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Applying for Student Housing and Dining Plans - Cardinal Court

Last modified 9/20/2023

You may apply for student Cardinal Court housing and dining plans using the Housing & Dining Application portal.

Before You Begin

As a student at Illinois State University, you can apply for student housing and dining plans through the University. This article describes the process for completing your online application.

For more information about student housing and dining, please refer to:

https://Housing.IllinoisState.edu/Contracts/.

Apply for Cardinal Court Housing & Dining

To apply for housing in Cardinal Court, do the following:

  1. Go to https://Housing.IllinoisState.edu/Contracts/ and click the Enter Housing/Dining Portal link.
  2. Log in with your ULID and password.
    2a. Only students who have been accepted to the University can log in to this website.
  3. Click on Housing & Dining Application at the top of the page.
  4. On the Select Term page, select Cardinal Court for the desired term.
    4a. Depending on your student classification, you may not see all available terms. Contact University Housing Services at (309) 438-8611 if you do not see your term.
  5. Click Save & Continue.
  6. On the Start Application page, click Start.
  7. Follow the instructions below for each page as you encounter them. Depending upon your student classification, you may not see every page discussed here.

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Personal Details

Your personal details, including your name, gender, and birth date, as well as your contact details, including your address, phone number, and email address, appear on the Personal Details page.

You cannot use this page to change your personal details or contact information. If you need to update your contact information, you can do so through Student Service Center. For more information review the following article:

Housing Exemption Request/ Housing Request to Live On Campus

The University requires students to live in University housing their first two years out of high school.

Depending on your personal situation, you will be presented with one of two options:

  • Required to Live on Campus: If you are required to live on campus, you will see the Housing Exemption Request page. You may use this page to request an exemption from the on-campus living requirement. To request an exemption, select a reason from the Housing Exemption Request drop-down menu. Otherwise, select No.
  • Not Required to Live on Campus: If you are not required to live on campus, you will see the Housing Request to Live On Campus page. To submit a request to live on campus, type your request into the text box labeled Housing Request to Live On Campus. Click Save & Continue.

Housing Request Under Review

The Housing Request Under Review page will display. When you have read and understood the information on the page, click Save & Continue. You will see a message stating that your request is under review. This is as far as you will be able to go until you receive approval for your request from University Housing Services. When you have received approval, you may return to this application to continue.

University Housing Contract Terms & Conditions

Read through the University Housing Contract Terms & Conditions in its entirety.

If you agree to the terms and conditions, enter your University ID number and your full name in the boxes at the bottom of the page. Then click I Agree to the University Housing Contract Terms & Conditions.

Initial Payment - New Students Only

If you are a new student, you are required to make an initial payment on your housing contract. Review the information presented to you on the Initial Payment page. When you are done, click Pay Now to pay with a credit card.

You will be redirected to the TouchNet Payment Gateway website so that you can enter your credit card information.

Your Roommate Profile

Read through the information on the Your Roommate Profile page. Then answer the “Roommate Matching Questions”.

You should be honest when answering these questions so that you are matched with a roommate that will fit with your personality. When you are done, click Save & Continue.

Searching Roommate Profiles

Use the Searching Roommate Profiles page to find a roommate that will be a good match for you. It is recommended that you complete this page and put a check mark in the box labeled “Check this box if you wish to be included in the roommate searching process”.

Information you enter on this page will be visible to other people who are looking for roommates. You should enter a screen name and a description that reflects who you are as a person so that others can best determine if they would get along with you as their roommate. When you are done, click Save & Continue.

Roommate Requests

Use the Roommate Requests page to search for possible roommates and invite them to room with you. You can also use this page to accept requests from others.

Suggested Roommates

Some suggested roommates are displayed on this page for you to review. You can view these people’s roommate profiles to help you get a better sense of who they are. A percentage bar is also displayed that shows the strength of the match. For example, an 88% match is a stronger match than a 14% match. You would more likely get along with the 88% match than with the person with whom you have a 14% match.

Search for a Roommate

At the bottom of this page, you can click one of several links to search for possible roommates based on their details or profile questions. You can also browse matching roommates.

Request a Roommate

To request that someone be your roommate, click the Request link found in their profile. This will send the person a request to be your roommate. The person must accept your request before he or she will be confirmed as your roommate.

Send a Message

You can send messages to start getting to know people before you pick your roommate. Messages sent to you from within the Housing & Dining portal can be viewed by clicking on your name at the top-right of the page and selecting Messages. If you have unread messages, a number will be displayed next to your name.

To send a message to someone, click the Send Message link found in their profile. This will allow you to write a personalized message to the selected person. The message will be received within the Housing & Dining Application Portal.

Accept & Decline Requests

Any roommate requests you have received are displayed at the bottom of the page. If you accept a request to be someone’s roommate, you will both be confirmed as being each other’s roommate. You can also decline roommate requests from this page.

You may search for roommates now, or you may return later to do so. When you are finished on this page, click Save & Continue to proceed with the application.

Room Selection

Use the Room Selection page to reserve a room to live in for the academic year. You may click the Room Search Wizard link at the upper-right to search for, and select a building, a section within the building, a room, and a bed. Keep in mind, if you have already selected a roommate, you will need to coordinate with them to be sure you both agree with the selections. When you are done, click Save & Continue. For more information please review the following article:

Meal Plan Selection

If you wish to purchase a meal plan, read through the information on the Meal Plan Selection page to determine which meal plan is best for you.

Select your desired meal plan from the drop-down menu labeled Please select a meal plan. Note that the cost of each plan is displayed here for your convenience. When you are done, or if you choose not to purchase a meal plan, click Save & Continue.

Meal Plan Contract Terms & Conditions

This page will only display if you selected a meal plan in the previous step. Read through the Meal Plan Terms & Conditions in its entirety.

If you agree to the terms and conditions, enter your University ID number and your full name in the boxes at the bottom of the page. Then click I Agree to the Meal Plan Terms & Conditions.

Final Confirmation

On the Final Confirmation screen, review the information displayed for accuracy. If changes need to be made, you can use the progress bar at the top of the screen to navigate to previous steps. When you have confirmed the accuracy of the information on this page, click Save & Continue to submit your application.

Application Status

The Application Status page shows your current progress and details of your Housing & Dining application.

Sign Out

When you have completed your application, click on your name at the top-right of the page and select Sign Out.

More Information

For information on the Housing & Dining Application portal, please refer to the following articles:

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