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Residence Life and Housing Acrobat .pdf documents require This web page is maintained by: Brian Akins. The page was last updated on 10/18/2007 .
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Policies and Procedures Picking up a room key, checking into a room, or serving as a guest to a resident acknowledges an agreement to abide by the following residence hall policies and procedures. Failure to abide by the policies and procedures may result in administrative action. ALCOHOL ... BICYCLES ... CHECK-IN, CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES ... DAMAGE/LOSS CHARGES ... DECORATIONS ... DRUGS ... ELECTRICAL SAFETY ... EVACUATIONS ... FIRE ALARMS ... FIRE SAFETY ... FURNISHINGS/FIXTURES ... GAMBLING ... GUESTS ... INSPECTIONS ... JUDICIAL VIOLATIONS ... KEYS & LOCKOUTS ... KITCHENS ... LAUNDRY ... LOFTS ... MAIL ... MEALS ... NOISE POLICY ... OFFENSIVE MATERIALS ... PARKING ... PERSONAL PROPERTY ... PETS ... POSTING POLICY ... ROOM ENTRY/SEARCHES SAFETY/SECURITY ... SMOKING ... SOLICITATION ... SPORTS IN THE RESIDENCE HALL SUBLEASING TECHNOLOGY THEFT TRASH VACANCIES VACATION PERIODS WEAPONS, FIREARMS, OR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES In accordance with Florida State Law, alcohol may not be consumed by students who are under 21 years of age. The following additions to the USF St. Petersburg Alcohol Beverage Policy apply to possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages in residence halls:
Students are required to register their bicycle with Parking Services. A bicycle rack is provided outside of the residence hall. Bicycles locked to any structure besides the bicycle rack are subject to impound Students are not permitted to bring bicycles into the residence hall except for storage during the semester break. CHECK-IN, CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES Check-In: Upon checking into their room, all residents of the room must review and sign a Room Condition Report (RCR) that verifies the condition of the room and its furnishings. This document is very important for the Department of Residential Life and Housing and the student. It is each resident’s responsibility to make sure their RCR is accurate at the time of check-in. If pre-existing damages are not noted on the RCR at check-in, the resident will not be able to dispute charges for that damage at the time of check-out. Check-Out: Students are required to leave the residence hall within 24 hours after their last final exam or academic commitment, or by the announced residence hall closing time, whichever is sooner. This applies to both the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students who do not leave by the announced closing time will be billed an improper checkout fee and may also be billed the break period housing rate. At the conclusion of occupancy, residents are required to participate in a check-out procedure where the check-out condition of the room and University property is documented by Residence Life staff. Failure to complete this process will result in an improper check-out fee and the forfeiture of the right to appeal charges. Changes in condition of University property will result in charges, per the Damage/Loss Charges section. suite Damage/Loss – The resident and roommates are responsible for damages to their suite and bedroom as well as damage and/or loss to the furnishings and fixtures the University has provided. Each student has responsibility for their personal bedroom and shared common space within the suite. The resident agrees to pay for the restoration of the property to its condition at the time of original occupancy including cleaning, the removal of personal property, and repairs or replacement (except normal wear and tear). This includes repairs done during occupancy due to the misuse of University provided furnishings or fixtures. The University retains the right to determine whether repair or replacement of the damaged item is necessary, the amount of the damage charge, and the amount of the disciplinary fine, if any. Resident(s) are responsible for any damage or loss to the premises caused by their guests. Charges for damages, cleaning, removal of property or any personal belongings (which may be discarded if left in the residence hall), replacement of furniture, etc. shall be divided evenly by the number of students sharing the space. If one or more roommates assume responsibility for damages, this must be done in writing to the Department of Residential Life and Housing and only those claiming responsibility will be charged. Charges will not be assessed to a roommate based solely on another roommate’s claim of wrongdoing. Failure to pay assessed fees may result in a hold on the student’s registration, graduation, or issuance of a transcript. suite/Damage Loss Appeals – Students who are billed for damages or cleaning charges upon their check-out from the residence hall can appeal their charges in writing to the Coordinator of University Housing within 30 days of receiving the charge. If the student is unsatisfied with the result of the appeal, he or she may make a second appeal to the Director of Student Services. The decision of the Director of Student Services is final. Community Area Damage/Loss – It is understood that the residents are responsible for any damage or loss to the furnishings or equipment placed in the residence halls as a convenience to residents. This includes non-routine cleaning or trash removal required to maintain the community areas of the residence halls. Community areas include corridors, lounge and meeting space, hall kitchens, laundry rooms, and public bathrooms. When damage to these areas occurs and the responsible party is not immediately identifiable, the Department of Residential Life and Housing will notify Hall Council of the charge and Hall Council will decide which students will be billed. Community Area Damage/Loss Appeals – Hall Council will notify students when a charge has been issued. Students wishing to appeal this charge must do so at the next Hall Council meeting. If the student is unsatisfied with the result of the initial appeal, the student may make a second appeal to the Coordinator of University Housing. The decision of the Coordinator is final. Students are encouraged to personalize their bedrooms and suites. The following considerations and restrictions apply:
