2008-2009 RESIDENT HANDBOOK

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As a community of learners living on the campus at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, we as a community have set forth a set of guidelines that work to develop community in the Villages, and enhance the academic mission of the University.  The Resident Handbook is given to every resident when they move into either Village, and are posted on the web so that it will provide information to our future residents, and is there as a guide for our current residents. 

OUR MISSION
The Residence Life and Housing mission is to provide a positive residential environment conducive to learning and personal growth.  This includes a commitment to the maintenance and operation of the physical facilities of all student residential areas. To achieve our mission, the Office has developed a set of goals listed below that demonstrate our commitment to our residential students.

Our staff will

 

-Be committed to student services, educational programming, and the academic and social development of our residents.

 

 

-Promote and provide opportunities for students to be engaged in leadership opportunities.

 

 

-Partner with residents to have a community that is safe, secure and well maintained.

 

 

-Create an inclusive environment that fosters appreciation and understanding for diversity.

 

 

-Provide opportunities for students to become active, engaged citizens of their house community, UCCS community and Colorado Springs community.

 

 

-Promote opportunities to enhance academic success of residential students in support of the academic mission of University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

 

ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNICATION

The Official forms of communication from the Office of Residence Life and Housing are your official university phone number, UCCS email, and postal mail.  As a resident, it is your responsibility to check both your University Email account, voicemail account, as well as your Village mail box for communications from Residence Life and Housing.

 

 

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Summit Village Front Desk            x4042

The front desk for the Summit Village is located on the main floor of the Monarch House,

 

Monarch Front Desk hours:
Monday through Friday except holidays: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Sunday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Summit Village RA On Call            x4600

 

The Lodge                                    x3965

 

 

Alpine Village Front Desk            x6288

The desk at Alpine Village is located in Crestone House next to the Mail Center in room 124.Crestone.

 

Front Desk hours:
Weekdays except holidays: 5:00-9:00 p.m.

Alpine Village RA On Call            x6500

 

Campus Operator                        x3000
Public Safety                        x3111 or 9-911

Additionally, any resident questions can be directed to housing@uccs.edu. All other services are available through the Monarch Desk during business hours.

 

Mail and Packages

When you check in, you will receive a key for your mailbox.  Mail is distributed into student mailboxes on regular mailing days.  If you lose the key to your mailbox, we will change the lock, give you a new key, and charge you a replacement fee.

Material permitted in student mailboxes is limited to the following: U.S. mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, mail delivered through University Mailing Services, important personal messages processed through the Office of Residence Life and Housing, and any approved communication from the Office of Residence Life and Housing. U.S. Postal Regulations regarding items mailed to you must be followed.

All overnight express packages, flowers, cakes, etc., are delivered to the front desk of your Village.  If you receive a package, you will receive a package form in your mailbox that you should take to the front desk, or a key for a parcel box located in the mail box area of your Village.

When moving out you should fill out a forwarding address card, which is available online on our website. Mail will be forwarded for 30 days, and only between semesters.  Students terminating contracts in the middle of the semester will not have their mail forwarded, and are encouraged to change their address before leaving housing. After that time, it will be returned to the sender. It is your responsibility to complete the forwarding address form online and notify interested parties of your change of address.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

Personal Safety

á       Lock your room/suite at all times, even when you are just going down the hall for a moment.  Do not bolt open your door, as it increases the risk that someone will enter your room, and damages the door and locking mechanisms within. 

á       Take your valuables with you on vacation breaks. Some homeownerŐs policies cover theft of belongings that are brought to school.

á       Try not to walk alone at night. Travel on well-lit pathways where there are other people around. If you feel you are being followed, stop in at the nearest populated building and wait until the person has left, or find a phone and contact Public Safety, x 3111.

Fire Safety Procedures

Students should map out the most direct evacuation route from their room and when the alarm is sounded they should leave the building IMMEDIATELY. No resident may use an elevator during a fire alarm. Residence Life Staff will check to see residents have left the building as they exit themselves.  It is a violation of Federal Law for anyone to remain inside a building when a fire alarm is sounding.  Failure to evacuate the building during a fire drill or fire may result in disciplinary action. A staff member and/or Fire officials will give the OK to return to the building. Under NO circumstances may a resident return to the building before permission is given from Residence Life staff member or fire/public safety official.

