Contract Release Process

One of the most popular questions our office receives after move-out is: "When will I receive my housing deposit?"

For the sake of transparency, below are the steps that are taken by our office in regards to housing deposits.

1. After a student moves out, we check to make sure we have a completed Housing Contract Release Form and completed Room Assessment Form (i.e. check-in/check-out form) for that student.
2. If a student is required to live on campus according to the Residency Requirements above, we look to see if we have additional documentation confirming that said student is withdrawn, living with their parent/guardian, etc.
3. Once we have all the proper documentation, we adjust the student's account to reflect any related cancellation, buyout, check-out, or damage fees.  Depending on the situation, these fees may negate part or all of a student's housing deposit.
4. After any, or no, fees have been assessed, our office provides the Bursar's office with the student's name and requests that the student's housing deposit be released to their student account.  This is often sent over as part of a list, which can increase the time it takes for an individual student's deposit to be released.
5. If the student has a housing deposit on file, the Bursar's office will release the student's housing deposit to their student account.  If the student has a balance on their account, the housing deposit will go toward paying off that balance.  If the student does not have a balance on their account, the housing deposit will be returned to the student.
6. A student's housing deposit may go directly back to the card used to pay for it originally, or it may be sent via check to the address on file for the student.  You may contact the Bursar's office at 954-262-5200 for more information.

Graduating

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
  • For Type of Release, please select: Not Returning to Housing
  • For your reason, please select: Graduating
• If you will be graduating prior to the end of your housing contract, please reach out to your academic advisor or program advisor and have them email us at housing@nova.edu confirming your degree conferral.
• Follow any specific move-out guidelines provided to you by the Office of Residential Life and Housing.
• Contact your Resident Assistant and schedule a time and date to officially check out of the residence hall.
• Return your mail key to the mail room associated with your building/community.
• You will be responsible for the cost of housing up until the day that you move out.  You may contact us at housing@nova.edu for an estimate.
• If you will be continuing at NSU for a new degree after the completion of your current degree and plan to return to on-campus housing, please let us know and we can hold onto your housing deposit so you will not need to resubmit it.
• If you will not be continuing at NSU, we will release your housing deposit to your student account within a few weeks of your move-out date.  It is important that you follow the proper move-out procedures to ensure the timely receipt of your full housing deposit.
• If you have an outstanding balance on your student account, your housing deposit will go toward paying that balance instead of being returned to you.

Not Returning to On-Campus Housing

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
  • For Type of Release, please select: Not Returning to Housing
  • For your reason, please select the option that best fits your situation.
• If you will be graduating prior to the end of your housing contract, please reach out to your academic advisor or program advisor and have them email us at housing@nova.edu confirming your degree conferral.
• Follow any specific move-out guidelines provided to you by the Office of Residential Life and Housing.
• Contact your Resident Assistant and schedule a time and date to officially check out of the residence hall.
• Return your mail key to the mail room associated with your building/community.
• You will be responsible for the cost of housing up until the day that you move out.  You may contact us at housing@nova.edu for an estimate.
• If you will be continuing at NSU for a new degree after the completion of your current degree and plan to return to on-campus housing, please let us know and we can hold onto your housing deposit so you will not need to resubmit it.
• If you will not be continuing at NSU, we will release your housing deposit to your student account within a few weeks of your move-out date.  It is important that you follow the proper move-out procedures to ensure the timely receipt of your full housing deposit.
• If you have an outstanding balance on your student account, your housing deposit will go toward paying that balance instead of being returned to you.

Returning to On-Campus Housing

• You do not need to fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
• Follow any specific move-out guidelines provided to you by the Office of Residential Life and Housing.
• Contact your Resident Assistant and schedule a time and date to officially check out of the residence hall.
• Return your mail key to the mail room associated with your building/community
• Continue to check your NSU email address for any move-in information related to your next housing term.

Withdrawing or Transferring

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
• For Type of Release, please select: Cancel my housing contract
• For your reason, please select the option that best fits your situation.
• Reach out to your academic advisor or program advisor and have them email us at housing@nova.edu confirming your withdrawal from Nova Southeastern University.
• Contact your Resident Assistant and schedule a time and date to officially check out of the residence hall.
• Return your mail key to the mail room associated with your building/community.
• You will be responsible for the cost of housing up until the day that you move out.  You may contact us at housing@nova.edu for an estimate.
• You will be assessed a $500 cancellation fee for the cancellation of your contract after move-in, but prior to move-out.  This cancellation fee should be covered by the housing deposit on file.

Academic Internship, Rotation, Etc.

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
  • For Type of Release, please select: Cancel my housing contract
  • For your reason, please select: Academic Internship
• Provide us with a syllabus showing your internship dates and location, or have an academic advisor or program advisor email us at housing@nova.edu confirming your internship dates and location.
• Contact your Resident Assistant and schedule a time and date to officially check out of the residence hall.
• Return your mail key to the mail room associated with your building/community.
• You will be responsible for the cost of housing up until the day that you move out.  You may contact us at housing@nova.edu for an estimate.
• You will be assessed a $500 cancellation fee for the cancellation of your contract after move-in, but prior to move-out.  This cancellation fee should be covered by the housing deposit on file.
• By moving out, you will be giving up your right to come back to the same room at the conclusion of your internship.

