The College has instituted the following regulations to ensure that the rights and welfare of all students will be protected. Violations of these regulations may result in disciplinary action consistent with the Statement Of Rights and Responsibilities of Students and the Code of Conduct, both of which are outlined in the Student Handbook. All of the regulations listed below apply to the residents and visitors of all College-owned or operated residences, including College-owned or operated fraternity and sorority houses and off-campus housing.

The College reserves the right to change these regulations or make rules as it deems necessary for the protection of property and/or the general welfare of the residents.

AC Installation Procedure

AC Installation

Any student who has been previously medically approved for an air conditioner and who will not reside in a building with central air conditioning this coming school year should contact Facilities Operations, 610 330-5373, to give them his/her current room information.

The following Residence Halls have central air conditioning:

  • 635 High St.
  • Fisher East
  • Fisher West
  • Grossman House
  • Kamine Hall
  • Keefe Hall
  • Kirby House
  • March Hall
  • McKeen Hall
  • Ramer Hall
  • Rubin Hall
  • South College

On-Campus

General Rule

Students residing in non-air-conditioned halls are not permitted to bring their own air-conditioner unit to campus.

Exception for Students With Documented and Approved Medical Need or Disability

Students with a documented medical need or disability may be approved for a College-supplied air conditioning unit by filing paperwork with the Bailey Health Center. If approved, the student will be directed to Facilities Operations to complete the process.  Students who receive an air conditioning unit as an accommodation for an approved medical condition or disability will not be charged a fee for installing or using these College-supplied units.

Off-Campus

Students living off-campus at Lafayette College are not permitted to use their own private air-conditioning unit.

Only Facilities Operations Staff is permitted to install AC units in college-owned properties.

Room Inspections & Responsibilities

When you move in, you will complete a pre-occupancy inspection to record the condition of your room. Typically, Facilities Operations staff inspect each room twice each year to assess and bill for damages. Inspections will be conducted at the beginning and end of each academic year to establish the basis for assessing damages. All College residential facilities will be inspected at least once per semester for damage assessment.

The right is reserved for College authorities to enter any room at any time for inspection or repair.

Filling out complete and accurate records by residents at the time of move-in will facilitate appropriate billing, and you could avoid being fined for damages that you do not create. In addition, routine safety inspections are conducted between semesters. Students are subject to disciplinary actions and/or fines for violations in view during any room inspection or repair call.

Students are responsible for all activities within their residence, including policy violations, damages, and other restrictions stated in this contract.  The inspection sheet shows what the fines can be if you damage your room in any way. Make a note of any holes, spots, damages, etc., when you fill out the check-in sheet.  All furniture is to remain in your room at all times.  If we do an inspection and pieces of furniture are missing, you will be fined.  Please use Command Strips or Fun Tack to hang items.  You are NOT permitted to use nails, duct tape, two-sided tape, pins, tacks, etc., on walls.  The fines are $75.00 per wall if any of these items are to be used.

It is expected that rooms will be in the same condition at the end of the occupancy period as when first occupied. All personal belongings must be removed from rooms. Trash must be removed and placed in containers provided by the College. All College-owned furniture and furnishings must be present in the room and properly assembled. Any personal items left in a room will be discarded 24 hours following the last scheduled examination. Should a room require more than the normal amount of cleaning by the College when occupants move out, a fine may be imposed, and a bill for the additional time will be charged directly to the student or students involved. Any damages not claimed by individual residents will be divided equally among all residents of the room.

Loss or Damage

The College does not carry insurance covering personal property and is not liable for losses or damages occurring to personally-owned property, furniture, or equipment from any cause whatsoever. The College shall assume no liability for theft, destruction, or loss of money, valuables, or other personal property belonging to, or in the custody of, the resident from any cause whatsoever, whether such loss occurs in the resident’s room storage areas, or public areas. Therefore, students are encouraged to obtain renter’s insurance to cover their personal property.

Care of Rooms/Room Decorations

Students are expected to keep their rooms clean and in order. Students are expected to maintain the lounges, corridors, and common areas in satisfactory condition, when in use. Waterbeds are not permitted. Furniture lofts or partitions may not be built-in.

We recommend using 3-M Command Strips for hanging items on walls. When removed properly, they will not damage the surfaces. Decals, pictures, posters, stickers, labels, etc., which are fastened to walls, doors, woodwork, and ceilings, must be removed without damage to paint or finished surfaces of the room. Pictures, decorations, etc., should be hung from the picture moldings or attached in a method that does not damage the walls. Double-faced tape, scotch tape, and masking tape, and duct tape will damage walls, causing possible assessment for damage/fine. The use of nails, tacks, or screws is forbidden. Writing instruments must not be used on any building surface. Posters, flags, or other decorations hung in a student’s window and/or visible from outside of the residence hall and that may be obscene in nature or disruptive to the College community are not permitted.

