Board Policy #701
All unmarried full-time freshman students who enter with less than 21 semester hours credit
(excluding high school concurrent credits) are required to live in a residence hall for two
semesters unless a specific exemption is authorized by the director of housing or the University
Housing Exemption Committee. However, freshmen are not required to live in any particular
residence hall. UCA believes that the residential experience adds to the students’ overall
academic and personal development and, therefore, is an essential and vital part of the total
college experience. There will be numerous programs for the new students in the halls,
coordinated through the Housing and Residence Life Office, which will encompass the
academic, social, and emotional areas of development.
First-Time Freshman that need to live off campus must complete the ‘Freshman Exemption Request’ form with the appropriate uploaded documentation in order to be approved for the exemption.
Fall semester forms are due by July 1st and Spring semester forms are due by December 1st. The following reasons are administratively approved exemption requests: living with a relative within a reasonable distance, completed more than 21 college credit hours (excluding High school concurrent credit), enrolled in less than 12 credit hours, presently 21 years of age or older, married and living with spouse, have custody of dependent children, have lived in a residence hall at another campus for 2 more semesters, or military leave. All other reasons will be presented to the Exemption Committee for review once a month.
Exemption criteria and required supporting documentation:
- Living with a relative within a reasonable distance from UCA campus (student’s drivers license & relative’s drivers license and utility will with relative’s name if current address is not on drivers license)
- Completed more than 21 college credit hours (excluding High School concurrent credit) (Transcript)
- Will be/currently enrolled in less than 12 credit hours (official class schedule)
- Presently 21 years of age or older (driver’s license)
- Married and living with spouse (Marriage Certificate)
- Have custody of dependent children (child’s birth certificate)
- Have lived in a residence hall at another campus for 2 or more semesters (Name of college and dates attended)
- Military Leave (military orders)
- Other (typed letter of explanation addressed to the Exemption Committee)
How to Request a Freshmen Housing Exemption
A student wishing to live off-campus will need to complete the ‘Freshmen Housing Exemption Request’ form. This can be accessed by following these steps:
- Go to my.uca.edu
- Select the ‘MyHousing’ Portal
- Select the ‘Forms’ tab within the MyHousing Portal
- Complete the ‘Freshmen Housing Exemption Request’ form and upload any requested documentation
Students who fail or refuse to comply with the residency requirement and/or who furnishes false information to a University Official in connection with a request for an exemption will be assessed charges for a residence hall double-occupancy room and meal plan per semester and may be subject to disciplinary action.
Cancelling a Housing Application
All students that have already completed the Academic Year or Semester Housing Application who are approved for a freshmen housing exemption request will need to email housing@uca.edu to cancel their application. Receiving an approved freshmen exemption form does not automatically cancel a student’s housing application; the student must cancel their housing application.
If a student is cancelling their lease agreement within the leasing term, the student will be issued the $425 Lease Buyout Fee. Freshmen students are not eligible for exemption from this fee.
