Buyout/Appeal Housing Contract

*See Housing Contract Lease Agreement for details.

The University of Southern Mississippi considers the Department of Housing & Residence Life Housing Contract Lease Agreement to be a legally binding document on the part of the student and university. 

Housing Contract Appeals
The Department of Housing and Residence Life offers a housing contract appeal process by which a student may request to be released from the academic year housing contract due to unforeseeable personal circumstances such as a severe medical condition or extreme financial hardship. The housing appeal application must be submitted prior to or during the semester for which the housing contract is canceled. The Housing and Residence Life Appeal committee will not review appeals for previous terms. Supporting documentation must be provided. Housing appeal application will be available June 2nd (Fall Semester) and January 1 (Spring Semester). All completed and received appeal applications by August 1st will be reviewed the first full week in August. Appeals can be submitted throughout the year and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The student will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision. The committee’s decision will be final and not subject to further review. Appeals will be granted at the discretion of the committee and the resident’s credit of housing fees will be affected the date of the decision.

Buyout - Allows registered students to leave university housing during the designated buyout/appeal period. The buyout rate for the semester of canceled contract will be billed to student account after cancellation and move out confirmation.

Appeal - Offers registered students the opportunity to request to be released from the housing contract lease agreement or be given a reduced buyout during the buyout/appeal period using the following procedures:
Seek Housing & Residence Life assistance as needed (hall staff, administrative staff available).
Check out of the residence hall prior to submitting appeal (if canceling after residing in the residence hall).
Submit online appeal request form online through the student housing portal.

Provide all supporting documentation to be considered for the appeal (i.e., bills, medical records, work/class schedule, etc.). 
Pay the designated buyout rate for the semester of canceled contract.
Students are responsible for the buyout portion of the contract unless released.
Processing fee is nonrefundable and not considered part of the room rate.