RESIDENCE LIFE: Philosophy and Policy
I. Introduction
a. Philosophy: Drew University is committed to promoting academic, intellectual, and social development, while maintaining a vibrant and responsible community life and views the unique experience of living in a residence hall as contributing to this development. By choosing to live in a residence hall, students commit to conforming to certain responsibilities to ensure the growth and development toward the Office of Residence Life and Housing’s mission. Those responsibilities include:
Recognizing one’s membership in a residential community
Respecting all community members, including students, faculty, and staff
Participating in the maintenance of the residential facility
Informing the Office of Residence Life staff or Campus Security officers about behavior that is disrespectful to community as well as situations that infringe on the safety of the community
Avoiding any behavior that indicates or could be perceived as retaliation for the reporting of potential violations of community standards
Supporting and honoring the diverse lifestyles and pursuits of individual members in the community
Playing an active role in the social and intellectual life of the community
Residents are expected to familiarize themselves with the University Policies and Procedures in Daniel’s Dictionary, including the Residence Life Policies, and are held responsible for understanding their rights and obligations under these policies. Additionally, all Drew University students are expected to comply with local, state, and federal laws. Both the University and the Office of Residence Life will officially communicate with students via their University-issued e-mail account. Students who violate Residence Life or other University policies will be subject to disciplinary action.
b. Community Standards: In addition to the policies below, each floor/house/hall establishes governing standards for their immediate community. These standards do not replace University policies and procedures, but serve as additional standards for the members and guests of the community.
c. Room Inspections: In order to maintain a healthy, safe environment in the residence halls, the Office of Residence Life conducts room inspections several times during a semester. Residence Life Policy infractions, including possession of any prohibited items listed below, may result in fines or a referral to the Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct for disciplinary action. Allegations of conduct policy violations, including provisions of the University’s Alcohol and Other Drug Policy, may result in the filing of a formal incident report by Residence Life and/or Campus Security staff members, and may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the student conduct procedures within Daniel’s Dictionary. Please see the Procedures for Residence Life Policy Violations section below for more information. Residents should note that the Borough of Madison will conduct periodic fire inspections of both general/public spaces, as well as individual student rooms. Fines from the Borough are the direct responsibility of the student, and are significantly larger than university fines.
All prohibited item(s) may be confiscated by the Office of Residence Life or a University Official. The owner of the confiscated item(s) may only pick up the confiscated material at the end of each semester. Failure to retrieve item(s) at the end of the semester may result in the item(s) being donated or discarded.
d. Property Damage: The University is not responsible for damage to, or loss of, students' personal property due to fire, facility failure, theft, any type of water damage, or severe weather. Students are encouraged to check on their parents' insurance coverage or obtain personal property insurance prior to arriving to campus. All items that are believed to be lost or stolen should be reported to the Department of Campus Security within a timely manner.
II. Residence Life Policies
a. Appliances:
Students living in CLA residence halls are provided with one microfridge (combined refrigerator/microwave) unit per bedroom. Personal refrigerators or personal microwaves, or personal combined units are not permitted inside the residence halls. Some lounges in the residence halls have kitchens with community stoves, refrigerators, and microwaves. When using a stove or microwave, a student must stay with their items at all times. University Staff can throw away any unattended food. Washing machines and dryers of any type are not allowed. Please see section i. for a list of Prohibited items.
Personal WiFi routers are not permitted in the residence halls. The Drew WiFi network has been designed to be robust and serve the demand of all residents. Adding additional WiFi devices will cause unwanted interference which will degrade performance and may impede access to the network by other residents. If you wish to connect multiple wired devices to the network, please use an inexpensive wired switch instead. If you experience issues with the WiFi connection in your room, please call the University Technology Service Center at 973-408-4357 to report the problem.
b. Check-in and Check-out:
Returning students must be registered for at least 12 credits in order to be eligible for room selection, and residents must maintain a 12 credit course-load to remain in housing, with the exception of seniors in their final semester. Those students who have been advised to reduce their course load, must obtain approval from the Dean of Students, or designee, in order to remain in housing below the 12 credit threshold.
