HOUSING INFORMATION

There are no dormitories on the UIA Campus. Exchange and visiting students have the following housing alternatives:

1. CONTRACT SUPERVISED UIA HOUSING SERVICE
2. RENT AN APARTMENT
3. SHARE APARTMENT EXPENSES WITH OTHER STUDENTS

1. CONTRACT SUPERVISED UIA HOUSING SERVICE

Our primary intention is to assist our exchange or visiting students so that their experience in Mexico and at the Universidad Iberoamericana may be a constructive and pleasant one. We have a network of Mexican families who have experience in hosting exchange or visiting students in their private homes. Placing our exchange or visiting students in private Mexican residences has been highly accepted by students and universities alike as a rewarding bicultural and social experience. This is the option that we most recommend for those students who want to have a deep immersion into the Mexican culture, as well as for those students who want to substantially increase their Spanish skills.

In our supervised UIA housing service, exchange or visiting students are placed two to a room with a shared bathroom. If available, single rooms may be requested in advance and provided for an extra fee. Please see FEES.

Payments to the housemothers are made by the UIA, including the days before and after the official arrival and departure dates, as well as the periods between academic sessions. 75% of the housing fee goes directly to the housemother, and 25% of the fee covers the administrative services within the university. Family group cultural activities will be included in the housing service for better integration of the exchange or visiting student to the Mexican culture.

An exchange or visiting student using university supervised housing will be met at the Mexico City International Airport by a family member. We must receive complete arrival information at least a week in advance. A family member will take the student to the airport upon his departure. If at all possible and for security reasons, we recommend that students plan their arrival and departure flight schedules between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm.

If an exchange or visiting student wishes to extend his or her stay for another UIA program, the full housing payment for the next period is due a week before the end of the program in which he or she is currently enrolled. The student must sign a new Housing Regulation form for the next program.

If an exchange or visiting student has outstanding bills, such as tuition, housing, meals or laundry, house damage, or telephone calls, the UIA will withhold the student’s transcript until the bill is paid.

An exchange or visiting student requesting our supervised housing service must read, fill in, sign, and return the housing regulations and housing preference form by fax (52 55) 5950 4241 by May 15 for the summer session, by June 30 for the fall semester, and by November 30 for the spring semester.  Please contact housing@uia.mx  to make arrangements.

NOTE: ONCE AN EXCHANGE OR VISITING STUDENT DECIDES TO USE THE UNIVERSIDAD IBEROAMERICANA HOUSING SYSTEM, HE OR SHE IS COMMITTED TO REMAIN IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER SESSION OR SUMMER PROGRAM. NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE ON THE HOUSING FEE EXCEPT FOR WITHDRAWING FROM THE ENTIRE ACADEMIC AND HOUSING PROGRAM DUE TO ILLNESS.

Once an exchange or visiting student has paid the FULL housing fee, returned the preference form, and returned the signed housing regulations form (or has written the UIA Housing Office stating that full payment will be made during the first two days of orientation), he or she will be assigned to a Mexican home stay. We will try to grant specific requests whenever possible.

The personnel of the Housing Office is always ready to assist, to advise, and to guide exchange and visiting students and housemothers with any concerns they may have. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. For further information, please contact Sra. Ma. Teresa R. de Medina: Tel: (52 55) 5950 4018 Fax (52 55) 5950 4241. teresa.ramirez@uia.mx or housing@uia.mx.

2. RENT AN APARTMENT

3. SHARE APARTMENT EXPENSES WITH OTHER STUDENTS

Exchange or visiting students have a third housing option. This option is to share expenses with other Mexican, exchange or visiting students. The Housing Office has a bulletin board where students who have an apartment and students looking for an apartment can post their contact information. We recommend this option only for students who are previously acquainted. The Universidad Iberoamericana is not responsible financially or legally for independent housing arrangements.

SPECIAL NOTES FOR INDEPENDENT HOUSING

An exchange or visiting student who does not choose to use the UIA housing system will need to make his/her own housing arrangements, but he/she may not make living arrangements in any of the houses in the UIA supervised housing system. A student should check in the housing office to verify that his/her housing is not a part of the UIA system.

An exchange or visiting student who has independent housing must register his/her address and telephone number in the Student Exchange Office at the UIA so that he/she may be contacted in case of emergency.

Summer Program

Meals and laundry services are provided during our Six-Week Summer Program and for Special Programs in UIA supervised housing. For the Six Week Summer Program, breakfast and dinner will be provided Monday through Saturday. On Sundays only breakfast will be served. Personal laundry service, within reasonable limits, a towel change twice a week, and a bed linen change once a week will be provided.

