Guide to Community Living

Students are considered adults, and University-student relations are founded on this principle. The University Student Conduct Code and these University Housing Regulations govern all students. The regulations that follow pertain specifically to residence hall and apartment living, whenever you are on the grounds or within the University Housing system. If you have any questions about the interpretation or enforcement of these rules, please contact a staff member at Housing & Residential Life. These are our current University Housing regulations. Please note that they are subject to change. When changes are made to these regulations, the changes are published and shared with students who live in University Housing.

1. Pets

Pets (animals) are not permitted within the residence apartment complex. Fish in aquariums (20 gallons or less) are the only exceptions. (*Some exceptions may be made for service and emotional support animals. Please contact the Housing Coordinator for details and arrangements.)

2. Weapons

You may not possess firearms, ammunition and other weapons including, but not limited to BB guns, pellet pistols, air rifles, nun chucks, bows and arrows, sling shots, blow guns, Tasers, etc. These are prohibited in all areas of University Housing.

3. Gambling and Games of Chance

Gambling or activities involving the use or exchange of money during or at the close of playing a game is strictly prohibited within the residential apartments. This includes sports pools, entertainment pools, online gambling using the University’s network, etc.

4. Electrical

Use of electrical appliances is permitted in University Housing within certain guidelines. Appliances used in University Housing must be safe in design and structure (such as UL approved appliances) and properly maintained. We strongly recommend you utilize surge suppressors or protectors on all computers, electrical or electronic equipment. Before leaving for breaks and holidays, please unplug all electrical appliances to guard against fire hazards.
Extension cords and multiple outlets are designed for minimum use for short periods of time. Multi-plug outlets and improper use of extension cords create fire and safety hazards. Therefore, the following information should be considered when using this equipment:

1. Too many appliances on one extension cord can cause the cord to overheat and result in a fire. (Note: two or more cords plugged together are theoretically still only one cord.)
2. Extension cords placed in or through doorways that have metal doors or door frames, as well as cords draped over metal objects or put in areas where they may be walked on, create the added risk of shock or electrocution.

The outlets in each room were designed for either one or two appliances. The use of multi-plug covers to increase the number of appliances on one outlet is prohibited due to fire and safety hazards as well as circuit overloads.

This is not an exclusive list of problems that can be caused by improper use of cords and outlets. Please contact the Front Desk if you have any questions.

Residents should keep all appliances with heating elements and pertaining to food preparation in the kitchen area. Such appliances are considered fire hazards if used outside of this designated area. Cooking is permitted only in University-designated kitchen areas. Cooking is NOT permitted in individual rooms. Appliances with open heating elements are prohibited.

5. Smoking

Smoking any substance is not permitted in university housing. This includes all public areas and all resident rooms and apartments. Smoking is not allowed within 25 feet of any University building/ facility.

6. Fire Hazard

It is prohibited to have open flames or other materials that constitute fire hazards on university housing property. Candles, candle warmers, incense, or other materials (such as live fresh cut evergreen trees, wreaths, garland etc.) are not permitted in the residence halls/apartment complexes. Due to the hazardous materials in the following listed lighting devices, and the potential for fire and chemical safety hazards halogen lamps, touchier lamps, neon lighting, black lights, strobe lights, lava lamps, and decorative lighting (including any string or tube lighting with multiple outlets and plug adapters) are prohibited. Residents may possess multiple strip outlets that are fused with at least 14 gauge wire and grounded cords to power electronic devices in their rooms and apartments. In compliance to Minnesota State Fire Code, you are required by law to exit the hall/apartment during a fire alarm.

7. Keys / Key Cards

The duplication of residence hall/University apartment keys and/or access cards and/or devices is prohibited. You must not lend, sell, or transfer any residence hall/apartment complex key/fob or U-card to any person for the purpose of allowing that person to enter the residence hall or your room/apartment unescorted or to utilize University housing facilities.

8. Thefts and other Crimes

Any theft or other crime should be reported immediately to the Police Department and the RA or manager. There are several things residents can do to decrease the possibility of theft:

1. Room and apartment doors should be locked at all times. Residents should always keep their keys with them even when going to eat or if a roommate is in the room and is not expected to leave during this time.
2. Valuables should be kept locked and out of sight.
3. Residents should practice being their "neighbor’s keepers." This can be done by knowing the other residents on the floor and by immediately reporting to University Housing staff any suspicious person(s) seen wandering in the building.

