Residency Requirements

The University of North Carolina 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 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 (Belk, Pine, Oak, 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.

Residents in Courtyard Apartments are not obligated to purchase a meal plan, but it is strongly recommended that they do so. This is due to each apartment having fully functional kitchens.

Housing & Residence Life, Auxiliary & Business Services and Aramark collaborate closely with students to handle concerns such as housing and dietary restriction accommodations.

Freshman & Sophomore Residency Regulation

Contract Release or Exemption

Students have the right to petition for a contract 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 approval. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The Petition for Exemption process is reserved for students who meet specified qualifications and seek to have their dining or residency requirements waived. For use by incoming freshmen and transfer students, this should be completed before signing a housing contract.

The Petition for Contract Release process is for incoming and/or current residential students who have signed a housing contract and is reserved for students who have experienced a significant and unforeseen change after the contract was signed that prevents them from fulfilling their contractual obligation.

  • Deadlines for submitting a Petition for Exemption or Petition for Release:
    • July 31 for the fall semester
    • Nov. 30 for the spring semester.
  • 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 cancellation fee based on the timeline below:
    • Fall/Full Academic Year 2026–2027:
      • Submissions prior to June 1 → $525
      • Submissions after June 1 → $1,000 fee
    • Spring Semester:
      • Submissions prior to November 30 → $525
      • Submissions after December 1 → $1,000
  • 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 Housing 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 forty miles of the university (Petition for Exemption only)
  • Other special needs (documentation reviewed on a case-by-case basis). Please include a detailed, descriptive reason, along with any required documentation, to support the request.

Students living within a proscribed (40-mile) radius of the school (see map) will be automatically approved once their housing waiver is submitted, reviewed and approved.

Map with a 40 mile radius centered on Pembroke, NC

To request an exemption or contract release, login to eRezLife (UNCP's Housing Management Software) and fill out the:

Frequently Asked Questions

Attendance during Maymester, summer sessions and summer program(s) at UNCP or at other institutions does 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.

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 Housing & Residence Life office.

Students who meet the residency requirement but do not submit a housing contract or are not approved for exemption from the requirement will be assigned and billed for on-campus housing and dining (if applicable). To fulfill the residency requirement, the student must pay room and meal charges.

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 bound by the freshman and sophomore residency requirement. An off-campus housing contract does not guarantee a Petition for Release will be approved.