Hall Policies

Student Life › Community Living › Residence Hall Policies

Noise

Quiet hours are from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Each resident is responsible for keeping noise levels to a minimum at all times. Noise levels should be low enough so as not to disturb others.

Courtesy hours are 24 hours a day.

During midsemester and final exam weeks, quiet hours are 24 hours a day.

Visitation
Open visitation hours are as listed below. During these times students from other residence halls and off campus guests, including opposite gender guests, are welcome in student rooms provided the guest is escorted at all times and has the approval of the student’s roommate. Daily visitation hours are as follows:

All Students: 10 a.m. - 1 a.m.

Residents and their guests are required to conform to the guidelines of the visitation hours established by the college. All residence halls work on the honor system. Abuse of the visitation policy may result in a revoking of the honor system in any residence hall. Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests and must inform them of Community Living and College policies.Only guests of the same gender are permitted to sleep in the residence hall rooms. Cohabitation is prohibited; only the residents assigned to a room may live there. Roommate approval is required for any guest(s). Hall Director approval is required for guests of the same gender planning to stay overnight; guests of the same gender may be approved to stay up to three consecutive nights. Guests must have a guest pass and picture ID. Overnight guests must be 17 years of age or older.

Residents and/or guests may only use residence hall bathrooms designated for use by their respective gender.

Pets
No pets are allowed in the residence halls, except for small fish in small bowls.

Smoking
In compliance with state law, smoking is prohibited in all campus facilities.

Cleaning
Each resident is responsible for the proper care of his/her room, section and kitchen, including the guidelines for break/holiday periods and checkout. All residents using the kitchen are responsible for cleaning the stoves and ovens. Individual residents will pay for any charges assessed for damages in their rooms. All residents may be responsible for floor damages and will equally pay for any charges to the floor. Respect for fellow residents and Community Living staff is shown by properly disposing of garbage and boxes and by not creating unnecessary messes in hallways, individual student rooms, lounges, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Telephone hardware, antennas, and cable TV
Splicing or splitting into existing television cables or outlets, wrapping TV cable, or otherwise adding to the existing cable is prohibited. Tampering with telephone hardware is prohibited. Residents are not permitted to set up outside antenna or satellite systems.

Each residence hall room is equipped with one cable jack. Cable service is provided by Bright House Networks as part of the room fees.

Projectiles
The throwing, dropping, or pouring of anything (to include keys) from windows, balconies, ledges, and landings is strictly prohibited. Residents are responsible for damages and/or clean-up charges that result from this action.

Roofs, ledges and balconies
Residents are not allowed on roofs, ledges or balconies at any time.

Windows
Residents may not enter or exit a building through windows. Leaning out of windows for any reason is not allowed. No decorations (including alcohol signs/neon signs or cans) may be displayed in room windows. Windows may not be covered except with the blinds installed by the college or personal curtains. Window blinds may not be removed.

Screens
Tampering with or removing screens is prohibited. Residents will be billed for screens that must be replaced.

Disorderly Conduct
Behavior which is disruptive to orderly community living is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, throwing items in the hallway, bouncing balls on the floor/hallways, fighting, pranks, or any other behavior that may cause physical injury or is potentially dangerous to the health and well-being of residents.

Intimidation/Invasion of Privacy
Threatening or abusive behavior will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual, racial or religious harassment, intimidation, hazing, pranks, or unwanted telephone calls, or invasion of privacy.

Vandalism
Failure to respect FSC property and any other property that is not your own is prohibited. Residents may be assessed restitution for any damages incurred.

Failure to Comply
Residents and guests must present proper identification when requested. Students must comply with FSC or Community Living official’s request (including Resident Advisors, Community Living Coordinators, Hall Directors, Student Development Staff and Campus Safety Officers) when such official is working within the performance of his/her duties. A notification to schedule and/or maintain an appointment or meeting with a staff member must be honored.

