Residential Living at Westminster

One of the greatest experiences in college is living in a community. Residence hall communities provide students the unique opportunity to live and interact with a variety of people. Students living in residence halls achieve greater academical success, are less likely to drop out, are more likely to graduate in four years, and are more likely to be involved in college activities and develop leadership skills. Thus, Westminster College regards the residential experience as an integral part of the education of a student.

Westminster College has eight residential facilities, including traditional, suite, and apartment-style accommodations. The residential facilities primarily serve undergraduate students, though graduate students may live on campus space permitting. Westminster College housing facilities can accommodate approximately 1000 students. Residence Life staff work collaboratively with departments across the College to provide an environment that is conducive to the personal development and education of each student.

Purpose

Residence Life provides an impactful residential experience that supports the maximum possible development of each by providing safe and comfortable residential facilities; cultivating a sense of belonging, connection and respect among students; developing a shared responsibility in maintaining a positive living and learning community; and supporting individual student development.

Student Learning Outcomes

Residential Students will: 

• learn the value of engaging with others who have encountered different life experiences and hold varied identities and perspectives.
• learn to live and interact cooperatively with others, engaging self-advocacy, compromise, and conflict resolution skills when needed.
• learn to report and resolve issues that compromise safety and security of themselves, others, and the facilities.

Commuter Status

Commuter status is reserved only for students who are living in the permanent home of one or both parents or legal guardians. To obtain commuter status, written and verbal notification from the parent or legal guardian is required. Additionally, a student must be living within 30 driving miles of the College to be eligible for commuter status. Students wishing to commute during the following academic year should notify the Office of Residence Life of their intention by June 1. Notification after June 1 will result in a contract breakage fee of $500.
 

Housing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Westminster College holds the value of a residential experience as vital to students’ success. As such, every attempt will be made to accommodate students within on-campus housing and an off-campus accommodation will only be explored when all other options have been exhausted. Students whose medical conditions may require special consideration by the College, should consult the Residence Life Housing Accommodation pages and the Disability Resources Office pages.
 

Housing Accommodations for Students with Exceptional Financial Need

Students seeking a housing accommodation due to exceptional financial need should contact Residence Life. The College may be able to offer assistance for students through financial aid, emergency funds, or through an off-campus exemption. Financial exemption to the housing requirement requires minimally a review of the student’s FAFSA information an may require the student to submit additional information, as requested, for further review..
 

Housing Costs

Room prices are set by the Westminster College Board of Trustees and are available on the Cost of Attendance page and in the Undergraduate Catalog. Questions about billing policies and refunds should be directed to the Business Office or (724) 946-7140.
 

Housing Requirements

Westminster College is a residential college, which means that students are required to live on campus all four years room assignments are made with the understanding that they will be occupied for the entire academic year. All full-time undergraduate students are required to live in a College residence hall unless at least one of the following criteria is met:

• Resides in the permanent home of a parent or legal guardian that is located within 30 driving miles of the College. Student Affairs will contact the parent/guardian to verify that a student qualifies to be a commuter. Students may only commute from the home of a parent or legal guardian.
• Has resided in a residence hall for at least four years.
• Has reached the age of 23 prior to the semester for which the request is made.
• Qualifies to live at his fraternity house. To be eligible, a fraternity member must have at least junior standing (generally 62 credit hours), have at least a 2.0 GPA, and must demonstrate responsible behavior as a member of the Westminster College community. The College’s policy with regard to allowing sophomores to live at houses is limited to those elected to the positions of President, Vice President, House Manager, Treasurer, and Risk Manager. If these positions within the Fraternity Chapter do not exist, a written request for exception must be turned into the Director of Residence Life before the Fraternity housing deadline. Officer exception requests must be limited to one person per non-existent position. Fraternity members are not permitted to move from a fraternity house to an off-campus setting.
• Is granted a medical or financial exemption by Residence Life. Such exemptions require documentation and completion of an application prior to the start of the semester to be considered. Either process can be initiated by contacting the Office of Residence Life. A request for a medical exemption can also be initiated by contacting the Disability Resources Office. For more information, see Housing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities and Housing Accommodations for Students with Exceptional Financial Need.

The College reserves the right to take disciplinary action against students who violate the Housing Requirements policy. Violations include, but are not limited to, residing in off-campus housing without the expressed written permission of the College, submitting false statements or documentation to receive approval to live off campus. Sanctions include, but are not limited to, restitution for food and housing.

 

Residence Life Policies

Community Living Policies

Visitation & Guest Policies 

The College understands visitation is a supportive experience for students to connect with friends, further their academic pursuits and grow individually through interactions with others. In order to balance these individual needs along with the needs of all community members, these community policies are in place to ensure a positive environment in the residence halls. 

Visitation is defined as the opportunity to visit a student in a residence hall or residence hall room to which they are not assigned; visitation also provides the ability for anyone not affiliated with the College, as a faculty or staff member or student, to visit students in the residence halls. 

Within a residence hall, a guest refers to anyone not assigned to that residence hall. The individual may or may not be affiliated with the College and/or may (not) live on campus. Within a residence hall room, a guest refers to anyone not assigned to the room, regardless if they are assigned to the same building and/or are (not) affiliated with the College.  

Residents are permitted to have guests within the designated visitation hours, provided there are no objections from their roommate(s). The rights of individual residents to sleep, rest, study and live in a safe, accepting environment take precedent over the desire of their roommate(s) to have a guest(s).

The visitation policy applies to siblings who are attending Westminster College concurrently.  The College’s Visitation Policy will be discussed at the opening floor meeting of the year. At that time, each floor within each building will have the opportunity to review and maintain the visitation hours outline below or amend them to reduce the time permitted for guests on the floor. 

Visitation hours for individual rooms are: 

Sunday - Thursday: 
Begins each day at 10 a.m. and ends at 11:59 p.m. on that day 

Friday - Sunday: 
Begins at 10 a.m. on Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday 

Occupancy Limits

The number of guests is limited to three times the assigned capacity of the room, as determined by Residence Life and noted below. Any person not assigned to the specific room is considered a guest, regardless if the person is a student and assigned to live in the same building. In the event roommates bring guests to their room and exceed the guest limit for their room, they must ask the necessary number of guests to leave immediately to remain within the maximum occupancy limit. 

• A single room may have up to three guests, for a maximum occupancy of four people at any one time when including the resident. 

• A double room may have up to six guests, for a maximum occupancy of eight people at any one time, when including both residents. 

• A triple room may have up to nine guests, for a maximum occupancy of 12 people at any one time, when including all three residents. 

• A quad room/apartment may have up to 12 guests, for a maximum occupancy of 16 people at any one time, when including all four residents. 

Residents are responsible for the conduct of their guest(s) at all times and for informing them of College policies and residence hall procedures. Residents must escort guests, who are not residents of the building, throughout the entire building, from entrance to exit and anywhere while in the building. This also applies to guests only visiting the lobby during non-visitation hours. 

Overnight Guest Policy 

Within guidelines of the College visitation policy, residents who wish to invite a guest(s) (non-roommate(s)) to stay overnight with them may do so at any time, with prior approval received at least one day in advance from their roommate(s), and with the understanding the maximum, total nights for overnight guests is three days within any 14-day period. Permission to stay additional days must be obtained from Residence Life.      

Lobbies 

Residents may have guests in their main lobbies at any time, regardless of hours. In all of Westminster’s residence halls, students are responsible for the conduct of their guests. Residence Life staff may ask guests to leave the building if their conduct disturbs the orderly operation of the residence halls or no residents of the residence hall are present with the guests. 

