Off-Campus Housing Policy and Petition

2023-2024 petitions ARE NOW CLOSED

MONDAY MARCH 6TH - WEDNESDAY MARCH 22ND

 

 

Cadets enrolled in any baccalaureate degree programs at the California State University Maritime Academy are required to maintain residency on campus and participate in a meal plan each year until graduation. However, cadets may be exempted from living on-campus if they meet eligibility, submit an off-campus petition, and is approved  for off-campus status. 

 

Eligibility for Off-Campus Consideration

Cadets who are 26 years of age or older prior to August 1st of the start of the academic year. No documentation is required. 

Cadets who are married or in a domestic partnership. Documentation is required and must be uploaded with your StarRez application, such as marriage certificate, certificate of registered domestic partnership, civil union or other similar status, joint bank statements, shared car insurance, or shared medical coverage.

Current/active military or veteran's status with at least 24 months of active service. Documentation is required and must be uploaded with your StarRez application, such as a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (if a veteran), or written proof of current active military duty.

Retired, Active, and Active Reserve military members can apply for off campus housing after living on campus for one-year, acceptable documentation includes a DD214, Letter from Command, and Points Summary.

Cadets who have lived on campus for seven semesters at the Cal Maritime. Living on campus is defined as having moved into a residence hall, picked up and returned key in appropriate time, completed room check-out properly, and attended mandatory floor meetings. Enrollment status will be confirmed by the Registrar's Office.

Cadets must have full-time court-ordered parental custody of a child/children. Documentation is required and must be uploaded with your StarRez application, such as legal guardianship documentation.

To request an exemption to the university’s housing requirement based on a disability need, the student needs to apply within the application timeframe. Cadets need to complete the online ADSO application and upload supporting documentation via the ADSO application. Students will then be contacted by ADSO to schedule an appointment to review reasonable accommodations. 

Here is the link to the ADSO online application: https://access.csum.edu/custom/misc/home.aspx 

DSO and Residence Life will work together to determine the best method to meet the cadets’ needs. If you have any questions about the medical petition process, please contact Siobhan Case at scase@csum.edu. 

Cadets must complete and submit a FAFSA or CADAA (for Dreamers), be Pell Grant eligible or based on Estimated Family Contribution for Dreamers, and accept all financial aid offered. Each hardship petition shall be reviewed and assessed by the Financial Aid Office. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at financialaid@csum.edu.

If the cadet has significant financial hardship and the cadet will be residing with a parent, immediate family member (grandparent, etc.), or legal guardian, or owns his or her house, and is within a 30 miles radius. Required documentation includes notarized letter required from parent if residing with someone other than the parent, copy of lease if renting or copy of homestead exemption if owned and current utility bill. Documentation must be uploaded with your StarRez application and proof of ownership must be submitted along with a current utility bill. Each hardship petition shall be reviewed and assessed by the Off-Campus Petition committee.

Process

  1. Off-campus petitions are available via the StarRez housing application portal. Note, every student must reapply and submit a new petition each year until they graduate from Cal Maritime.
  2. The application will be reviewed by the Office of Residence Life to ensure that all required documentation is provided. If documentation is not received by the deadline, the request will become invalid. If you have any questions regarding the documentation for medical accommodation or financial hardship, please contact those campus offices directly.  
  3. Documentation Submission:
    1. Medical Documents: All medical documents are submitted directly to the Accessibility and Disability Services Office.
    2. Financial Documents: Initial documents are already collected by Financial Aid through the FAFSA process.  Any documents associated with appeals are directly submitted to the Financial Aid Office.
  4. If the application is complete and submitted on-time, a decision will be made and the cadet will receive communication of their petition decision via their official Cal Maritime email account. 
  5. If approved for off-campus, an on-campus residential bed space or room will not be reserved. If a cadet wishes to decline off-campus acceptance or something changes with off-campus approval, the student must contact the Office of Residence Life via email at housing@csum.edu immediately. Readmission to on-campus housing and receiving a room assignment is not guaranteed due to the occupancy numbers.

Deadlines

Continuing Cadets: The StarRez housing application opens up each Spring Semester.

The 2023-2024 Off-Campus Petition will begin Monday, March 6th, 2023.

The 2023-2024 Off-Campus Petition deadline is Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023. 

Incoming New Cadets: The StarRez housing application opens up each Spring Semester.  Incoming New Cadets will have until Wednesday, May 31st at 11:59pm to complete StarRez process. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Off-Campus Eligibility and Process

Yes. Effective November 1st, 2015, off-campus permission is only granted for one academic year (or less, depending on permission approval). Every cadet must reapply each year for off-campus permission and submit supporting document required.

No. Don't sign a lease before you are officially granted an exemption from the on-campus residency requirement. Signing a lease is NOT a criterion used to evaluate a cadet's need to live off campus. This could be a costly mistake; if you are not granted an exemption to the residency requirement you will need to pay for on-campus housing and meal plan fees.

Yes. A change in student status or enrollment terminates your off-campus approval. Off-campus permission is only granted for one academic year (or less, depending on permission approval). If your enrollment status changed during the period you were approved, you will need to submit another off-campus petition.

On the StarRez housing petition application, you can only select one reason. Please select the reason that best fits your situation. If you have questions about your eligibility, please send email to housing@csum.edu. 

The request process regarding Financial Hardship is based on cadets who have no other resources and must live off campus, sometimes with multiple roommates or at home if their family is nearby. These cadets use their student loans along will the other aid offered to help pay for living expenses because they have no other option. Cadets who submit Financial Hardship requests must submit tax documents and contact the Financial Aid Office.

If you are approved for off-campus, but your situation changes and you wish to return to on-campus housing, you need to contact the Office of Residence Life and send an email to housing@csum.edu immediately. Readmission to on-campus housing, receiving a room assignment, and/or meeting all housing preferences is not guaranteed and the decision is dependent on occupancy and availability of bed space.

Any cadet not approved for off-campus will need to participate in room selection. If you are not approved for off-campus status and do not participate in the StarRez (SR) room selection process, the Office of Residence Life will assign you a room assignment and a roommate.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at housing@csum.edu.