Gettysburg is a residential college. By policy, all of our undergraduate students are required to live on campus, or in a College-related fraternity house, unless they receive approval to reside off-campus. Permission to live off-campus is determined through an application process held in February.
In the interest of being fair and equitable to all students, exceptions to this procedure are not permitted. Students are forewarned against signing a lease for an off-campus accommodation until they receive approval (in writing) at the beginning of March. If you do not have written permission to reside off-campus, you are obligated to reside in, and pay for, college housing.
- Students must be at current "junior" standing (anticipated graduation date of December 2013, May 2014 or December 2014). Although current sophomores are not prohibited from applying, current sophomores will only be considered after all junior approvals are complete. In the interest of being fair and equitable to all students, exceptions to this procedure are not permitted.
- Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to be considered to live off-campus during their senior year.
- Each applicant's conduct record, both on and off campus, will be reviewed. Students who have 5 points or more or are currently under conduct probation will not be permitted to live off-campus.
- Each applicant must attend one of the two mandatory off-campus housing application meetings.
- Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 7:00 p.m., Mara Auditorium
- Thursday, January 31, 2013, 11:30 a.m., Mara Auditorium
- Any current junior who is presently residing off-campus MUST reapply for off-campus approval for the 2013-2014 academic year.
- Note to fraternity members: Fraternity houses must be at capacity for the following fall semester before fraternity members will be authorized, by the College, to live off-campus. The Office of Residence Life will work in coordination with the Office of Greek Organizations to ensure that this criteria is met.
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The College considers permission to live off-campus to be a privilege. Each student interested in living off-campus at any time during his or her senior year is required to attend one of the mandatory off-campus housing application meetings held in February. These will be the only meetings held regarding off-campus living; please plan your schedule accordingly. This meeting will include information regarding the approval process, standards of behavior that are expected of students living in the Gettysburg community, and some information on the rental process. Failure to attend one of these meetings will prohibit you from living off-campus.
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 7:00 p.m., Mara Auditorium
- Thursday, January 31, 2013, 11:30 a.m., Mara Auditorium
Those students who will be abroad at any time during their senior year and plan to reside off-campus (even if their plans are only to live in the community for one semester), must attend one of the off-campus housing application meetings.
Those students who are studying off-campus at the time of this process (February 2013) must have "proxy" representation both for the meeting and the application. That is, they must designate a student (proxy) to act on their behalf for the off-campus housing approval process. A student can be a proxy for multiple students. It is important that students notify Residence Life as to who their proxy is so that Residence Life staff know who is authorized to act on students' behalf.
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- Applications will only be available at the end of one of the off-campus orientation meetings held each February and are due to the Office of Residence Life by Friday, February 22, 2013.
- Applications will be reviewed and approved in lottery number order. One lottery number (lowest) can take with it as many as four people on one application who will be residing together at the same address.
- Those students who will be studying off-campus at any time during their senior year and plan to reside off-campus (even if their plans are only to live in the community for one semester), must attend one of the off-campus housing application meetings.
- Those students who are studying off-campus at the time of this process must have "proxy" representation both for the meeting and the application.
- Group and individual approvals will be made by March 6th with approval letters and acceptance forms being mailed to each student. Individuals will be approved to live off-campus until the maximum permissible number is reached (170 students). Once the maximum number is reached, all remaining students are placed on a waiting list.
- Off-campus acceptance forms must be signed and returned to the Office of Residence Life by Friday, March 22, 2013.
- Once approval has been granted, the responsibility for securing suitable accommodations rests entirely on each student. The College is not involved in borough inspections of non-College facilities and therefore cannot ascertain whether such facilities are safe, sanitary, or in compliance with local ordinances. The College does not provide residential services (including oversight by the Department of Public Safety) for those living off-campus. Students' landlords and the Gettysburg Borough Police are among the many resources available to students living off-campus.
