20142015

ResidentHandbook

and Guide To Campus Living

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Housing and Residence Life Welcome Vision ...................................................................... 1 Mission.................................................................... 1 Core Values .......................................................... 1 Goals ...................................................................... 1 Learning Outcomes ............................................. 1 Contact Information ............................................ 2 Hours of Operation .............................................. 2 HRL Staff................................................................. 2

Policies and Procedures Contract Terms and Conditions Contract Acceptance ........................................ 3 Contract Eligibility ................................................ 4 Contract Modifications ....................................... 4 Contract Cancellation ........................................ 4 Contract Release Process ................................... 4 Withdrawal from the University ........................... 4 No-Shows ............................................................... 5 Contract Release Procedure ............................. 5 Housing Contract Cancellation Fees ................ 5 Cancellation Fee Schedule ................................ 5 Meal Plan Cancellation Fees ............................. 5 Breach of Contract .............................................. 5 Contract Transfer ................................................. 5 Billing Information ................................................. 6 Breach of Payment .............................................. 6 Room Rates ........................................................... 6 Meal Plan Rates ................................................... 6

General Housing Policies Check Out ............................................................ 6 Extensions .............................................................. 6 Check Out Procedures ....................................... 6 Improper Check Out ........................................... 7 Abandoned Property .......................................... 7 Cohabitation ........................................................ 7 Consolidation ....................................................... 7 Curfew ................................................................... 7 Door Propping ...................................................... 7 Early Arrivals .......................................................... 7 Guest Policy .......................................................... 8 Housing Renewal ................................................. 8 Housing Shortages ............................................... 8 Immunizations ....................................................... 8 Lock Outs .............................................................. 8 Lost Key .................................................................. 8 Move In Schedule ................................................ 8 Online Forms and Services .................................. 9 Quiet and/or Courtesy Hours ............................. 9 Renter’s Insurance ............................................... 9 Roommate Agreement/Room Change Process ................................................................................ 9 Room Change Schedule .................................... 9 Stay Late – Fall/Spring Semesters ....................... 9 Summer Housing................................................... 9 University Health Center Enrollment .................. 9 Winter Break Period ............................................. 9

Living On Campus Your Room Bed Linens/Mattress ........................................... 10 Cable ................................................................... 10 Cable Channels Available ............................... 10 Cleaning .............................................................. 11 Cooking ............................................................... 11 Decorations ........................................................ 11 Furniture ............................................................... 11 Light Bulbs............................................................ 11

Lofts ..................................................................... 11 Long Distance Service ...................................... 11 MicroFridge ........................................................ 11 Network/Computer Access ............................. 11 Pets ...................................................................... 11 Prohibited Items ................................................. 11 Shower Curtain/Towel Racks ........................... 12 Smoking .............................................................. 12 Telephone Services ........................................... 12 Utilities .................................................................. 12 What to Bring ...................................................... 12 Window Coverings ............................................ 13

Campus and Resident Services Bikes ..................................................................... 13 Computer Labs .................................................. 13 Copier ................................................................. 13 Eagle Access Card ............................................ 13 Events and Programming ................................. 14 Laundry Facilities................................................ 14 Mail and Package Delivery Services .............. 14 Know Your Mailing Address .............................. 14 Requesting a Mail Key ...................................... 15 Checking Your Mail ........................................... 15 Picking Up a Package ...................................... 15 Meal Plans .......................................................... 15 Parking ................................................................ 15 RAVEAlert ............................................................ 16 Recycling ............................................................ 16 Shuttle Bus ........................................................... 16 University Health Center ................................... 16 Vending .............................................................. 16 Emergency Procedures Emergency Preparedness ................................ 17 How to Stay Informed ....................................... 17 Earthquake ......................................................... 17 Fire ....................................................................... 17 Power Outage ................................................... 17 Tornado ............................................................... 18 Weather Radio ................................................... 18 Weather Siren ..................................................... 18 Winter Car Care ................................................. 18 Winter Weather .................................................. 19 Facilities Information Damages ............................................................ 19 Healthy Living Tips .............................................. 19 Pest Control ........................................................ 19 Room Condition................................................. 20 Self-Help Maintenance ..................................... 20 Staff Entering Your Apartment or Suite ........... 21 Submit a Work Order ......................................... 21

Student Involvement Student Housing Association ............................ 21 National Residence Hall Honorary .................. 21

Student Conduct ................................................ 22

Student Rights and Responsibilities: ................ 23 A Code for Student Behavior B.1 Introduction .................................................. 23 B.2 Community Standards and Policies .......... 23 B.3 Apartment or Residence Hall Entry ........... 23 B.3.1 Administrative Searches .......................... 23 B.3.2 Maintenance ............................................ 23 B.3.3 Access to Apartments/Residence Hall Rooms .......................................................... 23

B.4 Alcoholic Beverages and Other Drugs/ Controlled Substances ...................................... 24 B.5 Candles ......................................................... 24 B.6 Children and Babysitting............................. 24 B.7 Health and Safety Check ........................... 24 B.8 Cohabitation ................................................ 24 B.9 Cooking (Residence Halls).......................... 24 B.10 Decorations ................................................ 24 B.10.1 Exterior Decorations................................ 24 B.10.2 Interior Decorations ................................ 25 B.11 Door Propping ............................................ 25 B.12 Emergency Protection Equipment .......... 25 B.13 Fire Evacuation........................................... 25 B.14 Grills .............................................................. 25 B.15 Halogen Lights ............................................ 26 B.16 Residence Hall Key Cards/Apartment Keys/Eagle Access CardsB.16.1 Residence Hall Key Cards ...................... 26 B.16.2 Apartment Keys ...................................... 26 B.16.3 Eagle Access Cards ............................... 26 B.17 Lock Outs .................................................... 26 B.18 Parking and Bicycle Policies ..................... 26 B.19 Personal Property ....................................... 26 B.20 Quiet and/or Courtesy Hours ................... 26 B.21 Tobacco-Free Policy ................................. 26 B.22 Trash ............................................................. 26 B.23 Visitation and Guests B.23.1 Guests ....................................................... 27 B.23.2 Visitors ....................................................... 27 B.23.3 Hours of Visitation .................................... 27 B.24 Fees/Fines/Restitution ................................ 27 B.25 Service/Assistance Animals for Residents with Disabilities .................................................... 27 B.25.1 Request to House Service/ Assistance Animal .............................................. 27 B.25.2 Animal Behavior ...................................... 27 B.25.3 Notifications ............................................. 28 B.25.4 Conflicting Disability or Other Concerns of Those Sharing a Housing Unit ............................ 28 B.25.5 Student’s Responsibilities B.25.5.1 Control of the Animal .......................... 28 B.25.5.2 Care and Cleaning of the Animal..... 29 B.25.5.3 Community Living ................................ 29

Welcome Home College is a time of transition—and a time of preparation. Living on campus is an outstanding way to prepare for life beyond the college experience. You will learn basic living skills like cooking, laundry, cleaning, and budgeting. When you become part of our housing community, you take advantage of the rich variety of educational, social, cultural, and recreational activities that will help you now and in the future.

Living on campus means sharing your living space with other students as well as learning how to live with roommates and respecting each other’s individuality. This resident guide will help you navigate Housing and Residence Life policies and procedures, University services and campus resources so that you can live peacefully and securely.

Best wishes for a great year!

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HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE Vision Shaping our living learning experience into an exceptional community.

Mission It is the mission of Housing and Residence Life to provide a high quality, affordable, convenient, and safe living environment for members of the USI community that is culturally enriching, conducive to academic success, and creates opportunities for personal growth.

Core Values Collaboration We engage all members of Housing and Residence Life with the USI community by promoting a positive culture with opportunities to work together, to problem solve and to build strong working connections as team members.

Integrity We are ethical professionals who embrace honesty, trust, and mutual respect; through these principles we create a strong community.

Diversity We value civility and diversity in all forms. By challenging ourselves to continue to grow in our understanding of self and others, we celebrate the diversity of our community through inclusion. We respect each other's differences by providing a safe living environment regardless of ability, age, background, ethnicity, experience, gender, lifestyle, nationality, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, talent, or veteran status.

Innovation We are innovative thinkers who welcome change through continual improvement. We are resilient, embracing challenges and overcoming adversity.

Learning We shape the residential environment to influence and impact the growth and development of our community and its members.

Goals

• Strengthen and streamline Housing and Residence policies and procedures.

• Cultivate a competent, engaged professional and student staff.

• Create progressive initiatives supporting the needs of our residents.

• Establish a coordinated communication strategy to increase HRL visibility and collaboration with the University community.

Learning Outcomes Housing and Residence Life upholds a philosophy based on the ideals of education, responsibility and acceptance. The department maintains a strong commitment to our community members (residents) in upholding these ideals. In accordance with these ideals, students and staff in our community agree to:

Personal Responsibility and Competence • Students will learn appropriate and effective

communication skills. • Students will understand the context of their

actions and the impact those actions have on the lives of others in the community.

• Students will practice behaviors that promote health, safety, and personal wellness.

Engagement

• Students will be challenged to recognize their responsibility to advocate for members of their community and appropriately challenge unjust or uncivil behavior of other individuals or groups.

• Students will understand the positive impact of service for self, others, and community.

• Students will demonstrate respect for differing perspectives by living and interacting appropriately with members of their community.

• Students will create and build connections with faculty, staff, students, and the USI campus.

Application of Knowledge • Students will be able to identify and analyze

problems, and develop effective solutions. • Students will use effective verbal and

appropriate non-verbal communication skills that promote collaboration.

• Students will be encouraged to reflect on knowledge gained in the classroom.

Congruent with our departmental values of collaboration, diversity, innovation, integrity and learning, Housing and Residence Life is committed to providing a variety of opportunities for residents to practice these ideals both individually and as a community.

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Contact Information Hours of Operation USI Housing and Residence Life is here to serve you!

Housing and Residence Life 839 Pruis Lane, Evansville IN 47712 Phone 812/468-2000 Fax 812/465-1049 Email living@usi.edu Twitter @usihousing Facebook www.facebook.com/usihousing

Housing and Residence Life Central Office 812/468-2000 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.*

Housing and Residence Life Front Desk 812/468-2000 Fall/Spring Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–Midnight* Saturday—Sunday Noon–Midnight*

Summer Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* Saturday – Sunday Closed

Housing and Residence Life Mail Room Fall/Spring Monday – Friday 8 a.m.–Midnight* Saturday – Sunday Noon–Midnight*

Summer Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* Saturday – Sunday Closed

Residence Hall Front Desks Fall/Spring Newman Hall Front Desk 812/468-2995 Sunday – Saturday 8 p.m.–3 a.m.*

Governors Hall Front Desk 812/468-2996 Sunday – Saturday 8 p.m.–3 a.m.*

O’Bannon Hall Front Desk 812/468-2869 Sunday – Saturday 8 p.m.–3 a.m.*

Ruston Hall Front Desk 812/492-7653 Sunday – Saturday 8 p.m.–3 a.m.*

Residence Life Community Center 812/468-2445 Fall/Spring Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m.–1 a.m.* Saturday – Sunday 9 a.m.–1 a.m.*

Summer - Closed

Fix My Home–Maintenance 812/468-2176 www.usi.edu/housing/fix-my-home

Public Safety (Always open) 812/464-1845 Emergencies 812/492-7777 www.usi.edu/security * Hours subject to change during holidays.

Housing and Residence Life Staff Desk Assistant A desk assistant (DA) provides customer service at the Housing and Residence Life front desk.

Night Clerk A night clerk is on duty between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m. in the residence halls. This person serves as a point of contact for staff and students throughout the night.

Programming Assistant Programming assistants work with the Assistant Director of Programming to coordinate and implement events and activities for residents.

Residence Life Coordinator for Community Development Provides administrative support for the Residence Life department in the following areas: student leadership, student learning, and academic success. Develops and fosters a community congruent with the departmental and University mission, goals, and core values.

Resident Assistant Resident assistants (RAs) are student staff who live in housing facilities and have primary responsibility of working directly with students in housing. RAs help facilitate the social, educational, intellectual, and cultural opportunities and activities for residents, and provide assistance and support for personal, facility and other issues to residents living on campus. Your RA is your first point of contact with Housing and Residence Life, so get to know this outstanding resource!

Who is My RA? www.usi.edu/housing/who-is-my-ra

Summer Services Assistant A summer services assistant (SSA) works with summer camps and conferences as well as students who live on campus during the summer.

Graduate Assistant Graduate assistants (GAs) are student staff pursuing a master's degree that live in University housing and work with area coordinators. They supervise staff, plan programs, and work with student residents.

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Area Coordinator Area coordinators (ACs) are professional staff members that live in a specific area of Housing and Residence Life facilities. ACs act as supervisors for a staff of RAs, plan and implement programs, manage the area facilities, and conduct meetings with students regarding policy violations.

