Morehead State University’s On-Campus Residency Policy requires all full-time students under the age of 21 who have earned fewer than 60 University recognized college credit hours to live on campus and subscribe to the applicable dining requirement.  Students must be 21 by the first day of classes to fulfill residency requirement.  (Students enrolled full-time on-line or at an MSU Regional Campus are exempt from this policy.)

Students may apply for an exemption to this policy provided they meet certain established criteria. (*Please note, an application for exemption from the on-campus residency requirement does not guarantee nor imply that an exemption will be granted. Students should assume that their request has not been granted until they receive written notification of approval.)

Documentation and Application forms may be downloaded here.
*link goes to an Adobe Acrobat format document 

Important Reminders: 

• All exemptions requests must be received prior to July 15th for the academic year and December 1st for students entering at the beginning of the spring semester. Exemption requests submitted after the deadline will be subject to a non-refundable $100.00 late application-processing fee. This fee is required for exemption requests submitted after the semester deadline and does not guarantee an exemption will be approved.
• Applications must be received in original form, faxed and/or emailed requests are not accepted.
• Late applications are subject to payment of the late application processing fee and if approved refunds of applicable fees will be done in accordance with the University's refund policy.

Students applying for an exemption to the On-Campus Residency Policy must submit the exemption form to the Office of Student Housing on the following schedule:

Application Deadlines

All exemptions requests must be received prior to July 15th for the academic year and December 1st for students entering at the beginning of the spring semester. Exemption requests submitted after the deadline will be subject to a non-refundable $100.00 late application-processing fee. This fee is required for exemption requests submitted after the semester deadline and does not guarantee an exemption will be approved.

Students failing to submit an exemption request form prior to the deadline will be assessed mandatory housing/dining fees.   Late applications are subject to payment of the late application processing fee and if approved refunds of applicable housing/dining fees will be done so in accordance with the University’s refund policy.

Unless otherwise notified, all exemptions are valid for the length of enrollment at Morehead State University provided living situation and exemption criteria do not change.  Any change in living arrangements must be reported to the Office of Student Housing.  Students with less than 60 hours and under 21 years of age will be required to live in University housing.  Failure to submit information in a timely manner related to change in residency status may subject the student to assessment of mandatory housing/dining fees.

Students who have reached the age of 21 or earned 60 college credit hours by the first day of classes for the semester they intend to reside off campus do not need to apply for an exemption.  Exemption forms and detailed information may be downloaded by utilizing the link at the bottom of the page. 

Exemption Criteria

Exemption requests will not be processed without a completed On-Campus Residency Exemption request form and all required documentation as listed below. University officials have the right to request additional information as deemed appropriate when considering exemption requests.

Single Parent

• Completed exemption request form
• Copy of child’s/children’s birth certificates (adoption paper work)
• Documentation demonstrating majority custody

Married

• Completed exemption request form
• Copy of valid marriage certificate recognized by the Commonwealth of Kentucky

Internship/Clinical Semester*

• Completed exemption request form
• Submission of documentation from student’s University advisor regarding the assignment location of the internship/clinical semester
• Copy of MSU class schedule for term requested

*Exemption is valid for internship/clinical semester only.  Additionally, students enrolled full-time for which the internship/clinical assignment  accounts for less than fifty-percent of enrolled credit hours are not eligible for this exemption.   Internship/clinical assignments must be outside of the recognized commuter distance to be eligible.

Commuter Exemptions (available only to instate students within 50 miles of Morehead) commuting from parent’s/guardian’s legal permanent residence.

• Completed exemption request form
• Completed Commuter Parent/Guardian Verification Statement
• Copy of Parent/Guardian’s drivers license (or similar state issued official identification card) verifying address

Students must notify the Office of Student Housing if their living situation changes after an exemption has been granted.  Students with less than 60 hours and under 21 years of age will be required to live in University housing.

Special Circumstances– For consideration the student must demonstrate that the situation is both “unique and unusual” and beyond any reasonable means of the student to control. Examples of situations that would fall under this category include but are not limited to: transfer students who will have necessary credit hours following the transcript evaluation process or an expectant parent with a due date shortly after the semester begins. Examples of situations that would not qualify for exemption under this category include but are not limited to: seasonal or other allergies that can be treated by allergy medications or leases entered into prior to an exemption being approved. All requests documenting a specific need related to the Americans with Disabilities Act will be reviewed by the University’s ADA Coordinator.

Completed applications should be mailed or delivered to:
Office of Student Housing
Thompson Hall
150 University Blvd.
Morehead, KY 40351