St. Cloud State University Policies & Procedures

Admitted students will receive instructions on how to complete their Housing and Dining Agreement and information about the on-campus living experience and learning community options.  Students that do not complete the housing and dining agreement or do not receive an approved exemption, will have corresponding charges and fees added to their student account starting mid-July for Fall and November 1 for Spring semesters respectively, regardless of if they move into an assigned space. 

Charges to student accounts will not be removed after the University Drop/Add deadline. Students withdrawing from classes need to follow the tuition appeal and housing cancellation processes for prorated charges. 

Standard Exemption Criteria

Students may qualify for an exemption to this policy for one or more of the following criteria: 

• Student lives with a parent/legal guardian within 35 miles of campus 
• Student plans to enroll in 6 or fewer credits during both the fall and spring semesters 
• Student is enrolling in an [AOP] Accelerated Online or other 100% Online Program 
• Student is the guardian of a minor child or other dependent 
• Student is married or in a domestic partnership/civil union 
• Student is a U.S. veteran or active military member 
• Student is under the age of 16 or over 21 on the first day of classes in their entering term 
• Student plans to live with a sibling within 35 miles of campus
  • Two letters of support for living off campus that describe your relationship
    1. One letter from a parent/guardian 
    2. One from the sibling within 35 miles of campus who is a current SCSU students along with proof of residence (e.g., utility bill, cell phone bill, copy of lease) 
  • Supporting evidence of sibling relationship
    • (e.g., copies of birth certificates of both siblings, academic reports showing parents/guardian names, passports showing family name)   
  • Exemption requests to reside with a sibling are ONLY considered once all three items are received.  

Other Extenuating Circumstances for Exemption 

Students may also qualify for an exemption to this policy for other extenuating circumstances outside of the standard exemption criteria. Examples include but are not limited to: 

• Severe medical condition or disability that cannot be accommodated in a residence hall (Students must work with Student Accessibility Services to request an accommodation) 
• Demonstrated Financial Hardship (e.g., loss of primary provider’s income due to death, catastrophic health issues, natural disasters, bankruptcy). Students must first apply for financial aid to be considered for financial hardship. 

Exemption Requests, Decisions, and Appeals 

Students who believe they qualify for an exemption based on one or more reasons must submit the Housing Exemption Request form to Residential Life. The Housing Exemption form is for new students only. Current residential students should follow the ”request to cancel” process. The completed form must be received by Residential Life no later than 30 days before the first day of classes each semester. Decisions regarding extenuating circumstances will be made by the Housing Appeals Committee. Residential Life will notify the student of the decision via SCSU email within 7 business days of filing exemption. 

Providing false information to St. Cloud State University is a violation of the University Student Code of Conduct; individuals may be subject to conduct action. Students who are found to have provided false information will be required to move into an on-campus residence hall. 

Exemption Appeals

Students are allowed one appeal to the Housing Appeals Committee decision provided one of the following criteria is met:

     a) New information or documentation has become available that could have changed the committee's decision; or

     b) there was a conflict of interest or bias on the part of the committee which affected the outcome.

All appeals must be submitted via email to the Residential Life email address for the Executive Director of Residential Life, or designee, to review no later than 5 business days following the receipt of the Housing Appeals Committee decision. Appeal letters must note specifically what is being appealed, the criteria on which the appeal is being made, and the rationale for the appeal. Failure to follow these guidelines or meet the deadline may disqualify your appeal. All appeal decisions made by the Housing Appeals Committee are final. 

Q. Why is it so important for me to live on campus?

A. Researchers have consistently found that living on campus has several positive outcomes that help students developmentally. A synthesis of the empirical research reveals seven primary areas in which residence halls have a significant impact on students:

1. Retention and persistence – Students who live on campus have greater expectations for academic achievement and are more likely to remain in college.
2. Extracurricular involvement/social engagement – Students living on campus tend to be more involved in campus activities.
3. Positive feelings about campus social climate – Students living in residence halls have a strong attachment to the University community; they feel that campus is more comfortable, more academically focused, more supportive, and more enjoyable.
4. Personal growth and development (psychosocial growth) – Students feel more confident that they can meet challenges. They mature more quickly and learn to become interdependent.
5. Interpersonal relationships – Students who live on campus build strong friendships and share more common experiences. They interact more, develop more resilience, and experience more diversity.
6. Faculty interaction – Students have more contacts with faculty due to closer proximity to faculty offices.
7. Higher overall satisfaction with their college experience.

Further, in 2014 Gallup conducted a web-based survey of 30,000 college graduates to determine what factors in college made a difference in their level of engagement in work, overall well-being, and emotional attachment to their alma mater. Findings from the 2014 Gallup Purdue Index Report showed that living on campus was the best predictor of institutional attachment from an alumni perspective.

Q. Where can I learn more about Meal Plan requirements and options?

A. Information about meal plan requirements can be found in the Residential Life handbook. Information about meal plan options can be found on the Residential Life or campus dining website. See the supporting URLs section for links to these resources.