Jessica Hearne, Senior Area Coordinator McDonald East, 812/468-2101 jrhearne@usi.edu Jessica Hearne, Senior Area Coordinator McDonald West, 812/468-2101 jrhearne@usi.edu

Michael Stokes, Senior Area Coordinator Newman/Governors Halls, 812/468-2675 mwstokes@usi.edu

Katie England, Senior Area Coordinator O’Bannon/Ruston Halls, 812/492-7743 klengland@usi.edu

Ronald Wabomnor, Area Coordinator O’Daniel North, 812/468-2051 rtwabomnor@usi.edu

Joe Binkley, Senior Area Coordinator O’Daniel South, 812/465-7196 jbinkley@usi.edu

Assistant Director of Student Conduct The Assistant Director of Student Conduct is responsible for the conduct processes in Housing and Residence Life. Educating students and staff about policy issues, conducting administrative hearings, and serving as primary liaison to the Dean of Students' office and the Office of Public Safety, the assistant director works hard to ensure that the environment in campus housing facilities is conducive to the academic and personal success of our residents.

Terry Coleman, 812/468-2000 tjcoleman1@usi.edu

Assistant Director of Programming The Assistant Director of Programming directs and enhances the programming efforts within Housing and Residence Life. In addition, the assistant director advises student programming organizations in housing and collaborates with other University departments on campus-wide programming.

Karen Huseman, 812/468-2000 kahuseman@usi.edu

Assistant Director of Business Operations The Assistant Director of Business Operations is responsible for assignments, serves as the primary liaison with the Business Office and works closely with the Physical Plant regarding housing facilities.

Cathy Goldsborough, 812/468-2000 clgoldsbor@usi.edu

Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life The Associate Director of Housing and Residence Life is responsible for all Housing and Residence Life staffing (area coordinators, resident assistants, student workers). The associate director oversees all staff training, professional development and departmental committees.

Amy Price, 812/468-2334 asprice@usi.edu

Director of Housing and Residence Life The Director of Housing and Residence Life is responsible for the overall operation of USI Housing and Residence Life. Contracts, budgets, services, and long-term planning are all overseen by the director on a continual basis in order to bring a high quality of service to all USI students.

Laurie Berry, 812/468-2334 lberry@usi.edu

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Contract Terms and Conditions Contract Acceptance The contract is an academic year contract and is binding from receipt of your contract through May 6, 2015.

A nonrefundable payment of $50 is required at time of application and a $200 pre-payment is due at the time the housing contract is electronically signed.

All residents must be out of their building 24 hours after their last final or by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, for fall semester, unless they have been pre-approved for late check-out or to stay over winter break.

All students staying over winter break will be charged $150 on their spring student account.

All residents must check-out of their building and return their key 24 hours after their last final or by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, for spring semester, unless they have been pre-approved for late check-out or have a signed summer housing contract for the first term of summer classes.

The University of Southern Indiana accepts MasterCard or Discover payments. The University will not accept credit card payments over the telephone.

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The University of Southern Indiana does not waive its governmental immunity by entering into this contract and fully retains all immunities and defenses provided by law with regard to any action based on this contract. This contract does not create a landlord-tenant relationship (see Indiana’s Security Deposit Act—IC 32-7-5-1 et seq.) between the University and the student.

Contract Eligibility Students desiring to live in University housing must maintain nine (9) or more credit hours per semester. Exceptions to this requirement are those students who have written approval from the Director of Housing and Residence Life.

Students who are not making academic progress in their classes (i.e., failing to attend classes, being dropped from class for non-attendance, etc.) are considered in breach of contract and face contract termination.

Contract Modifications Student-initiated modifications and/or exceptions to the Housing/Food Service Contract are not allowed. Students who believe they have a special circumstance must contact the department of Housing and Residence Life in writing or by email at living@usi.edu. Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to modify the provision of services in whatever manner it determines appropriate to better serve student needs.

Contract Cancellation Full cancellation provisions apply under the following situations:

Contract Termination by University

The following situations may be cause for contract termination by the University:

• Delinquent account (non-payment) • Disciplinary action • Failure to carry nine or more credit hours (three or

more hours in summer session) • Failure to submit immunization records • Failure to make academic progress

The University, in the event of any disaster leaving University facilities or any portion thereof uninhabitable or inoperable for more than seven (7) continuous days, may cancel this contract. In addition to all rights contained herein of cancellation, declaration of default, or termination, the University reserves the right to cancel this contract without cause thirty (30) days after mailing written notice of cancellation to the student at the most recent address supplied to the University by the student. Notice will be mailed by certified mail, return receipt request. If the University elects cancellation under this provision, the University will refund any money due to the student according to the refund provisions of this contract.

Contract Release Process A student may request to be released from this contract prior to the end of the contract period for any one of the following reasons:

Housing Contract cancellation fees may still apply. The student may appeal the application of contract cancellation fees by email.

• Marriage as evidenced by a marriage certificate (marriage must have occurred during the contract period)

• Graduation from the institution • Assignment to a University-sponsored internship

program, research project, co-op program, student teaching, military service, or other program that requires living away from Evansville or the Vanderburgh County area

• A significant, unavoidable, and unanticipated change in circumstances beyond the resident’s control, which occurs after the contract begins.

Finding less expensive housing off-campus, failing to get desired room assignment or roommates, being judicially removed from housing or failing to receive financial aid because of ineligibility will not be considered a valid reason for contract release without the application of contract cancellation fees or refund of deposit. All cancellation penalties will be applied.

In order to provide information to state and University auditors’ offices, students are required to provide documentation that verifies their request. Verification must be in the form of financial records, medical releases, unemployment notifications, etc. Personal letters from parents or students with no additional forms of documentation do not provide sufficient verification. Review is based on the student’s initial claims of hardship. Additional claims after review will not be considered.

Withdrawal from the University If you withdraw from the University of Southern Indiana during the contract period, you must:

• Contact the Registrar’s Office and withdraw from classes

• Complete a contract cancellation form • Contact the Food Service office if you have a

meal plan • Contact the Student Financial Assistance office if

you have any form of financial assistance

Move out of Housing and Residence Life facilities within 24 hours of your withdrawal date.

A contract cancellation form must be on file in the Housing and Residence Life office. Charges are subject to the cancellation policy listed below. This contract continues until such time as Housing and Residence Life approves an official contract release and the student

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vacates the facilities. Any property left in unit after vacating will be considered abandoned and disposed of.

No-Shows An applicant who does not officially check into an assigned room by 4 p.m. on the first day of classes will be considered a no-show and the contract will be terminated.

Cancellation fees will be assessed according to the cancellation schedule. If you will be arriving past the 4 p.m. deadline on the first day of class, see Late Check In information in the contract booklet.

Contract Release Procedure Contract Cancellation forms are available online at www.usi.edu/housing/online-forms.

You must write a summary explaining the grounds for your request and must attach any supporting documentation regarding this summary. The Director of Housing and Residence Life, or his/her designee, will review your request. You will then receive a formal response (within 10 business days) from the reviewer indicating the decision rendered. Failure to provide supporting documentation may result in denial of any refund.

Housing Contract Cancellation Fees A student who voluntarily, or for any of the reasons listed under “Contract Cancellation,” “Contract Termination by University,” or “Contract Release Process,” officially cancels their housing will be assessed cancellation fees based on the following schedule. Cancellation fees are assessed to recoup part of the spring semester cost for housing:

Cancellation Fee Schedule for 2014–2015 Academic Year Contract

Fall 2014

• From contract signature date to August 11, 2014 – charge 50% of fall 2014 housing charges AND charge 50% of spring 2015 housing charges

• From August 12, 2014 to September 8, 2014 (first two weeks of class) and no shows – charge 75% of fall 2014 housing charges AND charge 50% of spring 2015 housing charges

• After the first two weeks of class, students will be charged 100% of fall 2014 housing charges AND charge 50% of spring 2015 housing charges

Spring 2015

• Cancellations, no shows and check out during first two weeks of class - charge 75% of spring 2015 housing charges

• Beginning third week of spring 2015 classes - charge 100% of spring 2015 housing charges

A billing week for Housing starts on Sunday and ends on Saturday.

Meal Plan Cancellation Fees (through Sodexo Food Services)

Red Eagle, White Eagle, and Blue Eagle Meal Plan Cancellation*

Week 1: 10% of the Meal Plan Fee Week 2: 20% of the meal plan fee Week 3: 30% of the meal plan fee Week 4: 40% of the meal plan fee After the 4th week: No meal plan refund

A billing week for the meal plan begins on Friday and ends on Thursday.

Cancelled meal plans begin on the Friday following review and approval by the Food Service Appeal Committee.

Cancellation of meal plans must be handled in person at the Food Service office, 812/464-1859, located on the lower level of the University Center. With approval of your meal plan cancellation, dining dollars are refundable for the full unused amount.

Titanium, Platinum, and Gold Meal Plan Cancellation: These plans are non-refundable as of the first day of each semester.

Breach of Contract The University reserves the right to terminate the contract if a resident fails to comply with any of the rules and regulations contained herein. The following process will be followed in cases of contract termination:

• Notice of alleged violation • Meeting with a Housing and Residence Life

administrator • Notice of contract termination • Eviction may take place immediately upon

notice • For additional information and guidelines about

policies and procedures, see The Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Housing Contract Booklet, and the USI Student Planner.

Students who are required to withdraw prior to, or as a result of, pending conduct action will be assessed full room rent charges for fall and spring.

Decisions of the Director of Housing and Residence Life or his/her designee are final. No additional appeals are afforded under this contract. Students may be required to follow the USI Student Rights and Responsibilities disciplinary process at the discretion of the Director of Housing and Residence Life or his/her designee. In these cases, charges will be filed through the Assistant Director for Student Conduct.

Contract Transfer The Housing/Food Service Contract may not be transferred or reassigned. Meal access and facilities may be used only by the assigned individual(s).

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Billing Information Students who register early will receive a University bill approximately four weeks before classes begin. Students attending open registration are expected to pay their balance in full at that time. Students will not be permitted to re-enroll or receive transcripts if any University charge is unpaid. Any financial assistance received will be applied to the balance owed, regardless of payment arrangements. Any funds that remain after all charges are paid will be refunded by the Bursar’s office.

Breach of Payment Upon breach of any of these terms, the University may declare you in default. All default decisions made by the University are final. Acceptance by the University of student payments after default does not rectify your default unless full payment of total assessment is received. Upon declaration of default, the University may:

• Declare the entire amount due and payable • Restrict room access by re-coring the apartment

door lock ($60 charge)or re-coding a residence hall lock ($60 charge)

• Take any other appropriate action as authorized by University regulations

All costs incurred by the University when attempting to collect a debt are charged to the student.

Room Rates Apartment Room Rates (per semester)

• 4Person 2Bedroom $2070 • 2Person 2Bedroom $3699 • 2Person 1Bedroom $2497 • 1Person 1Bedroom $4639

All students assigned to the apartments will be billed for $50 Munch Money.

Residence Hall Room Rates (per semester)

• 4Person 2Bedroom $2070 • 1Person 1Bedroom $2497

All students assigned into the Residence Halls are required to select the Red Eagle, White Eagle, or Blue Eagle meal plan. If a meal plan is not selected, the White Eagle meal plan will be the default meal plan selected for the student.

*Private bedrooms and single rooms have a double bed, entertainment center, and private bathrooms

These rates have been set for the 2014-2015 Academic Year by the USI Board of Trustees.

At any time, the Board of Trustees may elect to change the rates. Should a rate change should occur, residents will be notified in writing by the University. Changes in the Housing/Food Service rates will not be considered grounds for contract termination.

Meal Plan Rates Red Eagle Plan* $1894/semester

White Eagle Plan* $1894/semester

Blue Eagle Plan* $1894/semester

Titanium Club Plan* $1189/semester

Titanium Club Plan without meals* $1189/semester

Platinum Club Plan* $910/semester

Platinum Club Plan without meals* $910/semester

Gold Club Plan* $710/semester

Gold Club Plan without meals* $710/semester

*All meal plans include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch in the Loft.

All meal plan selections are automatically renewed for the Spring semester.

See Housing/Food Service Booklet or usi.sodexomyway.com for differences in plans.

General Housing Policies See also the section with all housing policies published in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior found at the end of this resident handbook.

Check Out Students must check out of University housing by no later than 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, for the fall and no later than 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2015, for the spring. Residents are expected to move out of housing within 24 hours after their last final examination. If students are living in housing in the fall and are returning for spring, they do not need to move their belongings; they leave and may return on January 9, 2015.

Extensions Check-out extensions will be considered for any student who provides a compelling reason for a late check-out. Requests must be made by the Monday of finals week via the online form at www.usi.edu/housing/online-forms.

Check Out Procedures The following procedures must be followed to avoid the $200 improper check-out charge:

• Remove all your belongings (including trash) at the end of the fall semester if you ARE NOT returning in the spring. If you are returning, you need only remove trash and perishable food items.

• Sweep and mop/vacuum all floors. • Dust all counters and drawers.

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• Clean and sanitize the kitchen, bathrooms, refrigerator, and stove.

• Clean bathroom, tub, toilet, sink, and mirrors.

• Discard any large and/or heavy items such as lumber, bricks, or carpeting in the trash dumpsters outside the buildings.

• Check out with your RA. If you cannot find your RA, return your key to the Housing and Residence Life office.

Improper Check Out Failure to properly check out will result in an improper check-out charge of $200. This charge is in addition to any damage charges, losses, cleaning charges, room/board assessment, or deposit forfeiture.

Failure to return your key will result in an improper check-out charge, as well as a $60 lock change fee.