Health and Safety Inspections

There will be a Health and Safety Inspection at least once a semester. Two housing staff members will go to each room to ensure that there are no fire, safety, or health violations in your room. Notification of the Health and Safety Inspection will be posted at least 24 hours in advance. Students will receive notification if they have any fire, health, or safety violations in their room. Items which are in violation of the Health and Safety standards for the Villages will be taken to the main office for the appropriate Village. You will be allowed to pick up items at the end of the semester. If you are cited for the same items a second time, they will be disposed of by the Housing Staff.  If you have been cited for a Health violation (uncleanliness) you will have three (3) days to rectify the situation. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action and may result in a fine.

Room Inspection and Entry

Residence Life staff and other appropriate University staff may enter a residentŐs room or suite for maintenance work and inspections, pest control treatment, requested services, to determine compliance with University rules and regulations according to the terms of the Housing Contract, for safety or health reasons, or when there is, in the judgment of a staff member, an emergency situation. Residents will be notified in advance whenever possible. The staff member will leave a notice in your room any time it is entered, except during fire alarms and drills or Health and Safety Inspections.

Maintenance Work Orders

If there is a maintenance issue with your room, you can fill out a work order online at http://www.uccs.edu/~residence/forms/workorder.shtml.  If it is determined that any damage was caused by resident abuse, charges for the work order will be placed on your student account.  Please note that in Alpine Village, it is expected that residents change the light bulbs above the vanity, bath, shower, toilet and entryway, as these are standard light bulbs. We encourage the use of compact energy bulbs that are better for the environment.

Please do not attempt to fix clogged kitchen drains on your own.  The use of chemicals can be harmful to yourself, and our staff members.

Personal Injury and Illness

We reserve the right to request medical assistance; including an ambulance, on your behalf should it be necessary. It is the Office of Residence Life and HousingŐs policy not to transport sick or injured individuals. Medical care providers will be instructed to bill the cost of their services to you. The University does not assume responsibility or liability for payment of medical bills that may be a result of accidental injury or illness while you reside in the Villages.

Meningococcal Disease

Per Colorado Revised Statues 23-5-128, we are required to notify you about the modestly increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease due to living in a residence hall facility.  Meningococcal disease is a contagious disease that causes an infection of the spinal cord fluid, and the fluid that surrounds the brain.  Immunization against meningococcal disease decreases the risk of contracting the disease.  We will encourage you to contact your personal physician, your local health department, or the UCCS Student Health Center (719-255-4444) about receiving a vaccination.

Security

Assuring total security is not possible for the University. Many benefits such as limited-access entrance doors, Resident Assistants and professional staff members on duty, a night Security Person and Public Safety staff patrolling the campus are provided to assist in security measures. Police services are provided by the Department of Public Safety at UCCS.

We also believe in the effectiveness of neighbors looking out for each otherŐs interests, and we encourage residents to get to know their neighbors. The Housing staff will support your vigilance and, where applicable, prosecute acts of vandalism, trespassing, and theft.

Residents should promptly report to the Department of Public Safety, x3111, and the Office of Residence Life and Housing any incident of theft, vandalism, or unsafe conditions. Whenever possible, the resident should furnish a detailed description of the offender, time and date, make and color of the car, license plate number, etc.

Call 911 in case of an emergency or to report criminal activity. An emergency is defined as any immediate threat to life or property. Incidents that are not life-threatening or criminal in nature, but require assistance from a Residence Life staff member, call the on-duty cell phone. 

COMMUNITY

Room Decorating

The Residence Life staff realizes the importance of personalizing your room and suite. These decorating guidelines have been established to prevent damage to the room/suites and to comply with fire codes.

No area in the Villages may be painted by a resident. If a resident paints his or her suite, room, or any common area in the Village, he or she will be subject to disciplinary action and will be assessed damage charges. 

Residents shall not hang, post, display items, or place stickers, fake snow, or paint on or around windows or the exterior of the room/suite windows.  All decorations in a room or suite should be of a temporary nature to prevent permanently defacing or damaging your suite/rooms finishes. Posters and other wall decorations can be hung with thumb tacks or panel nails only. Any decorations hung on any door may be put up with masking tape only.  No wall paper or contact paper is permitted anywhere in your room/suite.  Dart boards of any kind are prohibited.