Students may check in only during the official check-in times as designated by the University calendar. Early arrivals must be approved by the Office of Residence Life and will be billed. Students must complete all necessary requirements of the Student Accounts Office, Financial Assistance, and Health Services before they will be allowed to check-in.
Prior to students taking occupancy of a room, staff will perform an inspection using the Room Condition Report (RCR). At move-in time, residents should review the RCR and report any discrepancies to the CA/HA/CRE within 48 hours. Any damage that is not reported or occurs during the year beyond normal wear and tear to a room or its furnishings or other University property will be charged to the student.
Students are expected to keep the rooms and roommates assigned to them for the academic year. Students may not take up residence in any room other than the one to which they are assigned unless a room-change has been processed. Students who illegally switch rooms may be subjected to disciplinary action. Students are encouraged to be mindful of the needs and rights of others. The Office of Residence Life will intervene in situations where a roommate's rights are not being observed or when policies are not being followed. The Office of Residence Life, while infrequently, reserves the right to move a student from their assigned room to another location.
When a student vacates, the room will be checked for damage. Students are required to formally check out of their room. Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance for all check-outs. When circumstances prevent a student from formally checking out, students may still check out properly by utilizing an Express Check-Out form and process. Use of the Express Check-Out option waives one’s right to appeal damage charges.
Late or improper check-outs will result in a fee assessed to the student’s account. Students will be charged for unclean rooms or damage that has occurred. Students will be charged for replacing or repairing any missing or damaged University-owned furniture. The Coordinator of Residential Engagement will make all final decisions regarding billing. Please consult with your Coordinator of Residential Engagement for more information regarding the check-out process.
c. Common Area and Public Area Use:
Drew University provides common areas and public areas in its residence halls. Common areas are spaces shared by suitemates such as shared living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, etc. All suitemates are responsible for their room’s common area(s). Public areas are considered hall lounges, bathrooms, kitchens, areas surrounding residence halls, and hallways. All residence hall residents are responsible for their residence hall’s public area(s).
Should something become damaged in your common area, or if you find something that is damaged in a public area, please report this to a residence life staff member or via the work order request form as soon as possible. If there is damage in a room, do not attempt to repair it yourself, as this action often increases the final cost of repair. Public area damage assessments are not appealable.
Student groups may reserve Residence Hall lounges online via the event management system, Mazevo: https://east.mymazevo.com/ No one (students or guests) is permitted to sleep in lounge spaces, including students preparing for a Drew-sponsored trip.
Vandalism should be reported in writing via an official Incident Report (See Incident Reports), to your Coordinator of Residential Engagement, or to Campus Security. It is important to report these damages as soon as it is noticed and prior to the closing of residence halls for any break period by contacting a staff member.
Unauthorized access or use of restricted areas in or about a residence hall, including but not limited to roofs, ledges, building emergency fire escapes, terraces, basements, storage areas, mail rooms, or emergency exits. Unauthorized access or attempts to access fire escapes, balconies, storage closets, offices, and roof tops are prohibited.
d. Fire Safety:
Posters, draperies, and other flammable items are not allowed to be located over or near light fixtures/lamps or suspended to block the smoke alarm or door. (Please refer to the Decorations section for more information.)
Fire safety equipment is intended for the protection of all residents and is not to be tampered with or covered. Such equipment includes fire alarm pull boxes, smoke detector systems, alarm bells and sirens, fire extinguishers, emergency and electrical panels, etc. Tampering with fire safety equipment is considered to be a serious violation of University policy. Such actions may result in a referral to the Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct for disciplinary action, and may result in the imposition of sanctions, including fines and/or removal from University housing. Fines may also be assessed by the Madison Fire Department.
Do not hang items from, or interfere with, the sprinkler system, pipes, or smoke detectors. Items may not be hung from the ceiling. Students (and their guests) may not sleep in residence-hall lounges.
Never place your room furniture in the hallway, as it is a fire hazard and will be removed. Students will be charged for replacement of damaged or missing university room furniture. All non-University furniture brought to campus by students should be fire resistant and must be removed from campus prior to final check-out (i.e. it may not be left in rooms or hallways). Furniture, or other items, should not block the appropriate egress.