Cooking of Meals

Cooking of meals is not permitted in student rooms. This practice is a fire hazard and a health hazard and jeopardizes the safety of all students within the residence hall. This is also a violation of the City Code.

Appropriate cooking areas exist in all resident halls. Students are expected to monitor food as it is being cooked.

Electrical Appliances

No appliances containing open heating elements may be used in student rooms as they pose distinct fire hazards and overload existing electrical circuits.

Prohibited appliances include: hot plates, heaters, and toaster ovens.

Compact, personal-sized refrigerators (no larger than 6 cubic feet in capacity) are permitted.

Microwave ovens (other than units available through the College-designated Rental Program) are not permitted in student rooms.

Watson Courts, Grossman House, and Fisher Suite units may be furnished with personal kitchen appliances (coffee maker, toaster) in the kitchen area except for microwaves (unless part of the College approved rental program).

Window air conditioners are not permitted in College residences without approval from the College Physician. Air Conditioners must be installed and removed by the Facilities Operations staff.

Personal electronic equipment (e.g., computers, stereos, televisions, etc.) is permitted, provided it is operated with the proper regard for quiet hours and does not disturb other residents. Speakers may not be placed in or near an open window.

Fire Safety and Equipment

Fire equipment is to be used only as necessary in case of fire; its use or misuse must be reported to Residence Life staff immediately to restore to useful condition without delay. Anyone identified as responsible for tampering with or theft of any College-owned Fire Extinguisher or other fire apparatus in any College-owned residence will be subject to a $300 fine and severe disciplinary action. If a person or persons responsible for tampering with fire equipment are not apprehended, the students living on the floor, wing, or section of the residence hall will be billed $300 on a per capita basis.

Decorations, personal items, or furniture must never hinder exit from a room or the building. Personal items or bedroom furniture in the hallway, lounge, stairwell, common area, or other means of egress is subject to removal. Students will be liable for furniture replacement costs and may be subject to disciplinary action. Students must not decorate their rooms with combustible materials (paneling, combustible fabrics, etc.). Fiberglass or other fire-resistant hangings are acceptable if hung from picture molding. No items may be affixed to, installed in, or suspended from the ceiling, sprinkler head, or other fire safety equipment in any student room or other residence hall space. Fabric decorations may only cover a maximum of 50% of one wall in any student room. Posters may only cover a maximum of 50% of the wall space in any student room.

Students are expected to leave the building for all fire alarms and drills. Lack of cooperation during fire drills or alarms will result in disciplinary action.

Food Storage

Food may be stored in the student room only if it is stored in appropriate containers. Food and drinks may not be stored on exterior windowsills.

No dishes or silverware may be taken from the dining facilities to student rooms.

Guests

A resident who is not regularly assigned to a particular residence hall room may not be lodged in that room for more than a brief stay. The consent of other occupants of the room and apartment/suite is always required.

Student residents who wish to have a guest who is not a currently enrolled Lafayette College student for more than three nights or repeatedly (more than twice in one term) must register their guest directly with Public Safety.

The College reserves the right to prohibit overnight guests when issues of security are involved.

The host student is responsible for the conduct of the student and non-student guests, including damages caused by them. Overnight guests must be at least 16 years old.

Hazardous Materials

Firearms, air guns, and/or weapons of any other kind, and other hazardous items, including ammunition, firecrackers, gun powder, and chemicals, are strictly prohibited. If found, all items will be confiscated and the owner subject to severe disciplinary action by the College.

Possession of burning or previously burned candles, incense, or kerosene lamps for any purpose is strictly prohibited. Lamps or light fixtures may not use halogen bulbs.

Lock and Key Policy

Adopted December 16, 1983, Revised January 28, 2016; Updated May 22, 2021

The loss of keys and access tags to campus facilities causes major security problems and often adds significantly to maintenance expenses. The following policy governing the distribution of keys and access tags to members of the faculty, student body, and staff of the College will hopefully increase care in handling keys to College facilities and reduce cost in maintaining the security of buildings and equipment.

Click here to report a lost key

DEFINITIONS:

1. An individual Key operates only one lock or other locks with identical combinations.

2. A Master key operates locks with different combinations, including building masters, departmental masters, various convenience sub-masters.

3. An Electronic Access tag can be programmed to operate one door or all doors equipped with Electronic Access hardware.

AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The Director of Facilities Operations is responsible for the implementation of the policies. Facilities Operations in conformance with these policies or when authorized by higher authority will accomplish installation or new keying systems, changes existing systems, and the issuance and recovery of keys and access tags.

