Aquinas College Residence Life Housing Contract

Transcription

1 Aquinas College Residence Life Housing Contract Last Name: First Name: MI: ID #: Date of Birth: / / Gender: Male Female Cell Phone: Permanent Home Address: City: State: Zip: Country: Anticipated Graduation Year: Class of 2021 Class of 2020 Class of 2019 Class of 2018 December 2017 Other (please specify) Term of Contract: Both Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 Only Fall 2017 Semester Only Spring 2018 semester My signature acknowledges that I have read and understood this contract. I agree to the terms and conditions of occupancy as specified in the Aquinas College Residence Life Housing Contract, Aquinas College Code of Conduct, and Aquinas College Residence Life Regulations, as may be published and amended from time to time by the College, and all of which are incorporated herein by specific reference and made part of this agreement. If under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must also sign below. I understand that, if I have already fulfilled the residency requirement at Aquinas and paid the housing deposit, but have not yet commenced occupancy, I can cancel this housing contract, in writing, before the following dates: Fall Semester/Academic Year: April 24, 2017; Spring Semester: December 1, In these cases, I understand that I will forfeit my goodwill deposit for cancellation ($100). I understand that, outside of these dates, cancellation of this contract is subject to the procedures listed under Cancellation of Contract below. Applicant Signature: Parent or Guardian Signature: Date: Date: Aquinas College Residency Policy For students matriculating in the Fall 2015 semester or after, Aquinas College has a residency requirement for all traditional full-time enrolled (registered for 12 or more credit hours) first, second, and third year students that are not residing with their parents or legal guardians within a 45- minute commute. For students matriculating before the Fall 2015 semester, Aquinas College has a residency requirement for all traditional fulltime enrolled (registered for 12 or more credit hours) first and second year students that are not residing with their parents or legal guardians within a 45-minute commute. Transfer students and/or students who first enter Aquinas being at least 20 years of age or older by May 1 st if classes are begun in August or by October 1 st if classes are begun in January have the option of living off-campus for the duration of their time at Aquinas. For students who have already commenced residency who wish to request exemption for subsequent semester(s) can petition the college for an exemption based on the following criteria: 1. Completion of six (6) semesters living in Aquinas or other college/university residence halls (excluding summers); 2. Having been out of high school for at least three (3) years; 3. Residing with parents or legal guardians at their primary residence in Kent County (or in a neighboring county, if at a location within a reasonable driving distance-45 minutes); years of age or older by the first day of class in the fall semester of the academic year for which an exception is requested; 5. Legally married; 6. Parents of dependent child(ren); 7. Time served as a member of the United States armed services; 8. Medical, psychological, or physical requirements that cannot be accommodated by the college. In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and with the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, students with diagnosed disabilities who may need some form of disability-related housing consideration should submit their request to the Aquinas Disabilities Coordinator. In rare circumstances when the college is unable to make an accommodation, the student will be granted an exemption from the residency requirement. 9. Evidence of extreme, unanticipated, financial hardship (must provide documentation and consult with the Aquinas College Financial Aid Office). 10. Non-admission, withdrawal, or dismissal from the College. 11. Participation with Aquinas College off-campus study abroad or internship programs. 12. Graduation

2 Conditions of Occupancy 1. Requirements for College housing include a.) Being duly registered as a full-time traditionally aged undergraduate student; b.) Being in good standing with the Student Accounts Office; and c.) Continuous compliance with Residence Life regulations, guidelines, and standards, the Aquinas College Code of Conduct, and the instructions of College personnel. In the event that the student does not sign this contract, payment to the College makes this contract binding. 2. The accommodations granted by this contract may be used only by the registered student while he/she is regularly enrolled as a student at Aquinas College (hereinafter referred to as the College). If a student fails to register for the upcoming term by April 24, 2017 (for Fall 2017) or December 1, 2017 (for Spring 2018) or to complete a minimum of six credits by the end of the semester, the Residence Life Office reserves the right to terminate this contract. 3. Failure to occupy the assigned space by the first day of classes each semester may result in cancellation of the contract by the College and forfeiture of the reservation deposit, unless prior written arrangements are made with the Director of Residence Life or designee. 