Overview
Product Learning Session 3 (PLS-3) introduces housing cycles—the foundational container for your entire student housing operation. This session teaches you what housing cycles are, what components make up a cycle, how timing works, and how students experience your housing process.
What you'll learn: The concept of housing cycles, what components are assigned to cycles, how phases control timing, and how students experience the housing journey.
Duration: 60 minutes (4 modules of 15 minutes each)
The Building Block Approach: We'll start with the core concept of what a cycle is, then explore what goes inside it, how timing works, and finally how students experience it. Each module builds on the previous one to create a complete understanding.
Session Modules
PLS-3 is broken into four focused modules. Complete them in order to build a comprehensive understanding of housing cycles.
PLS-3A: What is a Housing Cycle
Understand the core concept of a housing cycle, how it differs from an application, why it's the central organizing structure in Housing.Cloud, and what it means to students.
Key concepts: Housing cycle definition, cycle vs. application, time-bounded containers, multiple concurrent cycles, student perspective
Time: 15 minutes
PLS-3B: What Goes in a Cycle
Learn what components are assigned to housing cycles and how each piece contributes to the overall housing process. Understand how tags, forms, rulesets, meal plans, documents, and inventory all connect to cycles.
Key concepts: Cycle components, tags and eligibility, forms assignment, rulesets, meal plans, documents, inventory availability
Time: 15 minutes
PLS-3C: How Cycles Control Timing
Understand how phases define when students can take actions, learn the seven phase types, and master the critical distinction between cycle dates and phase dates.
Key concepts: Seven phase types, cycle dates vs. phase dates, phase timing, activity windows, common timing pitfalls
Time: 15 minutes
PLS-3D: The Student Experience
See how students interact with your housing cycle, understand the journey from application through move-in, and learn how applications become residencies.
Key concepts: Student journey, applications to residencies, portal experience, action items, student lifecycle within cycles
Time: 15 minutes
Learning Path
We recommend completing the modules in order:
- PLS-3A: What is a Housing Cycle - Core concept foundation
- PLS-3B: What Goes in a Cycle - Understanding components
- PLS-3C: How Cycles Control Timing - Phase mechanics and dates
- PLS-3D: The Student Experience - Putting it all together from student perspective
Each module takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. You can complete them all in one 60-minute session or spread them across multiple sessions.
Prerequisites
Before starting PLS-3, you should complete:
- PLS-0: What is Housing.Cloud - System overview and value proposition
- PLS-1: System Navigation & Core Concepts - Admin portal navigation and basic workflows
- PLS-2: Managing Your Housing Data - Understanding profiles, applications, residents, inventory, and tags
Why Prerequisites Matter: PLS-3 assumes you understand how to navigate the admin portal (PLS-1) and recognize data types like applications and residents (PLS-2). You'll learn how cycles organize and connect this data.
Key Takeaways
After completing PLS-3, you'll understand:
- What a housing cycle is and how it serves as the container for all housing operations
- What components go into a cycle (tags, forms, rulesets, meal plans, documents, inventory)
- How each component contributes to the housing process
- The seven phase types and what student activities each enables
- The critical difference between cycle dates (residence period) and phase dates (activity windows)
- How students experience your cycle from application through move-in
- How applications become residencies within a cycle
- Common cycle configuration pitfalls based on real support tickets
Conceptual Foundation: PLS-3 gives you a complete mental model of housing cycles without prescribing exactly how to build one. Every institution configures cycles differently based on their needs, but the core concepts remain the same.
What's Next: Building the Components
After completing PLS-3, you'll move into building the individual components that power housing cycles:
PLS-4: Tags & Rulesets
Create tag categories and individual tags for organizing students, applications, and inventory. Build roommate matching rulesets that automate assignments.
PLS-5: Building Forms
Build application forms and roommate questionnaires using the form builder. These forms will be assigned to your cycles.
PLS-6: Creating Your Housing Cycle
Assemble all the pieces into your production housing cycle. Configure settings, assign components, and prepare for launch.
The Journey Ahead: PLS-3 teaches you what cycles are. PLS-4 and PLS-5 help you build the pieces. PLS-6 is where you put it all together into YOUR cycle based on your institution's unique needs.
Common Questions
How many housing cycles can I create?
There's no limit. You can run multiple concurrent cycles for different student populations using applicability tags to control who sees which cycle.
Can I edit a cycle after it's started?
Yes, you can adjust dates and certain settings. However, once a cycle becomes active (start date has passed), some configurations may be harder to change.
What's the difference between cycle dates and phase dates?
Cycle dates are the residence period (when students live in housing). Phase dates are activity windows (when students can apply, select rooms, etc.). Phase dates often occur before the cycle starts.
Do I need to create all seven phase types?
No. Application phase is required, but other phases are optional based on your institutional needs. Most cycles include application, roommate selection, room selection, and move-in phases at minimum.
Can students be in multiple cycles at once?
Students can apply to multiple cycles if they meet the eligibility requirements for each. Use applicability tags carefully to ensure students only see the cycles relevant to them.
Getting Help
If you have questions while learning about housing cycles:
- Review specific modules: Revisit the module article that covers the concept you're struggling with
- Ask your trainer: Bring questions to your live PLS-3 training session
- Contact your implementation team: Schedule office hours for cycle planning support
- Submit a support ticket: Include specific questions about cycle concepts and if you had been working in the system, the steps you had taken already and intentions overall for your process
Additional Resources
- Product Learning Homework: Try It Yourself Exercises (PLS-0 through PLS-8.5) - Complete PLS-3 homework
- Product Learning Session Framework: Complete Onboarding Structure - Full PLS roadmap
- Housing Cycle Overview - Additional cycle concepts
- Housing Cycle FAQs and Best Practices - Common questions and solutions