Off-Campus Housing

Requests for 2024-2025 have closed. No additional requests or appeals will be reviewed at this time.
Updated March 14, 2024

Off-Campus

Williams, as a residential college, strongly believes that students living on campus together is an important aspect of community-building during their time at Williams – and thus, the College requires its students to live on-campus. At the same time, due to fluctuations in enrollment numbers and changing on-campus bed-count numbers, the College releases a certain number of students from the on-campus living requirement for their senior year. These students typically live in houses or apartments in close proximity to campus that are owned and managed by entities other than Williams (landlords, real estate agencies, property management companies, etc.).

Students in the Class of 2025 who wish to be released from the College’s on-campus living requirement for their senior year must meet all of the qualifying criteria and follow the instructions (see below).

Please Note: simply signing a rental agreement with a landlord does not guarantee that a student will be released from College housing for their senior year. In fact, signing a rental agreement in advance of being released is a significant financial & legal risk which is borne solely by the student and/or parents/guardians.

The College communicates annually with known local landlords to explain and reiterate the College’s policy.

The College strongly urges students to think twice before signing a contract with a local landlord for senior-year housing before you know, for sure, that you will be released to live off-campus. Again, simply signing a rental agreement with a landlord does not guarantee a release from College housing.

The application process for the Class of 2025 will launch on the Williams Housing Portal (look under the “Next Academic Year” tab) on November 15, 2023. The priority application deadline is November 24, 2023. Requests submitted after the priority deadline will be considered on a rolling basis until January 2, 2024. Applications will not be accepted after January 2, 2024. 

Class of 2025 Student Requirements & Responsibilities for Release

1.  Applications are by individual student. If the number of applicants goes over the cap, a lottery may be held to determine who is (and is not) released.

2.  Applicant names are reviewed by the Dean of the College and the Director of Campus Safety Services. Permission to be released may be denied should this review suggest that an off-campus living option may not be the best option for the student or for the off-campus community.

3.  Any student given permission by the College to be released must complete the Student Acceptance of Release section in the Housing Portal by the deadline given when the release is offered, including the following acknowledgements:

  • living off-campus is a privilege and not a right
  • release to live off-campus can be revoked by the Dean of the College should a review of the student’s overall disciplinary record at any time suggest that an off-campus living option may not be the best option for the student or for the off-campus community
  • release to live off-campus can be revoked by the Office of Campus Life should the student not complete all of the requirements listed in #4 below
  • the College will not be held responsible for any financial commitments or losses related to a student’s off-campus rental
  • the student will abide by all College rules & policies regarding student conduct
  • the student will abide by all applicable laws (local, state, and federal), especially those regarding noise, alcohol, and parties
  • the student will attend any mandatory meetings sponsored by the College and/or law enforcement agencies regarding living off-campus
  • if the student’s off-campus location changes, the student must notify Residential Life & Housing in the Office of Campus Life immediately
  • if the student’s off-campus plans change and they need to live on-campus instead, regardless of the reason for the change of plans, the student is not eligible to enter any other on-campus lotteries for that academic year’s housing until after the initial lotteries for the upcoming year have completed

 4.  All students who are released must do all of the following:

  • Attend & pass Bystander Training (a program designed to equip students to intervene in situations where another student may be in danger), prior to the fall of the year for which the student is released.
  • Attend & pass TIPS Training (a program regarding the responsible service of alcohol), prior to the fall of the year for which the student is released.
  • Attend the Off-Campus Living Presentation, which is held early in the fall of the year for which the student is released.