9. Damage

Vandalizing, damaging, or destroying University or personal property is prohibited. Creating conditions that require clean up or removing window screens is strictly prohibited. Further, you are not permitted to affix anything to any internal or external structure of the hall/apartment (e.g., satellite TV dish, antenna) or have anything hanging or protruding from the hall/apartment unless approved by the Housing Coordinator. Because of the potential for damage, waterbeds (or any liquid filled furniture) and swimming pools/spas are not permitted in residence hall rooms or apartments. Should damage result from any behavior in your apartment, room or in any space within a University housing owned or operated facility you will be charged for cleaning, repair or replacement of damaged housing property.

• Ceiling Alterations: These include but are not limited to mounting ceiling fans, mounting light fixtures, removal of ceiling panels, affixing of posters, stickers (including glow in the dark stars) etc.
• Construction in Room: this includes but is not limited to building lofts, bunk beds, elevating furniture on blocks, etc.

10. Sports

Due to the potential for injury or damage playing sports in public areas or hall/apartment ways, including, but not limited to in-line skating, skateboarding, and bicycle riding and throwing, roughhousing, kicking or hitting any type of object including, but not limited to soccer balls, footballs, Nerf balls, darts, water balloons, water guns, paintball guns, etc. is not allowed in the residence halls or University apartment complexes. Due to the potential for injury and property damage, sports, including, but not limited to soccer, Frisbee, golfing, football, etc. are not permitted in residential courtyard areas.

11. Tampering

Tampering with any mechanical or electrical unit within the residence halls/apartments is not permitted. Specifically, you must not tamper with or use without authorization any part of a residence hall/apartment complex elevator system; hall/ apartment locking systems; life safety equipment including, but not limited to smoke alarms, fire alarm mechanisms, fire sprinkler mechanisms, fire extinguishers, and life safety signage; video surveillance equipment; refrigeration; heating; cooling; or computer/ether jack and cable connections. Students are responsible for following the Acceptable Use Guidelines.

12. Solicitation

Soliciting or conducting business in the apartment complex, including from within your apartment unit, is not permitted. This includes approaching students with product(s), sliding information under doors, stopping students in the hall/apartment way, calling students, etc. Students are also prohibited from conducting business on the University computer or telephone system.

13. Explosives

Explosive devices are not allowed in the apartments or surrounding grounds. Possessing or using fireworks (firecrackers, smoke bombs, sparklers, etc.), or any explosive material will constitute a safety or fire hazard. Any flammable fuels are prohibited at University Housing. Motorcycles, mopeds and other transportation utilizing such fuels must be parked off-property.

14. Behavior and Conduct

The resident agrees to conduct him/herself in such a manner as to allow others the quiet enjoyment of the apartments. The Resident agrees to avoid causing excessive noise and/or disruptive behavior and understands that she/he may be required to provide and use earphones or to remove stereos or musical instruments from the room if use of such equipment is causing a disturbance.

All residential communities will establish “Quiet Hours” during one of their first two floor meetings; residents will be able to revisit quiet hours during floor meetings if revisions are desired. During quiet hours, residents are responsible for maintaining a level of quiet such that sound, electronic or otherwise (conversation, electronic devices, musical instruments, and the like) shall not be heard outside the confines of their room. Failure to abide by listed or selected quiet hours can result in judicial action and potential removal for repeated offenses, or a community response.

When quiet hours are not in effect, all of our communities have courtesy hours. During courtesy hours, residents are expected to maintain a level of quiet such that they are not disrupting others. Residents are expected to confront others if they are being disrupted; residents are also expected to respond to others’ noise complaints by reducing the level of noise. Resident assistants or the community may mediate disputes involving courtesy hours.

The resident agrees that behavior that interferes with the quiet enjoyment of the premises by other residents, behavior that attempts to force another resident to move from their space, and behavior that discriminates against a current roommate or against a newly assigned occupant, will be considered by the University to be sufficient grounds for reassignment and disciplinary action.

Harassment is any verbal, visual, electronic, or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it adversely affects, or has the purpose or logical consequence of interfering with, any student’s educational program or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment within the University community. Harassing any person because of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status, or on any other basis will not be tolerated. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

15. Illegal Entry/Exit

Entering or exiting illegally, improperly, without authorization, or during non-contract periods without proper permission, your or other resident’s room/apartment or any room/apartment or facility that you are not authorized to enter/exit, including alarmed exit doors or any windows, is not allowed. Propping emergency exit doors without authorization is not allowed. Residents will be held responsible for their guests’ behavior if they utilize these facilities.

16. Illegal Possession/Theft

It is prohibited for residents in the apartments to possess without authorization, goods belonging to other residents or the apartments (e.g., common area furniture, art,…).

17. Controlled Substances

The possession, consumption, sale, or distribution of controlled substances or being under the influence of controlled substances (e.g., illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia) is strictly prohibited. Possession, use, or being in the presence of controlled substances or drug paraphernalia (e.g., bongs, pipes etc.) is prohibited and may result in contract termination of residence hall/apartment complex contract. The odor of marijuana or any other controlled substance is sufficient to warrant an alleged violation of this policy.

