Denison University Student Handbook 2006-2007

Housing Requirements and Exemptions: Denison is a residential college. A substantive residential experience enhances achievement, personal growth and the development of a strong campus community, all of which are hallmarks of a Denison education. Denison is committed to its residential identity and to the many benefits that stem from the relationships, activities and programs available to students in the residence halls. An integral component of each student's Denison experience for four years, residential living provides important opportunities for students to learn about others as well as themselves, develop interpersonal skills and take responsibility for their immediate community, This is an ideal complement to the learning that occurs in our classrooms, laboratories and studios. Married students, single parents, students 25 years of age or older and unmarried students living with their parents or guardians at their parent's or guardian's primary place of residence within 25 miles of campus may request to be exempted from the housing requirement. Any student applying for an exemption from the housing requirement under any of the above listed categories must be approved by the Office of Campus and Residential Life prior to making off-campus housing accommodations. Any student who is not living in University housing without such permission is responsible for full payment of Denison housing and board charges and may be subject to disciplinary action through the University's Office of Community Rights and Standards.

First Year Housing:All first-year students are required to live in first-year halls (Beta, Kappa Sigma, Morrow, East, Preston, Smith and Shorney). Entering first-year students are discouraged from living with another student from the same high school. Only mutually requested roommate preferences can be honored when housing assignments are made. Roommate preferences are NOT GUARANTEED.

Dates for Occupancy: Residence hall opening and closing dates are determined by the Office of campus and Residential Life and published widely. Halls will open at 9:00 a.m. on the date specified. Students are not admitted to residence halls prior to those dates. Students failing to leave by specified closing time and date or entering facilities without authorization are subject to community rights and standards action. Break housing will be available on a limited basis to accommodate student need. Dining halls are not open during vacation periods or breaks. Undergraduate students are required to vacate their rooms within 24 hours of their last final exam in the spring in order to create accommodations for families of graduating seniors. When a student withdraws, takes a leave of absence or is suspended, he or she must vacate the room within 24 hours of notification.

Access to Residence Halls: Students shall enter and exit residential facilities through approved entrances and exits. Entering or exiting through any room or apartment window is prohibited. With the exception of an emergency situation such as fire, students are prohibited from using the fire escapes or other non-approved means to enter or exit residential facilties.

All residence halls are locked 24 hours a day 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. Suspicious looking persons should immediately be reported to Campus Safety and Security. Deliveries to the residence halls are made to the East Quad Service Center located in the lower level of Huffman Hall or the West/North Quad Service Center in the lower level of Curtis West Hall.

A student Denison University Identification Card will open the outside doors of all campus residence halls designated "Resident Access" from 7:00a.m. - 1:00 a.m., and a student's own residence hall 24 hours a day. Upon issuance of a room key, each student must sign a Residence Hall Key Control Card and agree to: 1) NOT lend or trade room key and/or Denison University Identification Card; 2) Carry the Identification card at all times and present it when requested by a University official; 3) NOT duplicate room key; 4) IMMEDIATELY report the loss of a room key or Denison University Identification Card to the appropriate Quad Service Center. Loss of a Denison University Identification Card will result in denying a student access to both Food Service and residence halls; 5) Return room key upon moving out of the residence hall. Loss of room key will result in a replacement billing at the rate established by the University. During break periods, student ID cards are deactivated. A student room key will access his or her designated residence hall.

Assignment of Rooms (As part of the Student Code of Conduct, each Denison University student is responsible for all activities, including the behavior of any guest, that take place in their residence hall room, suite, or apartment. Additionally, there are no exchanges of rooms, additional occupancy or substitution of one occupant for another or their personal belongings without authorization of the Office of Campus and residential Life. With the exception of emergency situations, a Room Freeze is in effect during the first two weeks of both the Fall and Spring Semester. If a room change is needed, the student should request authorization for a room change by completing the proper form. The Housing Coordinator will process the request and the student will receive notification of authorization. An unauthorized room change may result in a loss of lottery number and/or judicial action. Students who secure a room using their lottery number must reside in that room throughout the first semester.

Reassignment of Rooms: The University reserves the right to reassign rooms or remove students from the residence halls when deemed necessary. In addition, students who are in a double room by themselves or in a multiple room (triple or quad) with a vacant space may be required to "consolidate space" by moving to another room or by having another student move into that vacant space. Open rooms can be created for use as the Office of Campus and Residential Life deems necessary.

Room Furnishings: Students are responsible for all University furniture or furnishings present in their room upon arrival. Students will be billed for lost, damaged or missing items. Room furniture must stay in the assigned room. The university will not store any furniture. With the previous exception (bedframes and mattresses in specific locations), all other room furniture provided by the university must remain in the room. No common area (or other University) furnishings are to be moved into student rooms.

Storage: Only properly identified and locked trunks, suitcases, or metal containers will be stored, at the owner's risk. Limited space is available for storage of PERSONAL belongings over the summer months, subject to the above storage guidelines.

Emergency and Routine Maintenance: Report leaking faucets, radiator pipes, stopped up drains or circuit breaks promptly to the Physical Plant Office. During late night hours, report to Campus Security when immediate attention is necessary to prevent damage. Routine maintenance requests are initiated by a student by emailing physplant@denison.edu.

Housekeeping Services: Housekeeping Services are not provided for student rooms, suites, private baths or suite baths. Students residing in these rooms are responsible for daily cleaning of their bathrooms. Limited cleaning supplies are available from the housekeepers weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All public areas and public bathrooms are serviced daily Monday through Friday, with limited cleaning services provided on weekends.

Damages: Any damage to a room or its furnishings will be charged to the occupant(s) assigned to the room. The University holds room or suite occupant(s) responsible for both wanton and accidental damages to the assigned residence hall room or suite. Common Areas (lounges and hallways) are also the responsibility of all residents. Damages that cannot be assigned to specific individuals may become the responsibility of all the residents of a floor or hall, but only in cases where these charges exceed $10/resident.

Telephones: On-campus and local telephone services are provided in each residence hall room. The University provides an instrument; however, the student may choose to use his or her own phone. The University phone must be in place (like a desk or chair) at the end of the school year or the student(s) will be charged for replacement. Long distance calls can be placed from room phones using a University Personal identification Number (PIN) or credit card. Students are responsible for payment of all calls placed with the PIN as well as calls made from or received on the telephone in their assigned room.

Courtesy Hours: Courtesy Hours are in effect at all times. Persons are expected to comply with a request for quiet from another person at any time.

Quiet Hours: In keeping with the academic mission of the University, residence halls are required to maintain Quiet Hours during the academic year. From Sunday-Thursday, quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m.-9:00 a.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 1:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. During examination periods, 24-hour quiet hours begin at the end of Quiet Hours on the last day of classes and are strictly enforced. No registered events may occur after the beginning of Quiet Hours during the examination period.

Overnight Guest/Visitation Policy: Students may have a guest(s) stay overnight in their residence hall room only when they have the consent of their roommate(s). The rights of the roommate(s) and floor members must be respected at all times. Guests may stay overnight only for two nights within a seven-day period (this also applies to students who reside in a single room). Guests must comply with all residence hall and University policies and regulations. Resident students hosting guests are responsible for informing their guests of these rules and may be held responsible for any inappropriate behavior of their guests.

Decorating of Rooms: