Residence Life

Residence Hall Policies and Procedures

Rights and Responsibilities of Students in the Residence Halls

• The right to read, study, or sleep free from undue interference in or around the resident room.
  
  
• The responsibility to observe quiet hours, control noise and limit distractions that inhibit study or sleep.
  
  
• The right to recreate in or around residence halls.
  
  
• The responsibility to modify recreation so as not to interfere with others or damage the facilities.
  
  
• The right to personal privacy.
  
  
• The responsibility to abide by visitation hours and respect the personal space of others.
  
  
• The right to facilities which are clean, healthy, safe, and orderly.
  
  
• The responsibility to respect all property, to keep common areas free of liter, to report vandalism, and to request necessary repairs.
  
  
• The right to the redress of grievances and recourse to due process in the judicial system.
  
  
• The responsibility to cooperate with University grievance and judicial procedures, to refrain from conduct which infringes upon the rights of others, and to initiate action should the circumstances warrant.
  
  
• The right to be free of intimidation, physical and/or emotional harm to include being free from peer pressure or ridicule regarding the choice to abide by University policy and civil law.
  
  
• The responsibility to respect others and their wishes and avoid discriminating or harassing others.

Every student in the residence hall is expected to respect the rights of others. Failure to do so will result in action which may include removal from the residence halls. Any violation of University Behavioral Standards and Policies or Residence Life Policies may result in disciplinary action.

Each resident is required to maintain an orderly, neat and clean room, and is responsible for what occurs within it.

The residence life program is overseen by the Director of Residence Life. In addition, all Residence Life staff members, including full-time staff and graduate Residence Life Coordinators and Resident Assistants live on campus and are available for resource and referral purposes. University Ministry provides a team of Peer Ministers to offer support and resources to resident students and residence hall staff members.

Residency Requirements
Only full-time students are eligible for resident status. Full-time is defined as 12 credits for undergraduates and nine credits for graduate students. If during the semester you fall below the credit hour requirement, you may not be allowed to live in the halls. Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the Director of Residence Life. Please contact the Director of Residence Life if you require an exception to the policy.

Housing application forms for new students may be obtained from the Office of Admission, and by current students from the Office of Student Services. A $100.00 housing payment must be paid at the time of application. Room assignments are made each academic year by the University according to its policies and procedures. The student will be required to sign a Room Condition Report at the time of check-in and check-out.

Meal Plans
All resident students are required to participate in one of the meal plans offered by the University. Resident students requiring a special diet should have a copy of the diet submitted to the Center for Health and Counseling Services. Only if the Sodexho Dining Services staff is unable to satisfy the diet requirements will a diet waiver be issued. If such a waiver is granted, the student must abide by the cooking regulations outlined in the student handbook.

Continued Residency
Residents who wish to continue their residency the following academic year are required to pay a $100 housing payment to the Business Office and to submit a completed housing contract during the designated room selection process. The dates for this process are announced each Spring semester. Housing contracts received after the deadlines will be processed during the summer months.

If a student does not check into his/her assigned room by the designated date, the room assignment will be forfeited and late cancellation fees apply. Presentation of a validated student identification card is required to be issued residence hall room keys.

Room Cancellation Policies
The student must return their keys to a Residence Life staff member during the designated times and he or she must sign the check-out portion of the Room Condition Report. A room inspection by members of the Residence Life Staff is necessary following the student’s departure from housing. The room withdrawal is not processed until a completed Room Condition Report and the Room Withdrawal Form are processed in the Office of Student Services. Any damage beyond normal wear and tear will be billed to the student's account in the Business Office. Students who do not follow designated checkout procedures will by charged accordingly and may be subject to further disciplinary action. More specific information related to University Behavioral Standards and Residence Life policies is outlined in the Student Handbook in Student Services.

Although our students are most often respectful of university property, at times it is necessary to assess common area damage fines as a deterrent for future damage. The rooms are inspected at time of checkout and once the halls are closed to be certain all damages are documented and appropriately assessed.

When you withdraw or if you are removed from the residence hall program, any remaining meal plan balance is cleared from the account. Also, there is no refund if the student is suspended or expelled from the residence program by the University.

Current Student Cancellation Policies

• The $100.00 payment made at the time of application is applied to the student’s University account balance if cancellation is submitted before July 1 (Fall semester) or before January 1 (Spring semester)
  
  
• Canceling housing after July 1 (Fall semester applicants) or after January 1 (Spring semester applicants) will result in a $250.00 assessment.
  
  
• Withdrawing from housing after the first day of classes in either semester will result in a $500.00 assessment, plus a prorated charge for room, board, and amenities fee.
  
  
• No refunds will be given after the completion of the sixth week of classes and the $500.00 assessment will apply.

New (First Year and Transfer) Student Cancellation Policies

• The $100.00 payment made at the time of application is only refundable until May 1st (Fall semester applicants) or December 1st (Spring Semester applicants). If a student cancels housing after July 1st (Fall semester applicants) or after January 1st (Spring semester applicants), the student will lose his or her $100.00 payment and be assessed a $250.00 late withdrawal fee. Withdrawing from housing after the first day of classes in either semester will result in a $500.00 assessment, plus a prorated room, board, and amenity rate.
  
  
• No refunds will be given after the completion of the sixth week of classes and the $500.00 assessment will apply.

Automatic Housing Cancellation Policy
If a student fails to check into housing by the second day of classes, his or her housing assignment will be cancelled. If a student fails to register by the end of the first week of classes, his or her housing assignment will be cancelled. Late cancellation fees as described above will apply.

Break Period Housing
Housing is only assured for the times classes are in session. Only students who are working, practicing in-season athletes, out of state or international will be allowed to remain over the break periods and additional charges will be assessed for the Spring, December and Summer breaks. There is no charge to remain on campus during Fall, Thanksgiving, and/or Easter breaks. Students must register for break housing according to the break housing memorandums.

Room Buy-Out Policy
If a student is left in a double, triple, or quad room alone, he or she will be offered the option of living with a student in the same situation or “buying-out” the room to keep it a single at a prorated amount. A student will not be able to remain in a double, triple, or quad room alone, without paying the single room rate.

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