Private Off-Campus Housing Process

Because Lafayette is a residential college, students are expected and required to live in College housing for the entirety of their undergraduate experience.  Each year the College permits a small number of eligible rising seniors to be ‘released’ from their Housing Contract to rent from a private landlord (Private Off-Campus/POC) for the upcoming year. 

The Private Off-Campus Housing Process enables current members of the junior class to become eligible for possible release for their senior year.  The number of ‘releases’ is based on anticipated enrollment in excess of College housing capacity.  Most years, the number of eligible students is greater than the number of releases given. Fewer than 15% of seniors live in private off-campus housing.  Most seniors live in college-owned houses and apartments.  Unless a student receives a written “release” from the College, they are not authorized to secure private housing in place of their College Housing Contract. 

In mid-November, all currently enrolled members of the junior class (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) will be automatically enrolled in the Private Off-Campus Process SPACES site.  The SPACES site contains specific information, instructions, link to the required quiz, and the process timeline.

The first week in February is the earliest students will be approved for Private off-campus release.

Access to the site for those not currently part of the current junior class (e.g. current seniors who will return for an additional semester/year, or those planning to appeal class year status) can be requested by contacting reslife@lafayette.edu.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To become fully eligible for the Private Process, students must:

  • Be a currently enrolled member of the junior class (as determined by the Registrar’s Office) as of the beginning of the spring semester*
  • Complete and earn 100% on the Off-campus Quiz (posted in the Spaces site) by the stated deadline
  • Have had a 2.5 cumulative GPA as of the beginning of the spring semester their junior year
  • Never been on Disciplinary Probation Level II while a student at Lafayette College
  • Not have another required housing assignment for the next  academic year (senior). (ex. chapter house or other living group rosters)

*Members of the junior class who are on a leave of absence during may participate in the process if/when reinstated for the Fall semester as long as their class status meets the eligibility.  

ELIGIBILITY NOTIFICATIONS 

Individual students who meet all eligibility criteria will receive a subsequent notice via email that they are fully eligible to continue in the private process.  Students who meet all requirements by the deadline, will be included in the random release process.  Students can become eligible after the deadline but they only qualify to be pulled in as a roommate.

APPEALS OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Students who do not meet one or more of the eligibility requirements and want to be included in the Priority Process, may submit an appeal.  Deadlines for submission and instructions will be posted on the SPACES site.

PRIVATE OFF-CAMPUS RELEASE

Eligible students will be randomized (akin to the housing lottery) and we will offer RELEASES until the approved number is reached.  The number of releases extended is based on projected enrollment. It is possible that not all interested and eligible students will be released in a given year.  Intended roommates must meet all eligibility requirements for the Private Process to be part of a POC group. Students who are released for POC may not “pull-in” ineligible roommates to their group.

Students who are not selected for POC release or decline their offered release will be able to participate in any other subsequent college housing application and lottery processes.

STUDENTS MAY NOT SIGN A LEASE (OR CONTRACT), ENTER INTO A VERBAL CONTRACT, OR MAKE A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO A RENTAL UNIT UNLESS OFFICIALLY RELEASED BY THE OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE THROUGH THIS PROCESS. Students who secure private leases outside of this process will not be excused from their College housing obligation.  They will remain responsible for the full cost of their housing contract with the College for the academic year and may be referred for Student Code of Conduct charges.