Abandoned Property All personal property must be removed from University housing at the time of check out or contract termination. Personal property that remains after an official check-out deadline is considered abandoned and will be removed and disposed of by the University. Students will be charged for the disposal of abandoned property.

Residents are responsible for the removal of trash in and around their apartment or suite. Leaving trash outside apartments or in hallways is prohibited. Charges will be assessed to student accounts for improper trash disposal.

Cohabitation Living or staying for any pattern of time in an apartment or suite without an official contract for that particular space will be considered cohabitation. Cohabitation is defined as a person staying in an apartment or suite for more than three (3) consecutive nights, or other patterned behavior that is intended to allow an individual to stay beyond visitation hours. Non-registered guests can be considered as an instance of cohabitation. The resident who allows cohabitation to occur can be held accountable. Students found responsible for a violation of the cohabitation policy may be charged a disciplinary fine, charged for use of the facility, or charged for each night the non-contracted person spent in residence. (B.8 Cohabitation, Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Consolidation At the beginning of each semester, Housing and Residence Life initiates a process called consolidation. During this time, students living in University housing units that are not fully occupied are moved to new locations

to maintain full occupancy in as many facilities as possible.

There are many reasons for this process. First, it allows us to begin refurbishing units that are emptied prior to the summer, thereby allowing for a smoother transition from spring to summer housing. Second, it allows the discontinued use of appliances and electricity in these units, thereby saving valuable resources for students. Third, it keeps the living arrangements for all housing residents equitable.

The general process is as follows:

• Notification and explanation of process sent to students

• Request for room changes accepted • Consolidation assignments made by Housing and

Residence Life • Notification of new assignments sent to students • Moves begin • Requests for single room (if space is available)

are accepted by published deadline

Students paying for a four-person/two-bedroom, two-person/two-bedroom, two-person/one-bedroom or one- person/one-bedroom when vacancies occur agree to accept re-assignment to a new apartment or residence hall suite to achieve full occupancy. If you wish to retain lower occupancy of an apartment or suite, you must make your request in writing and pay all additional fees. Students who refuse to consolidate will be charged the single bedroom fee. Consolidation will begin after the 12th class day of each semester.

Curfew There is no curfew for residents living in housing.

Door Propping Students found propping open exterior doors in any housing facility may face contract termination as this is a security risk for the community. This includes exterior doors in McDonald East apartment area, the sealed glass sliding doors in McDonald East, residence hall entry doors, residence hall wing doors, or any unattended residence hall suite door or apartment entry door.

Any door found propped could result in a disciplinary fine. Propped doors that are not attributed to an individual may be prorated among all residents of that building or wing. (B.11 Door Propping, Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Early Arrivals Students who need to move in early must complete the online request form. Please remember that this is merely a request and subject to approval by Housing and Residence Life staff. The form may be found at www.usi.edu/housing/online-forms.

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Guest Policy Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests. Residents will be charged for any and all violations caused by their guests. Guests are prohibited from staying in the apartments or residence halls without the resident. These individuals will be asked to leave by Public Safety officers or Housing and Residence Life staff if found unescorted or unaccompanied in or around University housing property. Residents who leave guests unattended will be held responsible. Number of Guests – The maximum capacity of any two-bedroom apartment or residence hall suite is eight (8) persons, including both residents and guests. A one-bedroom apartment or residence hall suite has a maximum capacity of four (4) persons, including both residents and guests. This number has been established by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Any guest staying in University housing must be of the same gender as the resident, and must be registered with the department of Housing and Residence Life.

Guests may be registered by going to the Housing and Residence Life website at www.usi.edu/housing/online-forms. Unregistered guests will be asked to leave University housing. Guests must be at least 16 years of age.

Hours of visitation are as follows: Sunday–Thursday: 7 a.m.–Midnight Friday and Saturday: 7 a.m.–2 a.m.

For more information see B.23 Visitation and Guests in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior.

Housing Renewal For current USI residents, housing renewal takes place in March. Residents who contract prior to renewal can select their space for the next academic year. An email with an appointment day and time for renewal will be sent to residents’ myUSI email accounts.

Residents who do not go through March renewal and have a signed contract can select space in June. An email with an appointment day and time for renewal will be sent to residents’ myUSI email accounts.

Housing Shortages In the event of a housing shortage, Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to place students in reserved single rooms. Housing and Residence Life further reserves the right to allot temporary assignments and place three students in a bedroom providing bed and storage space for each resident. As housing becomes available, the last resident assigned must move to regular accommodations.

Immunizations USI requires that students submit a completed Student Immunization Form to the Student Immunization office, 812/461-5285, prior to checking into housing. The immunization form is included in the Admitted Student Packet sent by the Office of Admission. Failure to submit immunization records may result in contract termination with full contract cancellation penalties.

Lock Outs If a resident is locked out of his/her apartment, the student should go to the Housing and Residence Life office during business hours. A staff member will let the resident back into the apartment.

If a resident is locked out of his/her residence hall suite, the student should go to the Housing and Residence Life office during business hours. If the lock out occurs between 8pm and 8am, the resident can contact the RA on call to gain entrance back into the room.

There is no charge for the first lock out of each semester for each student. The second and subsequent lock out of the semester will result in an administrative fee being placed on the student’s USI account. (B.17 Lock Outs, Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Lost Key If a resident loses an apartment key or residence hall key card, he/she should report the loss to Housing and Residence Life. A staff member will issue a new key card for residence hall students. In the case of apartments, it may be necessary to recore the door lock.

Replacement key cards and keys are subject to a $60 fee that will be added to the student’s USI account. (B.16.1 Residence Hall Key Cards and B.16.2 Apartment Keys, Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Move In Schedule For the academic year beginning fall 2014, early check-in (for $21 per each additional day) is only available to those students who receive approval from Housing and Residence Life.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014 Living Learning Community residents only can move in from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday, August 21, 2014 Check-In for new students only

9 a.m.–3 p.m. Check-In at the Physical Activities Center

• 9 a.m. Residents with last names between A-L may begin arriving

• 12:30 p.m. Residents with last names between M-Z may begin arriving

3 p.m.–Midnight Check-In at the Housing and Residence Life Center

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Friday-Sunday, August 22-24, 2014 Check-in for all remaining residents

9 a.m.– Midnight Check-In at Housing and Residence Life Center

Online Forms and Services Housing and Residence Life offers a variety of services online via our website, located at www.usi.edu/housing/online-forms.

Forms such as extended stay requests, roommate change forms, and work order requests can be located on our website, www.usi.edu/housing. Visit our site or talk to your RA for more information.

Quiet and/or Courtesy Hours Violation of quiet and/or courtesy hours is considered disorderly conduct. Courtesy hours are always in effect. Community residents and/or Housing and Residence Life staff reserve the right to ask people to observe courtesy hours at all times. Quiet hours are:

Sunday–Thursday, 10 p.m.–8 a.m. Friday–Saturday, Midnight–8 a.m.

24-hour quiet hours begin the night before final exams are administered.

Student equipment (stereos, televisions, musical instruments, alarms, etc.) that continues to be a noise problem will be confiscated by staff. Items will be stored for 10 working days. Unclaimed items will be disposed of by Housing and Residence Life. (B.20 Quiet and/or Courtesy Hours, Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Renter’s Insurance The University of Southern Indiana strongly advises that personal renter’s insurance be purchased by students living in housing. USI shall not be directly or indirectly liable for loss or theft of personal property, or for damage or destruction of such property by fire, water, or other causes. Check your family’s homeowner’s insurance policy; college students living on campus may be covered.

Roommate Agreement/Room Change Process The goal of the roommate agreement/room change process is to promote proactive communication between the residents. All residents are required to complete a roommate agreement in conjunction with their roommates by the end of the second week of the fall semester.

Resident assistants are a valuable resource when dealing with roommate issues. All RAs are trained and equipped with the skills necessary to help you achieve harmony in your room. However, there are times when a room change may be the best solution. If you have talked with your roommate and consulted your RA and still experience issues, then your area coordinator and/or graduate assistant may consider moving you to a new

room/apartment. If it is evident that you have done all you can to resolve your issues, and then a room change may be granted based on the availability of spaces. For more information about the process, contact your resident assistant, area coordinator, or the Housing and Residence Life office.

Room Change Schedule Fall 2014 – begins September 8, 2014, and ends December 1, 2014

Spring 2015 – begins January 26, 2015, and ends March 23, 2015

Stay Late Fall/Spring Semesters Residents who need to stay beyond the last day of the semester may complete an online request to stay late. Please remember that this is only a request and is subject to approval by Housing and Residence Life staff.

See Winter Break Period for more information about staying late at the end of the fall semester.

Summer Housing University housing is available during the summer terms. Students wishing to reside in summer housing must do the following:

• Be enrolled in at least three hours each summer session and maintain this enrollment.

• Fill out a Summer Housing and Residence Life Contract beginning April 1, 2015.

• Adhere to all policies and procedures as outlined in the 2014–2015 Housing and Residence Life and Food Services Contract.

• Relocate to the designated summer housing area within 48 hours of being reassigned by Housing and Residence Life.

Students who fail to follow these procedures may face disciplinary action and possible eviction.

University Health Center Enrollment All students living in USI housing are required to subscribe to the University health care program. These fees will be added to your University account. Contact the University Health Center at 812/465-1250 with any questions.

Winter Break Period Campus housing will be closed from 6 p.m. December 17, 2014, through January 8, 2015. Mail service is held from December 23, 2014, through January 2, 2015.

All residents must do the following prior to December 17, 2014:

• Clean their apartment/suite thoroughly • Unplug all electrical appliances, except for

stoves, dishwashers, and University-provided refrigerators

• Remove any belongings from a vacant spot in the apartment/suite so that new residents can move in for the spring semester

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• Turn heater to LOW • Remove all perishable food items from cabinets

and refrigerators

Students wishing to stay during the winter break period must pay a $150 fee, sign up by December 12, 2014 (online), and provide a compelling reason for needing to remain in housing during the break period. Approvals have included requests such as involvement in University-sponsored events and international residency. Any resident approved to stay over break will be charged $150. Housing rates are based on occupancy during the semester and do not cover the winter break period.

Students who apply to stay during the winter break after December 12, 2014, will be charged $50. Students who are discovered living on campus without authorization may face disciplinary action along with an additional $300 fine.

Residents with permanent addresses in Vanderburgh (IN), Warrick (IN), Henderson (KY), White (IL), Gallatin (IL), Posey (IN), or Gibson (IN) counties are not eligible to stay for the winter break period.

LIVING ON CAMPUS Your Room Bed Linens/Mattress Residents must provide their own bed linens. Twin size beds are provided in four-person/two-bedroom apartments and residence hall suites. Each bed comes with a standard size mattress. Full size beds are provided in single rooms. Residents may not bring their own mattresses.

There are a limited number of extra-long mattresses for those taller than 6’3”. Contact Housing and Residence Life to request an extra-long mattress. Cable Basic expanded cable is included in the housing rate and is provided in each housing apartment and residence hall suite. No additional cable services are provided by Housing and Residence Life.

Also included is USI’s own SETV which shows movies and also announcement of campus events.

A cable outlet is located in the common area only in suites in Newman and Governors halls. In O’Bannon and Ruston halls there are cable outlets in the common areas and bedrooms. The apartments have cable outlets in the living room and bedrooms.

Please report any problems with cable to Information Technology at 812/465-1080.

Cable Channels Available 2 PBS (WNIN) 3 FOX (FOX 44 WEVV) 4 NBC (14 WFIE) 5 WGN 6 CW 7 FOX Sports Midwest 8 Ind (Local 7 WTVW) 9 Wow! Church Channel 10 CBS (CBS 44 WEVV) 11 ABC (WEHT Local (25)) 12 SETV (Screaming Eagles Television) 13 HBO 14 TruTV 15 TNT 16 TBS 17 USA 18 A&E 19 Lifetime 20 Syfy 21 Hallmark 22 Comedy Central 23 Bio 24 E! 25 Style 26 FX 27 ESPN 28 ESPN NEWS 29 ESPN2 31 FSN 32 Golf 33 Speed 34 The Weather Channel 35 National Geographic 36 Discovery 37 Animal Planet 38 History 39 HGTV 40 OWN 41 TLC 42 Travel 43 Food 44 SHOP NBC 45 HSN 46 QVC 47 EWTN 49 Nick 50 Disney 51 Disney XD 52 Cartoon Network 53 ABC Family 54 TVLAND 55 BTV 56 MSNBC 57 CNN 58 HLN 59 CNBC 60 FOX News 61 MTV 62 VH1 63 GAC 64 CMT

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65 C-SPAN 66 ID (Investigation Discovery) 68 BET 69 SOAP 70 Spike 71 Bravo 72 Oxygen 73 BTN 78 AMC

Cleaning Residents must provide their own cleaning supplies and are responsible for cleaning their own space as well as common areas in suites and apartments. If a resident’s room is not clean before check-out at the end of the academic year, he/she could be charged for excessive cleaning. (B.22 Trash in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Cooking Each apartment has a kitchen, but there is nowhere to cook in the residence halls. The only cooking appliances allowed in residence halls are microwaves, blenders and coffee makers with an automatic shut off feature. There are charcoal grills located around housing. Only self-lighting charcoal may be used. (B.9 Cooking – Residence Halls in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Decorations Residents are allowed to hang pictures and posters in their apartments and residence hall suites. Housing and Residence Life strongly encourages residents to use Command Strips or small picture nails only. Large nails, staples, screws, wall anchors, poster putty, or tape on walls or doors inside or outside are prohibited. Residents who repair holes they have made to walls or ceilings may still be subject to damage charges.

