The introduction of the policy supports Temple’s strategic plan, Forward with Purpose, and its keystone priority of student success. It also aligns with national best practices as more than 60% of all four-year residential colleges and universities maintain some form of a first-year residential requirement.
The introduction of a new first-year housing policy is an important component of Temple’s efforts to create an intentional and supportive first-year experience for its students.
Photo by Betsy Manning
Beginning in fall 2027, Temple University will implement a first-year housing requirement for incoming students. The policy will require new first-year undergraduate students to reside in university housing for the first two semesters of their enrollment at Temple.
The introduction of the first-year housing requirement is the latest example of Temple’s renewed commitment to prioritizing Student Success, which is a keystone priority of Temple’s strategic plan, Forward with Purpose. The university is committed to fostering an inclusive, nurturing learning environment where every student can thrive. A first-year housing requirement represents an important step in Temple’s efforts to create that environment.
The university also recognizes that students and families have varying financial, personal and commuting circumstances. For that reason, the policy includes multiple 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. The implementation of the policy will be paired with continued investments in student support, affordability resources and residential programming designed to help students thrive academically and personally.
“As we begin to implement our strategic plan, one of our fundamental charges is enhancing the on-campus residential experience as we know it is a key determinant of student success,” Temple President John Fry said. “The introduction of a first-year housing requirement for incoming undergraduate students jumpstarts these efforts. This new policy supports Temple’s commitment to our students as we fully expect that it will lead to increases in both persistence and graduation rates in the years to come.”
The new first-year housing requirement is an important component of Temple’s efforts to create an intentional and supportive first-year experience that promotes academic success, personal development, wellness and long-term persistence toward graduation. Residential experiences are also often associated with increased student belonging and engagement, which are outcomes that are especially important for first-generation students and students who are coming to Temple from outside the local region.
Requiring a first-year residential experience for students also aligns with national best practices. Across the country, more than 60% of all four-year residential colleges and universities maintain some form of a first-year residential requirement as part of their student success and transition strategies. The majority of other large, urban R1 institutions have similar requirements in place. The policy is also widely practiced by members of the University Innovation Alliance (UIA), the nation’s leading coalition of public research universities committed to improving student outcomes through collaborative innovation. Temple joined the UIA in March 2025.
“Decades of research have shown that students who live on campus ultimately benefit from a more productive and rewarding college experience,” Senior Vice President and Provost Elizabeth Wentz said. “At Temple, while our first-year retention rate is above the national average for large public universities, this is an area where the work must never stop. While we are implementing this first-year housing requirement, we also are working on other ways to bolster our efforts to support students along their educational journey.”
To ensure that the implementation of the policy is successful, over the next year, Temple will work to enhance the first-year residential experience to better promote belonging, connection, academic success, wellness and personal growth. Specifically, students will have access to
- expanded first-year engagement and residential programming;
- peer mentorship and community-building opportunities;
- strong coordination among housing, advising, wellness and student support services;
- early intervention and academic support initiatives;
- mental health and well-being resources; and
- affordability support and financial counseling for students and families.
The university also will regularly assess the policy moving forward to ensure it is leading to positive outcomes in retention, persistence and student satisfaction.
“Families make a significant investment when they choose Temple, and we have an equally important responsibility to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed,” said Jodi Bailey Accavallo, Temple’s vice president for student affairs. “The first year of college is when students establish the academic habits, relationships and confidence that often shape the rest of their college experience. A residential first year allows us to intentionally connect students with classmates, faculty, advisors, academic support, wellness resources and opportunities for involvement, creating an environment where learning extends beyond the classroom. By helping students build strong connections early, we are strengthening their sense of belonging, encouraging them to seek support when they need it and creating a foundation for persistence, graduation and success long after they leave Temple.”
The university recognizes that students and families have varying circumstances. Exemptions to the first-year housing requirement will be made for a variety of situations such as students who
- reside with a parent or legal guardian living in the city of Philadelphia or in an approved zip code;
- are part-time, nontraditional, married or have custody of one or more dependent children;
- have significant financial hardship that has been verified through the Office of Student Financial Services; and
- have extenuating personal or medical circumstances that cannot be accommodated within university housing.
To request an exemption from the first-year housing requirement, students must complete the Housing Policy Exemption Request via the MyHousing portal.
Additional information on the first-year housing policy can be found here.
