Residence Requirement

The following FAQ is related to a two-year residency requirement announced by the University Aug. 9, 2022, effective fall 2023.

Who falls under the 2-year residency requirement?
This requirement applies to all incoming first-year, full-time students and continues through their sophomore year. 

Who is considered a first-year and second-year student?
A first-year (freshman) student is defined as any student who has completed less than 30 college credits. A second-year (sophomore) student is defined as any student who has completed between 31 and 60 college credits. Students should expect to live on campus until they complete either four full-time semesters of college or successfully earned at least 60 credits.

If I transfer to SRU, how many semesters am I required to live on campus?
Transfer students are not required to reside on campus and are able to choose to commute or secure off-campus arrangements. Transfer students enrolled for their first academic semester (or academic year) at SRU will have the option to secure and on-campus housing. Incoming transfers will have an on-campus agreement available to them to complete in their MyHousing portal initially upon enrollment, though they should not sign the agreement if the student is planning to commute or reside off-campus. After their first semester (or year), established transfers will need to complete an on-campus placement request on the MyHousing portal to request an on-campus housing agreement offer, should space permit.

Why did SRU create a two-year resident requirement?
Living in student housing gives students more opportunities to meet new people, discover new places, access campus resources and get involved with the SRU community. Research shows that residing on campus also leads to higher persistence and graduation rates and greater learning by maximizing opportunities for social and intellectual development from cocurricular activities.

 SRU’s residence halls and Rock Apartments offer a variety of benefits, including:

 Academics

• 24/7 study and recreational lounges.
• Available student and professional staff to provide emotional and social support.
• Faculty offices and classroom space within steps of where students live.

Community

• Living Learning Communities where students with similar interests or majors live together in certain halls.
• No need to search for commuter parking before class.
• Residence hall activities, games and other social activities.
• Walkable access to all campus activities and dining.

Convenience

• High speed internet to support multiple devices.
• In-building laundry facilities.
• Freedom to take a semester off or spend a semester abroad without being charged or having to find someone to sublet.
• Nine-month agreements to better align with the school year. No need to remember to pay monthly bills (i.e. utilities, cable, Wi-Fi, etc.).
• Regularly scheduled maintenance and custodial service available 24/7.

Safety

• Buildings are access card secured. Video security systems.
• Overnight and weekend desk attendants.
• Uniformed officers patrol campus 24/7.

Do I have to purchase a meal plan too?
Yes. Students residing in on-campus housing (except Rock Apartments) will be assigned automatically to the default meal plan of 14 meals per week with $350 in flex funds. However, all students are encouraged to review the meal plan options on the Dining Services webpage and choose the one that works best for them. All students are permitted to make one change per semester to their meal plan through the first two weeks of each semester. For additional questions concerning meal plans, please contact dining@sru.edu.

Are there exemptions to the requirement (see bullet points below)?
Yes, students must complete the exemption form found in the Housing Portal under the Application tab.

• Commuting from permanent home address, within 60 miles of campus. (Upload Notarized letter stating student will be commuting from permanent home address)
• Age 21 or older on or before December 31, 2025. (Student record will verify)
• Fully Online Class Schedule (Class schedule will verify)
• Student is Independent Status (Uploads Statement, Financial Aid will verify)
• Married (Upload marriage certificate)
• Dependent Child/Children in Student’s Custody (Upload Birth Certificate, Custody Order, OR copy of most recent student tax return)
• Previous or active military service (active duty reserves or national guard) or honorably discharged (Upload DD220, Copy of Orders, or DD214)
• Will have earned 48 credits by August 15, 2025; or have already completed 4 regular full-time semesters. (Class schedule will verify)
• Student is Part-Time Status (Upload Statement; Class Schedule will verify)
• Student serves on the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company & Rescue Team as a live-in firefighter or EMT (a signed volunteer agreement will verify)
• Other: This category includes, but not limited to, extreme financial hardship. (Upload detailed statement with any supporting documentation)

Couldn’t I just change my permanent home address to my off-campus apartment?
No. The exemption only applies to those students residing with their parent or legal guardian at their permanent address located within 60 miles of campus.

What if my parent/legal guardian moves while I’m enrolled at SRU?
If you no longer live with your parent or guardian, you will be required to live in campus housing unless you meet the criteria for another type of exemption.

If I receive an exemption and my off-campus living situation changes, is my exemption rescinded?
Yes, you will need to apply for on-campus housing or request another exemption.

What happens if I don’t abide by this requirement?
During the first week of July prior to the start of the academic year, all freshmen and sophomores will be assigned to an available residence hall room and billed by the University for on-campus housing and the default meal plan unless they have requested, and have an approved exemption.

Are there enough rooms to accommodate everyone?
Yes, SRU has the capacity for more than 2,900 on-campus residents each year. We estimate freshmen and sophomores will take up approximately 90% of these rooms. Depending on the number of freshmen and sophomores, a limited number of on-campus rooms may also be made available for upper-class students.  

What if I already signed a lease at an off-campus apartment?
Freshmen and Sophomore level students should not sign an off-campus lease as they will be required to live in campus housing. Signing an off-campus lease does not exempt a student from the requirement. If an exemption from the requirement is requested, and then fully approved in writing via SRU Email, only then can a student in the required category make off campus arrangements.   

What if I can’t afford to live on campus?  
The Office of Financial Aid can provide information about grants, loans, work-study and scholarship opportunities to offset the cost of living on-campus.

What kind of impact will this have on the larger Slippery Rock community?
Based on past averages, the second-year residency requirement will result in 300-400 new sophomores residing on campus. We expect that will mean that roughly 200-300 upper-class students and transfers will be moving to off-campus housing, resulting in a net difference of only 100 students or so on average.

What if I want to continue to live on campus beyond my Sophomore (2nd) year?
Limited space will be available on campus for juniors and seniors. Rock Apartments (188 beds) is reserved for junior and senior level students who may choose to participate in that process.  We understand and appreciate many upper-class students value living on campus, or have circumstances that make living on campus a more viable and convenient option, and we will do our best to accommodate all requests as best able. We cannot guarantee on-campus housing past a student's sophomore year, but will try to offer an agreement to as many upper-class students on a rolling basis as space permits. Students who are not required can indicate a desire to reside on campus by completing an” on campus placement request" on their MyHousing portal, but an offer for on-campus housing is based on availability and not guaranteed. Please know there are ample off-campus providers located within walking distance from campus or accessible via shuttle. Students may use federal financial aid toward living expenses, including rent at an off-campus housing provider.

What happens if I need to withdraw for the semester, academically or medically?
When you withdraw, your housing will be canceled as you are no longer a student; however, upon returning as a student to SRU you will be held accountable to the residence requirement.

What happens if I will be a part-time student (less than 12 credits) for a semester?
The student can request an exemption from the requirement. Upon returning to full-time status, you will be held accountable to the residence requirement.

For assistance of questions, please contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life at 724-738-2082 or housing@sru.edu