Appliance/Prohibited Item Policy
All electrical appliances must be Underwriter Laboratory (UL) approved and should be in good working order. All appliances are subject to approval at discretion of the resident director. No air conditioners are permitted. Space heaters, touchier lamps, halogen lamps, toaster ovens, and any appliance with an open heating element (coil) are expressly forbidden.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: candles, incense, grills (both propane and charcoal/lighter fluid), traffic cones, road signs, neon signs, holiday lights, extension cords, and any item of a combustible nature.
Students are allowed to have small refrigerators, small televisions, and small microwaves in their rooms. No more than two small refrigerators, two small televisions, and two small microwaves are permitted per room, unless pre- approved in writing by the senior director of student affairs. Refrigerators may not exceed 3.8-cubic feet in size. Televisions may not exceed 105-135 watts. Lastly, microwaves may not exceed 1,000 watts. Students are responsible for any room damage caused by their appliances. Refrigerators must be cleaned out and defrosted prior to each vacation period with the exception of October break.
Building Exteriors
Any student found on the roof, ledges, or sides of any building owned by Keuka College will be fined $100 and/or be subject to further disciplinary action.
Check-In Procedures
Students are required to register at the hall desk or lounge of the building in which they will reside before moving into their assigned room. Registration includes completing a medical card (for emergency purposes) and signing their Room Condition Report.
Check-Out Procedures And Final Exam Departure
In order to maintain an atmosphere conducive to academic success, students are expected to leave campus within 24 hours of their last exam each semester or when the residence halls close, whichever comes first. Students who stay after their final exams and cause disturbances in the halls or on campus are subject to immediate removal from the residence halls and may be subject to further disciplinary action.
Prior to check-out of the residence hall, each student must make arrangements with a residence life staff member to have the room checked, the Room Condition Report (RCR) reviewed and signed, and to return hall keys. The residence life staff establishes a check-out schedule during the last week of classes at the end of the fall and spring semesters for such procedures to occur smoothly. Failure to comply with this policy results in an automatic $25 fine.
College Breaks
The residence halls will be closed during scheduled College breaks. Students are expected to vacate the halls for the duration of these breaks. Exceptions will be made for students who cannot leave for specific and pre-approved reasons. These students must be granted special permission by the Office of Housing and Residence Life to remain on campus. The charge for this will be $35 per day. Faculty and staff hosts may be available for students over the breaks.
The halls will close at the end of classes on the last day of classes before the break begins and will re-open at 1 p.m. the afternoon before classes resume. The Office of Housing and Residence Life may accept requests for students who need to stay beyond the closing time. These requests must be made in advance of the break to the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
The Geiser Dining Commons will be closed for student use during these scheduled breaks. The Wolf Den will have limited hours during these scheduled breaks. It is also possible that power-related conveniences such as heat may not be available during these breaks. Additionally, students may be asked to stay in a room that is not their own, due to limited residence hall staffing.
Students are expected to check out of their rooms with a member of the residence life staff prior to leaving and unplug all appliances, with the exceptions of personal refrigerators, when the break is less than four days long.
Courtesy and Quiet Hours Policy
It is expected that each resident show courtesy and consideration and be sensitive to the needs of other residence hall community members at all times. Residents are expected to be conscious of the volume of their stereos, televisions, and computers, and to bring headphones with them if they prefer loud music. The use/practice of amplified or naturally loud musical instruments, such as electric guitars or drums, is not permitted in College residence halls.
Courtesy Hours
Courtesy hours are in effect at all times in the residence halls. Each resident and his/her visitors have the responsibility to act with consideration toward residence hall community members who choose to study or sleep. In short, if someone is asked to quiet down, no matter what time it is, please do so.
Quiet Hours
Quiet hours are defined as periods of time when noise is to be kept at a minimum. The following hours have been established for quiet hours:
- Sunday-Thursday, 10 p.m.-9 a.m.
- Friday and Saturday, 2 a.m.-noon.
Residents may choose to extend quiet hours beyond the minimum requirements listed above. This can be accomplished by a unanimous (ballot) vote of the floor section requesting this change. No hall may change quiet hours to be less than the minimum requirements.
All resident students are expected to maintain the above stated courtesy and quiet hours. Although the residence life staff is ultimately responsible for providing an atmosphere conducive to sleep and study, students are expected to make a reasonable attempt at resolving their own noise conflicts before a complaint is made to a member of the hall staff. However, if this approach fails, a staff member should be contacted. Residents who do not maintain courtesy and quiet hours are subject to disciplinary action.
In the week prior to final examination period, extended quiet hours will be in effect starting at 6 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends. During final examination period, 24-hour quiet hours are enforced in all residence halls prior to the first day of final exams. 24-hour quiet hours typically begin the day after the last day of classes for that semester.