Off-Campus Overnights 

It is recommended residents leaving New Wilmington for any extended period of time inform their RA or another student of their destination, a phone number where they may be reached, and the approximate time of their return. This will enable the College to reach a student, should the College receive a report of concern for the student. 

Students have the right to uninterrupted sleep and study in their rooms. Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours a day. Westminster College seeks to establish a community that is governed by mutual respect; therefore, a student’s polite request for the cessation of noise should be heeded. If a personal request for a quieter environment goes unheeded, the student should notify Residence Life staff. During quiet hours, the noise level generated by any individual should not exceed the confines of their room. Individual communities may expand quiet hours; however, individual communities may not decrease quiet hours : 

Sunday through Thursday nights 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. 
Friday and Saturday nights 1-10 a.m. 

The exception to this is during finals’ week. During finals’ week, quiet hours are in effect 24 hours a day. Finals’ week is defined as the day prior to finals starting, when finals begin on a day other than Monday, or the Saturday prior to when final exams begin on a Monday, until the last final exam period is over. 

The College provides rehearsal spaces for musical instruments. Students interested in rehearsing musical instruments should contact the Music Department for space. 

Students should be familiar with the quiet hours policy, adhere to it, and inform visitors of that community’s policy. Residence Life staff provide support and assistance in these efforts, but the primary responsibility of maintaining quiet in residential facilities rests with everyone. 

Internet Access 

Free wi-fi is available throughout campus, including in residential facilities. For more information about how to connect your devices to the wi-fi, please visit my.westminster.edu, select “Need Tech Help” and then “Connecting to the Wireless Network & Mobile Email” to find detailed instructions. If you need further assistance, contact the HELP Desk (helpdesk@westminster.edu; 724-946-6000). 

Laundry 

Washers and dryers are only available free of charge to the residents of each hall. Residents are responsible for adhering to posted laundry room regulations. Each townhouse in Berlin Village has a washer and dryer. All washers on campus are high efficiency and therefore HE detergent must be used. 

Vending Machines 

Snack vending machines are available in most residence halls for students’ convenience. If money is lost in the machine, notify the Business Office to obtain a refund. Malfunctioning vending machines should be reported immediately to the Business Office. Illegal or improper use of vending machines is subject to disciplinary action, including suspension or civil prosecution. Vending machines may be removed at the College’s or managing company’s discretion at any time. 

Health & Safety Policies

Living in a community means that a balance must be struck between the individual rights of residents, while respecting the needs of the community. Therefore, the following policies are in place to ensure the health and safety of each resident. 

Alcohol & Illicit Drugs

Alcohol and illicit drugs are prohibited on the grounds of Westminster College. Employees, students, and visitors are not permitted to possess or use any of these substances while on College property.  For the sake of reasonable administration to, and in order to create the best possible living and educational atmosphere, there shall be no use, possession, sale, or serving of alcoholic beverages by any student while on or in College property. In fairness to our students, the same policy applies to guests and visitors to our campus. Students found to be in possession of alcohol or illicit drugs on campus will face disciplinary action through the Student Code of Conduct and could also face criminal prosecution. 

Emergency Procedures

All residence halls and many administrative buildings are equipped with fire alarms and fire suppression systems that are inspected annually. Pay close attention to posted directions in residence halls regarding emergency procedures and always note the closest emergency exits and fire extinguishers/pull stations to your location.

A planned fire alarm and complete evacuation of the residence hall constitutes a fire drill. Four fire drills are conducted annually in each residence hall. The first fire drill will be conducted within the first ten days of occupancy. Additional fire drills will be scheduled throughout the year to replicate different activity periods on any given day. A minimum of one drill will be conducted after dark.

When the alarm sounds, Pennsylvania law requires that everyone immediately evacuate the building, even though it may be a false alarm. A complete report of monthly fire drills is available in the Department of Public Safety. Occasionally a fire alarm sounds in the building for reasons that do not involve an actual fire (e.g., system trouble, burned popcorn) and cannot be counted as a fire drill. Tampering with any fire safety equipment, such as extinguishers, exit lights, hoses, pull stations, sprinkler systems and alarms, or failing to evacuate a building when an alarm is sounded are serious offenses. Violators are subject to disciplinary action and may be referred to civil authorities. 

