Residence Life Policies and Information

Your Resident Director (RD), Assistant Resident Director (ARD), Resident Assistant (RA), or Head Resident (HR) will be communicating policy concerns to you throughout the year. All students, whether living in the residence halls or other college-owned residences, are responsible for adhering to the following policies:

Appliances

Due to fire regulations, electrical cooking appliances may not be used in student rooms. Kitchens are located on every floor in each hall. Most areas have a sink, stove, refrigerator and microwave. Some areas also have ovens. Students are responsible for proper use of these appliances and for clean up. Students should never leave stoves, microwaves, or other cooking appliances unattended while in use. All food stored in the kitchens should be clearly marked with the student’s name and room number.

Bicycles

Students are expected to park their bicycles in the racks provided outside of each residence hall or kept in the hall’s bike storage room. Bike rooms are available in East, Shen, South, Lambein, and the Townhouses. To obtain a key see your resident director.

Decorations

Please do not use nails, scotch tape, glue, tacks, pins, duct tape, or masking tape to adhere posters or pictures to your room walls. All of these leave scars on the walls. Check with the Resident Assistant for details about what materials are permitted for use on your walls. Concerning the “content” of the pictures or posters that you hang, please use discretion. Illegally obtained signs are prohibited. Decorations inconsistent with college philosophy may not be displayed. This includes sexually suggestive items, occult materials, and alcohol, drug, and tobacco advertisements or paraphernalia. The final interpretation of whether a decoration is appropriate will rest with the RD.

Early Arrival

Students are not generally permitted to live in college-owned housing prior to or after the official school opening and closing dates as printed on the college calendar. Students who report to school prior to the official opening date or stay after the closing date without prior permission will incur a charge of $20.00 per day.

Exceptions are made for those students who are on campus at the request of faculty or staff for an official college function or program which include, but is not limited to: pre-season athletic training, residence life staff, FYI leaders, student government, student teachers and international student orientation.

The opening and closing dates for each campus break are printed on the college calendar. There are no exceptions to this for those students living in one of the four traditional residence halls. Residents of the townhouses and flats may remain in their living units during breaks but must notify the resident director of their plans. A list of students given permission to remain in the townhouses and flats will be given to the Directors of Safety and Security, Residence Life and Facilities.

Fines

The resident director may impose fines or community service upon residents for the violation of residence hall policies.

Fire Safety

Tampering with fire safety equipment or taking actions which potentially endanger the health or welfare of others may be grounds for immediate dismissal from the College. Any resident responsible for a false fire alarm due to malicious or careless actions will be fined $500.00, which will be donated to the Houghton Volunteer Fire Department.

Fire drill information including escape routes and exits is posted in each residence hall. Each student should familiarize himself/herself with this information. Fire drills are held regularly throughout the year.

Corridors, stairways, landings, doorways and exits are to be kept clear at all times. Items such as boxes, clothing racks, bikes, furniture, sports equipment, shoes, etc are to be kept out of all the areas listed above. Appropriate college personnel will dispose of any items left in these areas. Stairwell doors and other fire doors are to remain closed at all times.

Guests

Students may invite visitors of the same gender to stay in student rooms free of charge for three nights per semester, per guest. A $10 fee is charged for each night after the third – not to exceed five nights. No member of the opposite gender (including parents, siblings or other relatives) may visit your room at any time –other than open house - unless it is cleared in advance with the RD or ARD.

Hall Councils

Each residence hall elects residents to serve on its hall council. This council is responsible for organizing social events and guiding hall policy. Each student is assessed a residence hall activity fee of $10, which is used for floor and all-hall activities.

Hall Damage Fee

Residents of South Hall, townhouses, and the Flats are charged a $150 damage deposit, which is refundable if you are not individually or corporately responsible for any damage to your living area. (This includes leaving the room/unit clean.)

Hall Lounges

The main lounges in the residence halls are to be used for relaxing, studying, socializing and for entertaining visitors and friends. Public displays of affection by couples, excessive noise, and sleeping are not in good taste and will not be tolerated.

Hallway Safety

In order to provide for the safety of residents and visitors alike and to avoid damage to college property, students are not to throw objects in the hallways. Frisbees, balls or other sporting equipment are not to be used in the residence halls. Violations will result in a $50.00 fine.

Hours

For security reasons, all doors except the main entrance of the hall are locked by 8:00 p.m. Residence halls remain open until midnight Sunday through Thursday, 2:00 a.m. on Friday, and 1:00 a.m. on Saturday. Main entrances are locked when the residence halls close. East and Lambein Halls are equipped with an electronic access system. It is imperative for the safety of our residents that entry doors are never propped open. Further, access codes are for the use of the individuals to whom they are assigned ONLY. Misuse of codes and propping of locked doors are violations of residence hall policy and may result in a $50 fine.

Laundry Facilities

Laundry facilities are available for your convenience in each college-owned residential facility. All residential students pay a fee each semester for the use of laundry facilities. Any non-residential student found using the laundry facilities will be fined $50.00. Any mechanical difficulties with the washers and dryers should be promptly reported to the resident director.

Locks

It is imperative that residents keep their rooms and locking drawers locked at all times. The college cannot be liable for loss or damage of any personal items. Students are encouraged to check their parents’ homeowner’s insurance policy for coverage of losses while away at college.