Studying Abroad

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
  • For Type of Release, please select: Cancel my housing contract
  • For your reason, please select: Studying Abroad
• We will work with the Office of International Afairs to confirm your study abroad plan.
• Contact your Resident Assistant and schedule a time and date to officially check out of the residence hall.
• Return your mail key to the mail room associated with your building/community.
• You will be responsible for the cost of housing for the semester you live on campus, but not the semester you are abroad.
• If you plan to, or are required to, return to on-campus housing after studying abroad, we will hold onto your housing deposit.  If you will not be returning to on-campus housing after studying abroad, please let us know and we will return your housing deposit to your student account.
• By moving out, you will be giving up your right to come back to the same room at the conclusion of your study abroad term.

Academic Suspension

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
  • For Type of Release, please select: Cancel my housing contract
  • For your reason, please select: Academic Suspension
• Reach out to your academic advisor or program advisor and have them email us at housing@nova.edu confirming your reason for leaving.
• Contact your Resident Assistant and schedule a time and date to officially check out of the residence hall.
• Return your mail key to the mail room associated with your building/community.
• You will be responsible for the cost of housing up until the day that you move out.  You may contact us at housing@nova.edu for an estimate.
• If you plan to, or are required to, return to on-campus housing after your suspension, we will hold onto your housing deposit.  If you will not be returning to on-campus housing after your suspension, please let us know and we will return your housing deposit to your student account.
• By moving out, you will be giving up your right to come back to the same room at the conclusion of your time away from campus.
• If you will be appealing your suspension, please keep us updated on your status.

Living Off Campus With Parent/Guardian

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
• For Type of Release, please select: Buyout my housing contract
• For your reason, please select either Living with parents or Living with legal guardian
• Send an email to our office at housing@nova.edu with the following documentation:
  • Copy of your state ID or driver's license with an address in the tri-county area;
  • Copy of your parent/guardian's state ID or driver's license showing the same address;
  • Copy of a utility bill with a matching name and address.
• You will be assessed a buyout fee depending on the point in the semester you decide to move out:
  • If you move out within the first ten (10) weeks of the current housing term, you will owe 50% of the remaining cost of the current term.
  • If you move out after the first ten (10) weeks of the current housing term, you will owe the full remaining cost of the current term and 50% of the cost of the following term (if applicable).
  • Meal plan buyout percentages may mirror housing buyout percentages or may be owed in full.

Living Off Campus (Not With Parent/Guardian)

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
• For Type of Release, please select: Buyout my housing contract
• For your reason, please select the option that best fits your situation.
• Please keep in mind that you must meet one of the above-stated residency requirement exemptions to move off campus as an undergraduate student.
• You will be assessed a buyout fee depending on the point in the semester you decide to move out:
  • If you move out within the first ten (10) weeks of the current housing term, you will owe 50% of the remaining cost of the current term.
  • If you move out after the first ten (10) weeks of the current housing term, you will owe the full remaining cost of the current term and 50% of the cost of the following term (if applicable).
  • Meal plan buyout percentages may mirror housing buyout percentages or may be owed in full.

Withdrawing or Transferring

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
• For Type of Release, please select: Cancel my housing contract
• For your reason, please select the option that best fits your situation.
• Reach out to your academic advisor or program advisor and have them email us at housing@nova.edu confirming your withdrawal from Nova Southeastern University.
• You will be assessed a cancellation fee based on the cancellation schedule for that particular term as found in your housing contract.

Living Off Campus With Parent/Guardian

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
• For Type of Release, please select: Buyout my housing contract
• For your reason, please select either Living with parents or Living with legal guardian
• Send an email to our office at housing@nova.edu with the following documentation:
  • Copy of your state ID or driver's license with an address in the tri-county area;
  • Copy of your parent/guardian's state ID or driver's license showing the same address;
  • Copy of a utility bill with a matching name and address.
  • Guardians, must also provide legal documentation from court or lawyer confirming the legal guardianship relationship. 
• Although this shows up under the category of a "buyout", we typically treat it as a cancellation if it occurs prior to the official move-in date.  You will be assessed a cancellation fee based on the cancellation schedule for that particular term as found in your housing contract.

Living Off Campus With Parent/Guardian

• Fill out a Housing Contract Release Form.
• For Type of Release, please select: Buyout my housing contract
• For your reason, please select the option that best fits your situation.
• Please keep in mind that you must meet one of the above-stated residency requirement exemptions to move off campus as an undergraduate student.
• Although this shows up under the category of a "buyout", we typically treat it as a cancellation if it occurs prior to the official move-in date.  You will be assessed a cancellation fee based on the cancellation schedule for that particular term as found in your housing contract.