Housing Accommodations
The University of Mary Washington (UMW) is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its housing policies and practices where necessary for UMW students with disabilities to use and enjoy UMW housing, in accordance with the Fair Housing Act (FHA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974. UMW recognizes that students with disabilities may require accommodations to fully participate in the residential component of their experience at UMW. There are never additional charges assessed for approved housing accommodations for disability related needs.
Information on Emotional Support Animals can be found on the Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals website.
Housing Accommodation Request Process and Form
- Complete housing application for Residence Life and Housing by the deadlines established by Residence Life and Housing to ensure that you are assigned a residence on campus.
- Complete Housing Accommodation Request Form and/or Emotional Support Animal Request Form (required if requesting an emotional support animal) and upload your completed form with the Registration Form. The registration form can only be completed once. If you are already registered with ODR, please upload your documentation to your Accommodate portal. The Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Request form is required if submitting a request for an ESA. Students requesting an ESA alone are only required to submit the ESA form, and do not need to also submit the Housing Accommodation Request Form unless requesting additional housing accommodations.
If you need to submit additional documentation, please do so through your Accommodate portal. We are requesting that you scan all documentation into PDF format when submitting it. Scanners are available in the Library or HCC, or you can download the free Adobe Scan app to your iPhone, iPad, tablet, or Android smartphone: Instructions for using Adobe Scan App.
- After review of your documentation, an ODR Specialist will reach out to you through your UMW email address to schedule a meeting to learn more about your housing accommodation request.
Please know that accommodations are based on disability-related needs. Therefore, we do not take accommodation requests for assignments to specific residence halls.
Submitting an accommodation request does not guarantee approval of the housing accommodation.
Housing Accommodation Request Deadlines
Requests for accommodations can happen any time. Having said that – it is advantageous to submit a request for accommodation, prior to Housing placement in order to ensure maximum capacity and inventory management. In order for student accommodations to be considered during the process of Residence Life and Housing placement, it is strongly recommended to submit information 4-6 weeks prior to the posted Residence Life and Housing deadlines to allow for time to work through this process. It is recommended that students new to UMW provide completed housing accommodation requests as early as possible after they have been admitted.
Returning Student Housing Selection Priority Consideration Deadline: February 16th, 2024
New Student Housing Selection Priority Consideration Deadlines: May 10th, 2024
Housing Accommodation Renewals
Students who have been previously approved for Housing Accommodations will be required, each year, to inform the Office of Disability Resources and Residence Life that they intend to reside on campus the following year if they intend to use their approved accommodations. This ensures that requests for accommodations are effectively implemented.
Dietary Accommodations
Campus Dining offers a variety of menu options designed to fit a broad range of dietary preferences or requirements. The Top of the UC offers the most selections, but specialty items are also available from our retail locations. For detailed information about dining options that fit with your dietary restrictions contact Marketing Manager Rose Benedict by email: rbenedic@umw.edu or phone: 540-654-2169.
For questions related to meal plan changes or special diet accommodations, contact UMW Dining Services Liaison and Meal Plan Manager Chris “CJ” Porter. Email: cjporter@umw.edu. Phone number: 540-654-1659. Office: University Center 320B.
The Meal Plan Exemption Request Form can be found online.