Campus Living Residential Policies

These Housing and Residence Life Campus Living Policies supplement the Housing Contract and DePauw Student Handbook. Violations of these policies may result in charges through the University Community Standards process.

COVID-19

Health practice recommendations and requirements supersede the residential policies outlined below.  

Accommodations

Students with unique requirements who may need special housing accommodations are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services prior to the housing application deadline. This could include medical conditions, impairments, or other conditions that substantially limit a major life activity. Housing and Residence Life will do its best to meet housing accommodation requests submitted after the application deadline but cannot guarantee that the accommodation or other residential requests such as room type, roommate requests, building location, etc. will be able to be met. Approved ADA housing requests will be sent from Student Accessibility Services to Housing and Residence Life.

Some upperclass facilities are not air conditioned. Students with a medical need for air conditioning should contact Student Accessibility Services if ADA accommodations are needed prior to application deadline. A limited number of window air conditioning units are permitted per building due to fire safety. Air conditioning requests submitted after the deadline may not be able to be accommodated. Please contact Student Accessibility Services for the required air conditioning verification form for further information.

Housing accommodations must be renewed on an annual basis. Students wishing to continue current housing accommodations should contact Student Accessibility Services.

Student Accessibility Services may be contacted by phone at (765) 658-6267 or by email at studentaccessibility@depauw.edu.

Alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption is an unfortunate part of the student social culture on campuses today. Our primary objective is to help our students make responsible decisions to reduce the risks associated with alcohol use. We expect our students to follow Indiana state law regarding alcohol consumption. The laws of the State of Indiana provide that persons under 21 years of age may not consume, possess or transport alcoholic beverages (including beer, liquor, wine, wine coolers and mixed beverages). Persons possessing, keeping and/or consuming alcoholic beverages in a living unit or student room must fully comply with state and local law, the DePauw Student Handbook and any specific living unit policies.

Kegs, beer bongs or other drinking games and related paraphernalia deemed excessive are not permitted in the living units. Any violation of the laws of the State of Indiana regarding alcohol is grounds for University action. Students are personally responsible for awareness of the law.

For students over the age of 21, possessing, keeping, and/or consuming alcoholic beverages in their room with the door closed is permitted. Possessing, keeping, and/or consuming alcoholic beverages out-of-doors or in the common areas of the living unit is prohibited.

In addition to the policy on alcohol for all residents, Rector Village and UOAH residents must abide by the following: If all students in the unit are 21 or older, possessing, keeping, and/or consuming alcoholic beverages in the shared areas, such as living rooms, of the house or apartment, is permitted. At no time is it permitted for students under 21 to consume or possess alcohol. At no time is alcohol permitted in a living unit or common area within university-owned residence halls.

Animals

For the health and safety of residents, animals (other than fish in an aquarium 5 gallons or smaller and service dogs or approved emotional support animals as defined below) are not permitted for any length of time in any area of living units, including student rooms and common areas. In addition, food, toys, or animal-related items intended for animals may not be stored in the student's room, nor may they be stored in the common areas, or placed on or around the exterior of a living unit. Students and their roommates who have an unapproved pet or animal found in their residence are subjected to a $150 fee billed to their account and will be reported to Community Standards. Any subsequent disregard of this policy will result in another $200 fee billed to the student's account and referral to Community Standards.  All animal accommodations for students require authorization/approval from the Student Accessibility Services office.

SERVICE DOGS

DePauw University recognizes that service dogs can play an important role in facilitating the independence of some individuals with certain disabilities. Therefore, an appropriately trained animal, under the control of its partner/handler, may be allowed in campus facilities where animals would typically not be permitted.

The health and safety of DePauw students, faculty, staff and the service dog is an important concern; therefore, only animals that meet the criteria below will be exempt from the policy that otherwise prohibits animals in living units.

As defined by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, DePauw University accommodates service dogs. A service dog is defined as any dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Students with service dogs are permitted to bring their service dog in all areas of a public space, including the private residential space assigned to the student.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

As defined by the Fair Housing Act, DePauw University may allow emotional support animals in approved living units. An emotional support animal's sole function is to provide emotional support or promote emotional well-being. A person may be approved for an emotional support animal if:

a)       The person has a documented disability

b)       There is an identifiable relationship between the disability and the assistance the animal provides

c)       The animal is necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity to use the residence halls

REQUIREMENTS FOR OWNERSHIP

Individuals using service dogs or emotional support animals are responsible for their animals at all times. Use of the animal may not cause a direct threat to the health and safety of others. Emotional support animals are allowed only in the private residential space assigned to the student in a living unit.

Housing and Residence Life will not permit animals if they would cause physical damage to the property of others, would pose an undue health, financial or administrative burden; or would fundamentally alter the nature of living unit operations. For example, if a roommate has asthma/allergies or a fear of the animal, the university will make all reasonable efforts to find alternative housing arrangements, contingent upon proper, timely notice regarding the need for the animal.