4. This contract is personal to the aforementioned individual student and may not be transferred to another person. Contract Period This contract is binding for the full academic year, or the remainder thereof, unless otherwise indicated above. Housing Costs Residents in the traditional residence halls (Dominican, Hruby, Regina, and St. Joe s) are required to carry the residence hall meal plan. Residents in the houses and apartments are able to choose any meal plan offered or elect not to carry a meal plan at all. Room and board costs for designated rooms are as follows: Room Costs: Ruth Rasmus, Fr. Bartolome, St. Catherine (Apts): $2,996.00/Semester St. Martin de Porres, St. Rose of Lima (Apts): $3,170.00/Semester Houses: $2,542.00/Semester Single Capacity Rooms: $2,256.00/Semester Double & Quad Capacity Rooms: $2,127.00/Semester Board Costs: Residence Hall Meal Plan: House/Apartment Meal Plan: Community/Commuter Plan A: Community/Commuter Plan B: $2,408.00/Semester $692.00/Semester $410.00/Semester $245.00/Semester Housing Deposit The $100 housing deposit is required for students who have not resided on-campus during the semester directly preceding occupancy. The deposit is refundable when the student ceases on-campus residency, minus any damages or other College indebtedness. Cancellation of Contract 1. Students who have already fulfilled the residency requirement at Aquinas, who have paid the housing deposit, but have not yet commenced occupancy, can cancel their housing contract, in writing, before the following dates: a. Fall Semester 2017/Academic Year: April 24, 2017 b. Spring Semester 2018: December 1, 2017 In these cases, the student forfeits the goodwill deposit for cancellation ($100). Outside of the aforementioned dates, the student must apply for a release as explained in #2 below. 2. Outside of those who qualify for cancellation according to #1 above, students wishing to request a release from their housing contract must submit the Contract Release Request Form and any additional documentation to support the request. Such requests are subject to the approval of the contract release committee and will only be considered for the reasons listed below. a. Legally married during contract term. b. Medical, psychological, or physical requirement that cannot be accommodated by the College (Students applying on this basis should also consult the Disabilities Coordinator). c. Evidence of extreme, unanticipated, financial hardship arising after the beginning of the academic year. d. Requesting to commute from permanent and primary home of parent/legal guardian in Kent County (or neighboring county if within reasonable driving distance). e. Non-admission, withdrawal, or dismissal from the College. f. Participation with Aquinas College off-campus study abroad or internship programs. g. Graduation. If permission is granted to be released from a housing contract during an active contract period, the refund amount is based on the College s refund schedule. Depending on the circumstances, the student forfeits the goodwill deposit for early cancellation ($100). 3. The College may immediately terminate this contract, re-enter and retake the premises upon the following conditions: failure to make payments as required under this contract, violation of the contract or any violation of the Aquinas College Code of Conduct or Residence Life Regulations, or if the student s conduct is found to be detrimental to the general welfare of him/herself or the other students. Appropriate notice and appeal procedures shall be provided to the resident where termination is based upon a violation of such rules and regulations. 4. If you withdraw from the College, you are required to check-out of the residential facility within 24 hours of your withdrawal date, unless otherwise given permission by the Director of Residence Life (or designee).

3 Break Periods 1. The College will provide the named student with a space in campus housing and with food service for the times specified on the academic and Residence Life calendar. All campus housing closes during extended breaks, which include Fall Break (October), Semester Break (December/January), and Spring Break (March). All residential facilities close at 6:00 p.m. on the Friday before the break period and re-open at 1:00 p.m. on the Sunday before classes resume. During these breaks, students are required to vacate their rooms/apartments unless permission is granted by the Residence Life Office to remain on-campus. If approved for break stay, standard break housing charges would apply, at an additional cost beyond this contract. 2. When the residential facilities close for a break period, students are required to comply with the residential closing procedures that are publicized to the campus prior to the break. 3. All College rules and policies remain in effect during break periods. Guest/visitor visitation during vacation periods is restricted. 4. College services are limited during break periods. Dining services is not available during break periods. 5. The College reserves the right to consolidate students to one facility during a break period. 6. Anyone in the residential buildings without permission during break periods will be subject to a $50 fine, plus any other applicable charges, and referral to Student Code of Conduct judicial sanctions. Room Assignments Subject to the availability of space, the Residence Life Office will make every effort to assign accommodations according to student preferences, but cannot guarantee assignment to a particular building, type of accommodation, or specific roommate. The College reserves the right to make assignments and reassignments in order to fully utilize available facilities, consolidate vacancies, and maintain a residential environment conducive to student success. Students may be removed from their residential unit if they demonstrate an inability to function in the group living environment. Room Changes Unless an immediate room change is requested and approved by the Director of Residence Life or designee, a request for a room change will only be approved if it is evident that the student has made an effort to resolve the problem and housing space is available. Room changes are not