Incoming full-time first year students who have a primary address greater than 15 miles away from the East Falls Campus are required to live in University housing for their first two years of enrollment. Students whose primary residence is within 15 miles of East Falls Campus can opt-in to the residency requirement by choosing to be admitted as a resident student their first semester. Transfer students are exempt from the two-year housing requirement.

Students may submit an Appeal for two purposes: to appeal their required participation in Thomas Jefferson University – East Falls’ Two-Year Residency Requirement, or to petition to be released from a signed contract.

Appeals to the Two-Year Residency Requirement will be considered for the following reasons:

• Students with a primary address within 15 miles of Thomas Jefferson University – East Falls
• Students who are or will be over the age of 20 at the beginning of this contract’s dates
• Military veterans
• Married students
• Students with legal dependents
• Extenuating financial circumstances, which requires documentation in the form of a report from Student Accounts or Financial Aid showing a significant change to financial circumstances
• Extenuating medical circumstances, which requires documentation from a medical provider that will be reviewed by Student Health Services and/or Student Accessibility Services.

Appeals that students submit to petition for a contract release will be considered for the following reasons:

• Upcoming military service
• Marriage, occurring after contract signature
• New legal dependents after contract signature
• Extenuating financial circumstances, which requires documentation in the form of a report from Student Accounts or Financial Aid showing a significant change to financial circumstances
• Extenuating medical circumstances, which requires documentation from a medical provider that will be reviewed by Student Health Services and/or Student Accessibility Services. 

Students who live on campus in the fall semester and study away during the spring semester are not required to appeal.

Students who wish to appeal after signing the contract should email tju_ef_reslife@jefferson.edu with supporting documentation. All appeals are reviewed by at least two staff members in the Office of Residential Life.

First and second-year students who are under the residency requirement are guaranteed housing for their first two years. Juniors, seniors and graduate students are not guaranteed housing.

Transfer students are exempt from the Two-Year Residency Requirement. Residential Life accommodates transfer students based on supply and demand. Transfer students are typically placed in Scholler Hall, Independence Plaza, or our Townhouses.