Residence Life Procedural Requirements

APPLIANCES

Extreme caution must be exercised in the use of electrical appliances. All appliances must have the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) approval. Hot plates, sunlamps, space heaters, air conditioners, electric ovens, toasters, toaster ovens, microwaves and any other appliances with exposed heating elements are prohibited. Irons and ironing boards are provided in the laundry rooms of each building. Routine safety inspections will occur at least once a semester.  

BREAKS

All residence halls are closed for Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and Easter break. As a general rule, no resident will be permitted to remain in the residence halls during scheduled hall closings. Any persons having difficulty in finding a place to stay during breaks should notify the Residence Life Office at least seven (7) days in advance so assistance with placement can be made.

By arrangement, housing is provided for athletes and other students with academic or curricular requirements during vacation periods.  

CANDLES, INCENSE, HALOGEN LAMPS, POTPOURRI BURNERS

These items are forbidden in the residence halls. However, new candles with wicks that have never been lighted are permitted as decorative items. 

CARE AND USE OF ROOMS AND FURNISHINGS

Students are responsible for keeping their rooms, hallways, lounges, laundry rooms and kitchens clean and orderly. 

Ihmsen and St. Joseph Halls- residents are expected to clean their own bathrooms and sinks.

Misciagna Hall - residents are responsible for the cleaning of the entire suite, including kitchen areas and bathrooms. A vacuum cleaner, dust mops, brooms, dustpans, etc. are provided in utility closets within the residence halls. Failure to maintain standards of cleanliness may result in disciplinary action and assessment of cleaning charges.

Resident students are expected to immediately notify their RA of any repair or services needed in their room or hall. The RA will complete the necessary form. Routine work orders are usually handled within 24 hours and emergency situations are taken care of immediately.

College lounge furniture and other college property are placed in common areas for common use. Individuals may not take or borrow this furniture for use in their rooms; nor may they abuse or remove any college property. Anyone who chooses to violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary sanctions, including fines and restitution. All original room furnishings must remain in assigned rooms for the entire school year.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Christmas trees and decorations must meet the following guidelines:

• Artificial trees and decorations are allowed. Live trees and wreaths are not permitted in the residence halls.
• Decorations cannot block fire safety equipment or exits and must conform to the fire safety policy.
• All decorations must be taken down and/or disposed of before students leave for vacation. This includes decorations in individual student rooms.

COOKING

Students are permitted to cook in the kitchen areas in the residence halls. The following kitchen use guidelines must be obeyed.

1. Always make sure the burners and oven are turned off after you are done cooking.
2. Clean up pots, pans, utensils and dishes within 30 minutes of finishing a meal.
3. Thoroughly clean cooking and eating areas including stovetop, sink, counters and eating areas within 30 minutes of finishing a meal.
4. Dispose of any table scraps and uneaten food in the proper garbage cans.
5. Mark your name and the date on all food left in the refrigerator.
6. Throw away any uneaten food in the refrigerator after five days.
7. Do not eat other people’s food without their permission.

DAMAGES

The Residence Life Staff inventories all resident rooms and residence halls prior to move-in. Students are requested to carefully review this inventory and inform their RA of any pre-existing damage not listed on the inventory. Any damage found at check-out will otherwise be charged to the student. Types of damages for which assessments are made include, but are not limited to, the following:

Damages to furniture (burns, stains, holes, rips): walls (holes, dirt, tape marks); sinks and bathroom/kitchen areas ; floor and ceiling tiles; damaged or missing window screens or blinds; broken light fixtures; broken windows; missing furnishings (mattresses, chairs, desks, beds) ; or unreturned keys and/or improper check-out. Any damage in a public area of the residence halls by unidentified persons will be appraised on a pro-rated basis and charged to all occupants of the residence hall where the damage occurred. Students should not, under any circumstance attempt to repair damages themselves.

ENTRANCE DOORS

Any student found in violation by the propping open of entrance doors or giving another person your access cards or keys will be fined $200 in addition to any other disciplinary sanction determined to be appropriate. This action jeopardizes the safety of all resident students and is a practice that cannot be tolerated.  

