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Student Housing & Residential Life

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December 2023

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Latest News

Coog Cribs Contest Winners

The winners for this year’s Coog Cribs Room Decorating Contest have been announced! Congratulations to the winning Coogs in this year's categories.

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People’s Choice: Lizbeth Ovalle
Cougar Pride: Desmond Trotter
Home Sweet Home: Kayce Ekpenike
Best Living Room: Paige Hixon

Thank you to everyone who submitted their spaces or voted for their People’s Choice on social media! This year’s competition was fierce, with more than 68 submissions for residents across seven residence halls. We also received more than 140 entries across the various categories.

Keep an eye on the Student Housing & Residential Life social media pages and follow us @UH_Housing on your preferred platform(s) to stay up to date on the latest news and content. We cannot wait to share details for next year’s Coog Cribs contest!

Residents Rally Around This Year’s Homecoming Events

The 2023 Homecoming events experienced record-breaking participation from UH Student Housing & Residential Life (SHRL). Thank you to the Residence Halls Association (RHA) for their hard work and coordination with partners all over campus. Each Hall Council worked to engage residents and encourage participation in this year’s events.

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RHA Homecoming Kick-off

More than 750 students and supporters got a kick start to Homecoming Week with the RHA and Homecoming Board at the Kick-Off Pep Rally! During the event, each Hall Council led a carnival themed activity before the announcement of the Homecoming Court. The RHA also secured a first-time partnership with TDECU to provide branded shirts for attendees who visited all the Hall Council stations.

Spirit Cup

This year’s festivities included the highest number of SHRL teams participating in one of the University’s most significant Homecoming traditions, the Spirit Cup. Throughout the week, residents from all seven residence halls competed in events like Paint the Cougar, Bed Races, and Can-struction, tallying points to be crowned the Spirit Cup Champion. Thank you to each Hall Council for your leadership!

Cougar Place HOCO Décor

The Cougar Place Hall Council treated residents and staff to festive decorations in celebration of Homecoming week. The building decorations were a great showing of homecoming spirit and Cougar pride!

SHRL Residents Crowned Homecoming King and Queen

A special congratulations to this year’s Homecoming King, Austin Craig, and Homecoming Queen Auyana Aird! Craig is a senior and Resident Advisor at the Quad residence hall. Additionally, this year’s Homecoming Court featured several of our SHRL student staff.

Battle of the Dorms

Finally, this year included a first-time collaboration between UH Athletics and the RHA with the “Battle of the Dorms” competition. During the week leading up to the Nov. 11 game, students claimed their free tickets for the Homecoming game. The residence hall with the most tickets scanned will receive an exclusive tailgate style party for their residents. The inaugural champion of the Battle of the Dorms competition is Cougar Village II! We hope you enjoyed the game and enjoy your prize!

Resident Appreciation Event at Cougar Place Lobby Draws Enthusiastic Participation

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Cougar Place (CP) residents experienced an afternoon filled with fun, creativity, and camaraderie at the Resident Appreciation event held on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 1 - 3 p.m. The event, organized by CP staff, aimed to show gratitude to the vibrant community of residents.

The Cougar Place Lobby buzzed with excitement as 133 residents joined in the festivities. A variety of engaging activities awaited them, turning the lobby into a hub of creativity and enjoyment. From popcorn and cotton candy stations to chocolate-covered strawberry delights, the event offered a delightful culinary experience.

For those seeking hands-on experience, a trail mix-making station and 3D fabric painting corner provided opportunities for artistic expression. The coffee bar, a popular spot throughout the event, offered residents a cozy space to relax and connect with neighbors.

One of the highlights of the day was the friendship band-making activity, allowing residents to craft tokens of friendship and shared experiences.

To add an element of anticipation, every participant received a raffle ticket upon joining the event. As the event unfolded, four winners were awarded prizes that included a milk frother, wireless headsets, a disposable camera and a Brita filter.

As the fall semester winds down, we look forward to similar Resident Appreciation events in the coming months for Bayou Oaks, Moody Towers, The Quad and University Lofts. Stay tuned for announcements with specifics for those activities!

Cougar Village I & II Host Fall Resident Appreciation Events!

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On Nov. 15, from 1- 3 p.m., Cougar Village I set the stage for an afternoon of community connection and treats. Hosted in the lobby of Cougar Village I, residents were invited to grab a hot dog with all the fixings and learn more about Student Housing & Residential Life’s Priority Room Selection process, which allows current residents to choose their preferred housing assignments for the upcoming academic year.

Discussions unfolded over a spread that included all-beef hotdogs, vegan options, chips, deli pickles, and gluten-free buns. Refreshing drinks complemented the vibrant conversations, creating a backdrop for meaningful exchanges about their unique housing experiences.

The Resident Appreciation festivities continued on Nov. 16, with Cougar Village II hosting a similar event with a total of 133 residents in attendance.

