Live On Requirement and Exemption

Pacific Northwest College of Art students are required to live in university housing for two semesters. Willamette College students are required to live in university housing for four semesters.

If a student has fulfilled their live on requirement, no further documentation or request is necessary. Students in Salem automatically meet this condition after living in a residence hall for four semesters. PNCA students meet this requirement after two semesters in ArtHouse. Otherwise, students are required to received an approved exemption to this requirement.

Students transferring from another institution can reach out to their admissions counselor or Residence Life and Housing to learn about how their journey to Willamette may meet these or other grounds for an exemption.

If a medical condition is the basis for requesting an exemption, do not apply through this process. Contact Accessible Education Services to set up a meeting and discuss options available. Submit any medical documentation to Accessible Education Services.

Cancellation Fee and Financial Impact

Students who cancel their housing after receiving an assignment will be required to pay a cancellation fee. If a residency requirement waiver is approved, the Financial Aid Office will be notified and your total financial aid award may be impacted.

Residency Requirement Exemption Timeline

A student may apply for an exemption to the Residency Requirement at any time, but an approval is only granted for the semester following the approval date. The university grants exceptions to the live-on requirement timeline in narrow situations when appropriate.

Completion or submission of a request does not constitute approval. Students will receive notification via their Willamette email when a decision has been made.

Upon checking in to on campus housing and receiving a key, students are not able to seek an exemption for a semester in progress. Any exemption granted during an academic year will apply to the following semester.

Please contact housing@willamette.edu for additional information.

• Criteria for Exemption

  Students must meet at least one of the listed criteria in order to be approved for an exemption. Consideration for reasons outside the listed reasons is provided, but approvals are given in limited and extenuating circumstances.

  Exceptions to the residency requirement that are based on an individual's medical or mental health conditions must be approved through the University Accessible Education Services accommodations process.

  Students must meet at least one of the criteria in order to be considered for an exemption. 

  the student is...	Actions and Documentation Necessary
  Residing with parent(s)/guardian(s) during the academic year, and the parent's home is within 25 miles of campus	Student completes the form in their WU Housing portal. Parent/legal guardian completes the Verification of Residency document emailed to student upon completion of the Housing Portal Application Submit the notarized document to Residence Life and Housing.
  Over the age of 21 by the start of the current academic year	Students completes the form in their WU Housing portal no additional documentation is needed information will be confirmed through university records
  Considered independent from their parent(s)/legal guardian(s)	Student completes the form in their WU Housing portal no additional documentation is needed information will be confirmed through university records
  Married, in a civil union, or domestic partnership	Student completes the form in their WU Housing portal Student must submit a copy of the marriage certificate or other legal document acknowledging the union to Residence life and Housing
  Caring for a dependent child or parent	Student completes the form in their WU Housing portal Student must submit their Documents to Residence Life and Housing For a dependent child: The birth certificate or guardian documents. For a dependent parent: the student's birth certificate and supporting documents
  A veteran	Student completes the form in their WU Housing portal Student submits proof of enrollment, discharge or separation.

• Exemptions Outside Listed Criteria

  Students who do not meet the criteria but have a desire to live off campus may still submit their request by completing the application and submitting a statement with the grounds for an exemption. A letter of acknowledgement/endorsement from your parent or legal guardian is needed to complete the request. If you are an independent student, please indicate this status in your statement.

  Financial need is not a consideration for granting off-campus residency. Please contact Financial Aid to discuss options to pay for the cost of living on campus.

  If a medical condition is cited for a reason to move off campus, do not send medical documentation to Residence Life and Housing. Contact Accessible Education Services to set up a meeting and discuss options available. Submit all medical documentation to Accessible Education Services.

  A student who doesn't meet the listed criteria must

  complete the form in their WU Housing portal submit a statement with the reasoning behind the request. Submit A letter of acknowledgement or endorsement from the student's parent or guardian.* *Requirement waived if an independent student addresses this in the submitted statement

• Request an Exemption Application

  To request access to the Residency Exemption Application, complete the linked Residency Requirement Exception Request form. Our staff will then provide access to the the application in the student's WU Housing Portal.

  The application is considered complete when the WU Housing Portal application has been submitted and the necessary documentation has been submitted to the office of Residence Life and Housing. The Verification of Residency must be notarized in order to be considered complete.

• Application Review

  All requests for exemption are evaluated upon the student completely submitting the required information. Requests outside the listed criteria will be submitted to a committee to evaluate the request. Only students with extraordinary circumstances will be considered for exemption. 

  Once approved, students do not need to request an exemption for additional semesters.