FIRE ALARM EVACUATION PROCEDURES

When a fire alarm sounds, everyone must leave the building.

However, if the door IS HOT:

• Stay in the room.
• Seal door with a towel.
• Stay by an open window.
• Put a towel or blanket outside the window to signal fire department personnel of your location.

If the door IS NOT HOT:

• Close windows.
• Open the blinds.
• Do not touch light switches.
• Carry a wet towel for heat and smoke protection.
• Close door/leave unlocked.
• Proceed to nearest exit.
• Report to Cosgrave Center for head count.

FALSE FIRE ALARMS

False alarms endanger lives and inconvenience many people. A false fire alarm is a criminal offense punishable by a $10,000 fine and/or five years imprisonment. Civil authorities will be immediately notified to deal with offenders.

Students will also be subject to the campus judiciary system. 

MISUSE OF FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Other fire equipment including fire extinguishers, hoses and alarm boxes must not be tampered with or misused. A fine of $200 plus damages will be assessed to any individual or group held in violation.

Students will also be subject to the campus judiciary system. 

FOOD SERVICE

Campus food service is provided by Metz, Inc. Metz, Inc. is committed to providing a quality food program at Mount Aloysius College. Nutritious and well-balanced meals are served. 

• A Food Service Committee holds open meetings regularly. Any resident is welcome and encouraged to attend and offer suggestions.
• The Director of Health Services must review special meals due to dietary restrictions or special needs during illness. (A member of the professional Residence Life Staff on duty may review requests during the absence of the     Director of Health Services.)
• Bagged meals will be provided on request (24 hour advance notice needed) if a student has a conflict with class, work, or clinical schedules, or any special college event that will prevent one from eating a meal on campus.
• Special college events may necessitate meals being served in the Snack Bar.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

The following must be completed before students begin classes.

A. Required for All Students:

Health Forms: All students entering college must have a health form on file and have received a physical exam by their physician. 

• All students are required to have a health form on file in Health Services. You can complete a portion of the health form on line at: http://www.mtaloy.edu:8080/health
• The Physical Exam and Immunization portion of the health form must be printed off and completed by your family physician.

Immunizations: All students are required to have the following immunizations before entering college.

• Polio series.
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) vaccine or history of the disease.
• Tetanus/Diptheria vaccine (Must have a TD booster within the past 10 years.)
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) 2 doses, or report of positive titers confirming immunity.

B. Required for all Resident Students living on campus.

• All of the requirements listed under A.
• Meningococcal Vaccine or signed waiver (Pennsylvania Law).
• Health Insurance (We do not provide health insurance).
• Copy of health insurance card.
• Ambulance Service.  It is highly recommended that resident students purchase an ambulance subscription from the Cresson Area Ambulance.  Mount Aloysius College does not transport ill students to a physician’s office or   emergency room. If a student is ill and needs further evaluation an ambulance may be called to transport them. Mount Aloysius College is not responsible for payment of the ambulance transports for injury or illness. Please see attached letter for details. (DO NOT send payment to Mount Aloysius College. Payments must go directly to Cresson Area Ambulance service.)

C. Required for all College Athletes who are going to participate in sports

• All of the requirements listed under A.
• Physical exam by your family physician.
• Health Insurance.
• Copy of insurance card.
• Athletic pre-participation health form.

HOUSING AND DAMAGE DEPOSIT

Resident students are required to pay a Housing and Damage Deposit of $125. The Housing and Damage Deposit reserves a room in campus housing and also functions as a damage deposit fee. The deposit is in addition to tuition and room/board charges and will be refunded to the student less any damage charges to the room or residence hall. Room assignments are based on the date of housing deposit. Should the residence halls become oversubscribed; the date of housing deposit will be used to determine housing availability. Students who do not follow check-out procedures for breaks and at the end of the spring semester will be charged a $50 fine. 

