University says students must live on campus until they are 21 unless they live with a parent.
Dorm life is not for all students.
Has this been tested in court?
Your question is very broad and you fail to state whether you are referring to a public or private university; however, to my knowledge this requirement has not been tested in court. I doubt such a policy would be the subject of a court case, unless the policy fails to provide for reasonable exceptions for various categories such as medical, religious, disability, married students, and emancipated students. There is no law requiring attendance at any one University. In general if students do not like the policies of one school they are free not to apply or to attend another school. University wide policies like this one are difficult to attack unless they are discriminatory.
Hi--
There may be a signficant difference between a private and public university in this case, so I have to hedge my answer.
That said, a private university has tremendous rights and powers. When you enter the institution, you are basically entering into a contract with them. If they have made no secret of the mandatory dorm policy, you may be out of luck. Even so, many schools are willing to make an accomodation if you present the right reasons. You could consult with a local attorney, but I do not recommend court action.
If it is a public university, you may be in slightly better shape. One way or another, however, I suspect that a lawsuit would be likely to succeed only if you could make a claim based on some sort of disablity or religious freedom basis. Best wishes, Matt Keenan
I know of no federal court opinion that says either a private or public college or university MUST allow those under 21 years of age to live where they choose. Private institutions can set the living arrangement rules and enforce them broadly. Public institutions do accept taxpayer money so they must comply with federal rules involving ADA, civil rights restrictions etc..... But, your post does not say that such reasons are a claimed basis for illegal discrimination against you. So, unless you have more details, it would be a very tough legal challenge for you to make with success.