REQUIREMENTS OF ANIMALS AND THEIR OWNER INCLUDE:

a)       Animals must be licensed in accordance with city regulations and, if appropriate, wear a valid vaccination tag

b)       Animals must be in good health. Any animals occupying student housing must have a written annual clean bill of health from a licensed veterinarian

c)       Owner must be in full control of the animal at all times

d)       Owner is responsible for appropriate waste clean-up and overall cleanliness of the animal

e)       Owner is responsible for the appropriate management of their animal in all facilities. Disruptive and/or aggressive behavior on the part of the animal will result in the owner being asked to remove the animal from the living unit unless its handler takes effective action to control the animal.

f)        With respect to service dogs, owners may be asked to identify the work or tasks that the animal has been trained to perform

Determinations are made in consultation between Student Accessibility Services, the Director of Housing and Residence Life, and when needed, the Director of the Counseling Center. Housing and Residence Life must be notified by Student Accessibility Services that the request for the animal has been received by their office and all of the documentation has been submitted prior to the animal's arrival on campus. The student must complete all appropriate procedures before bringing the animal.

For more information, contact Student Accessibility Services at 765-658-6267.

Check-In & Check-Out

At the beginning of the year and when moving into a new room, residents will review an electronic copy of a room condition report. The room condition report for students living in Rector Village or UOAH will also include common area condition information. Each resident is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the report(s) and submitting any changes and/or additions within 7 days of the receipt of the original reports.  

The room is assumed to be in room-ready condition at check-in unless otherwise stated on the room condition report. The room condition report must be carefully and accurately completed since it will be used in the check-out procedure. Room condition reports may not be updated after the 7 days or throughout the academic semester. Guidelines for check-out and damage(s) will be distributed prior to the end of each semester.

At check-out, the cost of repair or replacement of University property damaged since the initial completion of the room condition report will be charged to the resident based on an assessment conducted by university staff. Failure to return room or unit keys (interior and/or exterior doors) will result in a lost key/lock change charge. Common area damages and cleaning will be charged to each student of the unit. It is the responsibility of the resident to properly complete the check-out procedures. Residents who wish to contest end of the year charges must do so by July 1st following their check-out.

Students who withdraw from the University need to provide Housing and Residence Life a plan of departure. This may not exceed 48 hours after notifying the institution of their withdrawal.  Personal items and belongings must be fully removed from the students assigned room and common areas. If personal belongings are not removed within this time frame, items will be considered abandoned and disposed of, resulting in a fee to the student's account.

Keys not returned by the check-out date and time and/or not returned in the designated locations as specified by Housing and Residence Life will result in charges to the student’s account. Students who return keys late will be assessed an improper checkout fee of $50.  Late is considered two business days after the students designated move-out date and time. Students who do not return late keys after this time will be assessed $105 for a lock change for each key missing. Students may not return keys via mail and accounts will not be credited for any keys mailed back to the Housing and Residence Life Office.

Cleaning & Upkeep

It is the responsibility of the residents to maintain the property in a clean, neat appearance, both inside and outside of assigned units. DePauw University is responsible for lawn care and snow removal. Snow removal, for these purposes, is confined to the city sidewalk. Residents should care for their own steps and walkways.

Custodial services are not provided for the common areas or individual resident rooms in Rector Village or University-owned apartments and houses. Residents are responsible for the cleaning of these areas. Common areas include the living room, kitchen, restrooms, and hallways. Maintaining a clean area helps prevent pests and unsanitary conditions to all residents within the unit.

Students residing in residence halls are responsible for the cleaning of their individual assigned rooms.  Rooms should be clean with minimal personal belongings on the floor and trash and food should be removed in a timely manner. Regular removal of these items prevents health and safety concerns. 

All Residence Halls at DePauw University have at least one communal kitchen. It is each student's responsibility to clean their dishes and surfaces immediately after each use to allow for sanitary living as well as ease of use by the next student. Additionally, food storage can be limited and each student is responsible for proper labeling of owned goods with their full name and the proper disposal of expired items in an appropriate amount of time; not to exceed five days after the best used by date. All meat must be stored in food-safe containers at all times or it will be disposed of immediately. Disposal of expired food or unclean dishes will result in charges per the damage and vandalism fee schedule. Facilities Management will dispose of all unmarked and expired food items every Friday.

Common Area Damage

At the beginning of each academic year, the common areas of all the living units are assessed for the quality of the facilities and furnishings. Housing and Residence Life staff will solicit information from the residents of the residence halls, suites, houses and apartments in order to hold the responsible student(s) accountable for the listed damages. Charges will be billed to the responsible parties as damage is identified or at the end of the corresponding semester/term. If no student(s)/group can be found responsible, the total charges will be billed equally among residents of the living unit with a minimum charge of $25.00 per student. Hosts of social events, whether a group or individual, will be held responsible for damage in the area and immediate vicinity used for the event.

