|
||||||||||
 |
Housing Policies Student Housing Policy Student
Housing Policy Michigan State University, in its housing system, seeks to provide an educational environment which is maximally conducive to the learning process of students. Consistent with this philosophy, a variety of living options is available in University housing. The University has requirements for on-campus residence to promote an optimum learning environment for students. Compliance with the University housing policy is a condition of enrollment. Regulations and procedures are to be developed by appropriate administrative offices to ensure that this policy is implemented. -- Board of Trustees
Housing Requirements and Procedures (Administrative Ruling) In accordance with the University Housing Policy, the following stipulations apply: 1. Freshmen and Sophomores -- All freshman and sophomore students, including transfer students (0-55 credits accumulated), are required to reside in University housing, with the following exceptions: a. Married students b. Students who have attained their twentieth birthday by the first day of classes for the Fall semester of the current academic year. c. Veterans with at least one year of active service. d. Students living with parents or legal guardian within a fifty mile radius of campus. 2. Juniors and Seniors -- Juniors and seniors are encouraged to live on campus, though this is not required. Moreover, the University will always seek to achieve some balance of juniors and seniors in each housing unit.
Enforcement Those students for whom the housing requirement is a condition of enrollment will be asked to verify their adherence to it. Failure to maintain the required residency could result in termination of enrollment by the Division of Student Affairs and Services. Enforcement of the housing regulations is the responsibility of the Division of Student Affairs and Services.
Address Every student is required to report his or her correct local address at the time of registration and to report any change of address thereafter. Failure to register the actual address at which he or she is living, or failure to notify the University of a change of address within five class days after the change becomes effective, will be considered as falsification of University records. (Change of off-campus address is made in the Office of the Registrar. Change of on-campus address is made in the office of the living unit manager.)
Housing Contract University housing contracts are in effect for the period stated in terms of the contract. Any student, regardless of class standing, is obligated to fulfill the duration of the housing contract unless an authorized release is obtained. (Note: Application for release may be made through the living unit resident director.) This regulation applies to all students (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, special and graduate) who enter into a contract for on-campus housing. ** Students have fourteen (14) calendar days to cancel a housing contract from the date it is signed.
Only currently enrolled Michigan State University students who have received official housing assignments may live in University housing.
Special Permission Any student may apply for an exception to the housing requirements. Information on the special permission procedure and criteria for exceptions can be obtained by contacting the Judicial Affairs Office, 339 Student Services Building. Applications will be considered by a committee appointed by the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services. The committee will have one representative from each of the following offices: Department of Residence Life, Department of University Housing, and Associated Students of Michigan State University. The committee in making its decision shall take into account any professional recommendations of the University staff qualified to judge the category of exception. A student may appeal the decision of the committee to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services. Off-campus living units that were recognized by the University as "supervised" housing units in the Spring of 1983 will continue to be eligible to house students consistent with past practice. Specific conditions that will ensure this eligibility will be developed by the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services and in consultation with appropriate off-campus living units. The residents of these units must be advised that the unit is neither supervised by nor under the jurisdiction of the University and that the University assumes no responsibility for the program, the facility, or persons associated with the unit. -- Vice President for Student Affairs and Services -- Jan. 26, 1984 The University is respectful of, and committed to the protection of the students right to privacy. The University also has responsibility to insure that the welfare of people on campus, the educational and service functions of the University, and the property of the University receive adequate attention and protection. To these ends the Room Entry Policy is established. 1.0 Room Entry 1.1 Residence Hall staff shall not enter a residents room without permission of the resident, unless under conditions of immediate and serious threat to the safety or well being of persons or property or for reasons stated in this Policy. Under such conditions a staff member may enter a students room whether the residents are present or not. If it is believed such danger is connected with fire, chemicals, explosives, weapons, or other items that would cause serious personal problems or injury, the staff member should, if possible, contact the Department of Police and Public Safety for assistance. The same procedure is prescribed if the danger involves assault or other acts constituting possible jeopardy to persons or property. Others (staff or students) may be asked to assist in an emergency situation requiring room entry which threatens immediate harm to the safety of the individuals. 