Housing Selection Directions

Step-by-Step Housing Selection Directions

Welcome to Montclair State University housing! You may be wondering, how exactly do I select housing? We have broken down housing selection, roommate selection and meal plan selection below in a step-by-step format. Please review these directions thoroughly before housing selection begins. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at reslife@montclair.edu.

The entire housing selection process will occur within the Residential Management System, often referred to as RMS.

For specific eligibility requirements, building explanations, special accommodations and more, please view our housing selection guide.

Step 1
Sign Your Housing Agreement

The first step in the housing selection process will be to sign your Residence License and Dining Services Agreement, also referred to as the Housing Agreement. The signature of your housing agreement signifies that you understand the contract you are signing for the full academic year or both semesters fall and spring.

To Sign Your Housing Agreement

  1. Log into RMS using your NetID and your associated password.
  2. Click “Next Step” after Sign My Housing Agreement and Preferences.
  3. Read the Housing Agreement Welcome Page. Click “Next Step.”
  4. Read the fall and spring housing agreement. You have the option to email and/or download a copy of the agreement by clicking on the buttons on the right hand side. The agreement can also be found on our website.
  5. Click the check box next to each action statement.
  6. Enter your CWID number in the labeled box. Do not add the M in your CWID. Make sure you enter your CWID number correctly. Click “I Agree.”
    • The contract will lock after three unsuccessful attempts.
    • For students under the age of 18, you will enter your parent or guardian’s email address in the co-signature labeled box that appears. They will be emailed a specific code that must be completed within 30 minutes of receipt of that email. Your contract will not be valid until your co-signature completes the process.
  7. Click “Next Step.”
  8. Complete your Lifestyle Preferences. These preferences will be visible during the selection process. This will allow people selecting housing to see your responses and vise versa. Please answer them as truthfully as possible. Then, click “Next Step”
  9. Complete your room and meal preferences. This does not select your housing assignment. This is only a preference to keep on file with your housing agreement and is optional.
  10. Click “Finish.”
    • If you do not click “Finish,” your responses will not be recorded.
Step 2
Create Roommate Code (OPTIONAL)

Some of our students have already designated people they wish to live with. If that is the case, they can complete the roommate code option. This will allow you to create a code to share with your future roommate when they are completing housing selection. The student completing the roommate code does not select housing at any point. You will create this code and give the code, your full name, CWID number and your meal plan selection to the student pulling you in. This process is optional.

To create a roommate code:

  1. Log into RMS using your NetID and your associated password.
  2. Click “Next Step” after Create My Roommate Code.
  3. Read directions on the first page.
  4. Enter your own unique 4-digit numeric code in the labeled box. For example, 1234.
  5. Click “Finish.”

For students not completing the roommate code process, lifestyle preferences will be available during the housing selection process and you will be able to see other students during selection. We do not have a formalized roommate searching tool for students.

Step 3
Confirm Housing Selection Date and Time

All new students will receive an email with their housing selection start date and time. Housing selection starts on Monday, June 20 and ends Thursday, June 23, however, students will receive their specific date and time that will be the earliest they can start selection. For example, if your start date and time is Wednesday, June 22 at 9 a.m., you cannot log in prior to that time. You will be able to start the process on that date and time. Students can enter the system anytime from their start date and time until our designated closing window, which will be outlined on RMS.

To Confirm Your Start Date and Time

  1. Log into RMS using your NETID (i.e. smithj2) and your associated password.
  2. Click “Next Step” after View My Selection Date and Time.
  3. Read welcome page. Click “Next Step.”
  4. Your housing selection start date and time will be listed and highlighted in yellow.
Step 4
Select Housing

Housing selection starts on Monday, June 20 and ends Thursday, June 23, however, students will receive their specific date and time that will be the earliest they can start selection. For example, if your start date and time is June 22 at 9:00 a.m., you cannot log in prior to that time. You will be able to start the process on that date and time. You will be given a 30-minute window of time in which to sign into RMS and select your housing. If you miss your date and time to select housing, don’t worry! You can log into RMS until the end date and time of our process, which will be communicated to all students.

In order to select housing, all students must have paid their housing application fee, signed their housing agreement and be clear of holds. For specific eligibility requirements, view our housing selection guide.

To Select Housing

  1. Log into RMS using your NetID and your associated password.
  2. Click “Next Step” after Select My Housing.
  3. Read welcome page and confirm that the booking terms are correctly fall 2022 and spring 2023.
  4. Add Roommates: OPTIONAL. If you are not pulling in roommates, proceed to Step 5.
    1. If you are pulling in roommates, you can add them here. Read all directions on the page to add roommates. You will search for them by full name, CWID number and then confirming their entry with their roommate pin.
    2. You can add as many roommates that will fill a room/suite. Please note, the next page that shows available housing options will ONLY show you options that fit your roommate group. For example, if it’s you and another person, the next page will show you suites available for 2 people.
    3. If for whatever reason you want to delete a roommate, you can go back and hit the X icon next to your roommate’s name.
  5. Click “Next Step.”
  6. Read all directions for selecting housing. You will use the grey arrows under available rooms and then under search results to find and lock a space for yourself. Reading the directions in the top Gender Room Selection section will be key to successfully selecting a space.
    1. Please Note: You will see exactly what spaces are available during your selection process. Please do not contact our office requesting other spaces that you cannot see. If you do not see a space, that means it is not available.
  7. Roommate Screen: If you did not pull in roommates, proceed to Step 8.
    • Assign your roommate(s) to available bed spaces in the suite by using the drop down options next to the suite numbers.
  8. Click “Next Step.”
  9. Read all directions to select a meal plan for yourself and for your roommate(s) if applicable. Click “Next Step.”
  10. Review your housing selection. You can email yourself a copy of your selection by clicking the icon on the right of the summary. You Will Get a Confirmation Email Automatically, Regardless.
  11. Scroll down and click “Finish.”

Your Housing Selection Will Not Be Confirmed and Submitted Unless You Hit Finish. Do Not Forget to Hit the Finish Button.

Gender Inclusive Housing Information

For students who are opting into Gender Inclusive Housing (G.I.H.), all of the above information will be the same. You will just select “Next Step” next to Select My Housing (GIH Version) on your homepage of RMS, rather than the single gendered version of selection.

Please note, all members of your GIH group must have signed their GIH housing agreement and must all provide the person who is completing housing selection with their roommate code, full name, CWID number and meal plan selection. As a reminder, a requirement of G.I.H. is that you MUST fill a full suite or room with students that you have identified prior to the start of the process.

If you have any questions about Gender Inclusive Housing, please contact us at reslife@montclair.edu.