These events weren't just about serving delicious food; they were a heartfelt Thank You to every resident who chooses to live on campus during the academic year.

We eagerly anticipate more moments of connection and appreciation in the future. Stay tuned for the next community event

SHRL Offers Free Photoshoots to Graduating Seniors

Congratulations to our December 2023 Graduates! Each semester, Student Housing & Residential Life (SHRL) offers free graduation photoshoots for on-campus residents.

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Join us in congratulating this semester’s graduating seniors! Thank you for selecting SHRL as your home away from home!

Resident Advisor Recruitment

Looking for a rewarding on-campus job experience? Apply to be a Resident Advisor (RA) with Student Housing & Residential Life!

RAs are a critical part of the UH experience, working to support community development, student success, and relationship building. Positions are available in SEVEN residential communities for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The RA application period runs through Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, through Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.

For a more in-depth look at the RA position, you are encouraged to attend the following events:

Information Sessions

  • Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m., The Quad Multipurpose Room
  • Thursday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m., The Quad Multipurpose Room
  • Thursday, Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m., Virtual

For ADA accommodations or to request additional information about these events, contact Griselda Quezada, program coordinator for selection and training, at gquezad4@central.uh.edu.

To apply, log in to Access UH and click the Myhousing icon.

Announcements and Resources

Campus Resource Spotlight

At the University of Houston (UH), we care about you. In addition to you practicing self-care, we believe in the strength of a community that cares for our fellow Coogs. In our efforts to ensure students have the tools needed to accomplish their goals, we provide a number of urgent and non-urgent resources.

One of these resources is Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS staff are here to help UH students on their journey to living life to the fullest.

While some amount of stress, sadness, and anxiety is a normal part of life, many students may find themselves in a place where they need a little bit of professional help to regain their balance, feel more at peace, and feel more in control of their lives.

To learn more about the services provided through CAPS, visit the CoogsCARE website.

Four Ways to FixIT

Student Housing & Residential Life strives to provide convenient, comfortable, and secure residence halls. If you come across any maintenance issues in your room, suite, or residential building, please report it in one of four ways through the University of Houston’s (UH) maintenance system, FIXIT. Remember, maintenance issues must be reported before an attempt to resolve is made by UH Facilities.

Residents should submit a FIXIT request to ensure maintenance issues are resolved in a timely manner. Staff in UH Facilities are working hard to respond to requests in the order they are received and building emergencies. If you have reported an issue and have not experienced a resolution, please visit the front desk of your residence hall for assistance.

Let us work together to make UH living communities the best they can be!

Upcoming Events

End of Fall 2023 Term Reminder

All residence halls remain open throughout the Winter Break. Students living in housing for the fall and spring terms are not required to move out prior to Winter Break.

The Student Housing Agreement covers the 2023-2024 academic year. As a result, students are assigned to their same space for the spring term.

If you plan to leave for Winter Break, we recommend the following steps to ensure a tidy space when you return for the spring term:

  • Clean your refrigerator and dispose of all perishable items in your room.
  • Clean your room and common spaces. If there is a vacancy in your room or suite you may have a new roommate/suitemate when you return for the spring term.
  • Unplug ALL items and make sure any alarms or any device that has a timer on it is turned off.
  • Remove all trash from your room or suite.
  • Be sure to collect any packages you have in the package lockers.

University staff will enter your unit during the winter break to inspect and clean vacant bedroom(s).

It is your responsibility to ensure the common areas of your bedroom, suite, or apartment are also clean and ready for a new roommate.  To keep updated on the status of your roommates, please visit your myHousing portal in AccessUH. 

If you are not planning to remain in on-campus housing for the spring term, please follow the steps below to avoid penalties:

  • If canceling for any reason (including graduation), the student needs to email or visit your community’s Supervisor, Desk Operations & Community Services (SDOC). SDOC information for each residence hall can be found on the SHRL website: https://www.uh.edu/housing/about/meet-our-staff.
  • If canceling for reasons other than graduation, there may be a cancellation penalty. Information can be found in section 5.b of the  UH Student Housing Agreement.
  • Residents not returning for the spring term must be completely vacated and checked out of their residence hall by noon on Dec. 17, 2023.
  • Please follow the following steps to fully vacate your room:
    • Remove all possessions from your room or bed space.
    • Place room furniture back in its original configuration.
    • Empty and clean all surfaces and drawers.
    • Remove all items or decorations from walls.
    • Remove items from your common space, clean surfaces, and refrigerators.
    • To finalize check-out, residents should visit their community’s front desk and complete a Check-out Envelope to return keys (if applicable) and finalize check-out procedures.
    • Residents who do not follow these steps will be charged a daily rate for their room type until the checkout process is complete.

Please contact the Main Housing Office with any questions or concerns about the Fall Checkout process.