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The Office of Student Life is a department within the Student Affairs Division
which reports to the Assistant Vice President for Campus Life.
Office of Student Life
330 Memorial Union, Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: 401-874-2101; Fax: 401-874-5574; TTD: 401-874-2098 |
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6. Policies for All Resident Students. Community standards set forth in this handbook pertain to all students; the following policies pertain especially to students living in residence halls, on-campus apartments, fraternities and sororities. The following definitions pertain.
a. Student Residence/ residential building: A room, suite, or apartment occupied by a student or students, and owned by the University or located on University property or contractually related to the University.
b. Period of Occupancy: The period of time during which a student has been permitted to reside in a student residence by written agreement with the University or the fraternity or sorority, specifically excluding designated University holidays or between semester breaks during which the residence hall, apartment, suite, or fraternity or sorority house is officially closed.
6.1 Fire Alarm. Every resident must immediately vacate a building when a fire alarm sounds.
6.2 Guests. Residents are responsible for their guests' conduct and may be held accountable for any damages and/ or loss of property caused by their guests.
6.3 Noise. The University has established guidelines which allows all students to live on campus without being subjected to disturbing sounds. A disturbing sound is defined as noise that interferes with study, sleep, or any other legitimate educational or residential activity regardless of the time. If, in the judgment of a University staff member, the noise level has the potential to interfere with any educational or residential activity, those responsible for the noise will be held in violation of the noise policy. This includes any noise outside of a residential building that may be heard inside the building.
6.4 Pets. Animals are not allowed in residential buildings with the exception of fish, and animals trained and used as disability aids. Fish are permitted in properly maintained aquariums of 20 gallons or less which must have noise-free compressors for the filters. Any and all damage caused by the fish or the aquarium is the financial responsibility of the owner of the fish or aquarium.
6.5 Combustible Materials. Gasoline operated machinery, such as motorcycles or mopeds, and any other combustible items including combustible engines (regardless of their state of dismantlement), non-electric lanterns, and large combustible decorations including live Christmas trees or any part of them, are not permitted in residential units. The burning of candles, incense, and other substances, including tobacco, is prohibited. Violation of this policy can result in the confiscation of such materials by Campus Police or through administrative search.
6.6 Posting. The posting of any paper, cardboard, poster, or other flammable material is prohibited in all common areas in residential buildings, except as otherwise designated by appropriate university officials. Posting in individual residence halls can be done only with the approval of the residence Hall Director. Memo boards and/ or pads on residence hall room doors are also prohibited.
6.7 Appliances. An electric clock, razor, hair dryer, curling iron, blanket, stereo, small television, and small fan are the only appliances allowed to be in residential rooms. Each room may also have one refrigerator not to exceed 3 cu. ft. capacity. Air conditioners and any other appliance with a rating of 1,000 watts or higher and all cooking appliances except approved microwave ovens are prohibited. All quartz halogen lights are prohibited.
6.8 Trash. Residents must clean their rooms regularly, remove waste material, and maintain reasonable sanitation and safety standards. Residents must keep their trash in their own rooms and empty it into dumpsters when necessary. Students living in residential buildings with suites are also responsible for cleaning their semi-private bathroom. Students may not place trash in lounges, hallways, stairwells, closets, suite areas, bathrooms or on balconies. Nothing may be thrown from windows, doors, or balconies.
6.9 Recycling. Rhode Island has a required recycling policy and students are required to dispose of recyclables in the designated receptacles located in each residence building. Contaminating recycling receptacles by putting in items not designated for that container is prohibited.
6.10 Roof. Students are not allowed on roofs of any residential buildings.
6.11 Waterbeds. Waterbeds are not permitted in students' rooms.
6.12 Bicycles. In buildings where bicycle racks are available, bicycles may not be kept in rooms or apartments.
6.13 Entry and Search Procedures. University officials and employees are not permitted to enter or search private student rooms during the period of occupancy except in accord with the following procedures.
6.14 Entry and Search by Consent of the Student.
a. Any authorized University employee may enter a student residence if a student who is a resident gives voluntary consent. The student's consent must be freely given and must not be based on coercion or threats by the University, and must not be occasioned by the student's fear of reprisal for failure to give consent. Consent includes request for repairs.
b. The intrusion by the employee must be limited to the scope of the consent given by the student; for example, if the student consents to entry by the employee, the employee is not entitled to search the student's belongings without obtaining further consent to do so.
c. Any student who is a resident of the room, suite, or apartment may consent to entry of the authorized University employee and to the search of student's personal belongings. However, no student may consent to the search of another student's bedroom, closets, locker, suitcases, or other areas under the primary control of another student. Whenever a student's area or belongings are searched by consent, a consent to search form is to be completed by the staff member making the search and signed by the student( s) whose belongings are to be searched.
