Resources & FAQ

All residents are required to have a $225 housing deposit on file in order to complete a housing application. The Walk Through will help guide you through the process in submitting your deposit. Please note that once the deposit is paid, it takes 24 hours for it to reflect on your Star Rez account. Additionally, if a deposit is on file, an additional deposit does not need to be paid!

Access the Deposit Walk Through (pdf).

As part of the housing application process, all students must complete the Housing Contract found in the Star Rez Student Housing Portal in the application section. For students who are 18 years of age or over, you will electronically consent to the contract. For students who are under 18 years of age, the contract must be printed, completed and signed by the applicant, and then signed by a legal guardian. The contract is then uploaded into the housing application in Star Rez.

• • Access the 2025-2026 Housing Contract (pdf)
  • Access the 2024-2025 Housing Contract (pdf)

Residence Life and Housing Operations uses a online housing application for all students requesting housing. The housing application can be found in Cardinal Apps under the Star Rez Student Housing Portal. The Walk Through will help guide you through the different steps of the process regarding your housing application. Please remember that you must have your $225 housing deposit on file in order to access the entire housing application.

• Access the Housing Application Walk Through (pdf)
• Access the Housing Application Walk Through (VIDEO)

Knowing what to bring and what can stay home is important as you prepare to move onto campus. The following guide shows a visual representation of what to bring, as well as a list of items you should bring, as well as what should not be brought to your residence hall. A full listing of approved and unapproved items can be found in our Residence Life Handbook, which is located in the Policies and Reporting page on the left hand navigation bar.

Access the Room Essentials Guide (pdf)

Managing a full course load, student clubs, sports, jobs, and more can often feel overwhelming. The Behavioral Health Services office has provided some very useful brochures and resources available for all UIW students.

Access the Behavioral Health Guide (pdf)

For international students who are not returning to UIW and returning back to their home country, the housing deposit must be released via an electronic wire transfer form. This allows UIW to deliver the deposit, pending any damages, directly to you, regardless of where your bank is located. This form must be completed and submitted to the UIW Business Office prior to your departure.

Access the Wire Transfer Authorization Form (pdf)

We love seeing our students on campus, attending programs and classes, participating in sporting events and clubs. To prepare for the end of the semester, our Resident Assists are hosting closing information sessions to prepare for the end of the semester. To review the available meeting times, please visit the Current Cardinals page.

• Room inventory checks (RICs) are available for students to complete the first 2 weeks of the Fall semester.
• RICs allow residents to notates any possible damages to their room that occurred prior to moving in. Although this is not a requirement, it is highly recommended that residents submit a RIC to avoid any damage charges upon checking out.
• To submit a RIC, log into CardinalApps, then navigate to “StarRez: Student Housing Portal.”
• Once you are logged in, select “inventory” located at the top of the web page and complete the form.
• If you have any further questions please email housing@uiwtx.edu or come see us at our office in the Student Engagement Center, SEC 3150 or by contacting the Residence Life Phone: (210)-829-6034.

• Please note that we only accept room change requests during the first two weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters. In addition, room change requests are not guaranteed and all requests are processed on a first-come first-serve basis according to our current availability.
• To submit a room change request, please fill out our online Room Change form.

• Please note that we only accept meal plan changes prior to the start of the meal periods of each semester.
• To submit a meal plan change, please fill out our online Meal Plan Change form.

If you wish you cancel your housing assignment, you may do so via our online cancellation form. Please note that cancellations made during the academic year, August - May, will result in a broken contact.

Effective for contracts received for the 2025-2026 academic year, the cancellation guidelines have been updated. Please review the following excerpt from the Housing Contract

Cancellation*: The Residence Life Housing Occupancy Contract may be cancelled prior to occupancy according to the refund schedule and process set out below.

  Cancellation Guideline: Prior to Occupancy:

1. On or before May 31^st: 100% return of deposit
2. Between June 1^st and June 30^th: 50% return of deposit
3. On or after July 1^st: Forfeiture of deposit

Cancellation: If I cancel this contract after occupancy, for reasons other than those stated below, I will be charged as outlined by the Cancellation Guidelines.

