How to Appeal your Residency Requirement

Housing agreements are binding for the full academic year, or remainder thereof, and Roanoke College students are required to fulfill this obligation unless otherwise approved. Through filing the residency requirement waiver, you are requesting to cancel your agreement.

A committee comprised of staff from relevant campus offices will hear appeals from students who wish to appeal their campus residency requirement. The Committee will meet twice a year, once during the fall semester to consider requests for the subsequent spring semester and once during the spring semester to consider requests for the subsequent fall semester. Please note, only extenuating circumstances will be considered.

Students currently on conduct probation are not eligible to be released off campus.  Previously signed leases, campus engagement, academic performance, and earned units are not criteria for a release of your residency requirement.

To be considered for release from your four residential housing requirement, students MUST attend one of the Off Campus Housing Meetings the semester prior to the desired release.  For summer/fall 2024 the meetings are at noon on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (in Pickle) and Thursday, January 25, 2024 (in Maxey 106). Failure to attend one of the informational meetings disqualifies you from the off campus waiver process. Students must re-apply each year and are not guaranteed off-campus release.

The Residency Requirement Waiver Committee will meet on February 14, 2024 to hear submissions for the upcoming academic year for returning students. Students will be notified in writing of the decisions of the committee. The decision is final and cannot be appealed. 

Submissions must be received no later than noon on Thursday, February 8, 2024. All necessary documentation is also due at that time. Late submissions will not be considered.

Appeals for off campus release should include the following materials:

If the submission is for a financial hardship:

Students requesting to have their residency requirement waived based upon financial hardship must provide documented evidence of extreme financial need. Students must be able to demonstrate there has been a significant change in their financial status and have exhausted their financial options. Students must have submitted the most recent FAFSA. If no FAFSA exists, students must submit copies of the most recent federal tax return and evidence of extreme financial hardship (e.g. death of primary income provider, recent employment termination, medical expenses exceeding maximum insurance coverage, etc.).

Submissions for financial hardship are due to the Office of Residence Life & Housing by noon on the deadline above.  Students must submit the Residency Requirement Waiver form as well as provide a written statement that outlines compelling reasons for the need to be released off campus, how living on campus presents an extreme financial hardship, and how living off campus will benefit you more so than living on campus.

Requests for release of your residency requirement for financial savings is not a valid reason for a financial hardship. 

If the submission is due to a medical reason:

Students requesting to have their residency requirement waived based upon extreme medical reasons must provide documentation submitted by a medical professional. Documentation must be able to illustrate the student's disability, how living on campus presents a medical hardship, and how living off campus would alleviate that hardship. 

Submissions for medical reasons are due by noon on the deadline above.  Students must submit the Residency Requirement Waiver form as well as provide a written statement that outlines compelling reasons for the need to be released off campus, how living on campus presents a medical/psychological hardship, and how living off campus will benefit you more so than living on campus.