Student Room Regulations

Jul 16, 2018

Scope: Who is Covered by this Policy?

Undergraduate Students

Policy

Appliances and Electrical Wiring

Television sets, DVD/DVR players, radios, CD players, electrical razors, clocks, hair dryers, irons, aquariums (5 gallons or less), lamps, heating pads, personal computers, and fans are permitted in student rooms providing their use does not disturb the other occupants of the building and that their state of repair is not a fire hazard.  Microwaves not exceeding 700 watts are permitted in rooms (one per room); compact refrigerators are provided by Campus Services. Privately-owned refrigerators are not permitted

Safety and insurance standards require that certain restrictions be placed on the use of other electrical appliances in residence halls. The University reserves the right to prohibit other appliances not listed below if the item constitutes a potential risk.

  1. Popcorn poppers, hot plates, grills, skillets, coffee pots, and toasters are prohibited.
  2. Sun lamps, dehumidifiers, space heaters, candle warmers, indoor grills, electric blankets, and gas appliances may not be used.
  3. Personal air conditioners are not permitted.
  4. Tampering, altering, or rewiring electrical outlets is a fire and safety hazard and is prohibited.

Commercial/Business Ventures

Students may not use residence hall rooms, public spaces, sorority suites or common areas to conduct any commercial or business venture. See the Code of Student Conduct-Unauthorized Use of Property.

Candles and Incense

The burning and/or possession of candles, incense, and similar materials is a fire hazard and is prohibited by law and University policy in any public space, residence hall room, sorority suite, common area or on any exterior window sill. The storage and use of flammable fluid is also prohibited.

Guests

All students  and their guests  are expected to comply with these Guest rules . Residents are responsible for ensuring their guests maintain an atmosphere that (1) respects the privacy and comfort of any roommates, (2) is conducive to academic endeavors, and (3) contributes to the safety and well-being of the community.

For purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:

  • A host is defined as a resident who is inviting a non-resident into the host’s residence hall or campus apartment complex in which the resident lives.
  • A community member is defined as a resident of the residence hall or campus apartment complex in which a host lives.
  • A guest is defined as any non-resident of the residence hall or campus apartment complex that the guest is visiting.

To maintain the living environment described above, hosts, community members, and guests are required to abide by the following:

  • All guests must have a specific host who is a resident of the residence hall room or campus apartment that the guest is visiting.
  • Guests are subject to the same Miami University regulations as their host. The host is responsible for informing the guest of these regulations prior to the guest's visit.
  • Guests are expected to behave in a way that contributes to the residence hall community, showing respect and consideration for others, the property of others, and the property of the University.
  • The host is responsible for inappropriate behavior of the guests invited into the residence hall or campus apartment.
  • Guests must be escorted at all times by their host.
  • Guests must use bathrooms designated for use by persons of their same gender or gender identity or any all-gender bathroom that exists in the community.
  • Guests may not use the host’s ID card for any reason, including access to the residence hall or campus apartment.
  • Community members do not need to be escorted within their residence hall or apartment community.
  • Overnight guests and community members may not stay with a host for more than three consecutive nights.
  • Hosts are not permitted to have guests or community members stay overnight for more than 6 nights in any 30 day period.
  • Hosts may not have more than two guests or community members stay overnight at any one time.
  • Overnight guests or community members may not occupy residence hall beds or apartment bedrooms without the permission of the roommates to which the beds or bedrooms have been assigned.
  • Overnight guests may not sleep in lounges, living rooms, or other public areas of the residence hall or campus apartments.
  • Via the community agreements process undertaken in each community in the fall, residents can choose to limit when or where guests can be hosted in public spaces.
  • Roommates, via their roommate agreements, are expected to mutually establish guest regulations, which could restrict when guests would be permitted in residence hall rooms and/or apartments.
  • Any request for an exception to this policy should be directed to the Resident Director for consideration.

Kitchen Usage

Residents of each hall are responsible for keeping the kitchens and kitchenettes clean by washing dishes, counters and appliances, taking excessive trash to the designated trash area or outside dumpster. Uneaten food/scraps are to be disposed of in the trash and not poured down the sinks. Burnt or spoiled food should be taken directly to the outside dumpster for disposal.

