May 12, 2024

2023-2024 Student Handbook

Residence Life

Residence Hall Leadership
Housing Policies
Housing Assignments
Room and Building Guidelines

Residence Life at Anderson University offers students an opportunity to grow and develop through living and learning with others in an educational community. The residence hall is more than just a place to live; it is an environment for individual growth through community living. The Residence Life staff strives to provide comfortable, safe, and functional residence halls and residence hall life that is conducive to social adjustment, personal growth, and responsible citizenship. Anderson University has both professional staff and student resident advisors living on campus to meet the needs of students as they strive to make the residence hall experience a positive one. The Residence Life staff members offer many learning opportunities by promoting programs and activities which enhance student development.

Residence Life Mission & Vision

Mission

The mission of Anderson University Residence Life is to foster a community of belonging by actively connecting with students and preparing each one to engage the campus and the world in ways that build the Kingdom and bring glory to God.

Vision

To realize in every hall and for every student a community of belonging, a culture of preparing, and a desire to engage the campus and the world to the glory of God and for the good of humanity.

VALUES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

VALUE: BELONGING

We will foster a sense of belonging through intentional connections helping students to understand they are important to our community.

Learning Outcome: Community Development

As members of the Anderson University residential community, students will be challenged and encouraged to understand and develop genuine, meaningful interpersonal relationships for the purpose of engaging in healthy, productive community living both in college and beyond.

Learning Outcome: Diversity

As members of the Anderson University residential community, students will reflect and celebrate the diversity of God’s Kingdom through an uncommon unity that is informed by Christian truth, love, and grace. (from Diversity and Inclusion office)

VALUE: PREPARING

We partner with students as they prepare for life after college by challenging each one towards holistic (mind, body, spirit) development.

Learning Outcome: Spiritual Formation

As members of the Anderson University residential community, students will be challenged and encouraged to grow in their personal relationship with Christ, drawing connections between their actions and beliefs.

Learning Outcome: Progressive Independence

As members of the Anderson University residential community, students will be challenged and encouraged to develop a sense of “self” and confidence in their unique, God-given abilities.

Learning Outcome: Mental and Physical Wellness

As members of the Anderson University residential community, students will be challenged and encouraged to develop healthy lifestyle practices to improve their physical and psychological well-being.

VALUE: ENGAGING

We challenge students to engage the campus community and the world in ways that honor and glorify God.

Learning Outcome: Civic & Global Responsibility

As members of the Anderson University residential community, students will be challenged and encouraged to increase awareness of societal and global issues, learn to view these concerns through the lens of scripture, and develop a desire to actively respond.

Learning Outcome: Stewardship

As members of the Anderson University residential community, students will be challenged and encouraged to understand that all things are gifts from God and to demonstrate responsible stewardship of these gifts including: talents, possessions, time, living spaces, relationships, and education.

Learning Outcome: Campus Involvement

As members of the Anderson University community, students will understand the value of being involved and connected to the life of our campus.

Residence Hall Leadership

Residence Director (RD)

Residence Directors are full time professional staff members who supervise and live in each living area. Each Residence Director holds a Bachelor or Master’s degree and has been trained to give students support and guidance within the living area. Residence Directors also have responsibilities for administering housing operations and upholding community standards.

Senior Residence Advisor (SRA)

Every living area has a student staff member who serves as a Senior Residence Advisor (SRA). SRAs maintain a presence in the living area in order to maintain a safe and comfortable space for students. This student has served as an RA for at least one year and provides additional leadership in each living area by supporting the work of the RD and the RA’s.

Residence Advisor (RA)

Every living area has student staff members called Resident Advisors. The RAs serve students in their living area by:

• Cultivating friendship and mentoring relationships with residents

• Organizing both educational and social programs for residents

• Developing community within the specific areas (i.e. floor, suites, hall)

• Working in conjunction with Campus Ministries to create a community conducive to spiritual growth

• Holding students responsible to Anderson University Community Standards and policies

Housing Policies

Eligibility

Anderson University provides campus housing to students enrolled in the traditional undergraduate program. Students are required to maintain a minimum of 12 hours each semester to live in campus housing. Permission to remain in the residence halls with less than 12 semester hours must be granted in advance by the Dean of Student Life. Failure to obtain authorization may result in suspension from the residence halls.

Anderson University does not provide housing for married students or students in graduate programs or in Adult Studies. Due to the high demand for campus housing, the University cannot guarantee that housing will be available to all students who desire to live on campus.

