The University of Rhode Island’s Housing and Residential Life Community Policies Addendum 2024-2025

The following Policies Addendum applies to all Housing and Residential Life (HRL) communities at the University of Rhode Island (URI), including the Graduate Village Apartments (GVA).

OCCUPANCY

Check-In and Check-Out

Each resident must follow and fully complete the check-in/out process as outlined in the provided instructions from HRL or they may incur additional fees. Upon check-out, a student residence must be left in the same condition as at the time of check-in. If a student’s residence is left in an unsatisfactory condition, the resident will be billed for restoration charges. If a semi-private or private bathroom, or semi-private, private, or community kitchen is left in unsatisfactory condition, the assigned resident(s) will be billed for any related restoration charges for the facility.

Room Usage

HRL issues assignments via rooms and charges by the bed. Residents may not establish any preconditions that would inhibit another resident’s access to a room assignment. While reasonable efforts will be made, 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, HRL reserves the right to move all parties involved.

Room Changes

Any resident who changes room assignments without prior approval from HRL or refuses to accept/attempts to rebuff a prospective roommate may be subject to relocation by HRL and/or referral to the Office of Community Standards.

SAFETY EXPECTATIONS

All students, and their guests, in residential living communities are responsible for taking reasonable measures to protect their person and property and also that of their roommate(s) by routinely securing the door to their student residence, by exclusively retaining their assigned entry mechanism (e.g., key, PIN, ID card), and by supporting and cooperating with efforts of University security personnel to provide a safe and secure residential living community.

Exits

All exits and methods of egress must always be kept clear and unobstructed. This includes stairways, corridors, and doors. Objects of any type, including but not limited to bicycles and scooters, left in these areas in residential living communities will be confiscated at the owner’s risk and expense. Doors exiting to the exterior must also remain unobstructed on the exterior of the building. All doors in and between corridors, stairwells, and common rooms; and the exterior doors cannot be propped open.

Fire Safety

Residents are expected to notify the Department of Public Safety of any potential fire or safety hazards and promptly report a fire, or indication of a fire, of any type. Additionally, they are responsible for reading and observing all University fire safety guidelines and must participate in evacuations, including drills and fire safety inspections. Students must exit the building promptly during any fire alarm or drill. Students are expected to help prevent false alarms and should immediately report any tampering with fire safety equipment to their hall staff members.

Tampering

The tampering/obstruction of fire/life safety devices (smoke detectors, sprinklers, fire horns, etc.) is strictly prohibited. This includes but is not limited to, the covering and/or removal of smoke detectors, as well as touching or hanging items on sprinkler pipes and/or heads. Anyone violating this should expect a referral to the Office of Community Standards, immediate removal from HRL residences, and possible arrest under Rhode Island State Law. Residents will also be financially responsible for charges assessed as a result of tampering with fire safety equipment.

Roof

Students are not allowed on roofs or porticos of any building on University owned, managed, or affiliated property.

Unauthorized Occupancy and Entry

Students must observe University guidelines and policies regarding the occupancy and use of University property and facilities. Unauthorized occupancy of or trespassing on University property or University facilities is prohibited.

Unauthorized entry by any means into a residential living community is strictly prohibited. Allowing anyone entry during those hours when the exit doors, where applicable, are locked for security purposes, either directly or through negligence (including propping doors), is strictly prohibited.

Access

All residents must use their access card to unlock the main entrances of buildings equipped with the card access system. Only residents and authorized staff are permitted to have ID cards, PINs, and keys to their personal student residence/residential building. Residents may not under any circumstances provide their URI ID or PIN to anyone else for any reason whatsoever. Altering a door lock; unauthorized use of keys, access cards, and room PINs; and having additional unauthorized keys made or installing locks is prohibited. Any missing, lost, or stolen keys/ID cards will require replacement at the resident’s expense.

Security Cameras

HRL residential communities have security cameras installed in select interior and exterior public spaces. The use of and installing personal security cameras, doorbells, etc is prohibited.

GUESTS

Guests and Room Use Policy

Individuals in a student residence or in a residential living community who are not residents and are not the guests of a resident will be considered trespassers.

