In a group living situation, it is important for students to understand their rights as a student and their responsibilities to others. The rights to study and sleep are considered primary in the residence hall environment. A student’s major purpose for enrollment is to pursue an education. Excessive noise and distraction inhibit this goal. Therefore, when a student chooses to exercise a subordinate privilege, such as playing their stereo or entertaining guests, it is the student’s responsibility to make sure that they or their guests are not inhibiting another person's rights to sleep or study.
When a person enrolls as a UNCW student and signs their housing contract, they are agreeing to abide by the policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of UNCW as outlined in the Code of Student Life, and The Guide for On-Campus Living. All students are responsible for becoming familiar with the contents of these publications.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of residence hall living is the opportunity to live and work closely with all types of people. Certain responsibilities are inherent in a roommate relationship. While there must be a balance between roommates as to time and priority of room usage, the rights to study and to sleep in one's room outweigh any social privileges. Roommates must take the responsibility to assert their rights in using the room. Hall staff can be helpful in working with residents in this area.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In each of the traditional style residence halls, a roommate agreement must be filled out for each room and placed on file with the Resident Assistant. In the University Apartments and the University Suites, this contract will be made between residents of each apartment or suite. This agreement allows students to establish ground rules early in the semester enabling residents to have a more positive living environment. The agreement reviews such things as when roommates study, when TV may be watched, and when guests can visit. These agreements are renegotiable and should be updated when roommates change.
COMMUNITY CHARTERS
During the first weeks in August, a resident’s floor/suite will develop a living agreement called a Community Charter. This document will outline residents’ responsibilities to each other. The Community Charter will be updated as the year progresses to meet the needs of the floor/suite and provides residents with an opportunity to discuss and agree upon specific ground rules to support a positive living environment. All residents are expected to follow through with agreements stated in the charter.
THE RESIDENCE HALL BILL OF RIGHTS
The university has some basic expectations, which govern the special nature of interpersonal relationships in the residence halls. These are reasonable expectations that students should have for one another while sharing space in residence halls. The Residence Hall Bill of Rights outlines these expectations:
• The right to sleep during the night undisturbed
• The right to study in one's room free of noise and distractions during quiet hours
• The right of access to one's room and facilities at all times
• The right to feel secure against physical or emotional harm
• The right to a clean room and clean common areas
• The right to have one's belongings respected
• The right to have guests in the room when they will not disturb one’s roommate’s right to sleep or study
• The right to privacy
• The right to redress grievances
These rights apply to all students living in on-campus housing. Violating the rights of other students may result in disciplinary actions and/or reassignment to another location.
DAMAGE
Damages to student rooms are the responsibility of the occupant(s). Damage charges will be shared equally by all roommates unless residents provide written notice to the Residence Coordinator of a particular student who may be responsible for the damage. In order to prevent misinterpretation, it is suggested that students inspect their rooms thoroughly when completing the Room Condition Report (RCR) upon taking occupancy of a room. This task should be taken seriously and completed in detail.
COMMON AREA DAMAGE - GROUP BILLING
Damage to common areas is a more difficult matter, one that is also the responsibility of each resident. The Office of Housing and Residence Life has attempted over a period of time to resolve the difficulty of damages to public areas and the related problem of defraying costs for such damages. Excessive room or common area damage may result in the reassignment of the housing contract of those individual(s) found to be responsible. If the responsible individual(s) cannot be determined, the entire community may share the cost of this damage, whether that be a wing, floor or whole building.
Damage charges are used to assist in repairing or replacing damaged items. Those repairs or replacements that are not completed before the next academic year begins will be completed relative to the availability of personnel and/or additional funds necessary to accomplish the repairs or replacement of items.
Faulty equipment and damage should be reported to a staff member. If there is damage in a room, do not attempt to repair it yourself because this often increases the cost. University personnel are available for that purpose and can remedy the situation in a short time.
Common area damage assessments are non-appealable as they are not fines. They are made up of the time, materials and the administrative expense required to correct unusual cleaning or damage situations.
It is important that a reasonable level of cleanliness be maintained in residence hall areas. If it is determined that the level of cleanliness in a room, suite or apartment is unacceptable, the resident(s) may receive a written notice to have the space cleaned within 24 hours or receive a $25.00 cleaning charge as well as a $25.00 trash removal charge. A similar notice and charge apply to excessive trash in any living areas. Trash/belongings in the exterior or common areas of the building may be removed immediately and cleaning charges assessed without warning. All roommates will be charged if the responsible party cannot be determined.
