When you sign the housing contract, you’re agreeing to live on campus and pay for housing for the entire academic year (fall and spring semesters.) This page explains when and how you can request a cancellation of this contract. Please note: simply moving out of your room or deciding to live off-campus does NOT cancel your housing contract or stop your housing charges.
Remember: The Housing and Dining Contract is a binding agreement for the entire academic year (fall and spring semesters.) Make sure you fully read and understand the terms that you agree to before signing your housing contract.
All first-year students must live on campus unless Housing approves an exemption (special permission to not live on-campus). For first-year students requesting to cancel housing, refer to the Contract Release Process for more information.
You can only cancel your housing contract for these specific reasons:
- Withdrawal/Leave of Absence
- Academic Dismissal
- Study Abroad
- Student Teaching/Internship (including Global Teaching)
- Student Conduct
- Contract Release Process
- Graduating
You’re still responsible for the full year’s housing and dining charges if you move out, decide to commute from home, or move to off-campus housing (including Campus Town) without permission.
Students who are leaving the College completely (withdrawing) or taking time off from the College for a period of time (leave of absence), must do so by going through Records and Registration.
Step 1: Contact Records and Registration by submitting a form.
Step 2: Once your form is reviewed and processed, Housing is notified of your approval.
Step 3: You have 24 hours to move out completely:
-
- Take all belongings
- Clean your room
- Return ALL keys (or pay for lock changes)
A student leaving the College will have current and future housing cancelled.
Arlotto Family Center for Global Engagement will notify Housing who’s going abroad for each semester. Once Housing staff is notified, you will receive an email to confirm. Students must respond to the email to be released for the semester you are away.
Students going abroad for a semester who have not signed a full year housing contract can request to live on campus by submitting an application through MyHousing.
Students with an internship or teaching placement more than 30 mile from campus can be released from the contract for that semester. To determine eligibility, fill out our Contract Release form with proof of your placement like an offer letter.
Internships closer than 30 miles don’t qualify for a release.
Students who are asked to leave due to grades will be removed from housing for the remainder of the academic year. Students returning to the College can request to live on campus by submitting an application on MyHousing.
Students who have been temporarily or permanently removed from housing due to conduct violations or the involuntary health or safety withdrawal process will be removed from their housing assignment and will not receive any housing or meal plan refunds.
All residential students must be approved to be released from their contract by the Housing office or, in the case of first-year students, receive an approved housing exemption or contract release.
Returning Students
Students with serious financial hardship or major medical issues that happened after you signed your contract, can apply for a release after the July ” no questions asked” cancellation period. To submit a contract release request:
- Fill out the Contract Release Form via MyHousing.
- Provide supporting documents (medical records, financial statements, etc.). Releases are not complete without supporting documents.
- Submit on MyHousing.
- After you submit a request, you can schedule a meeting with the Committee via MyHousing or the link in your confirmation email.
- The Contract Release Committee will review and decide within 5-10 business days.
- If approved, Housing will email you with move-out instructions. All refunds will be based on the Contract Release Fee Schedule.
If a student is not approved for a release, you will have 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. For help, please reach out to housing@tcnj.edu.
First- Year Students
All first-year students must live on campus unless Housing approves an exemption (special permission to not live on-campus). The cancellation process for first-year students depends based on your housing status:
- Students who have not applied for housing must submit a First-Year Housing Exemption form on the First Year Housing Requirement page.
- Students who have approved exemptions and selected housing looking to cancel housing must submit a contract release request, as outlined below.
- Students who applied but did not select housing will be assigned and billed for housing. Any students looking to cancel housing must submit a contract release request, as outlined below.
- Students who applied and selected housing looking to cancel housing must submit a contract release request, as outlined below.
First-year students, with serious financial hardship or major medical issues that happened after you signed your contract, can apply for a release. To submit a contract release request:
- Fill out the Contract Release Form via MyHousing.
- Provide supporting documents (medical records, financial statements, etc.) Releases are not complete without supporting documents.
- Submit on MyHousing.
- After you submit a request, you can schedule a meeting with the Committee via MyHousing or the link in your confirmation email.
- The Contract Release Committee will review and decide within 5-10 business days.
- If approved, Housing will email you with move-out instructions. All refunds will be based on the Contract Release Fee Schedule.
If a student is not approved for a release, you will have 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. Good news for first-year students: you won’t pay the usual cancellation fees because of the College’s First-Year Housing Requirement. For help, please reach out to housing@tcnj.edu.