==Release Requests==Release Requests are ways for the House to vote to release a member from specific obligations, as outlined in the Escher House Constitution, Section 2.7.2. A Member will be automatically released in circumstances listed in section 2.7.1 of the Escher House Constitution. Since it can be confusing to understand how all these pieces interact with one another, there are examples provided below of how to navigate several different types of scenarios. I suggest looking at those after skimming the rest of this page, and if there is still confusion, reaching out to escher.president@icc.coop or escher.vprelations@icc.coop to get further clarification.

# The Member requests a release by communication (usually e-mail) to emailing the [[Officers#President|House President]].# The Member appears before the [[Judiciary Committee]], where the JC votes to recommend or not recommend the release.

## The JCTreasurer's decision on whether or not the release is recommended.Financial Impact Evaluation (if applicable)## The vote tally of the JCWork Manager's decision.Labor Impact Evaluation (if applicable)# The Release Request is voted on at via a Google form ballot following the House Meeting, with the vote being the final decision. Note: If you will be out of the house for 14 or more consecutive meal-providing days, you qualify for an automatic [[Release Requests#Food Release|Food Release]]. Please see below for more info.

A Work Release releases a Member from their [[House Chores|work]] obligations for a set period of time, as defined in the Constitution. Releases can be requested for any reason, but are generally used in the following cases:* A Member will be out of town for 14 or more consecutive meal-providing days.

Members receiving ===[[Food Release]]===A Food Release releases a Work Release Member from their obligation to pay food-related House Charges for being absent from the House release period. As noted above, if you will be out of the house for 14 or more consecutive days will also , you qualify for an automatic [[Release Requests#Food Release|Food Release]]. ''To receive it, you must notify the [[Treasurer]] via email with your dates of travel beforehand.'' All monetary releases on the house-level are given in half-month increments. Anyone can request a Food Release , but they are generally utilized in the following cases:* A Member will be out of town for 14 or more consecutive meal-providing days. * A Member has a dietary restriction [[Food Release|that cannot be accommodated by House Meals]].After a Member receives a food release, they may not use any GUFF food in the basement kitchens. Note: A food release is <u>not</u> the same time periodas a house charges release. House charges include food and other expenses.

===Food House Charges Release===House charges include amenities like paper products, soap, water, AND food, but are still separate from ICC Charges, which include mortgages, maintenance, administration, etc. A Food House Charges Release releases a Member from their obligation to pay food-related House Charges for the release period. As specified in [[#Work Release]], release requests due to a half-month increments that align with their period of absence from the house (> 14 consecutive days) will automatically include a food release for the same period of time. Anyone can request After a Food ReleaseMember is released from House Charges, but they are generally given in expected to vacate their room by the following cases:* A Member will be out start of town for 14 or more consecutive days. * A Member has a dietary restriction that cannot be accommodated by House Mealsthe release period.

If a member informs the treasurer Note: <b>in writingA House Charges Release does ''not'' release a Member from ICC Charges </b> before they leave , and releases from ICC Charges can only be granted through the ICC [https://icc.coop/housing/icc-contract-release-information/ Contract Release Process] or one of the house for 14 consecutive <b>meal[https://icc.coop/my-membership/icc-providing<finances/b> days financial- days dinner is served aid- they will qualify for an automatic food releaseinfo/ scholarship options].

If a Member requests a food release due to dietary restrictions===Release Request Examples===For the sake of easier math in these examples, House Charges will be set at $300 (with Food making up 2/3 of this, so $200) and ICC Charges will be set at $700. Keep in mind that your ICC Charges will vary depending on room type, it is recommended and that both of these numbers are rounded from charges in the year 2023. Look for the example in which the Member communicate this with Chef Lynn prior bolded portion sounds similar to your situation so you do not have to read all of the release request processscenarios (since many have repeated information).

After 1. '''You are planning to move out 5 weeks early.''' Let's say you need to move out the last week of March through the end of a contract period ending at the end of April (5 weeks). In this situation, you should immediately submit the [https://icc.coop/housing/icc-contract-release-information ICC's Contract Release Form] and send a statement to the [[President]] for a House Charges AND Work Release Request. If the ICC releases you from your contract, which usually only happens with documentation of extreme circumstances, you will be released from all obligations of your contract. Since you're moving out 5 weeks early, that means you would get out of the last $1250 of your charges. Notice this is both House and ICC Charges, prorated to match 5 weeks. If it is past the beginning of March, you likely will have paid your March charges already. In that case, you will receive a $250 credit on RentManager. The same goes if you need retroactive reimbursement. For example, if your contract release isn't approved by the ICC until late April, you will receive the $1250 you already paid in charges as a credit on your RentManager.The reason you should also submit for a Member receives House Charges and Work Release is ''not'' because you need one in addition to the ICC's Contract Release, but because it will financially help you out if you do not get a full contract release. Remember, if you get a Contract Release, which are very rare, you are released from all obligations of your contract, to include all charges and labor. If you aren't granted one, by submitting a House Charges and Work Release a you have a strong chance at reducing your charges and being relieved from your house chores. To get approved, you must submit these requests to be items on the next House Meeting's agenda by emailing escher.president@icc.coop with a statement that includes all relevant details. Make sure to CC the [[Treasurer]] so that you receive an automatic Food Release (more on the monetary details of this below). If you can, you should attend the two meeting forums that your requests will be heard on so you can make your case and answer questions your fellow members have for you. Once the ballot results come back, if your request is approved, you will be free from chore obligations starting the last week of March and your charges will be $300 less in April. This is because all monetary releases on the house-level are given in half-month increments rounded down. *The automatic food releasealso follows this principle, meaning if you House Charges release was not approved, your charges will be $200 less in April. In your situation, your release requests (on the house-level) are generally highly likely to be approved.- "What if I am requesting a release in the summer? I will be gone for plenty more than 14 meal-providing days, but they may won't exactly be consecutive since there are no meals on the weekends." I'm not use any guff going to lie, I took a shortcut here in stipulating it be '14 or more consecutive meal-providing days'. The intended meaning is that is you are gone for a block of time which ''includes'' 14 or more days that are meal-providing, you qualify for an automatic food at release.- "Okay, what if I am instead looking to get an automatic food release for a two week vacation over the summer? Is that not possible because I would be gone for 10 instead of 14+ meal-providing days? And if it is possible, I assume I get a half-month release?" Woah, now you're asking some great questions that I do not currently have the answer to! I pass the buck on this to our wonderful [[Treasurer]] whom I know will update this with the Houseanswer when he has it (love you Jon).

