Below is a roundup of the various policies pertaining to student living at Alvernia University. If you have a question about something that isn't listed here, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact the Office of Residence Life at reslife@alvernia.edu.
Four-Year Residency Requirement
Beginning with students entering in 2024-25 academic year there is a four-year residency requirement at Alvernia University.
We are delighted to welcome you to our vibrant academic community and are pleased to offer you housing in our on-campus residence for the upcoming academic years. Please carefully review the terms and conditions outlined in this housing contract.
Alvernia University (“the University”) recognizes the critical role that a supportive living environment plays in the overall success and well-being of its students. In an effort to enhance the academic and personal growth of our students, the University adheres to a four-year housing agreement for eligible students. University-owned residence hall housing is guaranteed to first-year students who participate in established housing processes, assuring that deadlines are met. University-owned residence halls for all remaining eligible students are based on the availability of spaces.
Returning students may seek an exemption from the four-year housing requirement by submitting the Petition to Commute Form to the Office of Residence Life. The form should include a detailed explanation of the reason for the request and any supporting documentation.
Incoming first-year students should indicate their request to commute via their incoming application to Alvernia.
Petition to Commute for Incoming New and Transfer Students
Incoming new students will submit their request to commute through their New Student Checklist found in their application portal. Incoming new students who meet the following criteria may be exempt from the housing requirements:
- Housing Requirement Exemptions
- Commuter student: Residing with parent(s) or relative, within 40-mile radius of campus
- Off-campus/Commuter student: Residing in own residence (apartment or home on own, with roommate(s) or with spouse/significant other), within a 40-mile radius of campus
- Responsible for dependent child
- Age 23 or older
- Married
- Completed 90 or more academic credits
- Need for special accommodations for medical reasons that Alvernia is unable to meet
Petition to Commute for Returning Students
- Returning students should submit their petition to commute for the upcoming academic year via the ARC Portal Petition to Commute Form. A petition does not guarantee approval to live off campus. Students must meet the requirements to receive approval.
- All returning students requesting an exemption from the residential requirement must complete this petition and provide required documentation and will subsequently be notified of the University’s decision. Petitions to Commute must be submitted via this ARC Portal by April 5.
- Petitions to commute for returning students are considered for the following reasons:
- Reasons Considered for Commuting
- Commuter student: Residing with parent(s) or relative, within 40-mile radius of campus: Choosing this option will likely have Financial Aid Consequences. Please consult with SFS (SFS@alvernia.edu) before choosing this option. (Required Information: Must provide documentation and off-campus address)
- Off-campus/Commuter student: Residing in own residence (apartment or home on own, with roommate(s) or with spouse/significant other), within a 40-mile radius of campus: Choosing this option will likely have Financial Aid Consequences. Please consult with SFS (SFS@alvernia.edu) before choosing this option. (Required Information: Must provide documentation and off-campus address)
- Responsible for dependent child: (Required Information: Must provide documentation)
- Age 23 or older (this will be verified)
- Married (Required Information: Must provide documentation)
- Completed 90 or more academic credits
- Need for special accommodations for medical reasons that Alvernia is unable to meet: (Required Information: Student must provide approval from a meeting with the Director of Accessibility Services to receive permission to be granted the Petition to Commute. Contact that office at Accessibility.services@alvernia.edu before you submit this release request.)
- Change in financial status since the signing of the housing contract: (If you choose this option, you will need to provide documentation regarding changes in your family’s financial circumstances that make affording on-campus housing difficult, such as a job loss, change of income, medical issues, additional individuals added to the household who may now be your family’s financial responsibility. Please provide a detailed explanation of your request for our office to review and decide on your request. Students should submit their documentation ASAP.)
- Will no longer be enrolled as a full-time student. (Please note ORL will verify this information)
- Will become an AU Online student (Please note ORL will verify this information)
- Graduating (will need to indicate intended graduation date. Please note ORL will verify this information)
- Participation in an Alvernia University academic experience (study abroad, field placement, etc.)
If you believe you have a reason other than what is listed here, please provide documentation and an explanation.
Requests to be Released from Housing Contract (For Students Living on Campus)
By creating a housing application in ARC, you have signed and agreed to live on campus with housing and meal charges for the entire academic year. If your circumstances have changed and you meet the requirements, please complete the Housing Release Request Form in your ARC account. (Log into the ARC system via the Alvernia logins page. Once there, in the left column navigate to Forms, and Housing Release Request.)
- Valid Reasons to be Released from a Housing Contract
Releases are only approved for these reasons:
- Will no longer be enrolled as a full-time student. (Please note ORL will verify this information.)
- Will become an AU Online student. (Please note ORL will verify this information.)
- Need for special accommodations for medical reasons that Alvernia is unable to meet. (Required Information: Student must provide approval from a meet with the Director of Accessibility Services to receive permission to be released. Contact that office: accessibility.services@alvernia.edu before you submit release request.)
