Residency Policy
All full-time undergraduate students are required to live on campus all four years or until the completion of their undergraduate degree.
Exceptions to Residency
Living in the residence halls at Keuka College is both a requirement and a privilege. The residence hall experience is an important part of a student’s total education. Living, studying, dining, and socializing in proximity with other students enables the development of interdependence, respect for others, and social and interpersonal skills. Being a part of the Keuka College residential community is such an important part of the Keuka College experience, that the college requires it. All full-time students (enrolled in 12 credits or more in a given semester), are required to live in a residence hall on campus.
Please be advised that submission of a Commuter Request Application or the Housing & Dining Accommodation Form does not guarantee approval to move off campus. Students will receive written notification from the Office of Residence Life or the Office of Student Accessibility Services regarding verification of their status.
To be eligible for commuter status, students must meet any of the following criteria:
- Living with parents or legal guardian within 30 miles of the college [at the address indicated on the student’s financial aid form (FAFSA) or scholarship package];
- 23 years old or older;
- Married (Copy of marriage certificate required);
- Dependent(s) under 18 years of age living with them (Copy of birth certificate required);
- Internship/practicum/student teaching which requires site residency and/or is more than 30 miles from the Keuka College campus and the student wishes to secure residency in close proximity to the site (This information will need to be verified with student’s academic advisor);
If approved, the student's commuter status is valid for the duration of the Academic Year for which the student applied. Commuter students will be re-evaluated for the subsequent Academic Year(s) following their approval and may be asked to reapply or provide further documentation. Commuter status is not automatically granted and may be denied if the student is no longer eligible to live off campus.
Medical Exemption for On-Campus Housing & Dining Services Process
If a student is seeking a release from the residency requirement due to a medical accommodation, they would go through our Housing & Dining Accommodation process that is managed by our Director of Student Accessibility Services.
Keuka College has established procedures to ensure that students with documented disabilities have access to reasonable on-campus dietary accommodations. Students should consider that as a four year intentionally residential college, all students living on campus are required to purchase a meal plan. Students in need of dietary accommodations should not expect an exemption from the meal plan requirement. Dietary accommodations are facilitated through the Office of Student Accessibility in consultation with campus dining services where every reasonable effort will be made to support students documented needs while maintaining Keuka College’s core belief that dining with fellow students is an important fact of campus life at a residential college.
Student responsibilities include:
- Submitting requests for dining accommodations as early as possible following acceptance to the College. Requests will only be considered from students who are fully accepted.
- Registering with the Office of Student Accessibility and providing documentation of a legally defined disability that meets the Keuka College documentation requirements. Information relating to a disability in maintained in confidential files in the Office of Student Accessibility.
- Completing the Disability Accommodation Housing and Dining Request Form.
- Abiding by all policies and procedures related to meal plan requirements for on-campus students.
Religious Exemption for Dining Services & On-Campus Housing Processes
Keuka College is committed to helping students ensure they are able to meet all requirements related to their religious tradition. As a four-year residential college, participating in on campus dining and housing allows students to develop both a sense of community and belonging. Therefore, all students are required to live on campus, unless they have secured an exemption, and purchase a meal plan while residing in the residence halls.
In unique circumstances, the College may exempt the student from living in on campus housing and from the required meal plan for religious reasons. A religious exemption to on campus housing and a meal plan will only be granted when Residence Life cannot meet living accommodations needed due to a student’s religious tradition and when dining services cannot meet the nutritional needs of a student. The process to request a religious exemption for on campus housing is outlined below.
Step 1: The student seeking a religious exemption for on campus housing or dining services, should first meet with the College Chaplain to learn steps on how to advocate for an accommodation request.
Step 2: The student seeking a religious exemption from on campus housing will meet with the Director of Residence Life to present and discuss specific living needs. If those needs cannot be met within the on campus housing program that is available, then go to step 3. If the student is seeking a religious exemption from dining services, they will meet with the Director of Dining Services to present and discuss specific dietary needs. If those needs cannot be met within the residential dining program that is available, then go to step 3.
