Students living on campus are expected to participate actively in their communities and fulfill the obligations of a respectful and responsible citizen in the community. Residential policies and guidelines are designed to foster safe, productive, and respectful environments that allow students maximal opportunities for growth and development. While living in college-sponsored facilities, you are expected to follow these guidelines, policies, and any other guidelines established by an individual community.
Air Conditioning
Some residence halls are equipped with air conditioning. If you live in a building without air conditioning and have a documented medical condition that requires air conditioning, submit this information in writing to Access and Disability Services. The installation of a personal air conditioning unit is prohibited.
The College strives to maintain an occupied target temperature of 68 degrees +/- 2 degrees for the heating season and an occupied target of 74 degrees +/- 2 degrees in the cooling season. The most challenging times of year are the spring and fall, when outdoor temperatures can change rapidly from hot to cold – even within the confines of a single day. Window air conditioning units are not installed in the spring unless a student receives accommodation for air conditioning from Access and Disability Services due to a documented medical condition.
Please see the College's temperature policy for additional information.
Alcohol
In accordance with the college's Community Standards, students under the legal age for alcohol possession/consumption may not have alcohol in their residential space. Guests who are of age to possess/consume alcohol may not have alcohol in spaces where the residents are not of the legal age. See the Drug & Alcohol Policy.
Appliances
The following appliances have been approved for residential use within your bedroom:
- Personal refrigerator no larger than 4.1 cubic feet
- Microwave oven using less than 700 watts
- UL-approved coffee makers
- Any appliances with concealed heating elements (ex. hot pots)
- Multiple strip outlets (fused, with at least 14-gauge wire, grounded cord) are allowed when needed to power electronic devices.
Additional UL-approved cooking appliances may be permitted for use and storage in pre-identified kitchen areas with prior approval from the Residence Life & Housing office.
The following appliances are not permitted in residential facilities:
- Any electrical appliances with open heating elements (hot plates, George Forman Grills, barbeques, toasters/toaster ovens)
- Halogen lamps
- Electric blankets
- Concealed extension cords or multiple outlet adapters.
See also Fire Safety Guidelines.
Balconies & Porches
Certain housing assignments have access to balconies and/or porches. These spaces' occupancy is limited to the number of residents in the housing assignment plus two more students. Over-occupancy of these spaces is a serious safety issue, and their use is monitored by college staff such as Residence Life & Housing, the Department of Public Safety, and Facilities Management. Students seen to be over-occupying these spaces will be asked to reduce the occupancy to established limits. Repeated reminders about safe occupancy limits may result in a loss of use of the space for a short- or long-term basis.
Bicycles
You are permitted to have a bicycle on campus. Storage spaces or racks are provided around campus at various locations. You may not store bicycles in lounges or hallways. If your bike is stolen or damaged, it is your responsibility to report it to the Department of Public Safety.
Students are encouraged to register their bikes with the Department of Public Safety.
Break and Vacation Housing
Housing remains open during the following break periods: Mid-term Pause, Thanksgiving vacation, Spring Vacation. During these breaks, you may remain in your assigned room at no additional cost. You may leave personal items in your room during any break period; however, the college does not assume responsibility for personal articles. Campus services such as Dining Services may alter their hours during these times.
During Winter Vacation, students are not permitted to remain on campus without approval from Residence Life & Housing.
Students requesting housing during any break period and/or after exams must request permission directly with Residence Life & Housing prior to the start of each break period. Students who have an active discipline record will not be permitted to remain on campus over any break and/or after exams without permission from the Associate Director for Residence Life & Housing.
At the end of the academic year, only graduating seniors and students involved in commencement can remain on campus. All students, other than graduating seniors, who need to stay on campus must request permission to remain in housing directly with the Residence Life & Housing office. The student will then be notified if their request has been approved.
Business Venture, Solicitation & Deliveries
You may not conduct or solicit business in college housing. This includes using your computer network access to conduct business through your computer or the internet. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action.
