Campus Housing

Campus Housing Expectations

A high standard of conduct is expected of residents at all times. Living together in a common space is an experience in community living; therefore, residents must respect the rights of one another. Policies and regulations are established for the health, safety and welfare of all residents. The student is expected to observe the rules and regulations stated in the Wilson College Handbook (the Blue Book) as well as published or posted residence life policies and the community standards decided on by the community.

Each student is required to sign a room agreement before being issued a key for their room. This agreement is a binding contract and will be treated as such. The student is responsible for fully reading, understanding and abiding by all stipulations within the agreement each year. A deposit is required of every resident before a key will be issued; once made, this deposit will be kept in a noninterest-bearing account separate from their student account for the duration of their time at the College. Following graduation or departure from the College, the deposit will be available for refund, subject to any deductions for charged owed to the College

Failure to maintain full-time enrollment may result in cancellation of a housing contract. Wilson reserves the right to refuse housing privileges to any person at any time. The College has the right to conduct a criminal background check on any resident at any time, either prior to room assignment or during the term of their agreement. The College reserves the right to deny or refuse housing or immediately remove a student from college housing, based on criminal history or conduct. This provision does not require the College to perform a criminal background check on any student.

Students assume full responsibility and liability for the behavior and actions of their guests, whether the guests are Wilson College students or not. Full residence hall policies are available online.

Students with special housing needs must make their request through the ADA accommodations process at least one month prior to arrival on campus or by posted deadlines (depending on their student type). Requests must be supported by documentation from the treating medical professional. Documentation must be updated prior to room selection for the following year. (All medical documentation received is kept confidential.)

All rooms and public spaces have wireless Internet access, which is provided free of charge. Rooms are provided with connections for phone and cable. Students who want cable television or landline phone service in their rooms are required to set up individual contracts for service with the local providers. Cable TV and wireless and landline phone service are available in the residence hall public spaces.

Within the residence halls, student staff members are selected and trained to serve for the academic year as resident assistants. RAs carry out a broad range of responsibilities in the areas of peer counseling, conflict resolution, mediation, community-based programming, policy enforcement, crisis management and community development. They make appropriate referrals when necessary and act as resources for residential students.

A hall senator represents each residential unit in the Student Senate. Senators provide one of several channels for students to voice opinions and make suggestions to the Wilson College Government Association (see list of organizations that follows). Hall senators also serve on residence council to address community concerns and communicate information to residents. Residence hall rules and regulations are evaluated regularly by residence council and residence life staff members.

Break Housing

All hall opening and closing dates are posted online, advertised on campus and emailed to students. Students must make sure their travel plans coincide with the dates advertised because no early arrivals or late departures will be permitted. The residence halls are closed during the Thanksgiving and winter breaks, January-term, spring break and summer vacation period. J-term and summer housing may be offered for students engaged in college-related activities during those break periods. Students who wish to make arrangements for break housing, if offered, must submit the online request form at least one month in advance of the break period (by the date advertised). Break housing is not guaranteed and may carry additional fees. Students may be asked to live in a different residence hall for the duration of the break, with limited access to the residence room they normally occupy during regular session. No hall access is provided during any break period. Students are required to follow all break closing procedures as advertised by residence life and may be subject to fines for failing to do so. The College reserves the right to require key return and/or to limit what can be left in the room at each break closing. No food service is available to students staying in residence halls during break periods.

Residence Hall Openings/Closings

All hall opening and closing dates are posted online, advertised on campus and emailed to students. Students must make sure their travel plans coincide with the dates advertised as no early arrivals or late departures will be permitted. The residence halls are closed during the Thanksgiving and winter breaks, January-term, spring break and summer vacation period. J-term and summer housing may be offered for students engaged in college-related activities during those break periods. If a student wishes to make arrangements for break housing, if offered, they must submit the online request form at least one month in advance of the break period (by the date advertised). Break housing is not guaranteed and may carry additional fees. Students may be required to live in another residence hall for the duration of the break, with limited access to the residence room she/he normally occupies during regular session. For safety and continuity, the core locks to the residence halls will be changed. No food service is available to students staying in residence during break periods. However, kitchen and lounge space within the designated break housing will be available. Students staying for any part of summer housing will be required to sign a summer housing lease. During the break period, visitation by off campus guests or students not registered for break housing must be approved in advance by the director of residence life. It is important that the College be aware of guests present on college property for security purposes and in case of emergency circumstances. However, unless individual extenuating circumstances exist, there is no reason to believe that such visitation would be denied. While the College is not in regular session, students living on campus will still abide by the rules defined in the Bluebook/ Student Handbook and will uphold the Honor Principle.

The student agrees to vacate the residence hall: (a) within 24 hours after the student’s last examination or within 24 hours after the termination of the room and board agreement, unless an extension is granted by the director of residence life; or, (b) on or before the date and time specified by residence life as hall closing for end of the semester, year or at breaks unless an extension is granted. At hall closings, residents must follow all advertised closing procedures including, but not limited to, room and public space preparation, checkout and key return as appropriate. Failure to do so will result in fines. Failure to leave by the designated hall closing time or time indicated by student room agreement will result in fines. The student’s right of occupancy does not include any period that the student is not enrolled with the College or any period in which the student has been removed from housing for any reason. If removed from housing, the student has 24 hours to vacate housing after receiving notice of removal. If the student is disruptive in any way during that period, she/he will be required to vacate immediately. If the student fails to vacate within 24 hours, the College reserves the right to remove the student’s belongings, change the locks at the student’s expense and/or treat the student as a trespasser.