permitted until after the second week of classes in each semester and must be requested through the Residence Life Office. Room changes are also not permitted during the last two weeks of the spring semester. A $20 charge may apply for administrative purposes. Room assignments or room change requests based on religion or race will not be considered, as such discriminatory requests are contrary to the philosophy, policy, and tradition of Aquinas College. Students assigned to a room will not be moved in order to honor the request of another person. Unauthorized room changes are strictly prohibited. Consolidation If vacancies occur in the residential facilities during the year, residents without roommates may be given the option of moving to another room, accepting a new roommate, or, when space permits, paying a fee to reserve a designated single room. The Residence Life Office reserves the right to assign, re-assign, and adjust the occupancy of rooms/apartments at any given time. Vacancies If a student has a vacant space in his/her room/apartment, he/she must be prepared to accept a new roommate when assigned. Students exhibiting grossly inappropriate behavior intended to discourage prospective roommates or to otherwise manipulate the housing assignment process will face serious ramifications, including referral to Student Conduct. Students with a vacancy in their room/apartment at the end of the fall semester must leave their room with adequate space for an incoming student to move in for the spring semester. Check-In/Check-Out Students are responsible for completing, and returning to the Residential Life staff a Room Condition Report within the first week of their occupancy. At check out, new damages identified in a student s assigned room since the time of move-in and noted on the Room Condition Report may be billed to the student. Students must check out in accordance with circulated checkout procedures. Failure to do so could result in an improper checkout charge, defined as failure on the part of the student to properly vacate (i.e. be checked out by a staff member and turn in key). In addition, students will be assessed charges for failure to turn in a key, for failure to clean, and for damages incurred. Unless special arrangements are made with the Residence Life Office, no credit will be given on any keys returned following checkout. After two weeks, the University will confiscate abandoned items left in rooms/apartments after move-out. Dates for August move-in and May move-out are posted on the Residence Life web site ( Insurance for Personal Property The college is not liable for damage or loss of personal property due to fire, theft, flood, or other causes. Each student is responsible for his/her own property and that of his/her guest. The college highly encourages residents to consider contacting their own insurance carrier for coverage. Room Inspections Aquinas College reserves the right to have authorized personnel enter student rooms/apartments at any time for maintenance or repair purposes, and when deemed necessary to check on the health or safety of the residents, or to check for a suspected violation of College regulations. This right is exercised with conscientious restraint. The College may also make periodic room inspections to insure the maintenance of acceptable standards (i.e., conditions not detrimental to the residents health, safety, security, and general welfare in a group-living situation). Students will be given advance

4 notice of routine inspections, such as those that are conducted during breaks and after semesters. Inspections do not involve searches for rule violations. However, for items that are observed during an inspection within "plain view" or those that are observed when turning off and properly venting appliances for break periods, students will be documented and any evidence removed from the room. Damages 1. Students are responsible for any damages to their room/apartment, its furniture, appliances, and equipment, and for maintaining the room/apartment in a safe and sanitary manner. In the event that there are damages to the room/apartment, furniture, appliances, or equipment, and/or it is left unclean, the College will assess repair and/or replacement charges to the occupant(s). 2. Residents are expected to respect common areas (i.e. lounges, hallways, etc.) within the living unit. In the event that there are damages to common areas and/or if common areas are left unclean and the responsible individual(s) cannot be identified, all residents in the unit will be responsible for paying an equal share of the cost of repair or replacement. 3. Damage charges are applied to the Student Account at the end of the academic year or when the student leaves the residential unit or at other times at the discretion of the College. Any appeals to damage charges must be in writing to the Residence Life Office by February 30 th (for December move-outs) or July 30 th (for May move-outs) or within one month of the move-out date if it occurred at any other point during the academic year. Room Decorating/Room Set-Up To comply with the requirements of the Michigan Building Code related to structural characteristics, fire hazards, and general safety in residential areas, College policy cannot allow the following forms of construction in student rooms/apartments since these forms of construction are considered safety hazards: raised floors, lowered ceilings, and room partitions. Any construction in the form of room/apartment furnishings must be approved by the Director of Residence Life and must be free-standing and non-permanent; non-damaging to floors, walls, ceilings, and carpet; and disassembled and removed from the living unit at the end of the academic year or at any time you move from the room. Rooms/Apartments