The hallway side of your suite door is a common area. Please remember that as this is a public area, any items hung on your door must be appropriate for public viewing.  If an item is deemed by housing staff to be inappropriate, you will be asked to remove it and place it in a non-public area.  No items may be placed on the outside of your windowsill, as it is illegal to remove your screen.

Room/Suite Furnishings

The following furnishings are provided in your room, and or apartment.  These items are to remain the room or suite. A fine will be assessed to the community or individual responsible for furniture removal and/or damaged furniture. This includes moving furniture from room to room, or altering the furniture.  It is expected that the furniture that is in your room, will stay in your room. Please note that the bedrooms and living room in the Alpine Village do not have lights provided.  Residents need to bring their own lights, and there are switches in these areas to control lights in the rooms.

á       The bedroom- Residence Halls: An extra-long twin bed; a desk with a chair; a wardrobe; a bookcase; mini- blinds; a trash can; a shower curtain. Double occupancy rooms have two beds, two desks and two chairs, two wardrobes and two bookcases.

á       The bedroom- Apartments: A twin bed; a desk with a chair; a bookcase; mini- blinds; dresser, and a shower curtain.

á       The common room- Residence Halls: A loveseat, a chair, and an end table.

á       The living room  Apartments: A sofa, a chair, coffee table, dining room table with chairs, and an end table

Items allowed in Summit: Small Microwave, small refrigerator, hot air popcorn popper, Crock Pot, and coffee maker.  All standard appliances are permitted in the Alpine Village Apartments, as they have the proper kitchen facilities for their storage and safe use.  

Prohibited Items: Any appliance with an open coil heating element, such as, hot plates, space heaters, toaster/toaster ovens and indoor/outdoor grills are prohibited in Summit Village. Please see the Conduct Expectations section for a complete list of prohibited items in housing.

Room Changes and Roommate Mediation

There is a two-week room freeze at the beginning of each semester to allow the Office of Residence Life and Housing time to reconcile housing concerns. During the 3^rd week of the semester and two weeks prior to the end of the semester (fall only), room change requests will be accepted by following these guidelines.

1.     The resident must fill out a Room Change form that is available on our website. Requests will be processed on a first come first serve basis and are based upon availability of the pending request.

2.     The resident will receive an EMAIL notifying them of their assignment and further instructions.

3.     The resident must complete their move, check out with their RA by the specified deadline or the move will be forfeited and/or improper check out fees assessed.

Room changes will not be accepted at any other point during the year, unless approved by the Assistant Director of Residence and Housing. If your situation is a roommate conflict we suggest you work with your RA to resolve the situation. Students who change rooms without following the above guidelines, or receiving permission from the Assistant Director of Residence Life, will move back into their original space and are subject to disciplinary action. 

SERVICES

Cable and Telephone Services

All housing facilities offer basic cable TV to all students.   Each student is provided with a phone and voice mail and this service includes free local calls and access to 800 numbers, but does not include directory assistance calls or long distance.  As a residential student, it is required that you set up your voice mail service when you check in.  Directions are available online at our web site.  If there are issues with this service, please go to our website and fill out a work order. 

Computer Hook Up

University policy prohibits modem use over phone lines.  The only exception to this is the use of TiVo or similar recording devices.  Each student will have a data jack with high-speed direct connectivity to the campus system and Internet.   For Set up information for your Ethernet card, please visit our web site for directions.

Equipment Check-Out

The Villages have equipment that residents may check out items at the front desk in the lobby of Monarch or Crestone Houses. Sports equipment, games, videos, and limited cleaning products and equipment are among the items available. Items must be returned within 24 hours in good condition. Failure to return checked out items within this time frame will result in a fine of $25.00 per day each day the equipment is late.  You will be billed within 48 hours of the item being late.