Field Period® and Summer Housing
Housing will be available during Field Period® and summer for Keuka College students who are completing Field Period® requirements, taking courses at Keuka College, and/or working on campus for a minimum of 35 scheduled hours per week. Fees shall be determined by November prior to the break. Students seeking summer housing must be enrolled for classes at the College for the subsequent fall semester. All requests for Field Period® and summer housing are subject to approval by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Each student remaining on campus for the summer and/or Field Period® must complete a housing agreement. If there is an interruption in the period covered by the housing agreement, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life or his/her designee and the Business Office of his/her plans. Failure to do so results in the student being charged through the departing date as stated on the housing agreement.
Meals may be purchased from the Wolf Den, which has limited summer hours, as well as on a cash basis throughout the summer and Field Period® during those times that the Geiser Dining Commons is open. Food service may only be available on a limited basis during these times. If food service is not available, students may use the kitchen facilities in their residence hall to prepare their own meals.
Hall Sports
Playing with sports equipment and/or playing organized games in the hallways is prohibited. This is to protect the rights of other residents, to prevent personal injury, and to prevent damage to College or personal property. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or confiscation of equipment.
Lounge Furniture Policy
College furnishings in lounges and other public spaces are for the benefit and use of all students. Students who remove College property from lounges may be fined $25 per unit per day, or be charged the replacement cost and/or be subject to further disciplinary action.
Non-Student Guests
All residence halls provide a sign-in sheet at the main desk. Any non-student visitors must be signed into the residence hall at the main desk and fill out a guest pass which they are to keep with them at all times. If no desk worker is on duty, hosts are responsible for locating a resident assistant (RA) to get a guest pass. All non-student visitors must show a legal form of photo identification (i.e. driver’s license, passport, state issued photo ID card, etc.).
Students may have guests under the age of 18, provided they are 16 years of age or older and bring a letter from the non-student guest’s parent or legal guardian stating their permission for overnight visitation. This letter must include a number at which the parent/guardian can be reached. The resident assistant on duty will call the parent/guardian to verify the information included in the letter. The College requires that students who plan to have a non-student guest between the ages of 16 and 18 give 24-hour notice to their resident assistant or resident director. Non-student guests under the age of 16 are not permitted for overnight visitation. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the building’s resident director.
The respective hall resident host is responsible for the actions of all his/her guests. This includes accepting responsibility for any damages done by any visitor. If proper sign in procedure is not followed, the residence life staff is informed and the visitor(s) and the host are subject to disciplinary action. Visits by family members must also adhere to these guidelines.
The procedure for hosting overnight guests is as follows:
- All guests must be properly signed in at the main desk and must have a guest pass.
- No guests may sleep in public areas.
- All guests are required to meet all College standards of conduct. Students are responsible for informing guests of the College regulations and are responsible for the actions of their guests
Visitation and escort regulations apply to all students and their guests. A student may stay overnight in the residence hall for a maximum of three days in a 10-day period. A guest staying past midnight is considered overnight.
Room Occupancy Limits
At no time shall a residence hall room be occupied by more than double the number of residents assigned to that room plus one.
Pet Policy
For health and safety reasons, students may not have pets in residence hall rooms. Fish contained in a 20-gallon tank or less are permitted. Students who violate this policy will be required to remove the pet from the premises within a 24-hour timeframe. Campus Safety will be contacted when initial policy violation occurs to consult with animal control to have the animal removed at the end of the 24-hour period.
In addition, the student will be subject to disciplinary action. Noncompliance with removal of the pet will result in additional sanctions being imposed.
Public Area Responsibility
Public areas are defined as those areas of the residence hall not assigned to an individual. This refers to study and social lounges, bathrooms, corridors, pantries, lobby and laundry areas, computer rooms, stairwells, and elevators—those areas open to everyone in a floor section or in a hall.
Individuals who cause damage are expected to take responsibility for their actions. Those directly responsible for damage bear the burden of paying for the damage rather than having a particular floor section or residence hall pay for such damages. Only when the responsible person is not identified are students living in the affected area charged for such damages. Although the staff makes every effort to find the responsible person(s), it is expected that students will assist in identifying these people. Prorated hall and/or floor charges are only made when, after a reasonable time period, those responsible for the damage are not found. Students who fail to report damage and who are later shown to be responsible for that damage will be referred for disciplinary action. The prorate damage policy is one that stresses student responsibility. The benefits of such a policy are: if damage occurs, the persons actually responsible for the damages pay for it; there is an increase in student responsibility and student self-discipline; and a strong feeling of community responsibility for common living areas develops.
Resident Student Board Policy
Students living in the residence halls are required to participate in a College meal plan. Students may change their meal plan enhancement only during the “drop/add” period at the beginning of each semester. Students with special dietary needs are able to work directly with the food service staff in preparation of an alternative diet. The College’s health services staff is also available to assist in this regard.
