International Engineering Program

Housing Contract

DISCLOSURE: BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, RESIDENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT, WHILE A URI PROPERTY, THE IEP/TI HOUSE IS CONSIDERED “OFF- CAMPUS” HOUSING. IF AT ANY POINT THE RESIDENT DECIDES TO SECURE “ON-CAMPUS” HOUSING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE (HRL), THEY WILL BE SUBJECT TO HRL ESTABLISHED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WHICH CAN INCLUDE BEING PLACED ON A WAITING LIST.

IEP/TI house Policies, Procedures, Rules and Regulations and Guidelines; and Student Rights and Responsibilities: The student agrees to follow the policies, procedures, and guidelines that follow. In addition, residents in the IEP/TI house and their guests are responsible for abiding by all student conduct regulations contained within the most recent edition of the URI Student Handbook. Violations of such student conduct regulations may subject you to sanctions or corrective actions under either or both this Agreement and under the student conduct system described in the Student Handbook.

Although housing and dining bills are payable by the semester, this contract is binding for the entire 2024-2025 academic year, unless previously discussed with staff. The resident/student and/or guarantor shall be responsible for the full amount of yearly charges. By signing the IEP/TI Housing Agreement, the resident/student has agreed to the terms and conditions of this agreement, as well all of the policies, procedures, rules and regulations set forth in this agreement.

Statement of Purpose

The IEP House and the TI House are the administrative and residential center founded to support the goals and activities of the International Engineering Program. Together they are known as the Heidi Kirk Duffy Center for International Engineering Education and are a home for students, from the U.S. and abroad, seeking to prepare themselves for leadership careers in the contemporary global workplace. They represent a partnership among faculty, students, and all persons in the public and private sectors who are committed to the goals of a global technical education.

The IEP House and the TI House are models for responsible residential living, based on the philosophy that students with similar academic and career goals will be supportive of one another and benefit mutually in a common living environment. Priority for housing may be given to students who have completed an IEP internships and/or study abroad, students in their second year (or beyond), students with a cumulative gpa of 3.0 or above, students demonstrating a clear commitment to the goals of the IEP, and prior residents with a clear commitment to the community spirit of the IEP.

The IEP and TI Houses exemplify the manner in which educators and members of the private sector may work together in supporting students preparing for a global workplace.

IEP and TI House Rules and Regulations

Housing Rate/Deposit
The rate for the 2024-2025 academic year at the IEP/TI house is $6,037 for a double room, and $6,447 for a single room. The price includes a 15-meal-per-week plan, communication fee associated with living at the IEP/TI house and laundry equipment. A non-refundable fee of $250 must be paid at the time of acceptance. The $250 deposit will be applied towards the spring 2024 semester housing and dining charges.

Billing
Billing is managed through the resident’s URI e-Campus Account. Any additional costs will be billed directly by the IEP/TI house to the resident. Individuals, who do not satisfy all financial obligations to the IEP/TI house in a timely manner will be subject to having their present housing/dining contract terminated and/or having their registration, transcripts, and/or diploma withheld.

Check-In and Check-Out
Upon check-in and prior to move-in a move-in inspection form, (completed by a staff member) will be provided to the resident. The resident will have 48 hours to note any difference of opinions and give the form back to the IEP/TI house staff. The completed form will be given to the resident to review after their belongings have been removed from the room upon check-out. The resident is responsible to return the room and all the furnishings to the condition it was found at move-in (with reasonably minimal and expected wear and tear) including cleaning of floors, walls, doors, etc. The party/parties responsible for damage will be billed accordingly.

Dining Services

Every resident of the IEP/TI House residence is provided with an on- site meal plan that is included in the housing fee. The chef will provide 15 meals a week, Monday through Friday. The dining room will remain open on the weekends and students may partake of prepared leftovers (unless otherwise stated by the chef) but may not use the kitchen equipment under any circumstances (insurance considerations primarily). Residents must abide by the rules and regulations put forward by the chef. Residents who violate this policy will be referred to URI Student Conduct.

In the event that classes are not held on a weekday and the chef is not in the kitchen (holidays/weather), meals will not be provided for residents. Note, there may be times when the IEP/TI house is unable to provide food (i.e. power outages due to inclement weather or acts of God). On these rare occasions, it will be up to the individual students to seek out and obtain their own food. The IEP/TI house is not responsible for providing food when its facilities are inoperable.

House Care & Maintenance
All students are responsible for the care of their rooms and the general upkeep of the house. If a resident(s) or their guest(s) causes damage, the resident(s) will be billed for repairs. Damages include, but are not limited to, holes in the walls, burns, scratches, stains, broken furniture, carpet damage, non-removal of trash and/or personal items, damage to bedroom door/walls, broken window, damage to smoke detector, damage to light fixture, missing or damage window screens. etc.

