Residence FAQ

QuestionsClick the questions to find out the answers to some of our most Frequently Asked Questions.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, please email us.

 

Residence Applications Questions:

How do I apply for Residence?

You can apply for Residence by filling out the online application. Applications will be accepted at any time on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Check out our Residence Application Guide for more details.

Please note: When you apply for Residence you are required to pay a $75.00 non-refundable application fee. Payment for your non-refundable application can be made online through online banking, credit card, a mailed in certified cheque or bank draft. Cash or Interac debit payments can be made in person at the Residence. Personal cheques will not be accepted.

What is the fee deposit used for?

A fee deposit is required with all conditional acceptances to Residence. This money will go towards your total Residence fees and will not be returned at the end of your stay with us – think of it as a down payment.

Payment for your fee deposit can be made online through online banking, a mailed-in certified cheque or a bank draft. Personal cheques or credit cards are not accepted.

When will I find out if I have been accepted into Residence?

Academic Year Acceptance
Acceptance notifications will be emailed out Mid-March and continue throughout the summer as space becomes available. Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and need to meet all the required deadlines with their paperwork and payments. All applicants that apply after the Residence is full will be placed on a waitlist.

Winter & Spring Semester Acceptance
Acceptance emails will be sent out on a first-come, first-serve basis dependent upon availability during the Winter and Spring Semesters. You must submit a $75.00 non-refundable application fee payment in order to qualify for acceptance. 

What if I cannot make the payment options as outlined in the acceptance information?

For the Academic Year, the lowest payment plan is the Option 2 payment schedule as outlined on our rates page.
Winter Term is a lump sum payment only.
We always recommend meeting with your local Financial Advisor to discuss loans and financial planning.
For more information:

What are Primary and Secondary Contacts?

The Primary and Secondary Contacts are emergency contacts who are also contacted if significant concerns arise in Residence. If the Primary Contact is unavailable, the Secondary Contact is contacted. We strongly recommend that the contacts are the parents or legal guardians of the resident.

Once the Residence receives a listed contact, the manager notifies the contacts via email that they have been listed as a Primary or Secondary Contact. The email outlines the roles and responsibilities of the contacts and provides the listed contacts the opportunity to opt-out of this role.

I have a medical concern and require special consideration in the room assignment process. What should I do?

Please provide your details on the Medical, Accessibility, and Special Consideration section when completing your acceptance information to provide us with more information about how we can support your success in Residence.

Students requiring special accommodations on campus are encouraged to also contact Counselling Services and the Centre for Accessible Learning.

To apply for attendant and personal care services, please visit Residence Attendant Services.


If you need help in setting up any of these services, please contact Dana Deline at ddeline@algonquinresidence.ca.

 

How is my roommate selected?

Everyone who is accepted into Residence must fill out a ‘Personality Profile’ that is located in the Housing Portal and your roommate is selected based on these answers. We recommend that you fill out the personality profile by yourself and answer each question truthfully to end up with the best match possible. Please note: Roommate switches are not always permitted if issues arise. We recommend putting effort into finding the best match prior to move in.

The Residence Roommate Selection part of the Housing Portal will open up at the end of July/early August for you to search for a roommate. All students who have completed their applications and made their payments will be able to access this step in the Housing Portal and will receive an email notifying them that this section has opened.

Please note:

  • There are no co-ed or single suites available.
  • If you are living in a Residence Community, you will only be able to choose a roommate from the same Community as you.
  • Roommate mediations with staff are only allowed during certain time periods.

Am I required to purchase a meal plan?

All new Residents living in the Algonquin College Residence are required to purchase a mandatory two-term meal plan. Meal plans are optional for returning residents.

For more information on the Meal Plan please visit our Meal Plan page or Food Services.

Please note: Residence Meal Plans are subject to the Terms and Conditions policies of Algonquin College Food Services.

 

Are family or co-ed accommodations available?

The Residence does not offer any family or co-ed accommodations. 

What happens if I decide not to come to Residence?

If you decide to cancel your Residence application you must cancel in the Housing Portal. Cancellations will not be accepted over the phone, via e-mail, fax, or mail.

