Residential Requirements

Westminster College requires all admitted degree-seeking students with freshman, sophomore, or junior academic standing at the start of the academic year to reside in College-owned housing, including residence halls, fraternity houses, sorority floors, college-owned houses, apartments, or townhouses.
First-year students are assigned to housing within the Churchill Quadrangle (Gage, Marquess, Rice, Scott, and Sloss Halls).

Returning students may participate in the annual housing selection process and apply for housing in the Triangle residences (Wetterau, Sweazey, and Weigle), College apartments, or townhouses.

College apartments and townhouses are intended primarily for upper-class students. Priority for apartment and townhouse assignments is given to students who have earned 54 or more credit hours at the time of housing selection.

Students with fewer than 54 credit hours who wish to live in an apartment or townhouse may be placed on a waiting list. Placement from the waiting list is dependent upon available space and housing demand. Students on the waiting list may be competing for available spaces with newly admitted transfer students who have upper-class standing.

When assigning available apartment and townhouse spaces from the waiting list (which takes place in the summer), priority will generally be given in the following order:

• Students with approved housing accommodations that require a specific housing environment.
• Students based on earned credit hours, with higher credit totals receiving priority consideration.

The Office of Residential Life reserves the right to make housing assignments and reassignments based on occupancy needs, approved accommodations, facility availability, and the overall needs of the residential community.

Single room buyouts of double rooms may be available on a limited basis depending on occupancy and space availability. A single room buyout allows a student to occupy a double room without a roommate for an additional housing charge.

Single room buyouts are approved on a space-available basis and may be granted for a semester or academic year, depending on housing availability and institutional needs. Approval of a single room buyout is not guaranteed.

The College reserves the right to assign a roommate, relocate a student, or discontinue a single room buyout if occupancy demands, enrollment changes, approved accommodations, or other housing needs require the use of available bed spaces.

Students approved for a single room buyout are responsible for the applicable housing charges outlined in the Room and Board Agreement.

Students seeking a single room as a housing accommodation due to a documented medical, psychological, or disability-related need should complete the Request for Special Housing Accommodation process. Accommodation requests are reviewed separately from the single room buyout process and are evaluated on an individualized basis.

Students seeking an exception to the residency requirement must submit a request for review. Access the Request for an Exception to the Residency Requirement through MyWC under Student E-Forms. Housing exemptions are granted for a maximum of one academic year and do not automatically renew. Students who wish to continue living off campus must submit a new request each academic year. Previous approval of a housing exemption does not guarantee future approval.

Exceptions may be considered for students who:

• Live with a parent or legal guardian and commute from within 30 miles of Westminster College.
• Will be 22 years of age or older prior to the first day of classes.
• Have earned senior status (88 or more credit hours) prior to the first day of classes.
• Are married.
• Are the primary caregiver of a child.
• Are participating in student teaching.
• Have an approved off-campus internship.
• Have documented medical circumstances.
• Have another verifiable reason that warrants consideration.

Students requesting an exemption may be asked to provide additional documentation to support their request. Documentation may include written statements, medical documentation, internship information, or other materials relevant to the request.

Housing exemption requests are reviewed by the Housing Review Board. Approval is not guaranteed and is based on the information provided, available housing inventory, institutional needs, and the student's individual circumstances.

Students are permitted one housing exemption request and one appeal per academic year. Students whose request is denied may submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services within seven (7) days of receiving their decision. Appeal decisions are final.

Students who are approved to live off campus are responsible for providing their local address to the Office of Residential Life. Failure to provide a local address may result in continued housing charges until the address is received.

Students who reside off campus without receiving an approved exemption may be responsible for applicable housing charges and may be subject to additional administrative or conduct action.

All students residing in a College-owned residential facility, including the Quadrangle, Triangle, apartments, and townhouses, are required to participate in a College meal plan.

Meal plan requirements vary based on housing assignment and student classification. First-time, full-time students (freshmen) are required to participate in the College's largest meal plan. Students residing in traditional residence halls are required to maintain the minimum meal plan designated for their housing assignment. Students residing in apartments, townhouses, fraternity houses, or other eligible residential facilities may qualify for reduced meal plan requirements.

Students may request meal plan changes through MyWC. Meal plan selections and changes must be completed by published deadlines. Requests to reduce a meal plan after the census date (seven days after the start of classes) will generally not be approved. Students may increase their meal plan at any time during the semester.

Students approved to live off campus are not required to participate in a College meal plan unless otherwise specified by a housing, organizational, or contractual obligation.

Additional information regarding meal plan options, rates, dining locations, and dining policies can be found on the Dining Services webpage.

Westminster College recognizes that some students may have documented medical, psychological, or disability-related needs that impact their residential living environment and may require housing accommodations.

Students requesting a housing accommodation must complete the Request for Special Housing Accommodations form available in MyWC under Student E-Forms. Students should submit requests as early as possible to allow sufficient time for review and consideration prior to housing assignments being finalized.

The Office of Residential Life reviews all housing accommodation requests on an individualized basis and may consult with appropriate College officials, including the Wellness Center, as necessary to evaluate accommodation requests. Approval is based on the documentation provided, the nature of the request, the availability of appropriate housing options, and whether the requested accommodation is reasonable within the residential environment.

Submission of documentation does not guarantee approval of a specific housing assignment, room type, building placement, roommate, or accommodation.

Priority Deadlines

New Students

• June 1 for consideration prior to fall housing assignments.
• December 1 for consideration prior to spring housing assignments.

Continuing Students

• February 1 for consideration before the housing selection process for the upcoming academic year.

Requests submitted after the priority deadline will still be reviewed; however, accommodation options may be limited based on available housing inventory and assignment timelines.

Required Documentation

Students must submit a personal statement and supporting documentation from a licensed healthcare provider, mental health professional, or other qualified clinician familiar with the student's condition. Documentation requirements and submission instructions are available within the Request for Special Housing Accommodations form.

The College reserves the right to request additional information or clarification when necessary to fully evaluate a request.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

Students requesting approval for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) must complete the housing accommodation process and submit any additional documentation required for ESA consideration. Information regarding ESA requirements can be found under the Pets and ESA Policy section.

Access the Request for Special Housing Accommodations form through MyWC under Student E-Forms. Students requesting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) should also review the Pets and ESA Policy section of the Residential Policies webpage for additional required forms, documentation, and procedures.

Students residing in College housing are required to review, complete, and abide by the terms and conditions of the Room and Board Agreement. The agreement outlines important information regarding housing eligibility, occupancy expectations, meal plan requirements, financial obligations, housing policies, and the rights and responsibilities of residential students.

Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the contents of the Room and Board Agreement and complying with all applicable housing policies and procedures. Residence in College housing is contingent upon adherence to the terms of the agreement and all College policies.

The Room and Board Agreement is considered a binding agreement for the period specified within the contract and remains in effect unless otherwise modified or approved by the College.

The 2026-2027 Room & Board Agreement will be posted prior to Fall 2026 move-in.