Housing

Contract Release Request

Residence Hall contracts terms cover the entire academic year (or Spring Only). This is defined as the first official day of housing, or once a student checks in to their room, whichever occurs first, through 12 pm the day after spring semester finals. Terminating the Residence Halls contract prior to the end of the spring semester requires approval from the Executive Director of Housing. Also please note that when requesting to terminate your Residence Halls contract the freshmen residency policy will be considered for current students.

Release from the Residence Halls Contract and exemptions to the Freshman Residency Requirement are not guaranteed for any reason including signing a lease or contract off campus before going through the proper release process or between fall and spring semesters. Students should not sign off-campus leases or contracts before receiving an approved freshmen residency release or contract release and doing so will not be accepted as justification for requesting the release at any point including between fall and spring semesters. 

All releases/exemptions are at the discretion of the Executive Director of UM Housing. Decisions can take up to 2 weeks and will be communicated to the student via their UM email address.  

Students intending to request a release should review the criteria below before starting this request in their myHousingPortal under Forms.

Request for Release Criteria

Medical/disability-related condition:

A medical or disability condition that precludes you from living in the residence halls. This will require evaluation by the Office for Disability Equity. You may be required to provide medical documentation that supports your request to the Office for Disability Equity.

• The student must contact the Office for Disability Equity. The Office for Disability Equity can be contacted at 406-243-2243 or ode@umontana.edu.
• Must provide a letter from ODE that explains briefly the basis of the request to the UM Housing Office.

Less than 7 credits:

• First-year students enrolled in seven (7) or more credits are required to reside in the residence halls.
• While students must maintain at least 12 credits to remain eligible to live in the residence halls, a reduced course load does not automatically cancel your housing contract.
• First-year students enrolled in seven (7) through eleven (11) credits remain subject to the live-on requirement but must submit a minimum credit exemption request that includes a clear explanation of the student’s academic enrollment plan and reason for being part time.

Unforeseen Financial hardship:

Such as death, accident or severe illness of primary family wage earner, recent substantial change in the family or student’s financial status beyond the control of the student, or unusual circumstances well supported by documentation.

• Must provide a Housing Financial Hardship Worksheet and documentation of recent financial change.
• If traditional freshman, must also provide a letter of support from a parent/legal guardian.

Living with family member:

Living with an immediate family member (parent, grandparent, sibling, or legal guardian) at their principal, established local residence within a commutable radius.

• Must provide a letter from parent/legal guardian. Letter should contain the name, relationship to the student and address of the immediate family member with whom the student will be living.

Live in Greek Housing (Spring Semester Only):

Depends on grades and conduct for the student and the house. Decisions cannot be made until after Fall semester grades post.

• Subject to verification of student's grades and conduct.
• Subject to the house grades and conduct.

Not enrolling for Spring Semester:

Will not be enrolled in any classes for the Spring Semester, this may include students who are withdrawing, graduating, or transferring to a different institution.

• Subject to verification.

Unusual circumstances:

Circumstances have arisen that are not within the scope of the above-listed criteria that make living in the halls a hardship.

• If traditional freshman, must also include a letter of support from parent/legal guardian.
• Refer to medical/disability-related condition criteria if your request is based on a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Documentation Needed

If you need the Financial Hardship Worksheets they can be found here:

• 2025-2026 Financial Hardship Worksheet