Residency Requirement

Higher education research indicates that there is a high correlation with living on campus and student success, including retention and graduation (Astin, 1977; Pascarella, Terenzini, Blimbig, 1994; Schuh, 1999). Up to the fall of 2020, Anderson University has, with few exceptions, allowed students who have completed more than 4 semesters of college to live off campus. This has been primarily due to the lack of housing to accommodate all juniors and seniors. As Anderson University continues to consider all factors that help our students progress to graduation, we believe it is important to adjust our campus housing requirements. Beginning in the fall semester of the year 2020, all students will be required to live on campus for six semesters (typically through Junior year). It is the intention of the University to accommodate all juniors in double occupancy (if possible) campus housing space. If the number of available spaces for double occupancy housing for juniors is inadequate for all juniors to live in campus housing, the University will notify juniors in the fall semester of their eligibility to live off-campus. Seniors may also be required to live on campus at any time after the year 2020 and will be notified in a similar fashion.

Students who meet one of the following criteria may elect to live off campus prior to fulfilling the six-semester requirement.

• Married

• Live locally with a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian

• 22 years of age prior to the beginning of the academic year. Students who turn 22 during the academic year (fall or spring semester) will not be eligible to live off campus until the following academic year.

• Transfer student who has attended six (6) semesters of college, excluding dual enrollment during high school

Temporary Accommodations & Interruption of Service

In the event that regularly designated University Housing is not available, Anderson University reserves the right to assign residents to temporary accommodations including, but not limited to, triples or off-campus accommodations. While Anderson University makes every attempt to maintain consistent and quality services to Residents, interruption of services in University Housing, if caused by mechanical difficulty, power outages, or other causes does not entitle Residents to any claim against Anderson University or to any reduction in fees. Anderson University is not responsible for loss or damages due to acts of nature, theft or vandalism.

Right of Anderson University to Refuse Housing and to Modify or Cancel Agreement

Anderson University reserves the right to revise the terms of the Housing Agreement (including the academic calendar and the opening and closing of University Housing) or cancel the agreement in its entirety without penalty due to circumstances beyond Anderson University’s control, including but not limited to natural disasters (e.g., tornado, earthquake, flood, hurricane, etc.), war, terrorist act, strike, public health outbreak (e.g., pandemic or wide-spread &/or infectious disease outbreak), fire, release of nuclear material or dangerous substance into the environment or other catastrophic event or significant disruption of University operations. Should such occur, the University may continue to incur overhead expenses and other costs. Accordingly, the University is under no obligation to refund any amount to the Resident and the amount of refund, if any, shall be at the sole discretion of the University based on the overall circumstances.

Opening and Closing of University Housing

Residents should make arrangements ahead of time to move in and move out of University Housing according to the dates listed below or otherwise provided for on the Academic Calendar.

Fall Semester:

University Housing will open for new students on Friday, August 18, 2023 and returning students on Saturday, August 19, 2023. University Housing will close on Friday, December 9, 2023

Spring Semester: Currently, University Housing is expected to open on Friday, January 5, 2024. University Housing is expected to close on Wednesday, May 4, 2024. These dates are subject to change and, as set forth above, students should not expect a discount or refund for changes in housing or meals due to circumstances beyond the control of the University.

Holiday and Vacation Breaks

All campus housing is closed to students during the Christmas holidays. Although personal belongings may remain in rooms during this period (unless a room change has been requested), students must vacate the area within 24 hours after their last exam for the semester has been taken. Campus housing will re-open two days prior to the start of spring classes. Campus Housing will remain open during all other holidays and during Fall Break and Spring Break. However, there will be no meal service available.

Meal Plans

All residential students are required to have a meal plan. There are several options for meal plans and students may select the plan that best meets their needs while completing the housing agreement. Students will have until the third day of classes each semester to make changes to their meal plan. Meal plan changes can be made through the My Housing website. If a student withdraws during week one (1) to three (3) of the semester he or she will be charged a proration meal plan charges accorfing to the date of withdrawal. Cancellations after week thrr (3) of the semester will not be eligible for any refund. If a student withdraws or is dismissed from the University after week three (3), the meal plan will expire without refund.

Anderson University reserves the right to revise the terms of meal plans (including the academic calendar and the days on which meals may be served) or cancel in its entirety without penalty due to circumstances beyond the University’s control, including but not limited to natural disasters (e.g., tornado, earthquake, flood, hurricane, etc.), war, terrorist act, strike, public health outbreak (e.g. pandemic or wide-spread &/or infectious disease outbreak), fire, release of nuclear material or dangerous substance into the environment or other catastrophic event or significant disruption of University operations. Should such occur, the University may continue to incur overhead expenses and other costs. Accordingly, the University is under no obligation to refund any amount to the student and the amount of refund, if any, shall be at the sole discretion of the University based on the overall circumstances.