1.2 Staff may also enter into a students room if the student is not present, to eliminate disruptive noise from electrical sound equipment which may violate an individuals right to sleep, study, read, etc., as defined in Section 1 of the Residence Hall Bill of Rights. 1.3 Entry of police officers into a students room for purposes of investigation is governed by state and federal law. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, officers in possession of a valid search/arrest warrant, hot pursuit, a safety emergency, or when a police officer has probable cause to believe a felony is being or has been committed by the individual therein. 1.4 Residence Hall staff shall not, except as noted in 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, admit a third party to a students room without a residents permission. 2.0 Search 2.1 Staff are not to physically search a room under any circumstances. 2.2 A search of a students room by the police for investigative purposes is governed by state and federal law. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a search with a search warrant, a search where the student has waived his/her rights, thereby permitting police search, or a search of the immediate area of an arrested subject. 3.0 Seizure 3.1 If upon entering a room through the permission of a resident, a staff member observes the substance of a violation which constitutes and immediate threat to health, safety and welfare; e.g., firearms, combustibles, or explosives, the staff member should direct the disposition of the object or substance under the advice of the Department of Police and Public Safety. Subsequently, the student may be referred for judicial and/or legal action. 4.0 Physical Maintenance 4.1 For purposes of safety, sanitation, and general upkeep, the University reserves the right to enter a students room at any time during the working day for the above purposes, whether a resident is present or not. In cases of emergency, rooms may be entered in the presence or absence of the rooms occupants, at times other than regular working hours. 4.2 Between semesters, residence hall rooms are exclusively under the control of University Housing, and not of the student, even though the student plans to return to the same room the following semester. During these periods, the University reserves the right to inspect, maintain, and make repairs in the residence hall rooms. Further, the University reserves the right to replace damaged or obsolete furniture and to remove from the room without the owners permission any objects or materials which constitute a safety or sanitation hazard, or are property of the University at any time. 4.3 Between semesters when maintenance staff is inspecting, cleaning and repairing rooms, the University shall exercise reasonable care with respect to protecting against the loss or theft of personal equipment belonging to the student. Beyond exercising reasonable care, however, the University cannot assume responsibility for items of a personal nature that are damaged, lost or stolen. Approved, May 1977 Revised April 1979 -- Residence Halls Association -- Department of Residence Life -- Department of University Housing -- Vice President for Student Affairs and Services The main purpose of a quiet floor is for its residents to have the right to sleep, study and follow normal activities, free from the noise of other people. Guidelines, establishing quiet hours, include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: (1) Quiet hours are in effect from 8 pm on all days preceding classes or final examinations to 10 am the days of the classes or examinations. On Friday and Saturday nights, the beginning times are extended four hours, to midnight, with ending times still 10 am the next day. (2) Individual houses may elect, by a majority vote, to extend these quiet hours. However, in no case may a floor establish quiet hours less than those in #1, above. (3) During quiet hours: a. no noise, including stereos or other amplified sound, shall be heard beyond the confines of the individuals room; b. no noise or other activities which can disturb others shall take place in corridors or hallways; c. no social events shall be held in the quiet floor lounge or study room. (4) The residents who live in the quiet floors have the primary responsibility to enforce the agreement. If they are unable to enforce it, the advisory and management staffs will intervene to support them. Residents who indicate the quiet floor choice on their housing applications, and who are assigned to a quiet floor, must abide by this agreement. They may terminate their agreement by transferring to other University housing without a quiet floor, if space is available. Until they move, they must continue to follow the agreement. Violations may result in one or both of the following: (1) Judicial referral. (2) Contract action as specified in the terms and conditions of the Residence Halls contract. Alcohol-Free Agreement 1. The resident, along with the floormates or roommates agree to have the floor or room free from alcoholic beverages. 2. The resident insures that no guests bring alcoholic beverages into the floor or room. These options do not alter University regulations or State laws governing possession and use of alcohol on the MSU campus. |
|||||||||
