FAQs - Room and Board (Housing)
Q:
What is room and board?
A:
Room is the term used for housing, and board is the term used for meal plan. Board for offcampus students without a meal plan includes funds to buy groceries and prepare meals. Room
and board collectively is an eligible component of a student’s overall cost of attendance.
Q:
What are the options for housing for Cooke Scholars?
A:
Newly selected Cooke College Scholars are required to live on campus their first year. Only
under unusual circumstances, and with prior approval, may first year College Scholars live at
home or in off-campus housing.
Second year College Scholars and all other Cooke Scholars may live in either on-campus or offcampus housing.
Q:
Do I need to decide where I’m going to live during the school year before my award is
determined?
A:
Yes, you must finalize housing plans and indicate these plans on page one of the COA form
before submitting the form to the college financial aid office. You should tell the financial aid
officer about any housing concerns or special circumstances when you submit the COA form.
The financial aid officer will use the information to complete page two of the COA form, which
will then be used by the Cooke Foundation to determine your award amount. Changes to
housing arrangements after awards have been determined are discouraged.
Q:
May off-campus students enroll in an on-campus meal plan?
A:
Yes, colleges that provide an option for off-campus students to enroll in a meal plan is
acceptable.
Q:
In what type of dorm room may Cooke Scholars live?
A:
The standard room expense for Cooke Scholars will typically be defined as the cost of a double
room for students who choose to live on campus. Under normal circumstances the foundation
will not consider the additional cost of a single room in the cost of attendance. When a single
room is required based on a medical condition or disability, the student must notify the Cooke
Foundation as soon as possible.
Q:
How is the room and board allowance determined for students living on-campus?
A:
At some colleges, the on-campus room and board cost is a set amount. At other colleges, the
amount may vary depending on the dorm where the student lives and the meal plan selected. If
the amount varies, it is important that scholars provide housing and meal plan information to
the college financial aid officer when submitting the COA form. Remember that the allowance
for the “room” portion is generally the cost for a standard double room.
Q:
How is the room and board allowance determined for scholars living off-campus?
A:
The vast majority of colleges base the off-campus room and board allowance on expenses
reasonably incurred by students for housing and meals in the geographic area of the school. The
amount is generally set by the school and can be found on the school’s website. Under certain
circumstances, students may appeal to the college for a higher off-campus room and board
allowance. Scholars should check with the school to find out the off-campus room and board
allowance and the appeal process BEFORE making plans to live off campus. In addition, the
allowance is for the standard nine-month academic year (September – May). Scholars who plan
to live in an apartment year round, must be prepared financially to cover housing and meal
costs during the summer months.
Q:
Will the Cooke Foundation pay for housing and security deposits?
A:
No, scholars are responsible for paying for both on-campus and off-campus housing and security
deposits. If this poses a financial hardship, scholars should talk to school officials (admissions
and/or financial aid) to see if any deposits can be waived, delayed or reduced.
For scholars living on-campus, most deposits reduce the first term’s room and board costs.
Therefore, if a deposit must be paid, be sure the deposit amount is listed as a credit on the
online student account. That way when the Cooke Foundation award, and any other financial
aid, is credited to the student’s account, a credit balance representing the deposit can be
refunded back to the student.
For scholars living off-campus, if a deposit cannot be waived, then the scholar is responsible for
making payment. In this case, when moving out, if the apartment is left in the same good
condition as when the student moved in, then the deposit should be refunded.
Q:
How do off-campus students receive their scholarship funds to pay for rent and utilities and
buy groceries?
A:
Because the Cooke Foundation bases its award amount on the room and board allowance as
stated on the COA form, there is no need to send a lease agreement, utility billing statements or
store receipts. Payment for off-campus room and board will be processed as part of the stipend
portion of the scholar’s award and is meant to cover expenses not paid for through direct billing
from the school (e.g., tuition and fees). Generally, when the college receives the Cooke
Foundation scholarship check, the financial aid staff processes payment and works with the
bursar to provide students the stipend. The school’s financial aid office or bursar’s office will
provide students with instructions on how to obtain stipend funds. Often stipends are deposited
directly into a checking account or are disbursed through a check.
Cooke scholarship payments are made payable to and are mailed to the college (no exceptions),
and the college handles processing refund checks to students. This all takes time. Therefore,
scholars who plan to live off campus must plan ahead. Because deposits, first month’s rent,
stocked groceries, etc. cannot be paid for up front or directly to a scholar, off-campus students
must be prepared to have funds available to pay some expenses out of pocket.