2025-2026 Housing Agreement
This Agreement constitutes a non-possessory license for use of a space in University housing by a full-time enrolled student at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and shall not be construed as a lease. If at any time during the semester a student drops below full-time (below the 12-credit minimum), the student must contact the Housing and Residence Life Office to secure permission to remain in on-campus housing. Students dropping below 12 credits per semester are not automatically granted a release from the housing agreement. Housing and Residence Life will make the final decision about a release. University housing is defined as traditional residence halls and suites. Students who reside in university housing are required to enroll in an approved resident student meal plan. The following are the terms and conditions of this contract.
I. TERMS
The term of occupancy shall be for the entire academic year. Students graduating from the University at the end of the first semester must request housing for the fall semester only and shall be released from the second semester obligation provided they are not continuing their enrollment at the University. Entering first-year, or transfer or readmitted students having fewer than 60 (between 0-59) earned transfer undergraduate college level credits accepted by Shippensburg University by the first day of classes of the semester of enrollment are required to reside in university housing. All second-year students who have earned under 60 undergraduate college level credits are required to live on campus. Exemptions to the housing requirement policy include those students who reside full-time within the home of their parents or legal guardians within 35 miles from campus based on driving directions, those who are 21 years of age or older by the first day of the entering semester, those who are legally married, and those with a dependent child at home. The annual housing agreement is for the full academic year (two semesters). If a student has not earned 60 undergraduate credits by the beginning of classes for their second fall semester, they are required to enter minimally into a full academic year (two semesters) housing agreement and fulfill all terms thereof to fulfill the two-year housing requirement. All rooms must be vacated the day the University closes for break periods, unless otherwise approved. In the event a student withdraws during the academic semester, the accommodations must be vacated and proper check-out completed within twenty-four (24) hours after withdrawal. Extensions due to extenuating circumstances must have the approval of the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Any and all personal belongings remaining after the termination of the contract may be removed by the University and the resident is responsible for any costs incurred.
II. PAYMENTS
A. The student shall pay a room deposit fee of $200.00 to reserve a space in University housing. The deposit is due in full upon signing and delivering this contract. This $200.00 deposit shall become the property of the University and is non-refundable. Housing contracts cannot be canceled after June 1 (Full-Year) or December 1 (Spring Semester Only) of the housing agreement academic year thus requiring full financial obligation for the entire academic year room costs. Any requests to be released from housing due to special circumstances after these deadlines must be submitted in writing to the Housing Office for consideration.
B. A room and board fee authorized by the Council of Trustees for each semester shall be paid according to a schedule set by the business office of the University.
C. The $200.00 room deposit fee shall be applied as a credit to the student’s spring semester room charges.
D. Each student in University housing must pay a common damage fee per semester. The damage fee will be assessed to cover any damages that occur where a specific individual(s) cannot be identified in common areas. If no specific individual(s) is identified, residents of a given living area may be billed for damages which are identified to their living spaces. If this fee is not sufficient to cover the total hall damages, each student will be billed an additional percentage of the balance due. Any funds that are not used will be directed toward services for University housing.
E. Room keys are not to be duplicated except by the University locksmith. There is a cost for replacing locks in university housing when room keys are not returned. Fees are subject to change.
III. WITHDRAWALS FROM RESIDENCE – REFUNDS
A. The room (housing) fee is refundable according to a schedule listed in the current Undergraduate Catalog. The room fee is not refundable when a student terminates occupancy in University housing except in cases of complete withdrawal or leave of absence from the University. Students may make a request in writing to be released from their housing agreement if moving to their permanent home address because of extraordinary financial circumstances or other emergency reasons. Any refund will be prorated according to the date the student completes the official procedures to withdraw from University housing and in accordance with the University refund policy.
B. Residents dismissed from university housing for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for a refund of the room and board fee.
C. All students who withdraw or are dismissed from University housing must officially check out of the accommodations with a residence life staff member (Resident Assistant or Residence Director). Proper check out includes completing appropriate forms, inspecting the room condition, and returning their room key.. Failing to officially check out will prolong the housing charges and/or refund.
IV. UTILITIES, HEAT, FURNISHINGS
Included with on-campus room accommodations to be supplied by the University is a reasonable amount of light, heat, and hot water. Student rooms shall be furnished by the University with a bed, mattress, drawer space, desk, desk chair, and closet space. Voice (basic local telephone service) will be available through the University by request. Phone services do not allow collect or third party calls to be charged to individual rooms. If a phone line is requested, students must furnish their own telephone. Each room has been equipped with a computer network jack (ResNet) and Wi-Fi access. There are no additional charges for these services. Long distance services are accessed by using a long distance calling card. Individuals violating any tariff rules and/or regulations will be subject to punishment.
V. USE OF PREMISES
The student shall not use their assigned space or shared areas of the residence hall as a sales room, storage location for commercial activity, or conduct any type of business. The student cannot use open spaces as a single room unless authorized by the Housing and Residence Life Office in writing. Additional occupants shall not stay within the premises other than as assigned or allowed by University policy. The student has no right to sublet any space.
VI. EXCULPATORY CLAUSE
The University does not assume any legal obligations to pay for the loss of or damage to items of personal property of the student which occurs in its buildings, storage rooms, or on its grounds, prior to, during or subsequent to the period of the contract. The student or parents are encouraged to carry appropriate insurance to cover such losses.
VII. RULES AND REGULATIONS
The students shall comply with all sanitary laws, with rules and regulations of municipal, state, or federal authorities, and shall at all times comply with rules and regulations in force or adopted by the University relating to occupancy and use. The University reserves the right to enter a room during regularly scheduled and announced inspections to insure proper standards of health and safety for the resident(s). University officials (including the professional staff on call, Residence Directors, Resident Assistants, and Physical Plant personnel) may enter rooms in fulfilling their duties and responsibilities for supervising University housing, enforcing University rules and regulations, and performing maintenance. The University reserves the right to cancel or deny the continued occupancy of housing space for noncompliance of rules and regulations or unacceptable behavior as stated in the Student Handbook.
Pennsylvania law (35 P.S. § 633.3; Act 83 of 2002) requires all students living in University residence halls/housing, to either have the meningitis vaccine or sign a declination statement after having received information concerning the benefits of receiving the meningitis vaccine. Students who do not either have the vaccination or sign the declination statement will not be permitted to reside in University housing.
VIII. RIGHT OF ASSIGNMENT
The contract is for space and the University reserves the right to make room assignments, temporary assignments, triple assignments, consolidate vacancies by requiring residents to move, and reassignments. Students also agree to submit to binding arbitration as an objective means of resolving extreme roommate conflicts, with one possible outcome being the relocation of any and all roommates. Assignment to housing space is made without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Housing of new residents is made on a random basis. Assigned rooms may not be sublet. Students may change rooms only after first receiving authorization from the Housing Office.
IX. GUARANTEE
The guarantor(s) of the student hereby agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement and agree to indemnify the University for any and all sums which may be due hereunder by the students.
X. JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITIES
The student and guarantor(s) shall be individually liable, and jointly liable with other students for all damage done to rooming accommodations and furnishings therein. The student and guarantor(s) also agree to be jointly responsible with other residents for residence hall accommodations, furnishings, and equipment and to share in the payment of damages sustained. The University will assume no liability for personal injury of students who choose to utilize the bunk option of University beds.