Mission and Goals of Residence Life

http://www.nau.edu/reslife

MISSION STATEMENT
In support of the University mission, the Office of Residence Life also serves its students as the state’s Premier Residential University. As such, the Office of Residence Life strives to accomplish the following: to provide academic learning communities within the residence halls that foster the development of well-rounded, informed, productive, and involved members; to offer students a residential environment which welcomes, values, and supports diversity among its community members; to provide an environment within the residence halls that supports the University-wide Academic Mission through in-hall program development and facilities improvements; and to address community standards and conduct within residential living through educational approaches that lead to students becoming responsible community members within the hall and the greater Northern Arizona University community.

OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE GOALS

• To be recognized as the premier residential University in the Western region of the United States.
• To continue to form ties with the academic departments and programs, as well as individual faculty members, that support out-of-class experiences within the residential living/learning community.
• To provide attractive, well-maintained facilities at a reasonable cost to our residential students.
• To continue to assess needs and address facility improvements within the residence halls that support environments conducive to academic success (i.e., study space, in-hall classrooms, in-hall computer labs).
• To strive for diversity among students living and working in the residence halls, and the programs and activities offered within the halls.
• To address the developmental needs of all students within the residence halls, in particular the transition needs of first year students.
• To provide leadership and development opportunities to residential students which promote responsible community membership.
• To continually assess the services and programs provided our residential students in an effort to meet their changing needs as Northern Arizona University community members.

 

OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE
The Office of Residence Life, a department within the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, is responsible for all residence halls and family housing communities, including staffing, programming, and administration. Additionally, Residence Life handles applications, assignments, transfers, billings, and facility enhancements. Questions or problems regarding any aspect of residence hall life should be directed to this office which is located in North Hall, Building 5, PO Box 6100, Phone: (928) 523-3978. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Summer hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

RESIDENCE HALL STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION
The Office of Residence Life is responsible for the hiring, training, and evaluation of residence hall staff members. The halls are divided into four areas for purposes of activities programming and administration, each with an Area Coordinator. The Area Coordinator supervises the Residence Hall Directors within his or her area.

Each hall has a Residence Hall Director (RHD) who is responsible for the hall administration, maintenance, activities, programming, counseling and disciplinary procedures (RHDs in large halls are full-time professional staff; RHDs in small halls are graduate assistants). In the largest halls there is also an Assistant Residence Hall Director.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are paraprofessional staff who assist the professional staff in all aspects of the administration of the residence halls. RAs are trained to advise and act as peer counselors for the residents on their floor or wing. Matters beyond the scope of the RAs role are referred to the Residence Hall Director.

All residence halls or areas have a staff member on evening call for emergencies and to provide assistance in a wide range of personal and academic matters.

RESIDENCE HALL GOVERNANCE
Residence Hall Association
The Residence Hall Association (RHA) serves as the governing body of all the residence facilities with elected representation from each hall and family council.

Residence Hall Councils
Each hall has a council responsible for its administration and the organization of hall events. Residents of the hall elect their own officers and representatives. The council is responsible for determining the use of hall funds, recommending visitation hours, and providing an atmosphere conducive to the mission of Northern Arizona University. The Residence Hall Director serves as adviser to the Council.

RESIDENCE HALL GENERAL INFORMATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The Office of Residence Life offers a wide variety of housing accommodations and programs to meet the needs of students. The following information is provided to outline the general characteristics and locations of each hall. In general, freshman students will be a part of the Freshman Connections Program and will be housed in McConnell, Sechrist, or Reilly Halls. The Cowden Learning Community will also house incoming freshman students as well as a number of special academic programs. Continuing students are given priority assignments during the spring semester with new and transfer students being assigned by date of application, after returning students. Please note that assignments are based on space availability.

Every application must be submitted with a non-refundable application fee or deposit to be processed. Applications are available from the Office of Residence Life, Box 6100, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6100 or online at nau.edu/reslife.

RESIDENCE HALL CONTRACT
The residence hall contract is for the full academic year (fall and spring semesters) or spring only.

STUDENT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CAMPUS HOUSING
Students are expected to register for, and complete, a minimum of twelve credit hours of coursework per semester (nine credit hours for graduate students), and be pursuing a degree. Provided space has been made available to all full-time students, the Office of Residence Life will consider exceptions to this policy.  

RENT
Rent rates depend on the type of hall and accommodation.  For a complete schedule of rates and due dates, visit nau.edu/reslife.

RESIDENCE HALL CHECK IN/OUT
Check-In:
Students should proceed to their assigned hall to check-in with a hall staff member.  

Check-Out:
Students are required to vacate their rooms no later than 24 hours after their last examination, (or time of withdrawal) or by the published time of hall closing, whichever comes first. All students must formerly check out with a residence hall staff member. Failure to do so may result in additional charges.  

To check out, a student must clean the room, return the room key, and checkout with a residence hall staff member.