KEYS AND ACCESS CARDS

Each resident student is issued a room key and a mailbox key when they officially check into the residence hall. Students also receive an access card to their building. Remember to take care of your keys. A lost key or access card may jeopardize your own safety. For security reasons, residents may not have a key to rooms other than their own, nor may they have more than one key to their own room. Any student using another person's access card or giving their access card to another individual will be subject to a $200 fine and/or disciplinary action. Students are encouraged to keep their ground level windows locked when not in room.

A $25 fee is charged for a lost or damaged access card. When a student loses a key, the lock will be replaced, new keys made and the student will be charged for the new lock and labor. This policy minimizes the possibility that someone may find the key and gain access to that room. Anyone finding a key should give the key to a staff member immediately. Only college personnel are authorized to change or repair locks or to duplicate keys. 

MAIL SERVICE

Mail delivery to the College is made in accordance with U.S. postal schedules. Mail is placed in the mailboxes in accordance with the schedule of the Residence Life Staff. Mailboxes for resident students of Ihmsen and St. Joseph Halls are located in Ihmsen Hall Lounge and on the first floor of Misciagna Hall for Misciagna Hall residents. A notice will be placed in a mailbox if a student receives a package, and packages may be claimed by taking the notice to the Residence Life Office, or to the location where the package has been delivered.

Outgoing letters can be placed in the mailbox near the student mailboxes or at the switchboard. Overweight or oversized letters and packages may be prepared for mailing at the College Support Center, located on the lower level of the Main Building.

Resident students are responsible for changing their address upon leaving the residence halls. The Residence Life department will forward mail for a period of six weeks after a resident student has left the halls. If mail continues to arrive for that resident student after the six-week period, the office will return mail to the sender. 

NOISE

Any resident who is disturbing other residents with noise (voice, stereo, television, etc.) is not being considerate of his/her neighbors. It is preferred that the resident being disturbed make the first attempt to stop the noise. However, it is within the RA's jurisdiction to confront any situation he/she regards as a noise problem regardless of the time of day. Basically, activity within any room should scarcely be noticeable outside of that room. Students who repeatedly are inconsiderate of others and create unreasonable disturbances will face disciplinary action. Use of the garbage chutes is prohibited between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. due to the noise disturbance. 

OBSTRUCTING ENTRANCES

Students are not permitted to hang items to block the second entrance to their residence hall room.  

OVERNIGHT GUESTS

A resident student may invite a guest of the same gender to stay overnight in his/her room provided that the following conditions are met:

• Overnight guest visits will be limited to five (5) nights per month.
• Overnight guests must be age 18 or older.  Children are not permitted overnight in the residence halls.
• The written request must be submitted to the Resident Assistant on duty prior to 10:00 p.m. on the night of the visit and the guest is officially registered.
• The resident’s roommate has agreed to have the guest.
• The guest’s automobile is registered with security and properly parked in the resident parking lot.

PAINTING/WALLPAPERING

Painting or wallpapering by students is not allowed in student rooms. This includes walls, ceilings, and furniture. 

PARKING

Parking is available for each resident student in the designated lot(s) as specified by the Security Department at the time of vehicle registration. All vehicles must be registered by the end of the first week of each academic semester with the security staff. Regulations for parking are stated in this handbook, and resident students are held accountable for compliance with these regulations 

PERSONAL PROPERTY

The College does not accept responsibility for the loss or damage to personal property due to theft, fire or other causes. Students are advised to carry insurance on personal property, either through their family homeowner's policy or purchase renter's insurance. Residents are encouraged to secure their valuables and keep their rooms locked at all times.

When items are left in the residence halls or storage rooms after the official closing of the residence halls each year, the College will declare them abandoned. They will be disposed of or distributed to those in need. 

PETS

For health and safety reasons, pets (with the exception of fish in an aquarium) are not allowed in the residence halls. If a pet is discovered, the student will immediately be expected to remove the animal from the residence hall and may face disciplinary action. 

