The University of Alabama, Division of Student Life

HRC Community Living Standards

Unit:  Student Life
Contact: Matthew Kerch
Title:  Executive Director for Housing and Residential Communities
Effective Date: 8/19/2020
Revision Date: 08/01/2022

 
 

Purpose

This policy outlines Housing and Residential Communities (HRC) role in establishing community living standards for all students who are living on campus in an HRC administered building.

Policy  

Residents are held responsible for and/or prohibited from the following:

Intellectual Environment

You are responsible for creating an environment that promotes the academic mission of the University. This includes, among other things, upholding the noise and visitation policies in the residence halls, and being held responsible for your visitors’ behavior.
  1. Visitors/Visitation: Residents are responsible for the behavior of their visitors. While in the residence halls and on campus, visitors are expected to comply with state and federal laws as well as all applicable University policies that address on-campus behavior, including, but not limited to, the Community Living Standards, Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Policy, and Code of Student Conduct. Visitors include any student, resident, non-resident, or relative not assigned to reside in a host’s room. Visitors should be escorted by their host at all times. Residents must notify their roommate(s) at least 24 hours in advance of an overnight visitor and the roommate(s) must agree the visitor can stay. An overnight visitor cannot stay more than 72 hours in HRC facilities, while visiting. Where applicable, residents are responsible for upholding and abiding by the posted visitation policy and hours in all residence halls.
  2. Cohabitation: The continual residing in a residence hall room or suite of two or more students or visitors who are not roommates is prohibited. An overnight visitor cannot stay more than 72 hours in HRC facilities, while visiting.
  3. Noise: Creating excessive noise in a residence hall and not upholding 24-hour courtesy hours is prohibited. Courtesy hours should be observed and recognized at all times. Noise originating anywhere in a room or on a floor should not be audible within another room or floor within the building or outside, including boisterous activity in common areas and hallways. A resident or staff member has the right at any time to respectfully request that the noise level be decreased. These requests are expected to be honored. Compliance is necessary to maintain community standards and to ensure an environment for academic success.
  4. Instruments and Speakers: Use of amplified instruments in a residence hall room is prohibited. Placement of sound equipment or speakers in windows and common areas of the residence hall without the express permission of HRC staff is prohibited.
  5. Gambling: Gambling, raffles, or betting pools in or adjacent to a residence hall is prohibited.
  6. Business: Operating a business from your residence hall or room is prohibited.
  7. Loitering: Loitering is not allowed in front of any residence hall entrance or exit. Loitering can be a fire or safety hazard.

