Residential Requirement
St. Olaf College takes pride in its status as a residential college. Combining residence hall staff, building inventories, and event programming, St. Olaf residence halls are structured to support student development. During a time when many students are transitioning to the management of their own living space, the on-campus residential experience assists in the development of heightened responsibility and preparedness for life after college through assigned living spaces and programming.
The College does permit students to request an exemption to the residential requirement. Each academic year the eligible exemptions are reviewed.
The following are the approved 2024-2025 academic year College Exemptions:
- 23 years of age or older on or before December 31.
- Resides with parent(s) or guardian at an address within the Northfield School District.
- Parent/Guardian’s address is within the 45-miles radius from the St. Olaf physical address, 1520 St. Olaf Avenue.
- Must have the anticipated graduation Class Year of 2025, 2026, or 2027.
- Student Classification (i.e., Sophomore, Junior, Senior) will not be used for eligibility for Off-Campus housing.
- Student must live with their parents during that academic year.
- Check your eligibility using this map: 30-Mile Radius Eligibility.
- Must have the anticipated graduation Class Year of 2025, 2026, or 2027.
- Have completed all Major or Degree Requirements before the first day of Fall 2024 semester.
- Married student.
- Custodial parent.
Extenuating Circumstances
Indicating that you almost meet or will almost meet one of the approved College Exemptions are not eligible for submission as an extenuating circumstance.
Students may submit evidence of an extenuating circumstance for consideration in the Residential Housing Exemption process.
Campus Support
Students requesting any of the following will not be considered for an extenuating circumstance including but not limited to Disability-related Accommodations; Religious Needs; Financial Aid; or Dining during the Residential Housing Exemption request process.
Please view these resources for additional information on how your on-campus living experience can be supported.
Disability-related reasons will not be considered in the Residential Housing Exemption Request Form. Students with a documented disability must work through the housing accommodations process with the Office of Disability and Access.
Please note: most needs of students with disabilities can be met through on campus housing options.
Religious reasons are reviewed in coordination with College Ministry, and thus will not be considered in the Residential Housing Exemption Request Form. Follow the link below to see on-campus religious resources:
Most students requesting a religious need can be supported through on-campus housing options.
Financial reasons will not be considered during the Residential Housing Exemption process. St. Olaf provides financial aid to meet the financial needs of students. Please follow the link below to learn more about financial aid offered at St. Olaf college.
Meal plan support is not considered in the Residential Housing Exemption Request Form. Most meal needs can be met through on-campus dining services.Students requesting meal plan support must follow the guidelines here:
Housing Exemption Request Form
Timeline
Date | Notes |
---|---|
November 13 | Informational Meeting |
November 15 | Residential Housing Off-Campus Request Form opens on SIS |
December 6 | Request form closes at 11:59 pm |
December 7 | Round 2 Housing Exemption Request Launches |
December 20 | Students receive decisions to their St. Olaf Email accounts |
Janaury 3 | Round 2 Housing Exemption Requests Due |
January 10 | Round 2 Housing Exemption Decisoins Released |
January 11 | Acceptance of Residential Housing Exemptions Approval Date (Round 1 & Round 2) |
March 1 | Students approved for off-campus housing must provide the Residence Life office with their off-campus address and off-campus housing agreement (if applicable) |
Application Process
- Applications go live via SIS on November 15, 2023 and must be submitted by December 6, 2023 by 11:59 pm (CST).
- The system timestamps submissions
- late submission will not be considered.
- Decisions will be announced on/by Wednesday, December 20, 2023 via stolaf.edu email.
- Applications are reviewed, considered and granted/denied on an individual basis.
- Approved exemptions must be accepted by the individual student by Wednesday, January 3, 2024, 11:59 pm via SIS.
- Submissions are timestamped.
- Approved students must provide the following by Friday, March 1, 2024:
- Student not living with parents/guardians must submit a scanned copy of your off-campus housing contract to [email protected].
- If not present within the off-campus housing contract, students must provide an address of the off-campus housing location to [email protected].
- Students who have accepted the Residential Housing Exemption but do not meet the two requirements above will automatically be placed into the regular Returning Student Housing Selection Process. The Residential Housing Exemption extended will be rescinded.
Terms of Agreement
- Approvals are only granted on an academic year basis (no automatic renewal)
- A student provided an exemption may be rescinded if the student’s behavior at the college or off-campus is that which does not positively reflect on the college, e.g. noise complaints, vandalism, mismanagement of alcohol.
- An off-campus housing contract is between the student and the landlord solely.
- Students are responsible for maintaining an accurate physical address with Residence Life and the Registrar’s Office.
- The address is used by the Financial Aid Office
- The address is shared with the Dean of Students
- The address is shared with Northfield City Administration