New Student FAQ

Move-in information can be found at my.cnu.edu/move-in for new and returning students in one convenient location. Please go to the page for the type of student you are for specifics, including schedules and forms to sign up for an arrival time.

Students may request convenience-based late stay and early arrivals through an online form reviewed by Residence Life and University Housing. University departments with official events that require students to return to campus early or stay late provide the comprehensive list to Residence Life, and consideration of the group is completed by both Residence Life and University Housing.

Students are charged a daily rate for late stay and early arrival unless they remain in housing related to requirements for athletics competitions, commencement or other similar programs and the time is not already covered in their contracted occupancy period.

New incoming first-year students are assigned first by their learning community, then considering mutually requested roommates, then a few matching questions.

Continuing students form roommate groups during room selection each spring and select their preferred housing units.

Check CNU Live for your room assignment and your roommate(s) information.

Room selection is the process in which current students secure their housing for the following academic year. Through this process, students will:

• Replenish their housing deposit if it is below $100
• Sign their housing contract
• Form roommate groups
• Select housing for the next year during their assigned time slot. (If a room is not selected, the student will be assigned a space.)
• Once room assignments are completed, students select their meal plan (occurs at a later date).
• And, if applicable:
  • Complete room retention
  • Apply for a theme unit in James River
  • Receive a housing assignment in a Greek affiliated space
  • Accept an RA role or RA suitemate through Residence Life
  • Confirm Study Abroad, transfer out or other departure from housing

Residence hall style buildings offer laundry machines located throughout each residence hall. Laundry is $1.75 per wash cycle and $1.75 per dry cycle. Students can pay for laundry using Captains Cash or quarters.

Laundry is provided in-unit in Rappahannock River Hall, CNU Landing, Village and Apartments and Presidents Hall.

During Business Hours

• For routine maintenance and housekeeping requests, submit a work order via help.cnu.edu using the Facilities / Housing Maintenance option.
• Urgent items should be called in to University Housing Operations at (757) 594-7651.
• Non-urgent follow up should be emailed to housing@cnu.edu.

After Hours

• Students should contact their building front desk or their RA for assistance.
• Students can also contact CNU PD in the event of an active water leak or other critical building issue.
• University Housing maintains a multi-tier on-call rotation to ensure critical housekeeping and maintenance concerns after hours can be addressed quickly.
• Activation of the on-call housekeeping or maintenance staff member is initiated by CNU PD or internal to University Housing, depending on the incident and other mitigating factors.

Roommates:

• Requesting a roommate or roommate groups: University Housing
• Conflict or mediation need: Residence Life

Housekeeping: University Housing*

Purchasing Meal Plan: University Housing

Room Access:

• Lockouts or lost room keys: Residence Life
• Lock not working/access assignment: University Housing*

Room Changes:

• Roommate conflict driven: Residence Life
• Convenience room change: University Housing

*go to help.cnu.edu using the Facilities / Housing Maintenance option

Visit my.cnu.edu/housing/resources and open the General Information and Forms section for damage and optional fee information. These files are available to the CNU community only. To access them you must be logged in to your CNU email.

Current students may request summer housing for summer terms, research, summer employment or other summer housing needs. Summer housing is primarily in apartment units where students have kitchen access. Students may add a summer meal plan for May Term and Summer Term 1.

• University Housing
• Housing Process FAQ
• Move-In Information

There are approximately 3,800 beds on campus (1,200 for first year students).

New incoming students are guaranteed housing for their first three years at Christopher Newport and are expected to live on campus. Fourth- and fifth-year students, graduate students and transfer students may live on campus; however, they are not required nor guaranteed on-campus housing.

If a student wants to apply for an exemption to the three-year housing requirement, they may do so by completing the exemption form.

In-person and virtual tours are available by visiting cnu.edu/admission/freshman/toursandevents. Tours are also available during Setting Sail and Admission events.

$40/day beginning July 1, 2023

This impacts billable early arrivals, late stays, and other voluntary occupancy periods where the daily rate is used to calculate the additional charges.

Wash Cycle: $1.75

Dry Cycle: $1.75