Lofts

Due to safety and fire regulations, hand-built lofts and bunk beds designed for residential use may not be used in the residence halls or in the college-owned houses. Beds may not be elevated on any furniture or platforms. Cinder blocks may not be brought into the residence halls. Closet doors may not be removed at any time for any reason.

Microwave Warning

Never, for any reason, leave the microwave unattended while it is in use. If the fire alarm is set off through careless use of the microwave or other appliances you will be liable for a minimum fine of $50.00 to be donated to the Houghton Volunteer Fire Department.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments, with the exception of non-amplified guitars and electronic keyboards with earphone, are not to be played in the residence halls.

Open House

Definition: A designated time during which a student’s room is open to opposite gender visitors. Visitors must sign in and out at the residence hall desk and leave their student ID. Non-student visitors must leave a driver’s license. During open house visitation, the participating student’s door must remain completely open and the light on at all times. Those in the room should be easily visible to those outside the room.

Residence halls may have up to four Open House evenings each week, one weekday evening from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., weekend evenings (Friday and/or Saturday) from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., weekend evenings (Friday and/or Saturday) from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Each residence hall staff, in conjunction with hall council, will determine the number of open houses to be held each week.

Pets

All animals other than tropical fish are prohibited in all college-owned housing.

Quiet Hours

Quiet hours have been established in each residence hall to provide resident with the opportunity for adequate study and rest. The policy has been created to encourage a sense of community responsibility and to demonstrate consideration for all residents.

Quiet hours are in effect from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. every day with additional quiet times implemented during final exam periods. All residents are expected to refrain from causing any noise or disruption that would infringe on the rights of fellow students to study or sleep. Music and other forms of noise should not be heard outside the room for which it is intended. Because this policy can only be effective if the floor works together, residents are expected to ask for cooperation from others. Each member of the residence hall is responsible to confront others concerning noise. When those confrontations are not heeded, the RA will be involved. Students who refuse to cooperate with the RA or who continue to violate the policy will be subject to discipline by the RD.

Repairs

Report any needed repairs to the ARD or RD of your residence hall. The maintenance crew is responsible for repairs across campus. Requests for repairs will be honored as soon as possible.

Required Residence Hall meetings

Hall and floor meetings are held when necessary. All residents are required to attend, and permission for an absence must be secured from their RD or RA in advance of the meeting time. A fine may be charged to students for an unexcused absence.

Room Inventory & Condition (RIC) Report/Room Contracts

When you move into a new room, your RA or HR will fill out and have you sign an RIC form and Housing Contract. By signing, you agree to be responsible to return the room and its furnishings in the same condition when you move out. You also agree to abide by all residence hall policies.

Storage

Storage areas are available year-round. Clearly mark any items which you choose to store with your name and room number. The college assumes no responsibility for items stored. Students will not have access to storage areas during vacation periods. Please note that if you do not claim your stored items at the end of the summer, they will be held for one semester only and then donated to charity.

Telephones

Each room in college housing is equipped with one phone jack. Each student will receive a voice mailbox upon completion of a telephone contract. Phones are not provided. Students may receive calls dialed directly into their rooms. Students will receive an access code for making long distance calls. Students will receive a monthly detail of charges. These charges will be applied monthly to their student account.

Vacations

College rooms are rented to you ONLY when classes are in session. All rooms must be vacated during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring breaks. Students must have their rooms inspected by residence hall personnel when the building closes. Written notification containing checkout procedures, meal schedules, hall closing hours and dates are distributed to all students prior to vacation periods and at the close of each semester. Speak to your Resident Assistant for more details and consult the official calendar or the Scoop sheet for opening and closing dates of the residence halls.

Windows and Screens

Screens are not to be opened or removed for any reason. A minimum $30.00 service fee will be charged any time a screen is removed. If the screen is damaged, the replacement cost will also be charged to the student. Students should not throw anything in, out, or at windows. Due to noise and privacy concerns, conversations should not occur through residence hall windows and playing music out of residence hall windows is prohibited.

Restricted Items

The following items are not permitted in college buildings and will be confiscated by the resident director if found on the premises:

· Halogen lamps; · Hot plates; · Toaster ovens(acceptable in townhouse and apartment kitchens); · Microwaves (microwaves are provided in kitchens); · Candles; · Incense/potpourri; · Heaters or air conditioners; · Pets (other than fish); · Objectionable posters; · Items/posters advertising alcohol; · Weapons; · Explosives/fireworks (illegal in New York); · Full-size refrigerators (compact size permitted); · Cinder blocks (including those for shelving); · Hand-built lofts or bunk-beds; · Road signs; · Satellite dishes; The following items are permitted in residence halls but; may only be used in the kitchens:
: · Coffeemakers; · Toasters; · Popcorn poppers; · Hot pots; · Crock pots; · Electric fry pans/griddles

The following items must be stored in the Safety and Security Office and checked out for appropriate use:

· Any weapon powered by pump action, including any BB gun

· Any weapon powered by compressed air or CO2 cartridge including all pain ball guns

· Any firearm, including black powder weapons

· Any blowgun or similar weapon

· Any type bow (archery)

· Any Martial Arts weapon (i.e. nun-chuks, throwing stars, throwing knives, etc.

· Any knife with a blade six (6) inches long or longer

· Any knife with a double-edged blade

Residence Hall Security

Students can do a few simple actions to protect belongings in the residence halls. Some of the simplest and most effective are: