Important!! Applicants in this process should carefully note that the housing contract is binding for a full academic year. The $150 housing deposit is, with the exception of very rare circumstances, forfeited in all early withdrawals throughout the academic year. Please bear in mind that roommate and noise issues are not valid reasons for release from the housing contract. These issues should be brought to the attention of the Residential Life staff (Resident Assistant or Resident Director).

Release from the housing contract is only granted under exceptional circumstances. Release from your contract does not imply any refund. (Students applying for release, however, are notified of refund decisions in the contract disposition letter.) When demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Office of Residential Life, the following have been traditionally acceptable reasons for release from the housing contract:

• Medical: Must provide documentation from an appropriate physician to the Assistant Vice President of Student Health and Wellness that states why it is medically necessary to live off campus or to withdraw from the University. All medical withdrawals must be approved by the Assistant Vice President of Student Health and Wellness before any action on contract release can be taken.
  
• Financial: Must provide documentation which clearly indicates a dramatic change in financial situation which the student could not have been aware of at the time of housing application submission. Successful releases have been secured as a result of documentation from the Office of Financial Aid, a banker, or an accountant. A letter from parents or the ability to lease off campus in a less expensive apartment (where Public Safety staff, student activities, freedom of room changes, and Residential Life staff are unavailable) are not considered appropriate and sufficient documentation.
  
• Withdrawal: Must provide information from the Registrar to indicate withdrawal from all courses. This type of release does not always carry a refund of either the room reservation or the housing deposit, or any associated housing charges.
  
• Transfer: Must provide a copy of an acceptance letter from another institution. This type of release usually results in no refunds; however, no new bills are generated if a student completes the contract release form and appropriately checks out of housing by the end of a semester.
  
• Marriage/Partnership: Must provide a copy of a marriage license or a Domestic Partnership agreement (available from the City of Hartford).
  
• Part-time Status: Must provide documentation from the Registrar that indicates part-time status (11.5 credits or less). Permission to remain on campus as a part-time student is sometimes granted on a space-available basis after all full-time students have been housed.

The Housing Contract Release Committee reviews all petitions for release from the Housing Contract. This committee meets once per week during the academic year, and decisions are usually sent to the address requested during the following week.

All petitions must be complete and include all necessary documentation. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Standard housing refunds, which pertain to actual housing charges (not deposits) are processed in accordance with the University tuition refund policy, which is listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Please e-mail us for more information, or if you have specific questions about the Housing Contract Release process.