mary's University.
Credit card and debit card payments are permitted when paying in person.
In Brief...
- Student Completes application form and sends it in with $25 application fee (non-refundable).
- University processes application and sends out bedspace offer package or wait list package.
- Student sends in $500 confirmation deposit and applicable contract (wait-list, or residence agreement forms).
- University assigns room or position on wait-list.
Each year the University receives more Residence Applications than there are available beds. Once the residences are full, students can only be conditionally accepted into residence and are offered an opportunity to be added to the Residence Wait-List. There are two steps to be completed in order to confirm your acceptance of the Wait-List offer:
- Provide a $500 Residence Confirmation Deposit (payable to Saint Mary's University)
- Return the white copy of the "Wait-List agreement" to the Family & Graduate Housing Office. Your position on the wait-list will be determined by the date and time the University receives both your $500 deposit and your signed Wait-List Agreement.
Once you have been placed on the wait-list there are two ways in which your position/number could improve:
- If someone currently assigned a room/bed space withdraws academically or from the University or
- If someone ahead of you on the Wait-List withdraws their residence application.
- If offered a bed space, you must acknowledge the acceptance of the offer within the specified deadline (determined when the offer is made). At this point you will be officially assigned to your bed space.
Once a student has been accepted for residence, he or she will receive written notice that the University has made a commitment to provide a place of residence for the upcoming academic year. In return, students must confirm their intention to accept the University's offer by sending a confirmation deposit of $500 to the University by May 15th.
- Students accepted after this date will be given a period of time after acceptance in which to send their deposit. If the deposit is not received by the required date, your application is automatically withdrawn.
- Students who are offered a position on a wait list for residence must send in a $500 confirmation deposit to secure their position on the wait list. Students on the wait list will be notified of their status. They will also be asked to sign a “Waitlist Agreement” before their deposit is processed.
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Upon receipt, the $500.00 Residence Confirmation Deposit is held by the University and will be applied towards the second semester residence fees in January. Students who withdraw from the University during the first semester forfeit the deposit.
- The University will refund $250 of the deposit if the student cancels the room reservation in writing to the Off-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office by July 1st. The balance of the deposit ($250) is neither refundable nor transferable. The Confirmation Deposit is neither refundable nor transferable after this date.
Prior to entering the residence, each student is required to sign a Residence Agreement. In effect, it is a rental contract between the student and the University outlining the student's obligations with regard to the terms of occupancy, conduct, payment of fees, etc. Students under 19 years of age must have the Agreement signed by a parent or guardian. Students may not be permitted to move into residence until they have completed and signed the agreement. If a student fails to sign a Residence Agreement, for whatever reason, prior to taking up residency, the terms and conditions as outlined in the Residence Handbook will be the basis of the rental contract between the University and the student. (“Student” for the purpose of the Agreement, refers to anyone attending an educational institution, whether it's Saint Mary's University or another institution.)
Residence PrivilegesThe University reserves the right to refuse an application for residence accommodations, to cancel/suspend residence privileges at any time and to reassign students to other rooms for reasons it deems appropriate.
Eligibility and Admission Priority - Section A (Senior Suite Application)The Senior Suites were designed specifically for more senior students.
- First priority will go to those students entering their final year of a degree program (90+ credit hours), or any year of a graduate degree program, and currently living in residence, and who have applied by March 1, 2010. These students will be required to participate in a room draw.
- Second priority will be given to students entering their 3rd year of a degree program (60+ credit hours), and currently living in residence, and who have applied by March 1, 2010.
- Third priority will be given to students who are currently living off-campus and meet the eligibility requirements listed in A.1 & 2 above. Priority in this group will be determined by date of application.
Residence students are expected to occupy the room and bed assigned to them by the Off-Camous, Senior and Graduate Housing Office. However, if students are experiencing problems with their particular room assignment they can apply for a room change. All room changes must be pre-authorized by the Off-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office. "Room Change Request Forms" are available in the Off-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office two weeks after classes begin. Request for room changes will not be considered before this time. Students may be required to participate in a mediation session with their roommate (if applicable) before a room change is approved. Room changes are prioritized at the discretion of the Off-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office. Based on the needs of all those who apply (not just on a first come first serve basis). Naturally, all room changes are also subject to the availability of alternate accommodation.