For the safety and privacy of all members of the campus community, solicitors, peddlers, and door-to-door solicitation are not permitted on campus, including in any residential buildings.
Campus community members are not allowed to raise funds or sell products on campus without permission from Campus Life. No one, including members of the campus community, is permitted to solicit, raise funds, or sell products in the residential facilities.
No deliveries are to be made in an individual room in any campus building, including the residential facilities. All personnel delivering personal products should be directed to meet you at the main entrance of a campus building.
Check In and Check Out
When checking in to housing, you will be issued a key(s) that will grant you access to your room and building assignment. You will also receive a Room Condition & Inventory report and be asked to note any previous damage to the room or furnishings to your RA, HAM, or the Residence Life & Housing office. Students will be subject to damage billing if assessed if the Room Condition Report is not submitted
When moving out of college housing, you must officially check out, including turning in your key(s). Plan to check out of your room within 24 hours of your last final exam unless given permission before the start of final exams.
- If you change rooms during the year, you are expected to check out of your initial room by having an RA or HAM evaluate its condition when you leave. When you check in to your new room, you should complete a new Room Inventory form.
- If you leave for any other reasons (Disciplinary action, Leave of Absence, etc.), please contact the Residence Life & Housing office for further instructions.
Cleaning & Repairs
Facilities Management provides housekeeping services for the public areas of each traditional residence hall, including bathrooms, hallways, and lounges. You are expected to keep your own room clean and orderly. If you discover your room is in need of repair, you should contact Facilities Management directly.
Houses and apartments are independent living spaces. As such, students in these spaces are expected to maintain their cleanliness on their own. At the end of each semester, Facilities Management and Residence Life & Housing will inspect all houses and apartments; if the condition of these spaces requires excessive cleaning or repair, the residents may be charged. Students can notify Facilities Management by completing a work order online. Facilities Management is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm. For emergency repairs after these hours, contact the Department of Public Safety.
The right to inspect and repair rooms at times convenient to the college or its authorized agents is unconditionally reserved by the college. If you have concerns or questions about the service provided in the residence halls, please contact Facilities Management at (717) 245-1212.
Community Billing
The purpose of community billing is to promote individual responsibility and to hold students mutually accountable for the condition of their shared living spaces. Public areas (i.e., Corridors, stairways, lounges, bathrooms) are the collective responsibility of the residents of that suite, wing, floor, building, apartment, or house. Charges for damage to those areas may be divided among the residents of those facilities. Areas covered under the community billing policy may include vandalism, stolen furniture, or housekeeping charges in a common or public area when it is not directly possible to determine the responsible person(s).
For more information, see Residential Damage.
Cooking
Cooking in a residential facility is permitted only in pre-identified kitchen areas or with approved appliances (see Appliances) in an individual room.
It is prohibited to use self-heating packets to cook meals in residential spaces. Self-heating packets use water to create a reaction with heat, which produces dangerous levels of carbon monoxide as a byproduct.
Damage Billing
Vandalism, damage, destruction of college or individual property, or creating a condition that requires clean up or repair is not permitted. The assigned residents of the space are financially responsible for any damage to your room and college-provided furnishing. When unnecessary cleanup or repairs are necessary, students may be subject to the financial responsibility individually or as a suite, wing, floor, or building when it is not directly possible to determine the responsible person(s).
Decorating your Residential Space
As part of personalizing your residential space, you are encouraged to decorate your room. You may not make any permanent or semi-permanent alterations to the room, including structure, painting, partitions, paneling, and electrical system modifications. You may not affix anything to any internal or external structure of the housing facility (e.g., flag, signs, satellite television dish, antenna, etc.) or have anything hanging or protruding from the facility unless approved by the Associate Director for Residence Life & Housing. Organizations wishing to have identifying letters, signs, or flags visible from the outside of their residential facility must submit a letter to the Associate Director for Residence Life & Housing to request approval.
- Lights—You may not have halogen or decorative lights, including string lights (battery-operated string lights are OK).