RESIDENCE HALL CHANGES
Hall changes will be made on a space available basis only. Contact your Hall Director for more information.

Students are not permitted to move to another residence hall until an official assignment has been made. Students who have made unauthorized moves may be required to return to their originally assigned space.

SINGLE ROOMS
In order to insure maximum utilization of on-campus housing, students will generally be housed with roommates. Students who would like to request a single room should contact their RHD. If the room changes to a single, the student will be assessed the additional, pro-rated charge for a single room.

ROOM CONSOLIDATION
If you as a student are left without a roommate, you will be expected to complete one of two steps:

1. Pay a single room charge for the semester in order to stay in your present room.

2. Be prepared to move to another room or accept a roommate assigned to your room.

Please see the RHD to explain the necessary procedures.

 

RESIDENCE HALL SERVICES
Cleaning Equipment
Cleaning equipment, including vacuums, floor mops, brooms & buckets, are available for checkout in each residence hall through the hall desk or office.  It is recommended that students bring their own cleaning equipment and supplies.  

Curtains, Drapes, or Blinds
Curtains, drapes, or blinds are provided for windows by the University and must remain on the windows. Other decorative items may be placed on existing curtain or blind rods providing the original curtains or blinds are not soiled or damaged.  

Disability Resources
Students with disabilities who experience access or service concerns within the residence halls should contact their RHD or the Office of Residence Life to remedy the situation. Students experiencing problems within other parts of campus related to access should refer to the Office of Disability Resources (www.nau.edu/dr) for further assistance and information.

Furniture
Furniture provided for residence hall lobbies and lounges is for the comfort and use of all students and their guests and it may not be moved into student rooms. Room furniture, not permanently attached, may be re-arranged provided that it is not damaged. Moving public area furniture into a room can be considered theft and may result in a recovery charge and/or disciplinary action. University furnishings may not be removed from the room.

Keys, Room & Building
The reproduction of a university key by anyone other than the university locksmith is a violation of University and Residence Life regulations. Lost room and entrance keys will necessitate replacing the lock, for which the student will be charged.

Kitchen
All traditional residence halls have a kitchen facility which may be used, on occasion, to prepare a special meal or snack. The facilities are limited in traditional residence halls and are in no way adequate to take the place of a university meal plan. Meals can be prepared on a regular basis only in apartment units.

Linen
Linen is available through Residence Life Support Services (RLSS) located in the northwest corner of Building 24.  RLSS is open from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The blue linen card, issued through the residence hall desk, is required to pick up a pillow case and two sheets. Linens may be exchanged weekly. Each student is responsible for returning his or her linens to the RLSS Office at the time of check-out. Failure to do so will result in a charge.

 

Pest Control
All apartments and residence halls are treated on a regular basis. If a residence hall room is in need of pest control service, contact the Hall Director. The University has a contract with an exterminating firm to handle problems that may arise.

Posting Notices
Permission from the Office of Residence Life is to be obtained prior to the posting of any signs or notices. Please contact the Office of Residence Life for complete details.  

Room Decorations
Students may decorate their residence hall rooms with posters and other similar decorations as long as they do not cause damage to the room and/or are not considered a fire hazard. Guidelines for holiday decorations are provided by the Office of Residence Life. Students are financially responsible for all damage or loss to their rooms.

Signs and other decorations may be placed in the residents' windows, provided that the sign and/or decoration is appropriate for public view and in keeping with the Residence Hall Judicial Handbook.

 

Room Repairs
Residents can call facility problems into the central dispatch office by calling F-IXED (523-4933) located at Facility Services.  Maintenance staff is required to respond to all calls within 30 minutes of receiving the call during regular working hours, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 80% of reported repairs can be completed immediately.  Work that can not be completed immediately is given a work order number to insure proper completion and information is legitimate with the student (name of employee, contact phone number, and work order number). 

 

The Maintenance Staff will handle work requests from night calls the following working day between 8 a.m. – 9 a.m., with the exception of items needing immediate assistance.  Items needing immediate assistance which are called into F-IXED (523-4933) after 5 p.m. will be responded to within 1 hour.  Issues related to cable, telecommunications, and pest control can be called directly to the Office of Residence Life, 523-7616.  Contact the Residence Hall desk for replacement of furniture.

Telephones
Campus telephone service includes local calling, toll-free calling, and call waiting; caller ID is not available.  Students supply their own phones, answering machines, and patch cords.  Collect or third-party calls cannot be accepted by campus telephone lines.  For long distance calls, we recommend that students use a phone card or cell phone.  

Television
Through the campus cable system, a full cable channel line-up is available in each student room. In addition, the University operates several stations for viewing classes and other university programs.

