Boise State University Housing

All students residing in University Housing are subject to the policies and procedures outlined in the Boise State Student Code of Conduct and policies and procedures outlined in this University Housing Handbook. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the Student Code of Conduct for specific policies as well as the procedures for filing a complaint and for being held accountable for allegations of behavior violations.

Housing policies are centered around community interests and are applied to all residents and guests who visit Housing, regardless of residency in University Housing or attendance at Boise State University. All students will be held accountable for any violations of policy. It is essential that residents educate their guests about all policies while they are on the premises.

*University Housing policies and regulations are subject to change and modification. Changes and additions will be posted throughout the housing system; the changes will take place after 10 days of notification.

Safety and Security in University Housing
The University has the responsibility to protect the health and safety of all of its students, staff, and guests. These policies have been developed to prevent incidents or behavior from occurring that jeopardizes the physical, mental, and emotional health and/or safety of an individual or community.

It is a basic expectation that you keep yourself and your living area at a level of cleanliness that does not disturb your roommate or the community. This expectation includes smells that emanate from your room that may disturb or affect other members of the community.

BEHAVIORAL CONTRACTS
University Housing reserves the right to require resident students to sign and comply with behavioral contracts as a condition of their continued ability to live in residential facilities. These contracts may include clauses requiring the student to meet regularly with staff from the Counseling Center, Advising, Heath and Wellness Office, Housing Office, etc. Behavioral contracts will be developed by the Resident Director and Associate Director of University Housing. Failure to follow-through with the contract once it has been signed may result in the student’s housing agreement being terminated, without a refund. [back]

BALCONIES/DECKS
Select suites within Keiser and Taylor residence halls possess balconies and there is a large deck area on the third floor of Taylor hall. These balconies/decks are subject to the same policies and regulations found in their respective residence halls. Balcony/deck use is a privilege that may be revoked if these policies are not adhered to, resulting in the permanent locking of balcony/deck entrances or student’s removal from the assigned room. All balconies are locked at the beginning of the year and will not be unlocked by University Housing until all residents of that suite have completed the Balcony Use Agreement Form with their RA or RD.

1) Ground floor patios are not meant for primary entrance and exit from the suite area.
2) Students may not display or hang items from the balcony as this can be an “eye-sore” to the community.
3) Student may not engage in or behave in ways that are dangerous to self or others (e.g. jumping from balcony, repelling, hanging over the edge, climbing up to the balcony, etc.).
4) Students may not throw items to and from balconies and decks.
5) Students may not use grills on the balcony or deck.
6) Smoking is prohibited on the balcony/deck.
7) Students may not store any furniture on the balcony or deck.
8) Students may not store or leave their trash on the balcony or deck. [back]

CLEANLINESS
All resident rooms, common areas, bathrooms, kitchens must be kept in a clean state. If the area is deemed unhygienic the residents will be given a timeframe to clean. Custodial staff will clean “community” bathrooms located in Chaffee, Driscoll, and Morrison. However, residents are expected to maintain a reasonable standard of care in community bathrooms. Misuse of these facilities may result in assessed charges and disciplinary action. [back]

CONFISCATION
University Housing may confiscate items that are deemed illegal, in violation of University Housing or Boise State University policy or deemed unsafe by designated University Officials. In instances when University Housing has confiscated an item, a notice will be left in the room in question and the residents of that room should expect to receive further notification from their Resident Director about conduct follow-up. Students that receive these notices are encouraged to seek out their RD to receive further information about their individual situation. [back]

EXTERIOR DOORS
Propping, unlocking, barring, or leaving open an exterior door is prohibited and jeopardizes the safety of the members of the community. [back]

FACILITY SAFETY
For safety reasons, residents may not enter areas such as roofs, dumpsters, construction areas, access tunnels, and other areas that are locked OR do not allow for general use. This includes trying to gain access to a balcony by climbing in restricted use areas. [back]

FIRE ALARMS, FIRE & SAFETY EQUIPMENT
1) All residents MUST leave the facility when a fire alarm bell sounds. Residents who fail to evacuate a building, or take an improper length of time to exit the building will be subject to University disciplinary action.

2) Tampering, damaging, or inhibiting the use of fire safety equipment which includes: smoke/heat detectors, alarms, sprinklers, fire doors, pull stations and fire-extinguishers is a violation of state law as well as University regulations. Sanctions for violating any policy concerning fire alarms may include removal from University Housing, suspension from the University, fines, and/or criminal prosecution.

3) Students may not block access to any fire and safety equipment with personal belongings or furniture.

4) Tampering, damaging, inhibiting the use of or improper use of building security equipment which includes: doors, door locking hardware, door exit hardware, electronic door monitoring equipment, proxy readers, swipe readers and cameras is a violation of University Housing regulations. Sanctions for violating this policy may include removal from University Housing, suspension from the University, fines and/or criminal prosecution.

