Policies, Resources, Move-In & More Information

View logistics, policies and other details for on-campus housing below. Click here for more detailed information on Fall Move-In. For detailed pricing on housing, please visit our Cost & Aid page.

Two-Year Residency Policy

The on-campus living experience is vital to the growth and development of the whole student. All students who have completed less than four terms of college/university are required to reside in on-campus housing for their first two years on campus. 
 
Exceptions to the residency policy include:
  • Students who plan to live with parent(s), legal guardians, or adult relatives in the greater Pittsburgh area (within 20 miles of campus). 
  • Students who are 21 years or older and have been out of school for a year or more living independently from their parent(s) and/or legal guardians.
  • Students who transferred from another college or university and have already complete four terms at their previous institution.  
  • Students who have a prescription for medical marijuana are exempt from the residency requirement pursuant to the University’s Medical Marijuana Policy. 
Students requesting to be exempt from the residency status based on the criteria listed above must request to register as a commuter by completing the Residency Requirement Exemption Form. Any student requesting to be exempt for another extenuating reason can submit the formal request through the Residency Requirement Exemption Form. Please note, exemption requests beyond those listed above are rarely approved and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions, please email reslife@chatham.edu. 
 
 

Applying for Housing, New & Transfer Students

Before applying for housing, students will need to access myChatham using their username and password. The first time a student logs in, they will be required to set up their Multifactor Authenticator. This security feature enables you to access email and myChatham services from off-campus. If students encounter any issues logging in to myChatham, please contact the IT HelpDesk at 412-365-1112 or by email at services@chatham.edu. 
 
After you have access to myChatham, students apply for housing and meal plan through the StarRez Housing Portal located on myChatham > myTOOLS > Student Housing. During the application process, new and transfer students are required to submit a $150.00 Housing Deposit utilizing a credit or debit card. Housing Applications for the upcoming academic year open for new students at the beginning of April and close at the beginning of June. New and transfer students do not select their room assignments. After applying for housing, new and transfer students will be placed into their room assignments by the Office of Residence Life, and will be notified of their Fall housing assignment via their Chatham email over the summer.
 
Please email the Office of Residence Life or call 412-365-1518 if you need assistance with the housing application.
 
To apply for housing, complete the following steps:
  • Login to myChatham (if you can’t log in to myChatham contact the IT HelpDesk at 412-365-1112 or email services@chatham.edu) 
  • Select myTOOLS
  • Select the Student Housing button
  • Follow all on-screen instructions
A visual step-by-step guide is located online here. Please email the Office of Residence Life if you have questions or call 412-365-1518.
 

Applying for Housing, Returning Students

Students currently enrolled at Chatham University (returning students) can apply for housing through myChatham > myTOOLS > Student Housing. Housing Applications for the upcoming academic year open for returning students at the beginning of February and close at the beginning of April. After applying for housing, returning students will select their room assignment during group or individual housing selection. More information on returner student housing applications and room selection dates can be found on MyChatham > Services & Departments > Residence Life > Room Selection (Returning Undergraduate & Graduate Students). 

Medical Accommodations

Students living on campus should expect to live with a roommate during their time with us.
 
However, Chatham does recognize that occasions exist when students require specific accommodations to be successful. Some examples of accommodations include: single-resident room, semi-private bathroom, strobe light fire alarm, air conditioner, and emotional support animal. Students can learn more about applying for a Medical Accommodations on myChatham. Additional questions regarding Chatham’s Medical Accommodation Policy can be directed to reslife@chatham.edu.

 

Fall Undergraduate Move-In & Arrival Information

Below are the scheduled move-in dates for resident student arrival for the fall term. More specific information regarding move-in logistics has been emailed to students and can be found on Chatham Services and Departments > Residence Life. 
 
Below are the scheduled move-in dates for resident student arrival for the fall term. More specific information regarding move-in logistics is emailed to students in the summer and can be found on the Residence life myChatham page.
 

Each Fall, we welcome new students (first-year and transfers) to Chatham! To prepare for your arrival and ensure a successful move-in experience, the Office of Residence Life has established a move-in schedule and a series of protocols and expectations. Please review the information below to ensure you are ready and prepared for your arrival.