You may find more information about exterior and interior guidelines in sections B.10.1 Exterior Decorations and B.10.2 Interior Decorations in the Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Furniture All Housing and Residence Life facilities are fully furnished. Due to limited space in housing, furniture may not be removed from student apartments or residence hall suites. Students will be charged a $25 fine/day for each piece of furniture that has been removed from the apartment/suite. Students may not bring their own furniture including beds, mattresses, couches, etc.

Light Bulbs If you need a florescent light bulb replaced, submit a work order through Fix My Home. Residents are responsible for purchasing and replacing all other light bulbs. USI Housing and Residence Life uses CFL bulbs only. Residents may not replace CFL bulbs with any other kind of bulb. Since CFL bulbs contain mercury, the bulbs cannot be thrown away in the trash. Retailers such as

Home Depot or Lowe’s offer in-store recycling of CFL bulbs.

Halogen light bulbs are prohibited. (B.15 Halogen Lights in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Lofts USI does not provide lofts or loft kits and residents are not allowed to build their own lofts. For the 2014-15 academic year, residents can rent a bed loft with shelf from Bedloft. For more information see, www.bedloft.com.

If a resident chooses to loft his or her bed, none of the University’s furniture can be removed from the resident’s apartment/suite. If a resident moves to another room within housing, he/she must move the loft to the new living assignment.

For more information, please see B.10.2 Interior Decorations in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior.

Long Distance Service Long distance telephone service is available via USI Telephone Services by calling 812/465-1080 and paying additional fees.

MicroFridge Residents can rent a MicroFridge from Bedloft for the 2014-15 academic year. For more information, see www.bedloft.com.

Network/Computer Access All Housing and Residence Life facilities are equipped for Internet access—both high speed and wireless. In order to assist you with connecting to the USI Internet service, USI Information Technology technicians will be on hand during the first week after move-in at various locations within housing. Contact the Information Technology Help Desk at 812/465-1080 for specific times and locations.

Pets Animals are not allowed. Only small fish are allowed in both the residence halls and apartments. Aquariums must be 20 gallons or less.

Prohibited Items There are items that are prohibited in both the residence halls and apartments.

• Pets • Electric, charcoal or gas grills • Dartboards • Halogen lamps • Alcohol • Alcohol containers/decorations • Weapons • Ammunition • Candles – no on-campus facilities may have any

candles • Candle warmers

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• Paintball guns • Drugs • Drug paraphernalia • Space heaters • Personal wireless routers • Wireless printers • Window air conditioning units

Shower Curtain/Towel Racks A shower curtain is provided in all apartment and residence hall suite bathrooms. There is also a towel rack in each bathroom.

Smoking The USI campus is tobacco-free. Smoking is prohibited in all campus facilities. For the full University policy, see www.usi.edu/tobaccofree/usi-tobacco-policy.

Telephone Services Each room is provided with a USI telephone as a service to our students. It is important to note a few things:

• Only the USI telephone will work in housing facilities as we provide digital service to provide additional features and testing.

• Answering machines will not work in our facilities—you can sign up for voicemail by purchasing it at the Cashier’s Office, then take your receipt to USI Telecommunication Services office next door. If you have questions call 812/465-1080.

• Long distance service is not provided—you can sign up for long distance service with USI by contacting USI Telecommunication Services at 812/465-1080, or by using a calling card with a toll-free access number.

• For specific information about telephone services, how your voicemail and phone work, and for any quick reference guides, visit the USI Telecommunication Services website at www.usi.edu/it/telephone-services.

• On-campus residents do not have to dial a full on-campus phone number. You can simply dial the last four numbers (for example, instead of dialing 812/468-2000, you can dial 2000) and you will be connected.

• For an outside line, you must dial 9 before dialing your off-campus number.

Utilities All costs for utilities (electric, Internet - high speed/wireless, water, local phone, basic expanded cable, sewage) are included in student housing rates. The University pays these utilities as a convenience for the student. Residents, who abuse this convenience by running the air conditioning unit with doors and windows open, leaving water running, not reporting water leaks, etc., may be charged the extra costs associated with this abuse or neglect. Residents can also face fines/disciplinary action for this behavior.

What to Bring Suggested Electronic Items

• iPod w/ headphones, stereo, camera • Printer/ Ink (printing also available on campus) • Laptop/Charger (computers also on campus) • Cellphone/ Charger (landlines in every room)

Personal Items

• Clothing (only what you need) • Bed linens for standard size twin bed • Pillows, mattress pad • Towels, washcloths, bathmat • Personal toiletries • Medicine/prescriptions • Glasses/contacts • Laundry basket, detergent • Cleaning supplies • Toilet paper, tissue, paper towels • School supplies, flash drive, backpack • Desk lamp, floor lamp (no halogen) • Fan, iron, ironing board • Flashlight, surge protector • Hangers, rain boots, umbrella, flip flops • Postage stamps, envelopes

Miscellaneous

• Extra car keys • Extra personal checks • Food items/snacks • Can opener • Blender • First aid kit • Telephone card • Health insurance card • Social Security card • Copy of birth certificate • Copy of prescriptions • Car insurance/registration • Immunization forms

Coordinate with Your Roommate(s)

• TV, microwave (maximum 1200 watts) • Minifridge, rugs, trash can(s) • Dishes, utensils (apartments have full kitchen)

These items are allowed in apartment kitchens only.

• George Foreman grills • Toaster ovens • Toasters • Crock pots

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Window Coverings Blinds are provided for windows in residence hall suites and apartments. Blinds may not be removed. Curtains are allowed if hung using tension rods. In the apartments there must be a one-foot clearance of the air conditioning unit so it can function properly. Window dimensions can vary slightly from building to building so it is recommended you wait until after you move in to measure for curtains.

Campus and Resident Services Bikes Bikes are not allowed in apartments or residence hall suites. They must be kept in a bike rack. There are several located throughout housing. In addition, bikes cannot be kept in laundry rooms or on apartment balconies. See B.18 Parking and Bicycle Policies in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior for more information.

Computer Labs There are computer labs across campus and in the housing areas that are open during select hours of the week. Students can use these labs to do homework, research, and check email. Most library services can be accessed from any computer lab. For more information about labs and hours, please see www.usi.edu/it/computer-labs.

There are pay printers for residents to use located in each of the residence halls, Residence Life Community Center and the lobby of the Housing and Residence Life office. Residents need their Eagle Access Card to use these printers.

Copier There are pay copy machines located around campus for student use. Residents can use their Eagle Access Cards to pay for copies. There is a student copier located in the Residence Life Community Center. Problems with a copy machine should be directed to the Copy Center at 812/464-1889.

Eagle Access Card Budgeting your on-campus spending can be a problem. Having money available for books, supplies, printing, food, special event tickets, etc., often requires credit cards, checkbooks, or visits to the automatic bank teller.

Having the Eagle Access Card virtually eliminates the need to carry cash. Your Eagle Access Card serves as a means of access to different stored value accounts. Simply deposit funds into your personal FLEX account and then use your Eagle Access Card all over campus to make purchases!

Your Eagle Access Card is a "Stored Value" card as well as your Student ID. For students, faculty, and staff it is your all-in-one card for:

• Personal identification • Library Privileges - check out materials

• Campus Store Purchases/Book Buyback - accessing the FLEX and/or Bookstore accounts

• Sodexo Food Services - accessing the FLEX, Meal Plans, and Munch Money accounts

• Computer Lab Printers - accessing the FLEX account

• Copiers - accessing the FLEX account • Access to the Recreation Fitness Wellness Center

and Computer Labs • Laundry - accessing the FLEX Account

Cardholders will login using their myUSI login information. First time users will need to register their card in the system.

https://usi-sp.blackboard.com/eagleaccess/AnonymousHome.aspx

Guests will need to know the following to make a deposit:

• Student's First Name • Student's Last Name • Student ID Number

You can deposit money onto your Eagle Access Card into your Campus Store, Flex, or Munch Money Stored Value accounts. The Campus Store and Flex Stored Value accounts are carried over from each semester. Munch Money Stored Value expires after the spring semester.

If the card is reported as lost or stolen, the account can be frozen until measures are taken to find the card or receive a replacement.

The Eagle Access Card office will refund your Campus Store or Flex Stored Value Accounts upon proof of being withdrawn or graduating from USI.

The CAMPUS STORE account restricts purchases to the USI Campus Store only. This money is locked down and cannot be used anywhere else on campus.

The FLEX STUDENT account can be used in the USI Campus Store, Sodexo Food Service operations, USI Rice Library, computer lab printers, copiers, or laundry.

The MUNCH MONEY and ENRICHMENT accounts can only be used in the Sodexo Food Service operations on campus.

If your card is lost or stolen, log in to Eagle Access Card Office website and DEACTIVATE your card. Once you find your card, log back into the website and ACTIVATE your card.

If you report your card as lost or stolen, Eagle Access will freeze your account. You will not be able to access your funds once the card is frozen. In order to reactivate your card, you will need to come to the Eagle Access Card Office. Eagle Access cannot do this over the phone.

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If you find a lost card, please turn it into Eagle Access Card Office or campus security. Lost or damaged cards can be replaced in the Eagle Access Card Office.

There is a $15 charge to replace a card that does not meet one of the circumstances below. Individuals can obtain a replacement card at no charge in the following circumstances:

• Malfunctioning card – a replacement for a malfunctioning card will be issued at no charge if there is no visible damage to card and the malfunctioning card is the current ACTIVE card in the system. Also, if the card was issued more than three years ago a card will be reissued at no charge.

• Name change – a replacement card for a name change will be issued at no charge if the old card is returned.

• Stolen card – a replacement card will be issued at no charge as long as a detailed police report is provided to the Eagle Access card office. A case number does not qualify as a police report.

• Illegible card – a replacement card will be issued at no charge if the text or facial image has worn away from standard usage and the active card has been issued for two years or more.

Cards should not be hole-punched to accommodate lanyards, etc. The Eagle Access Card is a ‘smart card’ with a microchip and wiring embedded in it and if the wiring is broken the card will not be functional.

If a card needs to be replaced and the card has been punched, then the $15 charge will apply.

Attention Laundry Users For your convenience, FLEX Dollars can be used in the machines.

Laundry Prices: $1.25 to Wash and $1.00 to Dry

Problems with your Eagle Access Card—contact the Eagle Access Office at 812/465-1124 for help.

Events and Programming Housing and Residence Life offers a wide variety of programming to residents. To learn more about what is happening in Housing, see the events website.

Laundry Facilities Located throughout the housing areas are several laundry machines for your use. Several of these areas offer card controlled laundry (i.e., you can pay for your washing with money you put on your Eagle Access Card), and all offer coin-operated laundry services.

• Residence Halls (Newman, Governors, O’Bannon, and Ruston) Laundry rooms are located on the second floor of each building.

• O’Daniel South - A laundry room is located directly behind the Religious Life office.

• O’Daniel North and McDonald West - A laundry room is located in the Residence Life Community Center.

• McDonald East - A washer and a dryer are located in the stairwell of each building.

Residents are encouraged to not leave laundry unattended. Housing and Residence Life will not be responsible for any items lost, stolen or damaged.

If you experience a problem with a washer or a dryer, report this to our laundry services provider, CoinMach, at 1-877-264-6622 or online at servicerequest.asicampuslaundry.com.

Be sure to have your location and the machine number when you call.

Mail and Package Delivery Services Mail service on campus is provided to residents. It is important for you to read the following information so you can be sure to get your mail and your packages in a timely and efficient manner.

Know Your Mailing Address

Residence Halls The hall name does not go in the address. The student puts his or her name on the top line and uses the address of the hall for the second line. The third line indicates which mailbox the student has been assigned.

If you don’t know which box is yours, go to the residence hall mailroom and confirm your box number.

Newman Hall Governors Hall Resident’s Name Resident’s Name 1600 Rankin Lane 1700 Rankin Lane # box number assigned # box number assigned Evansville IN 47712 Evansville IN 47712

O’Bannon Hall Ruston Hall Resident’s Name Resident’s Name 1720 Rochelle Lane 1818 Rochelle Lane # box number assigned # box number assigned Evansville IN 47712 Evansville IN 47712

On-Campus Apartments The on-campus apartment addresses are as regular street addresses. Like the residence halls, the name of the apartment building does not go in the address. The student’s name goes first, followed by the apartment number assigned, which acts as a street number not a box address, and is followed by the street name.

Resident’s Name Apartment Number & Street Evansville IN 47712

List of apartment buildings and their corresponding street names.

