Residence Hall Accommodations

Kutztown University provides residence hall accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure equal access to on-campus housing. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), students must submit a formal request for accommodations to the Disability Services Office (DSO) and provide documentation demonstrating that the requested accommodation is medically necessary to access and use campus housing.

Requests for housing accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis according to documented need and prevailing standards for reasonable accommodations. If there is sufficient documentation to determine medical necessity, a referral for the accommodation(s) will be sent to the Housing Office. Requests for housing accommodations should be made as soon as the Advanced Registration Deposit (ARD) has been paid to ensure accommodations are in place for the start of the semester.

Important Information About Housing Assignments:

Being approved for a housing accommodation means the DSO has verified a disability-related need for a specific housing-related feature (e.g., a single room, air conditioning, ADA-accessible space). However, DSO does not assign rooms, buildings, or roommates. All placement decisions, including specific room assignments, roommate/suitemate pairings, and building locations, are made by KU Housing based on space availability and a student’s approved housing accommodation needs.

Students may be placed in any residence hall that meets their approved accommodation(s). While KU Housing will do their best to consider preferences, such as specific buildings or roommates, these preferences cannot be guaranteed due to a variety of factors, including space availability and university housing policies.

In some cases, fulfilling a preference may not be feasible. For example, if an incoming first-year student receives a housing accommodation that exempts them from being placed in a traditional freshman hall due to a documented medical need, they may be placed in an upperclassman residence hall to meet that need. However, their preferred roommate may not qualify for the same exemption and therefore would not be eligible to live in that same building.

Because accommodations are granted based on medical necessity, the approved need takes priority. All questions regarding specific residence hall placements or roommate pairings must be directed to KU Housing & Dining Services at housing@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4027.

How to Request a Housing Accommodation:

Submit the online Accommodation Request Form through the DSO website.
Have your licensed medical provider complete the Housing Accommodation Request: Care Provider Form, or submit a letter that answers all the questions on the form.
- All documentation must be typed on letterhead, dated, and signed by a qualified professional.
- It must include the provider’s name, title, professional credentials, and contact information.
- Documentation must be recent and describe how the disability impacts your ability to live in standard housing.
Once your request and documentation have been reviewed and approved, you will be notified via your KU email, and the DSO will send a referral to KU Housing & Dining Services for processing. Documentation is typically reviewed within 24–48 business hours; however, during high-volume periods (such as housing selection season), processing may take slightly longer. Please note that documentation is only reviewed during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

Current vs. incoming students

Incoming Students (First-Year or Transfer):
After your housing accommodation is approved by the DSO, a referral is sent to KU Housing. Housing staff will take your accommodation into account when assigning your room. We strongly recommend submitting your request and documentation as soon as your Advanced Registration Deposit (ARD) is paid to increase the likelihood of meeting your specific needs.
Current Students Already Living on Campus:
If you are currently living in a residence hall and receive a new or updated housing accommodation, your current assignment may be adjusted. Housing will review your approved accommodation and reassign you as needed to a space that meets your needs. If no immediate space is available, you may be placed on a waiting list until one becomes available.

If you are currently approved for a housing accommodation and want to continue to receive that accommodation, you do not need to reach out to the DSO. You will receive information from Housing regarding room placement and selection during the spring semester.

Service Animals living in Residence Halls

If you plan to live on campus and use a trained service animal (e.g., service dog), please notify the DSO before bringing the animal to campus. Click here for more information about Service Animals On-Campus.

Requests for Exception to the Residency Requirement - Medical Need

Full-time undergraduate students with fewer than 60 earned credits are generally required to live in a university-operated residence hall unless they meet specific criteria (e.g., veteran status, marriage, commuting from a parent/guardian’s home within 30 miles of KU).

Students seeking an exception due to disability must follow the DSO housing accommodation request process and submit the Residency Exception Request Form available in MyKUHousing. Documentation must clearly explain how your disability impacts your ability to live in campus housing.

If the DSO determines your request is justified, it will be referred to Housing & Dining Services for final review and processing