Room Placement Priority - Section B (Senior Suites Application)Rooms in residence are assigned on a priority basis taking into consideration (but not guaranteeing) the specific requests of those applying. Students must occupy the room and bed assigned to them by the Off-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office. Room assignments for September will not be completed until receipt of the $500 Residence Confirmation deposit, deadline is May 15th.
- Current residence students (See A.1 & 2 above) will be assigned a room first. Seniority will be determined by year of study and the number of years each student has lived in residence. In the case where there is a tie, the room draw will determine placement seniority.
- Once all returning residence students are assigned, off-campus students (see A.3 above) will be assigned a room with priority determined by the date of residence application.
The residence Department reserves the right to admit students other than those listed above to the Senior Suites for reasons it deems necessary and to change the deadline dates.
Room Draw Procedure (Returning Students Only)The Room Draw is conducted from February 1st (9:00am) until March 1st (5:00pm) in the Off-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office. Upon submission of their completed Senior Suites Application, and $25 application processing fee, students will be asked to draw one number from the official room draw bag. The numbers in the bag range from 1-200 with #1 having most priority. The student's name is added to the 'Room Draw List', beside the corresponding number.
Move in Schedule
Students who have been accepted for residence accommodation will be sent a schedule of move-in dates and times and they must plan to arrive according to this schedule. The University will not accept responsibility for students who arrive outside the scheduled dates and times and it is the student's responsibility to find and pay for temporary accommodation until the next scheduled move-in time. Residence move-in usually takes place early in September (2-3 days before classes begin). Residence move-in for the second semester takes place in early January.
Occupancy Period
The occupancy period for each semester begins with the scheduled date and time for residence move-in and concludes 24 hours after each student's last examination according to the formal examination schedule prepared by the Registrar. Therefore, the occupancy period may be different for each individual student. The occupancy period extends for the entire academic year as per the 8-month Residence Agreement.
Christmas Break
The occupancy period does not include the Christmas break. Students who are granted permission to remain in residence during this period are charged a flat rate of $200 that must be paid in advance. They may be required to temporarily move into a room other than the one assigned to them for the academic year. All students who are continuing their studies at the University are permitted to leave their belongings in their room over the holiday period.
Extra Days
Under normal circumstances, students are not permitted to arrive earlier, or stay later, than the period described in the terms of occupancy. All requests for additional time must be made in writing to the Director of Residence. If extensions are granted, a fee of $20 per day is applied.
For more information, contact the Residence Department.
Withdrawing from ResidenceA student who wishes to withdraw from residence MUST check out officially through theOff-Campus, Senior and Graduate Housing Office and sign the appropriate forms.
Students must show a “Change of Registration Form” from the Registrar's Office to confirm that they have completely withdrawn academically. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the student being charged, where applicable, the appropriate room and board fee until the date that the withdrawal form, keys and linen are returned to the Residence Department. Students may be refunded a portion of their residence fees (room only, meal plan refunds must be discussed with Aramark) providing that they do not owe the University any money for tuition, student fees etc.
If the student withdraws from residence and does not simultaneously withdraw from the University, or if the University dismisses the student from residence, the student is not eligible for an adjustment of room fees and will be assessed fees for the entire academic year. The University will use it's best efforts to rent the vacated room for the balance of the academic year, and if successful in doing so, will rebate the student an amount equivalent to the rent received from the new occupant of the room. The student is eligible for an adjustment of board fees on a proportional basis, calculated in weekly units. The minimum charge for residence is $500 regardless of the date of withdrawal. No fee adjustment is granted after November 15th in the first semester or February 28 in the second semester.
This page last modified Wednesday, 25-Jan-2012 11:29:36 AST