Residents involved in any of these activities will be subject to University disciplinary action as well as possible criminal charges and fines. [back]

FIREWORKS/EXPLOSIVES/FLAMMABLE MATERIALS
Fireworks of any type are prohibited and may not be kept in your room/suite. Explosives of any kind, or equipment or materials to make explosives, are not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to firecrackers, gun powder, pipe bombs, bullets, Molotov cocktails, gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluid, or any potentially explosive materials. Possession of fireworks or explosives of any type implies the intent to use them. Hazardous chemicals or flammable liquids are also prohibited, including propane tanks for grills and camping equipment. [back]

GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING
Students must dispose of garbage and recycling in the appropriate bins and locations. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. Garbage is not to be left on landings, in stairwells, lounges, elevator lobbies, by the doors, on the ground by dumpsters, or in the trash chute rooms. Household trash is not to be emptied into smaller trashcans that are placed around the buildings. A fee for removal will occur ($25.00 minimum). Increasing fines will occur for subsequent offenses. [back]

HEALTH & SAFETY INSPECTIONS
Housing staff will enter all rooms/suites each semester for health/fire safety and facility checks. University Housing staff will give 48 hours notice of room entry for this purpose. University Housing encourages residents to be home when staff checks the rooms, but it is not necessary. Staff will look at fire safety equipment (smoke detectors, sprinkler heads, fire extinguishers), screens, window & door locks, overall cleanliness, personal affects are not placed against heaters & air conditioning units, ensure electrical outlets are not overloaded, etc. [back]

IDENTIFICATION
Failure to identify yourself or provide false personal information to a University staff member in the course of their duties is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Students are expected to cooperate with University officials and staff when identification is requested. [back]

PARENTAL/GUARDIAN/EMERGENCY CONTACT NOTIFICATION
University Housing reserves the right to contact the parent, guardian or emergency contact for any student involved in any incident within the residential facilities, if deemed necessary. This includes instances, but is not limited to, as follows: a student who has threatened their own safety, the safety of other students, the BSU community or BSU property; a student who has caused serious disruption to their roommate, suitemates, hall or community. [back]

PERSONAL SAFETY DEVICES
Students who own and/or carry personal safety devices such as pepper spray or mace should know how to use the device properly and it should stay in their possession. These devices should only be used when needed for protection and according to manufacturer’s instructions. Inappropriate discharge or failure to use the device according to manufacturer’s instructions will result in a referral to the student conduct system. [back]

ROOM/SUITE ACCESS
1) Access into a room other than the one assigned to you without permission is prohibited.

2) Using keys or Student ID cards improperly, making copies of keys, loaning or giving your keys to anyone else is a violation of University Housing policy and subject to disciplinary action. [back]

ROOF ACCESS
Students are not allowed access to the roofs of any building on campus. This includes roof tops adjacent to resident rooms. If students are found on any roof it will result in disciplinary action. [back]

ROOM WINDOWS
At no time should any article be thrown or dropped out of a hall window. Given the nature of the facilities, this could result in serious injury. In addition, students should not throw things into windows from the ground as this could damage the facility and also lead to injury. Residents are not allowed to place themselves in an open window, hang out of a window or enter/exit the building via windows due to safety concerns. Removal of window screens from the windows is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action and a fine. [back]

SMOKING
Due to health concerns and building maintenance, smoking is prohibited on all Boise State University Property, including University Housing facilities. As of August 17, 2009, BSU will be completely smoke free (including buildings, grassy quads, parking lots, sidewalks, etc. More information on this policy can be found at: www.boisestate.edu/healthservices/smokefree. Students who are found smoking on campus will be in violation of University policy and may be charged additional cleaning/damage fees as well as may be put through the conduct process. This policy includes but is not limited to cigarettes, pipes and hookahs. [back]

SPORTS IN THE HALLS
Residents may not engage in any sports in the hallways, stairwells, lounges, rooms or any other public areas. This includes bouncing balls, throwing a frisbee, nerf guns, water guns, water balloons, footballs, etc. In addition, residents may not ride bikes, wheeled vehicles (unless for medical purposes) or any types of skates or skateboards within housing facilities. Please do not ride on or use your skates, skateboards, or bicycles on public benches, tables, stair railings and concrete walls. [back]

WEAPONS & FIREARMS
Rifles, handguns, weapons, ammunition, or any device or object used as a weapon are forbidden in the residence halls. They present a danger to the residents and the community. This includes, but is not limited to: pellet or BB guns, air soft guns, paintball guns, sling shots, arrows, axes, machetes, nun-chuks, throwing stars, knives, brass knuckles, blow guns, daggers, cross bows, ornamental weaponry, hunting devices, or any other device that could be used as a weapon. Weapons will be confiscated by the Boise City Police or a University Housing staff member.
*Please note that the University also prohibits weapons from being stored in vehicles parked on University property. [back]