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Building Apt # Street Baker All #s Varsity Dr Bayh Even #s Moutoux Ln Bayh Odd #s Buschkill Ln Bigger All #s O’Daniel Ln Boon All #s O’Daniel Ln Bowen Even #s Worthington Ln Bowen Odd #s Crawford Ln Branch All #s McDonald Ln Branigin All #s O’Daniel Ln Chase All #s University Ct Craig Even #s Pruis Ln Craig Odd #s Worthington Ln Dunning All #s O’Daniel Ln Durbin Odd #s Eckels Ln Durbin Even #s McDonald Ln Gates All #s Pruis Ln Goodrich Odd #s McDonald Ln Goodrich Even #s Melton Ln Gray All #s Varsity Dr Hammond All #s Varsity Dr Hanly Odd #s Eckels Ln Hanly Even #s McDonald Ln Hendricks (E) All #s Varsity Dr Hendricks (S) All #s O’Daniel Ln Hovey All #s University Ct Jackson All #s Jarrett Ln Jennings All #s O’Daniel Ln Lane All #s Varsity Dr Leslie All #s Mahrenholz Rd Marshall All #s Eckels Ln Matthews All #s University Ct McCray Odd #s Melton Ln McCray Even #s Jarrett Ln McNutt All #s O’Daniel Ln Morton All #s Varsity Dr Mount All #s University Ct Noble All #s O’Daniel Ln Orr Even #s Crawford Ln Orr Odd #s Moutoux Ln Porter All #s Varsity Dr Ralston All #s McDonald Ln Ray All #s O’Daniel Ln Saletta All #s Eckels Ln Schricker All #s O’Daniel Ln Townsend All #s O’Daniel Ln Wallace All #s O’Daniel Ln Welsh All #s Mahrenholz Rd Whitcomb All #s O’Daniel Ln Willard All #s Varsity Dr Williams All #s Varsity Dr Wright All #s O’Daniel Ln

Requesting a Mail Key O’Daniel North, O’Daniel South, McDonald East, McDonald West One of the four students in your apartment will be assigned the mail key for the apartment. Students can work out their own system for checking the mail and sharing the key. If after all roommates have moved in and there is still no mail key assigned, a key can be

requested by filling out a mail key request form at the Housing and Residence Life office.

Residence Halls Residents in the residence halls will receive their mail box assignment and combination in their check-in packet. Mailboxes in the residence halls are located next to the hall front desk.

Checking Your Mail and Picking Up Packages O’Daniel North, O’Daniel South and McDonald West Students living in the O’Daniel North, O’Daniel South and McDonald West areas have mailboxes in the Housing and Residence Life office. Mail will be sorted and placed in the boxes no later than 5 p.m. Boxes can be checked during the hours the Housing and Residence Life office is open.

McDonald East Students living in the McDonald East have mailboxes in the Residence Life Community Center. Mail will be sorted and placed in the boxes no later than 5 p.m. Boxes can be checked during the hours the Residence Life Community Center is open.

Packages from all carriers (FedEx, USPS, DHL, and UPS) are received by the mailroom and stored for up to two weeks. Carriers do not make package deliveries on Saturday or Sunday. Students will be sent an email to their myUSI account letting them know that they have received a package. A picture ID will be required in order to pick up packages. Packages may be picked up in the main housing office located in O’Daniel North apartment complex from 8 a.m.–Midnight, Monday–Friday, and Noon to Midnight, Saturday–Sunday (fall/spring).

Meal Plans Residents in the apartments are not required to have a meal plan. However, students assigned to the apartments will be billed $50 Munch Money each semester.

Students assigned to the residence halls must choose either Red, White, or Blue Eagle meal plan. These plans are $1,894 per semester for the 2014-15 academic year. Meal plan rates and descriptions can be found at usi.sodexomyway.com.

Parking USI apartment residents may park in any marked parking space within the apartment complex to which they are assigned, except those spaces restricted by signage. Each apartment complex will have a colored tag associated with it. All residents must have a tag in order to park legally in these locations. Apartment residents may not park as a non-resident in other apartment areas. After visiting hours, non-resident spaces revert to resident parking spaces and a tag for the area is required.

Residence hall students may park in designated campus lots, but not in campus apartment parking areas. When visiting apartment complexes residence hall students may

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park only in the non-resident areas and only during the posted visiting hours. Residence hall students are required to have a parking tag.

University parking regulations are enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All housing residents are required to have a parking tag. Residents who live in the apartments cannot drive to campus between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Parking Department is responsible for issuing parking tags. Students will need to go to the Parking Department Office, located in the Security Building, to register their vehicle and pick up their parking tag. The Security Building is located behind the University Center and next to the Liberal Arts Center.

Visit the Parking Department website at www.usi.edu/security/parking/ or contact them by phone at 812/465-1091 with any questions or for additional information about parking services at USI.

RAVEAlert Log into myUSI and click the RAVEAlert icon on the Dashboard Channel to begin. USI RAVEAlert gives critical and timely warnings – via email, text message, and voice message – about emergencies, severe weather, and other incidents impacting the University community. You can add additional emails, mobile numbers and landline numbers. Recycling Housing and Residence Life offers recycling services on campus. Newman and Governors Halls, O’Bannon and Ruston Halls, McDonald East, McDonald West, O’Daniel North, and O’Daniel South each have a clearly marked recycle center. Recycling centers are co-located with the dumpsters throughout the apartment areas. In the residence halls recycling centers are located separately. Recycle containers are available from Housing and Residence Life.

What can you recycle? USI uses single-stream recycling which means you do not have to separate items. Recycle items can be mixed together. Accepted recyclables are office paper, newspaper, mixed paper, books, magazines, junk mail, phone books, corrugated cardboard (flattened out), non-contaminated cardboard, aluminum/tin/steel cans (rinse out), and plastic (PETE 1, HDPE 2, V 3, LDPE 4, PP 5, OTHER 7).

Items not accepted that should be put in the dumpster: food waste, soiled paper, pizza boxes, wax paper, milk/ice cream/juice cartons, incandescent light bulbs, styrofoam, foam egg cartons, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, plastic bags, film, and glass jars/bottles/dishes.

Greenbean Recycle Reverse Vending Machine There is a Greenbean recycle machine located in the Community Center. Residents can recycle glass and plastic bottles as well as aluminum cans.

Shuttle Bus For the convenience of our students, USI offers a shuttle bus service during fall and spring semesters. A student ID is required in order to ride the shuttle. USI has both an on-campus shuttle service and an off-campus shuttle service.

Information on both is as follows:

On-Campus Shuttle Class days only (fall and spring semesters) - The On-Campus buses provide transportation between the Housing apartment complex and campus.

Monday – Thursday 7 a.m. - 9:15 p.m.* Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

*Two buses serve the campus shuttle route from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; a third bus serves the shuttle route from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. during winter months (November through March).

Off-Campus Shuttle Class days only - fall and spring semesters - The METS West Connection shuttle connects USI with the METS city transportation system transfer point near the Schnucks Shopping Center.

Monday – Friday 7 a.m. - 9:15 p.m.

For specific stop locations and a map of the shuttle bus route, please stop by the Office of Public Safety and pick up a shuttle bus map. Shuttle bus stops are clearly marked within housing for easy access by students. You also can contact the Office of Public Safety at 812/464-1845, or visit their website for more information at www.usi.edu/security/parking/bus-schedules.

Real-time tracking of the buses serving the USI campus is available courtesy of DoubleMap at usi.doublemap.com.

University Health Center The University Health Center is a full-service clinic offering medical services and health-related information to students, faculty, and staff. It is located in the lower level of the Health Professions Center. The healthcare providers at the University Health Center are employed by Deaconess Clinic, and work in harmony with the University to meet the health needs of the students. If you have questions or comments, feel free to call the Health Center at 812/465-1250.

Vending In the residence halls, vending machines are located on the first floor of the buildings. In the on-campus apartment areas, vending machines are located in the Housing and Residence Life office, the O’Daniel South laundry facility, and in the stairwells at select apartment buildings. Many vending machines will accept your Eagle Access Card for payment, provided you have put money in your account.

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If you have a problem with a vending machine, contact Procurement Services at 812/464-1848. Make sure you have the machine number and location on hand when you call.

Emergency Procedures Emergency Preparedness A resource for emergency preparedness is www.ready.gov. Ready educates people on how to prepare and respond to various emergency situations.

Ready recommends the following for a basic disaster supplies kit:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

• Flashlight and extra batteries • First aid kit • Whistle to signal for help • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and

plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties

for personal sanitation • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities • Manual can opener for food • Local maps • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar

charger

How to Stay Informed USI will keep students informed via RAVEAlert (see RAVEAlert in the Campus and Resident Services section) and social media outlets such as TV, radio, Twitter and Facebook.

www.usi.edu www.facebook.com/SouthernIndiana www.twitter.com/USIedu www.usi.edu/housing www.facebook.com/usihousing www.twitter.com/usihousing

Local TV Stations 4 WFIE (NBC) 10 WEVV (CBS) 11 WEHT (ABC)

Local Radio Stations 820 AM WSWI 91.5 FM WUEV 93.5 FM WJPS 96.1 FM WSTO 103.1 FM WGBF 104.1 FM WIKY 105.3 FM WYNG 107.5 FM WBAX

Important Phone Numbers Public Safety (emergency) 812/492-7777 Public Safety (non-emergency) 812/464-1845 Housing and Residence Life 812/468-2000 Community Center Front Desk 812/468-2445 Police 911 Fire 911 Deaconess Hospital 812/450-5000 St. Mary's Hospital 812/485-4000

Earthquake

• If indoors, seek refuge in a doorway or under a desk or table. Stay away from glass windows, shelves, and heavy equipment. Stay under cover until shaking as stopped, then be prepared to calmly evacuate the building.

• If outdoors, move quickly away from buildings, power lines, utility poles, and other structures. Always avoid power or utility lines to avoid electrocution.

• If in a vehicle, stop in the safest place available, preferably an open area away from power lines, utility poles, and trees. Stop as quickly as safety permits, but stay in the vehicle for the shelter it offers.

• Protect yourself at all times and be prepared for aftershocks.

Fire

• Know where fire extinguishers are and how to use them.

• Even for a minor fire, immediately contact Public Safety at 812/492-7777 or activate the building alarms.

• If a fire appears uncontrollable, IMMEDIATELY sound the building alarms and evacuate the building. If possible, aid others to safety and close all doors to confine fire. DO NOT LOCK DOORS.

• Smoke is the greatest danger in a fire, so stay near the floor where the air will be easier to breathe.

• Once outside, move to an assigned clear area away from the affected building(s). Keep streets and walkways clear for emergency vehicles.

• If you become trapped in a building, place an article of clothing outside the window as a marker for emergency personnel. If there is no window, stay near the floor where the air is more breathable. Shout in intervals to alert emergency personnel of your location.

Power Outage Procedures Where to go? The Residence Life Community Center will be open 24-hours until all power is restored to campus housing. Call the Community Center for information or questions, 812/468-2445.

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Apartment Precautions If you leave your apartment, please follow these precautions:

• Turn on water in kitchen and bathroom sinks to a slow drip, with the stream just trickling (if the power outage occurs during winter weather).

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors under the sinks. This allows the pipes to get more heat (if the power outage occurs during winter weather).

• Open your refrigerator as few times as possible to preserve the food inside.

• Periodic safety checks on the apartments will take place by Physical Plant, Public Safety and Housing and Residence Life staff throughout the power outage and after the power is restored.

You will receive electronic notification once power is restored. For additional information or periodic updates, please contact the Community Center at 812/468-2445.

Tornado It is vital to your personal safety that you observe common sense safety precautions during inclement weather.

• If you are indoors, seek shelter in the lowest level of the building.

• In a building with no basement, a residence hall, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows.

• Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.

• A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. • Even in an interior room, you should cover

yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, pillows, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail.

• If outdoors, take cover away from power lines, buildings, and trees.

• Do not stay in a car or attempt to outrun a tornado.

Weather Radio There is a weather radio in each on-campus apartment and residence hall suite. It is important for your safety that the University-provided weather radio remains in good working condition. Please do not remove the batteries or disconnect the power.

• Make sure radio is “ON” (right side on/off button) • Make sure the unit is plugged into the electric

outlet (batteries are for back-up power only) • Your radio is preset with surrounding counties (DO

NOT try to reprogram the radio) • To listen to the weather, press the

“Weather/Snooze” button. To turn the weather

off, press the “Weather/Snooze” button a second time.

Weather Alerts Yellow Advisory Inclement weather is possible

Orange Watch Conditions are right for possible damaging storms

Red Warning Damaging storms—seek shelter

Weather Sirens The City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County operates an outdoor warning siren system. This system consists of 22 sirens located throughout Evansville and Vanderburgh County. There is a weather siren located next to the Housing and Residence Life office. When the National Weather Service issues a Severe Thunderstorm Warning or a Tornado Warning, the County Central Dispatch Center activates the sirens. The Outdoor Warning Sirens are operated by the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Central Dispatch. The Emergency Management Agency is responsible for the administration, testing, and maintenance of the sirens. Evansville/Vanderburgh County will activate warning sirens for any life-threatening emergency, including severe weather or hazardous chemical spills. Sirens are tested every Friday at 12pm noon, weather permitting. The sirens are an integral part of your weather awareness program, along with your NOAA Weather Radio, and your own 'eyes to the sky'. For more information about emergency management in Evansville, see http://www.vanderburghgov.org/index.aspx?page=1021.

Winter Car Care

• Battery - Make sure terminals are tight and clean. If lights seem dim or vehicle starts are sluggish, have the electrical system (including battery) checked by a technician.