Noise
The IEP and TI Houses are part of an administrative center for the International Engineering Program as well as a place of residence. Be respectful of others’ needs by keeping noise at reasonable levels. Do not loiter in any of the hallways. During Business hours residents must keep music, television, and other noise to a reasonable level in order for the staff to conduct business. Residents are asked to refrain from yelling out windows or down hallways and stairs; refrain from blasting stereos/music/video games or from having loud gatherings in their rooms. Playing of sports/games/activities in hallways that disturb others is not permitted. Minimum Quiet Hours, established by the IEP/TI House and University, are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday; and 1:00a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. There will be a 24-hour quiet period during the week preceding and throughout finals week.

Guests

Residents and guests will observe and abide by all RI State Laws as well as the policies and procedures outlined in the URI Student Handbook. Residents are responsible for their guest’s conduct and will also be held accountable for any violations of the University and IEP/TI House Policy, Rules, and Regulations, as well as damages and/or loss of property caused by their guests.

The IEP/TI house holds the right to ask any guest to leave and/or not return.

A person in the IEP/TI house who is not an IEP/TI resident and is not a guest of an IEP/TI house resident will be considered a trespasser. Trespassers should be reported to the IEP/TI house staff and/or to the Department of Public Safety.

Alcohol Policy
Rhode Island law prohibits the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under the age of 21. Students of legal age may have alcoholic beverages in their rooms, in the amount determined to be acceptable by the University Student handbook. In all cases, the consumption of alcohol or possession of an open container of alcohol is prohibited in any area outside of a student’s room. In accordance with Rhode Island law, purchasing alcohol for anyone under 21 is illegal. Any infractions with regards to alcohol will be handled through the University’s disciplinary procedures.

Drug Policy
The use of any illegal drug in the house is forbidden. If a resident or his/her guest uses or possesses any illegal drug in the house or on property, that resident will be evicted and his/her rent will be forfeited and will be referred to the URI Student Conduct and/or University Police.

Pets
No animals or pets, with the exception of fish in properly maintained aquariums of 20 gallons or less, are permitted in the house.

Inspections

he IEP/TI house staff may enter a student’s room without prior notice: to inspect for hazards to health, personal safety, maintenance, or fire safety; to investigate suspected violations of the Student Conduct Code or the policies, procedures, rules and regulations in this Agreement; or to determine if University Property is in jeopardy. In the event of a breach of any of the terms and conditions of this agreement, or other behavior which renders them unfit or unsuitable to continue as residents of the IEP/TI House, the resident will forfeit the right to use or occupy the room.

Periodic fire safety and sprinkler inspections will be conducted by the Public Safety Department staff, trained in fire safety, with 24-48 hours of advance notice given. The IEP/TI House staff will give 24-hour notice before inspecting student’s rooms for basic inventory. If a resident would like to be present during such an inspection, adequate opportunity will be given to arrange this. The IEP/TI house staff reserves the right to enter students’ rooms without prior notice for the purpose of safety (emergency or student requested).

Insurance
The IEP/TI House shall not be responsible directly or indirectly for loss or damage from any cause to personal property by fire, theft, flood, or any other cause, except to the extent provided by the law. Each resident is encouraged to have Renters Insurance or should review family personal property insurance coverage to ascertain the status of their coverage while living in off-campus housing at the IEP/TI house particularly noting the presence or absence of a coverage clause for mysterious disappearance, i.e. loss where physical proof is not available. The IEP/TI house is not responsible for personal property remaining inside or outside the IEP/TI house (bicycles) following the resident’s date of withdrawal, transfer, departure, suspension or dismissal from the University, or after the last day of their contracted period of occupancy. Such property will be considered abandoned and will be disposed of by IEP/TI house personnel.

Laundry
The cost of using laundry machines is incorporated into the residents’ housing fees for 2023- 2024. When using the washer and dryer, empty the lint filter before/after each use, remove/switch clothing in a timely manner. The laundry facilities are for IEP/TI house residents and staff only. In the event that external users are discovered, the availability of free laundry will be revoked for all.