18. Failure to Comply

1. Failing/refusing to correctly identify yourself or your guests or to fail to comply with the directives of University officials and their authorized agents acting in the performance and scope of their duties, including the directives of Resident Assistants, and Student Life Administrative and Facilities staff, University staff, or law enforcement official(s), or another resident is prohibited. It is prohibited to falsely identify yourself or to allow your guest(s) to give false identification.
2. Failure to complete or adhere to sanctions resulting from a judicial outcome will be considered failure to comply. If you are found in violation additional sanctions may be added.
3. Providing false information or obstructing an investigation is strictly prohibited

19. Guests

Any person involved in an incident that is not an assigned occupant of the apartment, room or suite space where the incident occurred will be deemed a "guest".

Students are responsible for ensuring that all guests know and behave consistently with housing regulations. Students are responsible for the conduct/behavior of their guest(s) while in the hall/apartment community and may be subject to behavioral sanctions for guest violations. This means informing them of the policies of University Housing and soliciting their cooperation while visiting. All guests must be escorted at all times and should not be unaccompanied in the room/apartment without prior approval of the roommate(s). All overnight guests in the apartment complex must be twelve (12) years of age or older. Guests may be asked to leave at any time. Please limit the stay of any overnight guests to three nights. A resident who houses a guest for more than three consecutive nights may be subject to possible disciplinary action.

20. Alcohol

1. Possessing, consuming, or being in the presence of alcohol under the age of 21 is strictly prohibited.
2. Alcohol may be consumed only in the privacy of the residents’ own apartment or in an apartment of other residents whose occupants are also 21 years of age or older. Residents under the age of 21 may not consume alcohol nor may alcohol be brought into an “underage apartment” that is, an apartment in which any one occupant is under 21 years old.
3. The quantity of alcohol that may be brought into the apartment of a legal-aged resident is a quantity that would contribute to responsible, personal use. Possession, providing or serving of large quantities or “Common Source” quantities of alcohol (kegs, party balls, beer bongs, punch bowls, boxes of wine, etc.), or creating or participating in drinking games constitutes a level of alcohol that promotes excessive alcohol consumption that can lead to community disruption and is, therefore, not permitted.
4. Purchasing, providing, or serving alcohol to or for an underage person is prohibited.
5. Being intoxicated to the point where state law remands you into custody is strictly prohibited.
6. Alcohol related conduct that infringes upon the rights of others to a quiet, orderly living environment is not acceptable under any circumstances.
7. Being under the influence of alcohol under the age of 21, as demonstrated through one’s actions, behaviors or the results of a BAC reading is strictly prohibited.
8. Residents or guests of legal drinking age may not possess, consume or provide alcoholic beverages if any resident of the apartment is not of legal drinking age or if any person under the age of 21 is present in the room.
9. Possession of empty alcohol containers is prohibited for residents who are under the age of 21. For residents 21 years of age and older, empty alcohol containers or displays of alcohol related products is restricted to the assigned bedroom of the occupant as long as all occupants of the bedroom are also 21 years of age or older.

21. Law Violations

To violate any local, state, or federal law within the University apartments, or any housing sponsored event off-campus is prohibited.

22. Posted Regulations

To violate published and posted University apartment specifications and regulations or stated contract conditions is not permitted.

23. Persistent or Recurring Behavior

Persistent or recurring behavior that violates any of the above listed regulations may impact your continued residential status.

24. Loitering

Loitering in apartment complex entryways, lobby areas or blocking entry or exits is strictly prohibited.

25. Hazing

Hazing is any method or activity on Residential Life property or in connection with any Residential Life-related group that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of an individual (including, without limitation, an act intended to cause personal degradation or humiliation). Students are prohibited to engage in this behavior. Any group of students acting together may be considered an organization for purposes of this section whether or not they are officially recognized. Neither the express or implied consent of a victim of hazing, nor the lack of active participation while hazing is going on is a defense. Apathy or acquiescence in the presence of hazing is not a neutral act, and is also a violation of this section. *In incidents involving youth under the age of 18 in the residential community, police will be called to respond to the incident.

General Services

Office

Processes to be determined

Maintenance

Processes to be determined

Cable TV

Processes to be determined

Mail

A mailbox will be available for each apartment. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver at a regular schedule. University Housing staff will not have access to mailboxes.

Vending Machines

Vending machines will be available to students and refunds can be obtained by contacting Amy Kromminga (kromm001@umn.edu) or stopping by office 358 on the third floor of University Square.

Trash Disposal

Processes to be determined