2. The College Locksmith is responsible for maintaining all lock and key records, cutting keys, combination locks, providing all office forms involving lock and key security for the College, and issuing all periodic reports on lock and key security as required. The Locksmith is also responsible for issuing electronic access tags and programming access, etc.

3. Division Heads, Department Heads, the Director of Student Residence, or other College officials specifically authorized by the Vice President for Finance and Administration, are responsible for determining keying and key requirements in conjunction with the Director of Facilities Operations. Keys and access tags will be issued by the Director of Facilities Operations when requested by these individuals for use in their assigned areas:

a. To these individuals for their own use.

b. To Persons under their jurisdiction.

c. To persons requiring access to their assigned spaces.

4. The success of the security system depends significantly on the manner with which keys and access tags are handled within the system so that there is confidence that keys are issued only for legitimate purposes and that keys and access tags can always be accounted for. Individual responsibility is crucial to this program. Every key and access tag will be signed for by the authorized individual who is responsible for assuring that keys and access tags are handled according to these policies, including:

a. Accounting for the keys and tags at all times to assure proper physical custody.

b. Reporting immediately to the office of Public Safety any instance and circumstances concerning keys and access tags that cannot be accounted for: lost, stolen, etc.

c. Returning the keys and access tags to Facilities Operations when they are no longer required for their intended function.

d. Insuring that College keys are not duplicated as this is strictly prohibited.

5. All student housing keys and access tags shall be the responsibility of the Office of Residence Life and shall be procured by Facilities Operations. Students shall be subject to the general key policy as well as the student key policy.

6. Any vendor, contractor, utility firm, etc., requiring the use of College keys or tags shall be bound by this key policy and accept full responsibility for the proper use and security of such keys.

7. The responsibility for replacing lost keys and access tags and for costs associated with re-keying locksets made necessary by lost keys rests with the individuals who have signed for the missing keys.

PROCEDURES:

1. College authorities are listed in paragraph B.3. may request issuance of individual keys and tags and/or master keys by forwarding a work request to the Director of Facilities Operations. The request must identify the individual to whom the key or tag is to be issued, the doors (room numbers) to be opened, and the key number is available. When approved by the Director of Facilities Operations, the individual to whom the key or tag is assigned will be notified by Facilities Operations to come pick up and sign for the key(s) or tag(s). When keys are issued to an authority with the intention that the keys or tags will be redistributed to others for their temporary use, e.g., to students, visiting participants of summer programs, etc., that authority must pick up and sign for the keys or tags and accept responsibility as outlined in B.4. and B.5.

2. Duplicate keys normally are not provided. If additional keys are required to duplicate keys that can be accounted for, work requests must be forwarded as outlined in C.1. above.

3. If replacement keys or tags are desired because a key has been lost or is missing, more rigorous procedures will be followed:

a. Immediately upon learning that a key cannot be accounted for, the responsible person will advise the department head in as much detail as possible of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

b. Immediately upon learning that an electronic access tag cannot be accounted for, the responsible person will advise the Public Safety Office to have the tag de-programmed. It can be re-programmed by presenting the tag in person to the Public Safety office if it is found later.

c. The department head will consult with the Director of Facilities Operations regarding temporary measures to be taken to permit continued operation.

d. The department head will immediately notify the Director of Facilities Operations and the Director of Public Safety concerning the circumstances of the loss, an evaluation of the security risk involved, and permanent measures to be taken to eliminate any security problems.

e. The Director of Facilities Operations will then initiate any keying or lock changes that are required.

4. Facilities Operations will maintain a special set of keys or access tags for assignment to those groups or individuals whose usage does not justify full-time key assignments. Normally, these keys will be returned to the Facilities Operations office immediately following their use and no later than the end of the workday. Request for the use of these keys can be made directly to the Facilities Operations office.

 5. Keys and access tags no longer required for their authorized purpose must be returned to the Facilities Operations Office. Keys and access tags are not to be given to other people. This is of special importance upon the termination of employment or student status.

6. The following charges will be assessed in the event a key must be replaced.

a. The replacement of a key will cost $5.00.

b. The replacement of an electronic access tag will be $15.00.

c. If a student does not return a residence hall key or the tag when the student leaves the residence hall room, there will be a charge of $25.00.

d. If a student does not return a key to an academic area (i.e., a laboratory) at the end of an academic year (or graduation if the key is required for more than one year), there will be a charge of $25.00.

e. If an employee leaves the College and does not return the key for which the employee is responsible, there will be a charge of $25.00 per key, $15.00 for an electronic access tag.

f. If the locks of a department or building must be changed to provide the necessary security for the area, the charge to undertake the work will be determined, and the Director of Facilities Operations, in consultation with the appropriate Division Head, will determine if the department will be charged for the work.