- Wall Decorations - You may not use items that would damage the walls and/or paint. This can include screws, nails, staples, and/or adhesives such as Scotch or duct tape on walls. Glue may not be used on walls, furniture, or floors.
- Nothing may be hung on ceilings, sprinkler pipes, block fire safety devices or block any egress or exit, including any tapestries or other fabric items.
- Holiday Decorations - No cut or live trees or wreaths are permitted in college-operated residential facilities.
- Outdoor Furniture - Only furniture intended for use outdoors (patio/deck furniture) may be used or stored outside. Indoor furniture (i.e., couches, loveseats, etc.) may not be used or stored outdoors. In addition, other items are prohibited that may cause damage, including "kiddie pools" and fire pits.
- No construction materials are permitted in college-operated housing except from Facilities Management. Any plywood will be assumed for use in drinking games and will be confiscated by the Department of Public Safety.
See also Fire Safety Guidelines
Drones
All members of the College community, including faculty, staff, and students, as well as visitors to Dickinson College, are prohibited from operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs), also known as drones, without the permission of the Director of Academic Technology.
Entry & Inspection of Student Rooms
The College reserves the right to enter any room at any time without advance notice for the purposes of inspection, repair, maintenance, protecting the health, safety, and security of residents and in cases of emergency, as determined by the college. Entry may be made by members of the Student Life staff, including members of the Department of Public Safety.
The College further reserves the right to inspect a room at any time and its contents for violation of College policies, including the Community Standards, or residence hall regulations, including but not limited to possessing illegal substances or substances believed by the College to be illegal or conducting activities that could endanger the life, safety, order or welfare of another person.
Routine health and safety inspections of residential spaces will be announced at least one day before. During any such inspection, any evidence of violations of the Community Standards may be confiscated and processed accordingly.
See also Health & Safety Inspections.
Fire Safety Equipment & Procedures
All residential facilities are equipped with fire detection and firefighting equipment. Tampering with fire safety equipment is prohibited. Tampering with fire safety, including discharging fire extinguishers or disabling smoke detectors, may result in suspension from the college, plus the cost of restoring equipment to its original condition. Failure to comply with these policies will result in disciplinary action.
Students responsible for fire alarms that result from using a prohibited appliance, such as a toaster, or prohibited activities (smoking, burning candles or incense, etc.) will result in disciplinary action.
It is vital that all fire alarms are taken seriously. You are expected to leave the building during a fire alarm. You must remain outside the building until the Department of Public Safety or Facilities personnel indicate it is safe to re-enter.
Your Resident Advisor or House and Apartment Manager will provide information on proper procedures for evacuating the building during a fire alarm. Failure to leave the building during a fire alarm may result in disciplinary proceedings. Fire drills are held during the semester and are coordinated by Residence Life & Housing and the Department of Public Safety.
See also Fire Safety Guidelines.
Fire Safety Guidelines
The following appliances have been approved for residential use within your bedroom:
- Personal refrigerator no larger than 4.1 cubic feet
- Microwave oven using less than 700 watts
- UL-approved coffee makers
- Any appliances with concealed heating elements (ex. hot pots)
- Multiple strip outlets (fused, with at least 14-gauge wire, grounded cord) are allowed when needed to power electronic devices.
Additional UL-approved cooking appliances may be permitted for use and storage in pre-identified kitchen areas with prior approval from the Residence Life & Housing office.
The following appliances/items are not permitted in residential facilities:
- Any electrical appliances with open heating elements (hot plates, George Foreman Grills, outdoor grills, toasters/toaster ovens)
- Electric blankets
- Halogen lamps or decorative lights, including string lights (battery-operated string lights are OK)
- Concealed extension cords or multiple outlet adapters.