The illegal possession, use, sale, or an attempt to obtain any illegal drug or controlled substances is strictly prohibited in the residence halls. The possession of drug paraphernalia is also prohibited. In situations where impending weather requires evacuation, the University will make every effort to provide a transportation option and location to assist students in evacuating. The University reserves the right to close the residence halls at a time and for a duration deemed appropriate by University Administration and University Police Services. Students are required to vacate the residence hall immediately when the fire alarm system is activated. Students should report to the designated safety zone outside of the residence hall and may not return to the building until instructed by University Police Services. Tampering with fire and safety equipment is a third degree felony (Florida Statue 806.10). Any residents found jeopardizing the safety and security of themselves or fellow residents will be subject to severe disciplinary action including criminal prosecution, on-campus housing suspension, disciplinary measures, and/or fines. This includes the following:
The following furniture is provided in each bedroom for each student: one bed, mattress (twin extra long), chest of drawers, desk, and desk chair. In 4-person, single bedroom suites and the 2-person, single bedroom suites the following furniture is provided in each common area: one lounge chair, sofa, kitchen table, storage cube, and four kitchen chairs. In 4-person, double bedroom suites the following furniture is provided in the common area: kitchen table, four kitchen chairs. In Resident Assistant studio suites the following furniture is provided in the bedroom/suite: one bed, mattress (twin extra long), chest of drawers, desk, desk chair, and two chairs. Students may bring additional furnishings to their suite. However, college furniture may not be removed from a resident’s room or suite and may not be switched between rooms or with lounge furniture. Lounge furniture may not be removed from its designated location. Students may not make adjustments to room fixtures such as adding additional locks or ceiling fans. Gambling is not permitted on University property. Guests in the Residence Hall – Guests are expected to abide by all rules and regulations of the University and the Department of Residential Life and Housing. Residents are responsible for guests at all times while they are present in the residence hall and may be held accountable judicially for the behavior of their guests, including financial restitution for damages to the residence hall. Guests are required to follow check-in procedures as established by the Department of Residential Life and Housing. Guests in the suite – In order to have a guest(s), residents must have the permission of the roommate/suite mate(s). Extended visitations or excessive repetitive visitations are not permitted. For your safety and the safety of fellow residents, Residence Life staff will conduct periodic fire, health, and safety checks of suites and bedrooms. Any violations found during these inspections must be corrected within the specified time period and may result in judicial action. Failure to correct fire, health, and safety violations will result in judicial action. JUDICIAL VIOLATIONS It is understood that students must abide by the printed and Internet version policies in the Housing Terms and Conditions, the Housing Guide to On-Campus Living, the University Catalog, the Student Code of Conduct, and all other University rules and regulations governing the conduct of students which are now in effect and that may be adopted and published at a later date. This includes provisions outlined in the Community Agreements established on each living unit. Violations of policy by the resident may result in penalties ranging from a warning to the resident being discharged from the residence halls to permanent dismissal from the University. The University is under no obligation to house a resident whose Contract has been previously terminated due to a failure to abide by the conditions of this contract. Where appropriate for the personal health or safety of the students or other resident(s), the University reserves the right to remove the student from his/her residence hall. This action may be immediate if necessary, may result from a referral to the University Judicial process, or by any established University process. Students removed from the residence hall for violations of the Contract will still be held to the financial obligations for the Contract period (Fall and Spring). In addition, the University may exclude a student or resident from the residences to protect the safety or the health of other students. Student should refer to the Judicial portion of the Student Handbook for information regarding the discipline process. Lost keys should be reported to the Department of Residential Life and Housing as soon as possible and arrangements will be made to have the locks changed on the student’s room and suite doors. The student will be assessed a fee for changing the lock and for the issue of new keys. If a student is locked out of his/her room (but has not lost his/her keys), the student will need to contact a member of the Residence Life staff and the student will be issued a temporary key. The issuance of a temporary key is a privilege that should not be abused. Repeated lock outs may result in a fee charged to the student. If a student who claims to be temporarily locked out cannot produce a key upon request, the student will be charged for a lock change. Each kitchen provides a full-size refrigerator, microwave, range, and garbage disposal. Due to the significant risk for fires, cooking may not be left unattended at any time. Students who fail to abide by this guideline may be subject to judicial action. Students may bring an additional refrigerator no larger than 2.7 cubic feet and it must be Energy Star rated for use in their bedroom. Students may also bring an additional microwave with power up to 700 watts for use in their bedroom. Coin operated laundry facilities are available on each floor. Students are responsible for monitoring their laundry and removing it promptly from laundry facilities. Personal items left beyond a reasonable period of time are subject to removal and discard. Residents may not build bed lofts. Other structures designed to provide another level to a room are also prohibited. Every residence hall student will have an individual mailbox