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Office of Residential Life


DENISON UNIVERSITY
STUDENT HOUSING CONTRACT
2008-2009


Introduction
As a four-year residential campus, Denison is committed to the learning process that takes place both inside and outside the classroom.   Staff members in the Office of Campus and Residential Life provide students with reasonable safe, comfortable, and well-maintained living space, and an academically conducive environment.  Residential life policies and regulations are established with that in mind.  The following agreement sets forth the conditions for fulfilling the Denison University residency requirement as outlined in the Student Handbook, beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year and extending through your day of graduation.

Residence Requirement
All students enrolled at Denison are required to live in campus housing as part of the residential college experience.  The only exceptions are for married students living with spouses, single parents, and unmarried students living with their parents or guardians within 25 miles of campus.

Communal dining is considered to be an integral part of the residential campus experience at Denison.  All students living in University housing, except residents of apartments with cooking facilities, are required to participate in the board plans. 

Student Residence Agreement
All students living in Denison housing are required to sign a Residence Agreement prior to moving into University housing.  This is a binding agreement stating that you will read and comply with all rules, regulations and policies related to residential life while at Denison.  These include, but are not limited to, the current Denison University Student Handbook, opening and closing notices, break housing notices, and the annual lottery literature.  In return, the University agrees to provide students with a reasonably safe and secure environment in which to live and study.

First Year students are sent a Residence Agreement to sign and return prior to arrival on campus.  First year students are required to live in designated First-Year Residence Halls.  All residence halls are smoke free and illegal drug free.  All first-year designated housing is alcohol free.  When making room assignments, staff members take into consideration the preferences a student indicates on the Housing Preference Form.  Our staff tries to honor mutually requested roommate preferences.  However, Denison discourages first year students from the same high school to live together.  Because of the high demand for certain types of housing, we may only be able to honor your second or third housing (i.e. quiet, substance free, co-ed, etc.) preference.  Students are provided a space within the residence halls, but are not guaranteed a specific room.  Assignments will be made according to procedures and space available as established by the Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Housing and Residential Life.  Rooms are restricted on the basis of gender.  We do not collect information, assign rooms, or make room changes on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or other such factors in compliance with the affirmative action standards of Denison University.  Students requiring medical or disability housing accommodation should contact the Office of Campus and Residential Life, Denison University.

Returning students choose housing for the next academic year by participating in the housing lottery.  The lottery is a seniority-based system.  Students are given a random computer generated number for participation in the selection of residence hall and specific room.  A separate lottery is held for students requesting “special interest” (substance free or quiet) housing options.

Reassignment of Rooms: Students with a vacant space in their room/apartment/suite will be required to “consolidate space” by moving to another room or by having another student move into that vacant space.  The University reserves the right to reassign rooms or remove students from the residence halls when deemed necessary.   Open rooms can be created for use as the Office of Campus and Residential Life deems necessary.

Disciplinary Dismissal or Withdrawal: Students who withdraw or who are otherwise dismissed will normally have no more than 48 hours from the date of their disenrollment to vacate the campus.  Students will be held financially responsible for room and board charges.  Refunds will be based upon the date the student vacates campus and in accordance with the schedule outlines in the Student Handbook.

Access to the Residence Halls: All residence halls are locked 24 hours a day (see below) to provide security for the residents.  Telephones are available on the exterior of each residence hall for use by visitors.  Propping open a residence hall door is a violation of University policy and will activate an alarm.  For safety and security reasons, students should never allow strangers into any campus residence hall.

A room key and student I.D. are issued to each student upon their arrival at Denison.  The student I.D. access is updated on a yearly basis and acts as the card that opens the outside door of the residence halls.  Students can access their own building 24 hours a day.  The I.D. will also allow access to other residence halls from 7 am to 1 am.  Each student must sign a Residence Key Control Card and agree to the following:  (1) Not to lend or trade a room key or I.D.  (2) Not to duplicate room key or I.D.  (3) Immediately report the loss of a room key or I.D.  (4) Return room key upon moving out of the residence hall.  Loss of a room key or student I.D. will result in a replacement-billing rate established by the University.

Dates of Occupancy: Residence hall opening and closing dates are determined by the Office of Campus and Residential Life and published widely.  Students are not admitted to the residence halls prior to those dates.  Failure to leave by specified closing time and date or illegal entry to the residence halls during closed periods may result in conduct action.  Occupancy does not include those periods when the University is closed for Thanksgiving, semester, spring or summer breaks.

Approved break housing (Thanksgiving, semester and spring) will be available on a limited basis in a limited number of residence halls, to accommodate student need.  Students residing in break housing halls may be contacted to allow students needing break housing to occupy their room.  Dining halls are not open during break periods.  Undergraduate students are required to vacate their rooms with 24 hours of their last final exam in the spring in order to create accommodations for families of graduating seniors. 

Rights of Search: For the purpose of enforcing the University rules and regulations or to ensure that health and safety regulations are not being violated, the University reserves the right to search student rooms in University owned or operated residence halls.  Only University personnel who have been designated for this purpose by the Vice President for Student Affairs shall conduct such searches.  A maintenance health and safety survey of all student rooms and suites may be conducted during times the University is not session.

Smoking:  All of the buildings on campus are smoke free.  Students who smoke must smoke outside the building and at least 20 feet from entrances and windows to the buildings. 

Room Changes: Students are permitted to complete room changes in accordance with lottery guidelines and university policy.  Prior to all room changes, the appropriate paperwork must be completed and approved through the Campus and Residential Life Office.  Students not following proper procedure will be held accountable through the Office of Community Rights and Standards.  Students using their lottery number to secure a room, suite, or apartment must reside in that space through the first semester.

General Information
Students are responsible for knowing and complying with the information contained in the student handbook, and is expected to abide by all university policies, state and local laws.

Loss or Damage to Personal Property: The University cannot provide coverage for any loss or damage to personal property.  It is strongly recommended that residents carry insurance on their personal belongings, most likely through their parents’ fire or “homeowners” policies.  Individual policies should be reviewed to determine conditions for coverage.  Bicycles should be registered with Campus Safety and Security and marked for identification.

Housekeeping Services: Housekeeping Services are not provided for student rooms, suites or private baths.  Students residing in suites are responsible for the daily cleaning of their bathrooms.  All public areas and public bathrooms are serviced daily Monday through Friday, with limited cleaning services provided on weekends.

Routine Maintenance: Students are responsible for room maintenance.  Students are able to directly report maintenance problems by E-mail or phone.  In the case of an emergency, Head Residents, Resident Assistants, and Security can contact university facilities staff.

SPECIAL INTEREST HOUSING AGREEMENT
  
Students who agree to live in any of the Special Interest Communities agree to make a positive personal commitment to maintain the community norms and values as established by Denison University.  Evidence of this commitment shall be through participation at floor program/activities.  It is also evidenced in the management of one’s own behavior as well as confronting the inappropriate behavior of others in violation of community guidelines.

Students desiring to live in any one or both of the designated “Special Interest Housing” environments will be asked to sign an agreement of understanding at the time of the Special Interest Lottery.  Failure to abide by this policy could result in reassignment and conduct action.

IMPORTANT DATES LIST

When making travel plans for the 2008-2009 school year, please refer to the following schedule of opening and closing of residence halls. Early arrivals cannot be accommodated!

For more information, contact Bill Fox, Assistant Dean of Student/Director of Housing & Residential Life at foxw@denison.edu