6.15 Entry Without Consent in a Health or Safety Emergency. The Director of Security, the Director of Safety and Risk Management or his/ her designee, the Director of Housing and Residential Life, an RHC/ HD, or a Security Officer may enter a student residence without consent when the employee believes such entry is necessary on an emergency basis (when time is not afforded to make alternative arrangements; i. e. during assault, fire, building damage, etc.) to protect the health and/ or safety of persons or to make emergency repairs to University facilities to avoid damage to University or student property.
6.16 Entry for Routine Inspections and Scheduled Repairs. The Director of Housing and Residential Life or his/ her designee may enter residence hall rooms or on -campus apartments and the Assistant Vice President for Campus Life or his/ her designee may enter fraternity or sorority rooms without student consent to conduct general and routine inspections/ repairs for health, safety, and building maintenance purposes. Such inspections/ repairs may be conducted only after the University has posted a notice indicating the purpose of inspection/ repairs and stating that the inspection/ repairs will take place no sooner than 24 and no later than 72 hours after the notice is posted. The employee authorized to conduct the inspection/ repairs may not enter the room without first knocking on the door and announcing the purpose for entry.
Scheduled renovation projects in residence halls sometimes requires access to student rooms. Any renovation project requiring room access will be posted no less than 24 hours in advance.
6.17 Entry Without Consent on Suspicion of Violation of University Regulations or Federal or State Law.
a. Where federal, state, or local law enforcement officers, including URI campus police, are involved in an investigation of possible violation of state or federal law, any search of a student residence will be conducted only in accord with legal standards applicable to police searches of private residences. No University employee or agent other than a URI police officer is authorized to conduct a search of a student's residence in connection with such investigation. URI officials may, however, cooperate with the law enforcement officers executing a search authorized by an appropriate federal or state judicial officer.
b. If no federal, state, or local law enforcement officer (including URI campus police) is involved in an investigation of a possible violation of University policy, and if a URI employee (other than a URI campus police officer) or student has reason to believe that the search of a particular room will yield evidence of violation of a University regulation by a particular student, that employee or student should contact the Director of Housing and Residential Life, the Dean of Students, or the Assistant Vice President for Campus Life. If the director or Assistant Vice President believes that a search of the residence will produce evidence of a violation of University regulations, or evidence of the identity of a person participating in such a violation, s/ he may issue an administrative search warrant. Once the administrative warrant has been granted, the search will be conducted only by the Director of Security, the Director of Housing and Residential Life, or his/ her designee. Any evidence found in the administrative search that indicates a violation of University policy has occurred may be used for internal University action.
6.18 Emergency Removal from On-Campus Residence. Pending final student disciplinary action on violation of University regulations, the privilege of a student to live in or visit residence halls, on-campus apartments, fraternities, or sororities may be withdrawn for reasons of imminent danger to his/ her physical or emotional safety or well-being, or for reasons which seriously jeopardize the safety, well-being, or rights of other residents or staff. The decision to remove a student from residence halls or on-campus apartments will be made only by the Director of Housing and Residential Life or a designee who may consult with the Office of Student Life and other University officials as necessary. The decision to remove a student from sororities or fraternities will be made by the Office of Campus Life in consultation with the Office of Student Life. When a student is removed from on-campus housing under these circumstances and is subsequently charged in writing with violation of University regulations, the rights and responsibilities of the University Student Discipline System will apply. A Hearing or Administrative Action must be scheduled within 15 workdays of the emergency removal. The student may request a hearing delay in writing. If a student is separated from campus by this authority, the student must remain separated until the hearing is held.
6.19 Enforced Reassignment and Removal. If, in the judgment of the Director of Housing and Residential Life or his/ her designee, reassignment is necessary to protect the community, ensure the rights of other residents, or for reasons of health and safety, enforced reassignment may be initiated prior to formal action through the University Student Discipline System. Any student removed from an on-campus residence unit for disciplinary reasons may not live in another on-campus residence unit without advance permission from the Dean of Students. This includes, but is not limited to, fraternities, sororities, on -campus apartments and residence halls.
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