  Approved Cancellation Reasons without fee*:

1. Graduating from the University at the end of the fall semester.
2. Leaving the University at the end of the fall semester due to being enrolled as an international/exchange student at
3. Will be participating in a recognized UIW program outside of the San Antonio
4. Leaving UIW after the exhaustion of NCAA eligibility.
5. Called to active military duty.
6. Withdrawing from the university

  *To avoid cancellation fees, students must cancel their housing by December 1^st. Failure to submit by this deadline will result in the forfeiture of the $225 housing deposit.

Cancellation Guidelines:

1. Housing Charges: For cancellations after the 100% Drop Date, the student will be responsible for the full balance of their room charge
2. Fee Schedule:
   1. During Fall Occupancy
      1. On or before 100% Drop Date: $500 cancellation fee, forfeiture of deposit, prorated refund based on departure.
      2. After 100% Drop Date to end of the 8th Week of classes: $1000 cancellation fee, forfeiture of deposit.

• After start of 9th Week of classes until December 1st: $1500 cancellation fee, forfeiture of deposit.

1. After December 1st and prior to the beginning of Spring 100% Drop Date: $2000 cancellation fee and forfeiture of deposit.

1. During Spring Occupancy
   1. Responsible for full balance of room charge and forfeiture of deposit. There are no additional cancellation fees.

We determine the return of deposit based on when you cancel. If you cancel your housing for Fall before picking up your key, we use the following schedule:

• On or before May 31: 100% return
• June 1 through June 30: 50% return
• July 1 forward: 0% return

If you cancel your housing while occupying the space, please read above regarding associated fees and loss of deposit.

We currently offer in person and digital tours through our YouTube website.

If you would like to view our virtual hall tours at home, please visit our Youtube site.

We are currently showing Dubuis Hall and Sky View Hall and will be adding more halls to show in the near future. Please visit our website for additional information. Tours are available Monday through Friday between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and evenings and weekends by appointment. To schedule, contact our office at 210-829-6034 or housing@uiwtx.edu. 

All residents are encouraged to submit their own work orders using the School Dude system found in Cardinal Apps. If you need assistance you may also contact your RA regarding any maintenance concerns utilize their RA’s maintenance sheet posted outside their door. If you feel that your maintenance request is an emergency and you cannot contact your RA, please contact the All-Campus RA at (210) 216-6831.

If you are experiencing issues with your ID in regards to your meal plan, please call or visit the residence life office during business hours at (210) 829-6034 or the All-Campus RA (210) 216-6831 .

If you lost your ID, you may pick up a replacement at the Campus Life office in SEC 3150 during business hours. Please note that all ID replacements will result in a $30 charge on your student account. If you lost your ID and are in need of a replacement after business hours, please contact the All-Campus RA for assistance at (210) 216-6831.

Please note due to current pandemic protocols, requests for replacement IDs are made by e-mailing a copy of your student schedule to campuslife@uiwtx.edu.

If you lost your key(s), you may pick up a replacement from the residence life office in SEC 3150 during business hours. Please note that all key replacements will result in a $25 charge for bedroom doors, $40 for an apartment front door, or $65 for both an apartment front door and bedroom door. All charges will reflect on your student account. If you lost your keys and are in need of a replacement after business hours, please contact the All-Campus RA for assistance at (210) 216-6831.

A Resident Assistant (RA) is a student staff member that lives in the residence halls. An RA can be one of the most helpful and resourceful people you will interact while living at UIW. These students have been carefully selected for their leadership potential, interpersonal skills, positive attitudes, and sense of commitment. As a peer, the RA is a basic source of information and referral. RAs assist residents in adjusting to campus life, including academic concerns, roommate relationships, homesickness, and other matters. RAs are responsible for providing leadership and support to you and other members of your community.

If you are interested in applying for an RA position, please attend an information fair. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact our office during business hours at (210) 829-6034.

Please note the following general requirements: must have completed at least one full year of college, have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, and enrolled as a full-time student.

Please visit our recruitment page for more information.