Every successful community depends on its members understanding different lifestyles and respecting the rights of others. Taking responsibility for your own actions and for the well-being of your fellow community members is the spirit of living in a residential community. Residential rights are protected along with your right to redress grievances without fear of intimidation or retaliation within the community.
At the beginning of each semester, each residence hall community will meet to discuss residential policies as well as their individual community expectations. Hall, house, and apartment roommates, and even multi-unit neighbors, are encouraged to also engage in a conversation about expectations. This discussion should include how the community members plan to meet those expectations and ways in which they can address behaviors that do not meet expectations or behaviors that are negatively affecting members of the community. These conversations presume that each resident has reviewed the Residence Life Policies and will actively engage in the conversation. The Residence Life Policies can be found in the Student Handbook. The policies cover everything from residency and meal plan requirements to what you can and cannot do or bring in campus housing. All residents should read through these policies to understand their rights and expectations as well of those of the surrounding community.
Communities have the ability to adapt policies to meet the needs of that particular community as long as they still meet the minimum expectations laid out in the Student Handbook. RAs facilitate these conversations and have the ability to participate as a member of the community (i.e. they are expected to encourage community agreement but are not allowed to make executive decisions about the standards unless proposals would violate published or posted policies).
Violations of community standards are enforceable through the conduct system and may result in fines, removal of privileges, and/or other sanctions as appropriate. Examples of things communities can discuss and alter to fit their particular needs include: quiet hours, visitation, bathroom designations, public space use, etc. Again, standards set by the community cannot be less than the expectations set forth in the Residence Life Policies. Standards should be agreed upon by consensus, not majority vote. This places the burden on students to fully represent their concerns and needs and think creatively about how to best meet the needs of all community members. If a community cannot arrive at consensus, the default is the expectations laid out in the Residence Life Policies.
Common Questions
- Are there items I should leave at home?
- Can my significant other or family member come stay the night?
- What are quiet and courtesy hours and when do they occur?
- Am I allowed to smoke in my residence?
- If I am 21 and live in a residence hall am I allowed to consume alcohol in my room?
Are there items I should leave at home?
Living in a residence hall is different from living in a house or apartment. Many typical household items have the potential to be problematic or hazardous if misused. Please see the list below of what is not permitted in the residence halls.
- Hoverboards of any kind
- Candles, incense, plug-in air fresheners, oil lamps, oil or wax warmers, or any item with an open flame
- Triple/quad sockets, plug multipliers, or power strips; extension cords that are not UL approved or have visible signs of fraying or breakage
- Portable cooking or warming devices including toasters, convection/toaster ovens, slow cookers, pressure cookers, waffle irons, griddles/grills, hot plates,electric pans/skillets/woks, oil fryers, rice cookers, hot pots, oil popcorn poppers, bread machines, microwaves, etc., and any items with exposed heater coil/element
- Heaters or air conditioning units of any type
- Appliances over 120 volts AC, 60 cycles, 200 watts, or 2 amps
- Halogen, oil, lava, or sun/heat lamps
- Homemade or store-bought lofts (any loft other than those available through )
- Microwave or microfridge other than the microfridge available through . Converter boxes that alternate power between a stand-alone microwave and refrigerator are not allowed.
- Pets (any type, except fish 鈥� maximum one 10 gallon aquarium per student)
- Power tools, spotlight/floodlight, wireless router, or other devices which have potential to disrupt community
- Firearms, weapons, fuel/flammable liquids, or other dangerous or hazardous material
- Water-filled furniture or apparatuses such as water beds, pools of any kind, hot tubs, or liquid-filled containers of any kind over 10 gallons
- Otherwise acceptable small appliances such as coffeepots or irons that are not UL approved or do not have an auto-shut off feature
- Homemade or home-modified appliances
If an unapproved item is found in a campus housing space, the item will be confiscated and a fine assessed. A student must obtain written approval from Residence Life prior to bringing or using any item that does not clearly fall within the range of allowed items.
Refrigerators are permitted, but must follow the below specifications:
- 120 volt, 60 cycle AC, 200 watts, 2 amp; compressor hermetically sealed, self-lubricating; Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved, and in good condition.
- One refrigerator is allowed per double room
- Microfridges are permitted provided they are rented/purchased from the University vendor (). No other microfridges are permitted. Converter boxes that alternate power between a stand-alone microwave and refrigerator are not allowed.
All refrigerators must be located in an open space, outside of closets. During break periods, refrigerators must be emptied, defrosted, unplugged and left standing open (except for Thanksgiving break). The University reserves the right to inspect and microfridges to ensure they meet proper specifications and are in good condition.
Can my significant other or family member come stay the night?
Yes. All overnight guests of students are welcome in University residences, but are limited to no more than three separate instances per semester with a maximum of three consecutive days per visit (9 days maximum each semester). Minor guests (under the age of 18) must be at least 13 years of age (except on Sibs Weekend) and registered with the Office of Residence Life. Have a parent/guardian fill out the Minor Guest Application and Permission form at least one week in advance of the visit. .
Guests are defined as a non-resident of the building/house/apartment who is present at the invitation of a 性视界 student. Guests can be fellow students not assigned to the residential space, friends, significant others, and family members. Guests must be escorted at all times when inside residential space. If any violation should occur during the guests鈥� visit, the student of 性视界 assumes full responsibility and liability of the behavior and actions of the guests, whether the guests are University students or not. The University is authorized to charge the 性视界 student account of any and all individual students with the additional payment.
What are quiet and courtesy hours and when do they occur?
As members of a residential community, students are asked to be considerate of the community at all times. Students may have radios, sound systems, televisions, and other musical equipment, but should use them with concern for those living in the immediate area. Any amplified sound should be controlled so that neighbors both inside and outside the residence are not disturbed.
Quiet hours are in effect to provide a time when students can sleep and study without distraction, as residence halls are primarily educational facilities. Quiet hours are maintained in residence halls from Sunday-Thursday, 10p.m.-8a.m. and Friday-Saturday, midnight-9a.m. If a student has a complaint about noise, the owner of the disturbance should be contacted first. If satisfaction is not obtained, then Residence Life staff should be notified. Twenty-four hour quiet hours are mandatory in the residence halls during finals week of each semester.
Students in University houses and apartments must abide by local ordinances regarding noise and hours of restrictions (10p.m.-7a.m.) Students may not host or consent to any street or block parties without written permission from Residence Life.
Am I allowed to smoke in my residence?
There is no smoking or vaping of any kind permitted in campus housing. If you have questions referring to smoking areas, please refer to the Student Handbook.
If I am 21 and live in a residence hall am I allowed to consume alcohol in my room?
Students who are of legal age may consume alcohol in their room with the doors closed. Underage students may not be present in rooms where alcohol is being consumed. Of-age students in mixed-age rooms, houses, or apartments are permitted to have alcohol in their space but it must be clearly within the of-age individuals鈥� possession.
Open containers, carriers, or cups of alcoholic beverages are not permitted in any lounge, hallway, restroom, or other public area of a residence hall. Open containers are not permitted in public spaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, and streets.