Residency Requirement

Policy:

Kutztown University has established a policy that full time undergraduate students (less than 60 earned credits) who are not veterans, married or living with parents or legal guardian with a zip code within a 30-mile radius of Kutztown shall be required to live in a university operated residence hall. Students interested in living off-campus must have earned their Associate Degree, at least 60 credits, or have completed four (4) full semesters at any post-secondary institution (does not include summer sessions) before they can move off campus. The 60 credit on campus requirement will only be waived for students who commute from their home of record, withdraw from the University, take a leave of absence or choose to study abroad. Students who wish to seek an exception to this policy, within the guidelines listed below, are required to apply for permission to commute daily to campus. This request must be completed using the form below, including notarization. Only the information you submit in writing will be considered when reviewing your request. You will be notified in writing (Kutztown University E-Mail), regarding the status of your request.

Determination of Full-Time Student Status:

• A full-time student is an individual enrolled for 12 or more credit hours (including credit hours added after registration day).
  *All undergraduate freshmen (under 30 completed credits) students admitted with a paid $275 advanced registration deposit to Kutztown University will be considered to be full-time and be assigned to on-campus housing.
• Students initially registered in a part-time status who adds sufficient courses to attain full-time

All exception requests will be considered in accordance with the Kutztown University policy's intent to maximize the educational process. Certain conditions, if met, assure an individual of permission to live off-campus. These specific exceptions are as follows:

• • 60+ Earned Credits
  • Lived on-campus for two years at a previous institution of higher education (additional documentation from the previous institution on official university letterhead required)
  • Veteran (additional documentation required, no notarization required)
  • Living with Parent\Guardian (Requires Notarization) Please attach this form (click here) to your application AFTER it has been filled out and notarized. You will be denied without this documentation. 
    • Approved Zip Codes
  • Married (additional documentation required, no notarization required)       
  • 21 Years of age or older (based on birthdate submitted on Kutztown University Admissions Application, no notarization required)       
  • Provide direct care for a legal dependent (additional documentation required, no notarization required)       
  • Verification of Financial Hardship (additional documentation required, no notarization required)
  • Online Classes (all classes must be online)      
  • Internships\Student Teaching that earns university credits (additional documentation required, no notarization required)       
  • Participation in a university-sponsored Study Away program (additional documentation required, no notarization required)
  • Students with disabilities that cannot be accommodated in on-campus housing (additional documentation required, no notarization required)     

Exceptions for Newly Admitted Transfers ONLY

• • NEW TRANSFER ONLY- 48+ Credits transferred into Kutztown University (No notarization required)
  • NEW TRANSFER ONLY- Completed 4 full semesters at any post-secondary institution (additional documentation required, no notarization required)
  • NEW TRANSFER ONLY- Obtained an Associate Degree (additional documentation required, no notarization required)

If you plan on living on-campus, do not complete this application!

Only students who do not plan to live on-campus their first 2 years should complete this application.

Please note that upon approval of your residency exception request, your housing application or housing assignment will be removed. The approved residency exception request application will serve as an official cancellation form. If you already have a housing assignment, it will be removed. If you have completed the Housing Application, it will be cancelled so you cannot participate in the room selection process. If you plan on living on-campus, do not complete this application!

If you do not plan to live on-campus and are seeking a release from the Residency Requirement, follow the instructions below on how to submit the Residency Exception Request application.

• Log on to your MyKU Housing Account (mykuhousing.kutztown.edu) using your Kutztown Student ID and Password.
• Click on "Forms and Applications" at the top of your screen and Select "Residency Exception Request" from the drop-down menu.
• Read through the On-Campus Residency Requirement information page and provide an electronic signature at the bottom of the page acknowledging that you understand the policy. Click Continue.
• Select the semester and year that you are applying for release from the residency requirement. *Note that if you are released from the requirement, you do not have to apply for future semesters. Note that if you are released from the requirement, you do not have to apply for future semesters.
• Provide a contact phone number.
• Choose your reason for exception. If the reason you select requires additional documentation, a field will pop up that will allow you to upload 5 files. Attach any additional documentation that is required. If the reason you select requires additional documentation, a field will pop up that will allow you to upload 5 files. Attach any additional documentation that is required. When using the "Living with Parent/Guardian" reason you may use this form. Click Continue.
• Your application is complete. You will be notified in roughly 48 hours in regards to whether you have been released from the residency requirement or not. If you have any further questions, please reach out to housing@kutztown.edu.

If you would like to appeal the above requirement and it falls outside the reasoning for an exception OR your residency exception request was denied, you will need to complete the Residency Requirement Appeal Form. All other reasons will be reviewed by the Residency Requirement Appeals Committee upon receipt of the completed Residency Requirement Appeals Form. 

All appeal requests will be considered in accordance with the Kutztown University policy's intent to maximize the educational process.