Personal Property

While the University makes every attempt to maintain consistent and quality services to residents, interruption of services in a residential facility, if caused by mechanical difficulty, power outages, or other causes does not entitle residents to any claim against the University or to any reduction in fees. The University is not responsible for loss or damages due to acts of nature or vandalism. Students are encouraged to acquire renter’s insurance to cover these types of damages within the residence halls.

Anderson University does not assume any responsibility for the loss or theft of a student’s personal belongings. If a theft does occur, students should report the theft to the Campus Safety Office and Residence Life staff immediately. Students are strongly encouraged to keep record of any article with a serial number and to consider carrying some form of personal insurance if their home policy does not cover personal property in the living areas.

Housing Assignments

New Students

New students are placed into housing according to their enrollment deposit date with the earliest date receiving priority. Students may select a roommate by mutually requesting each other through the MyHousing online application by the appropriate deadline. If no roommate is selected, the Residence Life office will make housing assignments based on the personal preferences profile that was completed on the Housing Agreement. The Residence Life office will send out housing assignments through email and regular mail in mid-July. The University will not consider roommate changes based upon actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or perceptions based on personal profiles/information found on the internet.

Returning Students

Housing selection for the fall semester takes place in late March. To be eligible for Housing Sign ups during the spring semester, returning students must pay a $250 nonrefundable housing prepayment and submit the Anderson University Housing Agreement through the MyHousing online application. All eligibility requirements must be completed before Housing Sign Ups.

Students who are not registered for fall classes by the end of the spring term may have their housing assignment revoked. All housing information and the link to MyHousing is located on the “Residence Life” page of the Anderson University website.

Cancellations

Residents who check into their assigned room, attend classes, and then voluntarily withdraw from Anderson University or choose to cancel their housing assignment and submit a Housing Agreement Cancellation Form in weeks one (1) to three (3) of the semester will be charged a proration of housing and meal plan charges according to the date of withdrawal. Cancellations after week three (3) of the semester will not be eligible for any refund.

Residents voluntarily withdrawing from Anderson University must check out from their rooms within forty-eight (48) hours after withdrawing.

Check In and Check Out

Students must check in and check out by following these procedures. Check in for fall and spring typically takes place the weekend before classes start. There are designated times for returning and new students to check in. Unless participating in a school-sponsored activity such as athletics or student leadership, a student may not check in prior to their designated move-in date. Students will be required to clear all holds on their account before receiving their room key. After checking in, students will be asked to complete the Room Condition Report (RCR) to note the condition of the room upon move in.

Students are required to set up a check out time with their Resident Advisor in the event of a room change, withdrawal, or at the end of the academic year. All students must vacate their rooms at the end of each semester within 24 hours of their last final exam. To avoid any improper check out fines, students must clean their room and return all keys when checking out. The RCR is used in the check out process for the assessment of damages.

Special Accommodations

The Residence Life office partners with the Center for Student Success to provide necessary accommodations for students with medical, physical or psychological conditions. Students requesting special campus housing accommodations due to a documented disability should contact the Center for Student Success. The Center for Student Success determines qualification for accommodations. Students must submit the appropriate documentation prior to the deadlines listed below. Requests by new students that are submitted after the priority housing deadline of May 1 will be considered late and may result in a processing delay or lack of availability of the requested special housing accommodations. Requests by returning students that are submitted after the housing application deadline of March 1 will be considered late and may result in a processing delay or lack of availability of the requested housing accommodations. New or urgent conditions will be considered upon receipt of appropriate documentation. Please note that if a student with an approved need turns down the opportunity to live in University Housing that accommodates their need, the Residence Life Office may cancel the approval.

Room Changes

Learning to live with a roommate(s) may be a new experience for first year students. It often takes a few weeks for students to adjust and transition into new living situations. We ask students to work together for the first few weeks to establish their living arrangements. The Office of Residence Life will gladly work with any student who encounters a roommate issue or concern. If harmony cannot be achieved with roommates, housing re-assignments are not guaranteed, but the Residence Life Office will assist in ameliorating conflicts and/or identifying a new housing assignment based on the nature of the situation and subject to housing availability. Anderson University will not consider roommate changes based upon actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or perceptions based on personal profiles/information found on the internet.

Room Consolidation

A student may be required to move to a different housing assignment when deemed necessary by the Residence Life Office. Reasons for a required move include, but are not limited to, maintenance or closure of an area, changes in use of University Housing, crisis, safety or emergency situations, student violations or occupancy management needs.

Single Rooms

All residents are required to have a roommate(s) with the exception of Village Hall and College Parke that has single occupancy rooms. If a resident loses a roommate during the semester, a new student may be assigned to the open space. If a new roommate is not immediately available, the student will remain in his or her current room with no additional charge. Students without roommates should be aware that they could be assigned a new roommate at any time. The Residence Life Office will communicate in a timely manner if a student will be receiving a new roommate.

Summer Housing

Housing is available during the summer to students who are currently enrolled. The Summer Housing application will be made available through the MyHousing site during the spring semester.

Study Abroad

Students who choose to study abroad during the fall semester will not be allowed to reserve housing on campus for the spring semester. Prior to their return, the student must contact the Residence Life office, submit their housing agreement and pay the housing prepayment in order to be placed into housing for the spring semester. Students who are studying abroad in the spring semester are able to complete the housing sign-up process online. If internet access is not available, the student should contact the Residence Life Office for assistance.

Withdrawal or Dismissal

Students withdrawing from the University must check out of their rooms within 48 hours. Students who are dismissed or suspended must check out within 24 hours and are not permitted back on campus unless they have received permission from the Dean of Students.

Room and Building Guidelines

Appliances

The use of electrical appliances in residence halls has some limitations due to fire safety and electrical load limits. In general, any appliance/device with an open flame or exposed heating element is prohibited, as are electrical appliances that draw significant electrical current. Prohibited appliances/devices include, but are not limited to: hot plates, George Foreman type grills, toasters, toaster ovens, electric griddles, sun lamps, and space heaters. Appliances that are allowed in residence halls include microwaves (1100 watt max), refrigerators (4.2 CF max), televisions, irons, lamps, hair dryers, and curling irons. Students may have only 1 refrigerator and 1 microwave per room.

Appliance use may differ for apartment areas such as the Townhomes, College Parke, and Houses. Residents in this area should refer to their Residence Director for specific guidelines.

Due to fire safety codes, extension cords are not allowed in the residence halls. Students may use multiple outlet bars with surge protectors. For additional questions about appliances please contact a residence life staff member.

Bicycles

Bicycles can either be stored in student rooms or on bicycle racks located throughout the Anderson University campus. Due to fire code regulations, bicycles may not be stored in stairwells. All motorized bikes must be registered with Campus Safety. Due to local and state ordinances, motorized bikes cannot be stored in the residence halls for any reason. No riding of bicycles or motorized bikes is allowed in the residence halls. Students may not ride or store hove boards on AU property; this includes residence hall rooms.

Common Areas and Hallways

The main lobby in each living area is available for all students to socialize, entertain guests, and study. Students should remember that this is a shared space; therefore, public display of affection, excessively loud music, and sleeping in the lobby are not appropriate at any time. Residents are expected to treat the lobby furniture with great care. Lobby areas close at 2:00 am each night.

Common-area kitchen facilities are provided in some living areas. Consideration must be shown to other residents by controlling food odors and promptly cleaning up. It is the responsibility of the persons using the common area kitchen to return it to proper order. Students are allowed to leave items in the refrigerators at their own risk. The University is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. The Residence Life Staff reserves the right to clear the kitchen of unwanted, unused or unclean items from time to time.

Hallways must be kept clean and free of personal belongings at all times. Students are not permitted to use the hallway area for sports, games, or any activity that may cause damage or be disruptive to others. Skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, bikes, etc., may not be used in the residence hall at any time.

Courtesy Hours/Quiet Hours

The ability to study and to get proper rest are essential for a student to succeed academically at Anderson University. Therefore a 24 hour courtesy policy has been established within the residence halls. Students are expected to show respect to their fellow residents by not causing any noise that could disrupt other residents’ ability to study or sleep. In addition to the 24 hour courtesy policy, quiet hours are from 10pm to 10am every day. During this time the noise level should be kept at a minimum including music, television, loud discussions, etc. Students are encouraged to use headphones to keep noise to the smallest amount. Students who refuse to cooperate when asked to adhere to the Quiet Hours/Courtesy Hours policy will be referred to the Residence Director.

Decorating Guidelines in Rooms

Residents are encouraged to personalize their rooms by decorating their living space. However, students may not make any substantive changes to their housing unit or common areas, including, but not limited to, rewiring, installing ceiling fans, painting, or mounting televisions. Students will be responsible for damages to rooms that are considered outside normal use.

Residents should adhere to the following guidelines when decorating:

• The use of Command Strips is discouraged due to the damages this causes to walls. Approved items include:

• Tacks/Small Nails

• Mounting putty

• Painter’s Tape

*Students should consult with their RD before utilizing any of the above mentioned items.