The Common Area Damage policy is one way that we can support community engagement. It is not intended to punish communities for damage caused to their common areas, but it is intended to encourage residents to hold their peers and themselves accountable for behavior that leads to damage. Ideally, the person who caused the damage will take responsibility for his/her actions. Likewise, a community can also help hold their peers accountable for the decisions individuals make.

You can reduce common area damage by:

• Making sure that outside doors are not propped, so that non-community members are unable to enter halls and cause damage to your community. For safety reasons, do not let non-residents who you are not personally hosting (guests and visitors) into living units;

• Keeping your eyes and ears open in an effort to try to prevent others from damaging your community;

• Talking to your First-Year Resident Assistant, Community Resource Assistant or professional staff in the Housing and Residence Life Office, if you have information about specific common area damage;

• Letting your community know that you will not tolerate others causing harm to your living environment.

• Playing an active role in the shared-governance of your community by reporting issues immediately to the Office of Facilities Management by way of submitting a work order through e-services (FAMIS) or informing your First-Year Resident Assistant, Community Resource Assistant or a professional staff member in the Housing and Residence Life Office.

Drugs

The use and/or possession of illegal/controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia in living units are prohibited. Students suspected of substance use will be confronted and a Housing and Residence Life staff member, as outlined in the housing contract, may enter the associated room. Students may be charged with possession should illegal drugs be found in their room, whether or not the student is present at the time. They may also be charged with possession if they are in a room where drugs are present, or at any time drugs are found on their person or in their belongings. For additional information, please refer to the DePauw Student Handbook.

Event Registration

Students wishing to register an event that consists of ten or more people in Rector Village or UOAH must contact the Housing and Residence Life Office. Student host(s) will meet with the Housing and Residence Life staff to discuss the event registration. Students wishing to register an event during Monon Bell or Little Five Weekend will need to schedule an individual meeting to review their registration, risk reduction and event management plan. All events, regardless of whether or not alcohol will be present, are required to be registered. Events in these areas are limited to 35 individuals or less.

Registration is required so that student hosts will have the opportunity to understand the responsibilities and liabilities associated with hosting an event. Students are responsible for ensuring that their behavior and that of their guests and visitors do not violate policies, laws, or rights of others. Because the actions of guests also impact members of the DePauw community, students assume responsibility for those they host in the community. Parties, events, and other situations involving alcohol may not be registered during the weekday, during Orientation or on the weekends prior to exams. Events registered during Monon or Little 5 weekends will require additional registration information.  

Students wishing to sponsor an event in the residence halls must contact the Housing and Residence Life Office for a meeting with the professional staff member who oversees their community. Events registered in residence halls must be held in a first floor, basement or common area and be alcohol-free. Individuals and student organizations can request to use residence hall lobbies and TV lounges through this process. Hosts of residence hall events are responsible for placing signs in the reserved area, cleaning up trash, and leaving the space in the condition in which it was found. Any damages or necessary excessive cleaning will be billed to the person or organization securing the reservation.

Fire Alarms

Residents, guests, and visitors must vacate the residence unit any time a fire alarm sounds. Residents are expected to remain outside of the building at a safe distance until permitted to return to the unit by a member of the Housing and Residence Life staff, DePauw Police or Greencastle Fire Department. First-Year Resident Assistants and Community Resource Assistants will instruct residents at the beginning of the year where to meet in the event of a fire alarm or fire. In the event of a fire alarm or fire, residents of the following units should meet at the following locations:

• Bloomington Street Hall: Bloomington Street Parking Lot

• Bishop Roberts Hall: At the GCPA, across Olive Street

• Humbert Hall: At the GCPA, across Olive Street

• Longden Hall: Across College Street, in front of Kappa Alpha Theta

• Lucy Rowland Hall: Across Locust Street, in front of the Union Building

• Mason Hall: Across Locust Street, in front of the Union Building

• Rector Village

  • Chabraja, Leis, Montgomery, and Warne Halls: Across Anderson Street, near Beta Theta Pi

  • Holmberg, Reese, and Strasma Halls: At the east end of the Rector Village Parking Lot

• Senior Hall: Across Anderson Street, in front of residential units on sidewalk

• UOAH units: Outside, across the street or at a safe distance away from the unit.

• Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Hall: At the GCPA, across Olive Street.

Fire Safety

Tampering with fire safety equipment, including fire extinguishers, emergency pull stations, and smoke detectors is a violation of University policy and the State of Indiana law. Information about tampering with fire safety equipment will be forwarded to the Community Standards Office for review and be subject to a fine. Damaged smoke detectors, those missing batteries and/or tampering with fire extinguishers are subject to a replacement fee.

To ensure the safety of all residents (within a room, unit or building), items, such as tapestries, fabrics, flags, etc., cannot be hung on ceilings, obstruct lighting or cover smoke detectors or vents in any way. While cooking, the stove/oven may not be left unattended and students may not dispose of hot grease or oil in trash cans and/or sink drains.

The residents of each University-Owned Apartment or House and Rector Village are expected to attend a program on fire safety. Residents will be provided with the fire safety information regarding their unit upon move in and upon request. It is important for each resident to familiarize themselves with proper fire safety practices within their living unit, evacuation routes, exits and related emergency procedures. Bi-monthly inspections of fire safety equipment will take place each semester to ensure all equipment is properly working. Additionally, fire alarms tests will take place each semester to ensure fire safety equipment is working properly and residents are informed of safety information.

Residents are expected to vacate living units when the fire alarm is activated. Students who do not vacate buildings will be reported to Community Standards as a Fire Safety violation.

Egress

Combustible materials shall not be stored in exits or exit enclosures. Combustible materials shall not be stored in exits or enclosures for stairways and ramps.  Items cannot be hung in front of doors. Items cannot be in the hallways, stairwells, or in front of doors. Interior exit stairway or ramps shall not be used for any purpose other than as a means of egress.  Exterior ramps shall be used for means of egress and not for any other purpose. 

Exits

Fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed from view. Required exit widths shall not be obstructed in any manner. The minimum exit corridor width is 36" for occupant capacity of 50 or less (duplex main hall width is 47" and duplex 2nd floor hallway to stairs is 40"). 

Furniture

The furnishings in the lounges, living rooms, and other common areas are provided for the use of all residents, guests, and visitors. Residents may not move or remove furniture or other University-owned items from the assigned room to any other location within or outside the living unit (including student rooms). University storage facilities are extremely limited, and University furnishings cannot be stored within them.

Any items left in the hallways, bathrooms, and kitchens at check-out will be assumed abandoned and will be removed. Students responsible will be charged for the replacement, repair or cleaning cost of any furniture not in place at check-out and billed for any furniture moved within the unit that are not returned to their original room upon check-out. Additional fees will be charged for personal furniture and other personal items that require removal and disposal by the Office of Facilities Management.

All indoor furniture must be kept inside at all times. Only furniture provided or purchased by students and designated for outdoor use can be used outdoors. Students responsible will be charged for the replacement, repair and/or cleaning cost of any furniture not in place at check-out and billed for any furniture moved within the unit that are not returned to their original position upon check-out.

Grills

All students living in University-Owned Apartments and Houses who want an outdoor grill for their unit must register the grill by setting up an appointment with the professional staff member who oversees their community. Grills may not be used or stored at University-Owned Apartments and Houses if they are not registered.

Guests

A guest is anyone who is not assigned to or contracted for a particular room but is in that room or the living unit at the invitation of a resident. Guests visiting students in a residential community are required to observe the policies of that living unit. Hosts are required to escort their guests in the residential community at all times. Should a guest be involved in a violation of University policy, the student hosting the guest will be held accountable their guest’s actions. Residents hosting guests should inform their guests of policies and monitor their behavior in the living units.  Residential communities include residence halls, Rector Village, and university-owned apartments and houses.

All guests must leave the living unit when instructed by a University staff member. In addition, guests and visitors whose length of stay has been deemed excessive or to be disrupting the rights of one's roommate(s) or suitemate(s) or living unit residents, may be asked to vacate the living unit. Each living unit has an open visitation policy unless the students residing in that living unit vote to establish visitation hours. Floors, hall lounges, hallways, or any other common area cannot be used to provide overnight accommodations for guests and/or visitors. Guests and visitors may stay on campus for no more than 3 nights in a 7-day period, not to exceed more than 12 nights in a semester.

Healthy Living Communities

In order to be supportive of student lifestyle choices and to promote healthy living environments, DePauw University designates certain living areas as Healthy Living Communities. These communities intentionally support healthy life choices, and the students who choose to live in these environments commit to a lifestyle that refrains from the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs within their residential environment. As a result of living in these communities, students live in an environment that is free from the secondary effects of these substances and feel supported in their individual choice to refrain from using.

Additionally, these communities offer specific resources, programs and events that support healthy life choices, provide for quiet environments conducive to studying, create intentional opportunities for social and interpersonal connections, and give students the responsibility to help set the standards of the community and empower them to uphold those standards.

Housing Closings

All university housing closes during Winter Break at the end of the fall semester and will remain open during other scheduled break periods (Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break and Spring Break). Students who plan to remain in University Housing during open break periods must register in advance with the Housing and Residence Life Office. Only residents who have registered will have access to the halls during these break periods.

Before breaks, information regarding closing and the deadlines to request extensions will be distributed to residents. Residents are expected to be aware of all deadlines and closing dates. All extension requests will be due by the break extension deadline listed on the housing calendar. Failure to vacate the halls on time may result in a fee being assessed.

At the end of fall and spring terms, students not actively participating in commencement and
not approved to reside on campus for the summer must depart their assigned residence
within 24 hours of their last final examination or by the designated date and time of housing closing,
whichever is first. Final residence hall and Rector Village closing is 6 p.m. on the last day of final
examinations. University-owned apartments and houses close at 11 a.m. on the day following
Commencement.

