Residential Education Policies

Welcome to the Residential Learning Communities at West Virginia University. Given that you will spend a large percentage of your time outside the classroom, we know it is important for your residence to be a place where you feel comfortable and enjoy spending your time. We strive to provide services, programs, and an atmosphere that will enhance your educational growth and experiences.

As in any group setting, residence halls have rules and regulations that establish the standards and rights of membership. When members of residence hall communities choose to break rules, residence halls become unpleasant places in which to live.

The residential student conduct process has jurisdiction over all residence halls. In addition to its contribution to the academic mission of the University, the student conduct process is also designed to support community standards while allowing students to make decisions in line with their individual lifestyles and value systems. Although policies and processes may appear and "feel" restrictive, there is no intent to deprive students of an opportunity to make independent decisions. Nevertheless, policies have been established in accordance with other University regulations, local, state, and federal laws, and input from previous residents. Overall, the policies set in place have proven to be in the best interest of the residence hall community at large.

Residence Hall Policies
The residence hall policies of West Virginia University are designed to protect the individual within an environment that promotes personal and academic achievement. The following policies, procedures, and guidelines for student behavior are designed to enhance your living and learning environment. Violations of any rule or regulation will lead to disciplinary action. Where such action is necessary, residence hall students may also face civil liability or criminal prosecution. Students are responsible for becoming familiar with and acting upon their rights and responsibilities. Students' Rights and Responsibilities are published within the Eyes & 'Eers, and in the Planner you received at Orientation. They may be found online, too.

Matters of safety and security are of primary importance to the residence hall community. Students who are careless may jeopardize the welfare of everyone. As such, safety violations will be addressed through serious sanctions, including termination of a student's housing contract (see below).

Students are expected to forego personal convenience in the interest of community safety. This means that behaviors like propping doors, using alarmed doors, and not locking room doors are serious infractions of safety and security matters. Residential Education reserves the right to initiate administrative moves made in the best interest of the student and building operations. Also, roommates who cannot resolve issues or come to a mutual understanding may be administratively moved to different rooms.

In accordance with the housing contract Residential Education reserves the right to inspect all areas of a student's room if there is information that indicates University policies are being violated.

POLICIES

(For a complete copy of Eyes and Eers, click here.)

Alcohol and Drugs
Alcohol is not allowed on any residence hall property even if you are over the age of 21. In addition, it is unlawful to possess, use, or sell controlled substances. Illegal drugs are not permitted on residence hall property.
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Alcohol Containers
You may not have on residence hall property empty alcohol containers including, but not limited to: beer cans, liquor and/or wine bottles. This is a health and safety matter, and also ensures compliance with the state law in regards to underage possession of alcohol. Beer bongs, empty kegs, etc., are also prohibited.
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Alcohol/Drug Related Behavior
You may be held responsible for behaviors related to alcohol consumption or illicit drug use regardless of where the alcohol or drugs are consumed.
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Computer Use Policies
WVU has established guidelines regarding computer use. Violations of these policies may result in University and/or residence hall disciplinary action, including but not limited to loss of computer privileges. All computer users must be aware of the following policies and ethical standards for computer use. For additional information please refer to http://www.resnet.wvu.edu and http://oit.wvu.edu/oit/policy/p&plist.htm.
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Only currently enrolled students in good standing or other authorized users may use computer resources at WVU. Computer resources are to be used only for authorized purposes, such as instructional use related to classes. Electronic game playing is prohibited in computer labs. The computers are for academic purposes. The University supports federal copyright laws prohibiting the copying of licensed software.
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Decorations
Students who choose to decorate their room must adhere to the following rules:

• Use electrical decorations that are UL approved only;
• Do not use lights on metallic trees;
• Use decorations made from flame-retardant materials only;
• Do not place decorations on light fixtures;
• Do not hang tapestries or other decorations from ceiling or doorway;
• Do not use live pine, extension cords, candles, or incense;
• Do not hang decorations with nails, tacks, paint, or adhesive-backed wall covering without the approval of the facilities manager; and
• Do not hang items outside the window.

