SIUE Residency Requirement
Submit an Exemption Request
*Students who meet one of the approved exemption reasons listed in the table below, like commuting from a parent/guardian's home address within 60 miles, still need to submit an exemption request.
University Housing fosters a quality living and learning environment that promotes student success. On-campus living is a high-impact experience that will provide opportunities for students to engage in their communities, succeed academically and be an active member of the SIUE community.
All first-time, full-time students who graduated high school within the last 12 months and are not commuting less than 60 miles from their legal parent/guardian home address must live on campus.
Students who do not live on campus and have not been approved for an exemption will be charged the shared bedroom residence hall rate. All new students are strongly encouraged to contact University Housing prior to signing any off-campus lease to determine eligibility to live off campus.
National studies conclude that on-campus residency has positive effects on student retention, involvement in government and social organizations, and personal development.
- On-campus residents are more likely than off-campus students to maintain excellent academic performance and earn bachelor's degrees. A recent review indicates that this is also true on the SIUE campus. The average GPA of University Housing students is higher than the average for students living off campus. Additionally, the average number of credit hours earned is higher for students living on campus than the average for students living off campus.
- On-campus residents have more opportunities to connect with faculty outside of the classroom. University Housing's structured programs for faculty and staff connection include the Faculty and Staff Fellows program, House Calls program, Study Tables, and First Semester Transition (FST) classes tied to the residential experience.
- On-campus residents are more likely to be connected to the SIUE community and engaged in the overall student experience. Living on-campus supports residents with a 24-hour staffing model and enhanced safety and security measures.
Exemptions
Students may request an exemption to the required housing policy if they meet certain criteria. All exemption requests require the completion of the online exemption request form. In some cases, additional documentation is already required.
The exemption request form can be found in MyHousing. Please use your SIUE credientials to log in and select Housing Application and Exemption Request at the top of your screen.
Deadline to Request an Exemption
Requests for exemption must be submitted by July 1 preceding fall enrollment and December 1 preceding spring enrollment.
| Exemption Criteria | Additional Documentation Required |
|---|---|
| Student 20 years or older by August 15 | None |
| Part-time student enrolled in 11 or fewer hours | None |
| Student enrolled in fully online schedule | None |
| Have lived in University Housing for two semesters | None |
| Have earned 56 credit hours toward a degree at the University who have not graduated high school within the last 12 months | None |
| Commuting from parent or legal guardian’s permanent address less than 60 miles from campus | Verified and signed parent/guardian statement (must download and open in Adobe Reader or Acrobat to complete digitally) and either a current utility bill or tax statement |
| Student residing with spouse or domestic partner | Copy of marriage certificate/domestic partnership |
| Student residing with legal dependents | Birth certificate or legal document demonstrating custody |
| Veteran of U.S. military | Copy of DD214 |
| Student with documented medical/psychological needs that cannot be accommodated by University Housing | Students are required register with SIUE ACCESS. ACCESS will communicate accommodation outcome to University Housing. |
Students enrolled part-time or in a fully online course schedule will have their schedule reviewed a second time after the last day to add classes in the semester the exemption is granted.
For any requests, students may attach additional documentation (such as a letter of rationale to fully explain your exemption request). The burden of providing necessary documentation and evidence to support an accommodation request rests with the student. Providing false information may lead to a required housing charge, as well as accountability through the student conduct process.
Department Response
University Housing will respond to exemption requests within 5-10 business days. For requests that require documentation, the request will not be reviewed until all documentation is received. For students registering with ACCESS, please allow additional time for ACCESS to review the request before a recommendation is made to University Housing. ACCESS outcomes may include no action, a housing accommodation, or an exemption from the required housing policy.
All responses will be sent to the student by email to their SIUE email account. Please note a pending request or appeal does not defer your housing payment. If your request is approved, adjustments to your account will be made.
Frequently cited, but rarely granted reasons for requesting an exemption:
- Already signed a lease: Students who sign leases without having received a housing exemption decision in writing from University Housing will still be responsible for fulfilling the on-campus housing requirement. Do not sign a lease unless you have received a decision from University Housing in writing that you are permitted to live off campus.
- Bad experience with roommate: Residence Life staff (Community Directors and Resident Assistants) are equipped to mediate conflict between residents. Additionally, students may work through the space change process with Housing staff. Space changes are made based on space availability.
- Food/Dining: SIUE offers a wide variety of dining options and types of food that all students can enjoy. SIUE Dining Services can almost always assist students who are on special diets. Please reach out to their staff for additional information.
View the complete University Residency Requirement Policy.