• Radiator - Check coolant strength with a hydrometer. Recommended protection level is -36 degrees. Never check hot.

• Belts/Hoses - Check belts for cracks or fraying. Check hoses for leaks, bulges, or cracks. Make sure clamps are secure.

• Windshield Washer/Wipers - Make sure reservoir is filled with washer solvent. Replace wiper blades if needed.

• Fluids - Check oil, brake transmission, radiator coolant and power steering fluid levels. Follow owner's manual directions.

• Air Filter - Hold air filter up to a light. If you can't see through it, replace it.

• Tires - Inspect wear. Check pressure with a gauge when tires are cold. Refer to owner's manual for recommended air pressure and tread depth specifications.

• Lights/Signals - Activate to make sure all work properly.

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These items are recommended to carry in your car during the winter months.

• Ice scraper/brush • Coffee can furnace • Boots, gloves, hat, blanket • Tools, flashlight • Tire traction material such as sand or cat litter • Food • Jumper cables • First aid kit • Cell phone • Flares or reflective triangle • Shovel

Winter Weather

Snow and Ice It is important to be aware of any weather situation and plan accordingly. Keep in mind that even treated snow and ice covered sidewalks and roads may remain slick and hazardous. Cold temperatures make it difficult for the treatment to melt snow and ice.

Snow Shovel Check Out Snow shovels are available at the Community Center, Housing and Residence Life central office, Housing Services building, and residence halls’ front desks. Residents may check out a shovel for use while they are on campus. Residents may not take the shovels with them to an off campus location. Shovels are the property of USI Housing and Residence Life. Residents may check-out ONE snow shovel at a time. If a resident would like to check-out a snow shovel they may do so with a desk assistant or night clerk.

Facilities Information Living on campus is a great experience, and USI offers top notch facilities to our resident students. However, from time to time things in your apartment or suite may not work properly, and you may need some assistance. The USI Physical Plant manages maintenance concerns for residents. The following information is meant to help you figure out the best way to “Fix your Home” in the event that something breaks.

Damages It is the resident’s responsibility to report any damage to their apartment or suite. Failure to do so may result in the assessment of damage charges.

Community Damages Damages that are unable to be attributed to an individual may be prorated among the residents of the building or floor where the damage occurred. These charges will be assessed to student accounts. Students are encouraged to report acts of vandalism to Housing and Residence Life so that the responsible person(s) will be charged.

Facility Damages Residents are liable for all damages to their apartment or residence hall suite incurred by the resident or their guests. During check-out, Housing and Residence Life will assess damage charges to individual accounts throughout the academic year for any damaged or vandalized property. Final charges will be determined by a walk-through by Housing and Residence Life staff. Upon request, Housing and Residence Life staff can do a preliminary check with you on the day you check out. During the year, when a resident checks out, Housing and Residence Life staff will check the apartment or suite.

Healthy Living Tips Furniture Arrangements in Apartments (O'Daniel North, South and McDonald West) Do keep a minimum of 18" (inches) between all furniture and air conditioner units and/or vents. This will allow for proper air circulation and help prevent mildew and mold.

Don't place the couch in front of the air conditioner as the couch cushions absorb moisture. For best results, place the end table by the air conditioner and then the chair. Place the couch against the other wall in the living room.

Do keep mattresses below the vents in the bedrooms. Mattresses that are above the vents prevent good air circulation and absorb moisture.

Using the Air Conditioner in Apartments (O'Daniel North, South and McDonald West) Don't set the air conditioner to the lowest cool setting and allow to operate for extended periods of time. This will cause condensation to form on the walls around the unit promoting the growth of mildew and mold.

Do clean your air conditioner filter monthly and wipe off any dirt or mildew that forms on the air conditioner unit.

Promoting a Healthy Environment in Apartments and Residence Halls Don't forget to use your bathroom exhaust fan while the shower is in use. Keep the exhaust fan on for 30 minutes after shower use to help remove moisture from the bathroom area.

Don't leave piles of clothes or other personal belongings on the floor or under beds.

Do take out the trash regularly.

Don't forget to vacuum the carpet and clean the floors regularly. Clean floors will help prevent mildew and mold growth.

Pest Control Pest control is considered primarily the responsibility of the resident. There are some basic things you can do on your own to decrease the likelihood of contracting a pest problem.

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The easiest way to prevent a pest problem in your apartment or residence hall suite is to keep your living area clean and uncluttered.

Keep all food in sealed containers; open food is an invitation for uninvited pests.

Vacuum and sweep floors regularly—this will help tremendously.

Pest control services are on campus every week on Wednesday to address requests. Therefore, all pest control requests need to be in by Tuesday at 2 p.m. If you need pest control, follow the procedures under Submit a Work Order. If it is an emergency, call Fix My Home at ext. 2176.

Room Condition It is the resident’s responsibility to report any damage to their apartment or suite. Failure to do so may result in the assessment of damage charges.

Self-Help Maintenance Our Self-Help Maintenance Program covers those minor maintenance items that you can do for yourself or enlist the aid of your RA to help you get it fixed. If you have a maintenance emergency, contact 812/468-2176 immediately. A maintenance emergency is any condition that can or has the potential to do harm to a person or to property. If you call ext. 2176 and it is not an emergency, personnel will direct you to follow the procedures in the Self-Help Maintenance Guide.

Self-Help Maintenance—Use instructions below to handle these common issues.

Plumbing If you have a clogged drain in sinks, tubs, or toilets, plunge hard several times with your plunger. To unclog sink drains, create a seal by placing a cup over the drain on the opposite side of the double sink before plunging. If the toilet overflows or runs all the time, shut off the water supply behind the toilet tank. Clean-up of the water is the resident’s responsibility. No sanitary items or paper towels should be flushed down the toilet.

Showers There are two types of shower diverters. One is the type most of us are familiar with: to operate, pull the knob to operate the shower. Some units have a diverter on the tip of the faucet that pulls down. If you notice that water pressure has dropped in only one faucet in the apartment, you may need to clean the aerator at the tip of the faucet.

Garbage Disposal Always turn the water on before engaging the disposal. DO NOT put solid objects in it (i.e., bones, flatware, aquarium gravel, or heavy potato peelings). If there is an odor coming from the disposal, turn on the water then turn on the disposal and add one cup of ice and one-half cup of vinegar.

Water Heater Closet If you notice a foul smell in the bedroom coming from the water heater, the drain trap may be dry. Pour a couple of pitchers of hot water down the drain near the water heater; this should eliminate the odor in a few hours. A small amount of bleach may be added if the odor persists.

Electrical In the apartments, the top outlet in the living room is wired to work with the light switch by the front door. The light switch has to be in the on position for the outlet to work. If the outlet in the bathroom next to the sink does not work, the ground fault breaker may need to be reset. To do this, push the red button.

If you suspect that a breaker may have tripped, do not try to reset the breaker. Your RA, GA, or AC can help you. If they are not available, call extension 2176 to report the problem.

Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) There are two types of HVAC units used in the campus apartments. O’Daniel North, O’Daniel South, and the McDonald West Apartments have through-the-wall units. The controls are located on each unit. The McDonald East apartments use forced-air heat and air conditioning and the unit is operated by a thermostat located on the apartment wall.

The Residence Halls use a central system for the entire building; each suite is controlled by a thermostat located in the common room of the suite.

In O’Daniel North, O’Daniel South, and McDonald West, it is normal for the heat element to burn off any dust that has settled on it during the summer. You could notice some smoke coming out of the unit, and it may even set off the smoke detector on the ceiling. DO NOT pull the smoke detector from the ceiling. The smoke should only last for about 15 minutes. If sparks or smoke continues to be expelled from the unit for a long period of time, or if you have a concern, turn the unit off and contact your RA, GA, or AC. Another method is to do a burn-off once a week, allowing the heat element to run for five minutes. You then should experience no problems when you turn it on for normal usage in the fall or winter. McDonald West, O’Daniel North, and O’Daniel South have washable filters that should be cleaned by the resident once per semester. There must be a one-foot clearance around the entire unit in order for it to function properly.

When leaving for 24 hours or more during winter or cold weather, make sure that the heat is ON and that the thermostat is set to 65 degrees in the McDonald East Apartments.

When leaving for 24 hours or more during warm weather, make sure that the air-conditioning is ON and that the thermostat is set to 75 degrees in the McDonald East Apartments.

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Staff Entering Your Apartment or Suite USI maintenance staff will enter apartments and residence hall rooms in the absence of residents in order to conduct routine maintenance, repairs, and respond to emergencies.

The facility team may enter an apartment or suite to perform a check out inspection or to take readings on the health of your room. (B.7 Health and Safety Checks in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Staff will attempt to contact residents and will knock on doors prior to entering. All staff will have proper identification. (B.3.2 Maintenance in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code for Student Behavior)

Submit a Work Order If you need any work done that you cannot do yourself, contact Physical Plant at extension 2176 or fill out form on website. Click on Fix My Home on the main housing web page. Maintenance, custodial, or pest control problems that are from resident neglect of their apartment or suite will be charged to the resident(s) according to the Housing and Food Service Contract and the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior.

Please note the Fix My Home work order is only for maintenance issues. If you need assistance with internet or cable TV, please contact the IT Help Desk at 812/465-1080.

Student Involvement Student Organizations Housing and Residence Life has numerous leadership opportunities for students in the residence halls and apartments. We invite you to get involved with your community and meet many great people on campus. Getting involved at USI makes the most of your time here and is a fun way to meet others who want to make a difference on campus. Getting involved is also a great way to learn leadership skills. Check out all that we have to offer!

Student Housing Association (SHA) and the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) are each student organizations within Housing. Each group has their own executive board, goals and purpose. SHA is open to all housing residents. NRHH is an invitation-only student organization that recognizes the top 1% of students in Housing.

Student Housing Association The Student Housing Association (SHA) is an organization that is open to all students living on campus at the University of Southern Indiana. SHA is the voice for students living on campus and represents the interests and concerns of all residential students. Residents also have the opportunity to attend state, regional, and national conferences through IRHO, GLACURH, and NACURH. Additionally, SHA makes recommendations on Housing and Residence Life policies and acts as a liaison

between campus administration and residents. SHA is an excellent leadership opportunity and a great way to connect with campus.

Involvement in SHA is a leadership opportunity open to all campus residents. SHA is made up of six executive board positions; President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Advertising Chair, National Communications Coordinator/Hoosier Communications Coordinator, and Programming Chair. SHA also has two committees: Eagle Road Crew and the Diversity Project. Each committee works to develop programs and/or fundraisers with the goal of uniting the residential community.

Our mission is to enhance the residential experience. In SHA, we like to provide residential students a home away from home and serve you to the best of our abilities. Your residential experience matters and we want to help make it the best it can possibly be. We also sponsor events such as the Block Party, Light Up the Night, Wash-A-Poolza, and Midnight Breakfast to name a few.

For more information about SHA, email Karen Huseman, Assistant Director of Programming, kahuseman@usi.edu.

National Residence Hall Honorary The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is an honor society for the Top 1% of leaders in the residential community as governed by the National Affiliate of Colleges and University Residence Halls (NACURH). NRHH membership, which cannot exceed 28 members at any given time, grants honors to students excelling in scholarship, leadership, and community service. NRHH selects new members through a stringent application process each fall and spring.

The primary purpose of NRHH is to develop and recognize various leaders, communities, organizations, programs, and other aspects of the university campus. NRHH reviews and selects Of-The-Month Awards for the campus wide winners. Additionally, NRHH sponsors and plans social and philanthropy events throughout the year.

To be considered for membership in NRHH, students must:

• Be in good standing with USI with a minimum cumulative 2.5 grade point average

• Two or more semesters’ residence on campus (including semester of application)

• Reside on campus at the time of application and be a full time student

• Contribution to on-campus housing and demonstration of leadership and ability therein

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Student Conduct What if I get in trouble? When a student gets in trouble, they are subject to the administrative policies as outlined in the 2014-2015 Housing/Food Service Contract. This includes an administrative hearing with a hearing officer. The resident and the hearing officer will discuss the incident that occurred, and it will be decided if the student is responsible for the charges. If found responsible, then the incident will be assigned a sanction. Please refer to the Housing student conduct website for more resources and information.

I have a Notice of Administrative Hearing. What does that mean? It means that you are alleged to have been involved in a violation of one or more USI policies and that you have a meeting scheduled with a hearing officer to discuss it. The letter lists the date and time of the hearing, possible policy violations, the hearing officer your meeting is with and how to contact him or her. A redacted copy of the incident report will be available at your scheduled meeting at the Dean of Students office. Requests for report copies must be made at least 24 hours in advance of your hearing.

What will happen to me during my Administrative Hearing? You will meet with a hearing officer. You will be given time to review the incident report(s) and the policies you are alleged to have violated. Your hearing officer may ask you some questions and provide you the opportunity to explain the situation from your point of view. The hearing officer will consider any witnesses and supporting information you may have brought. The hearing officer will make a decision based on the information available and the University standard of "More Likely Than Not" that the violation did occur. The hearing officer will assess sanctions and/or stipulations as needed.

What are my rights? Your rights are outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior.