Cleanliness Standards

Residents are required to regularly clean their rooms, vacuum, remove trash, dishes, food, and follow safety standards. All residents are responsible for cleaning up after themselves as well as their guests in the common areas. Recycling is encouraged! The IEP/TI house will have the common areas of the house cleaned and maintained. Residents and their guests are responsible for leaving the shared areas of the house in the same condition that it was found. Should the common areas not be maintained to a reasonable standard of cleanliness, the students will share the cost of hiring a cleaning company. This includes the lounge, dining area, and restrooms. If a resident(s) or their guest(s) causes damage, the resident(s) will be billed for repairs and the guest(s) will in repeated or more serious cases (e.g. intentional vandalism, reckless negligence resulting in significant damage) be banned from the IEP/TI house. Damages include, but are not limited to, holes in the walls, burns, scratches, stains, broken furniture, etc.

Maintenance and Decorating

Occupants may not dismantle, refinish, paint, dye, or alter in any way the walls, floors, ceilings, windows, drapes, doors, furnishings, or other fixtures in a room or common area. The IEP/TI staff will make any furniture substitutions based solely upon documented medical or ADA necessity. Students may not post any paper, cardboard, poster, or other flammable material on any hallway surface. Wall tapestries are not allowed. Items may not be hung from the ceiling or fire sprinklers. Holiday trees are prohibited. Students may not hang, drape, or display any banner or object from, on, or out of windows.

To report a maintenance request, residents can fill out a Maintenance Request Form. To report an emergency after hours, please contact a member of House Council.

Parking

IEP/TI House residents may purchase a resident parking permit from the URI Parking Services website. Please refer to the parking map of the campus for other parking lot options.

Room and Roommate Selection

All room assignments are managed at the sole discretion and authority of the IEP. The IEP reserves the right to consolidate vacancies and use temporary relocation as needed (standard and/or non-standard spaces). The IEP will make reasonable efforts to minimize disruption to relocate students. Any resident who changes room assignments without prior approval from the IEP or refuses to accept/attempts to rebuff a prospective roommate, may be subject to Community Standards action and relocation. Residents may not establish any preconditions that would inhibit another resident access to a room assignment. Current residents of a room may not always receive advance notification that they will have a new roommate. In the event of an irreconcilable roommate conflict, the IEP reserves the right to move all parties involved.

Returning students, with the approval of the IEP/TI house staff, may participate in the room selection process in the Spring semester of each year. The selection process is based on a points system. A resident receives 100 points for each year they have lived in the IEP/TI, which gets added to the number of completed credits they have (as of the previous December). Room selection goes in order from highest to lowest points. Residents may choose from available singles and doubles. Residents also may choose their roommates.

New residents that have never lived in the IEP/TI house, will get placed in a room at the discretion of the IEP/TI house staff. We do our best to honor both room and roommate requests.

Roommate Conflict
If a resident has a complaint with another resident or a member of the IEP/TI community the first step is to speak directly with the individual and attempt to resolve the situation collectively. If this is not successful, contact a member of the House Council to seek assistance in resolving the situation. If the House Council is also not successful, the situation will be escalated to the IEP Graduate Housing Advisor and/or the IEP Associate Director of Business and Administration. In some cases the residents might need to be referred to mediation to try to resolve the conflict. Each case will be unique, and it is important for residents to begin to practice and become proficient in resolving conflict in a respectful manner.

Smoking
Smoking is prohibited from all areas inside the houses. As per Rhode Island law, persons are prohibited from smoking within 50 feet of the buildings.

Emergency Management
Residents of the IEP/TI House are encouraged to review the website from the Office of Emergency Management. In the event of a natural disaster, power outage, or emergency situation on-campus, this site provides information on how to directly receive notifications and updates from the University. During inclement weather and/or power outages, residents are encouraged to physically check-in with the IEP/TI House staff/office, check their University email account frequently, read the IEP/TI House Residence Facebook page for updates, and read their cellular text message updates to keep up-to-date on the details as more information becomes available.

Fire Safety
Students are expected to notify the Department of Public Safety of any potential fire and/or safety hazards and promptly report a fire of any type (401-874-2121). All residents are responsible for reading and observing all University fire safety guidelines. All residents are expected to observe all fire safety procedures established including the participation in fire alarms/evacuation drills. Students must leave the building during a fire drill or be subject to disciplinary action, as stated in the law. Fire extinguishers and alarm systems shall not be tampered with or tested by unauthorized persons nor should anything cover, be attached to, or hung from detector devices or conduit. Students are expected to help prevent false alarms and should report any tampering with fire safety equipment to the staff of the IEP/TI House. Students are financially responsible for charges assessed as a result of tampering with fire safety equipment, are subject to disciplinary charges, and can be arrested under Rhode Island law.