Students are required by state law to evacuate the residence hall when a fire alarm is activated. Propping open exterior hall doors or interior fire doors or circumventing any other safety/security measures is also prohibited. Creating a false alarm is prohibited. Failure to comply with fire safety policies may result in disciplinary action, including the imposition of fines as determined by the Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct and/or the Madison Fire Department. In addition, bicycles or other personal belongings may not be placed in stairwells or other public areas of buildings.
To ensure safety inside the residential units, students may not allow the amount of people in their assigned room to exceed three times the number of the rooms' occupancy. The maximum number of people who can be in each room is outlined as follows:
- Single Room can have up to 3 people total in the room (the resident must be present)
- Double Room can have up to 6 people total in the room
- 4-Person Suite can have up to 12 people total in the room
- 6-Person Suite can have up to 18 people total in the room
e. Room Furniture and Lofts:
No University furniture may be removed from a room. No bedroom or lounge furniture may be moved for outdoor use. Students should not attempt to make repairs or alter University furniture/facilities. If repairs are required, contact the Facilities Department directly at 973/408-3510 or by the work order request form.
Lofts are not allowed in the Residence Halls. Sanctions include the immediate disassembling of the unapproved loft at the owner’s expense.
f. Grilling Procedure:
Residents who wish to grill must obtain approval from the Office of Residence Life and follow the established guidelines.
g. Guest and Visitation:
All guests of students present in the residence halls must be registered through the Guest Registration Form. Please see Daniel’s Dictionary for the complete guest policy.
h. Key and Lock Out:
Room keys must be returned by the resident at the time of check-out. Keys must not be duplicated or loaned to anyone. Lost keys should be reported immediately to a member of the Residence Life staff or University locksmith as lost keys pose a safety concern. Students are responsible for any use of their key, unless reported lost or stolen. A student is responsible for any violations or damage in his or her room as a result of key usage or leaving a room unlocked. New room keys will be issued at a cost of $75 per key. Students must return the same key at the end of the semester or they will be billed.
For lock-outs during normal business hours, students are encouraged to call the Office of Residence Life at 973-408-3394. For after hour lock outs students may contact the Residence Life Duty Phone 973-270-1365 or Campus Security 973-408-3379. Upon access to the room all students must present valid identification and their key to the University Official. Excessive lock-outs may result in a student being documented and fined.
Graduate and Theological students experiencing a lock-out are encouraged to contact Campus Security.
i. Prohibited Items:
To protect the health and welfare of the University community, the following are prohibited in residence halls. Please note that this is not a complete list, and may be amended if a product is subject to a safety recall, or additional guidance is given by the Madison Borough Fire Department or other source. Consult your Coordinator of Residential Engagement if you are unsure about an item. Any of these items found can be confiscated and discarded at the discretion of the Coordinator of Residential Engagement.
Alcohol and Other Drug Paraphernalia
Alcohol if under the age of 21; Kegs, beer balls, and other alcoholic beverages in bulk quantities, empty containers, funnels, or other paraphernalia used for binge drinking purposes, shot glasses for those under the age of 21; high proof alcohol over 100 proof. Please see the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy.
Illegal or non-prescribed drugs and drug paraphernalia, please see the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy.
Electronics and Appliances
Any appliance exceeding 500 watts (except hair dryers used in bathroom facilities)
Personal Refrigerators are not permitted as microfridge units are provided in every bedroom.
Microwave ovens, microwave-refrigerator combos (except the approved microfridge), hot plates, deep fat fryers, toasters, rice cookers, open-flame or open coil appliances
Coffee makers and electric kettles, except for those that have include all of the following: non-exposed heating elements/coils, automatic shut off switches
Air conditioners, space heaters, ceiling fans, washing machines (including small ones that attach to a sink), dryers, freezers, or other high voltage equipment
Plug in and indoor grills, such as Foreman Grills or similar models.
Electric blankets
Electronic bikes, electronic scooters, electronic skateboards, hoverboards, and any comparable device may not be stored or charged in or near residence halls or other campus property.
Extension cords or “outlet expanders” (with the exception of surge protectors - surge protectors are allowed, but one may not be plugged into another.)
