Nov 02, 2024  
2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

University Housing and Meals



On-Campus Housing

The University offers nine on-campus residence halls. Each residence hall offers a unique and comfortable environment for students. More than 1,500 students live on campus each semester and take advantage of all that living on campus offers. Rooms are equipped with cable TV and Internet connections, as well as a combination refrigerator/freezer with a microwave unit. Each hall offers laundry facilities and a hall desk to assist students. Hall staff is available to provide students with the assistance they need to succeed socially and academically. Housing and meal-plan agreements should be read carefully.

Housing Application

Housing applications are available from the Office of Residential Living or the Office of Admissions. Applications are also available on the Residential Living website. A $100 deposit must be submitted with all applications. Applications are processed in order of the date they are received. Contact the Office of Residential Living or visit the website at wtamu.edu/student-life/residential-living.aspx for more information related to residence halls or the application process.

On-Campus Housing Requirement

West Texas A&M University is committed to the success of each student. Due to the fact that the University believes that living on campus plays a significant role in the success of students, the University requires all students to live in University housing, unless the student:

  1. Has reached the age of 21 prior to the first day of class each fall or spring semester, or
  2. Has accumulated 60 or more credit hours by the first day of class each fall or spring semester, or
  3. Is enrolled in fewer than nine credit hours for the fall or spring semester.

Students may file for an exemption to this requirement for the following reasons:

  • Living with parents (no more than 50 miles from campus).
  • Married or have a dependent child.
  • Medical reasons.
  • Extreme financial hardship.

It is recommended that students not arrange to live off campus until their request for exemption has been approved through the Office of Residential Living. Exemptions are granted for one academic year and must be renewed if still applicable. Contact the Office of Residential Living or visit the website at wtamu.edu/student-life/residential-living.aspx for more information related to the housing requirement.

Meningitis Vaccination Requirement

During 2009 Texas legislative session, Texas House Bill 4189 (HB 4189) was passed and signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry. HB 4189 requires that any incoming new student who lives on campus must either receive a vaccination against bacterial meningitis or meet certain criteria for declining such a vaccination before they can live on campus. For more information, visit the website at wtamu.edu/student-life/residential-living.aspx.

Meal Plan Requirement

The University offers various meal plans specifically designed to meet the needs of students. All plans offer meals in the Dining Hall and also Dining Dollars that can be used at various locations on campus. The University requires all students residing on campus to purchase a meal plan, unless the student has:

  1. Reached the age of 21 prior to the first day of class each fall or spring semester,
    or
  2. Accumulated 45 or more credit hours by the first day of class each fall or spring semester.

A student may file for an exemption to this requirement for the following reasons:

  • Eating meals with parents.
  • Work hours conflict with Dining Hall hours.
  • Medical reasons.
  • Extreme financial hardship.

Contact the Office of Residential Living or visit the website at wtamu.edu/student-life/residential-living.aspx for more information about the meal-plan requirement.

Meal Plan Options

Complete meal services are available in the University Dining Hall through ARAMARK Corporation. Students have four meal plan options to choose from during fall and spring semesters:

  • 175 meals/semester with $175 Dining Dollars.
  • 200 meals/semester with $150 Dining Dollars.
  • Unlimited meals/semester with $85 Dining Dollars.
  • 75 meals plan with $75 Dining Dollars (does not meet meal-plan requirement).

Depending upon needs of the student, the appropriate meal plan is selected each semester. There are no refunds for meals the student chooses not to eat, and unused Dining Dollars are not refunded.

Off-Campus Housing

For students not effected by the housing requirement, the cities of Canyon and Amarillo offer multiple housing options ranging from rental homes to apartments. It is recommended that students who are under the housing requirement not arrange to live off campus until the student’s request for exemption has been approved. Refer to “Commuter Programs ” in the “Student Services and Support ” section of this catalog for additional off-campus housing information.