- Spark or flame-producing items such as fireworks, firecrackers, explosive materials, candles, incense burners, oil-burning lamps, and lanterns
- Gasoline motors of any type, including motorcycles, mopeds, etc., as well as fuels, such as gasoline, propane, or lighter fluids
- Nothing may be hung on ceilings, sprinkler pipes, block fire safety devices, or block any egress or exit, including any tapestries or other fabric items
- Hoverboards (self-balancing scooters, battery-operated scooters, hands-free Segways)
- Three-dimensional (3-D) printers
Grills may not be used or stored indoors. When in use, they must be placed at least 25 feet from any building and may never be used on rooftops, roof decks, or fire escapes. Do not dump hot coals onto the grass or into trashcans; cold coals may be emptied into trashcans.
Fire pits are prohibited and cannot be used indoors or outdoors.
Furniture
All furniture must remain in the assigned room. No college-provided furnishings may be removed from the room. You may provide extra furnishings such as carpets, chairs, and sofas if the items meet federal fire resistance standards; however, they may not block or unduly restrict exits to the room. All personal articles must be removed before you depart your room, or you may be charged for removing property not original to the room. Outlined below are additional guidelines to adhere to when furnishing your residential space:
- Waterbeds are prohibited.
- Do not place mattresses directly on the floor.
- Only beds specifically designed to be lofted will be permitted.
- Do not use concrete blocks or bricks to raise the bed, as these cause unusual wear and tear and pose a potential safety hazard. Bed raisers specifically designed for this purpose are permitted.
- No college-issued furniture may be used for outdoor purposes unless it is deck furniture on approved balconies, porches, or other outside areas.
- Only furniture intended for use outdoors (patio/deck furniture) may be used or stored outside. Indoor furniture (i.e., couches, loveseats, etc.) may not be used or stored outdoors.
- Lounge or common room furniture may not be removed from the public area and/or placed in individual rooms.
- All college-issued furniture must remain in the room/apartment. Students will be charged for missing furniture.
- No construction materials are permitted in college-operated housing except from Facilities Management. Any plywood will be assumed for use in drinking games and will be confiscated by the Department of Public Safety.
Guest Policy
A guest is considered anyone not currently assigned to the residential living space in question, including other Dickinson students. The college encourages you to have guests visit you in your room with the consent of your roommate(s). Students are reminded that residential spaces are shared spaces, and you should proactively discuss with your roommate(s) how to manage guests and any additional policies that will govern guests in the room. Especially in the case of an overnight guest you should consult and work with your roommate(s) ahead of time to determine what will be most appropriate. A student should expect access to their room without inhabitants not assigned to that space by the college.
Guests are not permitted to stay in your room for more than any two consecutive nights. No guests may visit for more than seven days per semester. You are responsible for your guests' behavior and for informing them of the appropriate policies.
Guests to the college should remember that they are subject to the laws, rules, and regulations governing behavior in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Dickinson College. Dickinson students will be held responsible for the behavior of their guests and may face disciplinary proceedings within the Community Standards because of the guest's behavior.
Hall Recreation
You may not play sports in any public areas or hallways of any residential building, including, but not limited to, rollerblading, skateboarding, soccer, frisbee, football, basketball, and bicycle riding.
Health & Safety Inspections
The Residence Life & Housing staff regularly inspect each campus area. Student rooms are given a brief inspection during the fall and spring semesters. These inspections provide the appropriate education and assist with correcting any health or safety concerns. Policy violations discovered during these inspections may be referred to the college's conduct system, and prohibited items may be confiscated. Students with questions about these inspections should speak with Residence Life & Housing
See also Entry & Inspection of Student Rooms.
Housing Accommodations
If you need housing accommodation due to medical, psychological, or other health-related reasons, you should follow the process outlined in the Access and Disability Services website. The Residence Life & Housing office works with Access & Disability Services and the Wellness Center to review all requests and recommendations for appropriate accommodation.