Fire Hazard & Safety

The College provides curtains in each room that are made of flame-retardant material. These curtains must be kept in place. Additional window dressings are prohibited. Avoid placing your fellow residents at risk for potential fire by having candles and incense in residence hall rooms. Students may use electric tart burners (wax warmers) with no exposed heating elements and/or fragrance plug-in devices. Due to fire concerns, halogen/torchiere lights must be low wattage and UL approved; string LED lights are permitted at any time, but traditional (non-LED) lights, including holiday lights and any other decorative string lights are not permitted at any time. Adhesive lights, including LED lights, are prohibited. Personal belongings are prohibited in residence hallways due to potential hazard(s) in the event of a fire or other emergency. Decorations and displays within residence hall rooms must be erected in a manner that avoids blocking or obstructing an exit, hallway, circuit breaker panel, fire hose cabinet, smoke detector, or fire extinguisher. Side entrances and exits, as well as windows, are to be used only in emergencies. 

Guided Search Policy

The College continuously strives to ensure the health, well-being, and safety of students, and as such, there may be probable cause to search a room for illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. The following policy is intended to help reinforce expectations outlined in the Student Code of Conduct while preserving, as much as possible, a student’s integrity and right to privacy in residential communities. 

For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions shall apply: 

• Campus officials: Public Safety officers and Residence Life professional staff members or their designee. 
• Guided room search is defined as requiring the participation of the room occupant(s) in opening doors, drawers, closets, and other personal possessions, as requested. 

The College reserves the right to enter and search any student room to investigate possible violation(s) of College policies, or state or federal laws including, but not limited to, possession, distribution, use, or sale of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia. The Director of Residence Life or a designated on-call Residence Life professional staff member, after reviewing the circumstances, may authorize a guided search of the student’s room. Probable cause for search may include, but is not limited to, student behavior that suggests they are under the influence of illegal substance(s), the smell of marijuana in or around the room, or illegal drugs/paraphernalia in plain sight. Any inspection of a student’s possessions shall be made in the student’s presence. 

Room Search Procedure 

• The search shall be conducted by a Public Safety Officer, in the presence of a Residence Life professional staff member. 
• Resident (s) of the room or multiple room unit will be notified of the authorization and reason for the search at the time of the search, if they are present. 
• If a resident of the room or multiple room unit is not present, the Residence Life professional staff will make every effort to contact the resident(s) to notify them of a search authorization. 
• All areas of the room may be searched, including, but not limited to, desks, closets, and bathrooms. In addition, any personal items in the room, such as backpacks and suitcases, if there is cause to believe illegal drugs or paraphernalia are present in these items may be searched. The Public Safety Officer will determine probable cause in consultation with the Residence Life professional staff member. 
• Present residents may be required to provide access to any locked spaces/containers, as requested by the Public Safety Officer. 
• Any illegal drug or drug paraphernalia found during the search will result in contact to the New Wilmington Police Department. Any illegal drug or drug paraphernalia will be confiscated by the New Wilmington Police Department, in accordance with local, state and federal guidelines. Items not confiscated by the New Wilmington Policy Department or other state or federal agency will be destroyed by the Public Safety Officer after being photographed to use as evidence in student conduct proceedings.

Pet Policy

Pets are prohibited in all residential facilities on campus. Fresh water fish, in a freshwater aquarium up to 10 gallons in size, are permitted inside residents’ rooms. 

Prohibited Items & Behaviors

The following items are prohibited in all residence hall facilities, meaning possession and/or use constitutes a violation of policy, unless otherwise noted.