 

 

Room Lockouts

If you lock your self out of your room, come to the front desk during business hours, or contact the RA on duty during off hours.  A staff member will accompany to your room, and let you in.  You must provide valid ID to gain access to your room.  If you do not have your ID, you will be asked to verify your student ID number and your home phone number.  If you are let into your room more than 2 times in a given semester, you will be assessed a $25.00 fine for each time that you are let into your room for the remainder of that semester.  If you have lost your key, your locks will be changed and you will be charged for the re-keying of your room and/or suite. 

Please remember that being let back into your room when you have misplaced your keys is a service provided by the staff, not a right as a resident.  There will be times when a staff member is not available at that time to let you into your room, but will be there as soon as possible.  

COMMON AREAS

Summit Village has the following facilities available for student use.

Laundry Room. The laundry room is found on the first floor of Keystone House. It has an outside entrance only. The laundry room has both washers and dryers. Washing costs $1 a load and drying is $.25 for 15 minutes. The average dryer load takes $.75. The machines take only quarters. This facility is open 24 hours a day.  

TV Lounges. There are floor lounges with televisions located in every building.

Vending Machines. The vending machines are located in the lobby of Monarch House. Access to these machines is 24-hours a day.

Floor Lounges. Each House floor has a lounge with chairs and couches for student use. The lounges are open 24 hours a day. You are expected to observe the guest policy and the quiet hours when using this room.

Computer Lab:  There is a computer lab available 24 hours a day for student use in Keystone House.

Alpine Village has the following facilities available for student use.

Laundry Room. The laundry room is found on the first floor of Crestone House. It has an inside entrance only. The laundry room has both washers and dryers. Washing costs $1 a load and drying is $.25 for 15 minutes. The average dryer load takes $.75. The machines take only quarters. This facility is open 24 hours a day.

TV Lounge. The TV lounge is on the first floor of Shavano House. This lounge is open 24 hours a day. 

Vending Machines. The vending machines are located in the lobbies of each house. Access to these machines is 24-hours a day.

Computer Lab:  There is a computer lab available 24 hours a day for student use in the Shavano House TV Lounge.

Commons Room:  There is a commons room located in Antero House.  It can be reserved for resident use.

ABOUT YOUR CONTRACT

Cancellation of Contract

The Office of Residence Life and Housing reserves the right to terminate or modify the terms of the Contract when the Director of Residence Life and Judicial Affairs or a designee learns that a resident has been charged or convicted of a crime or crimes against any persons, or involving any other conduct that severely disrupts or threatens the safety or security of other residents, or themselves.

Once the semester begins, you are fiscally liable for the full balance of your housing contract. If you have withdrawn from the University, unless it is a result of disciplinary action, you will be released from your Housing Contract providing you do not re-enroll for at least one semester.  It is the studentŐs responsibility to notify the Office of Residence Life and Housing if they have withdrawn from school.  Students asked to leave because of disciplinary action are responsible for the full balance of their room and board fees.

Modification of the Contract may include, but is not limited to, restricting the studentŐs access to housing facilities and suspension or expulsion from the residence or dining facilities. A student will be given notice as stipulated in the Student Conduct Process described later in this Handbook.

In order to cancel your Housing Contract and/or meal plan contract you must complete the following procedures (this includes withdrawal from the University):

á       Pick up a Petition for Termination for Room and/or Board from the front desk, or online at http://www.uccs.edu/~residence//cancellation/

á       Complete the form and return it to the front desk to the attention of the Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing.

á       The Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing will review the Petition and may submit the petition to other offices (i.e financial aid) for further review.  You may be asked to provide additional documentation and such requests will be communicated to you via your UCCS email.

á       The student will be notified of the decision of the committee via UCCS email.

• If released from the Housing Contract or Meal Plan, the housing bill will be pro-rated based on the cancellation polices listed at http://www.uccs.edu/~residence//cancellation/.
• If the student is not released, he or she is still liable for the full balance of room and board, regardless of if the student is choosing to live on campus or has checked out.

Cancellation of Contract: Petition Appeals

á       There are opportunities for appealing decisions regarding your petition.  You may appeal the decision provided your appeal meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. Significant procedural rules were not adhered to; 2. If the decision is found to be arbitrary or capricious. You may not appeal for any other reason. You must send your appeal in writing to the Vice Chancellor of Student Success within five (5) business days of the receipt of your decision. In this letter you must state, in detail, what criteria your appeal is based on. The C Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing. The VCSS will determine validity of your appeal and make a decision.