are painted on a rotating basis. Painting walls with College provided paint is only permitted with prior written authorization from the Director of Residence Life and Physical Plant/Housekeeping. Students are not permitted to make alteration or improvement to a room/apartment, which includes placing holes, indentations, or scratches in walls or other surfaces in the room. Lofts Non "Aquinas system" lofts may not be used in any residences. All lofted modular system furniture must be dismantled and returned to the standard bunked configuration before the final exam week begins at the end of the academic year. Furnishing of Rooms and Public Areas Each student room/apartment is furnished with enough bedroom and study furniture to accommodate the appropriate number of residents. You are not to remove furniture without the approval of the Director of Residence Life or designee. (Note that storage may not exist to remove furnishings, even if students contract for a designated single or under-occupied room.) Permanently attached furniture may not be moved or removed under any circumstances except by College maintenance personnel. Common area furniture may not be moved to a student s room/apartment. The College reserves the right to restrict the use of resident s own furniture if it necessitates the removal of any College property or is deemed unsafe or unsightly. Trash, Recycling, and Composting As part of the zero waste initiative, the College provides receptacles for waste disposal, recycling, and composting. Trash rooms are provided for waste disposal in each residence hall. House and apartment residents are responsible for taking all trash to the appropriate exterior dumpster. Building Access Policy Building Residents gain access by swiping their ID card through the card reader unit. Courtesy phones are available in most buildings for visitors to call residents. Visitors (individuals who are not currently enrolled as Aquinas students) need to be escorted by a resident at all times. All visitors are required to present photo ID and sign in. No one shall be admitted into a residence hall without proper identification. All hosts are responsible for the behavior of their visitors and are responsible for informing visitors about College policies. Aquinas reserves the right to remove visitors from campus for disruptive behavior or any violation of College policy. You are required to cooperate in maintaining security by not propping locked doors and by immediately reporting any suspicious person or activity to the Area Coordinator or staff member on duty. Residents who prop open exterior doors decrease security within the buildings and, therefore, are subject to fines or other sanctions. You should lock your room/apartment doors when sleeping or leaving your room/apartment for any period of time. Keys/Lockouts Room/apartment and house keys assigned for resident student use remain the property of Aquinas College and may not be duplicated. Auxiliary locks may not be installed nor may residents tamper with an existing lock. No keys should ever be exchanged with another student except through your Area Coordinator or the Residence Life Office. Students who are locked out of their rooms/apartments may be let into the room/apartment by Residence Life staff or a Campus Safety Officer. Multiple lockouts may result in a service charge being applied to the student account for each lockout. If your key is lost, stolen, or misplaced, your lock will be changed and a new key will be issued. The standard charge will be assessed to your student account. Prohibited Items Students should consult the Residence Life Regulations for a complete list of items that are prohibited from the residential facilities. Residence Life staff have a right to edit this list as needed through the academic year.

5 Pets No student or visitor shall allow an animal, bird, or other pet to enter a residential facility. Small fish are permitted with consent of the roommate(s). Maximum tank size is ten gallons. A fine of $50 is imposed if this rule is violated. The pet must be immediately removed or the fine will increase for every day it remains in the hall. The College reserves the right to immediately remove any pet and/or animal. Assistance or Service Animals Animals that have been approved as assistance or service animals through the Accessibility Services Office are permitted in residence. For more information regarding the process for requesting approval for an assistance or service animal, consult with the Accessibility Services Office or Residence Life Office. Guest/Visitor Students are required to adhere to all guidelines in the guest/visitor policy and co-educational visitor policy included in the Residence Life Regulations. Alcohol/Drug Policy Residents are required to adhere to the Alcohol and Drug Policy included in the Code of Conduct and Residence Life Regulations. Fire Safety Policy The College expects compliance with all fire safety regulations found in the Code of Conduct and Residence Life Regulations. The College will not tolerate students starting fires or tampering with fire safety equipment. It is expected that all students evacuate and follow directions during fire drills. Behavior and Conduct Students are responsible for knowing and observing the Aquinas College Code of Conduct and Residence Life Regulations, as well as adhering to all federal, state, and local laws. The Director of Residence Life/Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or designee reserves the right to make other rules and regulations that may be necessary for the safety, care, and cleanliness of the premises, and for the preservation of order or securing the comfort and welfare of all occupants. The student agrees to abide by all additional rules and regulations that are adopted.