If you have any questions refer to “Guidelines for Personalizing Your Room” in Part 5.
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Dishonesty
Presentation of false information to Residential Education Staff or other University employees in the performance of their duties, including at student conduct meetings, is prohibited.
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Disruption and Noise
Behaviors that interfere with another person’s free exercise of academic or personal pursuits are not condoned in the residence halls. This includes:

• Conduct that interferes with another person’s free exercise of academic or personal pursuits.
• Conduct which is loud, indecent, or disorderly, including but not limited to: stereos at a high volume, excessive yelling, playing sports, playing amplified musical instruments, or disturbing other residents while playing a musical instrument.
• Violation of quiet hours, including noise that can be heard outside of your room during quiet hours.
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Quiet Hours
Sunday through Thursday—9:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Friday through Saturday—11:00 p.m. – Noon
Students are expected to be considerate of their roommate and neighbors 24 hours a day. This means that any behavior that disrupts others is unacceptable at any time (any noise that can be heard outside of a closed door is in violation of quiet hours). Twenty-four-hour quiet hours will be in effect for the last week of classes and during finals week. Twenty-four-hour quiet hours begin at 9:00 p.m. on the Sunday before the last week of classes and continue through finals week.
Note: Violations occurring during 24-hour quiet hours will result in a $100 fine and other appropriate sanctions.
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Drug Paraphernalia
Possession of any drug paraphernalia is prohibited on residence hall property.
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Failure to Comply

• Residents and their guests may not interfere or be uncooperative with residence hall staff or other University officials in the performance of their duties and/or disregard a reasonable request of any residence hall staff member.
• Failure to honor the decision of a disciplinary body or board is also considered a violation of this policy. Fines may be imposed if you do not complete community service hours or other conduct sanctions imposed.
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False Alarms
Residents and guests may not:

• Falsely report fire or any other emergency, including bomb threats or serious injury;
• Pull or tamper with a fire alarm pull station when no fire is present;
• Cause a smoke detector to activate when no fire is present;
• Cause a sprinkler to activate when no fire is present; or
• Sound alarms or engage the stop button on an elevator when there is no emergency.
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Firearms or Other Weapons Possession
Possession, storage, use, or manufacturing of firearms and weapons is strictly prohibited. These items include but are not limited to knives, bows, arrows, ammunition, guns, B.B. guns, slingshots, nunchakus, stun guns, paintball guns, and launching devices such as potato guns.
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Fire Safety Violations
Residents and guests may not:• Residents may not use items such as candles, incense, smoke bombs, and fireworks;

• Obstruct (penny shut, glue, or jam) a door so as to prohibit entrance and/or exit from a residence hall room or other area;
• Affix to or suspend any tapestries and other room decorations from the ceiling or in the doorway;
• Accidentally or intentionally misuse fire safety equipment, including but not limited to fire hoses, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, exit signs, pull stations, and fire alarm;
• Use extension cords or multireceptacle outlets with the exception of UL listed power strips with surge protectors; or
• Fail to evacuate when a fire alarm sounds.

Furniture Use
Residents and guests may not misuse property or furniture, including possession of common area furniture in student rooms. A fee for each piece of furniture that is returned by a staff member to its proper location will be assessed each time common area furniture is found in a student room.
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Harassment
Conduct that intimidates, threatens, or endangers the health or safety of any person is not permitted. This includes:

• Physical abuse or any person (e.g. battery and fighting)
• Retaliation for physical assault or abuse to one’s self or on behalf of another
• Threaten violence
• Behavior that intentionally or recklessly causes physical, financial, or emotional harm to any person;
• Intimidating, threatening, or other endangering behavior against a person or persons because of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color, or national origin; and
• Behavior that is construed as a nuisance, including prank phone calls, and thereby disrupts the residence hall community.
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Misuse of ID

• Duplication, lending, borrowing, misrepresentation, or misuse of the student identification card is not permitted.
• Failure to provide proper identification when requested by a residence hall staff member or other University officials (includes not having an I.D. to gain entrance to residence halls or dining halls) is not permitted.
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Heightened Security
For your safety during certain events or time periods (i.e. home football games, FallFest, and SpringFest) the residence halls will be placed under increased security measures. During this heightened security, visitors will not be permitted in the building, all exterior doors will be locked, and all residents must enter through the main door and present their Mountaineer Card for admittance.
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Room Safety

• Refer to secction “Items not Permitted” in Part 5.
• Use or posession of open flame (i.e. burning candels, burning incense) or open elements appliances, including toasters, hot plates, and hot pots in residence hall rooms or other unauthorized areas is not permitted.
• Cooking in residence hall rooms or other unauthorized areas is prohibited.
• No pets, except fish contained in a tank (limited to one 10-gallon tank per room), and guide dogs are permitted.
• Use of outside television or radio antennas is not permitted.
• Possession of water filled or lofted bed is not permitted.
• Rooms should be kept in a condition that does not create a health and safety hazard.
• Window screens are not to be removed under any condition due to danger to life and property (dropping, throwing, or allowing solid or liquid objects to go out a window is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action of a severe nature).Tampering with or removing window screens and or safety screens in any way will result in a $100 fine.
• Residents and guests may not devise any unsafe situation in which a member of the residence hall community can be injured.
• Unauthorized duplication, lending, use, or borrowing of room or building entry keys is not permitted.
• Unbolting windows is prohibited.
• Note: For your safety during certain events or time periods (i.e., home football games, FallFest) the residence halls will be placed under increased security measures. During this heightened security, visitors will not be permitted in the building, all exterior doors will be locked, and all residents must enter through the main door and present their Mountaineer Card for admittance.

