Please click the link to view the entire Vandalism Response Protocol, including Frequently Asked Questions:
Examples of Postings after Vandalism Occurs, posted at site of incident:
Community Standards and Prohibited Items
To review the full list of community expectations, including items and behavior prohibited in University-sponsored housing, please review the Community Standards Manual.
Entering Student Rooms and Residences
Authorized University representatives, which include Residence Life Professional Staff and student staff members, may enter a student’s room:
- to inspect, repair, examine, or make necessary alterations;
- to enforce University policy, investigate possible policy infractions;
- To ensure that students have vacated the room in emergency situations;
- to inspect for cleanliness, health, and safety of the space;
- In the case of a suspected emergency, to ensure health and safety of anyone thought to be in the room.
If a university staff member enters a room for requested repairs or maintenance during the academic year, staff members will make every effort to enter the rooms after 10:00 a.m. In all other situations, staff members may enter student residences at any time.
Room searches can be conducted in any University assigned housing if necessary. Residence Life student staff may enter a room and observe what is in plain view. Only Residence Life Professional Staff or a person designated by the Dean of Students may conduct searches of drawers, closets, and other areas. When a search is conducted, the occupants will be made aware of the reason for the search, but not necessarily before the search is made. If a student is not present for a room/residence search, written notification (via e-mail and/or notice left in the room) will be provided to the student.
An effort will be made to have at least two University representatives, including at least one Student Affairs professional staff member, present when a search of a student room is conducted.In a criminal case or other serious emergency, the presence of a Student Affairs professional staff member may not be required.
Any belongings removed during the search will be recorded by the Office of Residence Life and PD. Such belongings will be returned, if and when it is safe and lawful to do so, after disposition of a case by the appropriate University or civil authority. If the items are not picked up, they will be disposed of at the end of the semester in which the policy violation occurred.
In a criminal case or other serious emergency, the presence of a Student Affairs professional staff member may not be required.
Solicitation
Solicitation is not permitted in University assigned housing. Solicitation includes but is not limited to: selling products or services, door-to-door collections, or flyer delivery and distribution.
Salespeople within the halls should be reported to PD immediately. Residence Life Professional Staff also should be notified promptly.
Exceptions to this policy may only be granted by Residence Life Professional Staff. Exceptions are only allowed for hall programs of a particular residence hall.
Thefts
Thefts should be reported to PD immediately. Residence Life Professional Staff should also be notified. The University is not responsible for an individual student’s belongings. You should be sure that your property is properly insured. It is important to lock your door when you are sleeping or away from your room.
Breaks
Break information is provided on theOffice of Residence Lifewebpage typically a few weeks prior to break.
Keys and Carroll Cards
Keys and Carroll Cards should be secured at all times. Keys may not be duplicated, sold or loaned to anyone (including friends or roommates) and may not be thrown/dropped out of windows for guests to obtain access to the building. Keys should be secured at all times and lost or stolen keys/Carroll Cards should be reported immediately to the Office of Residence Life. Stolen keys/Carroll Cards should also be reported to PD. Each lost/stolen key costs seventy-five dollars ($75.00). The fee covers lock changes to protect both current and future residents and their belongings.
Lockouts
There is a $5.00 charge for all lockouts that occur in the residence halls and a $25.00 charge for all lockouts that occur in the duplexes and campus houses.
All lockouts are handled by Residence Life Professional Staff and PD. Should you be locked out of your room between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, you may contact the Office of Residence Life at 216.397.4408. In the residence halls at any other time, your RA or another RA in your building can give you access to your room. If you cannot locate an RA, you may contact PD at 216.397.1234. They will contact the staff member on duty.
Payment should be made in cash to the Residence Life Staff member at the time of the lockout. If a student is unable to pay at that time, the student may bring bring payment to the Office of Residence Life within 48 hours. If a student fails to make payment within 48 hours, the student’s account will be billed $50.
Each student in the residence hall is afforded one lock-out per academic year at no charge. The Office of Residence Life will record the use of this courtesy lock-out.
Fire Safety
Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. All fire alarms should be considered true indications of danger and the building must be evacuated as safely and quickly as possible.
As the hallways are the primary emergency egress routes, all halls should be clear of impediment. Nothing is allowed on the floors in hallways (i.e. welcome mats, shoes, decorations, and athletic equipment). While staff will attempt to alert residents to leave, it is incumbent upon each person to take personal responsibility to exit the building. Staff will indicate when people may safely return inside.
Fire drills are conducted in each residence hall annually. Failing to evacuate the building during an alarm will result in disciplinary action.
The University Heights Fire Marshal inspects each University building on a regular schedule. The Fire Marshal may enter any room without notification to determine if it is in violation of fire safety policies.
The University takes the actions of tampering with fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers (which trigger an alarm) very seriously and doing so is a violation of the fire policy. Causing a false alarm may induce panic and carry severe consequences. False alarms create an environment where students often ignore the alarm assuming there is no danger. Ignoring an alarm may cause students to become injured, overcome by smoke, or to lose their lives.
Common Area Space
Common area space is made available for the benefit of all residents. Various lounges provide televisions, pool tables, microwave ovens, kitchens, and study areas. Residents are responsible for the daily upkeep of these areas. Therefore, your cooperation in maintaining a clean atmosphere is expected.
Lounge furniture or cushions may not be removed from lounges. Residents may not leave personal items in common area spaces (i.e. athletic equipment, academic materials, toiletries, and electronics). Sleeping in common areas, and any non-residential room spaces is prohibited.
Community Damage
Community damage is damage done in public areas, such as a restroom, study room, hallway or stairwell. The public area losses or damages that are preventable and are not assignable to individuals will be billed in equal amounts to the floor or building members. It is the responsibility of all residents to be aware of their environment and to hold others accountable who vandalize property.
Report vandalism to an RA, Residence Life professional staff, PD and/or the 24-hour anonymous hotline (216) 397-1515.
Consolidation
Consolidation may be necessary when numerous students are living in rooms without roommates. To make the best use of available space, students without roommates may be required to consolidate with other students.
Dining Plans
Dining plans are required for everyone living in traditional residence halls on campus. For those living in university houses and duplexes, dining plans are available, but not required.
For students who are enrolled in a university-sponsored/credit-bearing internship or student teaching, an exception to the meal plan may be offered. The Office of Residence Life will work with students to make any related modifications.
Please call the Office of Residence Life at 216.397.4408 with any questions.
Housing Agreements
Information is available here.
Insurance
The University does NOT cover personal property that may be lost or damaged from any cause, including but not limited to fire and flooding. We recommend that you purchase renter’s insurance if your property is not covered.
Repairs and Cleaning
Repairs to student rooms can be requested online by entering awork order.All requests go to the Facilities Department and will be addressed within 48 hours.
If it is an emergency, please let your RA, SRA, AC, and/or PD know.
Students are not able to schedule appointments for maintenance to enter their room for the repair. Maintenance staff is not permitted to enter student rooms to perform repairs until 10:00 a.m., unless it is an emergency. They are permitted to work in all common areas of the residence halls and bathrooms beginning at 8:00 a.m. during the academic year and 6:00 a.m. during the summer months.
When bathrooms are “Closed” for maintenance or cleaning, do not enter the restroom. Instead, use an alternate bathroom in the building. The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action against any student who violates this policy.
Residency Requirement
All entering students, of traditional age, need to declare their status as a resident or commuter through the Enrollment Reservation Form sent by the Office of Admission. Resident Students who entered in the fall semester of 2023 or later are required to live in University-sponsored housing for four years.
Once a Student establishes their status as a resident, they must seek approval for a change of status to commuter, and any change to commuter status will go into effect as of the next academic year.
The Change to Commuter Status process for the 2025-2026 academic year is closed. If you have questions please reach out to the Office of Residence Life at jcureslife@jcu.edu.
Room Condition/Room Decorations
Keep in mind safety and the ability to exit from your room when adding furniture. Any type of partition or hanging material that represents a potential fire hazard will not be permitted (i.e. banner/tapestries hanging over smoke detectors or decorative lights hanging from the ceiling). You may hang your own curtains, but University-issued drapes must be re-hung before checking out of the room. Waterbeds are not allowed in the residence halls. All furniture present in the room during check-in must be present in the room at check-out. You are not permitted to paint your room. Decorations used for special occasions must be of fire retardant material. All decorative lights must be for indoor use and UL approved. Live Christmas trees are not permitted in residence halls. Neon signs are prohibited in residence hall windows. Street and traffic signs of any sort are prohibited in students’ rooms.
Nails, thumbtacks, tape of any kind, and other devices (decals on mirrors and doors) that will damage any painted or wooden surface are not permitted. Tampering with or rewiring of electrical fixtures is prohibited. The University reserves the right to judge what is “safe” for its buildings and occupants. The University reserves the right to require students to remove the display of offensive material (such as on a door, window, residence room walls, etc.). Residents should not attach TVs to walls in any way that damages the walls through mounts screwed or bolted to the walls. Duct tape or packing tape may not be used on any surface in rooms. Room damage determined by the University not to be from normal wear and tear will be assessed to those assigned to the room.
Vacancies
Vacancies may occur during the year. If you are left with a vacancy in your room, you are expected to welcome a new roommate. Those found to be disrespectful to residents seeking a room change, in order to dissuade them, may be charged for a buyout and sent through the Student Conduct System.
If you do not have a roommate, you are expected to leave one side of the room and one set of furniture clean and unused, so another student could move-in to the space at any time.