Washers, Dryers, and Vending Machines
Washers and dryers are available as a vending service as are automated food and beverage machines in each residence hall. Contact a hall staff member if the machines fail to operate correctly.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESIDENTS

GUEST POLICY
Escort Policy
Each residence hall, in conjunction with the Office of Residence Life, determines the most appropriate escort policy for its needs.

Guests of the opposite sex must use only those entrances designated by the hall when entering and leaving, and must comply with the escort policy established by each residential area.

GUEST VISITATION
Limited Visitation Halls
All residence halls and floors not designated "24-hour Visitation Halls" are considered "Limited Visitation Hall". If the residents on a particular wing of a hall desire less visitation than the maximum, or no visitation, a change can occur if a petition is signed by 2/3 of the residents in the area. The petition is then submitted to the Hall Council, and upon approval, the residents in a given area can enforce their own, more limited, visitation regulations with the support of hall staff.

 

24-Hour Visitation Halls
Certain residence halls or floors have been designated "24-Hour Visitation". Residents applying for these halls accept the responsibilities outlined below.

 

            1. Visits should not interfere with the rights of roommates and other residents in the hall.

            2. Each host or hostess shall assume strict responsibility for his or her guest or guests, and for adhering to these guidelines. The requirements of discretion and good taste are matters for mutual agreement between roommates.

            3. Individuals found in any residence hall who are not residents of that hall or guests of a resident are considered trespassers.

            4. Complaints about individual or group infractions of these guidelines should be referred to the RHD, who will either handle the matter administratively or refer the case to the Judicial Board.

            5. Visitation is defined as a social call of relatively short duration. The approval of visitation in no way condones cohabitation. Considerate use of the privilege is the most important factor that contributes to the success of a visitation policy.

Quiet Hours & Courtesy Hours
Quiet hours have been established in all halls; these are times when residents are required to make a minimal amount of noise. From Sunday through Thursday quiet hours are from 10 p.m. - 8 a.m. and on Friday and Saturday from midnight to 8 a.m. Additional quiet hours during reading and finals week will be instituted by the Office of Residence Life.

 

During courtesy hours, all students are required to respect the rights to quiet of all other residents. Stereos, radios, musical instruments, and televisions should be played at reasonable times and at a volume that will not interfere with the sleep or study of other students. The responsibility of maintaining quiet in the halls is that of the residents. Complaints about the noise level should be addressed initially to the person creating the noise. If agreement of an acceptable noise level cannot be reached, the hall staff should be contacted.

Activities which are potentially dangerous in restricted spaces and involve excessive noise, are not permitted in the residence halls.

Signs and Decorations
Placing signs in windows and on the exterior of room doors in university residence halls is considered a resident's privilege. As with any privilege, certain responsibilities are inherent. Consequently each resident who chooses to express his or her creativity, via his or her window or door, assumes the responsibility for balancing his or her personal tastes with the image of the total community. Controversial or antagonistic materials may draw personal confrontations from others within the community who may be offended by the content. The following recommendation is offered to residents who choose to place signs or decorations on their windows or doors. Signs, posters and/or decorations should be appropriate for public viewing and in keeping with good taste.

DAMAGE, THEFT, VANDALISM

Theft:
There is no university insurance coverage for personal articles that are stolen. Residents are advised to protect their belongings by keeping doors locked at all times and are encouraged to carry student or renter's insurance coverage.

Damage:
If damage occurs to personal property for which the University is responsible, a claim can be initiated through the NAU Police Department. The NAU Police Department should be contacted any time in which a resident's property is damaged or stolen.

Vandalism:
Students are financially responsible for hall and room damage due to other than ordinary wear and tear. Every effort will be made to charge those individuals responsible for the damage.

RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE UNIVERSITY

 

            1. The University may deny or cancel assignments to the residence halls in the interest of health, discipline, and academic standards. The University may also require that students change rooms or residence halls when it is in the best interest of the University.

           

            2. The University respects the privacy of the individual student's residence hall room. University personnel may enter a room to inspect for health, maintenance, repair, or safety. Personal belongings of students will not be routinely searched. No room shall be entered without knocking, except in an emergency. When a specific search is necessary, the person entering the room may do so only by obtaining a warrant from a court of law.

 

3. The University holds residence hall occupants financially responsible for all losses and damages to university property in assigned rooms.

4. The University is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to personal effects belonging to students. Students are advised that particularly valuable items such as TVs, computers, stereo equipment and jewelry, are susceptible to theft. Students should check appropriate homeowner's or renter’s insurance coverage on valuables and should participate in the burglary and theft prevention program offered by the Northern Arizona University Police Department.

5. Students are not permitted to sublease their residence hall rooms.

6. The University reserves the right to change room rates if circumstances require adjustment, without notice if necessary.

RESIDENCE HALL REGULATIONS
Students living in the residence halls are reminded that they are subject to all rules and regulations found in the Code of Conduct, the Student Disciplinary Procedures (Appendix C) and the Residence Hall Judicial Handbook (Appendix I).