Community Damage

The Office of Residential Services has implemented a program to improve the appearance of and reduce damage to the residence halls and surrounding areas by promoting community pride.

Losses due to damage to university property will be recovered by holding all residents who live in an area where the damage occurred responsible for damages for which a responsible individual or individuals cannot be identified.

The exterior and common areas of the dorm buildings will be inspected on a daily basis. Any damage or need for clean-up that is discovered will be reported on a "Damage Notice" in the building where the event took place. The "Damage Notice" will list the location of the violation and the date it was discovered/reported. It will also list the cost for the university to correct the problem. This cost will be divided evenly and billed to the residents of the affected area.

The Office of Residential Services will also post a "Community Recognition" notice in each area where no violations have occurred each week. After 6 weeks of no violations in an area, the residents will be rewarded for their efforts.

The damage policy is as follows: The resident will be responsible for the condition of the room assigned to him/her. Each room will be inspected by a representative of the Office of Residential Services at the time of check out.

Any lack of cleanliness and/or damage/vandalism to or theft or loss of university property, including loss of keys issued to the resident, will be charged to the resident. Damage of common areas within the residence hall may be pro-rated among the residents of the building or specific area of the building.

An assessment for loss, based upon an itemized estimate of loss from damage/vandalism or theft, will be given to the resident within thirty (30) days of the expiration of the term of the residence housing contract. Questions regarding one’s billing may be directed to the Office of Residential Services.

Acts of vandalism or damage to residence halls and surrounding areas may be reported to a Residential Advisor, the Office of Residential Services at 740-4445, or the Campus Police at 740-4545.

There are two types of damage billing: individual and community.

Individual damage billing occurs when a resident has taken part in vandalism or made a mess in the dorms which can be attributed to him or her. This includes any vandalism / messes done or made in students rooms and/or in the residence hall communities (i.e., hallways, bathrooms, stairwells, laundry rooms, etc.). Individual charges are then assessed and charged to the student.

Community damage billing occurs when vandalism has been done or messes have been made to the residence hall common areas (i.e., hallways, bathrooms, stairwells, laundry rooms, etc.), and it/they cannot be attributed to any certain individual(s). The incurred damage costs are then pro-rated among the residents of the floor / building where the violation occurred and charged to the students.

Every week "Community Alert" notices will be posted on each floor / wing indicating damage or messes, if any, and costs that will be incurred by its residents. If no damages for the week have occurred, then a "Community Recognition" notice will be posted on the floor / wing to indicate how long it has gone without incurring any community damages. If a floor has received 6 consecutive "Community Recognition" notices, the residents of that floor will be rewarded.