Student Living

West Chester University provides housing facilities for its graduate students on a limited basis for the regular school year and as available during summer sessions. West Chester University has two housing providers on campus: WCU Managed Housing (traditional style residences) and USH Affiliated Housing (suite-style, apartment style residences). While WCU Managed Housing does not offer housing to graduate students, there are limited options within USH Affiliated Housing. Graduate students interested in learning more information about graduate housing can reach out to leasing@ushcommunities.org.

Graduate students are expected to abide by all regulations appropriate to their living arrangements. Graduate students living on campus will adhere to the rules and regulations of their lease agreement, the Community Living Standards, and the Student Code of Conduct.

Graduate students may also explore off-campus housing options and may contact the Office of Off Campus and Commuter Services (OCCS). OCCS partners with Off Campus Partners to provide a FREE service for all students to use as an effective method of finding roommates and a place to live off campus. The office is located in Sykes Student Union, Rm 238, OCCS@wcupa.edu.

Residence Life and Housing is located in 202 Lawrence Center, 610-436-3307. The University Student Housing Leasing Center is located in Commonwealth Hall, 610-430-4988.

Mission

West Chester University’s Department of Off-Campus and Commuter Services (OCCS) supports equitable access to curricular and co-curricular experiences and institutional resources, regardless of a student’s place of residence.

OCCS is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that connects off-campus and commuter students with the university and the larger West Chester area community through intentional engagement opportunities to support institutional retention and graduation goals.

Vision

West Chester University’s Department of Off-Campus and Commuter Services will be a nationally recognized model for providing exemplary engagement, educational, advocacy, and empowerment opportunities to support off-campus and commuter student success.

OCCS oversees the Free Student Legal Service, providing 15 minute consultations on a variety of civil and criminal issues - landlord/tenant, leases, citations, etc. This service is available by appointment for undergraduate and graduate students.

Off Campus and Commuter Services is located in 238 Sykes Student Union, OCCS@wcupa.edu.

Students who choose to live in the Borough of West Chester and the surrounding communities must secure their own living accommodations. OCCS partners with Off Campus Partners to provide off campus housing solutions and will provide information and support to students who are searching for off campus housing opportunities. Additional information about living off campus can be found on the web at www.wcupa.edu/occs/. If you are interested in renting off campus in the Borough of West Chester or the Township of West Goshen, please note that it has student-zoned housing -- "a living arrangement for at least two students to a maximum of four students who are unrelated by blood, marriage or legal adoption" -- and considers the definition of a student as the following: "an individual who is enrolled or has made application and been accepted at a university, college, or trade school and is taking at least 6 credit hours and whose primary occupation is as a student or who is on a semester or summer break from studies at a university, college, or trade school." This applies to undergraduate and graduate students.