Decorations
Items attached to/hanging from fire-safety equipment
Tapestries, posters and other decorations are limited to cover no more than ten percent of the aggregate areas of wall and ceilings in any room, decorations cannot cover any fire safety equipment.
University, other university/college, local, state, federal, or private/non-profit industry signage
Flame Producing and Flammable Items/Liquids
Fireworks, explosives, incense, candles of any kind (including wick or non- wick), candle and wax warmers, and flammable liquids
Volatile liquids and substances of any kind, including fuels, lighter fluid, self lighting charcoal, open cans of paint, paint thinner, and turpentine
Furniture
University furniture other than that provided at the beginning of the year and bed lofts
Waterbeds and pools
Lighting
Decorative lighting (such as electric holiday lights, neon signs, black lights/UV lights)
Halogen lamps of any size.
Paper lamps/lanterns and paper lampshades.
Smoking
Hookahs (presence and/or use)
Bongs (presence and/or use)
Smoking anywhere within the interior of a residence hall, or in an exterior area that results in migration, seepage, or recirculation of smoke indoors (including the use of electronic smoking devices). See Section M. Smoking below for more information.
Weapons
Firearms and objects of all kinds with the potential to cause bodily harm, including (but not limited to) guns, BB guns, knives, bows and arrows, swords, and martial arts equipment
Other Prohibited Items
Any recalled products
Sand
Pets or animals, (except for non-meat-eating fish in non-electric tanks and service animals approved by the Office of Accessibility Services)
j. Noise Policy:
The creation of an environment conducive to academic excellence requires that each resident keep sound to reasonable levels and to comply with the requests to reduce sound levels that are intrusive. Individual halls are free to adjust quiet hours within the minimum standards and 24-hour “courtesy hours” are always in effect. Courtesy hours mean that students must reduce intrusive noise, when requested by a fellow Drew community member, Campus Security, or Pro Staff on duty. The below hours serve as guidance, and the University has the right to adjust these hours at any time.
Quiet Hours CLA residence halls:
Sunday - Thursday Begin at 11:00 p.m. and end at 10:00 a.m.
Friday - Saturday Begin at 1:00 a.m. and end at 10:00 a.m.
Quiet Hours Graduate and Theological residence halls:
Sunday - Thursday Begin at 9:00 p.m. and end at 7:00 a.m.
Friday - Saturday Begin at 9:00 p.m. and end at 10:00 a.m.
Pro Staff on duty, Community Assistants (CAs) and/or Campus Security may request that students lower their noise level before quiet hours. Students are expected to comply with the first request and may be referred to Student Conduct if they do not. When quiet hours are in effect, any residents present in a room/suite at the time of a noise violation may be referred to Student Conduct.
k. Signs, Banners, and Chalking:
The posting person/organization is responsible for removing signs promptly once the event has passed. No materials shall be posted on windows, doors or glass panels either inside or outside the residential buildings. The only exceptions are materials relating to fire, health, or safety (such materials must be approved for posting by the Director of Campus Security).
Banners may not be hung outside residence halls or in residence hall windows.
Chalking is allowed in locations that may be cleaned by rain. Chalking may not occur on buildings, stairs, walls, and areas under breezeways. If chalk appears on any of the prohibited sites, it may be treated as vandalism and subject to disciplinary sanctions and fines. No chalk paint, or permanent chalk is allowed.
l. Solicitations:
To protect the privacy of residents, solicitations, sales, canvassing, fundraising and contribution drives are restricted. Permission can only be granted via the Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct. For more information, contact the Office of Residence Life. If someone is seen soliciting on the residence hall floors or main areas, please contact your CA/HA, CRE or Campus Security.
m. Smoking:
Drew University is a smoke free campus. All private (residential rooms, suites, townhouses, bathrooms, etc) and public areas (main lobby, common lounges, study rooms, hallways, laundry facilities and stairwells) in all residential facilities are considered smoke free. Resident students and their guests may not smoke anywhere on campus, including inside or outside of University owned residential facilities.. The use of electronic smoking devices (including but not limited to Minis, Mid-Size E-Cigs, Vape Pens, Advanced Personal Vaporizers (APVs), and MODs), is also prohibited and is treated the same as smoking.
