Off-campus Selection & Approval

The following students may request exception to the residency policy by completing a Request for Exception to the Residency Policy, but must do so no later than Wednesday, February 18:

1. Students living with parents whose full-time, permanent residence is in or very near Mount Vernon.
2. Married students.
3. Students with one or more dependent children.
4. Students who have completed eight semesters in residence at Cornell College.
5. Students who are 24 years of age or older by September 1, 2009.
6. Students with special medical or dietary needs, as verified by a doctor’s completion of the Documentation of Medical/Psychological Conditions form and recommended by the Director of Student Health Services or the Director of Counseling.

All exceptions to the residency policy must be requested through the Residence Life Office by Wednesday, February 18, 2009. Eligible students who do not submit a request by the deadline will be expected to live on-campus for the entire 2009-10 academic year. Exceptions to the residency requirement are subject to annual renewal.

Date: Monday, February 16, through Wednesday, February 18
Time: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Location: Residence Life Office, Ebersole Center
Questions: Contact the Residence Life Office at x4113

As a residential college, Cornell requires students to live in campus housing. Each year, however, the Dean of Students allows a portion of the senior class to live off-campus through participation in a lottery. This number depends on a variety of factors including students permitted to live off-campus for reasons listed above, students participating in off-campus studies and projected enrollment for the next academic year. For 2009-10, we anticipate giving up to 10% of next year's Senior class the opportunity to live off-campus through the lottery.

To be eligible to participate, students must be in their sixth semester at Cornell. Transfer students will be given credit for semesters at previous institutions. Those individuals that will be seniors next fall who will be on off-campus trips first or second semester can apply for the off campus lottery. This is not a first come, first served system, therefore, drawing on Monday morning does not increase a student's chances of being permitted to live off-campus. Students with questions about their eligibility should check with the Residence Life Office prior to participation in the lottery.

Students signing up for the lottery have the choice of signing up as an individual or two, three or four eligible students as a group (see below).

Important Notices:

• Students who are granted off-campus through the lottery will be required to participate in a “Good Neighbor” program. Details will be provided in the off-campus confirmation email.
• Students who live off-campus through the lottery are still required to participate in the College meal plan (minimum 7 meals per week).
• Living off-campus may affect your eligibility for student financial assistance (see below).

Students who participate in the lottery will be notified of their off-campus status on Friday, February 20. Students are advised not to sign a lease until they obtain written authorization from the College to live off-campus.

Group Drawing Information
Requirements to draw as a group:

1. All members of the group must be eligible for the Off-Campus Housing Lottery (see above).
2. Only one number will be drawn for the group.
3. The members of the group must decide who will draw the number and sign the Off-Campus Housing Lottery Group Form giving permission to that group member to draw the group's number.
4. Depending on the number drawn, all those signing up together as a group will be either granted or denied permission to live off-campus.
5. No more than four (4) eligible students per group.

From the Financial Assistance Office:
Students who choose to live off-campus will have their institutional, need based, financial aid adjusted proportionally to their actual college charges. The type of institutional aid that will be affected will be the Cornell grant and any endowed scholarships that are awarded based upon need or replacing a Cornell grant. All academic, fine arts, federal or state grants, scholarships, or loans will not be adjusted.

The following is a chart of off-campus adjustments for 2009-10.

Housing & Meal Plan % of Need Based Institutional Aid Awarded

Off-campus/full meal plan 90%
Off-campus/7-meal plan 84%

Exceptions to the above policy are:

1. Students enrolled in two or less blocks.
2. Students who have been granted off-campus permission due to medical conditions.
3. Students living with parents (a separate budget figure is used to calculate financial aid for students living at home).
4. Other exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The staff in the Financial Assistance Office would be happy to do a comparison of financial aid living off-campus vs. living on-campus to assist with your decision. Please contact the Financial Assistance Office at x4216 if you have any questions or concerns in regard to this policy.