Care and Use of Property

Care and Use of Property


Beds

All rooms have “Flex-O-Beds.” Residents may request to bunk their beds or have them single. Bunking beds requires special reinforcement parts. For safety reasons, the resident must complete a Residence Hall work order to have the beds bunked or de-bunked by maintenance. Ladders are available upon request via a Work Order. Side rails must be used on the top bunk when the beds are bunked. The top bunk must remain in the lower bracket.

Ceiling Light

Ceiling lights must remain intact and operational.

Damage and Vandalism

As indicated in the Room and Board Agreement, residents will be held financially responsible for the condition of their room and its furnishings and any loss or damage other than normal wear that may occur. At the beginning of occupancy, a student completes a Room Inventory Form with their R.A. We encourage students to carefully review this before signing. Damages, which are caused by other students or by other visitors, will be charged to the room’s occupants. Any damage noted on the initial Room Inventory Form at check-in will not be charged against the student upon termination of residency. Any new damage noted at the termination of residency will be charged against the student’s security/damage deposit.  If the cost of damage exceeds the available balance of a security/damage deposit, the student will be charged and a hold placed on the student account until such time payment is made.  If the exact occupant causing the damage cannot be ascertained, the charge will be shared between the room residents. Damage or vandalism, which occurs mid-semester, is normally to be paid by the stated deadline to the Auxiliary Services Office in the Alumni College Center, Room 206. If repairs cannot be made immediately, the charges will be based upon estimates of labor and materials. Charges for rooms not properly cleaned and set-up will also be assessed.

Damage to property in common areas is deemed the responsibility of the students in that immediate area, if responsibility is not determinable. Assessments will be made on the smallest group consistent with a concept of reason and justice, i.e., damage in a suite Gathering Room will be split among occupants of that suite. Residence Council will provide direction in determining common area charges, as appropriate.

Vandalism will not be tolerated and is cause for dismissal, monetary fines and possible legal action.

Doors

Absolutely no nails, screws, tacks, stickers or similar items are to be used on room doors. Substantial charges will result for any damage. Message boards may only be placed on doors with items such as double-sided tape, "Fun Tack" or CommandTM products.

Food Storage

Storage of perishable foods in rooms is not advisable, as this tends to attract rodents, ants and other insects. All non-perishable food should be stored in airtight containers and be well wrapped. Food must be properly stored.  Food must be discarded during vacations and/or when it is no longer fresh. Any condition that results in the college having to remediate (ie. obtain services of pest control) will result in a fine to student.

Housekeeping and Hygiene

Each resident is responsible for the care and cleaning of their own room, including trash removal. Residents must keep their rooms reasonably clean and neat to prevent a fire hazard or unhygienic atmosphere. Room inspections are done each semester for safety and hygiene. All rooms must be properly swept upon checkout. Students are also expected to maintain a personal hygiene that is appropriate for community living. Any condition that results in the college having to remediate (ie. obtain services of pest control) will result in a fine to student.

Room Furniture/Decorations

Residents may decorate their room in order to make it feel “homey” subject to the following guidelines. 

  • All furniture is to remain in the room it is assigned to and assembled at all times. Any missing furniture will result in disciplinary action/monetary fines.

  • Because the wardrobes are so large and heavy, there is a $25 fine for placing them on their side or removing them from the room.

  • Furniture placement in each student’s room is to be done in a safe manner. Furniture may not be stacked or lofted, with the exception of the two drawer stackable dressers, on top of each other.

  • Doorways cannot be obstructed.

  • All beds must be visible from the door.

  • Nothing may be hung from the ceilings. 

  • Absolutely no item may be hung from or touching any fire equipment including sprinkler pipes and heads, heat/smoke detectors, fire alarm horn, etc.  Damage caused from a sprinkler pipe activation is the responsibility of the person causing the damage or room occupants.

  • Ceiling tiles may not be removed or altered.

  • Please take special note that the following items are prohibited: duct tape, cinder blocks, waterbeds, lofts, bed risers greater than 8”, real Christmas trees and snow spray.

  • Beds may only be bunked by maintenance personnel. Student should complete a Residence Hall Work Order.

  • Any decorations that the Residence Hall Staff feels may contribute to a fire hazard or prohibits egress to the room must be removed.

Fire Safety

Only paper-based wall decorations covering no greater than 50% of any wall are allowed.  Wall coverings in dormitories are governed by fire code as noted below: 

“807.2 Combustible Decorative Materials
In Groups A, B, E, I, M and R-1 and in dormitories in Group R-2, curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and other similar combustible decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall comply with Section 807.3 and shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area to which such materials are attached …

Exceptions: …
In Group R-2dormitories, within sleeping units and dwelling units, the permissible amount of curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall not exceed 50 percent of the aggregate wall areas where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.”

807.3 Acceptance Criteria and Reports
Where required to exhibit improved fire performance, curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and other similar combustible decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall be tested by an approved agency and meet the flame propagation performance criteria of Test Method 1 or Test Method 2, as appropriate, of NFPA 701 or exhibit a maximum rate of heat release of 100 kW when tested in accordance with NFPA 289, using the 20 kW ignition source. Reports of test results shall be prepared in accordance with the test method used and furnished to the fire code official upon request.