Residents are responsible for their guests’ conduct and should be present with their guests at all times. Students will also be held accountable for any violations of University rules and regulations, damages, and/or loss of property caused by their guests. Whether or not they are present, students are responsible for the use of their room by guests or others.

Overnight Guests

Residents may have an overnight guest in a residential living community provided permission from the roommate(s), suitemate(s), and/or apartment mate(s) is received and the laws of the state of Rhode Island and all University regulations are observed in all cases. Any one guest cannot stay in a residential living community longer than 4 nights within a month without the explicit written consent of the roommate(s), suitemates, and/or apartment mates as well as approval from the Hall Director. Any documented guest visitations beyond 4 nights within a month that do not meet the above consent/approval requirements shall be determined as unauthorized residency and may result in eviction and/or student conduct action against the visitor and the host.

SUBSTANCES

Illegal consumption and possession of alcohol

Possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages is limited to individuals who are 21 years of age or older. Students under 21 cannot transport alcohol in their cars nor have it in their possession while on campus. Empty alcohol containers located in a room of someone under 21 may result in criminal charges or student conduct action.

Excessive Quantities (Students over 21 years of age)

Residents of legal age are asked to act responsibly and not to have excessive amounts of alcohol in their rooms. If a student over 21 years of age has excessive quantities of alcohol in their room or on their person, the student may be asked to remove it from the residence or dispose of it. Excessive shall be defined as a quantity greater than twelve 12-oz. cans or bottles of malted alcoholic beverage or one liter of distilled alcohol beverage. Individuals 21 years and older may not bring alcohol into a University residence unless it is to the room of a student who is 21 or older and, in that case, no more than one six-pack or its equivalent may be brought.

Drinking Games and Paraphernalia

Drinking games are prohibited. Paraphernalia for drinking games or quantity consumption (funnels, beer bongs, etc.) are prohibited.

Smoking

Smoking, including the use of electronic cigarettes and vaporizers, is prohibited in all University owned and operated residences including all resident rooms and common areas. Smoking is prohibited within 20 feet of all University residences and buildings.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

Combustible Materials:

Undergraduate residences

Grills, flammable fluids, charcoal, and propane cylinders/tanks are not permitted in residential living communities. This includes personal use camp stoves/heaters.

Graduate Village Apartments ONLY:

All propane cooking pots and other such devices must be at least 20 feet away from the apartment buildings when in use. They must be turned off when not in use. Grills can be stored adjacent to the buildings after they have cooled down.

Machinery and Equipment

Gasoline-operated machinery, such as mopeds and scooters, and any other combustible items (regardless of their state of dismantlement) are not permitted in residential living communities. These items must be kept a minimum of 10’ from the building and not under a balcony/structure. Air conditioners and all quartz halogen lights are prohibited.

Candles & Incense

Candles (except for electric/battery-operated) including decorative and/or incense are prohibited from residential living communities. The burning of all substances is prohibited. Any such materials discovered will be confiscated by HRL or University officials.

Posting of flammable materials

The posting of any paper, cardboard, poster, or other flammable material is prohibited in all common areas in residential living communities. Posting in specific residential living communities can be done only with the approval of University Officials (e.g., the Hall Director designated to approve postings.)

Other Decorations

Large combustible decorations, including live Christmas trees or any part of them, are not permitted in residential living communities. Large decorations that appear noncombustible must be evaluated by University Officials (e.g., Hall Director and Fire/Life Safety) for compliance prior to posting.

Extension Cords

Extension cords & multi-plug adaptors without surge protection are not allowed. A power strip with a long enough cord (20’) is recommended. The practice of daisy-chaining (plugging power strips into each other) is also prohibited. Approved power strips & adaptors must be plugged directly into electrical outlets.

Window, Wall, and Carpet Coverings

Regulation window coverings have been provided in all student residences and all common areas. These may not be replaced except by HRL. All carpets, flags, etc. provided by students must have a “fire spread” rating below 25 and a “low smoke generation.” A certificate from the manufacturer, adhering to the above, must be available to HRL on request due to their potential heavy-smoke nature, tapestries are prohibited. Combustible items used as wall coverings must not exceed 20% of the cumulative wall surface within residential rooms.

Waterbeds and Lofts

Waterbeds are not permitted. Lofts or any bed support systems of any kind are prohibited in residential living communities except those provided by the appropriate University staff and which meet fire safety guidelines.

