Off-Campus Living

Bucknell is a residential university with a four-year residency requirement, which means that you are expected to live in Bucknell campus housing for the four years of your college experience. Each year, a limited number of rising seniors are given permission to live off campus. In order to live off campus, students must apply and be granted approval by Housing Services.

Off-campus approval from Housing Services is not required for:

  • Graduate students
  • Non-traditional students
  • New students who are 23 years of age or older
  • Students who are living with family/commuting
  • Students who are married and/or have children
  • Returning students who will turn 25 during senior year

Eligibility

Living off campus at Bucknell is a privilege and comes with responsibilities. When living off campus, the student becomes the face of Bucknell for members of the local community. Only rising senior students who complete the application process will be eligible to live off campus. Eligibility is determined by the following factors:

  • Judicial Review
    The conduct record of each off-campus living applicant is reviewed. Those with certain conduct infractions may be denied final approval. Appeals are reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students.
  • Class
    Only rising seniors and students beginning the fourth year of a five-year program are eligible to apply for off-campus living.
  • Fraternity or Sorority Membership
    For fraternity or sorority members, approval to live off campus is contingent upon their organization filling their chapter housing to capacity, as well as providing six alternates to live in on-campus should a vacancy arise in chapter housing.

How to Apply

The application process begins in late September for the following academic year and is a multi-step online process. Approval to live off campus is not guaranteed. Do not sign a lease for off-campus accommodations until you have received final written approval from Housing Services.

Learn how to apply

Leases/Services

If final approval to live off campus is granted, the student is responsible for locating an approved rental property, negotiating with the landlord and signing a lease. The University does not inspect facilities located off campus that are not owned by the University; however, approved properties are inspected by the local codes authority (the Central Keystone Council of Governments). The University does not determine whether an off-campus residence is safe, sanitary and in compliance with local ordinances.

Please note: The Borough of Lewisburg limits the number of unrelated persons living together in a rental unit to three.

The University does not provide Residence Life services or directly supervise students off campus.

Adding an Available Rental Property

Are you a local landlord interested in renting to Bucknell students? To have your property inspected for approval, please contact Central Keystone Council of Governments at 570-522-1326 to have your property inspected by the codes office. If approved, the property will be added to our map and you will be able to be contacted by potential tenants.


Student Conduct Record and Off-Campus Housing

Behavior off campus is subject to local, state, and federal law and may be addressed by local authorities and subject to University action. Students living off-campus who are cited at their residence by the local authorities for infractions such as disorderly conduct, excessive noise or possession or use of alcohol while under the age of 21 will have their behavior addressed by the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Review of conduct history is a step in the off-campus housing application process, and students who have been found in violation of the Student Code of Conduct may be declined to move off campus. Occurrences that may lead to a loss of off-campus living privileges include:

  • A pattern of low-risk incidents of alcohol/drug possession or impairment or disorderly conduct.
  • Any single severe/high-risk offense of alcohol/drug possession or impairment, vandalism, theft, or other serious incident.
  • Any incident of drug distribution or interpersonal violence not deemed to have been in self-defense.
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Defrauding Housing Services

Students have a responsibility to act honestly. Once students have been approved to live off campus, signed a lease and agreed to live in a specific space, they must continue to live there. Anyone attempting to defraud the application process will have their approval revoked, along with the approval of the other members of their group.

Contact Details

Housing Services

Hours

08:30 a.m. - 04:30 p.m., Monday – Friday