RESIDENCE LIFE

LIVING ON CAMPUS

Living on campus in a residence hall is a unique and wonderful experience, a catalyst for personal growth and independence. It provides innumerable opportunities to live with others who are different from yourself, to become a leader, to communicate well, to manage conflicts successfully, to make sound decisions, and to broaden your perspective on the world.

We invite you to embrace the spirit of community, take some risks willingly, meet your challenges and responsibilities honestly, learn from your mistakes humbly, and respect yourself, your neighbors, your community, and your environment energetically.

Although the University has set standards of behavior for all students, some additional guidelines are necessary for those who live together in groups of 15 to 50.  During community meetings you will talk about how everyone can show each other respect. Basic expectations of everyone living in community are listed here.

Amplified musical instruments and drums are not permitted due to the noise levels they create. The playing of other instruments is subject to the agreement of residents in the affected areas and must adhere to the quiet hours policy.

Athletic equipment may not be used in the residence halls or immediately adjacent to residence hall doors and windows. This includes but is not limited to: skate boards; roller blades; lacrosse and hockey equipment; golf and baseball equipment; basketballs, bowling balls, footballs, rugby balls, soccer balls, volley balls, tennis balls and racquet balls; frisbees and scooters.

Bikes are not permitted in lounges or stairwells. There are no storage facilities available for bikes in the residence halls. Therefore, they must be stored in your room or outside.

Breaks occur at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, Easter and the end of spring semester. All residence halls will close at specified times. Travel arrangements should be made to assure compliance with closing times because you are expected to vacate your room and building by the designated time. Although you may keep your belongings in your room, except for the end of spring semester, we recommend that you take your valuables home. You should take everything you need during break periods as access to rooms is very limited during these times.

Bernet, Dolan, Hamlin, and Murphy Halls will remain open through the end of the spring term with the exception of twelve days over the Christmas holiday when all halls will be closed. If you need to stay over a break, you must register in the Office of Residence Life. There may be a fee for staying. Guests are not permitted and all community standards will remain in effect.

Building security is everyone’s responsibility. Carry your keys, close doors, use an escort when in another residence hall, report unescorted persons, and do not give access to unescorted guests. All residence halls are locked twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Propping outside doors is a security risk to all residents, and so is not permitted.

Candles are prohibited in residence hall rooms if the wick is burned. Burning of candles is also prohibited.

Check-In. Consists of signing for keys, submitting an emergency contact card, and completing a Room Condition Report. Please be thorough in completing this form. It will protect you from being held responsible for damages that existed prior to your occupancy.

Check-out. Occurs at the end of the contract. You are required to leave the building within 24 hours of the completion of your last exam, or by the official closing time, whichever comes first.

There are two methods for checking out. The first is “express check out” which includes signing a waiver of room inspection forfeiting your right to the appeal process and returning your keys. The second includes your personal inspection of the room with a staff member, signing your room condition report and returning your keys. Failure to choose one of these methods will result in a charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and forfeiture of using the damage appeal process.

Cleaning of the public areas in each of the residence halls is done on a daily basis, including weekends.  A schedule for daily trash removal and cleaning of the restrooms will be posted on each restroom door. 

Students with a concern about cleanliness of any area are asked to submit a work request with specific details so the issue can be resolved in a timely manner.  When cleaning staff (or the maintenance staff) are in a restroom to clean or make repairs, the entrance(s) will be closed and blocked or roped off and students will be required to use another restroom during that time.

Common area space is for every resident’s use. Various lounges provide televisions, pool tables, microwave ovens, kitchens, and study areas. Residents are responsible for the daily upkeep of these areas. Therefore, your cooperation in maintaining a clean atmosphere is expected. Lounge furniture or cushions may not be removed from lounges.

Community damage is damage done in public areas. The public area losses or damages that are preventable and are not assignable to individuals will be billed in equal amounts to the floor or building members. It is the responsibility of all residents to be aware of their environment and to hold others accountable who vandalize property.

