Submitting the Contract Release

The Resident can request release from the contract, which is subject to the approval of the Contract Release Committee.

• All requests to terminate the contract must be submitted in writing by completing a Contract Release Form and submitted within 10 business days of the housing cancellation application.
• Students who’s housing is cancelled due to lack of response must submit a Contract Release Form within 10 days of the cancellation charge being added to the fee bill.
• Requests will automatically be denied if they are not submitted in line with these expectations.
• A release will be granted only when it has been determined that circumstances are substantially different from the time the contract went into effect.

Grounds for a Release/Supporting Documentation

A release is only granted when it has been determined that circumstances are substantially different from the time the contract went into effect and the situation cannot be relieved by a room change or utilization of campus resources. If the student can be accommodated with a room change, the Contract Release will not be granted.  All contract releases must include supporting documentation.  A contract release without any supporting documentation will automatically be denied.

Contract Release may be granted for the following reasons:

Financial

Medical

Other

Contract Release will automatically be denied for the following reasons (this is not a comprehensive list):

• Not being able to select the housing a student wanted/had to select more expensive housing than desired
• Found cheaper off campus housing
• Do not like roommate(s)
• Missed a deadline
• Did not read the contract
• Do not like dining hall food

Financial

• Students need to demonstrate how their extreme, unanticipated financial hardships, not present or known at the onset of the contract, is different from the time the contract went into effect and changes a students financial status so the family/student can no longer fund on-campus housing as determined by financial aid. Finding off-campus housing at a lower cost is not considered a sufficient reason for a release request.

• All circumstances must be verified through documentation and Housing Administration and Finance will consult with the Financial Aid Office to verify whether or not students are utilizing all of the assistance for which they are eligible. Contract Releases that are submitted without supporting documentation that support a significant financial change since the application was submitted will automatically be denied.

Medical

• A serious medical issue must be verified by a signed statement from a physician and should address how this medical concern relates to the student’s inability to live in on-campus housing. The request will be considered based upon medical need and whether the need can be accommodated in any other on-campus housing through a room change. Medical documentation must be submitted to The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD, myaccess-csd@uconn.edu) and not submitted to Housing Administration and Finance. Submitting documentation does not automatically register a student with the CSD. However, students wishing to request accommodations (academic, residential, etc.) can register with the CSD at https://csd.uconn.edu.
• Housing Administration and Finance should receive this Contract Release form and any other non-medical documentation. When submitting to the CSD please indicate that you are pursuing a contract release with Housing Administration and Finance.

Other

• For any circumstance that does not relate to Financial, Medical, or Change in Status, please include all information that will help establish that your circumstances have changed since the beginning of the contract and why the release will support your situation. Documentation should include a letter stating why the change is being requested and supporting documentation to support the claims in the letter.

Timeline

• A Contract Release must be submitted within 10 business days of cancelling housing. Students that submit a contract release more than 10 business days after their housing has been cancelled will automatically be denied the contract release.
• A Contract Release must be submitted no later than the first 6 weeks of the semester. Anything after 6 weeks should be submitted for the next semester for consideration.
• A student who is approved for a Contract Release has 2 weeks to cancel their housing for the semester their contract is released. Students who do not cancel housing for the appropriate semester within 2 weeks of receiving their contract release decision will have their contract release null and void and are then responsible for all cancellations fees.

Decisions

• The Contract Release Process is the University approved process to be released from the Housing Contract. The contract release committee is the sole decision maker regarding contract releases.  Appealing to other departments to overturn a decision will not be considered.    By submitting the contract release you are agreeing to these terms and to the decisions made by the Contract Release Committee.

Refund Amounts

• If approved for a Contract Release prior to the start of the semester and prior to moving into the assignment a full refund will be issued to the students fee bill.
• If approved for a Contract Release after moving into an assignment the University Refund Schedules is utilized to determine the refund amount. The University Refund Schedule can be found at Cancellations and Refunds | Office of the Associate Vice President of Financial Operations and Controller. Refund amounts are determined by the University Board of Trustees and can not be negotiated.  The date used by the University as the official cancellation date is the date that all of the following terms are met:
  • Contract Release was submitted
  • Cancellation application was submitted
  • Keys were returned and the assignment was officially vacated.

Appeals/Denied Contract Releases

• Students who’s contract release is denied are allowed ONE appeal. This appeal is one additional opportunity to supply as much supporting evidence as possible.  This additional supporting evidence must be submitted within 2 weeks of notification of the decision.
• Students who are appealing the decision can not change the reason why they are submitting the contract release (ie submit a contract release based on a medical reason and be denied then submit additional supporting documentation that supports a release for financial reasons)
• Students who’s appeals are denied are responsible for all cancellation fees associated with housing. There is no additional appeal process beyond this point.