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 Student Life or the Office of Student Accessibility 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 an exemption from on-campus housing and/or dining services due to a medical accommodation, they would go through our Housing & Dining Accommodation process that is managed by our Director of Student Accessibility.

Keuka College has established procedures to ensure that students with documented disabilities have access to reasonable on-campus housing and 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 housing and dining with fellow students is an important fact of campus life at a residential college.

Student responsibilities include:

Submitting requests for housing and dining accommodations as early as possible following acceptance to the College by completing appropriate documentation in the Student Health Portal and communicating with the Office of Student Accessibility via their email address: student-accessibility@keuka.edu. Requests will only be considered from students who are fully accepted.
Disclosing your disability 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 is maintained in confidential files in the Office of Student Accessibility.
Submitting the appropriate documentation for your accommodation request.
Abiding by all policies and procedures related to housing and 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 beliefs and spiritual traditions. 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 or from the required meal plan for religious reasons. A religious exemption to on-campus housing or a meal plan will only be granted when Student Life or Dining Services cannot meet the specific living or the dietary needs of a student due to a student’s religious beliefs or spiritual traditions. If you receive an exemption to on-campus housing, you will not be required to have a meal plan as a commuter student.

The process to request a religious exemption for on-campus housing or from the meal plan is outlined below.

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 exemption request.
The student seeking a religious exemption for on-campus housing should meet with the Director of Campus Life to present and discuss specific living needs. The student seeking a religious exemption for on-campus dining services should meet with the Director of Dining Services to present and discuss specific dietary needs. If those needs cannot be met within the on-campus housing program or campus dining options, the student should proceed to step 3.
The student must complete the Religious Exemption for Dining Services & On-campus Housing Request. A student may choose to include and upload a statement from a religious or spiritual advisor if the student feels that will more clearly articulate their needs.

Upon approval of the exemption, the College Chaplain will notify the Director of Campus Life and the Director of Student Accounts.

For the upcoming fall semester, new and returning students are encouraged to complete the request by May 1 so that the student’s account can be adjusted before the fall billing cycle, if exemption is granted.

For the upcoming spring semester, new and returning students are encouraged to complete the request by November 1 so that the student’s account can be adjusted before the spring billing cycle, if exemption is granted.

Exemptions will also be considered between billing cycles.

Please note:

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 or spiritual advisor 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.

The student seeking an administrative release should schedule a meeting with the Director for Campus Life to present and discuss specific living needs.
If those needs cannot be met within the on-campus housing program that is available, the Director for Campus 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 Campus 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 throughout the process, please contact the Director for Campus 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.

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