Electronically controlled gates for both pedestrian and vehicular paths are provided. Handicap accessibility is also an important feature. A shuttle bus travels back and forth between the apartments and campus. The design includes a centrally located space for social activities, a laundry room equipped with washing machines and dryers on each floor, a study room adjacent to each laundry room equipped with computers, enclosed areas with locks for bike racks, and two courtyards. Every apartment has a living area, a fully equipped kitchen, cable TV connection, and a network drop for a personal computer.
Housing is assigned on a space-available basis.
In addition to the Graduate Apartments, rooms and apartments are usually available for rent within walking or bicycling distance of the campus. Houston has a reasonable cost of living for a city of its size. The Information Desk, the Office of Student Activities, and the Graduate Student Association keep a record of available rooms and apartments listed with the university by area landlords. The daily newspapers and a weekly Greensheet are other sources of rental housing. Incoming graduate students should arrive in Houston several days early to allow themselves time to find suitable housing.