To be eligible to apply for acceptance to live (“eligible status”) in the area of Munger Graduate Residences and Northwood Community Apartments designated for graduate students, faculty, and staff, you must be a University of Michigan Student or University of Michigan Non-student as defined below:
Student
- A graduate Student
- Non-traditional Student (out of high-school 6 years or more)
- An undergraduate Student with family
- House Officer as defined by SPG 201.19
- A Ph.D. candidate actively writing a dissertation (as verified by their faculty chair)
- Students must be registered for classes and/or paying tuition at the UM, Ann Arbor campus
- Students must be enrolled for 6 or more credit hours, two out of three academic terms or be actively writing their dissertation as verified by their chair
- Students have priority for vacant units over Non-students
Non-student
- Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan as defined by SPG 201.19 and residing with family
The foregoing criteria, however, shall not entitle a person with eligible status to be accepted to live in Munger Graduate Residences or Northwood Community Apartments.
Household Member Policy
The University recognizes that family membership is defined in many diverse ways. For purposes of eligibility for families, immediate family members of the contract holder or spouse/domestic partner are included as household members. Immediate family members are defined as:
- Spouse/Domestic Partner: Share documentation of domestic partnership
- Fiancé – Must be married within 6 months of contract start date; contact the Housing Information Office if marriage will occur after this period
- Dependent children (under 18 years of age); children over 18 are considered adults. Residents who have a dependent child that is 18 or older must provide written verification of legal dependent status, such as the most recent income tax filed.
- Parents of the contract holder or spouse/domestic partner (if caring for contract holder’s dependent children)
- Grandparents of the contract holder, or spouse/domestic partner (if caring for contract holder’s dependent children)
- Siblings who are enrolled Students at the University of Michigan
- Household members must be included on your contract and are entitled to the same access to most family programs, services and facilities. Verification of relationship will be required. Siblings are not considered immediate family members and therefore are not eligible to reside in the Northwood Community Apartments as household members (exception: siblings who are enrolled Students)
- Under no circumstances may you exceed the occupancy limits for your apartment. You are responsible for updating your contract with any changes of household members throughout the contract term. Any additions, deletions, or changes to the household must be provided to Housing along with required paperwork, such as a birth certificate. This will help ensure that household members receive access to programs and services for which they qualify. If you expect to exceed occupancy limits (e.g., expecting a child), apply for an apartment transfer to a larger unit ahead of time.
- You may not allow any other person(s) to reside in the apartment who is not authorized by University Housing as a member of the household or who is not a guest (See Guest Policies and Unauthorized Entry)
Any requests for special circumstances must be submitted to the Housing Information Office. You are fully responsible for any actions and/or misconduct by your spouse/domestic partner, dependent children, household members, guests, or visitors.
Eligibility Status Change
- In the event that You no longer maintain eligible status, You must immediately notify the University in writing at the Housing Information Office, 1011 Student Activities Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1316. At any time following the termination of Your eligible status, the University may in its sole and absolute discretion terminate this Contract upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to You. The University has the right, upon 45 days’ notice to You, to increase the total rent due by an amount reasonably related to any increase in (a) the cost of utilities or, (b) premiums paid for liability, fire, or workers compensation insurance.
If your status changes at any time you must notify Housing by emailing housing@umich.edu. Examples include, but are not limited to: a Student who has graduated and become a postdoctoral research fellow or UM staff member; and a postdoctoral research fellow whose appointment has been changed to a UM staff member. The rental rate will be assessed at the appropriate Student or Non-student rate and based upon the date of the status change. Contract holders whose status has changed to Non-student will be allowed to complete their current contract but will not be eligible to renew their contract for additional contract periods.
Duration of Eligibility
- Student Eligibility. Student contract holders are limited to six (6) contract renewals beyond the original term of the contract. Special requests from student residents to remain beyond the maximum periods of eligibility must be submitted in writing to the Housing Information Office by March 1 preceding the end of the contract.
- Non-student Eligibility. Non-student contract holders are limited to two (2) contract renewal periods beyond the term of the original contract. If a Non-student enrolls as a Student, they may not add more than the maximum student eligibility time to their time spent in University Housing as a Non-student.
Graduate, Family, and Staff Apartment Eligibility and Prioritization for Apartment Assignments
- Student applicants have priority over all Non-student applicants.
- Single graduate Students are eligible to share two-bedroom units or two-bedroom with study units with one other single graduate Student.
- Single graduate Students and postdoctoral research fellows are eligible to share six and seven bedroom units with other single graduate students.
- Roommates must be mutually requested in the application process and must be brought in at the time of self-selection.
- Single graduate students will be assigned a roommate by Housing if a roommate is not requested through the self-selection process.
- Married and domestic partners are eligible for any apartment type except shared units.
- Roommate gender is not restricted by University Housing.
Domestic Partnership
Couples who are unable to obtain a Declaration of Domestic Partnership at their present residence can file as domestic partners under the City of Ann Arbor Domestic Partnership Ordinance.
Although the form indicates that the notary should be from Washtenaw County, the city clerk will accept any notary regardless of U.S. location.
More information on the City of Ann Arbor Domestic Partnership Ordinance can be found on the City of Ann Arbor, City Clerk website and the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form is available online as a pdf.
For more information, contact:
City of Ann Arbor, City Clerk's Office
100 N. Fifth Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Phone: 734.994.2725
To learn more about same-sex domestic partnerships or for general support and information regarding same-sex domestic partners contact the U-M Spectrum Center.