Students are reminded there is a maximum number of commuting positions available. Priority is given to students who are student teaching or completing nursing preceptorships outside the forty-mile distance.
Room Assignments and Consolidation
The College provides opportunities for students to express their preferences about rooms and roommates. However, the College assigns student rooms and roommates and reserves the right to consolidate room assignments as is necessary to make the best possible use of our facilities. All students must check in and out properly whenever moving in and out of the residence halls. Students failing to follow the check in or out procedures may lose their room deposit and/or be fined.
Room Changes
All room assignments are made through the residence directors. During the semester, room changes may be made only when authorized by the residence director or the Dean of Students. Towards the end of each semester, students complete an online housing intent survey, which allows them to request a new room and/or roommate for the next semester. All changes must be approved by the residence directors.
Guests
No one under age 18 or of the opposite sex is allowed in the living areas of the residence hall except during Open House and move in day(s) (8am-4pm for new students and 1pm -4pm for returning students). Move in dates will be defined by the Dean of Students each semester. No overnight guests are allowed on campus. Failure to follow this policy will result in an Infringement violation and can result in the following: includes, but is not limited to official warnings, temporary restrictions, housing status review, counseling, fines, or administrative reprimand.
Lobbies and Lounges
Lounges are provided in each residence hall for relaxing, socializing, and entertaining members of the opposite sex. The areas off limits for the opposite sex are rooms, hallways, stairways, and landings. Failure to comply with this regulation will result in immediate disciplinary action as determined by the Dean of Students.
Room Checks
Room checks will be conducted by the housing staff each week to ensure residents are meeting the expectations and maintaining a safe and healthy standard of living. Residents are expected to keep their rooms clean and neat, trash removed from room, and bathroom clean (for students living in a suite). Students who fail 3 times within a given term (fall, spring, or summer) will be considered in violation of the College’s Residence Hall Policy. This major violation includes, but is not limited to administrative reprimand, disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, or disciplinary dismissal. Students need to talk with their resident assistant or residence director to understand the full expectations regarding room cleanliness.
Room Safety
Periodically, additional safety inspections will be made of residential halls, including student rooms, to identify fire hazards and violations. Room inspections are designed to point out hazards that have been overlooked. Students will be expected to make the necessary corrections if any hazardous conditions are found to exist in his/her room.
These guidelines and regulations are in place for your safety and the safety of your neighbors. Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. Please do your part to help make your residence hall community a safe place to live.
Bunk Bed Ladders and Rails
Bunk bed rails are not installed on bunk beds in the residence halls, but will be made available upon a student’s request, at the student’s option. Ladders are provided for all bunk beds in residence halls and are required to be used by the student when accessing and exiting the top bunk. Failure to properly use the ladder to access and exit the top bunk or the failure to request and properly use bed rails could result in injuries, including death, and any person who fails to properly use the ladder or to request and properly use a bed rail for a bunk bed assumes the risk of injury, including death, that may result from such failure. The College is not responsible for any misuse of or failure to use the ladder, any failure of the student to request bed rails, or any misuse of or failure to use the bed rails. If a student is aware that any part of the bunk bed, ladder or any provided bed rail appears damaged or faulty, a report should be made immediately to the residence director or Dean of Students.
Room Search and Entry
We respect the privacy of students in the residence hall; however, our College officials reserve the right to enter student rooms for the purpose of inspecting the premises when an authorized person has reasonable belief, including but not limited to the following:
- That college policy is being violated.
- That an occupant may be physically endangered or harmed.
- That college or personal property is being damaged.
- Rooms may be entered for emergencies, when routine maintenance or service is needed, request for a specific repair is necessary, and for regular inspections for cleanliness.
- The Dean of Students and/or residence director may enter a student’s room before men’s or women’s open house to see that rooms are in proper working order and meet college policy.
If practical, the residence director or assistants will not enter a student’s room unless occupied or another authorized person is present. If there is reasonable belief that college policy is being violated, a room search may be necessary. Authorization must be received from the Dean of Students or his representative. Two authorized persons will be present during the search. A room search will not be conducted without making every attempt to see that the occupants are present.
Exits
All pathways to room doors and windows must be kept clear. An item hanging to enclose or decorate a sleeping space is not permitted. Room doors must open at least 90 degrees. Hallways and stairs must be kept clear at all times. No bicycle parking or other items are permitted in the hallways or stairwells.
Fire Evacuation
If you see a fire or smell smoke, pull the fire alarm station handle. Whenever you hear the building fire alarm, you must leave the building! The residence hall staff will assist in clearing the building. Everyone is required to leave the building, and those not leaving may be subject to disciplinary sanctions. As you leave the room, follow these procedures:
- Take a towel to cover your mouth and nose in case of smoke.
- Close your door behind you.
- Exit as quickly as possible using the closest stairwell. Go to the designated location for your residence hall and stay at least 150 feet away from the building until given permission to return to the residence hall.
- Alert a staff member where you saw the fire.
