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Student Life

Housing Accommodations

While the classroom is at the heart of the educational mission of Albion College, as a residential college, Albion College also strongly believes in the personal growth and learning that students gain when sharing a living space with roommates on campus. Most student rooms are double occupancy on campus and students have to apply for Special Housing Accommodations that meet the requirements for requesting an exception to the Housing policies.

The following housing accommodations are available to students:

Non-College Owned Housing Application Information

If a student has specific conditions that require a special housing accommodation that cannot be met by the College, the student must complete a Non-College Owned Housing Application. By completing this application, students are petitioning the on-campus housing requirement set forth by the College. Students must describe the specific details for the type of housing accommodation the student needs and the reasons for the special housing accommodation.

Please Note: Students who were approved for a Special Housing Accommodation for 2020-2021 to reside in Non-College Owned housing are not guaranteed approval from one academic year to the next. A petition to reside in Non-College Owned housing must be reviewed through the Office of Community Living (formerly Residential Life) on an annual basis.

The opportunity to live in housing not owned by Albion College is an exception to the requirement that all students reside in College housing. Students are advised not to enter into a lease agreement unless they first receive notification that their petition has been approved.

Special Housing Accommodation Applications are due no later than Monday, March 29, 2021 by 11:59 PM. Students will be notified of decisions by email to their Albion College email address no later than Thursday, April 1, 2021. Petitions received after the deadline will be automatically waitlisted.

Housing assignments are subject to change based on enrollment, space allotment, and the State of Michigan Executive Orders on Public Health. If your assignment does change you will be notified via email. Students may be asked to consolidate or move to new housing arrangements based on quarantine and isolation needs. In the event of temporary closures, restrictions, and/or adjustments to the academic schedule, Albion College shall not be obligated to issue refunds or credits, whether partial or full, for such interruptions or adjustments.

Residency Requirement Exemption Application Information

Albion College affirms the educational benefits inherent in the residential aspect of the undergraduate experience, and as such requires all students to reside and board within the College residential system unless the student qualifies for a residency exemption. The College is committed to a safe and healthy in-person, face-to-face classroom teaching and learning environment and participation in on-campus activities.

All Special Housing Accommodation Applications are due no later than Monday, March 29, 2021 by 11:59 PM. Students will be notified of decisions by email to their Albion College email address no later than Thursday, April 1, 2021. Petitions received after the deadline will be automatically waitlisted.

Please Note: Students who were approved for a Special Housing Accommodation for 2020-2021 to reside in Non-College Owned housing are not guaranteed approval from one academic year to the next.

Accommodation Exemptions to the Residency Requirement

Students may not live at home or in non-College owned housing and take classes exclusively online unless one of the following conditions applies:

  1. Student has a documented medical disability that puts the student at high risk of serious complications from COVID-19 or a documented condition carrying higher risk of serious psychiatric or emotional disability caused by living on campus during the pandemic, and they receive an online-only residency exemption as an accommodation. Students petitioning for a disability exemption must be registered with the Office of Accessibility Services which will provide documentation of their medical condition from a licensed health provider.***
  2. International students unable to return to the United States by January 25, 2021 due to travel restrictions.
  3. Commuter Status (defined as students who reside with their parents or legal guardians not more than 25 miles from the Albion College campus. The residence must be with parents or guardians, not other relatives. The petition must be accompanied by evidence that the address given is the bona fide principal residence* of the parents or guardians and has been for at least five years.
  4. Married students.
  5. Students with legal dependents who reside with the student.
  6. Students who 23 years or older before the start of the Fall semester classes (housing can be provided if desired though).
  7. United States military vetern.

***That should include, at a minimum, a copy of an assessment notice showing that the property is assessed as the principal residence of the owner, and evidence of ownership for the required time. If parents or guardians have changed their principal residence within the five-year period, there must also be evidence of sale of the previous residence. If the parents or guardians rent, and do not own, their residence, copies of leases reflecting the necessary continuous period of occupancy must be provided. Further corroborating information may be required at the discretion of the Office of Community Living staff.

***Principal residence” means the one place where an owner of the property has his/her/their true, fixed, and permanent home to which, whenever absent, he/she/they intends to return and that shall continue as a principal residence until another principal residence is established.

Special Housing Accommodation Applications are due no later than Monday, March 29, 2021 by 11:59 PM. Students will be notified of decisions by email to their Albion College email address no later than Thursday, April 1, 2021. Petitions received after the deadline will be automatically waitlisted.

Medical Single Room Petitions

A limited number of rooms (27) have been designated as single occupancy (based on square footage) and these single rooms are only available in Ingham (3), Seaton (8), Wesley (4 for first-year students, 10 for returning students), Dean (1), and Whitehouse (1) Halls. Approval of petitions for these rooms will be based on the Medical Single Room Petition Committee's ruling on the establishment of need. Priority is given to students who need a room based on a medical condition, an emotional or psychological reason, and/or a learning disability.

***If requests exceed the number of available rooms designated as medical singles, students will be wait-listed based on need priority deemed by the Medical Room Petition Committee. These singles, if available, will not be awarded until late summer and some may be offered following the 10th day of the fall semester.***

Students who were approved for a medical single room for the 2020-2021 academic year in the form of a single occupancy (based on square footage) room are not guaranteed approval for a special housing accommodation from one academic year to the next. Students must reapply every year for a medical single. Students who regularly participate in Albion College's support services may sign a release of information form with the appropriate department in which the student is a regular client (for example, Student Health Services, Counseling Services, Learning Support Services) so that the College staff who serve on the Petition Committee may discuss the applicant's request with the support service Director familiar with a student's situation.

There may be an additional cost per semester for a medical single. Because of the limited number of single occupancy rooms (27), students are strongly encouraged to find a roommate(s) and participate in Room Selection while waiting to learn if they will be assigned a medical single room. Applicants will be notified of decisions by email.

Special Housing Accommodation Applications are due no later than Monday, March 29, 2021 by 11:59 PM. Students will be notified of decisions by email to their Albion College email address no later than Thursday, April 1, 2021. Petitions received after the deadline will be automatically waitlisted.

Housing assignments are subject to change based on enrollment, space allotment, and the State of Michigan Executive Orders on Public Health. If your assignment does change you will be notified via email. Students may be asked to consolidate or move to new housing arrangements based on quarantine and isolation needs. In the event of temporary closures, restrictions, and/or adjustments to the academic schedule, Albion College shall not be obligated to issue refunds or credits, whether partial or full, for such interruptions or adjustments.

Board Exemption Application

Albion College affirms the educational benefits inherent in the residential aspect of the undergraduate experience, and as such, requires all students to reside and board within the College residential system. Automatic exemptions to the board policy are granted to students who fall under one of the following categories:

1. Apartment residents (Burns Street, Briton House, 416 and 507 Erie Street Apartments, Mae Harrison Karro Residential Village, Munger House, and Munger Place LLC & Apartments).

2. Students not residing in College-owned housing.

Board Exemption Applications are granted for medical purposes only. Students who do not qualify for automatic exemption may submit a Board Exemption Application based on medically documented information.

Special Housing Accommodation Applications are due no later than Monday, March 29, 2021 by 11:59 PM. Students will be notified of decisions by email to their Albion College email address no later than Thursday, April 1, 2021. Petitions received after the deadline will be automatically waitlisted.