Room and public area decorating policy
Residents are encouraged to personalize their rooms and decorate public areas within established guidelines and policies. These guidelines and policies are available through the Hall Director for each building. The use of contact paper and stickers is prohibited in all residence and public area locations. No decorations may be displayed in room windows. Windows may not be covered except with the blinds installed by the college or personal curtains.

Christmas Lights/Christmas Trees/Holiday Decorations
Christmas lights and live cut Christmas trees are prohibited in the Residence Halls and college apartments. Artificial Christmas trees are allowed, but may not contain Christmas lights (ornaments and tinsel are okay). Other holiday decorations must be approved by the Hall Director for the building or the Office of Community Living.

Solicitation
Any personal or commercial solicitation (including door-to-door and distribution of advertising circulars) within residence hall living areas or public areas is prohibited (violators should be reported to Campus Safety). Residents or official student organizations may use public and common areas with approval from Student Development. Guidelines and approval forms are available at Student Development.

Posting signs and information in public areas
The Office of Community Living reserves the right to limit the number of materials posted per event or organization to ensure equitable access to limited bulletin board space. Posters are not permitted on walls, doors or windows. All signs must be approved and stamped by the Center of Student Involvement before posting.

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS

Alcohol
FSC is an alcohol prohibited campus. No alcohol is allowed in the residence halls or on campus. No person may possess alcoholic beverage containers in their room (including decorative collections).

Drugs
In compliance with state law, the illegal possession, sale or use of drugs is prohibited. Possession of drug-related paraphernalia is prohibited in the residence halls and is subject to confiscation.

APPLIANCES

Cooking
Residents should not leave items unattended on the stove or in the oven at any time. Residents are responsible for the proper use of approved cooking appliances and attention to food items while using the appliances.

Appliances
Residents are not allowed to cook in their room but may use the following items in their room or kitchen areas. Hot pots, airstream ovens, electric crockpots, coffee pots, drip coffee makers, popcorn makers and small George Foreman grills.

Any item that has an open coil (including but not limited to toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates) is prohibited.

Microwaves
Microwaves are allowed in residence hall rooms. All microwaves are subject to inspection by the Community Living staff.

Refrigerators
Students may bring a refrigerator provided the following guidelines are met:

The refrigerator is not to exceed 3.6 cubic feet. Full-size refrigerators are not allowed.All refrigerators must be UL-approved. Door gaskets must be in good condition.All refrigerators must be equipped with a (3) three-prong grounded outlet.

Students must maintain refrigerators in a safe and sanitary condition.

Air Conditioners
Residents may not install air conditioners or ceiling fans in their residence hall rooms. Residents may not plug AC units into any other outlet not designed specifically for the unit. Residents may not open windows when air conditioning units are in use.

Barbecue Grills
Residents are permitted to use barbecue grills at a safe distance (15 feet or more) from all residence halls. The use of grills is not permitted under covered walkways, landings, or balconies.

Propane tanks, charcoal, or lighter fluid may not be stored within the residence halls.

FIRE SAFETY

Fire Safety
Arson or the setting of fire, tampering with fire safety equipment, falsely pulling fire alarms, stopping existing fire alarms, or failing to immediately evacuate during a fire alarm are all violations of state fire codes. Immediate evacuation when an alarm sounds is mandatory and re-entry into a building before the alarm is silenced is prohibited.

Candles and Incense
All candles and incense (including decorative candles) are prohibited in the residence halls.

Halogen Lamps
Halogen lamps are prohibited in the residence halls.

Extension cords/multi-plug adapters
For the protection of the residential community, residents are permitted to use extension cords with the following restrictions. Please refer to the publication "Fire Safety and Prevention in the Residence Halls" for a more detailed explanation and diagrams.

Only UL-approved three-prong grounded extension cords that are 14 gauge or heavier are permitted. Note: The lower the gauge number, the heavier/thicker the cord is. Cords cannot exceed 10 feet in length. Only one appliance/item may be plugged into an extension cord. Only one extension cord may be used per double outlet.