number that is different than their room number. The mailbox number is provided with the student’s first housing assignment and remains in effect as long as the student is living on campus. Mail is delivered once per day, Monday through Friday. To ensure prompt delivery of US Mail, it should be addressed in the following manner: Student Name 500 2nd Street South, RHO Box # ______ St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Packages, including UPS and FedEx deliveries, will be delivered to the residence hall. Please provide a phone number on the package so students may be contacted by the delivery company when they arrive. Should the student be unavailable, residence life staff will sign for the package. Students will receive a note in their mailbox and there are hours available each day for package pick-up. Students may not ship packages in advance of their arrival. Students are required to provide their own meals. Meal Plans may be purchased at the Bayboro Cafe. Materials which are deemed to be obscene or which violate the University’s nondiscriminatory policy are not permitted in community areas, on suite doors, or on windows when they can be viewed from the exterior of the residence hall. Parking is available to residential students in designated areas. Students should contact Parking Services for information about parking permits. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg assumes no financial responsibility for the loss of personal property and is not liable for theft, damage, loss of property or other personal items regardless of the cause of the loss. Pets are not permitted in the residence halls with the exception of fish kept in tanks no larger than 10 gallons. Other pets kept in 10 gallon tanks are also prohibited. Animals that can survive outside of water for any period of time are not considered fish. “Visiting” pets are prohibited at all times. Courtesy Hours are in effect 24 hours a day. This means that residents may request that another resident or group of residents cease any activity which is interfering with his/her ability to study, rest, or quietly enjoy the community. Residents are expected to comply with reasonable requests. Quiet Hours are in effect from 10pm to 10am. This means that residents are expected to have an elevated level of awareness regarding their activities to be sure they are not disturbing neighbors. Residence Hall Councils may amend quiet hours by a 2/3 majority vote of the Residence Hall Council. Students and residence hall staff share the responsibility for enforcing noise policies. Students should address concerns with peers first before involving staff members. Residence Life staff will provide assistance with uncooperative neighbors and consistent or regular violations of quiet hours. Various bulletin boards are available throughout the building for use by Residence Life Staff only. Organizations wanting to post flyers in the building must deliver their flyers to the Department of Residential Life and Housing for approval. Once approved, flyers will be posted by Residence Life staff within three days. Requests for immediate postings will not be honored. The Department of Residential Life and Housing reserves the right to accept or decline requests for posting. At no time may flyers, posters, banners, or other items be posted on walls, glass, or building surfaces. Authorized personnel may enter a student room:
University personnel may initiate judicial action if violations of university policy are observed or discovered in the course of their authorized activities. The University cannot guarantee the safety and security of the premises. Residents are responsible for their personal security and that of their belongings within University facilities. Electronic ID access to the residence hall is provided. Entrance to the residence hall is restricted to residents and their guests. Individuals observed in the hall who are not residents or guests should be reported immediately to University Police Services or a Residence Life staff member. Residents may not engage in any activity which creates a safety risk or which jeopardizes the security of the premises. Students may not alter permanent electrical circuits. Appliances, lamps, and other electrical equipment with damaged, worn, cracked, or frayed cords and plugs must be replaced. Electrical cords or other communication cables should not present a trip hazard to students. They may not be secured with nails or be subject to environmental damage or physical impact. Extension cords, multi-plug adapters, cube adapters, or unfused plug strips are prohibited. The only acceptable means of adding electrical outlets is through a grounded surge protector strip with a heavy duty cord. Each surge protector must be plugged directly into a wall outlet and may not be plugged into one another. Smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire alarms, and light fixtures must remain uncovered. Items may not be draped or attached to these items. Decorations may not be draped across the ceiling, hang from the ceiling, or be hung from exposed pipes. Decorations must not obstruct hallways, fire exits, exit signs, or access to fire safety equipment. Living areas must be kept uncluttered and access to exit paths and doors must remain clear. The residence hall corridors must remain clear and unobstructed at all times. All lighting used in decoration must be U.L. approved. Lights may not remain on when not in use. The use of live garland, greenery, wreaths, hay, or sand as decoration is prohibited. Live, cut trees are prohibited. Artificial trees may be used. With the exception of personal microwaves, cooking appliances may not be used in bedrooms. All appliances must be used in the kitchen. The following items are prohibited:
The residence hall is a smoke-free facility. Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas outside of the residence hall. Solicitation by non-students in the residence hall is strictly forbidden and should be reported to Residence Life staff. Students requesting to go door-to-door advertising, campaigning, or distributing information must first receive the approval of the Hall Council and/or the Department of Residential Life and Housing. Door-to-door solicitation to collect money, regardless of the purpose, is prohibited. The use of sporting goods within the halls is prohibited. Balls, equipment, skateboards or other similar items are not permitted to be used inside the building.