Early Arrival Groups: The following student groups will be granted early arrival times. Program coordinators/coaches will reach out to their early arrival groups individually for more information!

  • Student Leaders (RISE, OL, RA, CAB)
  • International Students
  • Fall Athletes (Women's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, and Men's/Women's Cross Country) 
  • If you are not a member of one of the organizations listed above, you can request to move in early by filling out this form.

Move-In Times for Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Most incoming new students residing on campus will move in on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. 

9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

  • 4th Floor of Woodland Hall (Rooms: W400 – W435)
  • 3rd Floor of Fickes Hall (Rooms: F302 – F333)
  • 3rd Floor of Dilworth Hall (Rooms: D308-D300
  • Rea House – All
  • Chatham Apartments, Pelletreau Apartments, Hicks Estate, Haber Apartments, & Linzer Apartments – All

10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

  • Laughlin House – All
  • 3rd Floor of Woodland Hall (Rooms: W300 – W332)
  • 2nd Floor of Dilworth (Rooms: D220-200)
  • 2nd Floor and Mini Suites 4, 5, & 6 of Fickes Hall (Rooms: F202 – F243)

11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

  • 2nd Floor of Woodland Hall (Rooms: W200 – W231)
  • 1st and Ground Floor of Dilworth Hall (Rooms: D107-D120, D008, D009)
  • 1st Floor and Mini Suites 1, 2, & 3 of Fickes Hall (Rooms: F108 – F144)

If you have a conflict with your building/floor move-in time, please email the Office of Residence Life at reslife@chatham.edu to provide more details and inquire if a new date or time slot can be arranged. This email request must come directly from the student.

NOTE: Any student authorized for early arrival should follow the dates and times listed in the previous section and will also receive further information from their program coordinator or athletic team coach.

Move-In Day Guidelines

To ensure a smooth and efficient move-in experience, we ask all students, families, and guests to review and follow the guidelines below:

Arrival Times

Please arrive during your assigned move-in time slot.

  • Students who arrive early may be asked to wait until their designated time.
  • Students who arrive late may be asked to wait until the next available time slot.

Packing Requirements

All boxes and belongings must be clearly labeled on the side with:

  • Student’s full affirmed name (e.g., Carson Cougar)
  • Residence hall and room number (e.g., Woodland Hall 108)

Vehicle Restriction

  • One vehicle per student is permitted on campus for move-in.
  • Additional vehicles must park in public parking areas or at the Eastside lot (as space allows). A free shuttle will run between Eastside and the Shadyside campus throughout the day. More information on Eastside lot shuttle will be posted here shortly. 
  • First-year students are not permitted to have a vehicle on campus after move-in day.

Important: Box trucks, U-Hauls, and large moving trucks are not permitted on campus. Smaller vehicles like pickup trucks and commercial vans are acceptable.

Unloading Zones

Unloading zones will be available at or near each residence hall.

  • Drivers must remain with the vehicle while unloading.
  • Once unloading is complete, the vehicle must be moved immediately to a designated parking area (Library lot, Eastside lot, or public parking).
  • Families and guests are welcome to return to their student’s residence hall to help them unpack after the vehicle is moved from the unloading zone.

Parking Directions

    • After unloading, students and guests will be directed to on-campus parking by Chatham staff.
    • Our staff will give you an Unload and Go Pass when you arrive to display on your dashboard.

Parking Maps

We look forward to welcoming back our returning students in the Fall! To prepare for your arrival and ensure a successful move-in experience, the Office of Residence Life has established a move-in schedule and a series of protocols and expectations. Please review the information below to ensure you are ready and prepared for your arrival.

Returning Student Move-In Date(s)

Most new students residing on campus will move in on Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the following Key Pickup Areas:

Lower Campus Arrivals

  • Check in at the Purple Tent on the Front Porch of the Hicks Estate

Upper Campus Arrivals

  • Check in outside of your individual residence hall under the Purple Tent.

Early Arrival Groups: The following student groups will be granted early arrival times. Program coordinators/coaches will reach out to their early arrival groups individually for more information!