Semester Program

Meals and laundry service ARE NOT INCLUDED in the supervised housing fee. Exchange or visiting students have the following options and will have additional charges for meals, laundry, and kitchen privileges which must be negotiated directly with the housemother.

• Arrange for meals and laundry services directly with the housemother on a monthly or weekly basis. Not all housemothers are willing to provide this service. If you would like home meal service, be sure to indicate this to us in advance. Towels are changed twice a week and bed linen once a week.
• A student can make arrangements with the housemother for kitchen privileges.
• A student may eat in restaurants or at the UIA Cafeterias.

HOUSING PAYMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER OR SUMMER PROGRAM SHOULD BE MADE IN FULL BEFORE ARRIVING TO MEXICO OR AT THE LATEST DURING THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF ORIENTATION.

International money orders or a personal check in USD should be made out to: UNIVERSIDAD IBEROAMERICANA, A.C. and sent to:
UNIVERSIDAD IBEROAMERICANA, A.C., Subdirección de Intercambio Estudiantil, Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 880, Col. Lomas de Santa Fe, C.P. 01219, México, D.F.

Special Programs

Special Programs can be set up according to the group needs of at least twenty students. The cost will vary according to the number of days of the special program.

HOUSING FEES

For further information, please contact Sra. Ma. Teresa R. de Medina: Ph. +52 (55) 5950-4018 Fax +52 (55) 5950-4241
teresa.ramirez@uia.mx or housing@uia.mx.

Hotels

A student may stay in a hotel upon arrival in Mexico City and come to the Student Exchange Office as soon as possible to ask about our housing options and procedures. These are some of the hotels that we recommend where students can stay while completing university supervised housing procedures and payments or while looking for other housing accommodations:

Quality Inn P.F. (Plaza Florencia)
Florencia #61, Col. Juárez
Ph. +52(55) 5242-4700, Fax +52(55) 5242-4785
www.plazaflorencia.com.mx
* About $70.00 USD

Hotel Emporio
Paseo de la Reforma #124, Col. Juárez
Ph. +52(55) 5566 7766, Fax. +52(55) 5703 1424
www.hotelesemporio.com
* About $90.00 USD

Hostel Catedral, Cuidad de México
República de Guatemala # 4, Col. Centro
Ph. +52(55) 5518-1726, Fax. +52(55) 5510-3442
www.hostelcatedral.com
About $12.00 USD

Hostelling International
Insurgentes Sur 1510, local “d”, Col. Crédito Constructor (corner of Río Churubusco)
Ph. +52(55) 5661-3233
www.hihostels.com
About $12.00 USD

Vecindad Alpina
Alpina No. 11, Col. Tizapán San Angel
Ph: +52(55) 5550-8725
e-mail: info@alpina11.net
www.alpina11.net
About $25 USD

* These hotel prices reflect a special discount for incoming international UIA. Students should mention that they will be studying on exchange or Study Abroad at the Universidad Iberoamericana when they make their reservation.

For further information, please contact Sra. Ma. Teresa R. de Medina: Tel: +52(55) 5950-4018 Fax +52(55) 5950-4241
teresa.ramirez@uia.mx or housing@uia.mx.

HOUSING REGULATIONS FOR UIA SUPERVISED HOUSING

ONCE AN EXCHANGE OR VISITING STUDENT DECIDES TO USE THE UNIVERSIDAD IBEROAMERICANA HOUSING SYSTEM, HE OR SHE IS COMMITTED TO REMAIN IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE SEMESTER OR SUMMER PROGRAM. NO REFUNDS WILL BE MADE ON THE HOUSING FEE EXCEPT FOR LEAVING THE ENTIRE ACADEMIC AND HOUSING PROGRAM DUE TO ILLNESS.

VALUABLES: We recommend that the exchange or visiting student not bring valuable jewelry or watches. Neither UIA nor the housemothers are responsible for the loss of valuables either at the university or in the homes. We recommend that the exchange or visiting student and housemothers agree upon a safe place to keep money, documents, and airplane tickets, or the student may use the safe in the Student Exchange Office.

ROOMS: The exchange or visiting student is required to keep the room tidy. Food is not permitted in rooms. Any damage within the household where the student is assigned, even if accidental, will be charged to the student. If the damage bill is not paid, the UIA has the right to withhold the student’s transcript until the amount due is fully covered.

