Residency Requirement

Shepherd University believes that living on campus is a vital part of a student’s educational experience, offering enriching out-of-classroom opportunities that prepare students for community life. According to the Student Code of Conduct, all full-time, unmarried students are required to reside on campus. This requirement remains in effect unless the student applies for and is granted an exception, following the outlined conditions and procedures.

Resident Agreement 2025-26

Before Submitting	After Submitting	Housing Application Exceptions:
Yes	No	Live on-campus for at least eight semesters
Yes	No	Completed at least 90 credit hours
Yes	No	At least 21 years of age
Yes	Yes	Enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours in a semester
Yes	No	Completed at least one year of active military service
Yes	Yes	Be married
Yes	Yes	Serve as a caregiver to a dependent (such as parenting a child)
Yes	Yes	Enrolled in an internship, student teaching, study abroad, or similar academic programs as to which on-campus residence would amount to a substantial and unreasonable hardship
Yes	Yes	Have a properly documented Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other authorized accommodation that has been approved through Shepherd’s Accessibility Services office
Yes	Yes	Commute within the allotted commuting distance from a parent or legal guardian’s primary home. (See commuting requirements)

Commuter Eligibility Requirements

The parent or legal guardian’s home must be the primary residence of the parent or guardian and must be the exclusive domicile of the student, and it must be located within one of the locations listed below. NOTE: Living in a location other than the parent’s or guardian’s primary residence within the commuting range does not qualify the student for an exception, and room and meal charges may be added to the student’s account.
West Virginia: Jefferson and Berkeley counties
Maryland: Frederick or Washington counties
Pennsylvania: ZIP codes 17225 and 17268
Virginia: Clarke or Frederick counties ZIP codes 22601, 22603, and 22656
Virginia: Loudoun County ZIP codes 20129, 20132, 20141, 20158, 20176, 20180, and 20197

Important factors to note:

Current residents must petition for an exemption from continuing in on-campus housing and the University Residency requirement by November 1 for the following Spring semester and April 1 for the following Fall semester.
Petitions to terminate a Resident Agreement must be received via email or physical letter in the Residence Life Office and submitted by the student.
Approval for termination of the Resident Agreement will result in forfeiture of the $100 Housing Deposit.
Approval for termination of the Resident Agreement after occupancy will result in no refund from any room charges and a prorated refund of the meal plan based on a Friday to Thursday increment. Prorated meal plan refunds will be based on meal plan enrollment at the close of business each Thursday; partial weeks of enrollment will be calculated as a full week for calculating meal plan charges and refunds.