Remember that in the event of a fire, your worst enemies are smoke, heat and gases. They are capable of killing in a very short time. If you are caught in smoke, use your towel to make breathing less difficult, get down on the floor and crawl out. Before opening any door in your evacuation route, smell for smoke and check the door to see if it is hot. If so, stay in your room and call 911.
If you do get trapped:
- Remain calm and think before you act.
- If there is smoke, crawl away from it.
- Put closed doors between you and smoke.
- Slightly open your window.
- Signal from the window. If there is a phone, call “0”. Tell them where you are, even if the Fire Department is on the scene.
- Remain calm. Rescue may be moments away.
Note: Evacuation drills occur periodically throughout the semester to ensure the proper function of the alarm system and the performance of residents and staff. Each fire alarm should be treated as a legitimate threat, and each resident must evacuate the building. The residence hall staff will assist in clearing the building.
Deliberately setting off the fire alarm is in direct violation of county ordinances and may result in immediate dismissal from the College. If an alarm is set off but the violator is not apprehended, the residence hall will be fined
$50.00. Tampering with fire alarm systems, alarm pull stations, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and safety equipment is prohibited.
Tornado Warning
If you hear the tornado siren sound or if you become aware of a tornado warning through media sources, move immediately to the lowest level in your building and stay away from exterior doors and windows. This may be a basement or first floor interior hallway, restroom, etc.
Do not wait for staff to tell you to go downstairs. Stay calm and wait for instructions. You can leave the lowest level once the tornado warning has been lifted and the all clear signal has been given. Immediately report any injury or damage to the residence hall staff.
Medical Emergencies
In the event of a medical emergency, dial “0” or notify residence hall staff immediately.
Electrical Safety Policy
Be sure that any electrical appliance or equipment, including cords and power strips, are UL-certified to help prevent power outages and fire hazards. Use all appliances and equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Exercise care in not using too many appliances at the same time; overloaded circuits may result in loss of power in the room and increase the risk of fire hazards. Microwave ovens, hair dryers, and similar appliances should not be used on any circuit which habitually trips your room’s circuit breakers.
Use extension cords of 12, 14, or 16 gauge wire and power strips with an integrated (built-in) circuit-breaker to prevent potential fire hazards and damage to the building’s electrical system. It is also recommended that power strips have a surge protection device, to help prevent damage to students’ personal property from fluctuations in the flow of electricity.
Do not alter prongs of polarized plugs to make them fit an outlet. Do not overload electrical outlets. If a wall socket or extension cord is warm to the touch, it is overloaded. Do not “daisy chain” (string together) cords, connectors, and plugs.
Do not run appliance or extension cords under carpeting, rugs or furniture, where they can be walked on or pinched. Heat can build up and start a fire. In addition, cords can be frayed and expose wires, which can also result in a fire. Never cover lamps with clothing, paper, drapes, or other things that can burn.
Appliances and Furnishings
Fire safety within the resident hall is of upmost importance. There are six approved appliances that students may utilize in their room. Please review the following approved appliances:
- Refrigerator (4.5 cubic feet is the maximum size)
- Microwave
- Toaster
- Coffee Pot
- Crock-Pot
- Blender
Furnishings and decorations must in no way physically block the exit from a room, hallway, or building.
Holiday decorations: Live Christmas trees and other highly combustible decorations are not allowed due to fire safety concerns. Seasonal Christmas lights are allowed from November 15-January 15, but cannot be left up throughout the remainder of the year. Seasonal lights must have a UL rating. The lights cannot be attached to a metal surface such as a door frame, bed frame and mattress springs, and cannot be used in restrooms. Caution should be used when hanging lights to ensure they are not too close to other objects that might catch on fire, and make sure there are not too many lights plugged into a room outlet.
Explosives, Fireworks, Flammable Liquids/Materials and Weapons
Students are prohibited from possessing, using, and/or storing firearms, fireworks, explosives, flammable liquids/ materials, and weapons (as defined by Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 571) in the residence halls and on the College campus. This prohibition also applies to students possessing a concealed carry permit. Materials that are not allowed include, but are not limited to, in addition to those listed above, gasoline, kerosene, camping or cooking fuels, lighter fluid, ether, paint, propane cylinders, propane torches, and other materials specifically referenced in the Missouri Statutes.
Theft and Property Loss
Students should always keep doors locked when they are not in the room. The College does not assume responsibility for theft or damage to personal property. Never leave large sums of money in the room. Valuable personal items should be taken home during break periods. Possibly some items might be covered by a parent’s homeowner policy or students may need to have renters insurance. The College is not responsible for a student’s personal items that may be stolen or destroyed. Everyone (whether a resident of the building or not) is expected to abide by the community standards.
Quiet Hours
Radios, televisions, stereos, and conversation should not disturb other hall residents. Students work at all hours of the day and night, so students need to be respectful of others who work late or have to work early.
Pets
Students may keep fish in their rooms. Aquariums are to be ten gallons or less in size. No other pets are allowed in the residence halls.
Babysitting
Babysitting in the residence halls is not allowed.
Living Requirements
Students are required to spend four nights a week (Monday-Thursday) in residence halls.
