Residency Requirements and Exemption Requests

Eastern Kentucky University Residency Requirement 

All single, full-time, undergraduate students under the age of 21, having fewer than 60 hours, or less than four academic semesters living on campus, are required to live in university Residence Hall facilities.

An exception is made for students residing with their parents in the parents’ primary residence within 50 miles of the Richmond campus as determined by an official state map and must have an approved commuter form on file in the Housing & Residence Life office to be eligible to commute. Full-time students must be 21 years of age, have completed 60 hours prior to the first day of class of any given semester or lived in campus housing for four academic semesters to live off-campus for that semester. Students failing to meet this requirement will be assessed the lowest-price residence hall fee and board fees where appropriate.

Please be advised that only housing arrangements contracted through the Office of Housing & Residence Life through the office's online application will be considered an on-campus living assignment for the purpose of fulfilling the University’s residency requirement.

If you DO meet the exception listed above (living with parents), a Commuter form must be completed to request the exception.

IF YOU DO NOT MEET THE UNIVERSITY’S RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR OFF-CAMPUS LIVING, BUT WISH TO LIVE OFF-CAMPUS, YOU MUST ALSO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STEPS BY JULY 15 TO PREVENT THE ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING CHARGES. COMPLETING THE FORMS DOES NOT GUARANTEE A EXCEPTION FROM THE UNIVERSITY’S RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.

1. Both the exemption/contract release and Commuter Form are now located in your housing portal.
2. Log into your portal and click on "request more info".
3. Download the appropriate form, complete the form and upload it making sure to include any relevant information and supporting documentation.

Until an exemption is approved, housing charges will be assessed at the lowest-price residence hall fee and board fees where appropriate. 

All paperwork and supporting documentation must be received before classes begin. Requests submitted after the commencement of classes, if approved, will be charged a processing fee to file completed paperwork.

Completed forms and relevant information should be either uploaded through your housing portal or scanned and emailed to housing@eku.edu. As a last resort, they may be mailed to the Office of Housing & Residence Life.

EKU Housing

Whitlock CPO 51 - Room 552
Eastern Kentucky University
521 Lancaster Ave.
Richmond, KY 40475 - Fax (859) 622-8384

Falsification of information subjects the student to applicable fees and/or disciplinary procedures. Regardless of age, certain regulations apply in residence halls. The University reserves the right not to contract with persons who are currently violating the terms and conditions of a housing contract, who have previously violated the terms and conditions of a housing contract, who have violated University rules or regulations, or who have a past due balance with the University.