Prohibited items for University Graduate Village Apartments

Dishwashers, washers & dryers, air conditioners not supplied and installed by URI, space heaters, hot pots/plates. Violation of these policies may result in the confiscation of such materials and referral to the Office of Community Standards.

ITEMS APPROVED WITH RESTRICTIONS

Appliances

Each room may have one refrigerator not to exceed three (3) cu. ft. Capacity, as well as a microwave not to exceed 1,000 watts. An electric blanket, curling iron, clock, computer, small fan, hair dryer, printer, game systems, razor, stereo, television, as well as a single-serve coffee maker are the only other appliances allowed in residential living communities. Space heaters provided by HRL must not be left plugged in unattended.

Clotheslines

GVA residents are permitted to dry their clothes on designated clotheslines, however, clotheslines are NOT allowed on balconies. Residents are responsible for items left on the lines. The only items permitted on clotheslines are clothes, bedding, and small rugs.

Animal

Animals/Pets

Animals are not allowed in residential living communities except as set forth in the University’s Animals on Campus policy or as expressly permitted in this Policies Addendum. Fish are permitted in properly maintained aquariums of 20 gallons or less which must have noise-free compressors for the filters.

CLEANLINESS

General Standards

Residents are required to regularly clean their rooms, remove trash and recyclable materials, and maintain sanitation, health, and safety standards. Residents will refrain from using community bathrooms while scheduled cleaning is being performed by University custodial personnel. Residents of connected, tower, suite, and apartment residences are also required to regularly clean their bathrooms and common areas including their kitchen, where applicable. Residents are required to cooperate with hall staff members who will routinely conduct inspections. A resident or a group of residents may be charged for additional cleaning or maintenance of residential spaces that are excessive and inconsistent with the normal use of that space, as determined by HRL.

Communal Kitchens

In some HRL residential communities, access to a community kitchen is available. Residents are expected to maintain cleanliness standards within the community kitchen, including returning the appliances and fixtures to their original state after usage. Residents should not keep personal property in the community kitchen, including food. Failure to maintain cleanliness standards may result in damage charges or removal of access to the community kitchen.

Recycling and Trash Disposal

Residents are required to dispose of their trash and recyclables in the outdoor dumpsters provided by the University. No items or substances are allowed to be discarded from windows, doors, or balconies. In accordance with health regulations, residents may not place trash in lounges, hallways, stairwells, closets, suite areas, or bathrooms. Failure to comply with this policy may be referred to the Office of Community Standards.

Composting

Composting disposal such as raw vegetables, is available to GVA residents and can be placed in the compost heap located in the community garden. Please adhere to composting guidelines.

DAMAGES

Students who are identified as being responsible for damages to residential living community property, structures, or equipment will be charged by the appropriate University official for the labor, materials, and administrative costs necessary to complete the repair.

When the damage or loss is caused by a student(s) within the residential living community but the specific student(s) cannot be identified, as a last resort, the cost of repair may be charged to all members of the appropriate residential living unit (building, floor, or suite). The students in question will be notified in writing when community billing is to occur and may appeal that billing through the established appeal process in the URI Student Handbook. In cases of malicious damage or other violations of community standards within a residential living community, student conduct action may be taken against the student(s) in addition to their being billed. For residents of GVA, damage assessment will be applied to the Housing Agreement holder.

Bills must be paid promptly, and excessive or repeated damages will result in warnings and/or termination of the student(s) housing agreement.

ROOM ENTRIES

University officials and employees are permitted to enter and search a student residence during the period of occupancy in accordance with the following procedures:

Entry and/or Search with Consent of the Student

Any authorized University employee may enter a student residence if a student who is a resident gives voluntary consent. The student’s consent must be freely given and must not be based on coercion, false pretenses, or threats, and must not be occasioned by the student’s fear of reprisal for failure to give consent. The following search procedures described below may be implemented:

University employees shall not seek consent to search without concrete information that the search will produce information of a violation of community standards or local, state, or federal law.

