Policy Updates and Reminders

Updated and Effective February 1, 2013.  Students frequently wish to set their rooms up as "Combined Living Quarters" (i.e., setting one room up as a living room and another as a bedroom.) In order to do this, all roommates must be in agreement and doorways/passageways must remain unblocked at all times.

Due to Fire Code and safety requirements, this is permitted in the following rooms only:

Asbury 10

Wesley 105,113, 205, 212, 224, 233, 312, 313, 316, 321, and 329

Williams 105

The remaining rooms in Asbury, Wesley, and Williams Halls may not be combined in this way. Additionally, no rooms in Crever, East, Forrest, Rich or Skeath Halls may be combined in this way.

Un-approved rooms set up as “Combined Living Quarters” will be considered a violation of Room Regulation (RR) 6-1., must be corrected immediately, and residents may be subject to disciplinary action.

Updated and Effective November 1, 2012. As a result of a recent inspection by the Williamsport Bureau of Codes we found it necessary to change a few of our current Residential Life Regulations/Room Regulations, specifically RR2-6, RR2-8, RR2-11, RR6-10.

RR2-6 - Extension cords are PROHIBITED in any campus residence.

RR2-8 - Power strips only may be used for multiple plugs. Power strips must be plugged directly into a wall outlet and must include a surge protection button/switch. Power strips may not be plugged into another power strip.

RR2-11 - Temporary electrical lights, including Holiday lights, as well as halogen lights pose a severe fire safety hazard and are prohibited from all campus residences.

RR6-10 – Temporary electrical lights including holiday lights are prohibited in all campus residences.

The new room regulations can also be found on our website at http://www.lycoming.edu/residentialLife/roomRegulations.aspx.

We will be looking for any issues during our closing inspections during Thanksgiving and Winter Break Closings and if residents are not in compliance they will be given a warning. At the time of our Health & Safety inspection in the spring 2013 we will then begin fining and officially documenting these infractions.

Residents are required to take any necessary corrective actions to be in compliance.

Breaks

Reminder. Campus Housing is closed for Winter Break. Students with legitimate circumstances that require them to remain on campus must request permission to stay on campus for all or part of a break. For more information about the Winter Break Housing, see the section below. Break housing residents are permitted to have only break housing residents as guests, and may not have any overnight guests.

Campus housing is open (but with limited support services) for Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks. Students with legitimate circumstances that require them to remain on campus must register to stay on campus for all or part of a break. For more information about the Thanksgiving and Spring Break Housing, see the section below. Break housing residents are permitted to have only break housing residents as guests, and may not have any overnight guests.

In advance of each break, expectations for properly closing a campus residence will be communicated to students via e-mail and the Residential Life website, etc. Failure to complete any/all of expectations for closing will result in the following fines for each individual resident of the residence:

$15

$15

$25

$50 (improper check out)
$50 (minimum for excessive cleaning)
$100 (minimum for hauling)

 

Winter Break Housing

All Apartments, Asbury, Wesley, East and Crever* Halls will close for the entirety of Winter Break. With the exception of emergency lighting and the bare minimum heat to keep pipes from freezing, these buildings will be closed and off limit to students. The remaining residence halls (Skeath, Rich, Forrest and Williams*) and the Commons will remain open for students who have permission to stay during Winter Break. Students approved to stay on campus for all or part of Winter Break who currently live in the Apartments, Asbury, Wesley, East and Crever Halls will be required to move into another residence hall during the break as assigned by Residential Life. Students who are going home for the break but who reside in Skeath, Rich, Forrest, Williams and the Commons must be aware that students may temporarily be assigned to their rooms during the break.

Students request permission by submitting an on-line request to stay on campus form on the Residential Life page of the College website. A housing fee (per night) will be assessed to all approved students for Winter Break housing. The only exceptions are international students, student-athletes (Winter sports), and students working on-campus jobs over the break. Break housing residents are permitted to have only break housing residents as guests in their rooms and buildings; they may not have any overnight guests. Please note: campus dining (dining hall, Jack's Place, 1812 Cafe) is closed during the entirety of Winter Break; in other words, there is no meal plan service during this time. Meal service typically ends with lunch on the day that break begins and resumes with dinner the day that break ends.

