Why live on campus?
The Benefits of Living on Campus
As a residential campus committed to the education of the whole person, the residential experience is considered an integral part of a student’s education and the SDSU experience. Research during the past 40 years demonstrates a more productive and more satisfying experience for students who reside in residence halls than those who live off-campus.
The South Dakota Board of Regents policy requires that during the first two years from the time they were or would have graduated from high school, all unmarried students who enroll in courses delivered on a main campus for six credit hours or more are required to enter into a housing agreement with the institution unless special permission to room elsewhere is received from the institution. (See SDSU policy).
*Please note that this policy is based upon high school graduation year, not academic standing based on credits.
What do I need to know about applying for a release?
Before you begin looking at the requirements for each release, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Meeting the criteria for eligibility for a residency waiver, does not mean a student will automatically be granted an approved waiver, it means that their request will be advanced for final consideration.
- A limited number of students will be granted an exemption.
- Do not sign a lease in the community until you have received full approval for your exemption. Signing a lease will not be considered a valid request for an exemption.
- To apply for a release, you must fill out steps one through four in your housing application found on MyState. You do not need to complete the entire application UNLESS your request is denied.
- Fall semester/academic year release: Must fully complete an exemption request by July 1 and within 30 days of starting the exemption request form process.
- Spring semester release: Must complete an exemption request by December 1 and within 30 days of starting the exemption request form process.
What if I have academic reasons to be released from this requirement?
- Applicants requesting this exemption must already be registered for five or less credit hours in order to request.
- By requesting this exemption, the student agrees to stay below six credits for the duration of the exemption period.
- Housing and Residential Life personnel will periodically verify the credit level of students approved for this reason.
- Students registered for internet courses only or a combination of internet and less than six credits on campus may be released from the residency requirement.
Students studying abroad may apply for an exemption and must provide verification of acceptance into a study abroad program. Housing and Residential Life will confirm the student's enrollment in the Study Abroad Program.
Students who have been accepted into the nursing program in Rapid City or Sioux Falls will be required to submit documentation showing their acceptance.
Students who have been accepted into other academic commitments such as, student teaching, internships, or clinicals, may request exemption and will be required to submit verification of their acceptance to an off-campus location.
What if I want to be released to live at home or because of financial reasons?
- Students requesting this exemption must be living at the legal residence of a parent or legal guardian.
- The residence must be located within 30 driving miles of campus.
- The parent or legal guardian must live at this residence five out of the seven days in a week.
- The student may NOT live with another current SDSU student, unless the current student is a sibling and both are living at the legal residence of the parent or guardian.
- Students must have and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 to be eligible for this exemption.
- Students whose GPA falls below a GPA of 2.25 will be ineligible for an exemption or contract release.
- Students requesting this exemption must obtain a Supplemental Financial Need Verification Form. This form can be found on step four of the housing application or is emailed to the student after requesting the exemption.
- Students must have completed a FAFSA.
- Financial Exemptions are not based upon the assertion that living off campus may be less expensive.
- A release will be considered only:
- The student has a significant, verified need for financial aid as determined by the University’s Financial Aid Office and that need is not fully funded by University financial aid, or
- A student can demonstrate a substantial change in their financial situation, thereby creating extenuating circumstances, defined as “situations over which the applicant has had no control, such as loss of parental support due to death, divorce, loss of employment, catastrophic health issues, bankruptcy, etc., which create a financial hardship and which occurred after the housing contract was signed.”
What if I am part of a Greek organization?
Housing and Residential Life may grant up to 50 releases each academic year for active/initiated members of fraternity and sorority life chapters to live in approved chapter housing.
Students must be in or entering into their second year of academic study following high school graduation and complete a “Fraternity and Sorority Life Living Unit Housing Release Request” form found on the CPH or IFC portals on Jacks Club Hub. The Program Advisor for Fraternity and Sorority Life will review and make decisions about each request based on the complete release policy. The deadline for applications is December 15. Applications received after Dec. 15 may be reviewed on a space-available basis following the resolution of all appeals.
Students can view the full release policy on the CPH or IFC portals on Jacks Club Hub or request an electronic copy from the Program Advisor for Fraternity and Sorority Life.
What if I am asking for a release based on health reasons?
- Students requesting this release must obtain a Supplemental Medical Need Verification Form from Residential Life personnel. This form can be found in the housing application on step 4 or by contacting Residential Life email. This release includes physical as well as behavioral and emotional health needs and must be completed in detail and signed by the licensed attending physician or mental health care provider that is not a family member.
- The form must be completed in detail and signed by the attending physician or mental health care provider that is not a family member and sent to the Housing and Residential Life Office. This must include information stating that the specific verifiable condition for which it is medically necessary for the student to be released and why specifically, off-campus housing would provide better living conditions regarding this medical condition.
- Applicants may be required to provide a second opinion from the SDSU Student Health and Counseling Services or other referral physicians before a final decision is made.
Charges/Cancellation Policy
- Fall Semester
- Students who are granted an exemption on or before May 31 are granted a refund of the entire $75 confirmation fee.
- Students who are granted an exemption June 1 through July 31 will forfeit the $75 confirmation fee.
- Students who are granted an exemption Aug. 1 through opening will forfeit the $75 confirmation fee and be charged a $200 late cancellation charge.
- Students who are granted an exemption after opening through 60% of the semester will forfeit the $75 confirmation fee, be charged the $200 late cancellation fee and will be refunded the proration of unused charges.
- Spring Semester
- Students who are granted an exemption on or before Nov. 30 are granted a refund of the entire $75 confirmation fee.
- Students who are granted an exemption Dec. 1 through Dec. 31 will forfeit the $75 confirmation fee.
- Students who are granted an exemption Jan. 1 through opening will forfeit the $75 confirmation fee and be charged a $200 late cancellation charge.
- Students who are granted an exemption after opening through 60% of the semester will forfeit the $75 confirmation fee, be charged the $200 late cancellation fee will be refunded the proration of unused charges.
Additional Information
- Failure to obtain an approved exemption from Residence Life will result in the posting of the semester housing charges to the student’s SDSU account. Any first or second-year student registered for the fall semester who fails to sign up for housing and has not been approved for an exemption will automatically be assigned a room and meal plan and will be responsible for those charges unless a Request for Residency Exemption from the housing contract is completed and approved.
- Nonpayment of this charge may result in the cancellation of classes and/or restriction from registering for any additional classes.
- Any student found to have provided false information on the Request for Residency Exemption form or during this process may be subject to university disciplinary action.
- Exemption requests will not be reviewed after the first Friday of classes, both fall and spring semesters.
- Unless a written notice of approval and/or contract release is issued from Housing and Residential Life Residence Hall and Food Service Contract, a student is expected to occupy the assigned room. A student is not considered exempt from the residency requirement or released from his/her housing contract until Housing and Residential Life approves a request in writing. Failure to take possession of the assigned space is not grounds for an exemption to the residency requirement and/or to have associated charges reversed.
- Please see SDSU Policy 3.3 for additional information.