2022-2023 Compass Student Handbook and Resource Guide 
    
    Apr 19, 2024  
2022-2023 Compass Student Handbook and Resource Guide [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Housing Residency Requirement


Effective Date

July 1, 2019

Office of Primary Responsibility

Office of Residence Life

Summary of Policy

Allegheny College has an on-campus living requirement that requires all students to reside in campus housing for 4 years or 8 full semesters.

Reason for Policy

As a residential college, Allegheny believes that living in community with others compliments and enhances the overall college experience, student development, and educational learning goals. The graduated options for student housing, coordinated through a centralized office, support student development as they proceed to life after Allegheny and assist with management and service to students and families.

Policy Statement

Housing Exemption Policy

Allegheny College may grant exemptions to the on-campus residency requirement based upon the following guidelines:

  1. The student has lived on campus at other colleges/universities and may be exempt from the Allegheny requirement for the number of semesters lived on campus elsewhere.
  2. The student commutes from the primary residence of a parent or legal guardian within 50 miles of Allegheny College.
  3. The student is married and/or has dependents.
  4. The student is 23 years of age or older prior to the start of the fall semester.
  5. The student is enrolled as a part-time student for 11 credit hours or less. Adding hours after meeting the exemption requirement may result in the student being charged for the residence requirement.

Any student who is found to have provided false information in any of these areas before, during or after the process may be subject to the full cost of a room for the semester in question and disciplinary action.

Any exemption to the College On-Campus Residency Requirement Policy must be approved in writing by the Office of Residence Life prior to the beginning of the period for which the exemption is requested.

Students may apply for an exemption from the residency requirement by completing the Residency Status Change Request Form.

For the fall semester, incoming students must complete the form with the required documentation by May 1; current students must complete the form by whenever the Housing Agreement is due, per the Office of Residence Life. For the spring semester, students must complete the form by December 1. After these dates, students may not be exempted from the residency requirement without approval from the Dean of Students, upon recommendation from the Director of Residence Life.

Students who apply for an exemption from the residency requirement but are not approved, are responsible for payment of room charges for the entire academic year.

Once the Residency Status Change Request Form is received, the Office of Residence Life will review the request and approve, decline, or ask for additional information. A final decision of the outcome will be communicated in writing via the student’s Allegheny College email.

Students wishing to appeal the decision by the Office of Residence Life may submit a written appeal within five (5) business days of from the date of notification from Residence Life to the following:

Dean of Students
Allegheny College
520 N. Main Street
Meadville, PA 16335
e-mail: deanofstudents@allegheny.edu

Please clearly and concisely articulate why a housing exemption is being sought and how the Housing Exemption Policy guidelines apply to the case in question. The Dean of Students will review the decision and respond within 7-10 business days. The decision of the Dean of Students will be final.