Arriving on Campus

The University assigns rooms to students prior to arrival, including posting door cards. During office hours, the Admissions Office and Welcome Committee will be available to help students find assigned rooms. Students arriving late may call Campus Security at 472-1115. The Resident Advisors (RA’s) assist students on their arrival by giving an orientation to residence hall life.

Students wishing to change rooms must obtain approval from the Housing Director before moving.

Room Inventory Forms

The Resident Advisor gives all new students a room inventory form to fill out. Room inventory forms describe the current state and contents of each room. Each student completes and returns the form to the RA within two days of moving into the room, and then again when moving out of the room. If the room is in good order when the student moves out, he or she will receive the housing portion of the security deposit back.

All alterations, such as painting, must be approved by Facilities Management before the work is done, or a charge will be levied.

Furniture in Student Rooms

University rooms are furnished with beds, chairs, and desks (or built-in desk space). Furniture must remain in its original place as indicated on the room inventory form. If a student removes furniture, the student will be charged for the item, either at the time of a routine inspection, or when moving out of the room. The reason for this policy is that the University does not have the facilities to remove and store furniture from student rooms, and that all inventory must be accounted for. In addition, stored furniture deteriorates quickly because storage areas may be subject to mold, mildew, and rust.

Residence Hall Storage Areas

Student residence halls have minimal storage space. Students should only bring items which they can store comfortably in their rooms. (Private storage facilities are available off campus for a monthly fee.) Any items in the residence storage areas must be marked with closet tags available from the Resident Advisor. Items with a value over $500 are not to be stored and are the responsibility of the student.

Pets

To maintain standards of health for all housing residents, no pets of any kind are permitted on campus, either in buildings or on campus grounds. Pets are not to be left outside while students are in campus buildings, including the dining hall. Cats and dogs present a sanitation problem in campus buildings, as they bring in lice and fleas. Stray animals are not to be fed or sheltered. Resident Advisors may be able to help find a solution for a lost or stray animal.
If a pet is found in a student’s room, the student will be charged.

Environmental Guidelines

• Dumpsters: Please do not put the following items in dumpsters: appliances, batteries, bricks, construction materials, greenery, yard waste, liquids, paint, tires, rocks, or flammables.
• Antennas and satellite dishes: Unless approved ahead of time, none are allowed, as they can cause extensive damage to buildings and roofs. Violators will be charged.
• Restrooms in residence halls: Because of sanitary requirements in areas for public use, no personal items (e.g., towels, etc.) are to be left in the residence hall restrooms.

The following guidelines for thermostat settings, heating and cooling, etc. are based on normal conditions; however, when special energy concerns warrant, special instructions will be posted which may supersede these guidelines:

Open windows and doors: To ensure energy efficiency and the best utilization of resources, doors and windows must be closed, except as listed below. This is because negative pressure, which draws conditioned air from the building, occurs even when individual room heating or cooling elements are shut off.

1. Windows can be open for up to five minutes before morning and evening program during all seasons.
2. During “Heating” season windows can be open if the temperature is above 65° F (18.30 C).
3. During “Cooling” season windows can be open if the temperature is below 75° F (23.90 C).

Dial 601 from campus phones for the temperature.

Students may be charged if windows or doors are left open during heating or cooling seasons.

Housing During Vacation Periods

Winter and summer holidays are not included in room and board charges for fall and spring semesters. (Students may stay on campus for Thanksgiving and Spring holidays.) Undergraduate students who wish to stay on campus may seek an 18-hour- per-week work position through the Personnel Office, or may apply to work full-time to earn tuition credit in addition to room and board. Graduate students have the option of staying on campus over the winter and summer holidays by paying the appropriate room and board charge ($200 per week) to the Housing Office. Please note that faculty and staff dependents may not stay in student residence halls over the winter or summer holidays.

Students participating in the 18-hour-per-week work option will be billed for room and board charges if they work less than the 18 hours per week, for any reason.

The University reserves the right to use students rooms during these holiday periods and to give temporary room assignments to students remaining on campus.

Students pay a special summer nonrefundable fee to reserve a room for the next academic year, and to store their belongings. Please make this payment and drop off the room key at the Housing Office within 72 hours of your last class. Students who need to return a day or two early, or leave a day or two late for vacation will be charged a daily room fee by the Housing Office. Rooms must be left clean, and personal items students want stored must be packed up and left in the room, or taken to the designated summer storage area.

Students may not access their rooms over summer or winter vacation periods. Use of a room over the vacation period is not permitted and results in a charge.

Housing When Withdrawing from a Course

Students must be registered and attending class to remain on campus. Students who withdraw from a course have three options:

1. receive permission from the faculty to continue to sit in on the class from which they have withdrawn;
2. move off campus; or
3. receive permission to stay on campus in an activity approved by the Student Affairs Council.

Damage to Common Areas

The resident responsible for damage to halls, TV rooms, etc., must pay for any repairs. The resident is also responsible for damages caused by his or her guests. If it is not known who caused the damage, then the cost of repair is shared by all students living in the area of the damage.

Room Inspections

The Housing Office routinely inspects student rooms throughout the year. Notices are posted in advance to announce the time and dates so students may be prepared. However, the University reserves the right to enter rooms without prior notice.

If the condition of a room differs from the room inventory listing, the student will be charged. There are charges for missing items or damages to the room; there is also a charge if public University property (such as student desks, folding tables, vacuum cleaners, or upholstered stacking chairs) is found in private rooms.

No Smoking in Campus Buildings

All buildings on campus are smoke-free. Anyone smoking on campus must be at least 50 feet away from the windows and doors of any building. Violators are subject to a charge.

Housing Policies for Guests

Experiencing the campus environment gives firsthand experience of our Consciousness-Based education programs. If you wish to invite a guest to visit, please contact the Housing Office for procedures and guidelines. Arrangements for a guest, even in your room, must be made in advance with the Housing Office.

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