Welcome to Your Home Away From Home!

The Room Guide covers policies designed to keep our community safer for all residents. Please review this page and take the time to ensure that your belongings, decor, and furniture set-up follows the outlined information as Residential Life and Environmental Health & Safety staff conduct periodic health and safety inspections throughout the year. This ensures the safety of our residential halls, and more importantly you and your neighbors.

Though the Room Guide has similar guidance and policies as the Apartment Guide, this page does not apply to Circle/Garden Apartment residents. To view the Apartment Guide, visit the Apartment Guide page.

Most Common Health and Safety Violations in Rooms

Hanging Items From the Ceiling - No items are allowed to be hung on the ceiling. This includes hanging items on the sprinklers, pipes, or ceilings in all residential rooms.

String Lights - String lights cannot be wrapped around handrails, guardrails, banisters, etc. Strands cannot be plugged into each other. Only 100 bulbs per room.

Piggy Backing/Daisy Chaining - Surge protectors must not be plugged into another surge protector.

20% Rule - No more than 20% of a wall or door may be covered in combustible materials such as posters and decorations.

Decorating - Do not use duct tape or poster tack. Any damage you create will be charged to you. Window clings are only allowed on glass surfaces, as they can stain. Consider using scotch tape or Command Strips as they do not damage the walls.

Blocked Egress - All exits must be clear at all times. Violations includes tapestries hung in front of doorways, furniture, or piles of personal belongings.

Prohibited Items

Prohibited Decorations

PROHIBITED DECORATIONS

  • Candles/Wax Melters
  • Over-the-Door Mirrors
  • Incense Burners of Any Kind
  • Curtains
  • Tapestries & Flags
  • No Hanging Items on Sprinklers, Pipes, or Ceilings

Prohibited Appliances

PROHIBITED APPLIANCES

  • Hot Plate
  • Personal Microwave
  • Space Heaters
  • Electric Blankets
  • Toasters
  • Air Fryers
  • Air Conditioner (not provided by college)
  • Evaporative Cooler

Prohibited Electrical Items

PROHIBITED ELECTRICAL ITEMS

  • Multi Plug Adapters
  • Power Strips Without Reset Button
  • Extension Cords of Any Kind

Prohibited Lighting

PROHIBITED LIGHTING

  • Halogen Lamps
  • Heat/Sun Lamps
  • Multi-Head Lamps
  • Lava Lamps

Prohibited Misc. Items

PROHIBITED MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

  • Hoverboards
  • Non-Prescription Drugs & Paraphernalia
  • Alcohol (Under 21)
  • Lighter Fluid, Fireworks, & Other Flammable Liquids
  • BBQ Grills
  • Spray Paint
Approved Items
  • Coffee Makers (with Auto Shut-Off)
  • Essential Oil Diffusers
  • Humidifiers/Air Purifiers
  • Microfridges or Mini-Fridge
  • Surge Protectors With Reset Button
  • Electric Kettles (With Auto Shut-Off)
  • Lamps (Non-Halogen)
  • Free Standing Fans
  • String Lights (Max 100 Bulbs Per Room)

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! You can visit the Property Insurance page in our site to find out more information on insuring your belongings while living on campus.

Residence halls and on-campus apartments are a communal setting, and thus need to have rules in place to ensure that everyone is safe and comfortable. The college and fire marshal have identified items and behaviors that are dangerous to the community, and the checks allow staff members to identify violations then work with students to address them.

All checks are performed by Residential Life and/or Environmental Health and Safety staff. Two staff members will enter together if residents are not present. September checks are meant to be educational, so your Resident Assistant will work to do the inspection with you in the room, so they can inform you of violations in your space.

If a violation is found during educational checks, you will be given a warning and staff will remove the violation. Dangerous items are confiscated, and are subject to conduct fines and sanctions. All violations found after educational checks will be confiscated and receive a conduct fine and sanctions based on the severity of the violation.

At the very least, each person in the space can receive the following:

  • $25 fine
  • Removal of Item
  • Conduct sanction (such as written warning, research paper, community service hours or disciplinary probation)

Confiscated items will be stored until the end of the semester. Students are able to arrange a time to retrieve an item from their Residence or Community Director given 2 business days’ notice. However, once returned, the item must immediately leave campus.

All residents in a space are responsible for everything that happens in your space as you are collectively responsible for making sure your apartment is in compliance.

Please review this information with your apartment-mate(s).

If you are found in violation of the Health and Safety policies, at the very least each person in the space can receive:

  • $25 fine
  • Removal of Item
  • Conduct sanction (such as written warning, research paper, community service hours or disciplinary probation)

Sometimes violations are missed during checks. It is unfortunate, but it does happen, and it does not exempt you from being fined when the violation is discovered.

Fines associated with health and safety violations will appear on your student bill. These fines cannot be appealed.