Consolidation may be necessary when numerous students are living in rooms without roommates. To make the best use of available space, students who pay the double-room rate may be required to consolidate with other students. When possible, students living alone in double rooms will be offered the opportunity to rent their double room as a "buyout" at an increased cost.

Contracts for University housing are legally binding documents and should be read carefully and retained for future reference. They are for the full academic year. The University reserves the right to deny a student access to University housing for sufficient cause. The University may remove from University housing a student who fails to meet proper standards of conduct and performance. Such standards include but are not limited to the terms of the Housing Contract and the regulations governing the residence halls.

Cooking is prohibited in the residence halls except as designated by the University. This is because of problems associated with the preparation of food in the residence halls such as rodents, insects, and potential damage to physical property, potential fire hazard, and unpleasant odors in the room/hall. Some halls have community kitchens and regulations for their use should be followed.

Decorating. The addition of furniture such as chairs, wardrobes, or clothes racks should be done with good judgment - mindful of safety and the ability of people to exit from your room. Any type of partition or hanging material that represents a potential fire hazard will not be permitted (i.e. banner/tapestries hanging over smoke detectors). You may hang your own curtains, but University issued drapes must be rehung before checking out of the room. Nails, thumbtacks, tape of any kind, and other devices (decals on mirrors and doors) that will damage any painted or wooden surface are not permitted. Tampering with or rewiring of electrical fixtures jeopardizes the safety of the building and is prohibited. The University reserves the right to judge what is “safe” for its buildings and occupants. Decorations used for special occasions must be of fire retardant material. All decorative lights must be for indoor use and UL approved. Live Christmas trees are not permitted in residence halls. Neon signs are prohibited in residence hall windows. When in the judgment of the University there is offensive material displayed on a door, in a window or in a room, the University reserves the right to require students to remove the display.

Disrespect for or interference with a staff member acting in the performance of her or his duties is considered an extremely serious offense. Any student who commits an act of disrespect against a Residence Life staff member will be subject to disciplinary action. A finding of responsibility in such a case may result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

Electrical appliances must be in compliance with the housing and fire codes of the City of University Heights. Each appliance must be UL approved. Approved appliances include stereos, computers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, refrigerators (4.6 cubic feet or smaller), microwaves (1 cubic foot and 700 - 900 watts), blankets, fans, coffee makers, desk lights, hair dryers, and curling irons. Prohibited items include toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, hot pots, sun lamps, electric skillets and woks, grills (including the George Foreman grill), oil popcorn poppers, space heaters, percolators, air conditioners, halogen bulb lamps, and potpourri burners. Only UL approved, circuit breaker type extension cords and power-strips may be used.

Entering Student Rooms and Residences. Authorized University representatives may enter a student’s room to inspect, repair, examine, or make necessary alterations. In addition, University representatives may enter a student’s room to enforce University policy; to investigate possible policy infractions; to ensure that students have vacated the room in emergency situations; to inspect for cleanliness, health, and safety; or to place, replace, repair, or remove rented equipment.

A student is not allowed to enter another student’s room without permission from the occupant. University staff will only provide access to a room for the resident of that room.

No one is welcome in a John Carroll University student residence unless she/he resides in that residence hall, is a University employee working in that residence, is being hosted by a resident of that building, or is given permission by the University to do work in that building. Resident students are held responsible for the behavior of their guests. Guests always must be escorted by a resident while in the building.

Escorting your guests in the hallways, bathrooms, and lounges is your responsibility. This includes residents of other buildings who are visiting you.

Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. All fire alarms should be considered true indications of danger and the building must be evacuated as safely and quickly as possible.