n. Collective Fines: It is the responsibility of all residents to maintain the health, safety, and cleanliness of a residence hall. When there is damage to communal areas (such as desecrated bulletin boards/wall hangings, unreasonable messes in bathrooms, trash in the hall) and the Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct is unable to determine the individual(s) responsible, all residents in a hall or building may be charged a fine, assigned community service, and/or other sanctions for the damage. Residence Life may also charge fines and/or other sanctions for individuals who do not attend mandatory hall meetings or do not vacate the residence hall in the event of a fire alarm going off.
o. Room Inspections and Searches: In accordance with the Regulations for Search and Routine Room Inspection found in Daniel’s Dictionary, except in the course of routine inspection, emergencies or in instances of plain-view violations or reported/suspected policy violations, the room and personal possessions of a student shall not be searched unless appropriate authorization and permission have been obtained. Except for searches authorized by those regulations, otherwise, the University will not make any unauthorized entry to a room unless it is to perform services either requested or for routine maintenance; a life threatening situation is present; a major disturbance to the community or known criminal activity is occurring; fire/safety emergency; securing for vacation periods.
p. Hosting: All residents in a unit are responsible for what occurs in their room/suite. Residents are expected to work together to monitor their noise levels, amount of visitors, and activities in their living space. All students present in the unit during a noise violation may face student conduct charges related to the noise and/or other aspects of the incident. Please see the Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug policy for guidelines related to the use of substances when hosting.
III. Procedures for Residence Life Policy Violations:
University Student Conduct Policy and Procedures: Any member of the Drew community, visitor or guest may allege that a student has violated University policy and when appropriate the University may choose to file allegations on behalf of another person or on its own behalf. Incident Report forms may be used to file reports of Residence Life Policy Violations and may lead to the onset of the student conduct process. The procedure will follow the “University Student Conduct Policy and Procedures,” as found in Daniel’s Dictionary. Additionally, violations of the student conduct policy may result in sanctions, ranging from severe penalties to less stringent measures, as appropriate to the underlying conduct, course of conduct, and/or overall student conduct history.
Procedures for Failed Room Inspections (including possession of prohibited items): Residence Life staff conducts room inspections several times during the semester. Residents can pass or fail the inspection based on the status of the bedroom, or if applicable, the common areas of a suite or a bathroom. A resident will fail a room inspection due to possession of prohibited item(s) or if the overall condition of the living area does not meet standards to maintain a healthy, safe environment in the residence halls. A student may receive a warning from Residence Life staff for a first failed room inspection. Fines will be assessed for a subsequent failed room inspection (including possession of any prohibited items). $25 is the minimum fine for a second violation. If a resident fails a room inspection three times during the year, an Incident Report will be filed, and he/she will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for disciplinary action. In cases of shared living areas, a resident may claim responsibility for prohibited items with their CRE; otherwise the entire unit may be assessed any applicable fines. Please note that damage charges are also assessed during room inspections. It is expected that residents will report major damages or safety issues to Residence Life staff as soon as possible. At the discretion of University staff, a formal incident report may be filed for allegations of policy violations at any point by Residence Life and/or Campus Security staff members, and may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the student conduct procedures within Daniel’s Dictionary.