• Decorations, posters and pictures that are in conflict with values and standards of the Anderson University community are not allowed in the Residence Halls. This includes but is not limited to decorations that display alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs, inappropriate movies, pictures of individuals that are not fully clothed, and other images, symbols, or flags that may be considered offensive. No alcoholic beverage containers, including cans and bottles, will be permitted in the Residence Halls. The Residence Director in each building will have the final say as to whether or not a decoration is appropriate.

• Due to fire codes and local ordinances, students may not hang curtains or materials across the room to make a barrier in order to create a room divider. All furniture and room décor must not obstruct any exit from the room or interfere with air conditioning or heating units.

• No decoration may be hung from the ceiling or cover the ceiling or light fixtures.

• Students should use caution when trying to affix decorations to residence hall doors as tape and other hanging devices may cause damage to the door.

• Christmas lights are permitted in the room, but lights may not be used as extension cords or strung through bed frames.

Fire Safety

Furniture

The University provides a bed, mattress, desk, desk chair, and dresser for each student. Some rooms are also furnished with lofting equipment. S

At no time may any flammable items be stored in or around the living areas. Open flame/ combustibles (candles, incense, oil burning lamps, etc.) may not be burned in any residential unit. Also prohibited are live wreaths and live Christmas trees. Posters, tapestries, etc. may not be hung or placed on ceilings or covering doorways. Use of extension cords is prohibited. All power strips must have an on and off switch and a built-in surge protector. No open coils in main campus housing are permitted (this includes but is not limited to toasters, hot plates, and portable cook tops). Toasters are permitted in apartment style housing.

Setting off a false alarm or tampering with fire safety equipment including exit signs, is a serious offense and will result in fines and possible disciplinary action for all students involved. Tampering includes but is not limited to covering the detectors with bags, removing batteries

Fire Drill Policies and Evacuation Information

Building occupants should familiarize and know what to do in case of fire. Fire drills are conducted to provide the opportunity for building occupants to practice the fire evacuation plan. Every building occupant is expected to participate in drills occurring within their building. Each drill should be treated as if it were the real thing by showing a sense of urgency, immediate evacuation and following the instructions of the University staff conducting the drill. Refusal to evacuate the residence halls or cooperate may result in disciplinary action and fine.

Fire Alarm Notification System

All building evacuations will occur when an alarm sounds continuously and/or upon notification by emergency personnel. There are a wide variety of hazard notification methods available to the University community. Emergency notification methods are building specific and may be an audible flashing alarm, strobe light, voice annunciation system, digital text board, RAVE message, programmed voice messages, public address system or by physical direction.

Evacuation Procedures

Pre‐plan your escape. Evacuation maps are posted in each building listing exits, evacuation areas, severe weather areas, fire extinguishers, and pull stations. Know the location of the stairwells that will provide a protected path all the way to the[CD2] outside.[JG3]
Check the fire exits to make sure they are usable.
Do not use the elevators. They could become disabled, trapping you on the fire floor.
Learn the sound of your building’s fire alarm.
Learn the location of your gathering area. These areas are specific to each building.
If there is a fire or fire alarm, everyone evacuates!
If you discover a fire or smoke condition, sound the building alarm by activating the nearest pull station.
Call 911 and then make a follow‐up call to University Campus Safety at (864) 231-2060
Whenever you hear the fire alarm sound, leave immediately! Don’t assume the fire alarm is false or a test and wait to see what others do. Do not call the Campus Safety Office or switchboard to inquire about the validly of the alarm. These calls will only tie up the telephone lines.
Before exiting your room, you will need to use the following methods to determine the best way to exit the room or building.
Is the door hot? Before opening a door, you should make sure there is no fire on the other side by using the back of your hand to touch the door, door knob or door frame. If any feel hot, don’t open it, there is probably fire on the other side. If cool, open the door slowly, leave the area and close the door behind you.
Stay low when there is smoke. If you encounter smoke while escaping, crawl or get as low as you can. The cleanest air will be within 1 to 2 feet from the floor. If the main exit is blocked by fire or smoke, you should use your alternate route. If this is not feasible, go back in your room to wait for rescue.
If you can’t escape, close all doors between you and the fire. Seal cracks around doors with cloth to keep the smoke out. Call 911 to notify them of your location. While waiting for rescuers, signal from a window by hanging clothes out the window, waving an object or shouting.

