Students with extenuating circumstances may apply to have their situation reviewed by the Housing and Dining Requirement Review Committee. Students may request the following to be reviewed by the committee:
At times circumstances may arise in students' life which may warrant a housing and/or meal plan waiver. Admitted Rensselaer students facing extreme financial difficulties, medical/health-related issues, or other circumstances may apply for a Housing and/or meal plan waiver. Specific reasons a waiver will not be granted include but are not limited to:
- Signing of an off-campus lease
- Desire to commute from home
- Roommate issues
- Housing available with family in the immediate community
- Transfer status
- Lack of understanding that the Housing and Dining Agreement is “binding”
- Changing circumstances or opinions about housing
- Desire to live in an off-campus Fraternity or Sorority house (see Fraternity & Sorority Commons housing waiver information)
- Special hall or room-type request (e.g., single room)
Waiver Requests can be submitted by completing the request form.
Students with specific dietary needs should work with Rensselaer Dining Services Registered Dietician.
Due to Medical/Health-Related concerns, students may find it necessary to apply for specific housing accommodations during their time at Rensselaer.
Rensselaer will accept and consider requests for housing accommodations at any time. The individual making the request for accommodation should submit the request form as soon as possible. If the request for the accommodation is made after the stated deadlines, Rensselaer cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the individual’s accommodation needs during the first semester or term of occupancy immediately following the belated request.
If the need for accommodation arises when an individual already resides on-campus, the student should submit the request form and then submit all required supporting documentation as soon as possible. Rensselaer cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the individual’s accommodation needs during the semester or term which the request is received.
Documentation should include a rationale for all requested housing accommodations, please see documentation guidelines in the request form.
Students with specific dietary needs should work with Rensselaer Dining Services Registered Dietician.
Second-year students affiliated with an active, institute recognized Fraternity or Sorority may submit a FS Commons Housing Waiver form which grants them an exemption from the campus housing requirement for their second year, allowing them to live in their organization's Institute recognized facility. However, students are required to return to the Residential Commons for The Arch Summer term.
Students seeking a waiver exemption are required to:
- Complete the Student Living & Learning Housing Application in order to be eligible for a waiver consideration.
- Complete the FSC Member Bursar Billing/Collection Agreement in order to be considered for approval. .
Request Deadlines
All requests must be submitted by the deadlines listed below. These deadlines are in place to ensure proper billing and placement for students completing the process.
NOTE: Due to limited space and availability for the Fall 2024 semester, students with accommodation requests approved close to the start of the semester may not be placed in an assignment matching their accommodations until a relevant space is available.
For changes to be done to your assignment before the Spring 2025 semester begins, your form must be in by November 29, 2024.
- For changes to be done to your assignment before the Summer 2025 semester begins, your form must be in by April 11, 2025.
- For changes to be done to your assignment before the Fall 2025 semester begins, your form must be in by July 4, 2025
Please note: Waiver requests received after the deadline may not be reviewed by the committee until after the start of the semester. Accommodation requests made after the deadlines above will be made based on if a space is available and may not be met until the next academic year/term.
Housing and Meal Plan Waiver Financial Aid Impacts
As described in the Student Guide to Financial Aid: Rensselaer Scholarship and Grant awards are provided to help finance RPI billable enrollment costs. They are provided with consideration toward the requirement to live in RPI housing and participate in an RPI meal plan for the first five semesters as a new incoming student and for the first two semesters as a new transfer student. (https://admissions.rpi.edu/aid/guide).
Regardless of the rationale for the housing and/or meal plan waiver request:
- If a student is granted a waiver prior to the end of their required participation timeframe, the Office of Financial Aid will re-evaluate the student’s Financial Aid package.
- RPI award reductions may be made in consideration that the initial award level was provided based on meeting residential requirements and the student will no longer be meeting the requirements which lead to the initial award level.
- Waiver approvals result in a reduction to billable charges, not an increase to financial aid. Students remain responsible to pay all billable charges once any cost and/or aid adjustments are completed.
- Signing an Off Campus Housing Lease will not exempt you from your Housing and/or Meal Plan requirements at RPI and is not considered a financial hardship for appealing.
Housing and Dining Requirement Review Committee
The Housing and Dining Requirement Review Committee typically meets every three weeks to review submitted requests. The Housing and Dining Review Committee consists of representatives from multiple campus offices, including:
- Student Living and Learning
- Auxiliary Services/Rensselaer Dining Services
- Student Health Center
- Office of Financial Aid
- Office of Student Success/First-Year Experience
Review committee decisions will be sent to the student's Rensselaer email account.
See the information below regarding the timeframes for submission/review and notification deadlines by semester of meeting:
| Waiver Application Submitted by noon on this date: | Waiver Committee will review on this date: | Students will be notified of the decision by this date: | Appeal Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 10, 2025 | January 17, 2025 | January 21, 2025 | January 26, 2025 |
| February 7, 2025 | February 14, 2025 | February 18, 2025 | February 23, 2025 |
| March 7, 2025 | March 14, 2025 | March 18, 2025 | March 23, 2025 |
| April 11, 2025 | April 18, 2025 | April 22, 2025 | April 27, 2025 |
| Waiver Application Submitted by noon on this date: | Waiver Committee will review on this date: | Students will be notified of the decision on this date: | Appeal Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2025 | May 9, 2025 | May 13, 2025 | May 18, 2025 |
| June 13, 2025 | June 20, 2025 | June 24, 2025 | June 29, 2025 |
| July 4, 2025 | July 11, 2025 | July 15, 2025 | July 20, 2025 |
| August 1, 2025 | August 8, 2025 | August 12, 2025 | August 17, 2025 |
| Waiver Application Submitted by noon on this date: | Waiver Committee will review on this date: | Students will be notified of the decision on this date: | Appeal Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 30, 2024 | September 6, 2024 | September 10, 2024 | September 15, 2024 |
| September 27, 2024 | October 4, 2024 | October 8, 2024 | October 13, 2024 |
| October 25, 2024 | November 1, 2024 | November 5, 2024 | November 10, 2025 |
| November 29, 2024 | December 6, 2024 | December 10, 2024 | December 15, 2024 |
Waiver Committee Appeals
Students wishing to appeal the committee’s decision regarding a housing and/or meal plan waiver must submit via email with the subject line: “Waiver Committee Appeal” to housingwaivers@rpi.edu. In this email you should attach a document that contains the following information:
- Header containing, First Name, Last Name, RIN, E-mail, and contact phone number. Additionally the type of waiver being appealed (Housing, Meal, or Housing and Meal) and what semester you are applying for a waiver.
- A written explanation for why you are appealing the committee’s decision.
Please note: Reasons for appeals should not be due to additional information that the committee was unable to review. If you have additional information that was not reviewed by the waiver committee you must submit another request for the committee to review the decision. Appeals will not be granted based on new or additional information.
Appeals must be received by 11:59pm the Sunday following the decision email. All appeals will be reviewed and decisions rendered within two business weeks.