Facility Issues

You are responsible for promoting a clean and well-maintained living environment. It is expected that students will not damage or vandalize University property or remove property from its designated location in the residence halls. You are responsible for promoting and maintaining a safe and secure environment in the residence halls. It is expected that you will not prop open doors or allow unescorted visitors into the residence halls and will adhere to fire and building safety guidelines.
  1. Solicitation and Posting: Without proper prior approval, solicitation and posting is prohibited within the residence hall lobbies, common areas, or door-to-door. If a party or group is interested in posting items in the residence halls follow this link for procedural information. 
  2. University Property or Furnishings: Removal from its original location, damage, or theft of any residence hall furniture, accessories, and damage to structure is prohibited. This includes residence hall common area furniture, individual room furniture, or accessories.
  3. Vandalism: Damage, destruction, or defacing of property of another person, group, or the University is prohibited. Damage to hall decorations or postings is also prohibited.
  4. Altering of Internal Space: Installation of any non-approved items, painting a room or suite without prior approval, and damage to interior or exterior surfaces of the residence halls is prohibited. Installing wallpaper or LED Strip Lights in a room or suite is prohibited.
  5. Displaying Items from Windows: Hanging items in and out of residence hall windows or in any other manner that obstructs the windows is prohibited; including, but not limited to flags, banners, and signs.
  6. Trash Regulations: Residents must regularly remove trash and/or recycling from rooms or suites to designated trash or recycling container(s).
  7. Storing & Utilizing Vehicles: Parking, riding or storing a bike, motorcycle, motorized scooter, electric bicycle, hover board, or moped in an unauthorized area, including, but not limited to, stairwells, hallways, rooms, lounges, balconies, trees, plants, public seating fixtures, sign posts, or electrical fixtures is prohibited.
  8. Pets: Possession of animals, other than fish as defined below, are prohibited regardless of the length of stay or visit. After notice, if the unapproved animal is not removed within 24 hours, the resident may be fined $200/day until the animal is removed. In addition, any cost associated with the possession of an unapproved animal will be charged to the responsible resident(s) or to all residents of the room/apartment, (damaged furniture/carpet, cleaning, pest control, etc.). Fish, may be maintained as pets, as long as they are kept in fish tanks that are no larger than 10 gallon capacity. Residents are responsible for maintaining the tanks and are responsible for any and all damage caused by the fish or the tank. This policy shall not affect the verification process of service animals or approval process of emotional support animals by the Office of Disability Services.
  9. Trespassing: Attempting to gain unauthorized access or trespassing in a residence hall is prohibited.
  10. Unauthorized Room Change: Moving to a residence hall room without prior written approval from an HRC administrator is prohibited.
  11. Blocking Egress: Hanging items including, but not limited to, beads, tapestries, flags, banners, or sheets in a manner that blocks exit or escape from the inside of a residence hall room is prohibited. This includes any items blocking a path of exit from a room.
  12. Evacuation Procedures: In the event of a fire alarm or fire drill, all residents must immediately and completely evacuate the building. Residents must remain outside in the designated gathering area until emergency personnel allow people to reenter the building. Interference with or non-adherence to emergency evacuation procedures in a residence hall is prohibited. Balconies, hallways, and stairwells must have a clear passage at all times.
  13. Fire Alarms/Fire Safety Equipment: Tampering with, damaging, or covering fire safety equipment (including smoke detectors, pull stations, fire extinguishers, sprinkler heads, etc.) or initiating false alarms, stopping existing fire alarms, and/or failing to immediately evacuate during a fire alarm are violations of state fire codes. Violations of state fire codes will result in University disciplinary action in accordance with the UA Code of Student Conduct and may also be punishable under state law.
  14. Noxious Odors: Causing noxious or offensive odors (e.g. drugs, incense, cigarettes, clove cigarette, candles, trash buildup, etc.) is prohibited.
  15. Occupancy Regulations: Having more than three times the designed occupancy in a residence hall room is prohibited..
  16. Key Policy: Distribution/Loss/Lockouts: Delivering, surrendering, or otherwise relinquishing possession of room or outside keys, including Action Cards and any device that gives access to the exterior of a building(s), to anyone other than a University Official or permitting the keys to be duplicated or modified is prohibited. Failure to report lost or stolen keys is prohibited. Repeated lockouts due to not reporting a lost key or choosing not to carry key on self is prohibited.
From Resident Key Agreement:
LOST KEYS & LOCK CHANGES
If a resident’s key becomes temporarily misplaced or a resident is locked out of their room, the student must contact an HRC Desk to gain entry to their room. The student will need to present ID to verify they are assigned to the room. Residents will be billed beginning with their second lock out. The second, third, and fourth lock outs will be billed at $25, and on the fifth a lock replacement will be ordered and the student will have to meet with a Housing and Residential Communities conduct investigator. A lost key will result in a minimum charge of $100 fee billed to their student account for a lock change and re-issued key. More than five lockouts per year will result in a meeting with a designated Housing Conduct Officer and students may be required to complete sanctions.
  1. Use of Windows: Hanging from windows or balconies is prohibited. Climbing on roofs or repelling from the exterior of buildings is prohibited. Removal of window screens is prohibited. Throwing or shooting of objects from windows or balconies is prohibited.
  2. Illegal Use of Emergency Exits: Emergency exits are to be used during emergency evacuations only. Any misuse of emergency exits is prohibited.
  3. Appliances and Safety Hazards: Possession of items that endanger the health and safety of the community is prohibited. Use of non-approved appliances in a residence hall room is prohibited.
Examples of Prohibited Items include, but are not limited to, personal air conditioner, space heater, ceiling fan, self-constructed lofted beds or unapproved lofting materials such as bed risers, fog/smoke machine, and covering more than one third of total surface of the of a residence hall room door and/or a single wall with flammable materials (such as posters, art canvas, T-shirts, flyers, flags, blankets, etc.). It is also prohibited to keep any item in your residence that has an open flame source, flammable liquid, or that may pose a fire hazard including, but not limited to: oil lamps, candles, hookah pipes, incense, gasoline, natural cut trees, branches, or greens, and halogen lamps and bulbs, deep fat fryer, electric griddle, electric grill, electric sandwich makers or presses, electric waffle iron, electric wok, hot oil popcorn popper, hot plate, indoor grill or boiler, toaster oven, crock pots or any cooking tool that does not have an automatic shut off feature. Anytime a student is cooking or heating food in an approved device, they must stay with it to avoid a fire situation.
  1. Firearms, Weapons, Ammunition and Fireworks: Residents are not permitted to possess or use any weapon, firearm, fireworks, or explosives.  Additional information may be found in The University's Dangerous Weapons and Firearms Policy.

