New Dorm, one of the college residencies

A new software will help students select housing and meal plans for next school year and include features such as the ability to form roommate groups and to browse individual rooms. 

StarRez, which will roll out on Tuesday, April 18, will allow students to have more control over their living situations, freeing administrators to focus on student needs and relations, Dean of Women Rebekah Dell said. 

“This was an area in which we thought we could streamline the process,” Dell said. “We can automate, and we can create some efficiencies, so that we can really keep our eyes focused on student support at every level in the experience. We started looking for software back in 2019, and StarRez pretty quickly came to the top of the pile because of the scope of what they can handle as well as the variety of features and high customization.”

According to Dell, students will have access to on-campus housing choice priority based on their high school graduation year and number of credits. There will be hour blocks of time for each credit group to go into StarRez and select their room choices, either picking a single for themselves or selecting living accommodations on behalf of their chosen groups. 

Dell said the dean’s office suggests picking a roommate captain who has the highest number of Hillsdale credits out of the group. That way, even a sophomore who wants to live with a junior still gets the junior’s status for selecting rooms. Once people are a part of a group, any member of the group can register during the group leader’s allotted time. 

Individual students will also be able to use the new system to search for possible roommate pairings. Students will fill out a roommate questionnaire, and the program will show each student’s compatible matches based on the criteria, such as sleeping preferences and personal interests expressed in the survey. 

“I’m excited because the new system is going to make sure everyone is on the same page, and has the group apply as a unit, rather than having to worry about requesting roommates with the potential of not getting paired together,” sophomore Carlie Steele said. “Groups will no longer deal with the stress of making sure every roommate fills out their forms the right way.” 

StarRez will also allow students to shop for their future dorm room or house by enabling students to see pictures of each room, dimensions of that exact room, and a list of furniture in the room. Each building will also have a list of special features and accommodations. 

“For us at McIntyre, it doesn’t immediately concern the incoming freshmen; they will still be paired with their roommates by hand,” said Joanna Leckband, sophomore and head resident assistant of McIntyre next year. “Eventually, freshmen will get to see their own rooms before coming. This will be super helpful for them, but for now it’s a great way for us to connect with them over the summer before they arrive.” 

RAs will also be able to check residents in and out of their dorms through the StarRez mobile app, digitizing the previously analog process of taking note of room condition and damages.   

“As far as checking them in, move-in is a big day at McIntyre, regardless,” Leckband said. “I think the new software will make communication easier within RA teams on move-in day, eliminating an extra step in the process.” 

Greek students living in Greek houses, resident assistants, and those students that wish to renew their current living situation will be placed in their beds first. From there, Dell said the system will update as the credit groups select their houses, showing only the rooms and houses that are available for living. 

“I think the challenge is going to be that it is going to require students to be very proactive for their own housing experience and selection,” Dell said. “This process will really allow students to take ownership, to say ‘Is this available? What kind of roommate groups do we want to put together?’ If you don’t get in that first hour, that’s OK. You may not get your first choice, but you’ll still be able to see what’s available and select from there.” 

All students need to fill out the StarRez form, even if just to inform the system that they are living off campus, going on WHIP or studying abroad. The site will also allow students to register for their desired meal plan and be able to make changes as late as August. 

Students can expect an email within the week from the email studenthousing@hillsdale.edu with a link to StarRez and instructions on what to fill out.