Residency
Housing Application [Download]
Living Agreement [Download]
Residency Commitment Letter [Download]
Room Selection Algorithm [Download]
Who is eligible for housing?
All Duke students are eligible for housing in the Smart Home. This includes graduates as well as undergraduates (except for undergraduate sophomore who must live on West Campus due to housing contracts). It also includes students from all of Duke's schools and programs including the Nicholas School of the Environment, Masters of Engineering Management Program, Nursing School, Law School, Business School, etc.
How does housing selection work?
Housing selection is an application process, which occurs every semester and summer. A committee of faculty and students is chosen to select the applicants.
What is the selection criteria for residents?
Tenure at Duke University
Quality of proposed Smart Home Project
Commitment to Smart Home Program
Contribution to resident diversity
Can I visit the Smarthome?
Current residents will hold 2 one hour open house nights prior to the application deadline to visit the home and learn what it's like living in the first LEED Platinum Dorm. It is highly encouraged you attend one of these nights even if you have already came to ask any questions about the application and visualize potential research. Please see above right purple box for tour dates and times.
What are the housing rates?
During the academic year, the rates for living in Smart Home are fixed to the rates established by RLHS for west-campus air-conditioned double rooms. During the summer, the rates are fixed to the RLHS rate for residence halls and quads. In 2008 that rate is $1170 per SS Term, or $2340 for both terms.
During Summer Housing, what periods can I live in Smart Home?
Students may apply to live in Smart Home for any of the housing periods supported by
RLHS.
I want to be the House Manager (RA/CA).
Smart Home has a position called House Manager which is similar to being an RA or CA. The compensation is a stipend for half of the housing rate. The responsibilities of the House Manager are listed with the Smart Home
contacts list. If you are interested in this position, make sure you mention it on your application in the appropriate field.
How long can I live there? Can I study abroad?
When you are accepted to live in Smart Home, you are given either a 1 or 2 semester lease (depending on what you ask for on your application.) If you would like to study abroad, you may either apply for a 1 semester lease in the fall, or wait and apply for a 1 semester lease in the spring.
If I am accepted to live in the home, when do I have to decide to live by?
If you are given a spot for residency in the home, you will have to make your decision in a timely manner. We will try to fill spots from the waitlist and must have the entire choices done by the time housing assignments are due for all Duke University Stude
What is the Nicholas Student Scholarship?
Graduate students from the Nicholas School can apply for a scholarship to live in the Smart Home for half price. The cost of living in the Smart Home is fixed to the west campus air-conditioned double room rate published by
RLHS. The Nicholas Student Scholarship will cover half of that. (E.g. in 2007 the rate was $6190 for the academic year, and $2352 for the summer. The scholarship would reduce these costs to $3095 and $1176. Only 1 scholarship will be granted per living period. To apply, fill out a Smart Home residency application and indicate that you would like to apply for the scholarship in the appropriate field.
