End Mandated Housing at Oklahoma University

Oklahoma University currently mandates that all unmarried freshmen under 21 and without dependents must live in university housing unless they receive an exemption or pay a Freshman Noncompliance Fee. This policy places an excessive financial burden on students, forcing them into costly living arrangements with little flexibility while failing to acknowledge the financial and personal needs of the student body.

The cost of on-campus housing and meal plans at OU can exceed $10,000 per academic year, a significantly higher expense than many alternative housing options in the surrounding area. Many students could secure off-campus housing at a fraction of the cost, allowing them to allocate funds toward tuition, books, or personal expenses. However, OU’s policy removes this financial freedom, effectively monopolizing student housing by mandating university-controlled living arrangements. With no competition, the university dictates the terms, setting meal plan requirements and room rates without offering students meaningful alternatives beyond navigating a complicated exemption process or paying a financial penalty for choosing their housing.

Beyond the financial burden, the conditions of OU dormitories raise serious concerns about student health and safety. Many students have reported excessive black mold in dorms, posing significant health risks such as respiratory issues, allergies, and other long-term complications. Additionally, flooding in dorm buildings has caused damage to personal belongings and created hazardous living conditions. Instead of increasing tuition to fund dorm repairs, OU should allow students to voluntarily opt out of on-campus housing, which would alleviate overcrowding and ease the financial strain on both students and the university. This solution would enable those who prefer to live on campus to do so while giving others the opportunity to seek safer, more affordable alternatives. Photos documenting the current state of OU dorms are included below this petition.

We, the undersigned, call on Oklahoma University to eliminate the mandatory freshman housing requirement and allow students to choose where they live based on their personal and financial circumstances. The university must provide full transparency on housing costs and allow competition by permitting students to live off-campus without financial penalties. Additionally, OU should remove the Freshman Noncompliance Fee, which effectively punishes students for making financially responsible decisions.

A university should empower students—not financially exploit them. OU must give students the freedom to make their own housing choices and prioritize affordability, safety, and accessibility in its policies. Sign below to demand change.