Please refer to the Withdrawal and Cancellation policy for more information.

If I cancel my Residence application will I receive my money back?

Please refer to the Withdrawal and Cancellation policy for more information.

How do I get an Income Tax receipt?

The Residence is a “designated Residence” for property tax and rent purposes, meaning that Residence fees cannot be claimed on income tax returns.

The only claim that is allowed is $25.00 for the year (with no receipt necessary), as directed by the Ontario government: 5006-TG, T1 General 2012 – ON-BEN Application for the 2016 Ontario Trillium Benefit and the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant.

For this reason, the Residence does not issue tax receipts for Residence fees.

How do I make an online banking payment?

To add the Residence as a bill payee search for ‘Algonquin Residence’ and select the payee titled ‘Algonquin Residence & Conference‘.

To identify your payment you will be prompted to type in your account number indicated on your payment invoice. Your account number is easily located in your Housing Portal under the Home Page.

 

Please note:

  • If you are unable to see ‘Algonquin Residence & Conference’, please notify the residence and we will assist you in selecting the proper payee. Please do not use the payee listed as ‘Algonquin College – Tuition’.
  • If you have made an online Residence payment in error to ‘Algonquin College – Tuition’, please email us and provide payment details such as student name, student number, date of payment, transaction number etc.
  • International students should refer to their invoice for our updated NorthStar payment link.

When is the application deadline for Residence?

There is no set application deadline for Residence but it is first come, first serve. Visit our rates page for application fee and payment information. 

What if I can’t find my program listed in the application?

The program selector is generic, so if your program cannot be found, you should select the program closest to your program.

For example, if a Pastry student could not find their program, they would select Hospitality.

When can I apply for Winter term Residence?

If space for Winter Term appears to be available the application will become available during the Fall term.

Can I defer Residence payment deadlines for OSAP?

Residence Fee payment deadlines cannot be deferred. Student loans are primarily meant for tuition, while any extra funds are discretionary. Student loan assessments often do not cover full living expenses. If you are receiving financial assistance from OSAP or any other loan program, please ensure to make your payments directly to the Residence on the payment deadline date outlined in your invoice.

We offer Payment Option 2 -split payments to help alleviate the upfront costs for Residence Fees.

I am receiving funds from an Indigenous sponsorship, how do I pay the Residence Fees?

Please send your sponsorship letter which outlines funding and allotments, to info@algonquinresidence.ca. Payment arrangements for the Residence Fees and Meal Plan amounts that are in excess of your financing can be paid by means outlined in your Offer of Residence and subsequent invoices, and as per the Schedule of Fees.

 

Move In & Move Out Questions:

When can I move into Residence?

Move-in for Fall 2023 is Saturday, September 2.

Can I move-in early or move-out late?

The Residence cannot accept early arrivals, please select a preferred move-in arrival time slot in your application by clicking on ‘appointments’ in the application menu.

When do I find out who my roommate is?

You will receive an email prior to moving in with the name and contact information of your roommate. Once you have received this email, we encourage you to get in touch with your roommate and get to know them better before you move in.

If you would like some roommate tips before you meet for the first time, check out our Top Tips for Roommates.

  • Academic Year: You will receive an email  in August. 
  • Winter or Spring Semester: You will receive an email a few weeks prior to moving in.

Can I bring additional cooking devices?

All cooking devices must have an automatic shutoff, be approved by CSA, and must not have an open-element (for example hot plates and indoor grills are not permitted).

Check out our What to Bring and What Not to Bring to Residence page for more information.

 

Living in Residence Questions:

What if something breaks in my room?

If something breaks in your room, you can fill out a maintenance request through the Housing Portal under the Maintenance Tab.

This form authorizes our maintenance staff to enter your room between the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM to repair the damages you have requested. This request may take a few days to get to so we ask for your patience. You can also speak with a Residence Services Representative at the Front Desk for assistance.

If it is an emergency we ask that you alert our staff at the Front Desk to the situation.

Please note that any damage to the room that has occurred at the fault of the resident will be billable.