Inspections

University staff members may inspect student rooms and public areas at any time for acceptable standards of health and safety, observance of campus living unit policies, regulations and requirements of University policy and public law and the maintenance and repair of equipment.

University officials, including Housing and Residence Life staff members, reserve the right to enter a student room (locked or unlocked) at any time it is deemed necessary for immediate resolution of problems such as policy enforcement, common area furniture removal, maintenance problems, illness, hazards, health and safety concerns, and other emergency situations. For additional information, please refer to your housing contract.

Insurance

Housing and Residence Life and DePauw University are not responsible for the theft, loss or damage to personal belongings. In the event of a fire, flooding, or natural disasters, DePauw University requires our students to acquire personal property insurance.  Unplanned events and the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them negatively impact students and their collegiate experience. This additional layer of protection increases the likelihood of compensation in the event of damage or loss to a student’s personal property. The level of compensation is dependent on the student’s policy and coverage.

Students are required by the University to have personal property insurance. For more information visit the Personal Property Insurance page on the Housing and Residence Life website.

Keys & Student ID Cards

At the beginning of the year and when moving into a new room, residents will be checked out a key. Students residing in a University-Owned Apartment or House will also be assigned an outside door key. University keys and building access may not be loaned to others at any time. Residents are not permitted to copy any DePauw University key. Duplicate keys will not be accepted at check-out. Keys not returned by the check-out date and time and/or not returned in the designated locations as specified by Housing and Residence Life will result in charges to the student’s account. Students who return keys late will be assessed an improper checkout fee of $50.  Late is considered two business days after the students designated move-out date and time. Students who do not return late keys after this time will be assessed $105 for a lock change for each key missing. Students may not return keys via mail and accounts will not be credited for any keys mailed back to the Housing and Residence Life Office.

Should a resident lock themselves out or lose a key, a temporary key may be issued only to the room resident with proper identification during times when Housing and Residence Life Office is open. The temporary key may not be loaned to another person. Should the temporary key not be returned to the Housing and Residence Life within 24 hours or by 5:00 pm the next business day, whichever comes first, an automatic lock change will be ordered and a lock change fee will be charged to the student’s account. The Housing and Residence Life Office does not loan keys for student's to use as an extra set of keys for friends or others.

Students only have access to the residential building they are assigned. Student IDs may not be lent to others to access buildings. To replace a lost ID, students should go to the Help Desk located in the Julian Science and Mathematics Center during regular business hours. Temporary IDs for residence halls can be borrowed from the Housing and Residence Life Office during normal business hours or from DePauw Police 24 hours/7 days a week. Temporary IDs do not have a meal plan, so students are responsible for their own meals while using a temporary ID.

If students are locked out of their room or building outside of Housing and Residence Life operating hours, they can call DePauw Police for a “lock-out.”  A staff member will provide access to the student's room with confirmation of Student ID upon arrival. The first lock-out is free of charge. The second lock-out will be billed to the student’s account at a fee of $10.00. With every additional lock-out, the student will be billed a lock-out fee of $20.00 per lock-out. Lock-outs include physical key and/or ID card access to rooms and/or buildings.

Laundry Facilities

Students are not permitted to install washers or dryers in any university-owned facility. For units without washers and dryers, alternate facilities are available in Rector Village. Students utilizing laundry in residence halls should remove their items in a timely manner. If items are left within the designated laundry facilities within university-owned residences for an extended period of time, items may be disposed of or donated.

Mobile Devices with Lithium-Ion Batteries/Battery Packs

Operation, charging, or storage of transportation devices with Lithium-Ion Batteries/battery packs (including, but not limited to hoverboards, skateboards, scooters, Segways, etc.) are not permitted to be used or stored in any university-owned residence (residence halls, Rector Village, or university-owned apartments and houses) unless the device is approved through the Office of Student Accessibility Services.

Neighbors

Our expectation of residents living in University-Owned Apartments and Houses is that they will take an active role in creating a positive community with their Greencastle neighbors as well as with fellow students. Residents have a responsibility not only to those living in their living unit, but also to their neighbors. We ask that residents remember they are members of the Greencastle community and that they treat community members with respect.

Noise

Residents are expected to respect the rights of others with regard to quiet time for studying and sleeping. In all university-owned housing, quiet hours are established as follows:

• Sunday through Thursday: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

• Friday and Saturday: 1 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• Courtesy hours are in effect 24-hours a day throughout the year.

Every resident should respect their roommate(s) and neighbors by keeping noise to a reasonable level. Each individual floor may vote to change the quiet hours by setting hours longer than the above-specified times. During final examinations, 24-hour quiet hours will go into effect, starting at 7:00 p.m. on the final day of classes through noon on the last day of examinations.

During quiet hours, the noise level in the living units must be kept to a minimum. At all other times, respect for other community members’ rights should be of the utmost importance. Stereo speakers cannot be directed out of the windows/doors or used outside of the living units at any time.

