Students have now settled in and, hopefully, gotten to know their roommates better. They know their name and where they’re from and, perhaps, have established some boundaries between them. Students should have outlined these boundaries in the Roommate Agreement they filled out at the beginning of the academic year, defining the room’s do’s and don’ts. The question is what happens if one of them breaks this agreement or if something goes wrong between them?
In the Roommate Agreement, you might find that your student agreed with their roommate to have the lights off by 10 p.m., and let’s say their roommate is consistently up late at night studying till 11:30 p.m. with the lights on. What should your student do in this situation? The first step is to encourage your student to talk with their roommate. Tell your student to ask their roommate if they can get a desk lamp or honour the guidelines of their agreement. It might be difficult at first, especially if this is their first conflict, but having one healthy conversation can go a long way. 
Having a conversation won’t solve every problem. Maybe your student continues to have the same issue despite their efforts, or has other problems that may or may not be detailed in the Roommate Agreement. In this instance, let your student know that there is an option to undergo Roommate Mediation. To do this, they’ll want to go to their MyPack Portal, click Manage my Housing and select Room Change. They’ll receive a meeting request from a Residence Life staff member within three days of the request for a mediated roommate conversation facilitated by a Resident Advisor (RA). These student leaders are in every residence hall to help students navigate disagreements, create an environment for residents to connect, learn, succeed and much more. 

 The RA will review the Roommate Agreement and establish mutually agreed-upon expectations. A timeline is then set by the RA and the roommates to allow some time to adjust to expectations. Students will need to undergo a mediated conversation in advance of a room change request, with very few exceptions.
Some issues may persist and that can be really frustrating, not only for your student. If, after the timeline has elapsed, issues persist and behaviors don’t change, roommates can request to meet with their graduate assistant residence life coordinator, who will approve or deny the Room Change request. If the request is approved, your student will be contacted by a member of the Assignments staff with University Housing to discuss options for the room change.
Understanding and evaluating your student’s options when roommate conflicts come up is an extremely important part of the college experience. Not only is it an opportunity to strengthen communication skills, but also potentially your student’s relationship with their roommate.

 I wish you and your student the best of luck.
Alexander Vazquez – Pack Family Ally