1. Animals or pets of any kind, except fish in an up to 10-gallon fresh water tank; no more than one aquarium per room is permitted; assistance animals registered with Disability Resources are permitted, once approved.
2. Any approved appliance, e.g., iron with automatic shutoff, refrigerator, desk lamp, etc., without a UL approval or with a power source with a visual defect, such as cracked, split, or nicked insulation, exposed wires, knots, burn marks or loose connections. Power sources shall not be connected in a series to one another and they must not be covered, e.g., with carpet. Extension cords are not allowed; to minimize the risk of power failure, the College reserves the right to restrict or limit the use of electrical appliances.
3. Cooking appliances, including, but not limited to, hot plates, immersion coils, electric frying pans, toaster ovens, electric griddles, air fryers, slow cookers, rice cookers, hot pots, toasters, grills, popcorn poppers and blenders; coffee makers with an automatic shut-off are permitted; one microwave with a maximum wattage of 1100 is permitted per room/townhouse.
4. Decorations (seasonal) that are not made of fire-retardant materials, natural Christmas trees and non-LED lights; adhesive LED lights.
5. Extension cords and multi-outlet plug-in adapters; power strips with UL approval and built-in surge protection are permitted; power strips with built-in surge protection may not be plugged into another and must always be plugged directly into an outlet.
6. External antennas for any reason that interfere with signal strength of College services or require installation of any portion of the device outside of a student room; dismantling, redirecting or otherwise interfering with College services, such as electricity and wi-fi.
7. Flammable/combustible liquids, flammable/explosive gases/pyrotechnics and dangerous chemical mixtures; gas or charcoal grills/stoves.
8. Motorcycles, mopeds, and any other type of gasoline or combustible powered item; electric recreational vehicles such e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards and segways; personal devices that aid an approved accommodation, are permitted with approval from Disability Resources.
9. Nails, double-sided tape, cellophane tape, adhesive-backed wall coverings and decorations, paint, and stain. It is recommended residents use push pins and/or Command Strips to hang items on walls. Students are permitted up to 10 Command Strips and may leave them in their room for Physical Resources to remove, free of charge, at the time of move out.
10. Open flames, smoldering embers, and spark/flame producing items, including but not limited to, the burning and/or possession of incense, candles, oil lamps, lighter fluid, lanterns, lava lamps, and wax/potpourri warmers with open heating sources.
11. Other appliances, including, but not limited to, air conditioners, dishwashers, laundry machines, ceiling fans, space heaters, heated blankets, freezer only units, refrigerators that exceed 4.3 cubic feet, hot tubs, saunas; additional refrigerators are not permitted in Berlin Village (a full-size refrigerator is provided); only one refrigerator is permitted in each residence hall room.
12. Road signs (e.g., parking, street, stop) and other municipality property, unless proof of purchase from the municipality can be provided.
13. Waterbeds, lofts (non-College kits), bed risers, and hanging or suspended bed frames.

The following behaviors are prohibited in all residence hall facilities and constitute a violation of policy, unless otherwise noted.