Housing Contract Terms: this information can be found below and outlined in the Housing agreement located at: http://www.drew.edu/housingportal
Drew University Residence Assignment Agreement | All Undergraduate Residential Students
- All full time, enrolled, undergraduate students are required to live on campus during their years of study at Drew
University. Students can apply for commuter status if they will be residing with a parent or family member designated
by a parent, and live within a fifty-mile radius of the campus. - All students are responsible for complying with the Residence Regulations enclosed with the initial assignment,
posted in buildings and printed in Daniel’s Dictionary. Violation of regulations will subject a student to disciplinary
action and possible removal from University residence with no refund of fees or costs. - Some halls designated by the University may be used to house other students during break periods. Personal
belongings should be removed from the room, the room should be cleaned and room keys must be turned in for
interim student use. - Students whose roommate(s) withdraws from housing prior to the start of the term or during the academic year
may be assigned a new roommate or be reassigned to another room with a roommate. Students are not permitted to
refuse a roommate to keep the full room to themselves. Notification to the residential student will be provided prior to
a roommate moving into the room. - On-campus housing is normally only available to full-time students. Students who fail to complete full time (12-22
credit hours) registration, drop to below full time status (less than 12 credit hours), fail to meet financial obligations,
withdraw from the University, fail to meet their academic obligations, or as a result of disciplinary action shall vacate
their University residence immediately. - The University is not responsible for personal property of students in residence whether it is lost, stolen or
damaged. Personal property must be removed from the residence halls when students vacate their room assignment. - The University reserves the right to change a housing assignment when deemed advisable for due cause. Due
cause could include but is not restricted to: facilities emergency, energy conservation, disciplinary incident, conflict
resolution or violation of this agreement. - Students shall be responsible for any and all damage done to their room or the residence hall and shall make
payment for damage to their room or the residence hall to the University immediately upon assessment. Suite, floor,
or residence hall common area damage that cannot be individually assessed will be charged proportionately to all
students living in those areas. - No changes to any room, lock, component of the building or its contents shall be undertaken without the prior
written consent of a Facilities Department designee. - Room and board charges are not refundable. No room and board refunds will be given to a student who is
required to leave University housing due to disciplinary reasons. Housing cancellations for the spring semester must
be received in the Housing Office by August 5 for the fall semester and January 5 for the spring semester. After
August 5 (fall semester) or January 5 (spring semester), and before the semester move-in-date, if a student
withdraws from housing, a charge of one-tenth the cost of the room will be imposed. After the upper-class date to
move-into campus housing, students will be obligated to pay the housing costs as outlined in the university refund
policy. - In accordance with the Regulations for Search and Routine Room Inspection found in Daniel’s Dictionary, except
in the course of routine inspection, emergencies or in instances of plain-view violations or reported/suspected policy
violations, the room and personal possessions of a student shall not be searched unless appropriate authorization
and permission have been obtained. Except for searches authorized by those regulations, otherwise, the University
will not make any unauthorized entry to a room unless it is to perform services either requested or for routine
maintenance; a life threatening situation is present; a major disturbance to the community or known criminal activity is
occurring; fire/safety emergency; securing for vacation periods. - Students cannot be released from this agreement or their residency requirement unless a petition is received and
granted by a Campus Life and Student Affairs designee. - A student is prohibited from discouraging, intimidating, or in any other way making his/her room undesirable to a
prospective new roommate. Students must maintain all room furniture intact as a new roommate may be assigned at
any time. Students are not permitted to refuse a roommate to keep the full room to themselves. - Students are prohibited from cooking in their room and from bringing any illegal items listed in Daniel’s Dictionary.
Cooking is allowed in facilities where kitchens are provided. - Residents of specified rooms are responsible for cleaning bathrooms within their apartment, suite or efficiency
unit. Residents will be charged if their bathroom does not comply. - Drew University reserves the right to make any change in its regulations, charges, and services at any time
without prior notice. - All residents are required to vacate within twenty-four (24) hours of their last exam each semester unless
permission is received from a Campus Life and Student Affairs designee. - Students may apply for Gender Inclusive Housing (GIH) prior to room selection. If approved the student will
proceed with room selection and will have GIH housing spaces available within their housing pool of choices. - One microfridge unit is included in each undergraduate residence hall bedroom to be shared by the occupant(s)
of each room. Students are not permitted to remove the microfridge unit from their room or to bring their own
refrigerator or microwave. All parts of the microfridge, including all shelves within the unit must be present when a
student leaves housing. Any damage to a unit or missing parts will result in a fine added to the account of the
resident(s) of the room. - Students are not permitted to bring or install their own air conditioning unit (window or free standing). Those
students in need of an air conditioner for medical reasons need to obtain approval from the Accessibility Office. - Students may apply to remain on campus during semester breaks (Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring
break, summer break). The cost for room and board during these breaks is not included in the semester housing
charge and will be billed to the student account separately. Students are not permitted to pay for just room and not
board. - Bathrooms designated as “single use” are open to all genders. Bathrooms designated within the gender binary
such as “Female” or “Male” should be used according to an individual’s personal gender identity and not based on
biological sex assigned at birth. This is the case for ALL bathrooms on Drew University’s campus. - Students are not permitted to remove any University owned furniture at any time. All furniture is to remain in the
room and/or suite unless otherwise approved to do so by Residence Life and/or the Facilities Office. If residents in
McLendon, McClintock, Foster or Hurst halls choose to add furniture to their common room they cannot remove the
Drew issued furniture. Any student owned furniture must be removed at the end of the spring semester when the
residents move out. - Residents are responsible for keeping their windows closed during the winter months to avoid damaging the
building heat sensors. If a student finds their room is unnecessarily warm they can contact the Facilities office to have
the room’s heat checked. - Suites (4 person or 6 person suites located in McLendon, McClintock, Foster or Hurst halls) whose occupancy
falls to half or below half may be assigned new roommates or relocated to a smaller space. Residence Life reserves
the right to either fill these spaces as needed or to work with the occupants to move to either a triple or a double
occupancy room.
