The University of North Carolina at Pembroke works to ensure that our students feel supported and engaged in all aspects of their experience, including, but not limited to, their room and board arrangements. We acknowledge the correlation between supportive, on-campus living and student participation, and we value the positive impact this correlation has on retention, success, and graduation rates.
The academic achievement of our students is a top priority on our campus, and student retention and engagement are essential to achieving this mission. According to research, students living in university-provided housing do better academically and are more satisfied with their college experience than those students who commute or live off-campus.
First- and second-year students are required to live on campus as part of our freshman and sophomore residency requirements. Those residing in a residence hall are required to hold a meal plan. To ensure access to well-balanced meals prepared in a healthy environment, a meal plan is required for residents in the residence halls (Pine, Oak, Belk, North and Cypress). Kitchens provided in these communities are for occasional and communal needs only and are not equipped to provide meal preparation for individual students. Because they have fully functional kitchens, our on-campus apartment residents are not obligated to purchase a meal plan, but it is strongly recommended that they do so.
Housing & Residence Life, Auxiliary & Business Services, and Sodexo collaborate closely with students to handle concerns such as housing and dietary restriction accommodations.
Click to view the freshman and sophomore residency regulation or exemption and release process.
Petition for Release or Exemption
Students have the right to petition for a release or exemption from the on-campus residency and/or meal plan requirement. Petitions must be reviewed by the review committee and are not guaranteed to be approved. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The Petition for Exemption process is reserved for students who meet specified qualifications to waive their dining or residency requirement. For use by incoming freshmen and incoming transfer students, this should be completed before signing a housing contract.
The Petition for Release process is for incoming and/or current residential students who have signed either a housing or dining contract and is reserved for students who have a significant and unforeseen change that occurred after the contract was signed which prevents them from fulfilling their contractual obligation.
- Deadlines for submitting a Petition for Exemption or Petition for Release: June 30 for fall semester & Nov. 30 for spring semester.
- A Petition for Exemption or Release, solely for the purpose of living in off-campus housing, or a Petition for Release solely to commute from home, will not be approved.
- Any approved petitions are subject to the university’s refund policy and cancellation fees and could be prorated based on usage.
- Release from your housing contract will result in a $525 cancellation fee.
- A release or exemption is only applicable for the academic year for which you request and must be resubmitted each academic year.
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Release or Exemption Reasons
- Married student living with spouse (attach copy of marriage license)
- Parent or guardian with legal custody of minor children (attach birth certificate or documentation)
- Over 21 years of age or will be before August 1 (Petition for Exemption only)
- Veteran (attach official documentation/proof)
- Enrolled in an academic program that is offered fully online
- Living with parent(s) or legal guardian within twenty miles of the school (see next section for map) AND within the state of North Carolina (Petition for Exemption only)
- Other special need (documentation reviewed on a case-by-case basis.) Please include a detailed, descriptive reason plus any needed documentation to support the request.
Most dining requests will fall under the special need category.
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20-Mile Radius Map
Students living within a proscribed (20-mile) radius of the school (see map) will be automatically approved once their housing waiver is submitted, reviewed, and approved.
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Submitting a Petition for Exemption or Release
Students have the right to petition for a release or exemption from the on-campus residency and/or meal plan requirement. Petitions must be reviewed by the review committee and are not guaranteed to be approved. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Deadlines for submitting a Petition for Exemption or a Petition for Release are: June 30 for fall semester & Nov. 30 for spring semester.
To request an exemption or release, login to eRzeLife (UNCP's Housing Management Software) and fill out the Housing Exemption or Release application.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does attendance in Maymester, summer or summer programs at UNCP or other institutions apply toward the on-campus requirement?
Attendance during Maymester, summer sessions and summer program(s) at UNCP or at other institutions do not apply toward the fulfillment of this requirement.
For purposes of this requirement, a freshman or sophomore student is defined as any student (incoming or transfer) who will not be 21 years of age prior to August 1 of the initial enrollment year and who is registered for a course load of 6 credit hours or more.
A student who transfers to UNCP during the spring semester with fewer than 12 hours of credit and falling within the age and course load requirements listed above will be subject to these guidelines as well. AP college dual enrollment credits will not apply toward the fulfillment of this requirement.
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Can I be exempt from the freshman and sophomore residency requirement?
Students may petition to be exempt from the housing or dining requirement if they meet specific criteria (documentation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
A student must complete a Petition for Exemption form and submit it to the office of Housing & Residence Life.
Deadline to submit a Petition for Exemption:
- June 30 for students beginning in fall
- Nov. 30 for students beginning in spring
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What if I don’t apply for housing?
Students who meet the residency requirement but do not submit a housing contract or are not approved to be exempt from the requirement will be assigned and billed for on-campus housing and dining (if applicable). To fulfill the residency requirement, the student will be required to pay room and meal charges.
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Once I have signed a housing contract, can I cancel at any time?
Once you have signed a housing contract, you are obligated to the terms and conditions of that contract. If you meet certain criteria outlined in our guidelines, you could submit a Petition for Release form, and your case will be reviewed by the review committee.
You should not sign an off-campus housing contract if you have already signed an on-campus housing contract or if you are bounded by the freshman and sophomore residency requirement. A Petition for Release to move off-campus will not be approved.