University of Puget Sound Two-Year Residential Requirement
As a residential liberal arts college, the University of Puget Sound affirms the educational benefits inherent in this kind of undergraduate experience. Student learning, in and out of the classroom, and student success are enhanced by the on-campus residential experience. Being a part of a community of scholars is also reinforced by living in campus housing. Because of this, Puget Sound requires all students to live on-campus for their first two academic years with the university and a significant number of students choose to continue living on campus through graduation to fully reap the benefits of a residential liberal arts experience. The two-year residential requirement applies to all new students, including first-year students and transfer students.
Housing Agreement
Each year an updated Housing Agreement will be accessible electronically through myPugetSound in early February. The housing agreement and all terms and conditions set forth are binding for the entire academic year upon selecting a housing assignment. This agreement applies to all student residents of university-owned facilities.
Students will need to electronically sign their housing agreement prior to selecting housing. Similar to Terms and Conditions prior to class registration, a "hold" will be placed on student accounts, meaning
Requests for Residential Policy Exemption & Housing Agreement Appeals
Appeals to be released from the residential requirement or cancel a housing agreement must be submitted to the Residence Life office via the
Exceptions to the residential 2-year live on requirement are made for:
- married students
- students with children
- students who are at least 21 years old
- dependents of Puget Sound faculty and staff
Transfer students who have lived in
On rare occasions, an exemption from the residential requirement or cancellation of a housing agreement may be permitted outside of the above list of exceptions. Housing appeals will be reviewed by Student Affairs, Student Financial Services, and Accessibility and Accommodation staff as appropriate on the basis of financial hardship, documented personal medical/
Financial hardship is defined as a situation in which a student’s financial circumstances are so severe that they jeopardize the student’s ability to enroll or to continue enrollment at Puget Sound. A financial hardship is not simply a justification that living expenses could be lessened by
All students who successfully appeal for release from the residential requirement will be scheduled to meet with a member of the Student Affairs staff to discuss the educational benefits inherent in our liberal arts education and to develop strategies that will allow the student to best reap the benefits of our full experience without the residential component. Our goal is to formulate a healthy plan for community involvement both inside and outside of the classroom.
Residents who check out prior to the end of the agreement period and whose housing agreement appeal has not been approved will be held responsible for the full remaining room cost of the agreement.
Refund Policy
As stated on the Housing Agreement, the refund policy for students who withdraw from the university is as follows:
- If a student completely withdraws by the 10th day of the semester, the student will be refunded 100% of the semester room fees, but will be charged a $500 housing cancellation fee.
- Meal plan charges for the semester are refundable on a pro-rated basis, depending on
the number of remaining Dining Dollars on the plan and the number of weeks left in the semester. - Room charges for the semester are non-refundable on the 11th day of class.
Residence Life will not consider appeals for a refund of a semester room charge, on a full or pro-rated basis, when a student has withdrawn from the university after 5 p.m. on the 11th day of classes, regardless of the circumstances of that student's departure. The student will still be responsible for paying the full semester room fee.
There are no refunds of the $500 advance tuition deposit.
Animals in Campus Residences
The University of Puget Sound understands that a service or therapy animal is necessary for some, and the university fully supports the rights and responsibilities of students with service and therapy animals. Beyond service and therapy animals, students can have fish in a 20-gallon or smaller sized tank in their campus residence. Please note that having a fish as a pet on campus does not require approval.
Students who need to bring a service animal to campus housing must register their animal with Residence Life. Service animals must always accompany the student, and they are not allowed to be left behind in the student’s residence. It is suggested, but not required, that you register with Student Accessibility and Accommodation if you need to bring a service animal to campus.
If a student needs to have a therapy animal live with them in on-campus housing, the student must first make a formal request and file documentation through Student Accessibility and Accommodation (SAA). The documentation and intake forms required can be found online through Student Accessibility and Accommodation webpage www.pugetsound.edu/studentaccessibility. Students may also contact SAA directly with questions at 253.879.3399.
Once a student has approval for their therapy animal, they must register their animal with Residence Life by completing the Animal Registration and Maintaining A Therapy Animal Agreement Forms that can be found in our Residence Life - Animals in Housing Policy Handbook. Please read the handbook and send the completed forms to reslife@pugetsound.edu.