Neighborhood quiet hours, determined by the city of Greencastle, regulate that sound or noise should not be intrusive to your neighbors at any time. Quiet hours for Greencastle are between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. every day. 24-hour courtesy hours are always in effect.

Occupancy

All residence hall rooms, apartments and houses must be kept at full occupancy. Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to assign a resident to any vacancy or cancel a housing contract and require the residents to move into residence halls or other University-approved housing if the minimum capacity required for the apartment or housing unit is not maintained at all times during the academic year. 

Students are not permitted to occupy a room that is not assigned to them.

Parking

Students are not allowed to park on the street in front of neighbors’ property. Parking must only take place in clearly marked lots and at the curb directly in front of a UOAH unit. DePauw Police will ticket students in violation of this policy. Parking in the neighborhood is a potential source of conflict with our city neighbors. For more information about parking, please refer to the DePauw Police website.

Postings, Signs & Banners

Only campus offices, academic departments, and recognized student organizations can submit advertisements for posting in the residence halls, Rector Village and University-owned apartments and houses. All postings should include the name of the sponsoring office, department, or organization. Sponsors shall limit postings to one copy of each posting per designated bulletin board. Any item not adhering to these guidelines will be removed. Damages resulting from hanging posters, signs, etc., may result in charges being assessed to the group or organization that sponsored the advertising.

All postings will be should be attached to the designated campus bulletin board on the main floor of the residence halls. Floor bulletin boards are for the use of each floor community and are under the supervision of the Resident Assistant and residents of the floor. No flyers of any kind should be distributed to student rooms. Postings are not to be affixed to glass, walls, doors or bulletin boards not designated for postings. Additionally, postings should be affixed with thumbtacks or staples rather than tape.

Campus offices, academic departments, and student organizations wanting to publicize events can submit a PDF of their advertisement to Housing and Residence Life via email for review. Housing and Residence Life will provide an approval. At that time, the campus office, academic department or student organization is responsible for providing Housing and Residence Life copies of the approved posting so that Housing and Residence Life can distribute them in the residence halls.

All signs, banners or posters which are visible from the outside of University-owned living units must be approved by the Housing and Residence Life Office prior to being displayed. All unapproved signs, banners or posters will be removed.

Prohibited or Restricted Items

Some items are prohibited or restricted in University-owned living units in order to ensure a safer environment.

• Air Conditioners. Students are not permitted to install individual air conditioners in the living units. Students who have a special health request or medical need should contact Student Accessibility Services by calling 765- 658-6267.

• Animals. For the health and safety of residents, animals (other than fish in an aquarium that is 5 gallons or smaller and service dogs or approved emotional support animals as defined in this document) are not permitted for any length of time in any area of living units, including student rooms and common areas. In addition, food, toys, or animal related items intended for animals may not be stored in the student's room or common areas nor placed on or around the exterior of a living unit. Students who disregard this policy undermine the legitimate needs of other students and their residential community. Students and their roommates who have an unapproved pet or animal found in their residence are subjected to a $150 fee billed to their account and will be reported to Community Standards. Any subsequent disregard of this policy will result in another $200 fee billed to the student's account and referral to Community Standards. 

• Electrical Appliances & Accessories. No appliances in student rooms may have an exposed heating element and all appliances should be university-approved.

  • Extension cords are prohibited. Residents should use surge protectors as an alternative. 

  • Some examples of appliances that may be used in student rooms: clock, fan, personal computer, microwave, refrigerator, stereo, TV and DVD.

  • Some examples of appliances that do not meet these standards: toasters or toaster ovens, electric grills or presses and coffee makers with hot plates.

  • Rice cookers, tea kettles, crock pots, air fryers, and instant pots should not be used within individual student rooms. These may be used in common kitchen areas within university-owned residences.

• Flammables. Candles, incense, lanterns, fireworks, flammable fluid or having any open flame are prohibited. Students needing to burn incense for religious or cultural ceremonies must work with the Center for Spiritual Life to seek an alternative space outside of a university-owned residential residence. Possession and/or use of explosive or incendiary devices (including firecrackers, bottle rockets, etc.) are strictly prohibited.

• Lamps & Lighting. Certain types of lamps and lighting are prohibited due to fire hazard. No halogen lights are to be used in any University-owned housing. Lights in tubes/tracks and LED lights may be used as a safer alternative to string lights. String lights cannot be hung or placed in living units and restricted areas (e.g. ceiling, roof, etc.). Lights on strings may be used on the exterior of living units with the permission of the professional staff member who oversees that community.

• Live Trees. Live, cut trees (those without roots) are not permitted in student rooms or common areas in the living units.

• Lofts. The use of home-built or other lofts purchased or rented outside of the University are prohibited. Most of our furniture sets are loftable. Some require the rental of loft kits. Others do not require any additional tools or supplies. Information about lofts can be found on Facilities Management’s webpage.