Check Out Procedures

To check out an appointment must be made with your Resident Assistant lat least 24 hours in advance so that he or she can inspect your room/suite before you leave for Winter or Summer breaks, or if you are withdrawing from housing at any point in the Academic Year, including as a result of disciplinary action. Checking out through the front desk does not constitute a proper check out, it must be with your RA, unless your RA makes other arrangements.  You will be provided with information regarding room cleanliness and condition before your check-out appointment.

Your room should be prepared for inspection, i.e., clean and damage-free, BEFORE the R.A. arrives for your appointment. The R.A. will meet with you at the designated time and review with you the Room Condition Report completed at the beginning of the semester. A professional staff member will also inspect your room after the building has closed and document any additional damage that the R.A. may have overlooked, and to assess final damage assessment and costs which will be placed on your student account, or taken from your deposit if you are not returning. 

For Winter Break (Summit Village Only), your room must be cleaned, all plugs must be unplugged, refrigerators must be emptied, trash removed from the rooms, and all common areas (living rooms and bathrooms) must be cleaned before your appointment with the R.A. All lights must be turned off, blinds closed, and your keys returned to the R.A. before departure. The R.A. will document any damages and you will be charged for materials and labor to repair the damage.

For Summer Break, all belongings must be moved out of the room/suite before the appointment, in addition to the other requirements as stated above. The University reserves the right to dispose of any personal property 48 hours after the end of the contract term.

If you miss your check out time with your RA, without prior notice, you will be charged $50.00 for an improper check out. Failure to properly check out will result in financial liability for damages, room and mailbox keys, as well as an improper check out fee.

Housing Charge Appeals:

Any charges placed on students accounts for maintenance issues, room billing and disciplinary fines must be appealed within 30 days to the Director of Residence Life and Judicial Affairs.  The appeal form is online at http://www.uccs.edu/~residence/. 

Housing Renewals

Renewal information will be available at the beginning of every spring term.  Due to space limitations on campus, changes are made from year to year to best meet the needs of our residents.

Relocation and Consolidation

á       University reserves the right to move residents from one unit to another for the best use of facilities.

á       University may also change room assignments when vacancies occur anytime during the semester.

á       University reserves the right to place any student at any time into an existing space. This may mean if there is an opening in your suite or double room you may have a new roommate or suitemate assigned into your suite at any point during the year.

á       Residents on a floor with low occupancy may be required to move to another floor for consolidation anytime during the year.  

á       Students living in rooms equipped for people with disabilities may be moved (if a like accommodation can be found) if a student needs that type of accommodation.

á       At the beginning of the Spring Semester, new students will be assigned into existing openings.

á       Any behavior that intentionally shows neglect of another studentŐs rights with the intent to get a private room or find extra space in a suite is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. The imposing student will be moved into another accommodation, or charged the full amount for their room.

á       Students who, through their actions, are considered a disruption or threat to themselves or others may be relocated or removed at anytime.

RenterŐs Insurance

The casualty insurance carried by the University protects UCCS against non-vandalism damage to the houses and common areas. This insurance does not cover, nor is the University responsible, for damages to your property. Your Housing Agreement clearly states that you are responsible for obtaining insurance for your personal property.

We strongly recommend that you take steps to ensure that your personal property is covered from casualty losses such as theft, fire, flooding, and other acts of nature or man. The following are alternatives you may pursue:

á       You may be covered by your parentŐs homeowners insurance under a coverage away from premises clause. You will need to check with their insurance agent to see if 1) you are still considered a member of the household, and 2) the coverage is adequate considering the value of your belongings.

á       You may contact any number of local insurance agents to obtain appropriate insurance for your needs.

á       You may review the renterŐs insurance information available through National Student Insurance Inc. at www.nssinc.com for obtaining a low cost renters insurance policy.

 

Summer Housing

Several rooms will be reserved for students who enroll in and attend Summer Term classes or who will be enrolled for the Fall semester. The summer application will be available during the spring semester. Summer residents will be housed on a first-come, first-served basis. The completed application must be submitted to the Office of Residence Life and Housing. Summer Term occupancy fees are in addition to the Academic Year fees. Summer Term occupancy requires a separate Housing Agreement to be completed.

