What is Open Designation Housing?
Open Designation Housing is an opt-in housing option that enables students to live together regardless of sex assigned at birth, with the goal of supporting student preferences and comfort. It is especially helpful for students who wish to live with someone based on a trusted relationship or mutual agreement.

Why offer Open Designation Housing?
This housing option supports student autonomy in selecting roommates and helps ensure living environments where students feel respected and safe. Many students may prefer to live with friends, relatives, or others of a different sex assigned at birth, and Open Designation Housing gives them the opportunity to do so.

Pursuing this initiative has been supported by the Residence Hall Association, Student Government Association, and many other student organizations at NKU. As of 2019, more than 200 colleges and universities around the nation offer some form of flexible housing for their residential students.

What is the application process?
Current residents may email the Housing Assignments Coordinator to express interest and list preferred roommates. All students in the group must complete their housing application to be considered. For a full explanation of the Open Designation Housing application process, please see the Open Designation Housing Procedures, Terms & Conditions, available on the NKU Housing website.

Are students randomly assigned to Open Designation Housing?
No. Open Designation Housing is opt-in only. Students will never be placed in a Open Designation Housing space without their written consent.

What if someone becomes uncomfortable with their assignment?
Students will have the option to dissolve their group and move into traditional housing accommodations if Open Designation Housing does not work for them.

Will parents be notified if their student requests Open Designation Housing?
Housing assignments are considered part of a student’s educational record and are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). University Housing cannot disclose information specific to a student’s housing assignment without the student’s written consent.

Where are Open Designation Housing accommodations located?
Designated Open Designation Housing spaces are located in New Residence Hall, Norse Hall, University Suites, and Callahan Hall. These units support groupings of 2–4 students and are assigned based on mutual consent and space availability. Groups of 4 are able to live together in New Residence Hall, Norse Hall, or University Suites. Groups of 2 are able to live together in Callahan Hall.

Can couples live together under this policy?
Yes. Students who opt in to Open Designation Housing can live with the roommate(s) of their choice if all participants consent and meet housing requirements.

Open Designation Housing Procedures, Terms & Conditions

Open Designation Housing is an opt-in housing option that enables students to live together regardless of sex assigned at birth, with the goal of supporting student preferences and comfort. It is especially helpful for students who wish to live with someone based on a trusted relationship or mutual agreement. Placement into Open Designation Housing is based on availability and mutual agreement between roommates.

Open Designation Housing Placement Instructions

1. Residents will indicate if they are interested in being placed into Open Designation Housing by emailing the University Housing Assignments Coordinator via the main housing email (housing@nku.edu).
   1. Include the names of your preferred roommates (if applicable).
   2. Indicating your interest does not guarantee a placement in Open Designation Housing.
2. A meeting will be scheduled to review expectations and confirm voluntary consent from all students involved.
   1. Placement into Open Designation Housing is based on availability and mutual agreement between roommates.
3. Resident(s) will meet with the Assignments Coordinator to review the terms and expectations of living in Open Designation Housing before receiving a room assignment.
   1. Meetings may be completed via phone, video conferencing software (Zoom), or in person, at the discretion of the Assignments Coordinator.
   2. It is your responsibility, as the applicant(s), to reach out to the Assignments Coordinator for a meeting.
4. Below are the Terms and Expectations of living in Open Designation Housing
   1. If you already have a roommate or suitemates in mind, please share them with the Assignments Coordinator.
   2. The Assignments Coordinator will reach out to your future roommates to ensure mutual consent between all parties.
   3. All roommates/suitemates must complete their Housing Application in order to be placed with you into the Open Designation Housing space.
   4. If your desired roommate group cannot completely fill a room/suite, you will be assigned another individual student who has also applied for Open Designation Housing in order to fill any vacant bedspaces.
   5. If you do not have any potential roommates in mind (which is common for first-year students), you will be placed with other individual students who have also applied for Open Designation Housing.
5. Once the Assignments Coordinator has met with all students, they will determine the resident(s) room assignment(s), based on availability. Please allow up to one week for the decision to be completed and your assignment to be available.

Open Designation Housing Expectations

• To be eligible for Open Designation Housing students must be in good judicial standing with the University.
• All applicants must submit a completed Housing Application and pay prepayment fees.
  • We highly recommend that students complete the General Room Selection process, to ensure you are guaranteed a space in University Housing for the upcoming academic year.
  • If your Open Designation Housing request is approved, University Housing will make the necessary changes to your room assignment at that time.
• Acceptance into Open Designation Housing is not guaranteed. Assignments are not guaranteed and depend on space availability and completed requirements. University Housing cannot guarantee an assignment to the specific building of your choice, but all requests will be considered.
• All communication regarding the Open Designation Housing application process will be done via email to the applicant’s NKU email address.
• University Housing may consolidate assignments as needed and reserve the right to adjust designations if vacancies occur.

Vacancies

• If a space becomes available in a Open Designation Housing room or suite (e.g., due to cancellation or mid-year move-out), it will be filled using the following process:
  • Step 1: Remaining roommates have five (5) business days to select a new roommate who is currently living on campus or eligible for on-campus housing.
  • Step 2: If no one is selected, University Housing may assign another student who has opted into Open Designation Housing.
  • Step 3: If no suitable Open Designation Housing applicant is available, the space may be reclassified as traditional housing. In this case, current residents may be reassigned to a different space. University Housing will support students through this transition and place them based on the best available match.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact Avery Calloway at callowaya4@nku.edu.