Residential Policies
Residency Requirement
All full-time, first-year and sophomore Husson University and New England School of Communications students must live in the university residence halls.
To request to be released from on campus housing for the upcoming Academic Year (2013 - 14), you must meet one or more of the following criteria:
1. Complete 54 credits or more by the end of the most recent academic year. NOTE: initial decisions will be based upon the number of completed credits as of the end of the Fall Semester plus the number of credits attempted during the Spring Semester. If, at the completion of the Spring Semester, the number of completed credits does not equal 54 or more, your request and subsequent approval will be rescinded.
2. Married (copy of marriage license will be required).
3. Commuting from your parent(s), grandparent(s), or legal guardian(s) residence that is within 30 miles of Bangor, ME. A notarized letter must be provided by one of the aforementioned parties and contain the following information:
→ Statement that the student will be commuting from your residence.
→ Address and phone number for said residence
→ Signed by the parent(s), grandparent(s), or legal guardian(s) attesting to the accuracy of the information
4. Student is emancipated (documentation required)
5. For those who do not meet the criteria listed above, consideration may be given on a case by case basis.
For Returning Students, the deadline for requesting a Residency Release is June 1, 2013. Any requests made and approved after this date will result in a contract breakage fee as follows:
June 2 -July 31: $500 Breakage Fee
August 1 - September 2: $750 Breakage Fee
Requests will be reviewed in an on-going manner and students will be notified via campus e-mail.
NOTE: There is a separate policy and criteria for students requesting a Residency Release once an academic year has started.
Off-campus request forms can be obtained in the Office of Housing and Residential Life, 105 Peabody Hall. The Office of Housing and Residential Life will review all applications to live off campus and will notify the student via campus email. Room and board cancellation fees may apply. There will be no refunds after the first day of classes unless the student withdraws or is academically or administratively dismissed from the University.
Residence and Dining Contract
All students living in the residence halls must sign a Residence and Dining Contract and agree to abide by its terms. Housing contracts are sent out after their tuition deposit has been paid. Students should familiarize themselves with the contents of the contract. Violations of the terms of the contract can result in its cancellation.
Room Assignments and Changes
Husson reserves the right to make or change room assignments, but will make every effort to accommodate the preferences of individual students. Returning students sign up for rooms each spring for the following fall; entering students are mailed housing materials during the summer. Students are responsible for filling out the proper paperwork for a room change. The student's Resident Director (RD) must approve of a room change before any move actually takes place. Occasionally, students may experience roommate conflicts. The residence hall staff is available for assistance in the resolution of any conflict. If a problem cannot be resolved, room changes are possible.
Single Rooms
Single rooms are not offered as a regular lifestyle option. However, as occupancy levels in the residence hall permit, single rooms may become available. If a student does reside in a single room, a per-semester additional charge will be added to her or his room and board charge. If a student does not want a single, the Office of Housing and Residential Life and student will work together to find a roommate to avoid the single room charge.
Room Keys
Each student is issued a key upon moving into the residence hall. The student is responsible for the key and may not transfer or duplicate them. Lost keys should be reported to the Resident Director immediately. For the safety and security of residents, a lock core change will be made and the student will be charged for the change. Residents will also be billed for a lock core change when a key is not returned when they move out of a room. All room keys will be collected at the end of the academic year.
Check-out Procedures
Whenever a student moves out of a residence hall room she or he must check out with a Resident Assistant or Resident Director. The checkout procedure assures that a student and a staff member jointly check the vacated room so that inappropriate damage charges are not assessed to the student. Each student is responsible for assuring that all appropriate college furniture is in her or his room at checkout time. All personal belongings, area carpeting, etc., must be removed from the student's room prior to checkout. Room keys must also be returned at checkout in order to avoid a charge for their replacement. The final determination on maintenance, custodial and other charges will be made by the Office of Housing and Residential Life staff.
Quiet Hours
University-mandated quiet hours are 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Each residence hall floor may establish additional quiet hours according to the desires and needs of its residents.
Theme Floors
The residence halls offer a number of different living environments to accommodate residential student needs. For the 2013-2014 academic year, the offerings for thematic housing include:
Health Science – there will be two health science focus floors, one is a female, first year floor and the other will be a co-ed upper class floor; programming will focus on health science topics and resources for this particular set of students
Communications – all male floor for students who attend the New England School of Communications; programming will focus on communications topics and resources for this set of students
Quiet – one female floor, one male floor, dedicated to providing a quiet environment for residents who want to use their rooms for study
First Year Experience – single gender floors for first year students; programming will focus on exposing students to the resources available on campus, as well as campus itself
Graduate Student Suites – suites in the Living Learning Center that are set aside for students completing graduate coursework
Room Inspections
Inspections of all residence hall rooms will be conducted multiple times throughout a semester to determine health and safety needs. Twenty four hours prior notice will be given for routine inspection and will be attended by members of the Office of Housing and Residential Life, Maintenance and Safety and Security. These University officials may additionally authorize immediate room inspections in cases of emergency or possible violations of the Husson University Community Code.
Washing and Vending Machines
Laundry rooms are located in the basements of each traditional residence hall and on the 4 floors of the LLC. Vending machines are conveniently located in each building. Inoperative washing machines and vending machines should be reported to Residence Director.
Pets
For health and sanitary reasons, pets are not allowed in the residence halls. Fish are the only animals allowed and must be contained in a tank that is less than ten gallons. Fish tanks must be maintained; otherwise they will be removed from residential rooms. Cats, dogs, lizards, snakes, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, mice, etc. are not allowed. If any of these animals are found, they will be immediately removed by the Office of Housing and Residential Life staff and fees will be assessed for proper cleaning to be performed.
