Undergraduate Two-Year Residency Requirement

Policy Owner: Student Affairs

Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish residency requirements for full-time undergraduate students enrolled at the Melbourne campus, to support their academic success and to encourage their engagement. This policy is based on research on college students nationally that suggests that students who live on campus are more satisfied with their college experience, earn higher grade point averages, and are more likely to graduate than their commuting peers. Residence hall programming also enhances a student’s educational experience by providing the opportunity to be involved in a variety of activities and programs.

Policy Scope

The policy applies to full-time Florida Tech undergraduate students registered for classes at the Melbourne campus.

Policy Statement

All full-time undergraduate students enrolled in classes at the Melbourne campus are required to live in university housing for their first two years.

Students who meet one or more of the following criteria may be exempt from this policy:

1. Have earned 56 or more credits and are at least 20 years of age or older (both conditions must be met for consideration for exemption)
2. Veteran of military service (two years or more)
3. Married
4. Primary caregiver for dependent children
5. 21 years of age or older
6. Reside with immediate family within 50 miles of the Florida Tech campus
7. Participant in a university-approved program, such as an off-campus internship, that requires living outside of the local area (50 miles or more)

Note: Under the policy, an exemption must be reviewed and approved at the start of the academic year or upon admission to apply during that academic year. If residing with immediate family is the basis of the exemption being sought, the student will be required to evidence:

1. the identified immediate family member relationship meets the definition herein under the “Definitions” section,
2. the identified residence of the immediate family member is and has been the primary home of the named family member for at least six months prior to the academic year. To satisfy this expectation, the student may use one of the following means to evidence this fact: a) the address being identified is the address listed on admissions correspondence for at least six months prior to the admission year, b) the property has been used for a homestead exemption for property tax purposes the prior year, c) the prior year’s federal tax filing shows that the identified residence of the immediate family member was listed on the filing, or d) the immediate family member’s Florida state driver’s license or passport issued at least six months prior to the exemption request identifies the location as the family member’s residence.

Students meeting one or more of these exemption criteria may apply for this exception through their admissions counselor at the time of admission or work through the Housing Office at housing@fit.edu. 

Students who do not meet one of the exemption criteria listed above may request a special exemption from the Director of Housing.

Procedures/Guidelines

Housing contracts are an academic year commitment; therefore, the student is required to reside in university housing for the full academic year. This policy is based on the student credit hour status as of the first term of enrollment that academic year. That status, for the purposes of this policy, is not adjusted in the second term of the semester. For example, if a residential student reaches 56 credits at the conclusion of the fall semester, the student must continue to reside in university housing for the spring semester. Students who do not meet the exemption criteria listed in this policy but who wish to request special exemption may email housing@fit.edu. The email should outline the student’s rationale for requesting special consideration.

Definitions

Immediate Family: Parent, stepparent, grandparent, legal guardian, or a sibling over age 21 not also enrolled at Florida Tech

Responsibilities

Students are required to adhere to this policy.

The Office of Housing is responsible for facilitating the housing and exception process in consultation with the Vice President for Student Affairs. 

Enforcement

Students who violate this policy may be assigned a room at the lowest rate for which the student is eligible.