Exemption

Request for Exemption from the On-Campus Housing Residency Requirement

Webster University requires that all freshmen enrolled at the St. Louis main campus are required to live on campus for their first two years at Webster University. Exceptions to this requirement are granted for freshmen living with their parent(s) or active legal guardian(s)* within a 35-mile radius of the main campus in Webster Groves. Undergraduate international transfer students are also required to live on campus for their first year enrolled in classes at the main campus. All undergraduate and graduate study abroad students are required to live on campus for the duration of their study abroad. Additionally, all site transfer students are required to reside on-campus for their first year enrolled at the Webster Groves Campus.

We are unable to approve requests based on financial situations. It you would like to discuss financial aid options that may be available to help pay for the cost of living in the residence halls, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

*Defined as someone who currently has court-appointed authority to act in the capacity of a guardian.

Guidelines for Requesting an Exemption for New Incoming Students:

  • Complete the Request for Exemption form and submit documentation that supports or verifies the reason for your request as indicated.
  • A decision will be emailed to the student's Webster University email address. An exemption is not considered granted until you have received an approved notice from the Housing & Residential Life Office. Please note that not all requests are granted.
  • If an exemption is granted and you have previously submitted a housing deposit, you may be eligible for a refund by notifying the Assignments & Billing Coordinator. Refund eligibility and amount will be determined by the date of your deposit refund request. For more details, please contact the Housing & Residential Life Office (314) 246-4663.
  • Appeal Process: If your request for exemption from Webster University's residency requirement is not approved, you may wish to appeal the decision. Students wishing to appeal a denial of the exemption request may do so by contacting the Director of Housing & Residential Life. The decision of the appeal by the Director is final and there is no further appeal of the exemption decision beyond this level. 

Approved Reasons for Requesting Exemption

The following are approved reasons for requesting exemption, along with the required documentation for a specific reason. Please note documentation must be received for your request to be considered. Approved reasons for requesting exemption from the residency requirement are as follows:

Required Documentation to Request Exemption from the Residency Requirement

Note: only requests to live with a parent or active legal guardian1 will be considered—any requests to live with a sibling, relative, friend, or friend’s family will not be considered.

  • Documentation: Notarized form signed by parent or active legal guardian, if resident will be residing with a parent or active legal guardian at an address different than the permanent address provided to the University upon admission. If residing with an active legal guardian, documentation of guardianship must be provided.

1 Defined as someone who currently has court-appointed authority to act in the capacity of a guardian

Documentation: Notarized form signed by parent, if resident will be residing with a parent at an address different than the permanent address provided to the University upon admission. Additionally, proof of permanent parental relocation, from at least two (2) of the following items showing the relocation address: 

  1. Vehicle registration
  2. Voter registration
  3. Any other document that would verify permanent address.

Do not submit proof of purchase of property or lease/rental agreement as this does not provide proof of relocation. University records must show the parental address as being within 35 miles from campus.

Documentation: Not required; your age will be verified with University records.

Documentation: Copy of marriage license.

Documentation: Copy of birth certificate of the dependent child.

Documentation: A copy of your military orders, which must be applicable for the period covered by the requested exemption.

Documentation: A personal statement, as well as a signed and dated statement from your treating physician, psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist on office letterhead is required and must include:

  1. Your diagnosis,
  2. Treatment plan,
  3. And how each relates to your housing request.

The medical statement must be dated no more than one month prior to when you request exemption. Upon receipt of medical documentation, the Housing and Residential Life Office will defer to the Reeg Academic Resource Center’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator, who will review the situation and provide a recommendation to the Housing and Residential Life Office. By submitting this documentation, you are agreeing to allow any information shared with the Housing and Residential Life Office to be shared with the University ADA Coordinator.

Please include the applicable documentation for your request for residency exemption with the completed form (stapling, printing double-sided, including in an email as a PDF, etc.) and submit to:

 

OFFICE OF HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE

240 Edgar Rd | Saint Louis, MO 63119

(314) 246-4663 (phone) | (314-246-4664 (fax) | housing@webster.edu

 

After receipt of your request, a Housing and Residential Life staff member will be in touch about if further documentation is needed, and the status of your request.