Campus housing at Augustana is intended to provide an atmosphere suitable for study and personal development. With the understanding that a large part of individual development occurs outside of the classroom, it is in the residence hall environment that a student may develop a high degree of self-growth, responsibility, self-discipline and consideration for the rights of others. It is in this context that the following guidelines for responsible living are provided here.
It is the responsibility of every student to be familiar with and to comply with the university’s Code of Student Conduct and with the community standards for housing that are presented below. Community standards are listed in alphabetical order.
Alcoholic Beverages
The possession and use of alcoholic beverages on the premises of the University is prohibited. However, alcoholic beverage use is permitted in designated housing facilities (theme houses and apartments) when students are 21 years of age or older. Augustana’s policy is presented in detail in the Code of Student Conduct.
- Medical Amnesty – Seeking medical assistance when faced with an alcohol or drug related emergency far outweighs the consequences of a policy violation. No student seeking medical assistance for oneself or for another will be subject to disciplinary action for the sole violation of an alcohol or other drug violation provided the student acts in good faith and cooperates with university officials.
Animals
Pets are not permitted with the exception of small fish in an aquarium of 20 gallons or less. Service and approved Emotional Support Animals (ESA's) are permitted in university housing. ESA's are approved by the Office of Accessibility. Approval is contingent on adherence to Emotional Support Animal Guidelines provided by the Center for Campus Life.
Bicycles
Bicycles can be kept in student rooms but are not permitted in hallways, lobbies or other common areas in residence halls. Exceptions must be approved. The university provides a designated storage area for bicycles during winter months.
Cancellation Policy
The housing contract reserves a placement in campus housing for the entire academic year ending with the completion of spring semester (or summer session if enrolled in classes during June/July). Enrolled students who cancel their housing assignment after June 1, will be charged $500 (cancellation fee of $400 and forfeiture of the $100 housing deposit). Students enrolled in off-campus study abroad programs and non-local credit bearing experiences such as student teaching and internships are exempt from the cancellation fee. Exceptions may be considered for extenuating circumstances.
Computers and Technology
Access to wireless internet is available in most campus housing facilities. Areas without WiFi coverage are provided alternate access to the internet.
Students and guests are expected to apply a normal standard of academic integrity, polite conduct, respect for the rights and privacy of others, and adherence to state and federal laws when using the university's technology resources. Refer to the Code of Student Conduct for further information.
Cooking
Food must be prepared in designated kitchens in each residence hall. Cooking in other areas is not permitted due to fire safety and pest concerns.
Electrical Appliances
Use of electrical appliances in campus housing must comply with the following:
- All residence halls are supplied with approved microwave/refrigerators. Use of any microwave or refrigerator not supplied by Augustana is discouraged (refer to housing policy for personally-owned refrigerators).
- Appliances with exposed heating elements, space heaters and halogen lamps are prohibited.
Fire Safety
The following prohibited acts have the potential to threaten the safety of others. Policy violations will likely result in a $50 fine (minimum), plus repair/replacement costs where applicable. This policy is subject to city and state fire codes and violators may be referred to local authorities.
- Tampering with fire safety equipment such as extinguishers, smoke detectors, alarms and building fire exits.
- Possession and/or discharge of fireworks in campus housing or on campus grounds.
- Burning candles, incense and other actions involving an open flame.
- Other activities that create fire safety risk (overloaded outlets, daisy-chained extensions cords, unsafe electrical appliances or equipment) are prohibited.
In event of fire, pull fire alarm and call 911. Never assume someone else has called the fire department. Notify housing staff and Campus Safety immediately
Furnishings
Student rooms, day rooms, lounges and lobbies are furnished for comfort and accessibility of all students. Furniture must remain in designated areas at all times including student rooms.
Guests
Students may invite friends/relatives of the same gender to stay with them as guests for a maximum of two consecutive nights.
- Students are responsible for notifying Campus Life staff that guests are staying overnight.
- Guests will comply with community standards for housing and the Code of Student Conduct.