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP:

Locks, keys, electronic access tags, and other physical security items will be supplied by and remain the property of Lafayette College. They will not be removed, changed, duplicated, or tampered with by any person other than the College Locksmith or other person approved by the Director of Facilities Operations.

The Access Control Shop considers any situation that hampers the operation of a lock or prevents securing an office or a room as an emergency. The Shop responds to emergency calls for locked-out keys, broken keys in a lock, and emergency lock changes and repairs. The Shop is also routinely responsible for lock repairs, changes, and installations; file cabinet and desk lock repairs; locked or broken file cabinets. For non-emergency lock repairs or installation, submit a Work Order to Facilities Operations. The Access Control Shop keeps records of buildings, rooms, labs, etc., and their keys, as well as the keys issued to faculty and staff.

STUDENT KEYS:

The keys you have signed for from Facilities Operations are the property of Lafayette College. To maintain the security of the areas, which have been entrusted to you, the following rules are to be complied with:

1. Keys are not to be given to anyone except Facilities Operations

2. Keys are not to be given to anyone else except Facilities Operations.

3. Keys signed out from Facilities Operations are to be returned to Facilities Operations upon the end of your need for them, but no later than the close of the school year unless previous arrangements have been made with Facilities Operations, specifically the Access Control Shop.

4. Any lost key is to be reported immediately to your advisor and the Access Control Shop.

5. Bent or broken keys may be returned to the Access Control Shop for replacement.
Failure to comply with these rules may require a lock change operation, and you will be responsible for any charges incurred.

ELECTRONIC ACCESS TAGS:

This tag is recorded and is your “Electronic Signature” within our electronic system. The following rules must be adhered to at all times.

1. Your electronic access tag or card is not to be given to, or used by, anyone other than yourself. The computer will record your access or attempted access when presented to any reader within our system.

2. A lost, stolen, or misplaced electronic access tag or card must be reported to the office of Public Safety immediately upon discovering that it is missing. The Security Dispatcher can then deactivate it so it cannot be used. A replacement electronic access tag or card can be obtained; (1) from the Public Safety office for students living in college residence buildings using electronic access, or (2) from the Access Control Office at Facilities Operations for all other students, faculty, staff, etc. If you find the tag after being deactivated, return the found tag to the Public Safety office. No electronic tag will be reactivated except by the Access Control office at Facilities Operations.

3. Any access tag or card failure can be replaced; (1) from the Public Safety office for students living in college residence buildings using electronic access, or (2) from the Access Control office at Facilities Operations for all other students, faculty, staff, etc.

Facilities Operations will charge for lost keys or access tags. The fees are as follows:

1. Replace electronic access tag—$25.00 set fee

2. Re-key residence room/areas—-$25.00 set fee

In case of a power failure or if rendered useless for any reason, Facilities Operations will call in on an emergency basis, the locksmith who will then change the cores for security reasons.

POLICY ON ELECTRONIC ACCESS EMERGENCY CALLS

1. The System Administrator or assigned counterpart can be called or paged concerning emergencies arising from the card access system by the following:

A) Director of Facilities Operations
B) Plant Engineer
C) Director of Public Safety
D) Duty Supervisor of Public Safety
E) Duty Supervisor of Facilities Operations

2. Emergencies that are handled by the System Administrator or assigned counterpart shall incur compensation of one (1) hour minimum when handled from off-site and four (4) hours minimum when an on-site response is required. Should a problem being worked on require off-site time immediately followed by on-site time, the four (4) hour minimum shall be effective starting from the off-site time which would cancel the one (1) hour minimum time.

3. The System Administrator or assigned counterpart shall have the authority to call any additional help, including the vendor or factory technician, should the situation warrant it.

Roofs & Ledges

Students are not permitted on residence halls or apartment roofs, or ledges.

Vandalism

The actual or attempted destruction or vandalism of property belonging to the College, another individual, or public or private entities is subject to disciplinary action.

Moving Furniture

All College supplied furniture must remain in student rooms. Lounge furniture is for use by all residents and may not be removed or relocated. Unauthorized removal of furniture will be considered theft of college property, and students will be disciplined and fined for such behavior. No College residence hall furniture or upholstered furniture is permitted for use outside the building or on College grounds.

Trash and Recycling

Trash & Recycling

Each floor contains a central trash can and recycling container—custodians empty hallway trash and recycling containers.

You are encouraged to take your room trash directly to the exterior dumpster located near your building. For additional sustainability resources, please visit https://sustainability.lafayette.edu/.