Housing Accommodations

Housing accommodations help students with disabilities live safely and independently on campus. If you need a housing accommodation, you must register with the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) and complete the housing accommodation request process described below. This process coordinates with the Department of Residence Life for placement and logistics.

Priority Deadline for Housing Accommodations

Housing accommodation requests, including all required documentation, disability provider verification, and any associated forms, must be fully submitted to the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) by August 1 for full consideration before the start of the academic year.

Requests submitted after this date will be reviewed on a space‑available basis and cannot be guaranteed.

For requests submitted after August 1, ARC may not be able to complete the review before move‑in. When this occurs, any housing assignment changes related to the accommodation will be evaluated only after Move‑In Verification has concluded and when Room Change Request processing resumes, typically within the first few weeks of the semester. Students submitting after August 1 should be prepared to move into their originally assigned room while their request is reviewed.

How to Request a Disability-Related Housing Accommodation:

  1. Apply to WPU and Get Accepted:
    • Ensure you have applied and been accepted to William Paterson University.
  2. Submit On-Campus Housing Application through the Department of Residence Life.
    • If you are making a disability-based accommodation request directly to the Department of Residence Life, you will be directed to the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) to complete the Accommodations Request Process.
  3. Complete the Housing Access Application within the ARC Portal: this must be renewed each academic year:
  4. ARC Documentation Review and Meeting:
    • ARC staff will review your documentation and schedule an accommodation meeting with an Accessibility Advisor to discuss your request, disability-related needs, and any additional information required.
  5. ARC Accommodations Determination:
    • If the documentation supports your request, you will receive an email notifying you and Residence Life of the approved request.
    • If your documentation is insufficient, the Accessibility Advisor will contact you for clarification or additional information.
  6. Residence Life Review and Assignment:
    • Once ARC approves the accommodation, Residence Life will:
      • Review available housing options
      • Verify your room assignment
      • Check for conflicts (such as allergies if the request is a Support Animal)
      • Contact you to confirm placement or discuss alternatives.
  7. Requesting and Assistance Animal (ESA or Service Animal)
    • If a student is requesting an Assistance Animal, including an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) for housing, please refer to the detailed guidance and full process outlined on our Assistance and Support Animals page. This page includes all required documentation, deadlines, responsibilities, and approval steps related specifically to Assistance Animals.

Types of Accommodations:

Examples of housing accommodations requests that can be made include, but may not be limited to:

  • Wheelchair Accessible Room: The room is on an accessible floor (ground floor or accessible by elevator) and the furniture is moveable. Additional features may include a door with an automatic door opener, or a roll-in shower.
  • Wheelchair Accessible Toilet/Sink: A sink that a wheelchair can fit under with minimum cabinet space underneath for knee clearance.
  • Remote Control Access: A door used for human passage that is equipped with a power-operated mechanism and controls, that helps to open the door automatically or relieves the opening resistance of a door upon receiving a signal.
  • Private Bedroom: A bedroom that is not shared between roommates.
  • Private Bathroom: A bathroom that is not shared between roommates. This accommodation may be sought by someone that has chronic illness such as Crohn’s disease but is not limited to this. Very limited availability.
  • Semi-Private Bathroom: A bathroom that is shared between two people. This bathroom is enclosed within the living space itself.
  • Roll-in Shower (no lip): Have no barriers and a wheelchair could easily roll into it. Very limited availability.
  • Strobe Light Fire Alarm: A flash lamp that produces high-intensity short-duration light pulses; may be used to aid students with hearing impairments during emergency situations. Very limited availability.
  • Braille Signage: A system of writing and printing for blind or visually impaired people, in which varied arrangements of raised dots representing letters and numerals are identified by touch.
  • First Floor Room or Elevator Access: Room that does not require the use of stairs. Note: the majority of residence halls have elevators.
  • Service Animal: Service animal means any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to people or sounds, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. Please review our FAQ on Assistance Animals.
  • Emotional Support Animal (ESA): An ESA is an animal that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. For more information, please review our FAQ on Assistance Animals.

Housing accommodations are handled on a first come, first served basis. Once on campus housing assignments have been assigned, there may be limited (or no) options left for on-campus housing that will meet accommodation needs. Spring and summer availability, are also usually limited.

APPLY NOW FOR A HOUSING ACCOMMODATION