- University-approved student teaching experience further than 20 miles from campus. (Required Information: must provide placement name and location)
- University-approved OT/PT/Nursing internship further than 20 miles from campus. (Required Information: must provide placement name and location)
- University-approved study abroad or off-campus academic program. (Required Information: must provide placement name and location)
- Change in marital status
- Birth/acquirement of a dependent
- Change in financial status since signing of the housing contract. (If you choose this option, you will need to provide documentation to Student Financial Services regarding changes in your family’s financial circumstances that make affording on campus housing difficult, such as a job loss, change of income, medical issues or additional individuals added to the household who may now be your family’s financial responsibility. Please provide a detailed explanation of your request for SFS review and decide on your request. Students should submit their documentation ASAP to Student Financial Services at SFS@alvernia.edu).
- How to Complete the Request
If you believe you are eligible for a release from your housing contract based on the information above, you may proceed to complete the request:
- Log into the ARC system via the Alvernia logins page.
- Once there, in the left column navigate to Forms, and Housing Release Request.
- Complete the Housing Release Request Form prompts and choose your reason.
- Choose Today as your date to be release.
- Complete all prompts and click Submit.
- If you chose “Change in financial status since signing of housing contract” as your reason for release you must submit the appropriate documentation to SFS as described above and in the Release Request Form as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing.
- The ORL will receive your request and distribute it to the appropriate offices for approval. We are committed to providing you with a decision or an update within five business days of your request.
- If you believe you are eligible for a release from your housing contract based on reasons other than listed above, please email ResLife@alvernia.edu and explain your situation and your reasons for requesting a release. You will be contacted by the Housing Operations Assistant to discuss your request.
Room Change Policy
Although we try to accommodate student housing preferences, occasionally our residents will find themselves unhappy with their room assignment. While our goal in the Office of Residence Life is to provide our residents with developmental opportunities in all capacities, we understand that sometimes a room change is warranted.
- Beginning of Each Semester
At the start of each semester, there is a room freeze period during the first two weeks of each semester when students are not permitted to change rooms. This is for many reasons, including allowing our RA team to identify students who have not checked in, to allow for late applicants to be housed, and other reasons.
After the room freeze period, students can begin to request a change. If a student is having a roommate conflict, we value conflict resolution as the first step to solving the conflicts. The RA will arrange mediation and the Graduate Hall Director or Area Coordinator may help in this process as well. Once appropriate mediation has occurred (with the RA and the GHD/AC) and a resident still would like to request a room change, they may do so through this form.- Ending of the Fall Semester
The Office of Residence Life recognizes that at the end of the fall semester some students may wish to change rooms for the spring. The Office of Residence Life is working to establish a process that allows for these requests to be made and facilitated so that there is limited disruption during the closing weeks of the semester. We will update this page when that process has been completed.
Meal Plan Policy (This policy is being revised for the 2024-25 academic year. Please check back after June 1 for the new policy.)
All resident students are required to participate in the University’s food service program. All freshman residents must participate in the full 19-meal plan or the 14-meal plan during their first year. The student is allowed to change their meal plan beginning on the first day of classes of each semester and ending by the last day of the drop/add period. Commuter students and staff may purchase a commuter meal plan or pay cash.
- Students Agree to the Following Conditions
- Payment of the appropriate board fee
- Presentation of a valid Alvernia identification (ID) card unless it is a cash transaction
- Participation in the plan is not transferable
- No discounts or refunds are given for meals missed and there is no carryover from one semester to the next
- Students withdrawing or moving out of a university residence are entitled to a prorated refund (minus a one-week deposit)
A student who is ill and unable to come to the Dining Hall for meals may have a friend pick up a sick tray for them at the Dining Hall. A note from the Health & Wellness Center and the student’s ID card are required.If a school activity prohibits the student from attending a meal(s), the dining staff will pack a meal. Please have the department head or coach make a request at least two days in advance with the Dining Manager. ID will be needed when the order is placed. Students who miss a meal(s) because of participation in off-campus athletics competition will be given appropriate meal money or will be provided with a meal before returning to campus.
- Special Dietary Needs / Medical and Religious Exemptions
Students with special dietary needs or diets related to religious beliefs should consult with the Food Service Director. All efforts will be made to meet the special needs of the students. If after meeting with dining services, there are medical or religious factors that still cannot be accommodated, a student can request a meal plan exemption.
For medical meal plan exemption request, the student should consult with the Our Accessibility Services Director at accessibility.services@alvernia.edu who may then consult with the Director of Health and Wellness. The Director of Accessibility Services will communicate with the Housing Operations Assistant if a meal plan request has been granted.
For religious or other meal plan exemption requests, the student should send a detailed email and any other documentation to ResLife@alvernia.edu explaining:
- the nature of the request
- the plan for providing food for themselves
The Housing Operations Assistant will be in touch with the student within five business days.