The intrusion by the employee must be limited to the scope of the consent given by the student. For example, if the student consents to entry by the employee, the employee is not entitled to search the student’s belongings without obtaining further consent to do so. A resident student can give consent to an authorized University employee to enter the room, apartment, or shared bathroom. The resident student can give consent only to the search of belongings, and of shared areas that are not under the primary control of another student. For example, a student may give consent to a search of a shared refrigerator but not to any closed containers therein that are the property of another student. No student may consent to the search of another student’s bedroom, closets, locker, suitcases,backpacks, or other areas under the primary control of another student.

Entry and/or Search with Notification of the Student

Routine Inspections and Scheduled Repairs

The Director of Housing and Residential Life and the Assistant Director of Public Safety/Risk Management or their designees may enter residence hall rooms or on-campus apartments without student consent to conduct general and requested inspections/repairs for health, safety, and building maintenance purposes. Such inspections/repairs may be conducted only after the University has posted a notice indicating the purpose of the inspection/repairs and stating that the inspection/repairs will take place no sooner than 24 and no later than 72 hours after the notice is posted. The employee authorized to conduct the inspection/repairs may enter whether or not the resident is present; however, the authorized employee may not enter the room without first knocking on the door and announcing the purpose for entry.

Scheduled renovation projects in living communities sometimes require quick access to student rooms. Any renovation project requiring room access will be posted no less than 24 hours in advance.

Building repairs and/or custodial services, as requested by an on-campus resident or by a University staff member on behalf of a resident, shall signal resident consent to enter the student room for the specific and sole purpose of conducting said requested repair. Repair personnel may not enter the room without first knocking on the door and announcing the purpose for entry.

Verification of Vacancy

Staff responsible for the residential living communities (e.g., Housing and Residential Life) including their designees through delegated authority, may enter a specific student room and/or apartment to conduct an official verification of a student bed space vacancy. When conducting vacancy verification, the staff member will first knock on the room door and announce the purpose for entry. If there is no response, notice will be left that there will be an entry in 24 hours for vacancy verification.

Entry and/or Search Without Consent of the Student

Health or Safety Emergency

The Director of Public Safety, Assistant Director of Public Safety/Risk Management or designee, Dean of Students, the Director or Associate Director of Housing and Residential Life, Assistant Director, Coordinator, or a Hall Director or Graduate Hall Director may enter a student residence without consent when the employee believes such entry is necessary on an emergency basis (e.g., when time is not afforded to make alternative arrangements, assault, fire, building damage, mental health crisis, etc.) to protect the health and/or safety of persons or to make emergency repairs to University facilities to avoid damage to University or student property.

Limited Administrative Search

A University representative (e.g., Hall Director, Graduate Hall Director, or other HRL staff) who has concrete information of a violation of community standards must get verbal permission from a senior leader of their unit (e.g., Director or Associate/Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Life) to open the door and search the space. The resulting search will be hands-off and limited to what is in plain sight, refrigerator contents, and a quick look under and around surfaces. Any information found in a limited administrative search may be used for campus conduct procedures.

Full Administrative Search

If federal, state, or local law enforcement officers (including University police) are not involved in an investigation of possible criminal activity, and if a staff or student provides concrete information that the search of a particular room will yield information of a serious violation of community standards by a particular student or student group, the Dean of Students, Director of Housing and Residential Life, or the Vice President for Student Affairs or their designees may issue a written administrative search warrant.

Once the administrative search warrant has been granted, the Dean of Students, Director of Housing and Residential Life, or their designees will conduct the search. Any information found in the administrative search may be used only for student conduct procedures. University police, if not involved in an active criminal investigation, may participate in a full administrative search in cases of health and safety.

REMOVAL AND RE-ASSIGNMENT

Emergency Removal from On-Campus Residence

The privilege of a student to be a member of the HRL’s residential living communities may be withdrawn for reasons of imminent danger due to physical or emotional safety or well-being, or for reasons which seriously jeopardize the safety, well-being, or rights of other residents or staff.

The decision to remove a student from residence halls or on-campus apartments will be made by the Dean of Students, the Director of Housing and Residential Life, or a designee who may consult with the Vice President of Student Affairs as necessary.

When a student is removed from on-campus housing under these circumstances and is subsequently charged in writing with violation of University regulations, the rights and responsibilities of the University Student Conduct System will apply.