Password and Room Entry/MealPlan

Students are prohibited from sharing their Miami password with any other person. In particular, a password may not be shared with any other person for the specific purpose of that other person gaining entry to their room or using their meal plan. This includes not sharing passwords for Cbord Mobile ID or WebCardCenter.

Pets

With the exception of fish, no pets are permitted in any University housing.  Non-disease carrying, healthy fish are permitted in student rooms according to the following stipulations:

  1. The student is solely responsible for the care and safety of the fish, the cleaning of the aquarium, the proper use of aquariums and associated appliances, and for all damages incurred from the ownership of the fish. Charges or penalties can and will be assessed if these responsibilities are not met.
  2. Fish shall be no longer than five inches in length. Fish are the only animals permitted in such aquariums (turtles and snails, for example, have been shown to carry diseases that affect humans).
  3. The maximum size of an aquarium shall be five gallons, and only one aquarium will be permitted per room.
  4. Appliances (such as heaters, filters, bubbling machines, etc.) will be permitted in conjunction with each aquarium. Students will be responsible for the proper use and placement of such appliances, and for any damage associated with their use.
  5. Due to health and safety concerns, aquariums must be cleaned in the sinks of utility rooms in each hall–not in the public bathrooms.
  6. Miami University is not responsible for the loss of fish for any reason, including loss of power or reduced building temperatures.
  7. Fish must be removed and appliances unplugged during vacation periods. Staff will check to see that the appliances are unplugged.
  8. Finally, it should be remembered that fish are living things and are totally dependent on their owners for survival. They should be treated with the same compassion and care that one would show for any other pet.

Right of Room Entry 

The University respects the students’ desire for privacy. In the interest of maintaining an environment which facilitates good scholarship and provides for the health and safety of residents, it is necessary for the University to exercise its right of room entry; therefore, the University reserves the right to make periodic health, safety, and maintenance checks of rooms to administer regulations. These checks are conducted by personnel from the Office of Residence Life and Campus Services; the community leadership team is encouraged to designate a student to accompany the staff on these checks. Any materials or modifications determined to be a health or safety hazard must be removed upon request. This policy is designed to ensure the reasonable, restrained utilization of this contractual right by authorized representatives of the University without violating the fundamental rights of the students. Needless to say, effective implementation of this policy depends upon mutual trust, cooperation, and the sound judgment of all parties.

Treatment of Walls and Furnishings

Rooms may be decorated utilizing molding hooks and Sticky-Tak (removable adhesive or mounting putty), available for purchase from local businesses. Twine, metal, aluminum, and fishing wire are the only approved items that may be used for mountings and/or hangings. The removal of mounting putty has the potential to cause the least amount of damage; therefore, its use is permitted with the understanding that damages may result. At the time of final room inspection, charges will be assessed for damages, if any, resulting from the use of removable mounting putty.

Nails, screws, tacks, tape or other adhesives (except removable mounting putty) may not be used  on walls, ceilings, floors, doors, window trims, or furnishings of rooms. Room decorations may not be affixed to or suspended from ceiling tile, light fixtures, steam pipes, sprinkler heads, or smoke detectors. Platforms, lofts, or construction involving heavy building material are not permitted in student rooms. Students are not permitted to re-paint or re-plaster rooms and/or furnishings.

Storage cabinet and closet doors may not be removed or altered from their original design. Removal of these items tends to reduce future usability. Items that have been altered or removed will incur a repair charge.

Students may not turn the bedframe upside down as this may damage the frame. Beds may be bunked or un-bunked only by or under the supervision of authorized University staff. Beds must be bunked with the appropriate number of University bed pegs; pegs are available from the housekeeping staff. Bed rails are available upon request. Mattresses and/or springs on the floor are prohibited. Positioning and constructing of beds other than by original design are health and safety hazards and reduce future usability. Due to possible puncture and resultant water damage and possible overweight in a concentrated space, waterbeds are not permitted in University housing.

For detailed information regarding all guidelines of living in residence halls, please consult Regulations for On-Campus Living.

 

Related Form(s)

Not Applicable.

Additional Resources and Procedures

Websites

Regulations for On-Campus Living

FAQ

Not Applicable.

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2023

Responsible Officer

Director of Residence Life

Legal Authority

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

No

Revision History

 Amended July 2018; Amended July 2019

Reference ID

Student Handbook 3.3

Reviewing Bodies

  • Student Life Council
  • Administrative