While staff will attempt to alert residents to leave, it is incumbent upon each person to take personal responsibility to exit the building. Staff will indicate when people may safely return inside.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A FIRE ALARM SOUNDS

• Residents and their guests must evacuate the building immediately.
• Feel the door with the back of your hand to test for heat.
• Cover entire body with clothing, if possible, and carry an extra towel to protect face and hair.
• Close the room windows and leave the drapes/blinds open.
• Turn off all lights in the room except the ceiling light.
• Close and lock the door.
• Walk quickly and quietly.
• Leave the building by the nearest exit.
• Once outside the building, move away from the entrances, pair up with your roommate, move to the spot designated for your floor and do not block the street or parking lot.

IF YOU CANNOT LEAVE YOUR ROOM BECAUSE OF INTENSE HEAT OR SMOKE, TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

• Place a towel at the base of the door to prevent smoke from coming into the room.
• Hang a sheet out of the room window to indicate that you are there.
• Call x1234 to give Campus Safety Services your location.

A fire safety program will be conducted in each building during the fall semester.  
Additionally, fire drills are conducted in each residence hall each semester. Failing to evacuate the building during an alarm will result in disciplinary action.

The University Heights Fire Marshall inspects each University building on a regular schedule. The Fire Marshall may enter any room without notification to determine if it is in violation of fire safety policies.
Causing a building to go into alarm falsely can carry grave consequences. Students may panic or may ignore the alarm believing it to be false. This may in turn cause students to become injured, overcome by smoke, or to lose their lives. Therefore, the University takes the actions of tampering with fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers which trigger an alarm very seriously.

The following will be considered as sufficient cause for immediate expulsion from the University:  

• Intentionally setting a fire of any nature.

The following will be considered as sufficient cause for immediate suspension from the University:  

• Pulling a fire alarm when no danger is present.  

Tampering with smoke detectors or sprinkler systems resulting in triggering the alarm system.
 
The following will be considered as sufficient cause for immediate removal from the residence halls for a designated period of time:  
 

• Misuse of fire extinguishers.
• Setting off fire crackers or similar incendiary devices.
• Tampering with the protective hood on fire alarm pull stations.
• Leaving candles lit and unattended.
• Removing batteries from a room smoke detector.
• Vandalizing exit signs.  

Gambling is prohibited.

Guests of residents are permitted to stay overnight in the residence halls provided the guest is of the same sex as the hosting resident. Any guest staying longer than two nights must obtain special permission from the area coordinator.

You are reminded that you are responsible for the actions of your guests and will be held accountable for any damages, loss of property, or behavior that is initiated by your guests. You should accompany your guests at all times while on campus.

Halogen light bulbs can reach extremely high temperatures and have caused fires in some residence halls. They are not permitted in rooms.

Illegal possessions. Use or possession of fireworks, firearms, ammunition, explosives, dangerous chemicals, knives, or weapons of any kind is forbidden in University residences.
Also, motorcycles or other gas driven vehicles, gasoline, butane, and other flammable items, are prohibited.

Incense. Burning incense is prohibited in the residence halls.

Insurance. The University does NOT cover personal property that may be lost or damaged from any cause, including but not limited to fire and flooding. You should check your parent(s)’/guardian(s)’ homeowner’s or renter’s insurance to cover any potential loss. We recommend that you purchase renter’s insurance if your property is not covered.

Kegs and beer balls, empty or full, are prohibited at all times.

Keys should be secured at all times. Keys may not be duplicated, sold or loaned to anyone including friends or roommates and may not be thrown/dropped out of windows for guests to obtain access to the building.
Report lost or stolen keys immediately to the Office of Residence Life. Stolen keys should also be reported to Campus Safety Services. Each lost/stolen key costs eighty dollars ($80.00). Room locks are changed to protect both current and future residents and their belongings.

Lockouts are handled by the Office of Residence Life and Campus Safety Services.
Should you be locked out of your room between 8:30 a.m. and noon or 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, you may check out a temporary key in the Office of Residence Life. At any other time, your RA or another RA in your building can give you access to your room. If you cannot locate an RA, you may contact Campus Safety Services. They will contact the staff member on duty.

Meal plans are required for everyone living on campus. Options are limited to the seven traditional plans offered (10, 10+, 14, 14+, 19, the 175 Block, and Unlimited).