If it is safe to assist others including persons with disabilities or special needs, do so. If you are unable to assist, notify emergency responders of the location and number of disabled or special needs persons located in your area.
Unless unusual conditions dictate otherwise, the best evacuation route is the nearest stairway and out the nearest exit.
When leaving, close (do not lock) the door behind you. If the door locks automatically, take your key with you in case you need to get back in for refuge.
Once outside, meet at your evacuation area(s) listed below:

• Pratt/Denmark- in front of Merritt or in rear of Merritt

• Stringer- Stringer parking lot

• Kingsley- Village upper lot Student Development Handbook

• Townhomes - Parking lot

• Village- Village upper lot

• North/South Rouse-Lawn area on Rainey side of building

• Lawton- Parking circle near Watkins or parking lot between Village and Lawton

• Boulevard- Parking lot on the back side of building

. College Park - Main parking area in front of the buildings

Once at the evacuation location, remain there until the all clear has been given to reenter the building. If you must leave, inform the Staff member or Officer present.
Never attempt to re‐enter the building to search for someone missing, let fire or emergency services officials know.
The only people remaining in the area of the fire bell should be fire or emergency services officials. No excuse is so important that it could cost your life.
Once the all clear has been given you may reenter the building.

If you discover a fire ‐ DO NOT PANIC

Take all alarms seriously whether there is or is not any indication of smoke or fire. If you discover a fire, you should judge the level of the threat and conditions of the immediate area and the needs of others. You should follow the evacuation plan and leave immediately. If unable to leave or move to a safe area, then take defensive action as directed by emergency personnel or faculty and staff.

Responding to Small Fires

Fires that are accidental in nature can occur without warning. Responding quickly will help to control and eliminate the flames. In the event of a small fire:
Pull the fire alarm
Find the nearest fire extinguisher:
- Pull the safety pin
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the trigger in a controlled manner to release the agent
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side until the fire is out

Reporting a Fire or Explosion

Person(s) reporting a fire should first call 911 and place a follow up call to the University Campus Safety (security) at (864) 231-2060. The person calling should be ready to provide the following vital information:

Location (*Building and Room number if known)
Type of fire or explosion if known (e.g., trash, electrical, chemical, etc.)
Extent of the fire
Caller’s name
Number/location of injured persons.

Additional Fire Safety Precautions

Keep Exits Clear

All stairwells, exits, corridors shall be kept free of all obstructions at all times. No furnishings, decorations, other combustible objects, or flammables shall obstruct exits. Corridors and other portions of the means of egress are meant to be a certain width so that the expected numbers of people in the building can quickly exit or evacuate in a fire situation. Any time there are obstructions, the possibility of people becoming trapped or slowed down in a fire, increases greatly. Since the prime function of corridors is to allow people to escape during a fire, we don’t want these areas to be the origin of fire, or a means to allow it to propagate. This can very easily happen if combustibles are stored and allowed to accumulate there.

Fire Drills

Evacuation Guide for People with Physical Disabilities

If you have a disability that might prevent your safe evacuation from a building, you need to do some additional planning to ensure your safety during an evacuation. The planning steps identified below will; (1) ensure that you are familiar with accessible exit routes and other safety features of the building, (2) recruit the assistance of friends or others to assist you during the evacuation, and (3) ensure that emergency response personnel know that you may need additional assistance to evacuate the building.

Planning Steps

Identify primary and secondary routes to exits, stairwells or other safe areas of refuge that can provide protection from smoke or fire.
Locate building phones, fire alarm pull stations, police call boxes or cell phones that can be used to call University Campus Safety (security) in the event of an emergency.
Establish a buddy system with a person who can assist you during an evacuation. Notify your buddy of any special needs that you may require for an evacuation.
Train your buddy on the best way that they can assist you during an evacuation.

During an Evacuation

When the alarm sounds, you should immediately prepare to evacuate the building.
Obtain assistance from your buddy or others and exit the building using the primary or secondary exit routes identified in your pre‐plan.
If you are unable to exit the building, seek refuge in the safe area of refuge identified in your pre‐plan.
Call University Campus Safety (security) at (864) 231‐2060 and let them know that you are proceeding to the stairwell or area of refuge designated in your pre‐plan.
Advise your buddy or others who may be assisting you to continue to evacuate once you have reached your area of refuge. They should summon and advise emergency responders of your location.
While you are waiting, position yourself so that your body is as close to the floor as possible.

Individuals with Mobility Impairments

Some individuals with mobility impairments may need special equipment such as wheelchairs, braces or crutches to move around the campus; others whose impairments are less visible may have decreased coordination or stamina and may need to move at a slower pace or rest frequently.

These persons may need to be escorted to a designated safe area. Their location should be noted and reported to the University Campus Safety (security), other University personnel, Fire Department, or other responding public safety entities.

It is not advisable to try to carry a person who is in a wheelchair. Only trained personnel should attempt to carry the individual and/or the wheelchair. Wheelchairs may have parts not intended for lifting; batteries or life support equipment may be connected. Trained emergency personnel should be directed to the area as soon as possible.

