Residence Hall Lounges and Common Areas

Residence hall lounges and common areas should not be used for overnight sleeping or hosting non-Ursinus students. Additionally, lounge furniture must remain in the appropriate lounge space; it may not be appropriated to residence hall rooms. Students who remove furniture from the lounges and common spaces are subject to disciplinary action.

Noise Policies

Courtesy and consideration for others are essential to maintain a harmonious atmosphere in a residential setting. While Resident Advisors, Assistant Directors, and Campus Safety officers will act to stop unreasonable noise, the primary responsibility for keeping noise at a reasonable level rests with each individual student. Appropriate college authorities should be notified if noise concerns persist. College policies regarding noise levels vary by hour and location. Violations of these policies may result in disciplinary action.

• Courtesy Hours: During these hours, noise should not be audible at a level that bothers others outside the hall, house, or suite, and students are expected to respond positively to neighbor’s requests to decrease noise. Speakers, musical instruments, and televisions should be played at reasonable times and at a volume that will not negatively impact others. Courtesy hours are in effect in a residence hall, house, or suite at all times when approved social events are not in effect.
• Quiet Hours: During these hours, noise should not be audible outside the individual room. Quiet hours are in effect in every residence area from 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Common rooms, common spaces, and lounges are recommended for larger group activities. All residence halls have 24-hour designated quiet hours during reading days and the final exam period.

Guest Policy

Guests who are on campus during Residence Hall Quiet Hours (12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday) must be registered (via the online form) by an enrolled Ursinus student resident. Residents may not register more than 2 visitors to campus at any one time without the express written consent of the Director of Residence Life or the Executive Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Guests visiting overnight may only stay if all roommates are in agreement. Guests may not remain overnight for more than 2 nights consecutively and no more than 2 total nights per week. Cohabitation is not permitted and is defined at the discretion of the Director of Residence Life.

Residents must be present with their guests at all times during guest stays and are responsible for guest actions in accordance with College policies. By registering a guest, the resident is affirming that the guest has not been removed or banned from Ursinus College for any reason.

The College reserves the right to remove a guest from campus at any time.

Guests who are bringing a vehicle to campus must enter their vehicle information in the guest registration form and may only park in white-lined student spaces.

Social Host Policy

Residents are responsible for all that occurs within their room, house or suite (as applicable). In the event that the College is unable to determine the particular person(s) responsible for a violation of College policies, the College reserves the discretion to hold all residents in the room, house or suite (as applicable) responsible for the violation.

Items and Behaviors Not Permitted In Residence Halls

Students must follow all municipal, state, and federal fire safety procedures and laws including not tampering with or using safety or fire equipment such as alarm systems or fire extinguishers except in an actual emergency.

The following items are prohibited from the residence halls:

• The use or possession of any flammable substances, flame emitting articles, open coiled/flamed items, non-approved cooking appliances or candles. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of air fryers, hot plates, rice cookers, crockpots, and incense. Toasters and toaster ovens are permitted to be used only in common area kitchens. These items must be stored in the kitchen and are not permitted in students’ rooms. The College shall not be directly or indirectly liable for any damage, loss, or theft of these items. Any loss or theft should be reported to Campus Safety.
• Fog machines
• Halogen and multi-head lamps
• Hoverboards, single wheel boards, Segways, e-bikes or any similar device that is battery powered are prohibited in the residence halls. For more information on recreations vehicles, see the Recreational Vehicles Policy
• The use of heat-generating electrical equipment such as electric heaters
• Firearms, ammunition, fireworks, incendiary or toxic chemicals, explosives, and weapons
• Public signs, college signs, dining hall property, and laboratory equipment
• Waterbeds and swimming pools of any kind
• Animals, except fish. Violations involving animals will include disciplinary action and mandatory fines for clean-up costs, currently set to the cost of labor
• Solicitors and/or photographers without authorization from Student Affairs
• Formal and/or informal athletic activities that should be confined to the proper playing fields or gym
• Students are not permitted on the roof tops of any residence halls or academic buildings at any time
• All buildings, including all residence halls, are strictly smoke-free/vape-free