Only UL-approved multi-plug adapters with circuit breakers are permitted. Up to three appliances/items may be plugged into one multi-plug adapter per double outlet. Extension cords and multi-plugs may not be connected.

RESIDENCE HALL SAFETY & SECURITY

Security
Residence Hall security is a shared responsibility of the FSC staff and residents. Do not prop open or allow doors to be propped open for any floor or building exit door. Residents should never allow people who are not their guest into the building or onto the floor. Residents should always carry their keys and lock their doors. Residents may not borrow keys from each other or loan keys to anyone. Residents must return keys immediately upon check-out or reassignment and must report any lost or stolen keys. No student will be permitted to enter a resident's room without the express written consent of the residents who live in that room.

Theft/unauthorized use of property or services
Theft of any kind or the possession of stolen property (including street signs, safety cones, and hazard barriers) is prohibited. This includes unauthorized borrowing or unauthorized use of any service (including phone cards, long distance codes and identification cards).

Firearms, weapons, fireworks, explosives and flammable liquids
Possession and/or use of these items or look-a-likes (including but not limited to, bottle rockets and any other firework, chemical bombs of any kind, BB guns, stun guns, firearms, rifles, bayonets, bows and arrows, switch blades, knives, nunchucks, marital arts weapons, medieval weapons and slingshots) is not permitted anywhere on campus.

No paint, paint cans, spray paint, paint thinner, tiki torches, tiki torch fuel, propane canisters for BBQ grills, charcoal lighter, cigarette lighter fluid, gasoline or gasoline cans, etc., are allowed in the residence halls.

RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

Bicycles
Bicycles may not be parked in the walkways, hallways, stairways, or entranceways. Bicycles may be stored in student rooms. Illegally parked bicycles will be impounded at the Campus Safety Office.

Skates & boards
Skate boards and inline skates may not be ridden anywhere inside the residence halls. Persons may use these devices on walkways adjacent to the residence halls for transportation only (i.e. no acrobatics) and with due regard for pedestrian walkways.

Recreational vehicles/transportation
Motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, and jet skis must be parked in designated areas. Under no circumstances are they allowed in the buildings.

HOUSING POLICIES

Moving to Another Room
Residents are not allowed to change rooms without the approval of the Director of Community Living (or designee). It is imperative that in case of emergency, the Community Living and Campus Safety offices have an accurate listing of room assignments. Students who illegally change rooms may be required to relocate back to their original assignment and/or be adjudicated for Failure to Comply.

Furniture
All furniture assigned to student rooms and apartments must remain in the room. This includes bed frames, springs and mattresses. No furniture is to be removed from floor lounges or other public areas. Beds may not be elevated from the floor by cinder blocks or any means other than bunk bed units provided by facilities and maintenance. There is a limited supply of bunking pins available that can be obtained from The Office of Community Living.

Locks
Tampering with or damaging lock mechanisms is prohibited. Additional locks may not be added to doors or other college property or equipment.

First-Year Housing
The transition issues of first-year students are different than those of returning or transfer students. As a result, Florida Southern has created first-year living environments to aid students with the social, academic, and personal growth that will occur during the freshman year. The first-year housing areas have a lower student-to-staff ratio, typically around 20 students per RA as compared to upper-class housing, which is approximately 35 per RA. The Community Living staff also plans social and educational programming that centers around the transition issues of the first semester and year of college. Students transferring with fewer than 15 hours will be placed in first-year housing as space allows. Students who completed college course work while still in high school will be considered a first-year student, regardless of the amount of college credits earned. Students living in first year housing will be expected to complete the academic year within the first-year housing environment. Students enrolling in the January term will live in first-year housing as space allows. Students may not return to the first-year housing environment in the Fall of the following academic year or any subsequent term unless hired as a Community Living staff member. First-year students who move on campus for the Fall semester will live in first-year housing for two semesters. First-year students who move on campus for the Spring semester will live in first-year housing for one semester.

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