I received a Notice of Informal Resolution. What does that mean? It means that you are alleged to have been involved in a minor violation of University policy. The Notice explains the policy you are alleged to have violated and a sanction that you are required to complete. If you choose to dispute your involvement in the incident, the form also lists the name of the hearing officer who sent the notice. You can contact him or her to request a full administrative hearing.

Does a Notice of Informal Resolution violate due process since I did not meet with a staff member? A Notice of Informal Resolution is used for minor incidents where there is little additional information that the hearing officer needs to gather. These are cases that students have traditionally admitted to being in violation. Sending the student a Notice of Informal Resolution is a

matter of convenience for the student, since they do not have to meet with a hearing officer. However, if you get a Notice of Informal Resolution and you wish to contest the incident, you can contact the hearing officer listed at the bottom of the form and request a full administrative hearing. The Notice of Informal Resolution is commonly used prior to breaks or at the end of a semester and when a student may not be available.

What sanctions do I face? The student conduct process is meant to be an educational process for the students who go through it. Educational sanctions range from reflective papers to interactive classes that can provide a learning experience for the student. More severe violations come along with heavier sanctions, which can include suspension or expulsion from the University. For more information, see the sanction chart.

Am I going to be kicked out? If you are involved in repeated policy violations, it may result in contract termination. Cases involving controlled substances or drugs, sexual imposition, assault, parties, or theft may result in contract termination.

Will my parents be notified? The University reserves the right to contact parents regarding disciplinary issues. Parents will be contacted for incidents such as alcohol and controlled substances or drugs, etc. We encourage students to contact their parents in all situations.

Will this affect my financial aid or scholarship? It might, since some financial aid or scholarships depend on a student remaining in good standing with USI. You should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 812/464-1767 with any questions you may have. Suspension, expulsion and probation are generally the sanctions capable of altering a student's 'good standing'.

How does the hearing officer make his/her decision? The hearing officer collects as much information as he or she can and determines what occurred. The burden of proof or standard of evidence is the measure used to determine one's involvement in an incident. In order for a student to be considered 'In Violation', the hearing officer must show that a student is more likely than not responsible in a violation of a policy.

If my incident involves a violation of state or local laws, could I be prosecuted criminally and through the University conduct system? Yes, you may. Your relationship with the University is separate from your responsibilities as a citizen. Although they may stem from the same incident, violations of state, local or federal laws are regulated by a court of law. An administrative hearing adjudicates the violation of University policy. To illustrate this better, an employee who assaults a fellow employee could be fired and face criminal charges.

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If I did violate the policy, can't I just lie (very sincerely) and not get in any trouble? This is generally a bad course of action, for a few reasons. First, if it is determined that you have lied in a conduct hearing, you will face an additional charge and additional sanctions. Second, most lies do not hold up well under scrutiny, even if several people are trying to cover each other. Third, by telling the truth, you don't have to worry about keeping your story straight in the future. Ultimately, there are more long-term benefits from telling the truth and learning from the incident than from trying to cover it up. The Truth Is Out There!

What if I did nothing wrong? Then you have nothing to worry about! So relax, attend your meeting, and tell the truth about what you know.

What if I don't attend my hearing? A decision will be made without you. You do have the right not to attend your hearing; however, it is in your best interest to attend so you can present your view of what happened. Otherwise, the hearing officer will have to make a decision based on whatever information is available.

What is Restorative Justice and what is Social Justice? At USI, Restorative Justice is used in conduct hearings or mediation circles that encourage individuals to take responsibility for their actions and repair harm as a result of their actions. At USI Social Justice, principles are taught to hearing officers in effort to minimize oppression and to limit systemic marginalization of student populations.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: A CODE FOR STUDENT BEHAVIOR Housing Policies

B.1 Introduction It is the mission of Housing and Residence Life to provide a high quality, affordable living environment for members of the USI community that is convenient, comfortable, culturally enriching, and conducive to academic success. As an integral part of USI’s educational efforts and support services, Housing and Residence Life is responsible for the formulation and enforcement of policies reflecting the University’s mission within the residence setting.

The success of the campus living experience depends upon our residents, and it is our hope that all students in housing will take an active role in determining that success. As such, it is expected that all residents will be responsible for their own activities, and the activities that occur within their assigned apartments/rooms.

Any violation of the rules and regulations contained in this section, along with any violation of the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior (may be considered Breach of Contract (2014-15 Contract Terms and Conditions). The director of Housing and Residence Life and his/her designee are authorized to cancel any

contract of students who are considered to be in breach of contract. Housing and Residence Life professional staff members have delegated permission to act concerning cases of misconduct.

B.2 Community Standards and Policies The following terms and conditions are statements of USI Housing and Residence Life community standards and policies. Violations of any of the following policies may result in contract termination or disciplinary action under the Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior.

B.3 Apartment or Residence Hall Room Entry The University of Southern Indiana reserves the right to enter apartments or residence hall rooms for inspection, cleaning, or maintenance purposes at reasonable times.

B.3.1 Administrative Searches

• Upon approval by the Director of Housing and Residence Life and/or the Director of Public Safety, or their designee, a room can be entered without notice when there is reasonable suspicion to believe a violation of University policy has occurred or is taking place, or to determine compliance with federal, state or local laws. The Director of Housing and Residence Life, Director of Public Safety, or their designees, shall determine the existence of “reasonable suspicion” prior to the room entry.

• Searches may be conducted in the absence of residents.

• During a search, the University may obtain evidence when there is reasonable suspicion to believe that a violation has occurred or is taking place.

• Housing and Residence Life staff will ask any residents present to sign a Consent to Search form. Failure or refusal to sign the form will not prevent University personnel from conducting a search.

• On occasions when outside agencies (police, FBI, etc.) may need to search an apartment or room; University staff are expected to cooperate.

B.3.2 Maintenance USI Maintenance staff will enter apartments and residence hall rooms in the absence of residents in order to carry out any essential repairs, routine maintenance, and respond to any emergencies.

B.3.3 Access to Apartments/Residence Hall Rooms Access to apartments and residence hall rooms are granted only to the assigned residents of that location, or to University staff. Access will not be granted to resident’s friends, relatives, or other students by staff.

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B.4 Alcoholic Beverages and Other Drugs/Controlled Substances Behavior that violates the University Alcohol-Related Violations policy and occurring on University housing property to include property adjacent to or surrounding University housing property is prohibited. Campus housing is “dry,” therefore; the manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, transportation, possession, or consumption of an alcoholic beverage to include caffeinated alcoholic energy drinks on University property is prohibited.

Behavior that violates the University Drug-Related Violations policy and occurring on University housing property to include property adjacent to or surrounding University housing property is prohibited.

Being found responsible for a violation of the Drug- Related Violations policy will likely result in housing contract termination. Any and all housing contract cancellation charges apply as stated in the terms and conditions section of the Housing and Residence Life Contract.

B.5 Candles Lit or previously lit candles/incense are prohibited in any Housing and Residence Life facility, unless the candle/incense burning is part of a religious/cultural ritual; whereas permission is required prior via Housing and Residence Life with documentation from Religious Services. Candle warmers are prohibited in Housing and Residence Life facilities.

B.6 Children and Babysitting Children under the age of 16 may not be left unattended in housing facilities and babysitting is strictly prohibited in campus housing. Residents will be held responsible for policy violations of any child visiting their apartment or residence hall suite.

B.7 Health and Safety Check Housing and Residence Life staff will enter the apartments and residence halls to check safety equipment (fire extinguishers, weather radios, smoke detectors, etc.). Staff also will check to ensure that all appliances are working correctly. Housing and Residence Life will provide students with at least 24 hours’ notice prior to these inspections. Housing and Residence Life staff will do the following:

• Inspect the apartment or suite. • Give the residents a set period of time, not to

exceed 48 hours, to clean the apartment or suite. • Re-inspect the apartment or suite. • File a report with Housing and Residence Life. • Failure to maintain a clean environment may

result in disciplinary action.

B.8 Cohabitation Living or staying for any pattern of time in an apartment or suite without an official contract for that particular space will be considered cohabitation. Cohabitation is defined as a person staying in an apartment or suite for

more than three (3) consecutive nights, or other patterned behavior that is intended to allow an individual to stay beyond visitation hours. Non-registered guests can be considered as an instance of cohabitation. The resident who allows cohabitation to occur can be held accountable. Students found responsible for a violation of the cohabitation policy may be charged a disciplinary fine, charged for use of the facility, or charged for each night the non-contracted person spent in residence.

B.9 Cooking (Residence Halls) Cooking in rooms with an open flame or exposed element is prohibited. Electrical appliances such as electric skillets, woks, electric grills, George Foreman grills, hot pots, coffee makers without automatic shutoff feature, or other appliances that can be used to prepare raw foods are prohibited (with the exception of microwave ovens). Students will be asked to remove the appliance. If s/he fails to remove the item, the University will remove the appliance and store for ten (10) working days. After ten (10) days, if the item has not been retrieved by the student, the item will be disposed.

B.10 Decorations Residents are encouraged to decorate their residence hall suite or apartment, as this is considered a resident’s “home away from home.” However, residents are asked to be considerate of the community by adhering to the following guidelines for decorations:

B.10.1 Exterior Decorations Exterior alterations or decorations are only permitted in University housing with the following stipulations:

• Nothing may be displayed in windows • Sidewalk chalk, spirit foam, shoe polish, paints or

other methods used for writing on the exterior of the buildings are prohibited.

• Large potted plants or trees are not permitted in front of apartments or residence hall suites. These obstacles inhibit quick access for police, fire, and medical emergency personnel.

• Clothing, bathmats, rugs, towels, or other items may not be hung over balconies, as this creates a “line of sight” problem for Public Safety officers and other University personnel.

• Apartment or suite numbers may not be blocked or covered by wreaths, door coverings, lights, or any other decorative element.

• Peepholes may not be covered. • Fire protection and/or emergency equipment

may not be covered or altered by exterior decorations.

• Lawn furniture is not to be left unattended in front of apartments or in hallways or stairwells.

• When not in use, all lawn furniture must be taken inside the apartment or suite.

• University furniture is not to be taken outside of the apartment or residence hall suite under any circumstances. If University furniture is found outside of the apartment or suite, you may be charged a fine and/or to replace the item(s).

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• Gas and/or charcoal grills are not permitted in University housing apartments or residence hall suites.

• Holiday or decorative lights may be used, with the following stipulations: -Lights may not be strung under windows or doors. -Only exterior outlets may be used for outside lights. -Lights must be UL approved for outside usage, and the label denoting such use must remain on the light strand. -Lights may not be strung across areas where people walk (sidewalks, balconies, stairwells, etc.).

If the guidelines for exterior decorations are not followed, residents will be asked by staff to remove the decorations and may face disciplinary action.

B.10.2 Interior Decorations Interior decorations are allowed in University housing units with the following stipulations:

• Nothing may be displayed in windows • Interior decorations may not block air vents. • Interior decorations may not cover fire protection

or other emergency equipment. • Decorations may not cover peepholes. • Placement of live Christmas trees and/or other

live greenery (excluding potted houseplants) in any part of housing is prohibited. Artificial trees are permitted inside an apartment or residence hall suite.

• Canned spray snow is not permitted on windows in housing.

• Window coverings must be the provided miniblinds.

• Cloth curtains, solar film, or white poster board may be placed on the windows for additional light control. No cardboard, aluminum foil, cellophane, or other type of window covering is permitted on windows.

• Large nails, staples, screws, wall anchors, poster putty, or tape on walls or doors inside or outside the apartment are prohibited.

• Public advertisements of alcoholic beverages and/or drugs/controlled substances are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, signs or advertisements that are visible in public areas or from outside the apartment or residence hall suite.

• Self-built freestanding lofts are prohibited in the apartments or residence hall suites. If a student wishes to have a loft inside his/her room, arrangements must be made through Housing and Residence Life and BedLoft.

• Removing mounted fixtures from walls or ceiling is prohibited.

• Private door locks (or adding additional locks) on any exterior or interior doors are prohibited.

• Any renovations or changes to the apartment are prohibited.

• Dartboards are prohibited. • Residents may not paint or wallpaper walls or

ceilings in the apartments or residence hall suites.

If these guidelines for interior decorations are not followed, residents will be asked by staff to remove the decorations and may face disciplinary action.

B.11 Door Propping Students found propping open exterior doors in any housing facility may face contract termination as this is a security risk for the community. This includes exterior doors in McDonald East apartment area, the sealed glass sliding doors in McDonald East, residence hall entry doors, residence hall wing doors, or any unattended residence hall suite door or apartment entry door.

Any door found propped could result in a disciplinary fine. Propped doors that are not attributed to an individual may be prorated among all residents of that building or wing.

B.12 Emergency Protection Equipment Tampering with emergency protection equipment, including but not limited to University fire protection equipment, evacuation route postings, emergency signs, weather radios, exit lights, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and alarm systems, is prohibited. Violations to this code could result in a disciplinary fine.

B.13 Fire Evacuation When a fire alarm sounds, or when instructed to evacuate by staff, all residents are expected to leave the building immediately. Failure to comply with the fire evacuation could result in a disciplinary fine.

B.14 Grills The use of personal grills in University housing is prohibited. Public grills are provided throughout housing for student use. Use the grills in accordance with the following guidelines:

• Clean grills thoroughly before and after use. You may use aluminum foil on the grills, but foil must be removed after you are finished and discarded properly.

