First-Year Campus Housing Requirement
By living on campus, students learn and reinforce skills which foster citizenship, generate a sense of belonging and build community.
All first-year students are required to live in a residence hall on-campus for their first, full academic year. First-year students are defined as undergraduate students who:
- Enroll full-time at UND within one year of their high school graduation or equivalent
- Have less than 24 transferable, post-secondary, semester credit hours. Transferable credits earned while still in high school, including dual credit, AP, etc. will not be counted toward the total.
All first-year students are expected to live on-campus unless they meet at least one of the criteria for exemption AND complete the exemption request process.
Exemption Process
Read the options for exemption and select the one that fits your situation.
- All students requesting an exemption to the first-year living requirement must complete the online Live-on Exemption Request which can be accessed through Campus Connection. You must claim your user account before logging in the first time.
- From your Campus Connection:
- Select "Self Service"
- Select "On Campus Housing"
- Select "University of North Dakota"
- You will be redirected to Housing Self Service
- Under Applications and Forms
- Choose "Live-on Exemption Request"
Additional documentation may be required and can be sent via email or postal mail to the address below.
UND Housing & Residence Life Office
525 Stanford Rd Stop 9029
Grand Forks, ND 58202
housing@UND.edu
All exemptions will be processed as received. In most cases, a written approval or denial will be emailed to you after we receive all necessary information.
The decision to approve an exemption to the UND Housing first-year living requirement for financial hardship, medical hardship, or special circumstances may take longer to process because of the additional documentation required.
If you have questions regarding any of the exemption information, please contact our office for assistance at 701.777.4251.
Exemptions & Forms
Students who meet at least one of these criteria may request an exemption to the first-year campus living requirement. Below is criteria for complete instructions.
Living Locally with Parent(s) or Guardian(s)
Undergraduate students who enroll at UND within one year of their high school graduation (or equivalent) and who will continue to live at the primary residence of their parent/guardian within a 35 mile radius of the UND campus may be exempted from the first-year campus living requirement. The parental/guardian address listed on the application for admission to UND will be considered the primary address.
Exemptions will not be granted to live with other relatives (siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) unless the non-parent relative has established legal guardianship of the student. Proof of guardianship will be required. Allowances may be made for military or employment transfer with appropriate documentation.
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service
- Complete the Reside with Parent/Guardian Form and send to UND Housing via email or postal mail.
In most cases, completed applications will receive a written response within 10 business days.
Enrolled Less than Full-Time Status
Students who enroll at less than full-time status for both fall and spring semesters may be exempt from the first year campus living requirement. Enrollment verification is required and will be monitored.
Students exempted under these criteria initially, but who later enroll/add classes thereby becoming full-time students will be expected to move on campus.
Students who drop below full-time status while living on campus will not be released from their Room and Meal Plan agreement.
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service
- UND Housing staff will confirm student credit hours with the UND Registrar.
In most cases, completed applications will receive a written response within 10 business days.
Transfer Student
Transfer students who have earned 24 or more transferable, post-secondary credits prior to the start of classes in the semester they are enrolling are exempt. Transfer students may also be exempted if they met comparable requirements at their previous institution and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service.
- In the comment section of the above form, please indicate the school(s) you attended and how many credits you completed.
In most cases, completed applications will receive a written response within 10 business days.
Married or Have Children
Students will be asked to submit appropriate documentation (i.e. marriage certificate,
dependent birth certificate or custody agreement).
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service
- Submit marriage certificate, birth certificate(s), custody agreement, etc.
In most cases, completed applications will receive a written response within 10 business days.
Age 20+
Students who will be 20 years of age or older prior to the start of classes for the semester in which they are enrolling.
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service
- Age will be verified from UND Admissions application
In most cases, completed applications will receive a written response within 10 business days.
Financial Hardship
All applicants for financial hardship MUST have completed their financial aid file BEFORE the exemption request can be processed. Requests for financial hardship may be denied if you have not completed your application for financial aid.
If you are not eligible for financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships, etc) or if your request for financial aid has been denied, you must include a copy of the notification from UND stating that you are not eligible to receive financial aid.
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service
- Complete the Special Circumstances - Appealing Your FAFSA Eligibility form with One-Stop Student Services.
- Monitor your UND email for communication regarding your appeal. Send the decision made by One-Stop to the Housing & Residence Life office for final review.
- Send an email or postal letter to UND specifying how your situation impacts your ability to live in the residence halls. Your letter should include this information:
- Reasons why you believe your case is extraordinary
- Why moving to another residence hall/room will not solve your situation
- The resources you have used (both on and off campus) to help you with your current situation
- How living off campus will solve your problem
- Once all documentation is received, your exemption will be reviewed, and the results will be communicated via your UND email.
Students requesting exemption from the first-year campus living requirement should be aware that their ability to secure less expensive off-campus housing is NOT, in and of itself, valid demonstration that a financial hardship exists. Requests based solely on this reason will not be approved.
Medical Conditions
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service
- Send an email or postal letter to UND Housing specifying how your condition impacts your ability to live in the residence halls. Your letter should include this information:
-
- Your specific condition
- When your condition was diagnosed (the duration of your condition)
- How you currently manage your condition
- How living on campus will interfere/prevent/disrupt the treatment of your condition
Special Circumstances
If you are seeking an exemption for reasons other than those listed, you may have special circumstances.
Request Exemption
- Complete the online Live-on Exemption Request in your Housing Self-Service
- Submit an email or postal letter to UND Housing with reasons why your situation is compelling or extraordinary. Your letter should include this information:
-
- Explain why moving to another residence hall/room will not solve your situation
- Describe the resources you have used to help you solve your situation
- Explain how you believe living off campus will solve your situation
Decision & Appeal
Exemption applications will be reviewed by the Director of Housing Operations.
How You Will be Notified
Students will be notified in writing via official university email (if a current UND student) or by email address supplied on the exemption request if a UND email account is not available.
Approvals
If your request for exemption is approved, you will receive written notification stating the reason your request was approved.
Denials
If your request for exemption is denied, you will receive written notification of the decision to deny, along with the reason(s) your request was denied.
Appeals
Students, whose request for exemption is denied, will have the opportunity to appeal
the decision to the Director of Housing.
How to Submit an Appeal
You may appeal the denial of your request by submitting a written request to the UND Housing & Residence Life Office. You can reach the Housing & Residence Life Office by phone at 701.777.4251. Your appeal must be received within 10 business days from the date of your denial notification.
Your appeal request should consist of a written statement of why you are appealing the decision as well as any additional or new information that was not included in your original exemption request that you would like to have considered for your appeal.
If the Director of Housing upholds the denial of your request for exemption, you will be expected to reside in university-owned housing. A space in the residence halls will be held for you to uphold the university's responsibility to the agreement.
If the Director of Housing approves your appeal, you will be expected to follow proper procedures. Any required room and/or meal plan charges (if applicable) will be pro-rated based on the date that you complete your proper check out.
Providing false or misleading information in connection with a request for exemption will be grounds for disciplinary action under the Code of Student Life, Section 2-B-2. Failure to comply with the campus live-on requirement or engaging in behaviors that would result in removal from campus housing will result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension from the University.
Students are cautioned not to make other living arrangements until they are officially exempted from the campus live-on requirement. Having signed an off-campus lease, rental agreement, or having purchased a home will not qualify the student for exemption from the campus live-on requirement.