Policy for Living Off Campus

The College firmly believes that the residential experience provided on campus supports a strong academic program and a vibrant social/service community, promotes the critical 21st century skills of communication and collaboration, and best prepares students for the realities of “real world” living.

The Residence Life professional staff will review all applications and determine those to be approved according to the following guidelines: 

• Residing with their parents, guardians, or spouses as a permanent address listed with the college within 35 miles of Ashland. This must be verified by the parent or guardian 
• 23 years of age or older; part-time students with 11 or fewer semester hours 
• Have received a special waiver granted by the Office of Disability Support & Services for those students who have special medical or personal considerations, which must be accommodated (documentation is required) 
• Due to capacity constraints, there will be times when the College will permit other students to move off campus through Off Campus Waivers. When this occurs, students will be selected based on class seniority and will be regulated by the Office of Residence Life.

Important Policy Details

• In accordance with College Policy, we expect all students to live on campus each year with a limited number of exceptions.
• Students may not sign off-campus leases without an approved off-campus waiver for the following academic year. Students who violate this College policy will be billed the full charge of on-campus housing and held accountable for the entire charge.
• Students who received an off-campus waiver in the past must reapply annually and are not necessarily guaranteed continued approval in subsequent years.
• There is no appeals process after an application has been considered.

Off-Campus Waiver Process

Due to capacity constraints, there will be times when the College will permit students other than traditional commuters to move off campus.

Students who do not fall within the pre-approved commuting categories noted later below but want to be considered for off-campus living are required to go through the off-campus waiver process. In order for an off-campus waiver application to be considered, students must attend an information session. Attendance will be taken, and all will be done over Zoom. Registration links will be available on the Buzz after Thanksgiving break.

Off-campus waiver applications will be available through eRezLife under the Non-Residential section. Students who apply and qualify for a waiver will be selected based on class seniority.

If a student is approved for an Off-Campus Waiver, they will need to send Residence Life a copy of their off-campus lease to be added to the student’s files. If a lease is not submitted, the off-campus waiver approval will be revoked, and the student will be charged full room and board fees as listed on the RMC website.

In accordance with College policy, students who sign a lease without going through the off-campus waiver process will be required to move into on-campus housing and charged full room and board fees. Again, there is no appeal process for students who are not approved for an off-campus waiver.

Traditional commuters

RMC allows these students to live off campus without going through the Off-Campus Waiver process:

• Students living within 35 miles of the College with a parent, guardian, or spouse with a signed form from a parent/guardian. If a signed form is not provided, the student will not be approved to live off-campus.
• Students who are older than 23 at the start of the academic year.
• Students who are enrolled part-time with verification from the Registrar’s Office.

Students who fall within one of these categories will be approved to live off-campus after completing a Non-Residential housing application on eRezLife. Students who do not provide RMC accurate information on their forms will be charged full room and board fees as listed on the RMC website. There is no appeal process.

Additional emails will be sent out in December with reminders about information sessions and deadlines. If you have any questions about this process, please be sure to attend an information session. You can also contact ResidenceLife@rmc.edu with questions.