Safety & Security

Residents are expected to take reasonable measures to protect their own property by locking their room door and exclusively retaining their assigned room codes/cards. Outside doors must remain securely closed at all times. The University and the International Engineering Program do not take any responsibility for personal items. Because of the danger involved, under no circumstances are residents and/or their guests allowed on roofs or ledges of the IEP/TI house. Use of fire escapes is restricted to emergency use only. Tampering with fire exits is prohibited. Residents and their guests violating this policy will be reported to URI Student Conduct and/or their housing contract terminated.

Each door in the IEP/TI house has a code. This code is used to gain entry into the room and should never be shared with other residents or non-residents.

Each resident must at all times act in such a manner as not to cause risk of bodily harm to self, other residents and visitors in the IEP/TI House and the IEP staff. In the event that – at the discretion of the IEP Staff, its agents or employees – a resident engages in conduct that poses a risk of bodily harm to self or others, the resident agrees that IEP Staff and/or URI Dean of Students Office, their agents and employees, may take action as they shall deem to be necessary in its sole discretion to prevent harm to resident and others including but not limited to contacting (consistent with the limitations of FERPA) the parents or family of Resident school officials, or other persons, and making such disclosures as they deem necessary or desirable to prevent harm to resident; provided nothing herein shall result in a duty on the part of the IEP, its agents and employees to contact any person whatsoever or to otherwise prevent the resident from causing bodily harm to resident and others.

Although the IEP staff may in some extreme cases involving medical emergencies, assist you in obtaining medical care (e.g. by calling 911 in cases of serious accident or illness when you are clearly not capable of obtaining care for yourself), you are generally expected and required to exercise personal responsibility for your own health, and to seek medical or psychological evaluation or treatment on your own, and through your own initiative.

Trash
In accordance with fire and health regulations, students may not place trash in lounges, hallways, stairwells, closets, or bathrooms. Residents are responsible for emptying their own trash, as needed, in dumpsters provided by the University. The trash disposals are located in the parking lot behind the IEP house.

Vacation, Recess and Spring Breaks
To accommodate many out-of-state and international students, the IEP/TI house remains open during Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Breaks. Over these periods, the kitchen is closed and students remaining at the IEP/TI house must provide their own meals.

Social Events
Any Social Event being held at the residence must be approved by the IEP/TI house staff. Social Events are allowed/encouraged to be held at the IEP/TI house with approval, however, alcohol is never allowed at these social events – there are no exceptions.

Violations of any house rules are subject to university disciplinary procedures.

House Agreement

As a future resident of the IEP/TI House, I understand and agree to the following:

1. I have read and concur with the IEP House Statement of Purpose. I understand that the IEP House is a residence facility with high standards of behavior and academic expectations. As a resident in the IEP House, I pledge to maintain these goals and standards.
2. I have read the rules and regulations for the IEP House and will abide by them.
3. If I am a student in the International Engineering Program, I fully intend to remain in the program and complete degrees in both engineering and language.
4. I understand that the IEP House is self-sustaining. I will actively support the programs of the house and will share actively in keeping the house clean and in good order.
5. I accept responsibility for any damages to the IEP/TI House caused by me or my guests, and will pay any costs associated with the repair of such.

Upon acceptance, I will submit a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit of $250 for the 2024-2025 academic year, which will be applied to the Spring 2025 semester bill.

I agree to pay $6,037 for a double room (IEP & TI), or $6,447 for a single room (IEP & TI), for the Fall 2024 semester, by September 3, 2024. Every payment other than the deposit ($250) will be charged to my e-Campus bill.
I agree to pay an additional $6,037 (IEP & TI) for a double, or $6,447 (IEP & TI) for a single, for the Spring 2025 semester.
I understand that the meal plan (15 meal a week), high speed internet service and laundry service are included in the fees above.
I understand that I am legally committed to the payment amounts in items #6, #7 and #8. In the event that I do break the contract, I understand that, if I remain enrolled at the university, the following penalties will be imposed: Prior to initial move-in: $250 non-refundable deposit; Within the first ten days of classes: 40% of room and board semester charges; Between eleven and twenty days of classes: 80% of room and board semester charges; After twenty days of classes: 100% of room and board semester charges; After six weeks of classes of the Fall semester: 75% of room and board charges for the Spring semester; Between semesters: 80% of room and board charges for the following spring semester.
If a student withdraws from the university during the academic year, except for the $250 nonrefundable deposit, refunds will be issued in accordance with University withdrawal refund policy.

Consequences of Violations: In the event of a breach of any of the terms and conditions of this agreement, or other behavior which renders the resident unfit or unsuitable to continue as a resident of the IEP/TI house, the resident will forfeit the right to use or occupy the room, and this contract shall be terminated along with the student’s right to use and occupy the bed.