Individuals with Vision Impairments

If people are being escorted out of the building, the individual with the vision impairment should be evacuated together with the sighted evacuees. If you are escorting a blind or vision impaired individual, take your directions from the individual about how to guide them. For example, if you are going down stairs, they may ask you to stand in front of them and by the right side of the stairwell - they may have one hand on your shoulder and one hand on the handrail. If walking side by side, they may take your arm (above the elbow) while holding their cane and or leash of an animal with their other hand.

Individuals who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

As the individual with a hearing loss may not perceive an audio emergency alarm, alternative communication/warning techniques may be needed. These techniques include switching the lights on and off to get the person’s attention, writing down the type of emergency and closest evacuation route and escorting the person out of the building.

Housekeeping

The housekeeping staff is responsible for cleaning lobbies, hallways, and community bathrooms in residence halls. Students living in areas with common bathrooms should do their best to keep the area clean and neat. All personal items must be removed after use to allow for regular cleaning. The responsibility for cleaning beyond normal circumstances such as pranks or carelessness will rest upon the residents in that living area. Please note that all hair following haircuts must be removed immediately.

Guest Policy

Furniture

The University provides a bed, mattress, desk, desk chair, and dresser for each student. Some rooms are also furnished with lofting equipment. Students are not allowed to purchase or construct their own loft. All furniture that is provided to the student must remain in the room at all times. Students will be held responsible for any damaged or missing furniture upon check out. Residence hall lobby furniture may not be moved into student rooms.

If space allows, students may bring additional furniture items such as futons, TV stands, etc. Students are responsible for the removal, storage, or disposal of the furniture they bring on campus. Students who choose to bring outside furniture into their residence hall room must know the origin of the item(s). Students may bring furniture from home or another trusted source. However, students should use extreme caution when bringing furniture purchased at second hand stores, yard sales, or other venues where the history of the item is unknown, because these items may contain bed bugs or other types of insect infestations. The University ensures that prior to students moving in, all residence hall rooms are free of pests, including bed bugs. If bed bugs or other types of insect infestations are found in a room after students move in, the student(s) residing in that room/suite may be required to reimburse the University for all or a portion of the cost associated with removal. Since the costs could rise to several thousand dollars or more, students should be extremely diligent in following this policy. The University therefore strongly advises students not to utilize furniture that may result in a pest problem that could be expensive to resolve. If students suspect that they might have bed bugs, they should submit a work order and contact their Residence Director or the Office of Residence Life immediately.

Housekeeping

Guest Policy

Guests of the same gender may stay overnight, provided the guest is not in a romantic relationship with the host, and that all residents who live in the room have granted permission. Students must contact their Residence Director with information about the guest that will be staying in the residence hall at least one day prior to the guest’s arrival. The Residence Director will provide guest registration information and notify the student if the guest is approved to stay. Guests are allowed to stay for a maximum of three days during each semester (does not have to be consecutive days). Hosts are responsible for the actions of their guests. Any guest failing to comply with the Community Standards of Anderson University will be asked to leave the campus immediately. Under no circumstances may a guest reside in campus housing unattended.

Residents who wish to host guests of the same gender during the day but not overnight may do so, provided the guest is not in a romantic relationship with the host. Hosts must limit the time the guest visits to a reasonable amount (no more than 2-3 hours per day and 6 hours per week) so as not to be a burden to roommates or other residents. At no time should a guest be left unattended in a residential room. Residents should be sensitive to their roommates’ wishes regarding guests during the day as well. The Residence Director will have the final say as to whether or not a guest is visiting more than a reasonable amount.

Health and Safety Inspections

The Residence Life staff will conduct health and safety inspections in student rooms every other week. Inspections will be performed by both RAs and RDs. The purpose of these inspections is both to instill in students the importance of having a clean living space and to eliminate any potential health and safety hazards that are causes for concern. If a student fails a health and safety inspection, the student will have a $25 fine assessed to his/her account and will be given 24 hours to correct the issue before a re-inspection.

Health and Safety inspection dates and times are posted at the beginning of the semester and residents are encouraged to be present during inspections. Inspections will be administered regardless of whether or not the student is present.

Keys

Residents are responsible for keys issued to them. Under no circumstances are keys to be duplicated or loaned to another individual. Failure to return keys at check-out will result in a charge for costs to change the locks and make new keys. If a resident loses his/her keys, he/she must notify the RD or RA immediately. If the student is confident he/she will find the key, he/she will be given a temporary key for three days to see if the lost key can be located. If the key is not found within three days the locks will be changed and a $50 per key replacement fee will be charged to the student’s account. Any student responsible for misuse of University keys will be subject to disciplinary action.