REFUNDS

The College has instituted a college-cost refund plan where a portion of board will be credited to the student's account if the student officially withdraws from residency. Under this plan, only board may be refunded as follows:

• 1st Calendar Week of the Semester 80 percent credited to account.
• 2nd Calendar Week of the Semester 60 percent credited to account.
• 3rd Calendar Week of the Semester 40 percent credited to account.
• 4th Calendar Week of the Semester 20 percent credited to account.

No refunds are made for room fees.
Students who leave the College before the end of the term as a result of disciplinary action are not entitled to a refund of tuition, room or board charges.

ROOM CHANGES

Students should make every effort to work together to achieve a compatible living situation with their roommate and neighbors. If difficulties arise and students are not able to resolve these among themselves, they should seek assistance from the RA who will make every effort to assist in the solution. The Residence Life Professional Staff may authorize a room change if all attempts at mediation have been exhausted.

Students will not be permitted to change rooms for the first two weeks of each semester in order to conduct roster verifications. Thereafter, room changes may be requested through the Residence Life office. Any unauthorized room change will result in a $50 fine. 

ROOM CONSOLIDATION

By the end of the second week of each semester, if you do not have a roommate and have not paid for a single room, you will have to buy out the room as a single or you will be placed with a roommate. If vacancies occur after the second week of the semester, the Director of Residence Life will make consolidation decisions on a case by case basis. 

ROOM CONTRACTS

Contracts for room and board for both Fall and Spring semesters are available to full-time students (i.e. any student who is carrying twelve or more credits per semester). Any student carrying less than twelve credits who desires to live in the residence halls must receive permission to do so from the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students. A signed room contract is a binding obligation between the student and Mount Aloysius College. The student is responsible for satisfying the full financial obligation of the contract on time with published College payment schedules. The student is also obligated to reside in the room stipulated in the contract and to abide by the rules of conduct established by the College. A student's housing and food service contract is automatically terminated if the student's enrollment is terminated for any reason or the student is being removed from the residence hall as a result of a disciplinary hearing. Requests to be released from a contract must be made in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students. 

ROOMMATE SELECTION

Re-contracting and Roommate selection for upper-class students will occur during the spring semester. All students will be given the opportunity to fill out a roommate preference form prior to their arrival at Mount Aloysius. Requests will be honored only if the requests are mutual. All attempts will be made to place students according to preferences. The Residence Life Staff reserves the right to make any changes during the year, if deemed necessary, including increasing occupancy of a room to its designated capacity or beyond its normal limit. 

ROOM/VEHICLE ENTRY AND INSPECTION

The College reserves the right to inspect a student's room under the following conditions:

• Periodic room inspection occurs on a regular basis during vacation periods. This will consist of checking rooms for missing property, damages, fire hazards and the general order and well-being of the building.
• Fulfilling maintenance or custodial needs.
• Clear indication that establishes health or safety regulations are being violated.
• Clear and present danger to the room occupants or other residents exists.
• Reasonable suspicion that students are violating federal, state, or local laws, or College regulations. Under this condition, staff members may enter a room at any time after knocking at the door and identifying themselves.

NOTE: The College reserves the right to initiate steps for the removal of items which are the property of the College or of its agents which are in a resident's room without approval. Additionally, the College reserves the right to confiscate items from resident rooms and vehicles that are in violation of college regulations.

SAFETY AND SECURITY PROGRAMS

Informational programs are held at least once a semester dealing with issues of security and safety for those students living on campus. 