Insurance & Liability
The College cannot and does not assume responsibility for personal accidents, injury, or illness to residents, guests, or visitors or for the loss or theft of money or loss, theft, or damage of individual property of students. Damages resulting from unforeseeable maintenance issues (burst pipes, power failure, etc.) are the student's responsibility. The college does not carry insurance covering residents or their property. You are encouraged to protect yourself from loss by purchasing appropriate insurance. In that regard, you should review any homeowner's policy that you or your caregivers might have to determine whether the contents of your college housing are already covered or could be covered with a policy rider.
Keys
You will be assigned a key(s) that will allow you access to your building and individual room. Rooms should be locked, and you should always carry your keys and College ID. You are prohibited from duplicating housing keys for any reason. You may not loan, sell, or transfer any housing key or College ID to any person to allow that person to enter college housing unescorted or use the residence hall or apartment's facilities.
- If keys are lost, stolen, or misplaced, you are responsible for immediately reporting the missing key to the Residence Life & Housing office and the Department of Public Safety.
- Failure to return the key(s) upon departure from the room/apartment/house will result in a charge to your student account to change the key lock cylinder.
- You will be charged $100 for a lock change if your key is lost or not returned after moving out. For houses, suites, or apartments where two keys are assigned, there will be a $75 charge per additional lock that must be changed. Your key(s) should be returned immediately upon moving out of your residential space.
- Students issued a temporary ID card for residential access at the beginning of the year are required to return it upon receiving their permanent College ID. Anyone who loses or fails to return the temporary ID card will be charged $25.
Residential facilities are always locked. Many residential areas have exterior doors equipped with card access. Students should not take any action that prevents the exterior doors from closing and locking, such as propping the door or tapping.
Lock-outs
There will be no charge for lockouts for the first two weeks of every semester. After the first two weeks, there will be a $25 charge for every lockout handled by Residence Life & Housing staff or Department of Public Safety staff. If a student is locked out more than three (3) times a semester, the charge will increase to $50 per occurrence. If you are locked out of your residence, you should contact the following as applicable:
- Traditional Residence Halls can contact the RA on duty for assistance from 7:00 pm until 1:00 am. You can contact an RA on duty by calling the duty phone for the area (the number is posted in your residence hall). The Department of Public Safety will handle lockouts from 1:00 am until 7:00 pm (call 717-245-1349). On Saturdays and Sundays, please call the duty phone for the area between 9:00 am until 1:00 am.
- Houses/Apartments can contact the Department of Public Safety (call 717-245-1349).
Noise Guidelines
To support your academic success, the college maintains both quiet hours and courtesy hours in all residences. Courtesy hours means that residents are prohibited from making noise that significantly disturbs other residents, including those in the Carlisle community. During quiet hours, noise should not be heard outside your room, suite or apartment. Quiet hours are as follows:
- Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 pm until 8:00 am the following morning
- Friday and Saturday, midnight until 10:00 am the following morning
Quiet hours are in effect 24 hours a day during Reading Periods and Final Exams. During these times, any disturbance to the larger community (floor, building, or neighbors) is not permitted to the larger community (floor, building or neighbors).
Pets
You may not keep or host animals in residential facilities unless they are fish within a bowl or tank. The bowl or tank may not exceed 20 gallons in a residence hall. The college will not be responsible for caring for fish during break periods. Violating the Animals on Campus Policy may result in damage billing for the replacement and/or refurbishment of carpeting, furniture, or other affected facility areas. Failure to promptly remove the animal from the residence may result in animal control services' removal.
Residents with appropriate documentation of a disability requiring the use of a service or support animal are encouraged to contact Access and Disability Services to discuss their disability-related housing accommodation requests.
Room & Board Agreement
All students are required to read and sign a Room and Board Agreement prior to moving into their residence at the beginning of the academic year. This document, together with other policies, procedures and regulations in this handbook or published by the Division of Student Life, constitutes the agreement between you and the College. Many of the residential living guidelines and policies are outlined in the agreement
Room Changes, Reassignments, & Vacancies
Requests for room changes must be made directly to the Residence Life & Housing office and are sometimes limited due to space availability. Changing rooms or substituting one occupant for another without approval in writing from the Residence Life & Housing office is prohibited. You should work with a professional staff member in Residence Life & Housing to discuss options related to a room change request. Room/hall changes are not permitted during the first two and last two weeks of each semester to complete accurate occupancy reporting.
