Any student who terminates their housing is subject to the terms outlined in the Annual Residence Hall and Dining Service Contract and all other applicable college guidelines. The Annual Residence Hall and Dining Service Contract is a binding agreement and is in effect for the entire academic year or remaining portion thereof.
Please read the contract to understand its terms and review the cancellation and refund schedule:
Students will only be released from their contract if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Withdrawal/Leave of Absence
- Academic Dismissal
- Study Abroad
- Student Teaching/Internship (including Global Teaching)
- Student Conduct
- Contract Release Process
- Graduating
The above criteria are the only reasons a student may be released from their housing contract. Checking out of your room, commuting, or moving to an off-campus residents does not qualify as being released from the housing contract, and does not make you eligible for a housing or board refund. Please read below for specific information on each criteria for leaving housing.
A student who is taking a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal must do so by going through Records and Registration. Below are the steps that will occur when going through this process:
Step 1: Go to the Records and Registration website to review their Withdrawal/Leave of Absence procedures.
Step 2: Records and Registration will notify Residential Education and Housing that a student has been approved for the withdrawal or leave of absence. Once Housing receives this information, it will be communicated to the staff of the student’s building.
Step 3: Within 24 hours of Records and Registration approving the request, the student must vacate their current housing assignment. To vacate a housing assignment, the student must:
- Remove all of belongings from his/her room and insure the room is clean.
- Report to the Area Office to sign the Room Condition Report (RCR).
- Return any keys (room, bathroom, front door, mailbox) to the Area Office. Students who do not return all keys will be subjected to a lock change charge.
A student who withdraws from the college forfeits their current and future housing assignment.
The Center for Global Engagement will provide a list of students who are studying abroad to Residential Education and Housing. In turn, Housing will e-mail residents to confirm that they are going abroad in order to release them from their contract. Students must confirm through e-mail in order to be released. Students who have already signed a full year housing contract will only be released for the semester they are abroad.
We encourage students who plan to go abroad to participate in the lottery and room selection process if they wish to have housing from when they return from their abroad experience. If a student signs into a room at lottery and goes abroad in the fall, the student is bound to that room for the spring semester only. If a student signs into a room at lottery and goes abroad in the spring, the student is bound to that room for the fall semester only.
Students going abroad for a semester who have not signed a full year housing contract may request to live on campus by submitting an application through My Housing.
Students who receive an academic internship or student teaching placement greater than 30 miles from campus may be released from the housing contract for the semester interning or student teaching. Any academic internships or student teaching placements within 30 miles of TCNJ will not be granted a release.
Students who are academically dismissed will be removed from their housing assignment for the upcoming academic year. Students choosing to return to housing after returning to the College may request to live on campus by submitting an application through My Housing.
Students who have been temporarily or permanently removed from residence through the student conduct or the involuntary health or safety withdrawal process will be removed from their housing assignment but will not be eligible for any housing or meal plan refunds.
Students with a significant financial or medical hardship that has occurred after they signed their annual housing contract may be eligible for a contract release, provided they meet certain criteria. Students who feel they have a reason to be released will need to complete the appropriate form and submit it and all supporting documents to Eickhoff 114.
Contract Release Forms:
Upon submission of a completed Request for Contract Release Form and all applicable documentation, the Contract Release Committee will review the student’s request and render a decision within 5-10 business days.
Students who are approved for a contract release will be emailed confirming they have been released and any instructions on how and when to move out depending on the date of the release and the academic calendar.
If a student does not meet the criteria for a contract release, they will be held financially responsible for all housing and dining charges for the entire academic year. Checking out of your room, commuting, or moving to an off-campus residence (including Campus Town) does not qualify as being released from the housing contract, and does not make you eligible for a housing or board refund. All students must be approved to be released from their contract by the Housing office.