Step 3: The student must have a religious leader, who is familiar with the living accommodation needs of the student’s religious tradition, complete the “Religious Leader form for Religious Exemption from On-campus Housing form.” The student must have a religious leader who is familiar with the dietary restrictions of the student’s religious tradition complete the Religious Leaders for Dining Exemption for Religious Tradition form.
Step 4: The student must complete the Religious Exemption for On-Campus Housing request on a Google Form. At that time, the student will upload the Religious Leader form Religious Exemption for On Campus Housing. The student must complete the Religious Exemption for Dining Services Request on a Google Form. At that time, the student will upload the Religious Leader form Religious Exemption for Dining Services.
The final deadline for the fall semester exemption requests is August 1. However, students are encouraged to complete the request by June 1 so that accounts can be adjusted before the fall billing cycle, if exemption is granted.
The final deadline for the spring semester exemption is December 1. However, you are encouraged to complete the request by November 1 so that your account can be adjusted before the spring billing cycle, if exemption is granted. Upon approval of the exemption, the Director of Residence Life will notify Student Accounts so that the meal plan will be removed from the student’s bill.
Religious exemptions for the following reasons will not be considered: financial, vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free diets, work/class/practice schedules, access to a kitchen, or personal preferences.
A written statement from a religious leader does not guarantee the student will receive a religious exemption from a meal plan.
Students will be notified of the decision of the exemption request via their Keuka College email account.
Students have an obligation to pay for on campus housing until a religious exemption request is approved. Note that students’ bills and aid packages may be adjusted based on an approved exemption.
Students are encouraged to keep a copy of the documentation that has been submitted.
For additional clarification or support through the process, please contact the College Chaplain.
If approved for a medical or religious exemption, the student's status is valid for the duration of the Academic Year for which the student applied. Students with medical or religious waivers to housing or meal plans will be re-evaluated for the subsequent Academic Year(s) following their approval and may be asked to reapply or provide further documentation. Waivers are not automatically granted and may be denied if the student is no longer eligible to be exempt from housing or meal plans.
Administrative Release Process for Residency Policy
As a four-year residential college, participating in on campus housing allows students to develop both a sense of community and belonging. Therefore, all students are required to live on campus, unless they have secured an exemption.
In unique circumstances, the College may exempt the student from living in on campus housing due to extenuating circumstances, which do not come under the Residency Policy or the accommodation process through the Office of Student Accessibility Services.
Step 1: The student seeking an administrative release should schedule a meeting with the Director for Residence Life to present and discuss specific living needs.
Step 2: If those needs cannot be met within the on campus housing program that is available, the Director for Residence Life will confer with the Associate Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students and the Director of Student Accessibility.
The final deadline for the fall semester exemption requests is August 1. However, students are encouraged to complete the request by June 1 so that accounts can be adjusted before the fall billing cycle, if exemption is granted.
The final deadline for the spring semester exemption is December 1. However, you are encouraged to complete the request by November 1 so that your account can be adjusted before the spring billing cycle, if exemption is granted. Upon approval of the exemption, the Director for Residence Life will notify Student Accounts so that the meal plan will be removed from the student’s bill.
Students will be notified of the decision of the exemption request via their Keuka College email account.
Students have an obligation to pay for on campus housing until an administrative release request is approved. Note that students’ bills and aid packages may be adjusted based on an approved exemption.
Students are encouraged to keep a copy of the documentation that has been submitted.
For additional clarification or support through the process, please contact the Director for Residence Life.
Removal from Housing
A student may also be released from on-campus housing due to an assigned sanction through the Community Standards process for a period of time. Students who are removed from on-campus housing as a result of the Community Standards process are not entitled to a refund of any portion of their room/board.
For additional clarification or support through the process, please contact the Director of Community Standards & Student Intervention.