RESIDENCE LIFE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

DISCIPLINARY PROCESS

As a member of the UCCS residential community, you are expected to uphold University standards, which include abiding by criminal and civil laws. These standards and laws assist in promoting a safe and civilized community. If you are involved in an infraction of the rules, the primary goal will be to help you correct your behavior and become a more responsible member of the community. You will be given every opportunity to do so.

If efforts to work with you fail, or if the violation is serious, further disciplinary action will be taken, including one or more of the following:

á       Counseling. A dialogue takes place between the Residence Life and Housing staff and you about the incident and the behavior expected from you.

á       Warning. This written warning states that the behavior is inappropriate and that subsequent infractions should not occur or more serious action could be taken.

á       Probation. A stringent action can be issued in response to serious or frequent violations of Village policies. Probationary status is issued for a specific period of time with specific restrictions placed on you. Parent(s) or guardian(s) will be notified of this action. Subsequent violations may result in termination of your Housing Agreement.

á       Behavioral Stipulation. A condition or requisite is specified in response to an infraction of the rules.

á       Restitution. You pay for damages or expenses incurred because of your behavior.

á       Fines. A financial sanction to serve as a monetary incentive to uphold the Village policies.

á       Community Service. You are assigned to a specific duty for a specified period of time. The community service assignment corresponds to the nature and seriousness of the incident. Failure to complete this portion of a sanction within the stipulated time, will result in a monetary fine of $25.00 per community service hour placed on your student account.

á       Reassignment.   You are reassigned to a different room within one of the Villages.

á       In addition to the above measures, the following may apply:

á       Exclusion from an Area or Person. The Office of Residence Life and Housing reserves the right to exclude (prohibit entry to a specific area or House) or prohibit contact with specific persons to those persons whose behavior is determined to be detrimental to the well-being of the Village community or a specific individual or is incompatible with its function as part of an educational institution. Exclusions will normally be for a specified period of time, after when they are eligible for review. Failure to comply with the terms of exclusion may result in disciplinary action and/or arrest.

á       Suspension or Expulsion. You will be prohibited from residing in any University-operated residential building on either a permanent or temporary basis. Parents of students under age 21 will be notified of this action. If you are removed from housing for disciplinary action you will still be financially liable for your room and board.

á       University Action. This may result in University probation, suspension, expulsion or exclusion.

Incidents vary in seriousness, degree of disruption, and damage to the facilities. These factors are considered when deciding disciplinary action. Repeat offenders are dealt with more severely than first-time offenders even when violations are not individually serious. If you have been advised and warned that you are in violation of a rule or policy, you are expected to not repeat the violation. If it is, you should expect a rapid escalation in the seriousness of the disciplinary response. 

 

Summary Housing and/or University Suspension.

Selected Administrative officers have the authority to summarily suspend any student from the Summit or Alpine Villages or the University when, in the opinion of these officers, such suspension is necessary to maintain order; to preserve the orderly functioning of the University; when a student is interfering in any manner with the public or private rights of citizens on University-owned or controlled property; when a student is threatening the health or safety of his or her self or others; when a student destroys or damages the property of the University or its students, faculty, staff or guests.

Appeals

There are opportunities for appealing decisions made by the hearing officer, within the discipline structure.  You may appeal the judicial decision provided your appeal meets one or more of the following criteria: 1. Significant procedural rules were not adhered to; 2. New evidence; 3. If the sanction is found to be arbitrary or capricious. You may not appeal for any other reason. You must send your appeal in writing to the Dean of Students within five (5) business days of receipt of this sanction letter. In this letter you must state, in detail, what criteria your appeal is based on. The Dean will determine validity of your appeal. You will receive this decision in writing within five (5) business days.

CONDUCT GUIDELINES

Students living in housing are expected to conform to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs standards of conduct, which are published in the general catalog, the Student Handbook and Planner, and online at http://web.uccs.edu/studentconduct.  Respect and consideration for the rights of others and their needs for study time and rest are of first importance. If a studentŐs behavior is disruptive to others, that student is expected to respond to requests from staff and fellow students.  