SMOKING AND TOBACCO POLICY

1. The use of tobacco and tobacco related products is prohibited in all campus facilities including residence hall facilities in order to lessen fire and health related hazards.
2. Tobacco products are not sold on campus.
3. Smoking is not permitted in and around all campus athletic fields.
4. Smoking by students and employees outside the campus buildings is permitted only in the following areas without exception:

Academic Hall - second floor entrance
Alumni Hall - front door entrance only when building is in use
Chapel Building - Faculty Wing - archway entrance
Cosgrave Student Center - basement entrance
Ihmsen Hall - breezeway
Library Building- main entrance
Main Administration Building - lower level (old maintenance department)
Physical Fitness Center (Gym) - main entrance
Pierce Hall - back entrance by the ball field
St. Joseph Hall - rear entrance by lounge

Employees and students are requested to extinguish cigarettes, matches, etc. only in the designated containers that are placed in all permitted smoking areas. Employees and students are also requested to not litter on campus in order to ensure an aesthetically pleasing campus environment. This includes not discarding cigarettes in parking lots, sidewalks, lawns, etc.  

TELEPHONES, CABLE AND DATA

All student rooms are equipped with phone lines with voicemail capabilities. Answering machines are unnecessary. Please refer to voicemail instructions to set up your password. Students in Ihmsen Hall are responsible to bring their own phone and roommates share a phone number. Phones are supplied in Misciagna Hall and each suite shares a phone number.
Cable TV is available in each room. You must bring your own coaxial cable. In Misciagna Hall, cable TV ports are found in the living room as well as each bedroom.

Internet access is available to students. A connection for one computer is in each room in Ihmsen. If more than one computer needs to be connected to the Internet network, a HUB must be used. These HUBS can be borrowed from the Residence Life Office in Ihmsen Hall on a first come, first serve basis. There are several ports in each suite in Misciagna for Internet access. Wireless Internet is also available in the residence halls.

NOTE: Students are not permitted to accept collect phone calls of any kind. Students will be billed an extra fee in addition to the collect charges and may risk their phone service being disconnected.

VISITATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

All visitors are expected to follow College rules, regulations and policies including the enforcement of the College's alcohol policy. Students are prohibited from consuming, distributing, or possessing alcohol on campus.

Visitation hours are as follows (unless otherwise notified by the Residence Life Staff member on duty):

Sunday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight
Friday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

All guests must be at least 18 years of age. *Children under the age of 18 may only visit siblings who are resident students and must be escorted by their sibling at all times. Children are not allowed as overnight guests. Non-student guests must be escorted by the resident whom they are visiting at all times.

Whenever a student has a guest, he/she is responsible for the guest's conduct while he/she is visiting on campus.

The College reserves the right to revise the visitation hours, policies and procedures at anytime without notice.

VISITORS

Since most residences are shared, it is essential that resident students and their visitors respect their roommate's rights to privacy. Consideration for the rights of others living in the residence hall is also expected. Mount Aloysius students are responsible for their visitor's conduct. In the interest of the residents, Mount Aloysius students must escort guests at all times. Both guests and students are responsible for complying with the College visitation policy. Any visitor, student or non-student, who does not follow proper visitation procedures will be in violation of the visitation policy and subject to disciplinary action. All visitors must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid picture I.D. with them at all times.

WASHERS AND DRYERS

Coin operated washers and dryers are provided for residents in each hall. These machines are emptied daily of money.

Students are reminded that proper use of these machines insures their continued availability. Please follow instructions carefully -- including the insertion of UNITED STATES COINS ONLY for each use.

WEAPONS

The possession, whether open or concealed, of any weapon including, but not limited to firearms, including BB, paintball, and pellet guns, explosives including ammunitions, firecrackers, fireworks, and explosive chemicals, archery equipment, biological and chemical weapons, any knife, razor or cutting instrument, the blade of which is exposed in an automatic way by switch, push button, spring mechanism, or any object that could be used to cause fear, and/or inflict serious bodily injury, serves no common and lawful purpose is prohibited. Any violation of this policy may result in immediate dismissal from the College.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RESIDENCE HALLS

Prior to withdrawal from campus residency, a student must first meet with the Director of Residence Life. The student must then complete a room condition form with their RA to assess for damages. Unauthorized withdrawals will result in an automatic forfeiture of the entire damage deposit. The access card, room key and mailbox key must also be returned to the Residence Life Office. Failure to follow these procedures will result in the student being charged room and board fees until the official withdrawal from the institution is complete.