• Only match-ready charcoal (no lighter fluid) may be used with the grills and stored in apartments or suites.

• Used coals must be placed in the coal disposal bucket located next to every grill.

• Trash must be removed from the grill area and disposed of properly.

• Paper trash must be thrown away in garbage cans and not the coal disposal bucket.

See full University Grill Policy in the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities: A Code of Student Behavior.

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B.15 Halogen Lights Halogen lights are prohibited in any Housing and Residence Life facility.

B.16 Residence Hall Key Cards/Apartment Keys/Eagle Access Cards

B.16.1 Residence Hall Key Cards

• Residence Hall Key Cards (or Housing and Residence Life key cards) are required for entry into the Residence Halls.

• All housing residents are required to carry their Residence Hall Key Card with them at all times.

• Residence Hall Key Cards may not be given to any persons other than the individual to whom the card is assigned.

• Lost Residence Hall Key Cards will result in a lost card/lock reprogramming fee.

• Lost Residence Hall Key Cards must be reported to the Department of Housing and Residence Life.

B.16.2 Apartment Keys

• Apartment Keys are required for entry into the campus apartments.

• Residents are expected to carry their apartment keys with them at all times.

• Apartment Keys may not be given to any persons other than the individual to whom the key is assigned.

• Lost Apartment Keys will result in a re-core fee. • Lost Apartment Keys must be reported to the

Department of Housing and Residence Life.

B.16.3 Eagle Access Cards

• Eagle Access Cards are required in order to use any USI Meal Plan. Without an Eagle Access Card, lost or not, students will be denied access and asked to pay the daily cash amount for any meal purchased.

• All housing residents are required to carry their Eagle Access Card with them at all times.

• Eagle Access Cards may not be given to any persons other than the individual to whom the card is assigned.

• Lost Eagle Access Cards must be reported to the Eagle Access office.

B.17 Lock Outs It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they carry their apartment/room key/card with them. If a student locks themselves out of their apartment/room, there will be no charge for the first time each semester. Beginning with the second and with each subsequent lockout, the student will be charged for the service. A student who loses their key/card will not be charged for the lockout service, as the cost of a lost key/card will be assessed.

B.18 Parking and Bicycle Policies

• All parking and traffic regulations apply in Housing and Residence Life areas. A complete listing of the Traffic and Parking Regulations can be found at www.usi.edu/parking.

• Bicycles must be stored in designated bicycle racks within University housing. Residents may not lock bicycles on the balcony or posts attached to the building, nor may they bring them into the apartments or suites or hallways of the residence halls. The University is not responsible for stolen or damaged bicycles.

B.19 Personal Property Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to restrict the use of furniture, i.e., pianos, organs, drums, dartboards, waterbeds, and similar large or potentially disturbing items. Residents may bring/move personal furnishings. Housing and Residence Life assumes no responsibility for anything left in the apartment or residence hall suite upon resident move out. Items left in the apartment or suite will be disposed of at the owner’s expense. Items may not be stored in the furnace closet, stairwells, on balconies, or inner courtyards.

B.20 Quiet and/or Courtesy Hours Violation of quiet and/or courtesy hours is considered disorderly conduct. Courtesy hours are always in effect. Community residents and/or Housing and Residence Life staff reserve the right to ask people to observe courtesy hours at all times. Quiet hours are:

Sunday–Thursday, 10 p.m.–8 a.m. Friday–Saturday, Midnight–8 a.m.

24-hour quiet hours begin the night before final exams are administered.

Student equipment (stereos, televisions, musical instruments, alarms, etc.) that continues to be a noise problem will be confiscated by staff. Items will be stored for 10 working days. Unclaimed items will be disposed of by Housing and Residence Life.

B.21 Tobacco-Free Policy Smoking or the use of tobacco or tobacco products, including E-cigarettes or any other devices that use a heating element to vaporize a liquid solution that includes nicotine and/or flavored vapor designed to mimic traditional cigarettes or cigars, is prohibited inside all student housing facilities. This includes residence halls, apartments, common areas, balconies, building entries, and student rooms. Smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas in student housing.

B.22 Trash Residents are responsible for the removal of trash and garbage in and around their apartment or suite. All trash must be disposed of in provided dumpsters within University housing. Leaving trash outside apartments is prohibited. Trash that is not attributed to an individual

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may result in charges being prorated among the residents of the building or floor where the trash was found. Charges will be assessed to student accounts. If a Housing and Residence Life staff member requests that trash be removed, due to health and safety concerns, the student(s) will have 24 hours to comply with the request. Failure to remove trash in a timely fashion could result in a disciplinary fine.

B.23 Visitation and Guests

B.23.1 Guests

• Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests. Residents will be charged for any and all violations caused by their guests.

• Guests are prohibited from staying in the apartments or residence halls without the resident. These individuals will be asked to leave by Public Safety officers or Housing and Residence Life staff if found unescorted or unaccompanied in or around University housing property. Residents who leave guests unattended will be held responsible.

• Number of Guests – The maximum capacity of any two-bedroom apartment or residence hall suite is eight (8) persons, including both residents and guests. A one-bedroom apartment or residence hall suite has a maximum capacity of four (4) persons, including both residents and guests. This number has been established by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

B.23.2 Visitors Any guest staying in University housing must be of the same gender as the resident, and must be registered with the department of Housing and Residence Life. Guests may be registered by going to the Housing and Residence Life website at www.usi.edu/housing. Unregistered guests will be asked to leave University housing. Guests must be at least 16 years of age.

B.23.3 Hours of visitation are as follows:

Sunday–Thursday: 7 a.m.–Midnight

Friday and Saturday: 7 a.m.–2 a.m.

B.24 Fees/Fines/Restitution Fees, fines and/or restitution may be assessed to a student’s account, if there are damages or policy violations the student is found responsible for.

B.25 Service/Assistance Animals for Residents with Disabilities As part of the University’s commitment to comply with state and federal law and best practices that specifically apply to University housing and residential services for individuals with disabilities, Housing and Residence Life permits the use of service/assistance animals in University residence halls or apartments on a case-by-case basis, on the conditions described under his section.

B.25.1 Request to House Service/Assistance Animal

• A resident student who wishes to use a service/ assistance animal in campus housing must notify Disability Services no later than sixty (60) days prior to the date prospective housing will be needed. Exceptions to this deadline can be made on a case- by-case basis for those students who are experiencing an unexpected change in their disability status and/or treatment needs.

• A student with a disability who requests to live with a service/assistance animal in University housing must first provide Disability Services with documentation from the student’s healthcare or mental health provider that clearly documents the following three (3) criteria: 1. That the student has a disability 2. That the animal is necessary to afford the student an equal opportunity to use and enjoy his/her University residence hall or apartment; and 3. That there is an identifiable relationship or nexus between the disability and the assistance the animal provides.

• The documentation should be on the health care or mental health provider’s letterhead and signed by the provider in her or his own hand.

• Upon reviewing the student’s documentation, Disability Services will advise Housing and Residence Life of the student’s request and a conclusion as to whether the documentation warrants approval of a service/assistance animal in campus housing.

B.25.2 Animal Behavior If the animal has a history of dangerous behavior if will not be permitted to reside in campus housing. Once approved by the University, a service/assistance animal may continue to reside in a University residence hall or apartment provided that its behavior, noise, odor, and waste do not create unreasonable disruptions for residents. The University reserves the right to temporarily or permanently exclude a service/assistance animal from University residence halls or apartments if effective action is not taken to control the animal at all times, if the animal’s presence would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others (unless it can be eliminated or reduced by a reasonable accommodation), if the animals’ behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, or if the animal’s behavior otherwise creates a significant disruption to the environment or operations of the University. Should the animal be permanently removed from the premises, the owner may request permission from Housing and Residence Life to move out of University housing by following the contract release process. Damage to University property caused by a service/assistance animal will be charged to the student’s account. No deposit is required to house an approved service/assistance animal in University housing.

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B.25.3 Notifications The University is committed to respecting and protecting the confidentiality of all students with disabilities. However, given the number of staff persons who are responsible for operating and maintain campus housing, Housing and Residence Life does share limited information about the presence of a service/assistance animal with University staff on a need-to-know basis. Students with an approved service/assistance animal in University housing will be asked to sign an “Authorization to Release Information” form, and will in turn be provided with a description of the staff/departments that received notification about the presence of an approved service/assistance animal. Notifications may be sent to staff by email or by written memorandum, and will follow the general format of the sample notification below:

“This message serves as notification that in complied with State and federal law and best practices concerning individuals with disabilities (student’s name) who lives in (address) is permitted to possess a service/assistance animal in campus housing for (semester and year) semester. As such, the student has a (animal type) in the unit. This information is confidential and is being shared with you because you have a need-to-know based on your potential interaction with this student and your responsibility for their living unit in the normal course of your duties or because you supervise an area that includes this student’s living unit. This information must not be shared with others without first consulting with the sender of this message.”

It will be the responsibility of students with approved service/assistance animals in campus housing to notify actual or potential roommates that an animal will be residing in that living unit. Such notifications should occur as soon as possible to insure that the other students will have a reasonable opportunity to make other arrangements and/or to express their concerns to the office of Housing and Residence Life as described below in B.25.4.

B.25.4 Conflicting Disability or Other Concerns of Those Sharing a Housing Unit Some people may have conditions such as animal-related allergic reactions or phobias that are substantial enough to qualify as disabilities that qualify for accommodations, or there may be other concerns related to the presence of an animal in campus housing. In these circumstances, Housing and Residence Life will consider the needs of both persons and will make a good faith effort to reasonably accommodate all disabilities and student concerns to the extent that circumstances permit. Such accommodations may include, but not be limited to, relocation to another unity (depending on availability), exchanging living units with another student (depending on the availability of other students willing to make such an exchange), or being released from a campus housing contract with no financial penalty. Students who become aware of the presence of a service/assistance animal in University housing and who believe that they will require such accommodations are

encouraged to contact Housing and Residence Life as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances, the student may be referred to Disability Services for a determination of the existence of a disability that requires an accommodation.

B.25.5 Student’s Responsibilities

B.25.5.1 Control of the Animal The service/assistance animal must be under the control and supervision of the student at all times within the student’s residence hall or apartment. Service/assistance animals may be “exercised” on the exterior grounds as long as they are under the control of the student at all times. Service/assistance animals may not remain in the residence hall or apartment without the student unless the animal is appropriately secured in the bedroom during the student’s absence. Students who are leaving campus for a period exceeding twelve (12) consecutive hours must make prior arrangements to take the animal with them or to board it off-campus for the duration of their absence.

While not required, students with service/assistance animals in campus housing are strongly encouraged to identify a back-up handler who will care for the animal in case of an emergency, and to provide that person’s name and contact information to Housing and Residence Life. If an emergency situation will result in the animal being under the care of the back-up handler for longer than twelve (12) consecutive hours, Housing and Residence Life must be contacted as soon as possible. Emergency situations involved students who have service/assistance animals in campus housing will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Animals may be “exercise” on exterior areas of campus as long as they are under the control and supervision of the student at all times. However, only animals that also meet the complete and proper federal and state definitions of “service animal” as descried below may be taken to the University residence hall or apartment of other students, or to other areas of campus where programs or services are provided (e.g., food service areas, convenience store, classrooms, outside programs/activities, etc.) outside of the student’s own residence.

The animal is a “service animal” as defined by current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and State of Indiana regulations if that animal is specifically trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a physical, sensory, psychiatric/mental, or intellectual disability; and the work or tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Animals that only provide crime deterrent effects, emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not fall under the legal definition of “service animal.” Per ADA regulations, the University reserves the right at any time to ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what specific work

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or task the animal has been trained to perform. The University also reserves the right to request that the animal be removed from the property if it does not meet the legal definition of “service animal,” if the handler fails to keep it under appropriate control, or if it is not housebroken.

B.25.5.2 Care and Cleaning of the Animal

• The student is responsible for making sure that reasonable sanitary standards are maintained everywhere the animal is present.

• The student is responsible for promptly picking up and properly disposing of all animal waste by immediately disposing of the waste in outdoor dumpsters. Animal waste is not to be disposed of in indoor trash receptacles.

• The student is responsible for feeding and watering the animal within all living areas. If the service/ assistance animal vomits or becomes incontinent, it is the responsibility of the student to clean waste immediately. Service/assistance animals should be kept clean and free from odor at all times.

• The student is responsible for providing the service/ assistance animal with appropriate veterinary medical care on both an ongoing and an emergency basis.

• The student is responsible for being knowledgeable of state and local immunization and licensing requirements for their service/assistance animal and for fully complying with those requirements.

B.25.5.3 Community Living The student is responsible for assuring that the service/ assistance animal does not interfere with the routine activities of University residence halls or apartments. Sensitivity to residents and staff with allergies or to those who fear animals is an important consideration for the student in order to ensure a community environment that supports the individual needs of all who reside and work at the University of Southern Indiana. It is also important for students with approved service/assistance animals in campus housing to notify actual or potential roommates as soon as possible that an animal will be residing in that living unit so that affected students will have a reasonable opportunity to make other arrangements and/ or to express their concerns to the office of Housing and Residence Life as described above in B.25.4.