Medical emergencies. The University maintains that students who are 18 years old are adults and, therefore, should take responsibility for their actions and for keeping their parent(s) or guardian(s) informed of events. However, when a student is identified by the University as not competent to manage his/her life, the University reserves the right to contact parent(s) or guardian(s).

Noise is a common problem with so many people living together. It is extremely important to respect your neighbors at all times. Therefore, courtesy hours are always in effect. Quiet hours (sound level confined to one’s room) are in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. Sunday evening through Friday morning, and 2:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. During finals week, quiet hours are in effect 24 hours a day.

Painting is done in the summer through Facilities. Because a great deal of effort is expended in the repainting of student rooms, you are not permitted to paint your room.

Pets are not permitted, with the exception of fish. No tank may exceed 20 gallons.  Fish tanks may remain on during short breaks, but must be unplugged during Winter break.

Propping Building entry doors and fire doors is strictly prohibited.

Residency Requirements exist for all first and second year students who are not residing with a parent or guardian.  Students who are at least 21 years of age are exempt from this requirement.

Roofs and ledges are off limits for the safety of all. You are not permitted to put shoes, food, plants, etc. on ledges.

Room Damage determined by the University not to be from normal wear and tear will be assessed to those assigned to the room.

Roommate Bill of Rights:

• Freedom from undue interference. Unreasonable noise and other distractions inhibit this right. You have the right to expect that your roommate will inform you of behavior he or she finds distracting. Open communication is essential to getting along as roommates.
• The right to sleep and study without undue disturbance from noise or guests. 
• The expectation that your personal belongings will be respected.
• The right to a pleasant environment. Standards for cleanliness should be agreed on and fulfilled by you and your roommate.
• The right to have reasonable amounts of privacy as agreed upon by you and your roommate.
• The right to have guests. Guests are to respect the rights of your roommate and other hall residents as well as abide by residence life policies. Remember that you and your roommate are equally responsible for seeing that policies and guidelines are upheld in your room.
• The right to ask residence hall staff for assistance in settling conflicts when you and your roommate cannot resolve them yourselves. 
• The right to be free from fear of physical and/or emotional harm.
• Cooperation in the use of shared appliances (such as telephone, refrigerator, and stereo) and a commitment to honor agreed upon payment procedures.

Room changes are permitted according to established guidelines. There is a room freeze for all first year students during the first three weeks of the fall term.  There is a room freeze for all continuing students during the first two weeks of the fall term.  There is a room freeze for all students during the first two weeks of the spring term.  There is also a room freeze for all residents during the last three weeks of each semester.

If you wish to change your situation, you should go to see your RA. At that time, the RA should talk with you about why you want to change rooms and have you talk with your roommate. The goal is to have you work things out with your roommate through listening and compromise.
If the RA assesses that you and your roommate have honestly tried to resolve matters and you want to move out, the RA will contact your AC. The RA will then work to get you and any prospective roommates to meet.

At that meeting, the RA will introduce you and get the conversation started. You should talk about issues that are important to you in living together (i.e., sleeping and studying patterns, musical tastes, visitors, sharing of food and property).

If you decide it is not a good match and the RA concludes that you talked honestly and the current student in that room was not just trying to be difficult or push you away, then the RA should contact the AC to let him/her know so that you can proceed onto the next possibility.

If you seem compatible, then the RA should help you move into the process of paperwork. This requires that you obtain the signatures of your current roommate, current RA, and new RA on the green card the RA provides to you. Then you should take the green card to the Office of Residence Life. This will indicate that all processes have been followed and you can fill out the necessary paperwork to complete the move.
In the event that the mediation is unsuccessful and each of you refuses to move, the following options are available:

• You may stay together.
• You may try mediation again with another person.
• You may go to arbitration. Arbitration means that you will go before a board of peers who will decide who needs to move. If you choose arbitration, you are bound by the decision.