1. Allowing another student, unintentionally or knowingly, to use your Titan ID card or any provided College keys to access a location and/or resource that they would normally not have access to or are prohibited from entering, e.g., are not employed and approved to use specific equipment.
2. Altering or modifying room accommodations, including, but not limited to, room/closet doors, provided curtain rods and curtains, bathroom fixtures, fire safety equipment, windows/screens; covering or hanging items from fire safety equipment; hanging any approved items from the ceiling or concealing doors and/or windows with any item, approved or prohibited.
3. Displaying, hanging or posting signage, flags, decorations, decals, or any other items in, on or around residence hall windows and coverings; when curtains are closed, nothing should be visible in windows, except items noted in Residential Facility Policies > Windows.
4. Engaging in activities that violate any health, safety, maintenance, or fire codes as defined by College policy(ies), as well as those defined by local, state and federal laws.
5. Operating any computer network servers from any residence hall location; this includes, but is not limited to, chat, file, print, web, ftp, and UNIX shell servers.
6. Playing of any athletic/sports related games or activities, throwing, rolling, hitting or otherwise using any sports equipment; this includes, but is not limited to, the use of free weights, roller blades/skates, hoverboards, skateboards, rackets, dart boards, hockey/lacrosse equipment, balls, frisbees, “Nerf” style guns that launch projectiles.
7. Tampering with, overloading, damaging or vandalizing life safety equipment, including, but not limited to elevators, fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems, pull stations, emergency exit signage and lighting, and electronic and key-enabled locks and doors.
8. Use of your assigned space for any commercial activity, including, but not limited to, use of the space as a sales room or storage location for commercial activity, providing any service that requires an exchange of payment to receive the service; fundraising activities must comply with policies defined for Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs).
9. Securing any items brought into the room by a resident to floors, walls and ceilings or any College owned property or furniture; removal of furniture from public areas or other resident rooms to private rooms.
10. Storing bicycles anywhere other than designated bicycle racks; storing any items that interfere or impede normal operations of the College or access and exit routes.

Smoking is prohibited in all campus buildings, including residential facilities and within 20 feet of all building entrances. Possession of tobacco products, including smokeless devices, and certain tobacco paraphernalia is against the law by persons under the age of 21. The use of chewing tobacco is permitted within individual residence hall rooms by individuals 21 years of age or older. To locate complete smoking and tobacco information, refer to the College policy on Smoking & Tobacco Use in the Student Handbook. 

Weapons

Pennsylvania law and/or Westminster College policy prohibit the possession, use or storage of weapons or dangerous materials of any type or description anywhere on Westminster College property. This includes, but is not limited to, firearms, compressed- air or gas-operated guns, pellet guns, BB guns, illegal knives, swords, explosive devices, fireworks, ammunition, or any other dangerous or offensive weapon as defined in the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Section 908c. Additionally, the College prohibits the possession of any replica style weapons and non-folding knives designed to be carried in a sheath, and any folding knife commonly referred to as a “pocket knife” unless it has a blade of less than three (3) inches in length. 

Window Screens

Screens are to be kept in windows at all times.. Due to safety concerns, roofs, overhangs, attics, and marked physical plant spaces are off-limits to students. No one may enter or exit through a window or pass items through, except during an active emergency and in an effort to exit the building. There is a $50 fee per screen to reinstall removed screens. Items approved for display may not be attached to, extend past, or destroy window screens.

Housing Policies

Abandoned Property

Abandoned belongings found within residence hall rooms are discarded immediately and will not be stored by the College. If any dangerous or illegal items are found, the Department of Public Safety will be contacted to assist in the removal and documentation of the items. Drivers’ licenses, credit cards, federal forms of identification, and Titan Cards will be turned into Public Safety.  

Appliances

Refrigerators are permitted in student rooms where a refrigerator is not already provided by the College; they must be stamped with a visible and acceptable Underwriters Seal of Approval and may not exceed 4.3 cubic feet in size. Microwave ovens with a power rating of 1100 watts or less are permitted in student rooms. Refrigerators, stoves, and dishwashers are provided in Berlin Village. Other appliances such as fans and coffee makers with an automatic shut-off (coffee makers with an exposed heating or warming element are prohibited) are allowed for individual use in rooms. To conserve energy and minimize the risk of power failure, the College reserves the right to restrict or limit the use of electrical appliances. In addition, the College prohibits students from regulating thermostats. 

Gender Affirming Housing

The Gender Affirming Housing Program at Westminster College works actively with students to have the ability to feel safe, welcomed, and in our residence halls that best meet their needs regardless of their gender identity. Housing assignments are organized by sex-at-birth and not by gender, gender identity or expression. Individual requests for gender affirming housing may be possible, especially when requested prior to the housing selection process. We encourage students to reach out to us early in the process so that we may offer the widest range of housing options. However, there is no guarantee that a particular space will be available. To request gender affirming housing, schedule an appointment by emailing residencelife@westminster.edu. Our staff will work with you in a personal, confidential, and informed manner to discuss what housing options are available.  