There are other behaviors that can negatively impact a community environment. These conduct expectations apply to residents and non-residents. These guidelines are listed separately from the Standards of Conduct, as they are specific to the residential community at UCCS.  Residents are responsible for the actions of their guests. Violations of any Residence Life policy appearing in this publication or communicated through the Office of Residence Life and Housing printed materials are subject to disciplinary and/or financial action. These violations include, but are not limited to:

Article I.                      Common Area Damage

We are all responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the residence halls and apartments. A major problem in any residential community is the existence of theft and intentional and/or senseless destruction and finding ways to hold the person or persons accountable for their actions.  All Common Area Damage charges are listed on our website.

Section 1.01            All student damages will be normally assessed at replacement and overtime labor costs. The student will also be liable for appropriate disciplinary action. If a student wishes to dispute a bill for residence hall damage, they must do so in writing within 30 days of the date of the bill to the Office of Residence Life and Housing.  If you know who is responsible for a theft or damage to any of the common areas or to any public area, you are responsible for reporting this information to the Office of Residence Life and Housing.

Section 1.02            Students who cause damage or engage in theft will be subject to both restitution and immediate disciplinary action. Students are responsible for public areas in all University-owned housing. When it cannot be determined which individuals are responsible for the damage or theft a charge for damages or theft will be distributed among all of the residents in the appropriate Village.

Article II.                    Guest and Visitation Policy

In the Villages, visitation is a matter of individual choice. The right of your roommate to have a reasonable degree of privacy has precedence over your right to have a guest. It is important for you and your room/suite mate(s) to discuss visitors and overnight guests, and arrive at an agreement acceptable to all of you within the following guidelines. Visitation is defined as social visiting in student rooms. Abuse of the visitation policy will result in disciplinary action.   Visitation does not permit the resident to provide housing, lodging, or residency for a guest other than as outlined in the Overnight Guest section.   Residence Life staff members are not trained to conduct room inspections to see whether or not residents are in compliance with guest policies. The staff will, however, confront any resident identified as being in violation of this policy. If you feel your rights have been violated because of abuse of guest policies, contact any Residence Life staff member.

Section 2.01            Day Guests:  The student host must accompany his or her visitor at all times, and is responsible for the visitorŐs understanding and compliance with the VillageŐs regulations. 

Section 2.02            Overnight Guests: Student hosts will be held accountable for their guestŐs behavior.  Guests are permitted to stay overnight under the following conditions:

á       All residents in the room have discussed their suiteŐs standards about overnight guests, and there is a signed copy of their roommate agreement on file with their RA.

á       The guest may stay overnight for three consecutive nights, but no more than twice a semester for the same guest.

Section 2.03            The guest is expected to comply with all Village regulations. It is the hostŐs responsibility to ensure that his or her guest is familiar with these regulations. Student hosts will be held accountable for their guestŐs behavior. The host must accompany their guest at all times in the Village.

Article III.                  Hall Sports Policy

Section 3.01            Hall sports are prohibited in the Villages. Students involved in hall sports are liable for any injuries and all residents can be charged for any damage to the hallways.

Section 3.02            Playing any type of game which poses risk of damage or injury in the hallways, lounges, student rooms, or common areas of the building, or in specified areas close to buildings, for example, hockey, golf, darts, water fights, and skate boarding.

Article IV.                 Lounge and Public Area Use Policy

Section 4.01            Residents and guests may not conduct activities that restrict the use of any lounge or public area in housing. 

Article V.                   Health Policy

It is expected that all residents keep their room, bathroom, and suite areas in a state of cleanliness.

á       Bathrooms should be cleaned once a week.

á       Food and/or open containers of drinks should not be left out.

á       Floors should be swept or vacuumed weekly.

á       Trash should be removed from the room and suite regularly. Trash must be disposed of in an appropriate trash disposal area. Trash must be placed inside the container. Anyone leaving trash in the hallway or placed next to the container is subject to disciplinary action and/or a fine.

Section 5.01            All residents are expected to keep their room at a level of cleanliness so that the facility will be healthy for all campus residents

Section 5.02            All residents are expected to following cleaning expectations as defined in their roommate agreement.

