Policies and Procedures

Our published policies and procedures detail how we operate and why we deliver services in the way that we do. 

If you are a current resident, you may be looking for our student conduct and community policies.

three students sitting at table with books, papers, and a green backpack in loyd commons

Residency Requirement

51³Ô¹ÏÍøhas a vibrant, residential campus and living in a residential community is a vital experience of being a student. The residential experience supports students transitioning to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøand supports their success at the university. SMU's residential experience is found on the Residential Commons system, established in 2014, as a method to improve and foster a more inclusive campus culture. Through residential Commons programming, mentorship and special events, students built meaningful relationships and lasting connections.

  • First-year students must live on campus and are assigned to one of 11 Residential Commons. Within these diverse and dynamic communities, residents have access to peer-mentoring and form stronger relationships with other residents, helping them make campus home.
  • New transfer students are not required to live on campus but may apply and be assigned on a space-available basis.

Beginning Fall 2025, the residency requirement has been updated so that after fulfilling the one year requirement, students have more flexibility to choose whether to live on or off campus as they will no longer be required to live on campus during their second year. Although living on-campus a second year is not required, a student's Residential Commons connection will extend through their time on the Hilltop and beyond. Please see our FAQs if you have questions about changes to the residency requirement. 

Release from Requirement Request

New first-year students who are from Dallas may request a release from the requirement in order to continue to live at home with parent or guardian.  Releases may be requested after a student completes the housing application . 


Generally a student requests to live at home for one of these reasons, and it may be helpful to know the following:

  • Disability/Medical reasons:  The 51³Ô¹ÏÍøDisability Accommodation and Success Strategies (DASS) office works with students to determine what a student needs for accommodation in order to live on-campus using medical documentation and federal ADA guidelines. It is recommended students contact DASS regarding their situation for meeting their needs at SMU. (The RLSH office does not accept, review or retain any medical documentation.)
  • Family reasons: The release request to live at home is only for students from Dallas who will continue to live at home. Releases are not available for students from outside of Dallas who want to live with relatives or family friends.
  • Financial reasons: Approval to live at home may affect the student's financial aid, so it is recommended students contact the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøMane Desk to see how living at home would affect aid.

Incoming first year students who are married or who are over 21 are not required to live on-campus and should contact us to let us know why they will not live on-campus.

Release from Requirement Request Process

  1. Complete your housing application for the upcoming academic year as an incoming first year student. (The 2026-27 application will be available in February 2026.) Release from requirement requests are not considered without a completed housing application.

  2. Complete the "Request Release from Requirement" process in the . The request process includes
    • Your written statement for the request 
    • The address where you would live if released

Release requests from incoming first year students are reviewed by designated RLSH staff under the supervision and direction of the Dean of RLSH. Decisions are made on a bi-weekly rolling basis starting in February for the upcoming academic year. New students who submit a request by April 15 will receive a response in May. Decisions are sent to the student’s 51³Ô¹ÏÍøemail account. If a request is approved, a student is forfeiting their guarantee housing for the remainder of their time at SMU. Please note that living off campus may result in reduced financial aid packages.

Incoming students who are denied a housing release request may appeal to the Housing Release Appeal Committee. Appeals must be received within 14 days of the decision email. Appeals can be submitted to housing@smu.edu.

Housing Assignment Priority

51³Ô¹ÏÍøis committed to providing an on-campus residential experience for all first-year students and provides upper-division housing options for some second-, third-, and fourth-year students. Demand for housing is very high, and we work to accommodate as many students as possible.

Residence Life and Student Housing (RLSH) processes housing applications in the order they are received, based on the student classification. Below you can learn about housing assignment timelines and our priority order as they relate to the fall semester. Spring housing application have a similar priority order, but the timeline for assignments will differ.

Incoming, or new, first-year students are required to live on-campus and should complete a housing application as soon as they pay their deposit. Students should apply by May 10, unless admitted after that date.

The roommate request deadline is June 1.

Assignments are made in June and communicated to students via their 51³Ô¹ÏÍøemail address in mid-July. Housing assignments are made on a rolling basis for students who apply later than early-July.

Current residents who wish to live on-campus again must complete a new housing application by March 1 to participate in Room Selection for the following year.  Pending available space, students will be able to reserve a space in either their current residential commons or in upper division housing. The Housing Reapplication process is for all residential communities (residential commons and upper division housing).  

Students who are not current residents are not eligible to participate in Room Selection but may inquire after April 1 to see if applications are being accepted, based on demand for housing. 

Addition information for continuing residents can be found at Reapplication and Room Selection after December 15, 2025.

 

Transfer students should complete a housing application as soon as they pay their deposit. Students should apply by May 10, unless admitted after that date. 

  • Housing is very limited for incoming transfers and assignments are made on a space available basis.
  • The roommate request deadline is June 1, regardless of when the student is admitted. 
  • Priority of assignment is given to students who are 20 years of age or younger in housing application-date order.
  • Assignments for transfer students are made in July with notification in mid to late July.
  • Housing assignments are made on a rolling basis for students who apply later than early-July when space permits.

Effective Fall 2023, transfer students do not have a housing requirement.  Transfer students should be prepared to look for housing off-campus. Transfers who cancel housing after assignment are subject to cancellation penalties.

 

Current students who lived off-campus the prior academic year may contact RLSH to inquire about availability. Application will be opened in April, if space is available. Housing availability is limited, and assignments are made on a space available basis in May, June and July. Students from off-campus do not participate in room selection and cannot be requested as a roommate by current residents. 

This includes students who were released from the residency requirement their first year and would like to live on campus their second year at SMU. 

Graduate students are encouraged to check out the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøApartments. 

 

 

 

Faith-based Assignment Considerations

In instances where a housing policy, procedure or requirement conflicts with a student’s sincerely held faith-based practice or beliefs, RLSH will make good faith efforts to meet a student’s request for housing considerations during the assignment process. Most students requesting a faith-based need can be supported through on-campus housing options. 

For incoming students, a request for a faith-based housing assignment consideration must be made at the time of application, prior to assignment. Returning students should first participate in the reapplication process and work to self-select a space that best fits their faith-based considerations.

Please note that if a student requests an assignment consideration after living on campus the student may be asked to clarify or explain the change in circumstances prompting the request.

For faith-based housing assignment consideration, students may submit a housing request with their housing application on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøHousing portal. The student must provide the following information:

  • The reason you need an assignment consideration related to faith-based practice or belief.
  • A description of the consideration you are requesting.
  • How this request for consideration will help resolve the conflict between your faith-based beliefs or practices and living on campus.
  • If a returning student, clarify or explain the change in circumstances prompting the request.

Faith-based/religious considerations in assignments are not guaranteed but will be granted as space permits.

When there is more than one alternative that eliminates a conflict with the student's faith-based beliefs, RLSH will make assignment to the alternative which least disadvantages the individual. Please understand that assignments may not be your preferred assignment.

RLSH is not required to grant a student a release from housing if a requested assignment consideration can be made that eliminates the conflict. Please note: Requesting exceptions to housing assignment policy or procedure for faith-based purposes is separate from the disability accommodations process. If you are seeking a housing release request for faith-based purposes and accommodations for medical conditions or disabilities, please also follow the process for requesting a DASS housing accommodations.