Eligibility and Occupancy

1. Eligibility Requirements: This agreement is available only for students enrolled at the University of Rhode Island (University or URI). New/incoming URI students who wish to reside in HRL residences must pay a $200 housing deposit for Academic Year Housing and Spring Semester (only) Housing; returning URI students are not required to pay a deposit. Deposits are applied to students’ term bills for the applicable application period. Students must complete a housing application for all application periods. Students must carry a minimum of 12 credits each in the Fall and combined J-Term/Spring semester (or apply for and receive an exception to the HRL credit policy).
2. Application and Occupancy Periods: The application and occupancy periods for this agreement are as outlined in the Occupancy Schedule below.  Residents must follow and fully complete all aspects of the HRL room check-out procedure at the end of their occupancy or they may incur additional fees. Further, HRL reserves the right to cancel a housing assignment based on a resident’s non-arrival or abandonment during the noted occupancy periods.
3. Assignments and Roommates: All room assignments are managed at the sole discretion and authority of HRL. HRL reserves the right to consolidate vacancies and use temporary relocation as needed (standard and/or non-standard spaces). HRL will make reasonable efforts to minimize disruption to relocate students. 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. Residents may not establish any preconditions that would inhibit another resident 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. 
4. Removal or Reassignment: HRL reserves the right to refuse, remove, trespass, or relocate any student from HRL operated housing as set forth in the Housing and Residential Life Community Policies Addendum (Policies Addendum), the terms of which are incorporated into this agreement in their entirety. 
5. Purchase of Meal Plan: Students who reside in HRL corridor, connected, tower or suite residences during Academic Year Housing and Spring Semester (only) Housing are required to purchase an Unlimited Meal plan from Dining Services. Students living in designated HRL apartments and the Talent Development Achievement House are required to purchase, at minimum, a Flex Meal plan. Students who fail to select a respective meal plan for their housing assignment will have one assigned by Dining Services.

Expectations

1. Each resident agrees that they and their guests will observe and abide by all RI State Laws, policies and procedures outlined in the Policies Addendum, the URI Student Handbook, as well as those policies distributed to residents and/or posted on the HRL and university websites.

Maintenance and Furnishings

1. Room Maintenance and Furnishings: Each resident is responsible for the care and use of their room, its fixtures and its furnishings. Residents are responsible to report maintenance issues (e.g., mold, pests, damaged or non-functioning property) in a timely fashion via the MyHousing app and should follow-up accordingly in a timely manner if remediation has not occurred. Residents or guests may not alter or remove HRL property, fixtures or furnishings in a room or common area in any way other than through an approved request. Students may be charged for any missing or damaged fixtures or furnishings. Further, repair or renovations of a room by any external source is not permitted without the express approval of HRL. HRL will dictate the furnishings to be supplied in each residence room. Bed rails and ladders are not a standard room furnishing but they are available upon request in the order requests are received. Please refer to the URI Student Handbook and/or Policies Addendum for further information regarding allowable and prohibited items. This list is not intended to be all-encompassing. HRL reserves the right to modify the list with reasonable notification to residents and to require the removal of any items deemed unsafe or impermissible.
2. Personal Property: The University is not responsible directly or indirectly for loss or damage from any cause whatsoever to personal property. Each resident is STRONGLY encouraged to acquire Renters Insurance or to ensure that they have insurance coverage for their personal belongings or through their family’s policy. All personal property claims should be submitted through personal rental or homeowner’s insurance policy. Additionally, the University is not responsible for personal property remaining in HRL owned and operated residences by residents following their 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 University personnel consistent with established policies. However, the University will make reasonable effort to set aside for a period of seven calendar days any personal property left behind. Subsequent to that date, said property will be discarded as trash.
3. Programs & Services: HRL will make reasonable attempts to address any disruptions of programs, services and utilities, but is not responsible directly or indirectly for any losses or inconveniences caused by the temporary disruption of programs, services and utilities.
4. Pests: Similar to other high-density living accommodations, pests (e.g., insects, bed bugs, mice) may occasionally appear in our residential community. HRL will neither accept nor assume responsibility for the presence of these pests, but will proactively treat housing accommodations. HRL will take all good faith actions, in conjunction with affected residents, to eradicate any reported pests as quickly as possible. Residents are responsible to report any pest control promptly through the MyHousing app and until issues are fully resolved.

