FAQs

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Does Vassar have prefects or RAs?

No, Vassar does not have prefects or RAs. Each house is self-governing and self-directing, with leadership provided by the House Team. The House Team includes:

• House Advisor—member of the Residential Life staff who coordinates programming and serves as a liaison with the Office of Residential Life.
• House Fellows—faculty members and their families who live in the house.
• House Fellow Interns—support the House Fellow and coordinate the intellectual activities of the house.
• Student Fellow Advisor—returners to the House team who work closely with the Student Fellows and the House Advisor.
• Student Fellows—second-year students (and a few third-year students) who work closely with small groups of first-year students as they transition to life at college.
• House Presidents—returning students who serve to support all students in their house.
• House Vice Presidents—returning students who play a vital role in managing the logistics of the House Team.
• First-Year Representatives—elected to the House Team by the members of the house, are the first-year student voice within their house as a member of the House Team.

How are student leaders chosen?

In the spring semester each year, the Office of Residential Life selects student leaders for the following academic year. Positions selected by the Office of Residential Life include Student Fellow Advisors, House Presidents, House Vice Presidents, Student Fellows, TVE Student Fellows, Community Fellows, and House Fellow Interns. The process for Student Fellow Advisors opens in December, and typically is concluded by February.

To be a Student Fellow Advisor, it is necessary to have held a role on the House Team previously. All other selected positions require no previous experience, but do require a minimum GPA and full completion of the application process.

The First Year Representative for the House is elected at the beginning of the fall semester. Read more information on House Team Recruitment.

Are there any special accommodations for students with health issues?

Issues involving residential students with health concerns are reviewed individually, with the resolution based on medical facts, college policies, and with concern for confidentiality and the best interests of all parties involved.

More information on how to apply for residential accommodation can be found through our Office of Accessibility and Educational Opportunity.

Immuno-compromised students may require and be granted special housing arrangements to protect themselves for medical or emotional reasons. Requests for room assignments and changes are considered in accordance with established residence policies, depending on the availability of rooms. Professional staff members from the Office of Residential Life are available and prepared to respond to or refer inquiries from students, staff, faculty, and others.

Do first-year students all live together?

All students, regardless of class year, live amongst each other in each of Vassar’s nine houses. However, first-year students are assigned roommates and are placed in Student Fellow groups—usually, 8–12 students who live in the same hall and who are assigned to a Student Fellow, a returning student who helps them acclimate to campus life. 

Do you have special interest dorms, like language dorms, or sports dorms?

We do not have housing reserved for first-year students, student-athletes, international students, science majors, musicians, etc. Students are mixed together in residence halls regardless of academic/extracurricular interests, which creates active and diverse environments in each of our residence halls.

Are cars allowed?

Yes, students are allowed to bring cars (first-years and second-years are not allowed to have cars on campus). About one-quarter to one-third of students have a car on campus. All students with cars must register them with the Office of Safety and Security, pay an annual parking fee, and abide by all parking regulations. Visit the Safety and Security website for details.

Can I bring my pet?

Students are not allowed to bring pets into any college-owned buildings except for very small animals kept at all times within cages, aquariums, or terrariums. All roommates within a room, suite, or apartment must approve of the pet. Students are strictly prohibited from having any venomous or dangerous pets. Other than service animals trained to provide assistance for the benefit of a student with a disability or emotional support animals approved by the Office of Accessibility and Educational Opportunity, dogs and cats are strictly prohibited. Apply using the pet registration form.

Can I live off-campus?

An important part of a Vassar education is to master the art of living cooperatively in a diverse community. We strongly advise students to remain on campus for their first three years and move to one of the College’s apartment areas for the senior year. Students who wish to live off-campus or to make other special accommodations must acquire approval through the Office of Residential Life.

The link to apply to off-campus housing can be found in your Residence Housing portal. For assistance, please reach out to our Director of Housing, Rich Horowitz.

My roommate(s) and I don’t get along. What can I do?

Learning to cohabitate with a person, especially someone who may have different habits, routines, likes, and dislikes than you, can be both incredibly rewarding and challenging. We encourage students to address conflicts directly and work with their roommate to find healthy compromises. However, if you have already attempted resolving the conflict on your own, or if you are struggling to even bring up your concerns to your roommate, the Office of Residential Life is here to help!

• For First Years: Please reach out to your Student Fellow! Your Student Fellow will hold weekly open room hours and provide you with ways to contact them when you meet them during move-in. They can provide you with a space to vent and process what’s been going on, provide additional suggestions and encouragement, or can also step in to help mediate the conversation to help both you and your roommate work through the issue!
• For Returning Students: For roommate conflicts in the Houses, your Community Fellow will be your best resource. Similar to a Student Fellow, your Community Fellow is available to talk through what is happening and provide support, including mediation! For conflicts with housemates in the Apartment Areas, please reach out directly to your House Advisor.
• For all students: You can always reach a professional staff member by emailing your House Advisor directly to set up a time to meet both individually and with your room/house. In the case of an emergency or an immediate safety concern, you can reach the Administrator on Call by calling the Campus Resource Center at (845) 437-5221.

For more tips, please refer to our Living with Roommates guide!