Remember that this process takes time and requires patience. If you see problems developing, please take the time to talk with your roommate. Don’t let small problems turn into urgent matters.

Room search. Normally, resident assistants are not authorized to search student rooms except when evacuating the building during an emergency situation. If it is not during an emergency, RAs may only enter a room as necessary and observe what is in plain view. Only the director of residence life, the assistant director of residence life, an area coordinator or a person designated by the dean of students may conduct searches of drawers, closets, and other areas. When a search is conducted, the occupants will be made aware of the reason for the search, but not necessarily before the search is made.  Written notification of a room search will be left in the room if the occupants are not in the room at the time of the search.

A receipt for any belongings removed during the search will be given to the room occupants.  Such belongings will be returned, if and when it is safe and lawful to do so, after disposition of a case by the appropriate University or civil authority. An effort will be made to have at least two University representatives, one a Student Life staff member, present when a search of a student room is conducted.

In a criminal case or other serious emergency, the presence of a Student Life staff member may not be required.

Room Selection for Students Placed on University Probation or Deferred Suspension for a period of 16 consecutive weeks or longer will be limited in the options they may have for housing for the following year. Specifically, those students who are required to live in the residence halls for the following year will be assigned to a room by the Office of Residence Life after all other returning students have the opportunity to sign up. Additionally, students who have been placed on Deferred Suspension for a period of 16 weeks or longer will not be permitted to reside in Bernet Hall or any off campus properties administered by the Office of Residence Life for the following year.  This will hold true even if the deferred suspension is assigned after a student has secured a spot in one of these locations or is assigned while the student is living in one of these locations.  In the latter case, the student will not be permitted to renew their contract for that space for the following year.

Screens are not provided in most rooms. Where provided, removing or tampering with the screen is a violation. Any damage to existing screens will be billed to both residents of the room.

Self-destructive behavior. Any student engaged in an observable pattern of self-destructive behavior (i.e., chemical abuse, eating disorders, cutting, suicide threats) will be documented and sent through the Student Conduct System.

Solicitation is not permitted by any member of the University or by anyone else.
Solicitation includes, but is not limited to, selling products or services and door-to-door collections or flyer delivery. Salespeople within the halls should be reported to Campus Safety Services immediately. Residence hall staff also should be notified promptly.

Exceptions to this policy may only be granted through the area coordinator. Exceptions are only allowed for hall programs of a particular residence hall.

Smoking is not permitted in any residence hall or within 25 feet of the main entrances. Ashtrays are located outside near some entrances to the buildings. Building entry doors may not be propped while smoking. Please take your keys.

Storage is not available on campus.

Thefts should be reported to Campus Safety Services immediately. Your RA and area coordinator should also be notified. The University is not responsible for an individual student’s belongings. You should be sure that your property is properly insured. You are strongly encouraged to lock your door when you are sleeping or away from your room.

Throwing, dropping or hanging of any items out of windows is strictly prohibited.

Use of rooms for commercial purposes is prohibited.

Vacancies may occur during the year. If you are left with a vacancy in your room, you are expected to welcome a new roommate. Those found to be disrespectful to residents seeking a room change, in order to dissuade them, may be charged for a buyout and sent through the Student Conduct System.

Visitation hours in the residence halls are limited to 11:00 am. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Communities can further restrict hours by a 2/3 majority. The area coordinator may place restrictions on any floor, wing, or building for any length of time.

Waterbeds are not permitted.

Windows may not be used to enter or exit a building except in the case of an emergency.

FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, duty offices are located by the main entrance of each hall. These offices are open 8:00pm through 1:00am Sunday through Thursday and 9:00pm through 3:00am Friday and Saturday. Resident Assistants are on duty during these times and are prepared to help you in any way possible.

Area Coordinators have their offices in the following locations in their areas:

The AC offices are open Monday through Friday from 10:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-5:00pm. They have work study students who assist them and they work out of the duty offices of these halls. You can reach them by calling the numbers listed above.