• Recreational Equipment. Pools, slip-and-slides, hammocks, and slacklines are prohibited for all University Housing properties (Residence Halls, Rector Village and UOAH). All other stationary recreational equipment must be approved by the Housing and Residence Life Office.

• Satellite Dishes. Satellite dishes are not permitted in or around any University-owned apartment or house.

• Sports. The playing of sports or recreational activities is not permitted in the residence units (i.e., bouncing balls, throwing footballs, or playing racquetball, tennis, golf, nerf guns, etc.).

• Wall Decorations and Painting. Residents will be financially responsible for damage, as determined by University officials, to walls and doors caused by hanging any decorations. The painting of walls, doors, furnishings, or any other fixtures in student rooms is not permitted. The painting of posters and similar work that could damage floors should not be done indoors. Items such as tapestries, fabrics etc., cannot be hung on ceilings that obstruct lighting or cover smoke detectors in any way. Adhesive items such as contact paper, stickers, vinyl, and other items should not be used in university-owned residences.

• Water beds. Water beds are not permitted in the residence units.

• Weapons. Firearms or weapons (including BB and airsoft guns, bows and arrows, knives/swords/daggers with blades longer than four inches, explosives and any type of launcher) are not permitted in living units. Residents with questions about whether an item in their possession would be considered a weapon should consult with a Housing and Residence Life professional staff member who oversees their community immediately to make a determination. 

• Wheeled Transportation. Motorized vehicles are not permitted inside residence halls. If a resident brings a bicycle or scooter into a residence hall, it may be parked or stored only in the owner’s room, provided that it does not block egress from the room. Such non-motorized vehicles will not be permitted in common areas and those found in unauthorized areas will be removed. The owner is responsible for any damages caused by storing a non-motorized vehicle in the residence hall. Riding bicycles, scooters and skateboards and using rollerblades inside a living unit is prohibited.

Restricted Areas

No persons may occupy parts of the living unit not intended for occupancy (i.e., basements, attics, garages or roofs), nor can these areas be used for storage. The Housing and Residence Life Office keeps the basements of the apartments and houses locked. However, some students may feel safer having access to their basement during severe weather. Access may be granted by meeting with the professional staff member for apartments and houses and only available during seasons with a high likelihood of severe weather. Unannounced inspections of units with basement access will be conducted to ensure safety and use standards are met. Any resident determined to be misusing basement access will lose access privileges and may be subject to disciplinary action.

Students are not permitted on the roofs, ledges or balconies of University-owned housing. This includes all fire escape areas and balconies accessible only by windows as well as flat-roof areas. These areas are not constructed to withstand frequent traffic and damage to the roofing or structure could result.

Should a student store items in a restricted area(s) the Housing and Residence Life Office and DePauw University are not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged items.

Room Changes

Room change requests can be made at the Housing and Residence Life Office during regular business hours. An appointment for the student(s) to meet with the professional staff member who oversees their community is required to discuss room change options and possible roommate mediation. Room changes must be approved prior to moving. The Housing and Residence Life staff member will outline the detailed room change process after the move is approved. Room changes are reserved for irreconcilable roommate relationships, other urgent needs, or emergencies as determined by the Housing and Residence Life staff. Moving prior to receiving approval could result in referral to the Community Standards Process. Students in University-Owned Houses and Apartments may switch rooms within the same residence and floor after notifying Housing and Residence Life. Damage fees and Residential Policy violations will be charged to the student assigned to the room.

Security

Exterior doors must not be propped at any time. Any unlocked or propped doors should be immediately reported to DePauw Police or a Housing and Residence Life staff member. Residents only have access to the residence hall or building in which they live. Housing and Residence Life and DePauw University are not responsible for the theft, loss or damage to personal belongings.

Severe Weather

During a potentially serious weather situation, emergency notifications are sent via text message and/or email in instances where tornado warnings have been issued for the campus area. During tornado warnings, an outdoor siren will also activate. 

Please monitor weather via TV, radio and/or apps on smartphones when conditions outside indicate the potential for a weather system.  Do not wait for your Resident Assistant or a text message to take action to protect yourself.  Serious weather conditions can progress rapidly and there may not always be time for alerting systems to activate. 

In the event that severe weather threatens, a tornado warning siren/emergency notification is activated, or if you are instructed by a University staff member, residents of residence halls are required to vacate their room and move to a location designated for each living unit.  Those locations are as follows:  

• Bishop Roberts Hall: Basement level

• Bloomington Street Hall: Basement level

• Humbert Hall: Hallway near laundry room

• Longden Hall: Basement level

• Lucy Rowland Hall: Basement level

• Mason Hall: Basement level

• Rector Village: Interior walls, away from windows and doors

• Senior Hall: Basement level

• UOAH units: Interior walls, away from windows and doors

• Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Hall: Floor group restrooms.

