The Residency Requirement

All full-time first-year and second-year students are required to live in Loyola University Chicago Residence Life housing and purchase a meal plan. Typically, this requirement requires four semesters of residency in Loyola's residence halls (not including summer terms). This residency requirement is published in the Undergraduate Bulletin of Information, on the University website, and in the annual Community Standards for Loyola students.

Conscious that a small number of students may be interested in pursuing their educational goals without this residential experience, Loyola University Chicago affords a non-residential option for students living at home with parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Students seeking a non-residential experience must complete the exemption request process and meet established criteria to be approved.

Students may request exemption from the residency requirement. If a student enters into the Student Housing Agreement and later requests a release from the requirement, there may be financial penalties for the student failing to honor the commitment of the agreement for the entire academic year. While an exemption from the On-Campus Residency Requirement might be awarded in a given case, often this triggers financial penalties under the Student Housing Agreement “Room Rates for Academic Year” clause, up to and including full remaining rates due.

The student may request a release from this Contract by completing the online Request for Release or Exemption Form online at http://www.luc.edu/eRelease. No verbal notices or notices sent to any other departments serve as a valid request for release from this Contract. If a request for release is approved, the student will have 48 hours from receipt of such approval to remove all personal belongings and move out of their Student Housing in accordance with the move out procedures outlined and communicated by a Residence Life staff member. Students must seek permission for any extensions on this timeline. Requests for a voluntary release may be approved in the following circumstances:

• A release request from a first-year student received at any time prior to May 1 before the Fall Term.
• A release request for any other student received, from the earlier to occur of, (1) 15 calendar days from the student’s receipt of written notification of assignment/confirmation of assignment of Student Housing or (2) 15 calendar days prior to the “occupancy begins” date as established by this Contract.
• A release requested by a student who has a recommended residential accommodation on file from SAC that currently cannot be met on campus through their current assignment of Student Housing.
  • Residence Life seeks to provide on campus Student Housing to any student who desires an oncampus living experience regardless of ability or medical need. As such, Residence Life reserves the right to attempt to find an appropriate assignment to meet a student’s recommended accommodation before granting a request for release.
• A student has experienced an unforeseen change in circumstance since entering into this Contract. Typically, in order for such a request to be approved, the changed circumstance is related to sudden financial hardship or other significant loss. The student must submit documentation supporting their request for release.
• A student has experienced a change in enrollment status in which they are no longer enrolled in courses at the University. Among other things, signing an off-campus lease, failure to occupy assigned Student Housing, or achieving third-year academic status does not negate or release a student from this Contract.