Residential students who get locked out of their room or building should contact a Residence Life staff member for assistance. If Residence Life staff members are unavailable, students should contact Campus Safety for assistance. Residents are provided two free lockout assists per year. After the second lockout, a small fee of $10.00 dollars will be assessed for all subsequent lockouts during that particular school year. Lockout charges will be placed on the student’s account.

Pets

Resident students are not permitted to keep pets of any kind in the residence hall except fish in a small (10 gallon max aquarium). Feeding and temporarily keeping animals in or around living areas is also prohibited. Residents who do so will be subject to a fine, cleaning and fumigation fees, and possible disciplinary action.

Repairs and Damages

Residents are responsible for reporting any damage to their rooms and/or repairs needed in their rooms. The work request form is available on the Physical Plant page of the Anderson University website. A member of the Physical Plant staff will respond to all requests and make necessary repairs.

Any damage to a resident room or common spaces should be reported to a Residence Hall staff member. Students must not attempt to repair any damages to a room. Occupants of a particular room will share the cost of repair for any damages, unless the student liable assumes responsibility for the action. When damage occurs in a common area and responsibility for damage cannot be attributed to an individual student, the charges will be distributed to all community members in the area (i.e. all members of a housing unit, wing, floor, or building) as determined by the Residence Director.

Residence Hall Meetings

Each living area will periodically have meetings to provide students with important information. Residents are required to attend all mandatory meetings. All meetings will be announced in advance and students must obtain permission from the Residence Director to be absent. All requests to be excused must be referred to the Residence Director in advance of the meeting or a fine will be administered to the student’s account.

Visitation

The Visitation Program provides residents with the opportunity to interact with students of the opposite sex within their residence hall. Visitation offers students the opportunity to build community and friendships with students outside of their living area. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with the wholesome Christian community that exists at Anderson University. Under no circumstances may guests of the opposite sex utilize floor or room restrooms, or be in any state of undress while visiting a resident/living area.

Visitation hours may vary across campus. Specific hours for each living area will be distributed to all residents at the start of the school year.

• All doors must remain fully open (this includes suite and room doors); overhead lights must be left on while guests are present

• Personal Displays of Affection (PDA) deemed inappropriate or excessive must be avoided

• The 24 hour courtesy policy must be adhered to All guests must check in via online forms or with the RA on duty prior to their visit.

• All guests must check out by the close of visitation hours.

Returning to Campus after Medical Procedure

Students who undergo a significant medical procedure that requires extended care (i.e. IV treatments, wound dressing, etc.) must make an appointment with Thrive Wellness before returning to campus. The Thrive staff will review recovery procedures and determine if the student is fit to return to the Residence hall.

Storage

Students may not store any of their belongings in the residence halls over the summer due to the space being occupied by guests for summer camps and conferences. Items remaining in a student’s room after the checkout process is complete will be disposed of at the resident’s expense, donated to charity, or becomes property of the University.

Room Search

The University reserves the right to have authorized personnel open and inspect student rooms for damages, regulation violations, cleanliness items, and illegal items. The student will be notified of the search after the search has been conducted, and will be given a list of any items removed from the room. The Dean of Students or his/her designee must approve all room searches.

Security

For security purposes, all entrances to the residence halls and the individual floors within them are locked at all times. Only building residents will be able to gain access. Students are strongly advised to not let unfamiliar individuals into any residence hall. Propping of any exterior doors will result in fines that will be assessed to the responsible student’s account. Students are also encouraged to keep their individual room doors locked to protect their personal belongings.

Television

The University provides television service through an app called Spectrum U. Students will receive instructions on how to access the Spectrum U app after move in.

Students should understand that any content being watched must align with the standards of the AU community. Programs viewed in the residence hall lobbies are subject to additional standards and are at the discretion of the Residence Life staff.

Trash

Bags of trash should be brought to the designated trash collection space in each living area. Trash from student’s rooms should not be left in hallways or placed in common area trash cans.

Windows

Using windows for entering or exiting the Residence Hall is strictly prohibited. All screens in the windows must remain securely fastened. The University reserves the right to limit the quantity and type of items displayed in room windows so as to maintain the appearance of the building. Political signs, flags, or posters may not be displayed in windows at any time. Residents of rooms where screens have been broken or removed will be responsible for the cost of replacing/repairing any damages. Absolutely no items are to be thrown from student windows at any time.

Wireless Network Access

Each residence hall is equipped with wireless network access. Students are not permitted to tamper with or alter wireless equipment in any way. Tampering with equipment may result in disciplinary action, including reimbursement of the cost to repair any damaged equipment. If a student is experiencing difficulty using the wireless network, an IT work request should be submitted through the AU website.