Assignments
Housing Exemption Requests
UW-Whitewater is required to enforce the UW System Board of Regents’ Residency Requirement (Policy 173, May 5, 1972) and therefore 1st and 2nd year students that graduated less than two years ago from high school are required to reside in University operated housing unless they have been approved for an exemption and have submitted a Residency Policy Exemption Request.
Exemption Requests must be submitted PRIOR to submitting an on-campus housing contract. Any student that is 21 years of age or younger if not planning to live on campus, must submit an Exemption Request. It is highly recommended that students do not make a commitment for alternate housing until they have been approved for an exemption through the process identified below.
EXEMPTION REQUESTS MAY BE SUBMITTED WHEN:
- You have NOT submitted a residence hall contract, and
- You meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You are a veteran or have 2 years of active military duty
- You are married
- You are a parent
- You live with a parent or legal guardian and will commute daily from their residence which is within 40 miles of UW-Whitewater
- It has been 2 or more years since my high school graduation
- You have an extreme personal hardship
- You have an extreme financial hardship
| REASON | REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION |
|---|---|
| I am a veteran or have 2 years of active military duty. | Copy of DD214 papers. |
| I am married. | Copy of marriage certificate. |
| I am a parent. | Copy of your child's birth certificate. |
| I live with a parent or legal guardian and will commute daily from their residence which is within 40 miles of UW-Whitewater. | Submit a Residency Policy Exemption Request with the commuter section completed. Both student and parent/legal guardian must sign. |
| It has been 2 or more years since my high school graduation. | Indicate year. This will be verified by University Housing with your admission records. |
| I have an extreme personal hardship. | Typed, detailed explanation of how your circumstances would limit you from living on campus and any relevant supporting documentation. Clarify as to where you plan to live if granted an exemption. If living at home, the commuter portion of the Residency Policy Exemption Request form is also required. |
| I have an extreme financial hardship. |
PROCESS:
- Review list of required documentation and be prepared to upload any required documents in Student Portal.
- Review “Common Situations and Reasons for which Exemption Requests are Denied”. [See below]
- Download the Residency Policy Exemption Request form
- Complete form and upload later in process.
- Log into Student Portal on the University Housing website.
- Select Exemption Request on the menu on the left.
- Read the disclaimer carefully for more specific details on the process.
- Select Timeline for Request.
- Select reason and provide the reasoning for the release request.
- Upload any supporting documentation/information into Student Portal including
Residency Policy Exemption Request form- Note size limits for uploading. Instructions on resizing is provided if needed
- Submit Request.
- All Students will be notified via their University email account as to the status of the request or if the request has been forwarded to the Exemption Review Team. Once the Review Team meets the student will then also be notified of the decision through email.
If the university is at full capacity then there may be additional students who will not be housed on campus even though there is no qualifying exemption.
- Key factors considered in this process for continuing students (ie: Sophomore (2nd year) Students) where applicable (full capacity/special consideration) include:
- GPA: Student must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or Higher.
- Probation Status: The student cannot be on Academic or Behavioral Probation.
- Student Success Data: The Exemption Approval process (when applicable) is in the spring to allow students a full semester to transition to the University.
COMMON SITUATIONS AND REASONS FOR WHICH EXEMPTION REQUESTS ARE DENIED
The following is a list of situations where exemption requests may be denied, but other solutions may be available.
It is important for students to refer to the requested documentation list for the reason for the exemption request. Students need to provide sufficient documentation for a review. Failure to provide the requested documentation may result in your exemption not being considered or, minimally, a delay in a decision by the Review Team.
Residence hall living is a new experience for most students and requires a certain amount of adjustment. If a student has made a fair adjustment to the hall environment but is still unhappy, a change of hall, room, floor, or roommate may be an effective remedy. Residence hall staff are available to work with residents individually to find a solution if a specific issue continues to be a problem or concern.
Physical or mental health conditions where on-campus housing can provide a reasonable accommodation:
Even with documentation from a doctor or therapist, most conditions do not automatically exempt students from policy and contract obligations. Specific health-related conditions and needs must be outlined by a medical or mental health professional. Students seeking an exemption for this reason are expected to contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) and submit all medical documentation to their office for their review. CSD will notify University Housing if they recommend an exemption based on your submitted documentation.
Requests based on disability require students to identify and discuss with the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) the specific areas of concern and issues they are experiencing. Through this process, the student and CSD will explore access solutions. University Housing works collaboratively with the Center for Students with Disabilities to meet students’ disability-related needs. CSD will notify University Housing if they recommend an exemption based on your submitted documentation.
Lack of funds alone is not a basis for an exemption. Finances for the academic year should be considered before choosing to enroll at the University and/or activating the residence hall contract. Financial aid is available to those who qualify based on need, and University Housing relies on the expertise of the Financial Aid Office to determine if a student has a sufficient financial aid and other funding options to attend UWW. If the student plans to seek an exemption based on financial hardship they must provide the requested documentation for review by the Review Team.
Needing to be at home to help with a family business, take care of siblings or other family members, or take care of pets or other animals is not a reason for an exemption. The student, along with their family, must explore alternative solutions to accommodate these needs. If the student lives within the 40-mile commuter distance, and has not submitted a housing contract, they can request an exemption based on commuting by submitting the requested documentation. If the student plans to submit an exemption request for personal hardship they must provide the requested documentation for review by the Review Team.
The choice to commute from the home of a parent or legal guardian must be made before activation of the residence hall contract. Students who are eligible to commute from the home of their parent or guardian must submit their request and be approved before the start of the academic year. The commuter exemption does not allow for living with siblings, grandparents, other relatives, or a fiancée/significant other without other extenuating documented circumstances. A contract release will not be granted for a student who wants to become a commuter after the start of the academic year.
Pets are not allowed in the residence halls, but if a student has a documented need for an emotional support animal, they will need to go through the Center for Students with Disabilities for approval. Students are encouraged to contact the Center for Students with Disabilities or review their website before starting the request process to ensure they qualify for an emotional support animal accommodation.