Degree-seeking undergraduate students are required to reside on campus at Schuylkill. Unless a student meets one of the below conditions, the expectation is for them to reside on campus for the full HFS Contract period.

1. The student is 21 years or older at the time of their initial registration with the University;
2. The student is married and living with their partner;
3. The student has actively served in the military prior to their admission to the University; 
4. The student will be living with their parent or legal guardian in a permanent residence within 50 driving miles of campus.

Students identified through the Admissions process as meeting one of the Housing Exemption criteria are not required to accept an HFS Contract as part of the acceptance process, but if housing is still available, they may choose to accept an HFS Contract.

Students not identified through the Admissions process as meeting the Housing Exemption criteria will be required to accept an HFS Contract.

Requesting a Housing Exemption

If students believe they meet one of the criteria, they may request a Housing Exemption by submitting the completed Housing Exemption Form (Word document) to the Housing and Food Services office.

Exemption Requests are reviewed by a University committee, who meets on a regular basis. The Committee will review the request and a representative will respond to the student via email, usually within 7-10 business days with confirmation or denial of the request.

An exemption request may only be submitted for the entire academic year; exemptions will not be processed in the fall to release a student for the spring semester. 

Deadlines

The student must submit the Housing Exemption Form prior to the deadline indicated below. If a student accepts the offer of admission to Penn State after the corresponding deadline or if an Upper-Class student initially accepts an HFS Contract, the Housing Exemption Form must be submitted within ten (10) days of the corresponding acceptance date. Housing Exemption Forms received after the deadline will not be processed. The student will be obligated financially for room and board charges for the full contract period. Contract Release Requests to move home with the parent or legal guardian for the spring semester will not be honored.

Sponsored International Students

Sponsored international students who are interested in a housing exemption must submit the Housing Exemption Form as well as two letters of support for living off-campus, one letter from his or her parent or guardian, and one from the sponsoring entity. Exemption requests will only be considered once all three items are received. The student interested in a housing exemption should submit a completed Housing Exemption Form by June 30.  If the student accepts admission to Penn State after June 30, the Housing Exemption Form must be submitted within ten (10) days of the acceptance date. Exemption requests will not be accepted after the deadline, and the student will be obligated financially for room and board charges for the full contract period.

Future HFS Contracts

A student who has been exempted from the residency requirement will be eligible to participate in the Housing Contract Process for future academic years. Once an HFS Contract has been accepted by a student previously approved for an exemption, that contract can no longer be canceled through the housing exemption process.