  • Student Leaders (RISE, OL, RA, CAB)
  • International Students
  • Fall Athletes (Women's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, and Men's/Women's Cross Country)

If you are not a member of the organizations listed above and you would like to request an Early Arrival before Saturday, August 22, 2026, please complete the following form. We cannot approve Early Arrivals prior to August 17, 2026. Please note that Early Arrivals are not guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, there is a $100 per day charge for Early Arrivals that are not designated to an approved group.

NOTE: Any student authorized for early arrival should follow the dates and times listed above and will also receive further information from the Office of Residence Life, their program coordinator, or coach.

Late Arrivals

  • If you are unable to move-in on Saturday, August 22, 2026, by 2:00 p.m., please fill out the Early or Late Arrival Request Form to notify Residence Life. This will allow our team to coordinate a key check in with students arriving outside of tabling times.

Move-In Day Guidelines

To ensure a smooth and efficient move-in experience, we ask all students, families, and guests to review and follow the guidelines below:

Vehicle Restriction

  • One vehicle per student is permitted on campus for move-in.
  • Additional vehicles must park in public parking areas or at the Eastside lot (as space allows). A free shuttle will run between Eastside and the Shadyside campus throughout the day. More information on Eastside lot shuttle will be posted here shortly.

Important: Box trucks, U-Hauls, and large moving trucks are not permitted on campus. Smaller vehicles like pickup trucks and commercial vans are acceptable.

Unloading Zones

  • Unloading zones will be available at or near each residence hall.
  • Drivers must remain with the vehicle while unloading OR contact information must be visible on the windshield.
  • Once unloading is complete, the vehicle must be moved immediately to a designated parking area (Library lot, Eastside lot, or public parking).
  • Families and guests are welcome to return after the vehicle is moved.

Parking Directions

  • After unloading, students and guests will be directed to on-campus parking by Chatham staff.
  • Our staff will give you an Unload and Go Pass when you arrive to display on your dashboard.

Campus Map & Arrival Routes

To ensure smooth traffic flow, all vehicles should enter campus from Fifth Avenue and turn onto Woodland Road. From there, you will follow a designated route based on your residence hall:

Upper Campus Residence Halls

  • Please check in at the Purple Tents outside of your buildings.
  • When unloading, please park in a designated parking spot near your residence hall.

Fifth Avenue Apartments

Please use the addresses below to find each designated apartment building. Key pickup will be under the Purple Tent at the Hicks Estate Apartments (at 5812 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232)
  • Haber Apartments: 5810 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
  • Chung Apartments: 5780 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
  • Chatham Apartments: 5800 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
  • Hicks Estate Apartments: 5812 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
  • Pelletreau Apartments: 5830 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
  • Linzer Apartments: 5836 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Clear signage and Chatham staff will be present across campus to assist with directions, parking, and unloading.

Amenities, Services, & Other Resources

Microfridges

Click this link to watch a video that provides more information about the MicroFridge program. Students who would like a refrigerator or microwave in their room must rent a MicroFridge unit. These combined units use less energy and have built-in safety features to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents. Units are delivered to your room prior to your move-in and are picked up after you move out. Students are not permitted to bring their own units from home. Each MicroFridge costs around $200.00 to rent for the year and there is an option to buy for those interested. When making your rental decision, be reminded that each residence hall has either a community kitchen or kitchenette. Students residing in the apartments do not need to rent a MicroFridge as your apartment comes equipped with a kitchen that includes a refrigerator. We suggest talking to your roommate as we only allow one MicroFridge Unit per two students in the room. Details can be found here. 

If purchasing linens, we recommend students purchase twin extra-long sheets to ensure they fit your residence hall bed. These linens can be purchased any major retailer, but Chatham also has a linen service provider who many students utilized this past year to purchase their residence hall linens.

Linen Services

Campus Comforts and Residence Life have teamed up to offer room-ready bundles packed with bedding, bath, and storage essentials—sized to fit our campus beds and approved for your room. Skip the stress of shopping and returns. Just pick your bundle, choose your favorite colors, and you’re set! Order Early—Popular Colors Go Fast! For a limited time, get a FREE mattress protector ($25 value) with your order. Packages ship free to your home or campus, and a portion of each purchase supports student life on campus. Click here to order linens now—your future (well-rested) self will thank you!

Student Property Insurance

Student property insurance is optional, but highly recommended.