When is the front desk open?

The Residence Front Desk is now virtual! 

We are available for questions, comments and/or concerns at any time you have them. The Front Desk is still open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

You can call us at 613-727-7698 or text us at 613-900-2023. You can also email us at info@algonquinresidence.ca.

Please note that text messages are only reviewed during standard working hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:00PM). Texts are charged at your usual network rate.

Is parking available for Residents?

For more information about parking, please visit Parking Services.

What kind of security is in place?

The Residence offers exceptional security from the moment you pass through the main entrance, until you slide your electronic card into your suite door.

  • Security cameras are located in all common areas, hallways and entrances
  • Panic buttons are also located at every stairwell exit throughout the entire building
  • The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • A manager is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to respond to any emergencies in Residence

How will I know what is going on in the Residence?

Your Resident Advisors (RAs) are constantly organizing events throughout the Residence that will allow you to meet people in your new community.

And we have lots of ways for you to find out what is going on!

  • Check out our online Events Calendar
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Connect with us on Facebook
  • Check your emails for your monthly Residence newsletter
  • Speak to your RA
  • Check out the Event Calendars located outside the elevators on each floor
  • Stop by the Back Lobby every night between 6-8pm and join in the activities!

Please ensure that the contact details provided when you apply for Residence are correct and that the email address is one that you check regularly, as the Front Desk and the Residence Life Teams send out emails about upcoming events and things happening in the residence throughout the year.

What if it gets really loud in Residence while I’m sleeping or studying?

If you are disturbed at any time of the day or night, before contacting the Front Desk, please try to talk to the resident(s) who is/are causing the disturbance. Get to know your neighbours and build a respectful community.

If you are still being disturbed, please contact the Front Desk and they will help you reach an acceptable volume by speaking to the resident(s). The Front Desk staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you need any assistance.

For the courtesy of all residents, quiet hours are observed from 11:00pm to 7:00am.

What is the smoking/vaping policy?

Algonquin College is a clean air campus. Smoking and vaping are prohibited on campus, including the Residence building and grounds.

More information on the Clean Air policy, HS 10 Smoke-Free Campus, can be found on the Clean Air website.

Can I stay in Residence over the winter break?

During the Fall term, you will receive an email with more information about staying in the Residence over the Winter Break.

You must submit your Winter Break Extension Form prior to December 1, 2023 if you plan on staying for either part of or the entire break.

Winter Break for the Academic Year 2023-2024 begins on December 18, 2023 and ends on January 6, 2024.

Please Note: There is an additional charge of $10 per day for staying in Residence during the Winter Break.

What if I’m struggling to adapt to Residence?

We have Residence Advisors, Residence Life Coordinators and Residence Service Representatives who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you with any of your concerns or questions. We ask that you speak to them first before considering moving out of residence.

Find out how to contact Residence Staff here.

Can I bring my bike to Residence?

Yes you can! We have a dedicated Bike Hut in Rosser Courtyard where you can secure your bike in a covered location. Please bring a secure bike lock with you.

To get to the Rosser Courtyard from the Front Lobby, walk across the Main Courtyard and enter into the Back Lobby. From there, follow the floor stickers to Rosser Courtyard.

Please note that the Bike Hut and Rosser Courtyard are only accessible from the Back Lobby or Stairwell A. There is no outside access.

How do I put money on my AC Card?

To learn more about your AC Card and how to top it up, click here.


Your AC Card can be used to:

  • Access labs & rooms
  • Eat on campus using your meal plan
  • Shop & pay on campus
  • Print on campus
  • Borrow equipment, library books & more
  • Save $ both on & off campus
  • Identification for exams & more
  • Payment for peer tutoring
  • Payment for laundry in Residence

 

Ready to apply for Residence?

Apply for Residence now!

 

 


Quick Links

 

Building

Take a Tour
Take a look around the Residence with our virtual tour experience.

Money

Room Rates
Find out how much your room will cost and what’s included. Utilities are included.

Meals

Meal Plans
Meal plans are mandatory for
all first year
residents.