The Housing and Residence Life Office keeps the basements of the apartments and houses locked. However, some students may feel safer having access to their basement during severe weather. Access may be granted by meeting with the professional staff member for apartments and houses and only available during seasons with a high likelihood of severe weather (please refer to the “Restricted areas” section). Additional information about emergency preparedness can be found on the DePauw Police website.

Solicitation

Solicitation is defined as any activity designed to advertise, promote or sell any product or commercial service, employment or to encourage support for or membership in any group, association or organization. Soliciting in common areas of living units is restricted to recognized student organizations. Organization fundraising events or solicitation is not permitted in residence units unless special arrangements are made with the Housing and Residence Life Office. All door-to-door solicitation is prohibited. Commercial advertising signs, posters and fliers may not be distributed or posted in living units.

Storage

Housing and Residence Life offers a limited number of storage units for students who will be away from campus for at least a semester/summer and meet the eligibility requirements. Students who meet the requirements may apply for a storage unit, but due to limited availability, are not guaranteed one.

Students who are leaving campus for any reason (closing, externship/internship, withdrawal etc.) may not store personal items in their room assignment. Items that are left behind will be considered abandoned and removed at a cost to the student.

Tobacco

Students may not sell to, distribute to, purchase for or permit the purchase of any tobacco, nicotine vapor, or alternative tobacco product to anyone under the age of 21. Also, no one under the age of 21 may purchase, use or possess any tobacco, nicotine vapor or alternative tobacco product.

All DePauw University residence halls and University-owned houses and apartments are completely smoke-free. Students choosing to smoke outside of the residence halls are required to do so a minimum of 40 feet from the building. All cigarette butts are to be disposed of in a proper receptacle.

Trespassing

Unauthorized persons in campus living units can be charged with trespassing. Identification must be shown upon request of a staff member or University official.

Visitors

A visitor is a student who is not assigned to or contracted for a particular room but is in that room or the living unit at the invitation of a resident. Residents hosting visitors should inform their visitors of policies and monitor their behavior in the living units. Any DePauw student visiting a residential community in which they do not live is considered a visitor of that residential community and is also required to observe all policies of that residential community. Hosts are required to escort their visitors in the residential community at all times. Residential communities include residence halls, Rector Village, and university-owned apartments and houses.

All visitors must leave the living unit when instructed by a University staff member. In addition, visitors whose length of stay has been deemed excessive or to be disrupting the rights of one's roommate(s) or suitemate(s) or living unit residents, may be asked to vacate the living unit. Each living unit has an open visitation policy unless the students residing in that living unit vote to establish visitation hours. Floor and hall lounges cannot be used to provide overnight accommodations for visitors. Visitors may stay with their host for no more than 3 nights in a 7-day period, not to exceed more than 12 nights in a semester.

Waste Management

DePauw University will provide trash cans and recycling containers in residence halls. All trash and recycling must be placed in designated receptacles and should never be placed in restrooms or hallways. Improper placement of trash may result in a cleanup fee to the resident(s) responsible or Common Area Damage charges for the community.

For residents residing in University-Owned Apartments and Houses (UOAH), DePauw University will provide trash dumpsters and recycling containers in the parking lot area of the apartments and houses. Residents are responsible for placing trash and recycling in the appropriate areas. Please note that there is no curbside trash pickup for residents of University-Owned Apartments and Houses. Trash must be taken out in a timely manner to prevent pests and the cause of life safety issues. If trash is not at the designated location at a responsible time (not building up in the residence), the University may remove it and the residents will be charged hauling fees. All house and apartment units have a designated location for trash dumpsters. All trash should be contained to this designated area at all times. Scattered trash or improper trash storage is not permitted inside or outside of the residence.

In Rector Village, DePauw University will provide trash cans or trash dumpsters and recycling containers. Residents are responsible for the removal of trash from their assigned living facility and placing it in the provided trash dumpster in the Rector Village parking lot. All trash should be contained to this designated area at all times. Scattered trash or improper trash storage is not permitted. Trash should not be left in hallways or stairwells. All trash must be removed from the facility and taken to the provided dumpster in a timely fashion. If trash is not removed from the residence in a reasonable time (not building up inside or outside of the residence), the University may remove it and the residents will be charged hauling fees.

Windows

Window screens and/or windows must not be removed at any time. Students will be billed for screen replacements or reinstallation. Excessive noise coming from windows is prohibited. Stereo speakers, bullhorns, and other devices may not be directed out windows of university-owned living units. Additionally, items may not be passed through the windows, regardless of intent. Throwing, tossing, or dropping of items from windows is prohibited. People entering or exiting through windows is prohibited. 

Leaving windows open during certain weather conditions could result in poor air quality within the individual room or unit. Additionally, during severe weather, such as below-freezing temperatures, leaving windows open could result in pipes freezing or other significant facilities-related concerns. It is expected that residents follow the directives outlined from regular and seasonal e-mail messages from the Office of Facilities Management and Housing and Residence Life.