Sexual Assault
Any sexual activity with a person who does not consent or is unwilling is prohibited.
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Smoking

• Prohibited in all areas of the residence halls.
• Designated smoking areas are located outside every residence hall.

Solicitation

• The sale of services or products, or the seeking of funds, signatures, merchandise, or supplies is not permitted.
• Residents and guests may not attempt to urge, incite, request, or advise a person or persons to adopt an idea or purchase merchandise, or services for personal profit or organizational gain.
• Receiving business offers or goods in residence halls for business purposes of any nature is not permitted.

State and Federal Law
Violations of any West Virginia state or federal laws are not permitted in the residence halls.
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Theft
Theft of any nature is not permitted and includes but is not limited to:

• Attempted or actual theft or possession of stolen goods;
• Unauthorized use of residence hall television cable system.

Unauthorized Entry or Presence
These violations include:

• Entering restroom of the opposite sex.
• Entering residence hall without permission.
• Unauthorized entry into or occupation of any restricted, locked, or closed residence hall facility (includes roof and housekeeper’s closets, office, dining hall, computer lab, mechanical area, fitness center, student room, or elevator).
• Unauthorized entry into or around construction areas and safety zones.
• Entry or exit through a residence hall window.
• Entry into a residence hall after having been evicted or restricted from a residence hall.
• It is not permitted to prop or use (except in an emergency situation) an exterior, emergency exit, or alarmed door.

Note: For your safety during certain events or time periods (i.e. home football games, FallFest) the residence halls will be placed under increased security measures. During this heightened security, visitors will not be permitted in the building, and all exterior doors will be locked, all residents must enter through the main door and present their Mountaineer Card for admittance.
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University Policy
Violation of any University policy as defined in the WVU Student Conduct Code or other University publication is not permitted.
A student who is found responsible of violating any University policy shall be subject to the maximum sanction of expulsion or any lesser sanction (including residence hall sanctions) authorized by the Board of Governors and/or the
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Vandalism
Vandalism can include many things:

Visitation Policy
In order to provide safe and secure residence halls, visitors are required to register their presence and display a guest pass upon request. There are two types of visitation: visitation by residents from within your hall, visitation by nonresidents (same sex guests and opposite sex guests). When a resident (host or hostess) registers a visitor he or she assumes full responsibility for the visitor’s behavior and well- being. Each resident is only permitted to register two visitors. You should consult with your roommate concerning any possible objections. Please keep in mind that we want to make our halls as secure as possible 24-hours a day. The policy exists for the safety of you and your fellow residents. The only way we can make our residence halls a safe place is for everyone to abide by these guidelines. This is your home; please respect others living in your community.

Visitors will not be permitted to register or enter a residence hall if one or more of the following conditions apply:

• The visitor does not have a photo ID
• The visitor is a minor (under 18 years of age) and the host has not received the approval of the RHC or RFL at one business day in advance;
• The visitor is suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• The visitor attempted previously to enter through a locked door or a propped door.
• The roommate of the host or hostess is opposed to having the visitor in his/her room.
• The guest has already stayed overnight two consecutive nights.

Visitation by non-residents (same sax guests and opposite sex guests)
Visitation not from the same residence hall must:

• Wait for the host or hostess at the residence hall desk;
• Register a guest by midnight;
• If the guest is not arriving until after midnight, the host may pre-register them before midnight and check the guest in after midnight
  Present a Photo I.D.;
• Receive a guest pass and carry it at all times.
• Remain with the host or hostess at all times while in the residence hall.
  After 9:00 p.m., IDs will be checked before entrance is allowed into any residence hall.
  

If the guest is of the opposite sex than the host, the following additional rules apply:
Temporary Visitation by the opposite sex

• Guests of the opposite sex are permitted in the host’s room until midnight
• After midnight, the guest must leave the residence hall

Overnight Visitation by the opposite sex

• Guests of the opposite sex are not permitted in the regular host’s room after midnight, therefore,
• The guest must be registered with both the regular host (of the opposite sex) and an overnight host (of the same sex)
• The guest is permitted to remain with the regular host until midnight, after which time, the guest must go to the overnight host’s room to stay the night until 8am the following morning.

Note: For your safety during certain events or time periods (i.e., home football games, FallFest) the residence halls will be placed under increased security measures. During this heightened security, visitors will not be permitted in the building, all exterior doors will be locked, and all residents must enter through the main door and present their Mountaineer Card for admittance.