Room Decorating Guidelines & Policies

• Decorations in a room must not damage ceilings, walls or woodwork, this includes decorations such as LED tape lights. Students may not paste, glue, or nail materials to the walls, ceiling or furniture. Students should be careful about potential damage when decorating walls. All decorations attached to walls must be attached via damage free wall hanging products. LED tape lights may be adhered using the manufacturer’s adhesive tape in Reimert common rooms only.
• Live holiday decorations such as trees, branches, or wreaths are not permitted in residence halls and on residence hall exteriors including balconies and porches.
• Wrapping paper, or other materials, may not be used to “wrap” interior or exterior doors or walls at any time.
• Wall and door decorations may not exceed 50% of the surface area of the wall and/or door.
• Pipes and sprinkler heads must remain clear at all times. Items found hanging from and around pipes in rooms and common areas may result in disciplinary action and a $250 fine.
• Materials of any kind may not be placed on, over, around, inside, or surrounding any installed or stand-alone lighting fixture.
• Materials, including but not limited to, sand, rocks, bricks, and stones, may not be placed on the floor of any residence hall, and my not be placed around any entrances or exits to residence halls.
• Students shall not place decorations or other objects on the floor that may impede walking or egress from any residential area or would block entrance into residence hall rooms.
• Students shall not (a) remove any furniture, equipment or property belonging to the College from the room, (b) remove furniture from lounges for room use, (c) alter or tamper with the installed heating or electrical systems, or (d) alter the floor, walls, ceiling or doors of the room.
• Students may not paint their rooms or common areas. Reimert suite doors and common rooms may be painted with permission through the Reimert Suite Painting Program.
• Repairs needed in the residence halls should be reported to Facilities Services.
• The resident is responsible for all furnishings supplied for the residence halls by the college at the time of occupancy. Charges will be made for loss or damage to the room or to its furnishings.

Residence Hall Common Areas, Exteriors, and Porches

• No items (including couches, hammocks, flags, banners, posters, sand) may be hung from or placed on residence hall exteriors and/or porches without approval from the college.
• Reimert Hall balconies must remain clear at all times. No items, including but not limited to furniture, tables, chairs, speakers, coolers, and sports equipment, may be placed, kept or stored on the balconies in Reimert Hall. Balconies in Reimert Hall are designed for entrance and egress only. Students should avoid congregating on balconies in groups of 3 or more.
• Posters/banners/flyers can only be hung in residence hall hallways and common areas with the approval of Residence Life and at the discretion of Residence Life.

Windows, Screens, and Doors

• Residence hall screens are not to be unhooked or removed from windows. Residents will be charged for the total cost of reinstalling, repairing, or replacing damaged or destroyed screens. Windows are not to be used for entrances or exits. Residence hall windows should remain closed during periods of below freezing weather. No items (including flags, banners, posters, signs, or speakers) may be placed in, hung from, attached to, or hung out of windows or doors.

Residence Hall Keys

All students must pick up their residence hall keys and always keep them on their person at all times. The college strongly encourages every student to keep room and suite doors locked. An exterior building key, MSC (Mail Stop Code) key, and individual room key will be issued to residents of each hall as appropriate. If you lose a key, report the loss to Facilities Services immediately. Facilities Services will issue the student a replacement key and give the student 72 hours to find and return their lost key. If a student finds and returns the key within that time frame, they will only be charged the $15 replacement cost. If a student does not return the key within 72 hours, they will be charged a $275 replacement key fee and the locks will be changed on that door. At the end of the academic year, students must return room and exterior building keys, but keep MSC keys. Only graduating seniors, students changing their residency status to commuter or off campus, and students permanently leaving the college return MSC keys at the end of the year. Students will be charged $275 if they do not turn in their mail key. If room and exterior building keys are not returned at the end of the year, the student will be charged key replacement fees as appropriate.