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.
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.
Please refer to Residence Life’s page for more information. https://reslife.lafayette.edu/policy-overview/
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 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.
Please visit the Residence Life page for more information: Furniture Policy
Please visit the Residence Life Page for more information: Guests
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.
Bug and Rodent Concerns
All initial concerns regarding a rodent or a bug issue should be reported to your RA who will submit a work order to Facilities Operations. Describe when and where you saw the rodent or bug.
Ehrlich Pest Control will then be contacted to inspect and treat the area accordingly.
Some preventive measures to utilize:
Bed Bug Concerns
All initial concerns regarding bedbugs should be reported to Facilities Operations immediately (including nights and weekends).
Weekdays 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., call Facilities Operations at 610-330-5373
After 4:00 p.m. and on weekends, call Public Safety at 610-330-5330
Facilities Operations will contact Ehrlich Pest Control to immediately inspect the room. The initial inspection will occur on the same day/night the complaint is received.
If Ehrlich confirms that bedbugs are present, please refer to following Bedbug Response Procedure: https://publicsafety.lafayette.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/86/2022/02/32-Bed-Bugs-SOP.pdf
All reports of mold in College facilities are inspected by Facilities and Operations along with Environmental, Health, and Safety.
Mold spores can be found almost anywhere and are naturally present in both indoor and outdoor environments. We bring them in with us on our shoes and clothing and when we open a window. These normal levels of mold do not typically cause health problems. If mold starts to grow indoors, concentrations can rise and increase the risk to occupants. The good news is that we can prevent mold growth by controlling moisture. The steps outlined below will help maintain an optimal environment.
Steps taken by the College
In order to provide a safe and healthy environment, the College does the following to identify and control mold growth and conditions that negatively impact indoor air quality:
Steps students can take
Reporting a concern
To report an indoor air-quality problem or concern, contact Facilities Operations at 610-330-5373. Facilities Operations will work with Environmental, Health, and Safety to conduct a visual inspection of the area. If mold growth or conditions for it are identified, the affected area will be cleaned and disinfected immediately, the underlying issues that caused the mold growth will be corrected, and recommendations will be provided to prevent any recurrence.
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.
Each year, an appropriate time to transition from cooling to heating is made based on current long-term forecasts. This transition will include all buildings and residence halls on campus. (Heat is generally turned on in Mid-October and turned off in Mid-April.)
Once the air conditioning is turned off in the fall it will remain off until the spring. Even though the weather will still fluctuate the system has to be transitioned at one time.
Areas that are either too hot or too cold should be reported to Facilities Operations.
Each floor contains a central trash can and recycling container—custodians empty hallway trash and recycling containers.
If disposing of large items, it is encouraged to bring it directly to the exterior dumpster located near your building. For additional sustainability resources, please visit https://sustainability.lafayette.edu/.
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.