College student personal property insurance can be customized to cover your personal belongings and help avoid the risk of having to replace damaged electronics or personal property out-of-pocket. Students can purchase property insurance on their own or can purchase college student property insurance with GradGuard directly through their housing application. This is not a mandatory requirement to complete a housing application.

The Office of Residence Life provides a list of recommended and prohibited items for all students. Due to safety reasons, certain items and actions are not permitted in any of the residence halls or apartments on-campus. The list can be found online here.

Furniture & Setup: All residence halls rooms and apartments are furnished. Residence Hall rooms included a student bed, desk and chair, and dresser (residents either have their own closet or share one with their roommates). Apartments bedrooms come furnished with a bed, desk, and dresser (sometimes a desk or two are located in the living room, and residents either have their own closet or share one with their roommates). The apartments also come equipped with a couch, dining room table and chairs, and a coffee table. Each apartment also has a living room, kitchen (equipped with a stove, sink, apartment refrigerator), and a bathroom. Residents in apartments are responsible for providing other amenities for shared spaces like the kitchen and bathroom, such as pots, pans, plates, kitchen appliances other than the stove and fridge (i.e., microwave, etc.), toilet paper, and cleaning supplies. University-provided furniture cannot be removed from student residence hall rooms or apartments. A list of prohibited items for residence halls and apartments can be found online by clicking here.

Heating & Air Conditioning: Residential students are not permitted to bring their own air conditioning units unless they have received prior approval through the Medical Accommodations Committee for a medically necessary need to control the temperature of their residential environment. Approved students must adhere to the following guidelines: Permitted Air Conditioning Units: If approved, residents may bring a single portable floor air conditioning unit that is to vent in/out of their bedroom window. If both roommates are approved for accommodations, only one air conditioning unit per bedroom is allowed. Students must purchase an approved model from the provided list to prevent excessive strain on the university’s electrical system.

Laundry: Each residence hall and apartment complex comes equipped with laundry facilities at no cost. Laundry Rooms are located on each floor in Woodland. Laundry for the apartments, Fickes Hall, Dilworth Hall, Rea House, and Laughlin House are located in the basement or on the first floor. Students sign up for laundry time slots by clicking on the following link. Outside contractors manage the maintenance and upkeep of laundry facilities. If you experience any issues with laundry, please submit a maintenance request.

Utilities: All utilities, including heat, water, electricity, and WiFi, are included in all on-campus residence hall rooms and apartments.

Community Kitchens: All residence halls (Dilworth Hall, Fickes Hall, Rea House, Laughlin House, and Woodland Hall) have community kitchens or kitchenettes in each building. All apartments come equipped with a full kitchen. The kitchen is used strictly by the residents in that apartment and any of their guests that they permit to use it with the permission of roommates. Community kitchens are cleaned by housekeeping, but apartment kitchens are expected to be maintained by the residents of that apartment.

Cleaning: Residence Halls community areas, such as bathrooms, hallways, lounges, community kitchen, and other spaces, are generally cleaned Monday through Friday by Facilities Management. Any residents who have a semi-private bathroom in their residence hall room are responsible for cleaning this space themselves. Residents in the apartments are responsible for cleaning their individual apartments.

Internet: All residence halls and apartments come equipped with WiFi access. If you experience any WiFi issues, please submit a work order directly to the IT HelpDesk by clicking here or call 412-365-1112.

Maintenance and Upkeep: All residence hall and apartment maintenance and upkeep are managed by Facilities Management. Facilities prioritizes maintenance requests on the severity of the issue, which means some maintenance requests may take 7-to-10 business days (and in some cases) longer to be addressed. All urgent emergency requests, such as critical plumbing issues or leaks, will be addressed urgently. For emergency requests, please contact Public Safety (412-365-1230) or the Residence Life On-Call (412-951-0003) to report the issue and they will give you immediate directions. Maintenance requests are received and monitored during regular business hours. Residence Life will connect with residents regarding a timeline for repairs that may take longer to address. 

Live-In Staff: Chatham University has undergraduate and professional live-in staff that are available 24/7 to assist on-campus residents in the event of an emergency. Public Safety also provides 24/7 emergency support. Information about our emergency support services can be found online by clicking here.