Vacation Housing
The University's residence halls are officially closed for all vacation periods. Students who must remain on campus during vacation periods (distance to travel home is too far, working on campus over break) will be charged room and board. Applications to stay for breaks must be obtained from and handed back to the Office of Housing and Residential Life, 105 Peabody Hall or to a Resident Director.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Custodial service is provided by the university to clean all public areas in the residence halls (stairwells, hallways and bathrooms). Students are responsible for clean-up in these areas after any special student-sponsored activities. Student rooms should be kept clean by the occupants.
Overnight Guests
A resident student may entertain an overnight guest for a maximum of two consecutive nights. Students should notify their Resident Assistant when a guest will be staying overnight. Guestrooms are not available. Lounges may not be used to accommodate overnight guests.
Equipment Restrictions
The electrical current in residence hall rooms is designed for low wattage equipment such as lamps, clocks, radios, etc. These circuits are not designed for high wattage coil equipment such as hot plates, immersion heaters, soldering irons, electric heaters, toasters, etc. These and similar types of high wattage equipment must not be used in the residence halls. One refrigerator is permitted in each student's room, provided that it meets the following restrictions:
- It is Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved
- It draws no more than 1.5 amps
- It is properly grounded
- It is not in excess of three cubic feet
For structural and safety reasons, waterbeds and home-made lofts are not permitted in the residence halls. Food preparation is not permitted in residence hall rooms. Food stored in student rooms should be kept in authorized refrigerators or in closed containers to avoid attracting insects and to prevent contamination.
Firearms/Weapons
Firearms, air/gas/spring-operated paintball or pellet guns, knives, ammunition, firecrackers or explosives, or any other weapons are strictly prohibited on campus. Anyone in violation of said code will be referred to the Community Code Administrator for appropriate sanctions, including possible termination of Housing Contract.Fire Safety and Protection
Students should pay particular attention to fire safety and prevention in the residence halls. In order to prevent potential hazards, electrical circuits should not be overloaded. The use of extension cords is illegal. Only UL approved power cords can be used. Materials of any sort should not be hung near light fixtures or from smoke-heat detectors. Doorways and entryways should be free of obstruction at all times in order to expedite a quick exit in case of an emergency. Room entrances may not be blocked by closets. Room doors must open all the way. Smoking is prohibited in the halls, along with the use of candles and incense.
In case of fire:
- Secure appropriate clothing, shoes and towel.
- Leave the room with lights on and blinds open. Close the door.
- Leave the building as quickly as possible, using designated exit routes. Do not run. Evacuation plans are posted on each residence hall floor; each student should be familiar with them.
- No one may re-enter an evacuated building without authorization from the Fire Department.
Residence Hall Alcohol Policy
Those persons under the age of 21:
It is against state law, and hence University policy, for anyone under the age of 21 to possess, sell, procure, consume or be in the presence of alcohol. What this means is that if you are under 21, you will be sanctioned if you are found drinking alcohol, in the same room as alcohol, transporting alcohol on/off campus, including transporting alcohol in/out of the residence halls and from vehicle to vehicle, being intoxicated on campus, and/or participating in any social activity involving alcohol. Even if someone present is 21 or older, it is still a violation for anyone under 21 to be present while alcohol is in the room whether it is being consumed or not. If a person under the age of 21 finds him/herself in a situation that violates the University's alcohol policy, the person should leave the situation immediately as they will still be held accountable for the violation.
Those persons 21 years of age or older:
If a resident's age is 21 or older they may responsibly possess, consume, and procure alcohol in a closed residence hall room with others of legal drinking age. They may not possess, consume, procure, transport, or provide alcohol while in the company of those under the age of 21. Being in the same room with alcohol and a person under the age of 21, whether the alcohol is being consumed or not, is still considered providing to a minor, which is not only a violation of campus policy but is a violation of state law as well. There shall be no consumption of alcohol in common areas, i.e. hallways, stairwells, or lounges.
General Alcohol Policy
- All residents are responsible for the actions of their guests. This includes informing all visitors of the Husson University alcohol policy and making sure they are following such policy. Commuters who are in violation of the alcohol policy may have their privilege of visiting the residence halls revoked.
- Persons are expected and required to assume responsibility for their behavior when drinking alcohol and understand that being under the influence of alcohol does not lessen their accountability.
- No kegs, party balls, funnels, or other common source containers are allowed. Containers that once contained alcohol are not allowed, not even for decorative purposes. Such containers may be used as proof of an alcohol violation.
- Husson University Security and the Residence Life staff reserve the right to check any bag on campus property.
- Any alcohol that is confiscated will not be returned. All alcohol and containers will be disposed of.
- While in the residence halls, public intoxication is forbidden. This includes any behavior which could reasonably be considered a disturbance or dangerous to others or oneself. It is under the discretion of Residence Life and/or Security as to what behavior is deemed unfit for a residence hall.
- Alcohol consumption or possession by persons of any age is not allowed during posted chemical free periods including final exam times, breaks, etc.
- Alcohol is not permitted at any time by any person of any age on chemical-free floors.
- There are no drinking games allowed on campus, whether alcohol is involved or not.
- Proper identification, verifying an age of at least 21 years old, must be available in the presence of alcohol. Failure to provide appropriate identification will result in under age alcohol sanctions.