- Students residing off-campus are still subject to the College's judicial procedures and the sanctions of local authorities. Students living off-campus who are cited by the local authorities for disorderly conduct, excessive noise, drinking underage, public intoxication, etc. may be required to return to campus housing regardless of financial hardship or lease commitments. All occupants of the house or apartment may be subject to the same requirement. Therefore, students living off-campus must be prepared to take personal responsibility for the consequences of any gathering they host.
Gettysburg College has instituted these policies and procedures as part of our continuing effort to strengthen and enhance a positive relationship between the campus and our neighbors. In addition, the College Relations Committee meets regularly, bringing together administrators and students with community representatives to review and discuss issues relating to both the town and College communities.
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Fraternity houses must be at capacity for the following fall semester before fraternity members will be authorized, by the College, to live off-campus. The Office of Residence Life will work in coordination with the Office of Greek organizations to ensure that this criteria is met.
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- Those students who will be studying off-campus at any time during their senior year and plan to reside off-campus (even if their plans are only to live in the community for one semester), must attend one of the off-campus housing application meetings.
- Those students who are studying off-campus at the time of this process (February 2013) must have "proxy" representation both for the meeting and the application. That is, they must designate a student (proxy) to act on their behalf for the off-campus housing approval process. A student can be a proxy for multiple students. It is important that students notify Residence Life as to who their proxy is so that Residence Life staff know who is authorized to act on students' behalf.
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Any student approved to live off-campus may relinquish his/her approval by doing so in writing to the Office of Residence Life.
Should the student whose lottery number was used to pull a group off campus decide to relinquish off-campus status and move back on campus, the ENTIRE group will also relinquish off-campus rights. Any remaining members of this group still wishing to reside off campus will be put on a waitlist for off campus permission.
Those who wish to be included in the on-campus lottery must relinquish their off-campus status by Friday, March 22, 2013.
X CloseAll students who are approved to live off-campus during the Fall 2013 semester will be required to attend the off-campus housing orientation meeting during the first week of classes (date, time and location to be determined).
There will be representatives from the local community, members of the Gettysburg Police department and administrative staff from the College at this meeting, which will last approximately one hour. There will also be a review of borough ordinances and the college's expectations for student behavior.
Students who do not attend this mandatory off-campus orientation meeting will be subject to a $100 fine.
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Off-Campus Housing Application Meetings (attending one of the following meetings listed below is mandatory). Off-campus housing applications will only be available at the conclusion of these meetings.
- Wednesday, January 30, 2013, 7:00 p.m., Mara Auditorium
- Thursday, January 31, 2013, 11:30 a.m., Mara Auditorium
Friday, February 22, 2013
- Applications for off-campus living due to the Office of Residence Life (CUB 250, Box 430)
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
- Approvals granted for those qualified to live off-campus
- Waitlist established for those who are not authorized to live off-campus
Friday, March 22, 2013
- Off-campus acceptance forms due to the Office of Residence Life (CUB 250, Box 430)
- Deadline to relinquish off-campus approval
Mandatory Off-Campus Housing Orientation Meeting
- First week of classes in the fall
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Off-Campus Properties:
Students have two ways to connect with Gettysburg property owners who rent houses and apartments to students.
Off-Campus Rental Expo: In early March, the Office of Residence Life hosts the Off-Campus Rental Expo in order to provide students with the opportunity to meet property owners with properties available for rent.
Online Off-Campus Property Listing: The Office of Residence Life manages an online list of properties that are typically rented to students. The online listing includes detailed information about each property and property owner/manager contact information. Property owners interested in renting to students are expected to list their property on this site.
Please Note: Gettysburg College does not control or inspect any of these premises, and therefore, the College cannot and does not endorse any of these properties, nor does it warrant to students or others the condition, safety, or habitability of any of these premises.
Gettysburg Property Owners:
The Office of Residence Life recommends that people interested in renting one or more properties to students read the information provided above. In order to rent to students, Gettysburg College expects property owners to list their properties on the College's Online Off-Campus Property Listing. To list a property, please complete the Off-Campus Property Listing Form.
