25-26 First Year Live-On Requirement Exemption Request Form

West Virginia State University Office of Housing and Residence Life is committed to fostering inclusive, safe, and vibrant living communities for our Residential Yellow Jackets. Our Department’s vision includes not just maintaining our standards of excellence but elevating them, ensuring that our residence halls are more than just places to live, they are places where lifelong memories are made, and meaningful relationships are forged. There are numerous educational and social benefits for first-year students living in the residence halls that may not be realized by those living off campus. With this understanding, WVSU requires all first-year students to live on campus.

First Year Live-On Requirement Policy:

First-year status is defined according to enrollment year rather than credit-hour status. This means that students who are enrolled in the university for their first year of study will be considered as “first-years,” regardless of their potential credit-hour status as anything otherwise (e.g. as sophomores or juniors by credit hours).

First-year undergraduate students enrolled as full-time students, as defined by the Office of the Registrar, are required to live in campus residence halls. Students first enrolling in the summer are required to live in the residence halls during the summer, fall and spring semesters. 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 and the following fall semester.

Students may make requests as soon as they are admitted.

Please Note: You are not required to pay the Housing Reservation fee in order to complete a First-Year Live-On Exemption Request.

Exemption from the First Year Live-On Requirement Policy:

While we encourage all first-year students to reap the above-mentioned benefits by living on campus, we do realize that individual circumstances may result in the need for exemption.

You may complete and submit this exemption form if you meet one of the conditions below:

1. You will reside with a parent or legal guardian for the entire academic year at an address within a 50-mile radius of West Virginia State University. The student must provide a birth certificate signed by one or both parents or legal documentation of guardianship, and a valid driver's license or current utility bill in the parent's/guardian's name to verify the address of his/her residence.

2. You are 21 years of age or older by the first day of classes.

3. You are a veteran or still serving in the U.S. Armed Services.

4. You are married. A copy of the marriage certificate must be submitted as documentation.

5. You are the parent or legal guardian of a child. A copy of the birth certificate(s) must be submitted as documentation.

6. You are registered for all online classes.

Moreover, if you feel that you qualify for an exemption not listed in the above standard exemptions, you may still submit this First-Year Live-On Exemption Request Form for an extenuating circumstance. The following conditions are examples of extenuating circumstances:

A financial circumstance which would hinder your ability to reside on campus. Students may be released from their licensing agreement, if the appeals committee determines that the student's financial circumstances hinder the student's ability to live on campus. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis through an examination of the student's financial aid.
A health circumstance which would hinder your ability to reside on campus, e.g. if you require a special Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation that is not available on campus.
Student can demonstrate other acceptable extenuating circumstances and provide documentation to support the request for exemption.

Please Note: Exemption requests submitted to University Housing do not guarantee approval and must be accompanied by the appropriate documentation required to complete your request.

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

• May 1st for summer semester first enrollment

• July 1st for fall semester first enrollment

• November 3rd for spring semester first enrollment

Full Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast Name

Student A#*

Type as "A0000000"

Area of Study at WVSU (Major)*

EX. Criminal Justice

Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear

Student E-mail*

Semester Requesting Exemption*

Summer 2025Fall 2025Spring 2026

Cell Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number

County of Residence*

Home Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Gender (Optional)

MaleFemaleChoose not to answer

Reason for Housing Exemption Request:*

Residing with parent(s) within 50-mile radius (additional information required, i.e. proof of residency)You are registered for all online classes.21 years of age or older or will be by the first day of classes. (Attach a picture of your state ID/drivers license.)You are a veteran or still serving in the U.S. Armed Services.You are married. (A copy of the marriage certificate will accompany my application.)You are the parent or legal guardian of a child. (A copy of the birth certificate(s) must be submitted as documentation.)A financial circumstance which would hinder your ability to reside on campus. Students may be released from their licensing agreement, if the appeals committee determines that the student's financial circumstances hinder the student's ability to live on campus. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis through an examination of the student's financial aid.A health circumstance which would hinder your ability to reside on campus, e.g. if you require a special Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation that is not available on campus.Other (additional information required please type a detailed explanation of why you are requesting an exemption)

Please use this section to provide further justification for your request, particularly if you selected “other” as one of your reasons. *

Please upload all supporting documentation to better assist with your exemption request.

Browse Files

By signing below, I affirm and understand the WVSU residency requirement stated above. Furthermore, I am communicating my intent to forfeit any request to be assigned to a space in the residence halls. I understand that if I provide any false information in regards to my request that the University reserves the right to access applicable charges to my account.

Signature*

For additional information regarding requests for exemption, contact the Office of Housing and Residence Life at 304-766-5707 or by email at reslife@wvstateu.edu .