Students are required to abide by the University’s Acceptable use of Information Technology policies. These policies can be found by visiting the Office of Campus Computing or Department of Residential Life and Housing web site. Telephones – Local telephone lines are provided to each student, but students must bring their own analog phone. The lines have caller ID (must be supported by the handset unit), call waiting, the ability to transfer calls, and the ability to forward calls to another local phone number. To call long distance from their phone line, students will need to purchase a calling card.
Internet Access – Each student will have a high-speed internet connection. Wireless access points are available in the main lounges. Thefts or loss of property should be reported to University Police Services immediately. All trash and garbage must be taken to the dumpster by residents. Residents are not permitted to leave trash in the hallways or to deposit room trash in public area wastebaskets. Residents may not leave bags or trash in hallways even for short periods of time. Per the Damage/Billing policies, individual residents or a group of residents will be charged $10 per bag or box for removal of personal trash and may be subject to judicial action if the problems persist. The Department of Residential and Housing reserves the right to fill all vacancies. Students with vacancies in their bedroom or suites are required to leave the appropriate space available so a student may move-in at any time. In bedrooms, this includes leaving half of the room unoccupied and the furniture designated for the vacant space unused. In suite shared spaces, this means leaving space available in the bathrooms and kitchens. Additionally, students must keep all spaces presentable and clean. Students may be assessed cleaning charges or face judicial action if his or her room is not ready for a new occupant. Residents living alone in a double room may be offered the opportunity to buy out that room as a “Super Single.” If the vacant space is not needed after October 1 (Fall) or February 1 (Spring), the resident may request to continue to live in the bedroom at an increased rate for the balance of the semester and be assured that the University will not assign someone to that space. A rate will be charged equal to the cost of the current rate plus the prorated amount of one-half the cost of the remaining half of the room. Residents who engage in conduct designed or intended to dissuade or intimidate other students from moving into a room or who otherwise attempt to manipulate the housing assignment process may be subject to judicial action. The Department of Residential Life and Housing reserves the right to consolidate vacancies by closing suite units. Students may be required to move room assignments. The residence hall is closed during the break period between the fall and spring semesters, the period after the spring semester ends and before the summer session begins, and between the last summer session and the fall semester. WEAPONS, FIREARMS, OR EXPLOSIVE DEVICES In addition to policies in the Student Code of Conduct, paintball guns or toys designed to look like weapons are prohibited in the residence hall. If the premises become uninhabitable for the remainder of a Contract because of fire, strike, earthquake, accident, flood, riot, emergency, act of God or any reason beyond the control of the University, the Department of Residential Life and Housing is no longer obligated to provide housing and the student will not be required to pay rent for the time remaining on the housing contract. The Department of Residential Life and Housing will attempt to identify and provide alternate housing for each student affected. A pro-rated refund of the room rent will be made if the student chooses not to accept alternate housing offered by the College or if the University is unable to offer alternate housing. Should any of the conditions described about result in damage or loss to personal property, loss of other items of value, or if there is any other resulting expense, the University will not be responsible. Nothing in this document prescribes or limits the authority and power of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg to establish policy, rules and regulations, which shall be applicable upon their effective date and operative prospectively unless otherwise stated.
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