The purpose of the StarRez Residence Management system it to improve and optimize the residence management related functions, decisions and administration. Therefore, the system and its functionalities will empower administrators, house parents and residence officers to perform their role with greater ease and accuracy, aligning with the university’s objectives on digital transformation. This further contributes towards an improved student experience related to university residence accommodation.
When will StarRez go live?
Since the previous update on the system implementation, considerable milestones have been achieved in realizing the implementation of the StarRez Residence Management System (RMS). This has included development of system integrations to NWU systems, including the Student Information System, Integrated Work Manage System (IWMS) and Kuali Financial System (FKS). As a result, the first phase of implementation of the StarRez Residence Management system is set to go live in November 2025.
What will be included in the first phase of the StarRez RMS implentation?
The first phase of the system implementation will include functionalities relating to:
- Student data management in respect of university residence accommodation.
- An online interface through which students will engage with the StarRez RMS, namely PortalX.
- Application management for subsequent residence application cycles.
- Report generation and dashboard monitoring.
- Room management and administration, including allocating students to rooms and movement between rooms.
- Accounts and billing in respect of financial implications of accommodation bookings.
- A community module managing the co-curricular programme participation records of students.
Training and system orientation for staff
An extensive training and orientation programme was conducted between 8-19 September 2025. This included user acceptance testing done with a core team of NWU colleagues driving the process between 8-12 September 2025. From 15-19 September 2025, on-site training was provided by StarRez specialists to targeted groups of Residence Services staff, including managers, placement officers and residence officers. House parents, and key information technology staff members also formed part of the on-site training programme.
Additional training opportunities will be conducted with relevant operational staff to ensure our preparedness for the fast approaching go-live date. Placement officers and residence officers will receive more information on system training and orientation through Residence Services in due course.
Orientation for students
A targeted orientation programme will be conducted during October-November 2025 focussing on student orientation of relevant system functionalities. This will primarily focus on newly elected student leaders, including the SRC, SCCs and house committees with the objective of ensuring operational readiness for the 2026 intake of first-year and senior students. Student leaders will receive more information on the orientation sessions via Student Life in due course.
I have a question relating to the StarRez RMS
Enquiries pertaining to the project can be directed to the project manager, Mr Herman Steyn
Previous Communiques
Considering the complexity of the university residence accommodation value chain, the system development is done carefully with the aim of ensuring that the system aligns with and supports the NWU’s business needs. It is anticipated that the system will go live near the end of 2025.
What information will be kept on the StarRez platform?
An exciting benefit of the StarRez platform is the ability to build a profile on each student, their activities and unique needs. As the student engages with the platform, a profile is created of the student’s activities, which will amongst others include:
- Accommodation information (which university residence and room they stayed in)
- Tracking of arrival and departure of residents
- Maintenance requests
- Co-curricular activities
- Notes on student conduct
How will applications work in future?
A cornerstone of the project has been the alignment and standardization of the university residence application criteria and processes for first-year-, senior- and postgraduate student applications. The process of collecting applicant information, evaluating the applications, and providing an outcome will be aligned and standardised, driven by the StarRez platform and artificial intelligence.
Therefore, all applicants will be required to adhere to similar requirements and standards. For senior student applicants, their co-curricular programme involvement and achievements will also be recognized contributing towards their university residence application.
Will StarRez be linked to other NWU platforms?
The platform will be integrated to the NWU’s Student Information System, thereby using existing information of applicants, including personal details, academic performance, etc. Additional system functionalities will enable us to gather information on students living with disabilities, extra-mural skills and competencies, and the co-curricular programme, further strengthening our data driven decisions relating to university residence accommodation.