The deadline for students to petition
the Department of Housing and Residence Life for a release from
their housing contract for the spring semester is Nov. 1.
Most students petition for a release because of roommate, family
or financial problems, said Stacy Sears, assistant director of the
Department of Housing and Residence Life.
However, all petitions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis,
and no reasons are definite grounds for release, Sears said.
Since the first week of October, the Department of Housing and Residence
Life has received fewer than 50 petitions, Sears said. Last year,
115 students petitioned and 51 students were granted a release.
Kimberly A. Glanzman, a junior English major from Charlotte, petitioned
to be released from her contract last year but was not granted a
release. Glanzman remained on campus for the rest of the year.
“I couldn’t study, my grades were suffering from being
in the residence hall,” Glanzman said.
The Department of Housing and Residence Life sees this time as a
“grace period,” Sears said. No students will be charged
a penalty if they are released.
However, if a student is not granted a release but moves out of
on-campus housing, they would be expected to pay for the room.
“The contract is binding,” Sears said. “Even if the
room is filled, the student would still have to pay.”
Gender will play no role in who gets out of their contract, Sears
said.
Students will be notified within five working days as to whether
or not they will be released.
Decisions are made by Rick L. Geis, director of Housing and Residence
Life, Sears and a group of people from Housing Assignments.
Andrea R. Lamontagne, a criminal justice major from New Bern who
applied with Glanzman for the same reason, said: “I knew I
was going to be [denied]. It was all hope. You have to expect to
be released.”
Once a student is granted a release, they cannot
return to on-campus housing.
“Once a release is granted, it is final,” Sears said.
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