Air Conditioning Policy

Maintained by Housing & Residence Life

A request for air conditioning with appropriate documentation must be submitted on Accommodate to be reviewed by the Office of Disability Services and the Special Housing Request Committee. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and documentation of a need for air conditioning does not guarantee that your request will be approved. Also, there is no guarantee that you will be housed in an area equipped with central air. If you select to live in a residence hall without central air, you need to provide your own window unit.

Requirements and Process

Documentation from the physician providing care is required indicating a need for air conditioning. Approvals are determined on a case by case basis by the Special Housing Request Committee, and are dependent upon the documentation received relative to the severity of illness and the availability of rooms that are centrally air conditioned or have the capability of supporting a window AC unit.

The documentation must include the diagnosis, treatment plan, and any additional information that would support the need for this intervention. Physician notes on a prescription such as “Please provide an air conditioner for my patient due to allergies” will not be accepted as documenting the need. Priority will be given to those students who have provided documented evidence of exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases including asthma, chronic medical conditions, and those receiving allergy injections on a regular basis.

The college uses ADA standards to determine pre-lottery housing. Simply needing air conditioning is not a reason to be housed before the campus body.

Residence Halls with Central Air

Please note, air conditioning within the buildings below is regulated by Plant Operations based on the outdoor climate. When the outside temperature consistently allows for the unit to switch to air conditioning, students are able to adjust controls within rooms/suites/apartments as detailed below. If you would like to cool the room when outdoor temperatures do not allow for air conditioning, you may also want to bring a fan to your campus residence.

• Benfer Hall – 8 person suite styled building, once heat is on AC does not work, suites need to be filled in order to live in this building, houses upper-class students
• Taylor Hall – double rooms with heat and AC systems that work independently, houses upper-class students
• Robertson and South Halls – 4 person suite styled building, systems work independently, suites need to be filled in order to live in these buildings, A/C outdoor unit does not work when outdoor air temperature is 47F or lower, houses upper-class students
• The Village – 4 and 5 person suite styled building, systems work independently, suites need to be filled in order to live in these buildings, houses upper-class students
• Walz Hall – double rooms, once heat is on AC does not work on first 3 floors, houses first year students
• 2201 Chew St – 4 person suite styled building, systems work independently, suites need to be filled in order to live in these buildings, houses upper-class students
• Prosser Hall Ground Annex
• East Hall– double, single, and triple rooms with heat and AC systems that work independently.

Residence Halls where window units are installed in every room (student does not need to provide one unit)
Window air conditioner may not be used when the outdoor temperature is below 60 degrees

• Martin Luther Hall
• Prosser Hall (except for ground annex- please see above)

Residence Halls where window units can be installed and must be provided by the student
These approvals are for the bedrooms within the room assignment.

• Brown Hall
• Alpha Chi Omega
• Delta Zeta
• Phi Mu
• Phi Sigma Sigma
• Delta Tau Delta
• Zeta Beta Tau
• Mile houses/apartments without central air conditioning or pre-installed units and with windows that can accommodate a window unit

Window Unit Requirements

No higher than 14″
No more than 120 volts
No more than 7000 BTUs
Must be Energy Star rated 

Need extension cord that is 12-3 wire with a ground for A/C units. The college does not provide extension cords.

Installation Information
In order to ensure window units are installed correctly, the Plant Operations staff must install them. Once you have been approved by the Special Housing Committee, you will receive an email reminding you of what needs to occur. Requests approved once the school year has started will normally be installed within a 3 business day period.

Last Revised: 10/8/2026