Undergraduate housing policies

Returning Students

Room Draw is the process in which students select their housing assignments and roommates for next year. Every student is assigned a participation selection time based on their class standing and GPA. During the week of Room Draw students will have the opportunity to select their buildings and room spaces for next year, and spaces will be available on a first come first serve basis.

Studying Away in the Fall Semester?

Students who are studying away in the fall semester are assigned a study away housing assignment for the semester. They are then contacted in November by Residence Life and Housing, via their Redlands email account, to complete the Return to Housing form located on their MyRedlands Housing Portal. This is where students will indicate their housing preferences for their return the following semester, including room size, community location, and if there are any roommate requests to consider. While placement is based on availability and, therefore, cannot be guaranteed, we try our best to meet student preferences and requests.

Housing applications and forms are located in the MyRedlands housing portal.

Residential Requirement

The University is a residential campus, and all students are required to live on-campus for the duration of their undergraduate experience. The University remains committed to the residential experience and, therefore, requires most undergraduate students to live on campus. It is for these reasons, the only petitions reviewed for off-campus status are those that have met one of the exemptions below. 

Residential Requirement Exemption Criteria

• the student consistently resides with a parent/ legal guardian within 30 miles of campus at all times; 
• the student, per the University Registrar, is attending part-time (not applicable for May Term);
• the student is younger than 16 or 23 years of age and older by Fall move in day; 
• the student is legally married, in a registered domestic partnership, or has a dependent

Off-Campus Petition Process

A student who would like to live off-campus at any point during the following academic year must submit an Off Campus Petition Form.

The Off Campus Committee reviews all petitions and meets four times a year, generally on the second Friday of the month. Completed petitions should be received no later than the first Friday of the month. Petitions will not be considered at any other time.

In other words, to live off campus during the fall semester, spring semester, May Term, returning from abroad or returning from a Leave of Absence, a student must submit their petition by the first Friday of the published months.

If a student fails to submit a petition by the deadline or their petition is denied, the student will be financially responsible for future room and board fees, whether or not they choose to live on-campus and/or use the meal plan. 

Under no circumstance should a student commit, in any way, to live off-campus without an approved exemption to the University’s residential requirement. Students will not be exempt should they choose to sign a lease despite the absence of prior approval. 

Falsification of information or documentation will result in a referral to the Office of Community Standards.

Petition Review Months

• March (All Students)
• June (Incoming Students Only)
• July (Incoming Students Only)
• December (Incoming Students Only)

Members of the Off Campus Committe Include:

• Admissions Office
• Budget Office
• Student Financial Services
• Residence Life and Housing

Apply here for off-campus housing

Students who live in our communities agree with, are responsible for knowing, and will abide by our Housing License and Meal Plan Agreement.

To learn more about the overarching policies and values governing the University of Redlands, please consult the Code of Community Standards.

Learn more about the organizational house handbook

Learn more about the roommate agreement

No. A student who would like to live off-campus at any point during the following academic year must submit an Off Campus Petition Form for the Off Campus Committee to review. 

For a student petitioning for consistently resides with a parent/ legal guardian within 30 miles of campus at all times:

• Utility bill with parent / legal guardian's name on it.
• Legal guardianship paperwork

For a student petitioning for attending part-time (not applicable for May Term):

• No documentation needed, Registrar's Office will provide information.

For a student petitioning for younger than 16, or 23 years of age or older by Fall move in day:

• No documentation needed, Registrar's Office will provide information.

For student petitioning for legally married, in a registered domestic partnership, or has a dependent:

• Copy of marriage certificate.
• Copy of registered domestic partnership.
• Copy of dependent birth certificate.

When you receive off campus approval from the Off Campus Committee, you will continue to be exempt from the residential living requirement for the duration of your undergraduate program, provided you remain in good standing with the University and you continue to meet the exemption criteria you petitioned for.

Should your approval circumstances change, you must communicate that information in advance for additional consideration of your off-campus approval status.

Yes you can! Send an email to Residence Life and Housing (rlh@redlands.edu) with your interest to live on campus.

Yes. All students are required to have a meal plan and can make changes to their plan through the first Friday of classes each semester. To review meal plan options and eligibility please review Harvest Table's website here.

No. Decisions made by the Off Campus Committee are final. Should a student receive a denial on their off campus petition and want their off campus petition to be considered they can apply for the next off campus review round.

The off campus petition can be found on your Housing Intention Form.