Thanksgiving And Spring Break Housing

Reminder. Campus residences are open (but with limited support services) for Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks. Students with legitimate circumstances or who wish to remain on campus must register by submitting an on-line form to stay for all or part of Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks. Break housing residents are permitted to have only break housing residents as guests in their rooms and buildings; they may not have any overnight guests. Please note: campus dining (dining hall, Jack's Place, and 1812 Cafe) is closed during the entirety of Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks; in other words, there is no meal plan service during this time. Meal service typically ends with lunch on the day that break begins and resumes with dinner the day that break ends.

Trash And Recyclables Collection In Campus Housing

Local fire code inspectors determined and communicated with Lycoming College officials this summer that garbage cans and other receptacles (such as for recyclables) are no longer allowed to be located in the hallways of residence halls. In compliance with these local fire codes, rooms have been designated in each building to serve as centralized Trash and Recyclables Collection Points. Cooperation of all residents is asked in disposing of their trash and recyclables in the appropriate bins in the designated areas. In particular, residents are reminded of the importance of emptying waste cans from their rooms on a regular basis; allowing cans to overflow potentially invites the presence of unwelcome guests (such as spiders, mice, etc.).

The locations for each building are as follows:

  • Asbury Hall: two rooms on the first floor (north and south wings); two rooms on the third floor (north and south wings)
  • Crever Hall: one room on the second floor; one room on the third floor
  • East Hall: large room just past the entrance on southwest side of building
  • Forrest Hall: trash chutes and recyclable collection areas are located on each floor
  • Rich Hall: large room on the second floor
  • Skeath Hall: one room on the first floor (east wing); two rooms on the third floor (east and west wings);two rooms on the fourth floor (east and west wings)
  • Wesley Hall: large room on the garden level
  • Williams Hall: trash room located on the first floor; large room on the third floor
  • The Commons: Residents will continue to take their garbage to the dumpster behind the building
  • Apartments: Residents will continue to take their garbage to the receptacles outside their apartments

Residents having difficulty locating a collection point should ask their Resident Advisor, House Manager, Custodian, or Student Life Coordinator for assistance.

Missing Student Procedures

Effective August 2009. Lycoming College, in an effort to act in a timely and appropriate manner, has administrative guidelines in place to address a report of a missing student. Student safety and well-being is of paramount concern to the College. Students are encouraged to learn and follow personal safety guidelines while students at Lycoming College. Information regarding personal safety can be found on the College's Safety and Security website.

Each student, upon enrollment, is given the opportunity to provide an emergency contact person(s). Under most circumstances this would be the person contacted in the event of an emergency. However, under the law as it relates to being reported as a missing person, students are able to provide a confidential contact separate from their emergency contact to be notified in the event the student is reported missing. The list of the confidential contacts will be held in the Dean of Student Affairs' office.

For more information, see the Office of Safety and Security.

The following is expanded information on policies that are included in the Student Handbook, Code of Conduct, Residence Hall Policies, Room Regulations or the Housing Agreement.

Breach of Security

(see Code of Conduct, Prohibited Conduct 3.c.)

The College provides each student room with a lock and distributes keys to residents. Each residence hall is equipped with a card reader access system programmed to admit resident students only. Although these security measures are in place, our halls and apartments are secure only if each person is aware of how his/her actions impact the total security of residents. You are expected to take all reasonable precautions to maintain the security of the residence halls/apartments. The following behaviors are considered violations of the Code of Conduct. Students found responsible will be fined a maximum of $100 per violation.

  1. Propping open a locked door.
  2. Inviting, encouraging, or admitting an unauthorized person or persons to enter the hall when a building is secured. (Note: visitors must be registered with Security and may be entertained only during the hours visitation is in effect.)
  3. Presence of an unauthorized person.
  4. Attempting to enter a secured building or secured sections of a building (student rooms, lounges, apartment attics or basements, etc.).
  5. Tampering with or removing an automatic locking mechanism or alarm on any door.
  6. Use of any door specifically designated as an "emergency exit only" except during an emergency.
  7. Possession and/or use of a key to a College building when not specifically authorized by a College official or department.
  8. Entering a student room without being invited by the room occupants.
  9. Possession of keys that have been duplicated without authorization from the College Locksmith.
  10. Lending keys to your room to another person other than Residential Life Staff.