Safety

1. Building and Room Access: Each resident will receive access to their assigned building and room using their URI student ID card and a PIN. ID cards are issued by the URI Campus ID and Dining Office and are necessary to reside in residence halls; students must report a lost, damaged, or stolen card. A charge will be assessed for replacement cards. There is NO charge for replacing cards that are submitted to the office due to defects. Residents may not under any circumstances provide their URI ID or PIN to anyone else for any reason whatsoever. Residents who do so may be referred to the Office of Community Standards and may be removed from on-campus housing.
2. Access Credentials: Only authorized individuals are permitted to have access credentials to HRL residences and resident rooms. Altering, duplicating, sharing and/or unauthorized use of access credentials is strictly prohibited. Residents doing so may be referred to the Office of Community Standards or to the URI Campus Police.
3. Inspections: HRL or University staff may enter a student’s room without prior notice to inspect for hazards to health, personal safety, maintenance, fire safety, to determine if University Property is in jeopardy, or possible violation of policies or conduct codes. The Director of HRL, or designee, may authorize a search of a resident’s room.
4. 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 are expected to help prevent false alarms and should immediately report any tampering with fire safety equipment to their hall staff members. Tampering with fire safety equipment (including but not limited to: extinguishers, alarm systems and conduit, smoke detectors, sprinkler heads, strobes, devices, door closers, and exit signs) is prohibited. This includes covering, disarming, attaching to, or hanging anything from this equipment, especially smoke detectors. Residents should expect 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.

Billing

1. Billing Policy: Residents will be assessed fees for occupying HRL residences in accordance with the approved fee schedule. HRL reserves the right to adjust term bills upward or downward in accordance with actual usage, fees or occupancy, as deemed appropriate, within an occupancy period. Residents who request or receive a room assignment change will be charged the corresponding rate for the new assignment commensurate with the new assignment date.
2. Charges: Applicable charges will be billed based on application periods. The resident is responsible for all relevant charges, including housing deposits and/or forfeitures, cancellation charges, charges resulting from room changes and/or charges for damage to University property.

Agreement

1. Agreement Termination: Residents who have not paid their Housing charges, who have been dismissed by the University, who do not fulfill credit minimums, or who breach any of the terms and conditions above may have their HRL Agreement terminated, may be immediately removed from HRL residences, and may forfeit the right to use or occupy HRL residences. Residents will be charged in accordance with the HRL Cancellation Policy through the date they and their belongings are no longer present.
2. Cancellation of HRL Agreement: A resident who wishes to cancel their HRL Agreement must submit an online Housing Cancellation Request Form. Residents will be REQUIRED to fully complete the appropriate check-out procedures to finalize the cancellation. Residents who cancel their HRL Agreement will be charged in accordance with the Housing Cancellation policy. Residents are STRONGLY encouraged to carefully review both Housing and Dining’s cancellation policies.

Occupancy Schedule

Fall Early Arrival	Aug. 28, 2023 – Sept. 1, 2023	(Extra fees may apply)
Academic Year	Sept. 2, 2023 – May 9, 2024	(Fall Housing ends Dec. 21, 2023)
Winter Break/J-Term (Academic Year Residents Only)	Dec. 22, 2023 – Jan. 19, 2024	(Extra fees may apply)
Spring Semester Early Arrival	Jan. 15, 2024 – Jan. 19, 2024	(Extra fees may apply)
Spring Semester (only)	Jan. 20, 2024 – May 9, 2024
Interim/Senior Week	May 10, 2024 – May 19, 2024	(Extra fees may apply)
Summer Session 1	May 19, 2024 – June 22, 2024
Summer Session 2	June 23, 2024 – July 27, 2024
Post Summer Session	July 28, 2024- Aug. 16, 2024	(Extra fees may apply)
Transfer to Fall Housing	Aug. 16, 2024	(Extra fees may apply)

Health and Safety Policy and Procedure Addendum for Infectious Disease Outbreaks

The University of Rhode Island aims to deliver its mission while protecting the health and safety of our students and minimizing the potential spread of disease within our community. As a resident within URI Housing, your housing experience may be impacted by an infectious disease outbreak, whereas the University, and Housing and Residential Life, continues to make public health-informed decisions, and take appropriate health-informed actions, intended to keep all members of the URI community safe and healthy to the maximum extent possible.

The Infectious Disease policies, procedures and guidelines listed below, are incorporated into the Housing Agreement, and are applicable to all residential students. As always, we will endeavor to update you with timely information about specific health and safety guidance important for our residential students.

1.       Health and Safety: We expect that all members of the URI Housing community—residents, staff, and visitors—act in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for those around them, including respect and consideration for the health and safety of all community members. All residential students are prohibited from creating a health or safety hazard within URI Housing and the University may request or require a resident to leave URI Housing if their continued presence in the housing community poses a health or safety risk for other community members. Residential students are required to comply with health and safety laws, orders, ordinances, regulations and health and safety guidance adopted by the University or HRL as it relates to public health crises such as infectious disease outbreaks. Adherence to health and safety requirements applies to all residents, staff and visitors and extends to all aspects of residential life, including bedrooms, bathrooms, community kitchens, lounges, computer rooms, courtyards and other common spaces.

2.      Quarantine / Isolation / Separation: The University may request a resident to leave URI Housing when that resident’s continued presence in the housing community poses a health or safety risk for community members. Residential students are required to comply with requests from URI Housing to leave their assigned space if they pose a health or safety risk for community members or failure to do so is a violation of the Housing Agreement and may subject a student to emergency removal from their assigned space. Removal from URI Housing does not constitute a termination of a residential student’s housing contract.