COVID-19 Housing Agreement and Board Plan Addendum
This COVID -19 Housing Agreement and Board Plan Addendum (the “Addendum”) serve as an addendum to and a
material part of Drew University’s Housing Agreement and Board (Dining) Plan and outlines assumptions of
risks, obligations, and rights with respect to residing in housing/residence halls provided by Drew University (the
“University”) during the academic year.
- Assumption of Risk: As a resident within University provided housing, the novel coronavirus (“Covid-19”) or
similar infectious diseases will impact Student’s housing experience as the University continues to make public
health-informed decisions on how best to respond to Covid-19. The Student acknowledges, understands, and
assumes the following risks associated with returning to campus and/or residing in University provided housing:- COVID-19 is a highly infectious, life-threatening disease declared by the World Health
Organization to be a global pandemic. - COVID-19’s highly contagious nature means that contact with others, or contact with surfaces
that have been exposed to the virus, can lead to infection. Additionally, individuals who may
have been infected with COVID-19 may be asymptomatic for a period of time, or may never
become symptomatic at all. - Because of its highly contagious and sometimes “hidden” nature, it is very difficult for the
University to control the spread of COVID-19, eliminate the risk of an individual contracting
COVID-19, or determine whether, where, or how a specific individual may have been exposed
to COVID-19.
- COVID-19 is a highly infectious, life-threatening disease declared by the World Health
- Health and Safety: The University expects that all members of the community—residents, faculty, staff and
visitors—will act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those around them, including respect
and consideration for the health and safety of all community members. All resident students are prohibited from
creating a health or safety hazard within University provided housing and the University may request or require a
resident to leave University provided housing if the University determines, in its sole discretion, that a resident
student’s continued presence in the housing community poses a health or safety risk to other members of the
University community. Resident students are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances,
regulations and health and safety guidance adopted by the University as it relates to public health crises, including
COVID-19. This guidance will evolve as the public health crisis evolves and may include, but is not limited to, social
distancing, limitations on mass gatherings, wearing a face covering, COVID-19 testing based on University protocol,
contact tracing, disinfection protocols, limitations on guests into residence halls (guests include but are not limited to
other Drew resident students residing in another residence hall, non-Drew community members and current Drew
commuter students), quarantine / isolation requirements (including before or upon arrival to campus), and changes in
dining style, offerings and service. Adherence to health and safety requirements applies to all residents, staff and
visitors and extends to all aspects of residential life, including bedrooms, bathrooms, community kitchens, lounges,
meeting rooms, and other common spaces. The Student agrees that the University shall be permitted to modify or
update its Code of Conduct and policies and procedures at any time to address a public health crisis, including
COVID-19, and the Student shall comply with such updates or modifications. - Quarantine / Isolation / Separation: At any time, the University requires a resident to leave University provided
housing when that resident’s continued presence in the housing community poses a health or safety risk for
community members. Resident students are required to comply with requests from the Office of Residence Life and
Housing to leave their assigned space due to COVID-19 or other public health crisis and failure to do so will
constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct and may subject a student to emergency removal from their assigned
space. Not all residential rooms, halls, or on-campus houses are appropriate for self-quarantine or self-isolation. In
situations where a resident student is recommended to self-quarantine or self-isolate, students may not be permitted
to continue residing in their residential space and will either be provided alternative housing arrangements when such
space if available or be sent home. Removal from University housing to isolate or quarantine does not constitute a
termination of the Housing Agreement. - De-Densifying Efforts: Resident students are required to comply with any de-densifying efforts implemented by
the University due to COVID-19 or other public health crisis, including, but not limited to, the relocation of all or some