General Conduct

You are responsible for respecting the rights of all others in the residence hall community and complying with all applicable laws and University policies, including the Code of Student Conduct, at all times. Among other things, fighting, threats, and intimidation of any person for any reason will not be tolerated. You are responsible for developing and maintaining an atmosphere that promotes social awareness, social appreciation and acceptance of those who may be different from you.
  1. Failure to Comply: Residents must comply with any lawful order or reasonable request of a clearly identifiable University Official (e.g., Housing and Residential Communities Staff) acting in the performance of their duties in the enforcement of University policy. Residents must present their Action Card upon request of a University Official.
  2. Furnishing False Information: Residents must disclose, to the best of their knowledge, full and truthful information to University Officials. Residents shall not withhold or present false or misleading information with the intent to deceive, including, but not limited to, names, dates and times, location or number of residents or guests, location, consumption, or possession of illegal, prohibited, or controlled substances, Campus Wide Identification Numbers or Action Cards, telephone numbers, addresses, emergency contacts, or allergies to medicine.
  3. Compliance with the Law and University Policies: Residents must follow all University policies, including, but not limited to, the Code of Student Conduct. Additionally, residents will at all times comply with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. Any violation of these Community Living Standards, law, or University policy may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.
  4. Imposition on Community: Residents, students, HRC staff, and members of the University community have a right to live within an educational environment conducive to academic success. Any action or disruption by any resident that reasonably violates this right is prohibited.
  5. Complicity: An individual who aides another in any action that violates University policies, or assists in the concealment of any conduct that constitutes a violation of these polices, or does not leave the scene of the violation, if not assigned to the unit in which the violation is occurring, may be subject to action in accordance with the UA Code of Student Conduct.

Substances

You are responsible for upholding federal, state, and local laws dealing with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Alcohol is not permitted for students less than 21 years of age, and illegal drugs are not permitted by anyone. Students who display intoxicated behavior or who require assistance due to consumption of alcohol or drugs are subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the UA Code of Student Conduct. For additional information, please review the Student Alcohol and Other Drug Policy. Further, smoking is prohibited on the UA campus (this includes, but is not limited to, smoking in facilities, on campus grounds, in parking areas, etc.)
  1. Alcohol Paraphernalia: Unless a resident is 21 years or older, possession of alcohol paraphernalia including, but not limited to, funnels, drinking game paraphernalia, such as beer pong tables, and empty alcohol cans and containers is prohibited.
  2. Students of the Legal Drinking Age: Students who are 21 years or older may consume alcohol in their assigned individual room and may not provide alcohol to anyone below the legal drinking age. Residents are not permitted to store alcohol in common spaces accessible to anyone underage, carry any open containers of alcohol around the housing common areas and lobbies, or have common sources of alcohol, including, but not limited to, kegs, punch bowls, and coolers containing alcohol.
  3. Tobacco: Possession or use of tobacco products within the residence hall by those under the legal age of 21 is prohibited. Smoking is prohibited on the UA campus. Smoking includes inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette, water pipes (hookah), E-cigarette, vaporized inhalant, or pipe. Tobacco products refers to all forms of tobacco, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, water pipes (hookah), E-cigarettes, vaporized inhalant and smokeless tobacco products.
  4. Drug Paraphernalia: Possession of paraphernalia for intended or implied use of controlled substances or paraphernalia possessing illegal drug residue, including, but not limited to, devices and/or materials used to prepare, use, or cover up the use of drugs, as defined by the Code of Student Conduct, is prohibited.

Health and Safety

You are responsible for taking all necessary precautions, in accordance with UA, UA System, and CDC guidelines, to protect yourself and others from infection from COVID-19.  For additional information and up-to-date guidance on how to prevent infection and how to respond in case of infection, please see healthinfo.ua.edu. These Community Living Standards should be read as supplementing, and not in replacement of, any requirements of the University for re-entry to or operating on campus. Students must comply with all Health and Safety Rules and Requirements implemented by the University and University of Alabama System, which may be revised from time to time. Failure to comply with the University’s COVID-19 Health and Safety Rules and Requirements and Housing and Residential Communities’ policies and procedures may subject students to discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion from campus.
  1. Exhibiting Symptoms: Please visit https://healthinfo.ua.edu/students/ for up-to-date information.
  2. Self-Isolation or Self Quarantine: Please visit https://healthinfo.ua.edu/students/ for up-to-date information.
  3. Medical Emergencies: In the event of a medical emergency, students should call 911 or UAPD at 205.348.5454, and should notify the operator that they have, or think they may have, COVID-19. If possible, students should put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.
  4. Protective Measures: Housing and Residential Communities may find it necessary to take specific actions to protect the public health of residents due to COVID-19 or other public health emergencies or other communicable diseases. Students will follow all such requirements and will not impede such measures or otherwise act in any way that might limit or diminish the effect of those protective measures.
  5. De-Densifying: Students must comply with any de-densifying efforts needed to reduce the number of students on campus due to COVID-19 or other public health emergency, including, but not limited to, the relocation of all or some residential students to alternative housing. Relocation does not constitute a termination of a residential student’s housing contract.
  6. Compliance with Protective Measures: For the health and wellbeing of UA students, faculty, and staff, there may be changes in housing policies and procedures. Students shall abide by these amended policies and procedures. Failure to abide by these policies and procedures could result in a student contact violation, which could include requiring a student to move out of the residence hall and/or to a designated space.
    Any behaviors that endanger the health and wellbeing of others are strictly prohibited and students are required to comply with the requests of a UA staff member. If a student fails to do so, that student could be required to move out of the residence hall and/or to a designated space.

Scope

This policy applies to all students who are living on campus in an HRC administered building		 
 

Office of the Vice President of Student Life

Approved by Adam Sterritt, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, 08/01/2022