Article VI.                 Noise Policy and Quiet Hours

Section 6.01            Quiet study hours will be strictly enforced during the following times:

á       10:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday

á       1:00am - 8:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday

Section 6.02            During finals week, a 24-hour quiet policy will be enforced.

Article VII.               Pet Policy: There may be exceptions to this policy for Residence Life Programs and Service animals.

Section 7.01            Pets of any kind, except fish are not allowed. Residents are allowed to have 1 10 gallon or less fish tank in their room/suite. 

Section 7.02            Keeping or bringing a pet or animal into the residence halls or apartments will result in disciplinary action and, if necessary, fees will be posted to your student account if associated with clean-up and disinfection of the area. Students found w/ pets will be given 48 hours to remove the pet from campus.

Article VIII.             Prohibited Items

It is the intent of the Office of Residence Life and Housing and the University that all students may work, study and live on campus in safety. If found, these items will be confiscated.  The resident may reclaim these items at the end of the semester, and taken away from University property.  Exceptions to this are listed next to specific section. The following policies are set so that this intention is met.

Section 8.01            Permanent fixtures or appliances, such as ceiling fans and window air conditioners are not allowed. Students can reclaim these items three days after notification of removal.

Section 8.02            Multiple outlet octopus plugs are not permitted. All extension cords and power strips must be UL approved.

Section 8.03            Appliances that require 600 watts or less are permitted. Appliances with open coil heating elements, such as hot plates, space heaters, and toasters, are a fire hazard and are not allowed.  This includes indoor grills of any type or wattage.

Section 8.04            Halogen lights are a fire hazard and are not allowed.

Section 8.05            Waterbeds are not allowed. Electric blankets are not allowed.

Section 8.06            Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, and/or roller skates cannot be ridden or worn in hallways, stairwells, dining houses, or indoor public spaces.

Article IX.                 Room Key and Building Security

Your key allows you access into your suite and your room. Its acceptance and use is subject to your compliance with the following guidelines:

Section 9.01            Immediate reporting of lost or stolen keys to the Office of Residence Life and Housing.  Your lock will be changed and new keys issued to you and your room/suite mates. A service charge will be assessed for lost or damaged keys. This fee offsets the cost of the keys, lock pins or cores, and the expense of changing the lock.   Please note that damaged keys must be turned in to the Office of Residence Life and Housing for you to receive a free replacement key. Failure to do so will result in a lock change and/or disciplinary action.

Section 9.02            You may not lend your key to others.

Section 9.03            Mere possession of a key does not automatically confirm rights of entry. Do not assist persons who may be having difficulty gaining entry. You may not let persons whose privileges have been revoked, or guests of others, enter the property with your key.

Article X.                   Solicitation Policy

Section 10.01        Solicitation of any kind is prohibited.  Please contact Public Safety at x3111 if a solicitor comes to your door.

Article XI.                 Smoking Policy

Section 11.01        Smoking is not allowed in any residential building.  Per Colorado State Law, you must smoke at least 20 feet away from any building entrance.

Section 11.02        If you are a smoker, and checked that you did not want roommates who smoke on your housing application, you may be relocated to a different room depending on space availability.

Section 11.03        If you own a hooka, tobacco pipe, or other smoking device, it must be completely extinguished and cleaned before it can be allowed in any residential facility.  If it is found that these devices have been used to smoke items other than tobacco, you may be subject to the Standards of Conduct policy on illegal drugs.

Article XII.               Trash Policy

Section 12.01        Disposing of personal trash in the hallways, lounges or any other public area will result in a fine to your student account.

Article XIII.             Windows and Ledges Policy

Section 13.01        Throwing items of any kind from windows or bridges; keeping items on window ledges or removing window stops is prohibited.

Section 13.02        Using windows as a means of entry and/or exit is prohibited.

Section 13.03        Screens must be kept in your windows at all times. If you remove any screen in your bedroom and/ or suite there will be a $25.00 fine posted to all residents accounts, unless the responsible party notifies the housing staff. A work order will be immediately generated to put the screen back into the window.  This $25.00 fine does not cover the costs for a new screen, so additional fees will be charged if a new screen is needed, or is not in plain sight when maintenance staff comes to inspect the room.