Requests for authorization to be removed from the College meal plan are considered on a semester basis only when extraordinary and compelling circumstances clearly warrant it. The Office of Conference Services and the Office of Student Development handle exemptions after receiving appropriate documentation from the student’s medical doctor and a recommendation from the Office of Health Services.
Room and Apartment Decorations
Precautions must be taken when decorating your space to ensure personal safety and to avoid damaging the residence halls. Resident students are responsible for removing decorations and restoring the room to its original condition before the semester break.
- No natural holiday/Christmas trees are permitted in the student rooms or corridors. Non-combustible artificial trees may be used in rooms and lounges.
- Only LED lights may be used as they produce less heat and consume less electricity. Do not leave LED lights unattended. When leaving the room, unplug the lights. Use of extension cords is prohibited.
- Only fire-retardant materials are permitted within the residence halls. Generally, the expense is no greater than dangerously flammable goods.
- No items may be hung from the ceiling, pipes, sprinklers, or smoke detectors.
- Snow sprays, watercolors and magic markers must not be applied to any surface of the building.
- Use only Underwriter Laboratory (UL) approved equipment and materials.
- Do not block exits or decorate corridor lights and fire detectors
Room Changes and Hall Transfers
Room changes or hall transfers are considered only after the 10th day of classes. Students who wish to request a room change or hall transfer must first consult with their RA. Housing assignments cannot be changed without the authorization of the RD(s) from the building(s) involved and the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Room Furniture
There is a $50 charge for the removal of any student’s non-College furniture which she/he has accumulated in the room during the course of the year. (i.e. sofas, loveseats, chairs, etc.) and which must be removed by maintenance personnel. This includes furniture remaining in the hallway adjacent to a student’s room.
Room Painting
Students may not paint their rooms. Students who do so will be charged a residence hall damage fine.
Room Responsibility
Living in a residence hall involves living in a community. This requires mutual respect, responsibility and concern for each other. The hall is the home of the students living there and should be treated as such. Individuals who cause damage are expected to take responsibility for their actions
Students are responsible for any damage to their room beyond the limits of normal wear and tear. To protect both the College and the student, and to provide a record of needed maintenance, students must sign a Room Condition Report that has been completed by their resident assistant when they check into their residence hall rooms. Students are responsible for ensuring that room inventories are accurate and complete. It is from this form that room damage is assessed at the time of check-out. College furniture may not be removed from student rooms. Window screens and permanently attached furniture in student rooms may not be removed or disassembled. Charges are made for window screen removal as well as for abused or missing equipment and furnishings. Students are cautioned not to use decals, nails, or anything which may mar the finish on walls, closets, doors, mirrors, windows, or furniture.
- Sleeping lofts, platforms, flammable decorations, or other unsafe alterations of rooms are prohibited.
- Rooms may not be painted.
All College furniture must remain in the room; none can be taken out or replaced from another room. Students will be charged for missing furniture at replacement value.
Solicitation
Keuka College does not allow door-to-door solicitation of products, services or campaign materials in the residence halls. Printed materials may not be placed under a student’s door without permission from the resident director.
Storage Policy
Students may opt to contract with local storage companies for their personal storage needs.
Student Keys
Students are issued a room key when they check into their assigned residence halls. It is the student’s responsibility to retain this key and to use it for entrance to his/her assigned room. If the key is lost, a new key may be ordered by contacting your resident director; a $75 charge is billed for each lost room key. Building access is achieved by using student's’ ID cards in the exterior card swipe.
Students who have not lost their key but who are locked out of their room may contact their RA or the RA on duty for assistance. Room keys should be treated as a house key—carry it always, and do not depend on the RA or other staff members to unlock the room.
Student Visitation
All residence halls are governed by a 24-hour visitation policy during the academic year. Outside doors to buildings, except Ball Hall during regular business hours, are locked 24 hours a day. Student(s) found propping residence hall doors may be referred for disciplinary action. Should you wish to visit someone in another residence hall, call him/her first and have him/her meet you to let you in. College policy allows 24-hour visitation but does not permit any actions that interfere with the rights of roommates and others in the living unit. Students who abuse the 24-hour visitation privilege are subject to disciplinary action.
At the main desk of each residence hall, students must sign in to the room of the person they wish to visit. All students are required to present a valid Keuka College ID upon signing in. Students who are not with the people they signed in to visit may be asked to leave the building and in certain cases are subject to disciplinary action. Students are considered overnight guests when they spend a night in a room not assigned to them. It is the responsibility of the host to make sure their room or apartment does not exceed the room occupancy limit.
Theft and Damage Policy
Students are urged to keep their room doors locked and their valuables secured when their room is unattended, even if the student plans to be absent from his/her room for only a few moments. Report all thefts and losses as soon as they are discovered to a member of the residence life staff or a campus safety officer. The College encourages all students to take home valuables (i.e. computer, electronics, jewelry, etc.) during College breaks.
The College does not assume any responsibility for personal property.