MEALS: Meals are not included for the semester session. Meals are included only for the six week summer session and some special programs. Exchange and visiting students may eat in restaurants, at the three UIA cafeterias or may make arrangements for their meals on a monthly basis directly with the housemothers if the housemother is willing to provide this service.

LAUNDRY:Except for a towel change twice a week and a linen change once a week, laundry is not included for the semester session.  Exchange or visiting students can either do their laundry at the nearest Laundromat or make arrangements for laundry service with their housemothers. Laundry service is only included for the six week summer session and some Special Programs.  Ironing is not included. Exchange or visiting students may not use the housemother's washing machine or dryer.

THE UNIVERSIDAD IBEROAMERICANA WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MEAL, LAUNDRY, OR KITCHEN USE ARRANGEMENTS MADE DIRECTLY WITH THE HOUSEMOTHERS.

TELEPHONE: The telephone is the property of the housemother, and as such, it is her right and responsibility to impose the rules for its use. No telephone calls may be made or received after 10:00 p.m. except in an emergency. WITHOUT EXCEPTION, LONG DISTANCE CALLS ARE NOT PERMITTED FROM THE HOMES. An exchange or visiting student can make long-distance calls from most public telephones by purchasing a telephone card. An exchange or visiting student might also wish to contract a cellular phone service while in Mexico. In case of an extreme emergency, students may ask to use the phone in the Student Exchange Office.

VISITS: Exchange and visiting students may not have in-house company before 4:00 pm, nor after 10:00 pm. Company must be received exclusively in the living room of the house. Under no circumstances may a student have company of the opposite sex in the bedroom.

CURFEW: An exchange or visiting student may not arrive home later than 12:00 pm on weekdays and not later than 2:00 am on weekends. In special cases, a student must notify the housemother beforehand.

KEYS: An exchange or visiting student who is given a key or keys to the entrance doors of the assigned residence should be extremely careful with the keys. In case of loss or theft of the keys, the housemother will need to change the locks for safety measures, and the student will be charged for the locksmith service as well as for replacing keys for all family members and any other students living at the house.

PAYMENTS:Housing payments should be made within the time frames and payment policy procedures of the UIA Housing Office.

CHANGING RESIDENCES: An exchange or visiting student has the option of changing residences within the system to satisfy his/her particular needs. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY AN EXCHANGE OR VISITING STUDENT CHANGE HOUSES WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE HOUSING OFFICE. Changes of housing are only authorized when it is absolutely necessary. At least 15 days before a change is to be made, the exchange or visiting student must fill out a form which has to be authorized and signed by the Housing Coordinator. After this authorization the exchange or visiting student must advise the housemother of the planned move.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL: Under no circumstances may alcoholic beverages or drugs be introduced into the homes.

PARTIES: Parties may not be organized without the authorization of the housemother.

If an exchange or visiting student requests supervised housing and does not adhere to the above procedures, he/she runs the risk of being dropped from the supervised housing program. The officials of the home university will be informed, and a joint decision will be made between the authorities of the UIA and the home institution. NO HOUSING REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE SHOULD THE STUDENT BE DROPPED FROM THE SUPERVISED HOUSING PROGRAM.

INDEPENDENT HOUSING: A student who does not choose to use the UIA housing system will need to make his/her own housing arrangements, but he/she may not make living arrangements in any of the houses on the housing list of the UIA system. A student may check in the housing office to verify that his/her housing is not a part of the UIA system.

A student who has independent housing must register his/her address and telephone number in the Student Exchange Office at the UIA so that he/she may be contacted in case of emergency.

The Universidad Iberoamericana is not responsible for independent housing arrangements.

THE UNIVERSIDAD IBEROAMERICANA, A.C. RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISMISS AT ANY TIME ANY EXCHANGE OR VISITING STUDENT WHOSE CONDUCT RENDERS HIS OR HER PRESENCE IN THE INSTITUTION UNDESIRABLE.

I authorize the Universidad Iberoamericana to make the necessary housing payments to my housemother, in my name, for the semester session or summer program that I am currently attending. I have read, understand, and accept the above housing stipulations and regulations. I understand that if I do not completely pay all bills, such as tuition, housing, meals or laundry, house damage or telephone calls, the Universidad Iberoamericana will withhold my transcript.

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        NAME (Print in block letters)                                       DATE

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                    SIGNATURE                                            HOME INSTITUTION

HOUSING PREFERENCE FORM