- Augustana reserves the right to remove a guest from the premises if it is deemed to be in the interest of the health and safety of the campus community.
- Guest housing is not permitted during vacation periods when campus housing is closed and room availability and access is limited.
Intervisitation
Students may visit members of the opposite sex in rooms, hallways and community areas on residence hall floors between the the hours of 10-2 a.m.
- Intervisitation hours may be revised (extend hours for day rooms/lounges, reduce/restrict hour) on their floor. With guidance from the Center for Campus Life, a majority of the floor's occupance must approve revisions to this policy.
Key and Card Access
Students are issued a room key and given ID card access to facility entrances. Key and card access is granted only to the student living in the designated housing assignment.
- Keys and cards may not be loaned or transferred to another.
- A lost key is replaced (temporarily and/or permanently) by contacting an area director or the Center for Campus Life. Replacement of door locks are also authorized by the same office.
- ID cards are replaced by the Department of Campus Safety located in the Morrison Commons.
- University staff are only authorized to open a locked room for the assigned occupant.
- Duplication, altering or using unauthorized keys is prohibited.
Lost keys for residence halls will result in a $75 lock change charge. Lost keys for apartments and theme houses, including exterior keys, will result in higher lock change charges; these charges may be in excess of $200. A lost student ID card or temporary swipe card will cost $15 to replace.
Key: Lockout Policy
If a student is locked out of their residence hall room, they should contact:
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.: The Center for Campus Life at 605.274.5215
After hours and weekends: Their building's Viking Advisor On Call (numbers posted in residence halls)
Apartment and theme house residents should contact Campus Safety at 605.274.4014 for lockouts at any time of day.
These numbers can be found in common areas and posted in the lobby at the entrance of buildings.
Responses for Lockouts
- First Instance — Warning
- Second Instance — $5 fee
- Third Instance — $10 fee
- Forth Instance and Beyond — Conversation with Campus Life staff to include educational expectations or fee of up to $20.
Maintenance and Housekeeping
The condition of the campus housing environment is everyone’s responsibility. Students are expected to report accident or maintenance situations requiring immediate attention. Housekeeping is provided in common areas and shared bathrooms. Students are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of their assigned space and removing their trash to designated trash rooms or dumpsters.
Damage or excessive uncleanliness in day rooms, bathrooms and common areas, is the responsibility of all students within the community. Community fines may be assessed for damages to property or facilities in these areas.
University staff perform cleaning of residence hall rooms, apartments and theme houses when the room/unit is fully vacant. It is the responsibility of the current residents to maintain adequate cleanliness during their residency, including cleaning in preparation for new roommates. Excessive cleaning fees may be assessed to any student who does not prepare their space for incoming roommates.
Medical Emergencies
In the event of a medical emergency, contact housing staff immediately or call Campus Safety at 605.274.4014. If the situation is life-threatening, call 911.
Occupancy
City fire code limits the overnight occupancy in residence hall rooms and bedrooms in apartments and theme houses to a maximum of three (3) persons.
OPT Housing for International Students (Graduates)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment program related to an international student's major area of study. International students eligible for OPT may apply for campus housing on a space available basis. Eligibility for OPT housing is based upon the following requirements:
- Applicant must be in good conduct standing with the Dean of Students Office and in good residential standing with the Center for Campus Life.
- Applicant must pay for housing for a the full semester (minimum) prior to move in.
- OPT participants found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct and/or Campus Life Community Standards may be subject to removal from campus housing.
- Housing is granted on a semester basis as space is available. No student may apply for OPT housing for more than one calendar year.
- It is the responsibility of the OPT participant to initiate communication of their housing plans (arrival and departure) with the Center for Campus Life and the International Programs Office.
- An OPT participant who falls out of compliance with their program is subject to removal from campus housing.
Painting
Painting of rooms is not permitted in residence halls, apartments and theme houses.