Enforced Reassignment and Removal

If the Director of Housing and Residential Life or the Dean of Students believes reassignment is necessary to protect the community, to ensure the rights of other residents, or for reasons of health and safety, enforced reassignment may be initiated.

Additionally, the Director of Housing and Residential Life or designee may deny access to or remove from HRL-operated housing any individual who has violated the URI Student Code of Conduct; any other University policy or procedure; or local, State, or federal law.

Removal and reassignment, as laid out in this addendum, are in addition to any interim actions that may be taken under the URI Student Handbook.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

Quiet Hours and Noise

Quiet hours for all HRL residential communities are 10pm-8am Sundays through Thursdays and 12am-8am Fridays and Saturdays. If, in the judgment of a University staff member, the noise level has the potential to interfere with any educational or residential activity and/or is inconsistent with stated noise policies established for the residential living community, those community members responsible for the noise will be held in violation of the noise policy. This includes any noise outside of a residential building that may be heard inside the building.

Bathrooms

Unless a bathroom is designated a gender-inclusive or single-use, residents and guests should utilize bathrooms in accordance with their gender identity. Entering a bathroom facility designated for people other than your gender identity is prohibited.

In all bathrooms, residents and guests are expected to respect an individual’s right to privacy, dignity, and safety. Any action that can be interpreted as a conscious effort to breach privacy or disrespect one’s right to dignity is prohibited and subject to student conduct action or removal from housing.

Social Events in Residential Living Communities

At no time should the number of individuals in a bedroom, suite, or apartment exceed more than two times the capacity of the space, plus one (e.g., a 10-person suite should not exceed 21 individuals). Larger gatherings should use the common areas in residential living communities.

Moving/Yard Sale

Residents are not permitted to host moving or yard sales in their rooms, apartments, or on the grounds of the University.

Solicitation

Solicitation and/or the act of providing unrequested information is not permitted in HRL residences unless an advance exception is granted by the Director of Housing and Residential Life or their designee. Information regarding advertising within HRL residences can be found here.

Athletic Equipment and Activities
Athletic equipment is to be used only in areas specifically designed for that equipment. Examples of unacceptable activities inside HRL residences: Frisbee, ball-playing, darts, hockey, rollerblading, racquetball, tennis, skateboarding, squash, bicycling, or other disruptive behaviors.

Lounges, Study and Recreation Rooms
These areas are designed for use by residents, and their related functions will have priority. Any request for use of these areas beyond their intended function must be cleared through the Hall Director (HD). Furniture provided in these areas cannot be removed and should be returned to its original configuration. No personal property may be stored or left in these areas.

Modification of Student’s Room or Furnishings

Occupants may not dismantle, refinish, paint, dye, or alter in any way the furniture, walls, or furnishings in HRL residences. Repairs or renovations of a student’s residence by any non-sanctioned source are not permitted. Residents are not allowed to have any additional University furnishings in their student residence except those present at check-in. With the exclusion of beds/mattresses, students may add their furnishings to the student residence. Residents are not allowed to relocate their beds to any room other than that to which the student is assigned. Residents must never block the egress from their rooms at any time. Egress from the door to the inside of the room must be kept clear at all times. Bidets may be allowed only if approved by HRL and installed by the University or its agent.

Balconies and Porches

Only personal furniture designed for outdoor use is permitted. Balconies and porches may not be used as storage areas for personal belongings and/or University furniture/belongings. Climbing between and throwing items from balconies and porches is strictly prohibited.Resident students may not hang, drape, or display any banner or object from or on the outside of balconies or windows at any time except for the purposes of official University business with prior approval from HRL.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Accommodations

Students requiring housing accommodations must work with the Office of Disability, Access, and Inclusion (DAI). HRL will not under any circumstance accept direct receipt of documentation and/or issue housing accommodations outside the purview of DAI.

Mail, packages, and deliveries

Only food from local restaurants or grocery stores may be delivered to a student’s residence hall, so long as the student is present to receive the delivery. Residents may utilize the Union Express services or Amazon lockers for their other mail and package needs. Details regarding these services can be found here.

Television/Service

Residents are subject to a telecommunications fee/charge which includes access to wireless internet as well as local over-the-air, HD Digital TV channels. Additional information can be found on the HRL website.

Housing and Residential Life

Housing and Residential Life Community Policies Addendum