Disability Support Services (DSS) Accommodations
Campus Living & Residential Education (CLRE) and Disability Support Services (DSS) have maintained a longstanding partnership dedicated to fostering an inclusive residential environment for all students. Together, these two offices collaborate to enhance accessibility, address areas of concerns, and ensure that students receive the support they need to thrive in their campus living experience.
Housing Accommodations Request Process
The first required step in the housing accommodation process at GW is to register and apply for accommodations with the DSS office. We highly encourage all students who believe they may need a specific living environment to request accommodations through the DSS office. All questions regarding the accommodation request process should be directed to dss
gwu [dot] edu (dss[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Once a student receives approved housing accommodations, DSS will notify members of the Campus Living & Residential Education Team. Our team will work to find a space that meets the student’s accommodations. A student’s approved accommodations remain in place for the entire duration of their time while living on campus.
Housing Accommodations through DSS
Registering for Housing with DSS Accommodations
Students with specific room type accommodations will be prioritized during the general housing registration process to ensure that they are placed in spaces that meet their needs for the applicable term. During the registration process, students with specific room type accommodations (such as single occupancy units) will be given the option to rank the general building/room type ranked preference list or a DSS-specific preference list. Students wishing to use their accommodations for that housing term, should select the DSS-specific preference list in order to be placed in a space that meets their needs upon receiving their assignment.
Housing Accommodation Timeline
While students may request housing accommodations any time during the academic year, assignment to a space that meets those accommodations depends on both the timing of approval and the stage of the housing registration process.
If a student receives accommodations before or during a housing registration period and completes an application for the upcoming term on or before the posted deadlines, our team will work to ensure a student’s assignment meets their needs. Our goal is to ensure a student’s assignment meets theirr needs prior to the posted assignment release date.
If a student receives accommodations after the housing registration period, they will be placed on a DSS waitlist for a space that meets their needs.
DSS Waitlist Process
Students approved for accommodations after the housing registration period or during the academic year will be placed on a DSS waitlist for a space that meets their needs. After the DSS office notifies us of a student's approved accommodation, students will be notified once they have been placed on the DSS waitlist.
If and when an appropriate space becomes available, students will receive a reassignment offer from our team. Receiving a reassignment offer is dependent on space availability, meaning that we cannot guarantee a space will become available that meets a student’s approved accommodations within the same term they are approved. We also cannot guarantee a specific timeline in which a space should become available.
Campus Living & Residential Education recommends that students wishing to register for housing accommodations should do so prior to the beginning of the general housing registration period. This ensures students are comfortable living in their assigned spaces and reduces lengthy waiting periods.