First Year undergraduate students enrolled as full-time students, as defined in the University of South Florida Undergraduate Bulletin, are required to live in on-campus. Students first enrolling in the Summer are required to live in the residence halls during the Summer, Fall and Spring terms. Students first enrolling in the Fall are required to live in the residence halls during the Fall and Spring Semesters. Students first enrolling in the Spring are required to live in the residence halls during the Spring Semester.

Students may be exempt from the requirement to live in the residence halls if:

• The student will reach the age of 21 prior to the first day of classes of their first term of enrollment
• The student is married
• The student has dependent family (children or parents) under the student’s care
• The student resides in the principal residence of a parent or legal guardian within the counties of Hillsborough, Pasco, or Pinellas. Students desiring this exemption must apply and provide parent or legal guardian endorsement.

 
In addition, requests for exemption to the first year live on campus requirement on the basis of compelling individual circumstances will be considered.

Requests for priority consideration of exemption must be submitted according to the following schedule:

• Summer Term of first enrollment – May 1
• Fall Term of first enrollment – May 1
• Spring Term of first enrollment – November 1

 
For additional information regarding requests for exemption, contact the Assignments Office of the Department of Housing & Residential Education.

Failure to comply with the First Year Live-On Requirement by not registering for housing, assuming occupancy in a University residence hall, and/or providing false or misleading information in connection with a request for exemption will be referred to the Office of Student’s Rights and Responsibilities and may result in cancellation of enrollment and revocation of student status at the University of South Florida.

If a first year student is removed from on-campus housing due to disciplinary action, the student may also be suspended from the University. As all first year students (excluding Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties) must live in on campus housing, and housing is allocated accordingly. Any first year student whose conduct results in their being forced to leave on campus housing due to violations of the contract or the USF Code of Conduct, shall be responsible for the ENTIRE housing fee. No refund or credit will be given to the student if removed from housing for cause.

Requests for exemption to the first year live on campus requirement will be considered and may be granted in the cases stated above or for compelling individual circumstances.

All correspondence regarding exemption requests should be addressed to:

Housing & Residential Education
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue RAR229
Tampa, Florida 33620-7700
Fax: (813) 974-9185
Phone: 974-0001
Email: exemption@housing.usf.edu

 
The Assistant Director of Housing & Residential Education for Assignments and Marketing or his/her designee will review written requests for exemption within a timely manner. Additional information may be required of some applicants. Applicants will be notified of decisions regarding requests for exemption in a timely manner.
Individual students may appeal, in writing, the denial of the request for exemption to an appeals committee

1. Written appeals must be submitted to the Housing Assignments Office not later than ten (10) working days after notice has been sent that a request for exemption has been denied.
2. Appeals will be reviewed by the Appeals Committee within ten (10) business days. The committee consists of (a) one member of the faculty appointed by Academic Affairs, (b) one Student Affairs Division professional staff member appointed by the Vice President of Student Affairs, and (c) one Housing Department professional staff member appointed by the Director of Housing & Residential Education and (d) one resident appointed by the Residence Hall Association.
3. The Appeals Committee may consult with other units of the University, including, but not limited to, the Student Health Center, the Disability Services Office, and the Office of Student Financial Aid when appropriate.
4. Decisions of the appeals committee will be communicated, in writing, within a reasonable time from the date that the appeal is reviewed by the committee.
5. Decisions of the appeals committee will be final.