Personal Property
The university is not liable for the loss of or damage to personal property and encourages students to seek rental insurance for personally owned items. Personal property left in campus housing will be considered abandoned property. The university will remove and donate these items as appropriate to the needs of local charities. Students may be held be responsible for costs to remove and/or store abandoned property. Whenever possible, students are encouraged to donate or recycle reusable items. A list of local non-profit agencies in need of donations can be obtained from the Center for Campus Life.
Quiet Hours
Unless otherwise posted, quiet hours in residence halls are 10 p.m. - 10 a.m. Students are expected be respectful and courteous at all times regardless of quiet hours.
Refrigerators
Refrigerators must comply with the following standards: Units must be rated for energy efficiency — may not use more than 1.5 amps, must be no larger than 4.0 cubic feet and only one refrigerator allowed per room.
Room Entry and Search
The university may exercise reasonable authority, including but not limited to searches of rooms and of personal property to ensure the health, safety and welfare of individuals and property. Augustana also reserves the right to enter campus housing in the event of a facility maintenance issue or when a behavioral concern may constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct.
The following entry and search procedures represent general guidelines and shall not be interpreted as a rigid policy.
- Augustana personnel (hereafter referred to as staff) will identify themselves before entering a room, apartment or theme house.
- Staff are authorized to enter if the assigned occupants are either not present or if staff are refused entry.
- If possible, the purpose of the entry will be communicated to occupants.
- Staff are not authorized to enter locked rooms upon the request or benefit of another student.
- Rooms, apartments and houses are routinely entered during vacation periods for maintenance and security inspections (i.e. closed windows, locked doors, electrical appliances unplugged).
- Personal items that are prohibited or pose a real or potential threat to the safety, health or welfare of any person may be removed without the permission of the owner.
- Staff will seize illegal material however, the extent of the search will be in keeping with the factual information upon which the room entry and probable cause for the search was intended.
- Occupied premises will not be searched without authorization.Searches are authorized by the Dean of Students, Director of Campus Safety or a designate. An authorization to search is based upon probable cause and will specify the reason for the search and the object or information sought.
- Evidence seized during a search may be used in student conduct hearings.
- No provision other than an emergency or threat to the safety, health or welfare of any person shall give university officials authority to consent to a search by law enforcement personnel without a court-issued warrant.
Safety (Residence Halls)
Residence halls are locked at all times. Outside entrances are not be be left ajar and students are advised to not give entry to any person who is not recognized as a member of the campus community; classmate, faculty or staff.
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Students and guests of students are expected to produce identification if requested by a staff member of Augustana University. Students must escort their guests within the building at all times.
Screens and Windows
Screens and windows may not be removed. Objects dropped or thrown be from windows and stairwells are prohibited.
Signs
Signs, fliers and posters may be posted on bulletin boards and designated spaces in hallways. Posting is not permitted on entry doors and glass partitions. Signs publicizing non-college business and events may be posted in the lobbies with the permission of the appropriate hall director.
Smoking (Tobacco-Free Campus)
Augustana is a tobacco-free campus. The use of tobacco products in or on university property is prohibited and includes: Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, all forms of smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes and any other smoking devices that use tobacco, such as hookahs, or simulate the use of tobacco, such as electronic cigarettes.
Solicitation
Door-to-door solicitation is prohibited with the exception of approved on-campus organizations. Approval must be granted by the Center for Campus Life.
- Off-campus organizations and businesses may leave informational fliers and advertisements with the Center for Campus Life for distribution if the promotion is appropriate to the campus and congruent with the values of Augustana.
- Campus housing facilities may not be used for sales presentations.
Storage
The university does not provide storage in campus housing facilities.
Television
Cable television is available in student rooms in residence halls as an optional amenity. Students should contact Midco directly to set up a cable subscription for their room.
Tornadoes and Severe Weather
In the event of an approaching tornado or other severe weather conditions:
- Do not leave building.
- Do not pull fire alarm.
- Move to the lowest floor of the building.
- Sit in a central corridor covering your face with your arms.
- Stay away from windows.