A 2. '''You are going on vacation for 3 weeks.''' Though you'd prefer not to do chores, it is unlikely that a Work Release will be approved for this reason (and it is uncooperative to ask for one in your case since it really short-staffs the house). First, worry about finding shift swaps or otherwise getting your hours done in advance. [[Work|Remember, if you do not do this, you WILL be fined for missing your labor]]! Next, since you will not be using most house resources this time, you would prefer not to pay for food & amenities. Many of our amenities are included in food charges, and those that are not are necessary to keep the house running. In other words, an automatic Food Release is more appropriate here than a House Charges release .To receive an automatic Food Release, all you must do is <u>not</u> send an email to the same as [[Treasurer]] ''in advance'' to let them know you will be gone for at least 14 or more consecutive meal-providing days. This step will guarantee you a house $100 refund for Food charges . This is because all monetary releases are given in half-month increments rounded down. If you have questions about which month you will be credited (maybe your vacation is split over two months), or how much you'll be credited, consult the [[Treasurer]].In your situation, if you do opt to submit a House Charges releaserequest, it is generally less likely to be approved than in a move-out scenario (like the one above). However, if it is approved, you will be expected to vacate your room (to include removing all your things) so that another resident can move-in if the ICC decides to contract out that room for the time you are gone. This is another reason that many do not ask for a House charges include Charges release in the event of a vacation.- "What if my vacation is over Winter break? Do I get an automatic food release?" No: Recall that automatic food and other expensesreleases are only given for those that will be gone for at least 14 or more consecutive meal-providing days. Meals are not provided over any UMich-observed holidays.

===House Charges 3. '''You are struggling financially and could use a discount on charges.''' In this scenario, you should first submit for an [https://icc.coop/my-membership/icc-finances/financial-aid-info/ ICC scholarship, or opt into a payment plan]. In the event you cannot secure an ICC scholarship, requesting a Food Release===for a certain amount of time could be your best option. This is not how releases have historically been used since it would result in other members picking up your bill, but it is not unconstitutional to ask for one for this (or any other) reason. However, if you go this route, be sure to write a thorough statement, plan to attend the meeting, and ''have a strong back-up plan''. A - "What about a House Charges Release releases ? Could I request that on top of a Member from their obligation to pay any Food Release?" No. House Charges Releases require vacating your room (to include removing all your belongings) for the duration of their release period, so they are not a viable option for offsetting charges. This is generally requested if the Member will be leaving However, you could achieve the same effect as a HouseCharges Release by simply requesting a longer Food Release. E. After g. Requesting a Food Release for a month and a half ($300) instead of a Member gets released from House ChargesRelease for one month ($300). The only difference is how you would be credited: that you would have $200 less on one month's rent and $100 less on the next in the case of the 6-week Food Release. If I've not explained this well-enough, or if you need other guidance on this particular issue, they are expected reach out to vacate their room by the start [[Treasurer]]. 4. '''You have a food allergy or are on a diet where you can't eat most of the release perioddinners. <b> A House Charges Release does ''not'In this scenario, you should first reach out to the [[Kitchen Manager]] who can likely work to accommodate your needs. If they cannot, or you have some other reason you'd like to stop eating the kitchen' release a Member from ICC s food, you should email the [[President]] your statement to be included on the next House Meeting's agenda. If your request is approved, you will be pay $800 instead of $1000 every month (since Food Charges </b>are $200). If you can, you should attend those two meeting forums so you can make your case and ICC Charge Releases answer questions your fellow members may have for you. Once the ballot results come back, if your request is approved, there is nothing more you must go through do. If you have questions about which month you will begin to be credited, email escher.treasurer@icc.coop.- "Can I still eat the ICC Processother GUFF food, or abandoned save meals?" No. Once you have received a food release, you must abstain from all food from both basement kitchens. If you do not see your situation fitting any of these examples, please reach out to escher.president@icc.coop or escher.vprelations@icc.coop so we can give you more specific guidance.