The University of North Alabama requires all first-time, full-time freshmen, including first-time freshmen who graduated high school within the last 12 months, and English as a Second Language (ESL) students to live on campus for up to one academic year. Students first enrolling in the fall are required to live on campus during the fall and spring semesters. Students firstenrolling in the spring are required to live on campus during the spring semester.

Freshmen seeking an exemption to the housing requirement must submit a Freshman Housing Exemption Form and must return the form and the required documents to the Department of Housing and Residence Life by June 1 for the Fall. The deadline for the Spring semester is November 1.  

Exemptions to the Freshman Residency Requirement may be requested for the following reasons:

• The student will be living with his or her parent or legal guardian.
• Married as documented with a marriage certificate.
• Age 20 or older before the first day of classes in the fall semester of attendance at the University.
• Have a child and/or guardianship of a child, as documented with a photocopy of that child’s birth certificate AND a copy of the student’s federal tax return, verifying that the child is the student’s dependent.
• A veteran of the US military or currently serving as active duty or reserve with a photocopy of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release/Discharge from Active Duty, or a copy of your military ID card.
• A special medical necessity and/or emergency requiring a special housing option that cannot be provided by the University. Documentation must include a detailed statement from the attending physician as to why the specific medical necessity and/or emergency prevents the student from living in the residence halls, and how long the condition has been treated by the physician. Requests with supporting documentation are reviewed by the ROAR Access Center in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Housing and Residence Life will review the exemption form. A decision regarding the request will be sent to the student's UNA email account within 14 business days. Verbal exemptions will not be given.

If the student is denied an exemption, they may appeal the decision to the Associate Vice President/Dean of Students for Student Affairs, or designee.

Failure to meet the Freshman Residency Requirement, unless an exemption is approved, will result in a charge to the student’s University account each semester of the student’s first academic year. This charge will be equal to the cost of the lowest cost Double Residence Hall Room rate and Meal Plan.

 Approved by Board of Trustees 06-09-2014. Revised January 2023. Revised by VPSA 7-2-2026.