The Exemption Process

All first and second-year undergraduates are required to live on campus.

We realize that some students circumstances may mean you wish to live off-campus. Our Housing Operations Manager will consider any exemptions to this policy based on the below criteria:

Living With Parents

If your parents, or legal guardians, live within 50 miles from Gallaudet University’s main campus, you may be able to continue to live with them. We will need to see the following supporting documents:

• A notarized letter from your Parent/Guardian, confirming you live with them

and proof of address, such as:

• Driver’s License
• State-Issued ID Card
• Cell Phone Statement
• Credit Card statement
• or similar

Online Courses

If at least nine credit units of your course are online, you may be able to study remotely. We will need to see the following supporting documents:

• Class schedule

Previously Lived On-campus

If you have already lived on-campus for two full academic years (four semesters) at Gallaudet University, or another accredited college or university, you may be able to live off-campus. We will need to see the following supporting documents:

• Proof of housing from Gallaudet, or another accredited college university

Married Or In A Domestic Partnership

We will need to see the following supporting documents:

• Copy of your marriage license

Or

• Proof of domestic partnership

Please note if you plan to marry or enter a domestic partnership, you will need to live on-campus until the date on your supporting documents

You Are A Parent Or Legal Guardian Of A Minor

We will need to see the following supporting documents:

• A copy of the child’s birth certificate
• Proof that the child lives at your address

Accessibility Requirements

If you are registered with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSWD), and our on-campus accommodation isn’t suitable for your needs, you will be able to live off-campus. To learn more about our accommodations process, please visit the Applying For Disability Accommodation page. We will need to see the following supporting documents:

• Email from OSWD confirming you need accessibility adjustments which we’re unable to provide in our on-campus accommodation

The Housing Operations Office will consider each request on a case-by-case basis and to help us reach a decision, please send any supporting documents as soon as you can. We need a minimum of 10 business days to process any exemptions, and we will let you know our decision by emailing your Gallaudet University email address. We recommend you DO NOT enter into any lease or rental agreement before we let you know our decision.

Second-Year Students

You need to submit a new exemption request for your second year before the Room Lottery. If your renewal isn’t complete, the Housing Operations Office may place a hold on your enrollment status, so it is essential to complete this as soon as you can.

Accuracy of Information

Any student who gives false information to live off-campus, will:

• need to move on-campus as soon as possible
• be unable to submit another request to live off-campus
• be financially responsible for any on-campus housing charges incurred when they were not in compliance with our Residency Requirement Policy
• be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for the University charge of Furnishing False Information.

Reconsideration Of An Exemption Decision

If you disagree with the decision by the Housing Operations Manager, you may submit a Reconsideration Request within 5 business days after receiving the decision.