3.      De-Densifying Efforts: Residential students are required to comply with any de-densifying efforts needed on campus due to public health emergencies, including, but not limited to, the relocation of all or some residential students to alternative housing. Relocation does not constitute a termination of a residential student’s housing contract.

4.      Dining Services: URI Dining service, including where and how it will be offered to residential students, is subject to the discretion of the University and is subject to modification to address public health concerns. Due to health and safety guidance adopted by the University or HRL, set forth in Paragraph 1, URI Dining Services may limit the occupancy of dining halls, limit the amount of time students may reside within dining halls or make other operational adjustments needed to address health and safety concerns.

5.      Cleaning:  HRL will continue to implement and modify its cleaning protocols to address any public health emergencies in the interest of minimizing the spread of disease. HRL will educate and inform residential students on appropriate cleaning protocols within their assigned spaces to reduce the spread of infectious diseases within residence halls.

6.      Termination: Upon reasonable notice, HRL reserves the right to terminate housing contracts due to public health emergency needs. In the event HRL terminates housing contracts due to public health concerns, URI will, to the fullest extent possible, offer fair and reasonable refunds in accordance with applicable cancellation and refund policies for impacted students as appropriate and based on information available at that time.

Future (New and Amended) Policies and Guidelines: As stated in Section 1 of the “Expectations” section of the 2023-2024 Housing Agreement, you have agreed that you and your guests will observe and abide by all RI State Laws as well as the policies and procedures outlined in the URI Student Handbook, as well as those distributed to residents and/or posted on the HRL websites. HRL may inform you of further conditions and requirements relating to your housing, either by email notices to you, or by posting such requirements on the HRL Website. You are expected to stay informed of such additional conditions and requirements, and to adhere to them.

As stated in Section 1 of the “Expectations” section of the 2023-2024 Housing and Residential Life Agreement, you have agreed to abide by and adhere to all HRL policies, procedures and guidelines issued by HRL, including the foregoing ones which have been newly issued by HRL in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Your cooperation and adherence, while expected, is also greatly appreciated. Should you have any questions about any of the foregoing, please call HRL at 401.874.4151.

Housing Cancellation Policy 2023-2024

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2023-2024 Cancellation Policy 

New/incoming first-year and transfer students must submit a $200 housing deposit to be given access to a housing application. The $200 housing deposit is refundable upon request only through May 1. New/incoming first-year and transfer students who submit a $200 housing deposit will be assessed a $200 housing deposit forfeit charge if they do not submit a housing application OR if they cancel a submitted housing application OR if they cancel their housing assignment prior to taking occupancy.

Returning students do not submit a housing deposit to be given access to a housing application. Returning students who cancel their housing assignment prior to taking occupancy will be assessed a $400 housing cancellation charge.

Students who take occupancy during either Academic Year Housing or Spring Semester (only) Housing, then later cancel their housing assignment, will be assessed a cancellation charge for their assigned room & telecommunication fee as follows:1

Cancellation schedule:

	Fall Semester	Cancellation assessment
	Week 1ends Friday Sept 8	10% of the Fall fees
	Week 2ends Friday Sept 15	20% of the Fall fees
	Week 3ends Friday Sept 22	30% of the Fall fees
	Week 4ends Friday Sept 29	40% of the Fall fees
	Week 5ends Friday Oct 6	50% of the Fall fees
	Week 6ends Friday Oct 13	60% of the Fall fees
	Week 7ends Friday Oct 20	70% of the Fall fees
	Week 8ends Friday Oct 27	80% of the Fall fees
	After Week 8	100% of the Fall fees (No refund)
	Winter Break / J Term3	Cancellation assessment
	Week 14ends Friday Dec 29	$119
	Week 2ends Friday Jan 5	$238
	Week 3ends Friday Jan 12	$357
	Week 4ends Friday Jan 19	$476
	Spring Semester3	Cancellation assessment
	Week 1ends Friday Jan 26	10% of the Spring fees
	Week 2ends Friday Feb 2	20% of the Spring fees
	Week 3ends Friday Feb 9	30% of the Spring fees
	Week 4ends Friday Feb 16	40% of the Spring fees
	Week 5ends Friday Feb 23	50% of the Spring fees
	Week 6ends Friday March 1	60% of the Spring fees
	Week 7ends Friday March 8	70% of the Spring fees
	Week 8ends Friday March 15	80% of the Spring fees
	After Week 8	100% of the Spring fees (No refund)

1The official housing cancellation date, not the submission date of the online Housing Cancellation Request form, will dictate the cancellation assessment by both HRL and Dining Services (see Dining Services for their schedule). Final completion of ALL checkout procedures including, but not limited to, submitting a Housing Cancellation Request form, removing all belongings from the room/living space, cleaning the room/living space, and using Express Check Out will determine the official housing cancellation date.