Dear Students and Colleagues, 

When we unveiled our strategic plan, Forward with Purpose, we noted that Student Success would serve as the keystone priority of the plan. Today, we are excited to announce one of the ways in which we are focusing our efforts in this area. 

Beginning with the fall 2027 semester, Temple University will implement a first-year housing policy for incoming students. This will require new first-year undergraduate students under the age of 21 to reside in university housing for the first two semesters of their enrollment at Temple.  

The policy gives Temple an important opportunity to strengthen student success by creating a more intentional first-year experience and connecting students earlier to the people, resources and support that can help them persist and thrive. 

The introduction of this new policy also aligns with national best practices. More than 60% of all four-year residential colleges and universities maintain some form of a first-year residential policy, and this includes many of our peer institutions within the University Innovation Alliance. 

Over the next year, we will use the implementation of this policy to strengthen Temple’s first-year experience, including the residential experience, with an intentional focus on belonging, connection, academic success, wellness, help-seeking and personal growth. This work will include stronger coordination across housing, advising, academic support, wellness and other student services so that students experience a more connected first year at Temple. 

We also recognize that students and families have different financial, personal and commuting circumstances. The policy will include exemption pathways and an appeals process overseen by the vice president for student affairs, ensuring that each student’s situation is viewed individually and with empathy. Affordability will remain an important consideration as we move toward implementation.

We invite you to learn more about Temple’s first-year housing policy in this Temple Now piece. Additional information on the policy can be found here.

Sincerely,    

John Fry  
President 

Elizabeth Wentz 
Senior Vice President and Provost 

Jodi Bailey Accavallo 
Vice President for Student Affairs