The College reserves the right to reassign students to make the most efficient and beneficial use of available facilities, including consolidating spaces to create completely vacant rooms. Also, a room's occupancy may be increased when, in the judgment of the College, it is necessary to accommodate the housing needs of the student body.
Reassignment may also occur because of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation requirements, disciplinary action (violation of Community Standards), violation of the agreed-upon standards of your floor, area, or building, and/or administratively at the discretion of the Associate Director for Residence Life & Housing.
When a vacancy occurs, you may request a specific roommate to fill that space. If no request is made, the Residence Life & Housing office will make the space available for general occupancy and may reassign a vacant space at any time. If there is a vacancy in your room, you must leave the room ready for another student to move in at any time. The Residence Life & Housing office will notify you as soon as plans are made to fill the vacancy in your room. Behavior that discriminates against or impedes an interested student or assigned occupant will be considered a violation of the Community Standards and reviewed as such
Room Condition & Inventory
During the move-in process, you have the obligation to conduct a thorough room inspection and report any concerns (condition of the room, furniture, maintenance needs) to the Residence Life & Housing office. Any difference between your room's condition at check-in and check-out will be the responsibility of the room's occupants. Completed Room Condition and Inventories will be maintained annually by the Residence Life & Housing office.
Public areas (e.g., corridors, stairways, lounges, and bathrooms) are the collective responsibility of the residents of the building, suite, apartment, or house. Charges for damage to those areas may be divided among the residents of those facilities.
If you change rooms during the year, you are expected to check out of your initial room by having an RA of HAM evaluate the condition of your room when you leave. When you check into your new room, you should complete a new Room Inventory form. Failure to check out with your Resident Advisor or HAM may prevent you from appealing any damage charges that result from the final inventory of your room.
Room Selection
Room assignments for all returning students are completed through an online room selection program called Housing Self-Service during the spring semester (students can find their Housing Self-Service in Gateway by looking for the icon with a house). Returning students who have registered for courses for the following fall semester and do not have any holds on their account may participate in the room selection process. Students receive a randomly generated lottery time and select a room in class year order. More detailed information about room selection and housing options is available from the Residence Life & Housing office early in the spring semester.
Students Studying Abroad
Students who plan to study off-campus are reminded that the room selection process will occur in the spring semester. Students have the option to select another student to act as a proxy on their behalf; however, it is the responsibility of the individual(s) who will be away from campus to make and communicate these arrangements with the Residence Life & Housing office. The proxy will then participate in the room selection process on the students' behalf away. The Residence Life & Housing office does not assume responsibility for selecting rooms or filing off-campus applications for students who are away from campus during the spring semester.
First-Year Housing
First-year students receive room assignments and the name(s) of roommates via email. They are assigned rooms based on information provided to the Residence Life & Housing office. First-year students are housed in double, triple, or quad rooms and in facilities largely populated with other first-year students.
Smoking
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited in all residential spaces, including rooms, bathrooms, lounges, hallways, and stairwells. Additionally, smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of residential buildings. Smoking is limited to a location that does not impede traffic flow in and out of residence halls and where smoke cannot drift into the interior of residence residential spaces.
Storage
The college does not provide storage spaces during the summer months. Individual students, fraternities and sororities, and special interest houses are encouraged to make storage arrangements by working with area storage companies. Items left in and around residential facilities at the end of the spring semester will be given to the U-Turn project or discarded by Facilities Management. You may be charged for the removal of property not original to the room.
You can find information about local storage options here.
Windows
You may not remove window screens at any time. Throwing any object out of a residence window or balcony is prohibited. Food, plants, shoes, flags, banners, or other items are not permitted outside windowsills or balconies unless permission is granted by the Residence Life & Housing office.