Confiscation Policy

(see Student Policies Manual, Search Policy)

College personnel, including Safety and Security and Residential Life staff, have the authority to confiscate items that violate College and/or Residence Life policy. Confiscated alcohol is stored by the Office of Safety and Security and disposed of at least once a year. Alcohol, alcohol related items (i.e., kegs, funnels, taps) and items that pose health and/or safety risks (i.e., appliances, candles, flammable substances, weapons, etc.) will not be returned to the student or his/her guest. Where possible and appropriate, items will be donated to a local charity. Pets found within the residence halls will be removed in accordance with that policy.

Fire Safety

(see Code of Conduct, Prohibited Conduct 3.b.)

Fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers and exit signs are required by the state, are for the protection of all residents, and are to be used only in case of fire. Each resident is responsible for being familiar with the location of exits, fire extinguishers and alarm pull stations. Residence hall staff will be happy to provide additional information or assistance in this area. Tampering with fire equipment or setting off a false fire alarm is a misdemeanor under state law. Deliberately causing a fire is a felony. Disciplinary action and/or arrest will be taken against a student found tampering with fire equipment, falsely setting off the alarm system, or causing a fire.

The following violations will be handled through the College disciplinary process with the noted minimum sanctions:

  1. Deliberately causing a fire: $500 and/or suspension from the College.
  2. Intentionally activating a false fire alarm: $500 and/or suspension form the College.
  3. Tampering with fire extinguisher or other fire equipment: $100 plus cost of returning the equipment to its original condition.
  4. Covering any part or all of a room smoke detector: $200 shared between responsible students.
  5. Failure to promptly or properly evacuate a building which has gone into alarm: $75. Increased sanction possible for defiant failure to evacuate.
  6. Returning to a building which has gone into alarm before the "all clear" signal is given by College or emergency personnel: $75. Increased sanction possible for defiant early return to hall.

Room Entry

(see Conditions of the Housing Agreement)

Entry into or search of student living quarters may be conducted by the following persons as detailed below:

  1. Law enforcement officers performing statutory duties in accordance with legally defined procedures governing search and seizure.
  2. Authorized College personnel to insure that health, fire and safety regulations are maintained. The College gives at least 24 hours prior notice that inspection is being made unless conditions do not permit prior notification.
  3. Authorized College personnel or agents to make improvements and repairs to provide routine maintenance and housekeeping services.
  4. Authorized College personnel in emergency situations to protect the health and welfare of students or to make emergency repairs to prevent damage to student or College property.
  5. Authorized College officials when there is probable cause to believe a violation of College or civil regulations is being committed. Probable cause means reasonable grounds for suspicion supported by circumstances sufficiently strong to warrant a cautious person's belief that a party is committing an illegal act. Refer to the Lycoming College Student Handbook for the complete search policy.

Authorized College personnel indicated above are: members of the Residential Life staff, members of the Building and Grounds staff, College personnel or their agents contracted to perform maintenance or repair services on behalf of the halls, and Safety and Security staff. Other members of the College staff may enter under conditions prescribed only when accompanied by authorized personnel or their agents. There should be two staff members present, if at all possible. In all instances, such entry is made only for the purposes set forth above. Observed possible violation of College policy, rules, or regulations will be referred to the Residential Life staff for follow up.

Trespassing

(see Code of Conduct, Prohibited Conduct 9.a.)

Residence hall and apartment premises are for the exclusive use of residents, their guests, and College personnel. Any persons other than residents, their registered and escorted guests, and/or authorized College personnel are prohibited from entering or remaining upon these premises. During break periods only students who have properly registered for break housing are allowed access to the halls. This means that your guests may only include resident students, who also have permission to stay for the break. Overnight guests are strictly prohibited during break periods.