resident students to alternative housing. Relocation does not constitute a termination of the Housing Agreement. In
the event the Office of Residence Life and Housing must relocate students as part of a de-densifying strategy due to
public health concerns for an extended period of time and alternative housing is not available, impacted students will
be able to receive a refund based on the dates and refund percentages outlined in Section 10 Refund Timeline for
On-Campus Housing and Board Plan which provides for a sliding refund culminating on the fourth week with no
more than a 50% housing refund. - Dining Services: Dining service, including where and how it will be offered to resident students, is subject to the
discretion of the University and is subject to modification to address public health concerns. Due to health and safety
guidance adopted by the University, set forth in Paragraph 2, the University may limit the occupancy of dining halls,
serve all products as grab-n-go, limit the amount of time students may stay within dining halls or make any other
operational adjustments needed to address health and safety concerns. - Cleaning: Facilities Services will continue to implement and modify cleaning protocols to address COVID-19 or
other public health emergencies in the University’s efforts to minimize the spread of disease. The Office of Residence
Life and Housing will educate and inform resident students on appropriate cleaning protocols within their assigned
spaces to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within residence halls. - Termination: Upon reasonable notice, the Office of Residence Life and Housing reserves the right to terminate the
Housing Agreement due to public health emergency needs, including COVID-19. In the event the Office of Residence
Life and Housing terminates the Housing Agreement due to public health concerns, impacted students will be able to
receive a refund based on the dates and refund percentages outlined in Section 10 Refund Timeline for
On-Campus Housing and Board Plan which provides for a 50% housing refund up to the end of the third week of
the fall and spring semester (See Section 10 Table for further details). - Liability and Personal Property Insurance: The University is not responsible or liable for the personal property of
students in residence whether it is lost, stolen or damaged. All students are urged to obtain personal property
insurance either with their parent’s household insurance policy or by the obtainment of their own student
insurance policy from another carrier for this specific purpose. As a resident, you agree to cooperate with a
roommate in the common protection of property. Room doors are to be locked when not occupied.
You acknowledge and understand that any personal effects, valuables, or other personal property of the student must
be removed from the residence halls when students vacate their room assignment. Any items left in the residence
halls after expiration of the student agreement period will be considered abandoned property and may be retained by
the University or disposed of. - Indemnification: You agree to fully indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any and all
losses, damages, claims, suits, legal judgments, costs, expenses and legal fees, including attorneys’ fees, which the
University may at any time sustain because of (i) your failure to comply with any federal or state laws, rules or
regulations; (ii) any intentional or negligent conduct by you; and/or (iii) your breach of your obligations under this
Agreement. Your obligations to indemnify and hold the University harmless shall survive the termination of this
Agreement. - Refund Timeline for On-Campus Housing and Board Plan: The refund policy terms are determined by the
particular circumstances of each student and the date of the request to withdraw from on-campus Housing. Students
who are expelled or suspended from Housing for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for an institutional refund.
Students who request to leave housing for any reason during the first three weeks of the fall or spring semester are
entitled to a prorated refund for housing. Board Plan (meal plan) will be prorated throughout the term based on
the days used. Failure to communicate a withdrawal from housing, does not excuse the student of the housing fee
liability. Prorated charges are based upon the date of actual withdrawal from housing as determined by the
completion of the change of residency form through the Office of the Registrar and in accordance with the schedule
below for both the fall and spring semesters.- Refund Policy Schedule: Withdrawal Dates from Housing Request Percentage of Refund
First Week of Semester 90%
Second Week of Semester 70%
Third Week of Semester 50%
Fourth Week or More 0%
- Refund Policy Schedule: Withdrawal Dates from Housing Request Percentage of Refund
- Conflict: In the event of a conflict between this Addendum and the Housing Agreement, Board Plan and the Code of Conduct, the language of this Addendum will control.