Some housing options a student may be assigned include: 

• Single or double room with a private bath 
• Single or double room with a gender-neutral bathroom in close proximity 
• Single or double room with an attached semi-private bathroom shared with another single or double room 

Keys, Lockouts & Titan Cards

Your Titan Card is used for access to your residence hall. If lost, report that information immediately to the Department of Public Safety so that the card can be deactivated and you may obtain a replacement card. Titan Card access to Ferguson Hall is provided to all active sorority women for the use of chapter rooms and entry to the building for formal sorority events (recruitment parties, meetings, etc.). Misuse of Ferguson access will result in loss of the card access privilege. Each resident student is issued a room key. Replacement cost for your room key is $50. This cost is nonrefundable and subject to change. To ensure the safety of a student and their belongings, lost keys should be reported to Residence Life staff immediately. A spare key may be obtained from a Residence Life staff member until a lock change occurs and new keys are cut. College keys may not to be duplicated by students. Residence hall room keys must be returned during the official checkout period or when the room is permanently vacated. Students will be billed for any keys not returned at that time. If a student is locked out of their room, a Residence Life staff member will unlock the room. Students who overuse this service will be subject to judicial action. A student will not be allowed entrance into rooms other than their own for any reason. Students may not alter any existing lock or door hardware or install any additional locks or door hardware at anytime. Items installed by students will be removed at the resident’s expense. 

Personal Property Insurance

Westminster College is unable to insure the personal property of students and will not reimburse students for losses associated with their personal property, regardless of reason. The College shall have no legal obligation to pay for the loss or damage to student personal property occurring in College buildings or property prior to, during or after the period of the agreement. Students are encouraged to carry appropriate insurance to cover such losses. Personal property insurance may be purchased for residence hall room contents through numerous insurance companies. We encourage students and parents to check their homeowners’ insurance policies, as many include coverage for on-campus belongings when students are away at school. 

Pregnancy Policy

The following policy concerns students who experience a pregnancy while living in campus housing. All students should be aware of the rights and protections available to students who become pregnant or are experiencing pregnancy-related conditions. Students who become pregnant or are experiencing pregnancy-related conditions are strongly encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator who can ensure a student’s ability to participate in the College’s education program or activity and can offer supportive measures if appropriate. Westminster College facilities are limited to single-student housing and are unable to accommodate infants or children in the residence halls. 

Residence Hall Breaks, Early Arrivals, & Extended Stay

All residence halls close during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks. Residents may not remain in College housing beyond the announced closing day and hour, or return to the residence hall prior to the announced opening unless given written permission by the Office of Residence Life. Students must vacate their rooms within 24 hours of their last final exam or final class period each semester. Residence Life and Public Safety staff are authorized to enter all rooms to ensure that all health and safety standards are met. Students who fail to comply with break housing procedures are subject to judicial action. Students will be informed of break housing procedures prior to each break. Berlin Village residents are permitted to stay in their townhouses during any academic break, with the exception of when the College is closed between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Exact dates will be communicated closer to the actual break. 

Students are prohibited from entering their housing assignment before designated move-in dates, except when approved by the Office of Residence Life. The below instances require a College employee to request Early Arrival through the Office of Residence Life: 

• Students required to be on campus for athletics 
• Students required to be on campus for sanctioned College activities 

Special circumstances should seek approval from the Office of Residence Life for early arrival for reasons other than those listed above. Should a student be approved to move into their assignment prior to their designated move-in date, the student will be charged a daily housing rate. Additionally, students should know that many departments and services on-campus will not be available or operating with limited hours; students may be responsible for paying for their own meals. Westminster College policies are still in effect during this duration and any violation of policies could prevent future break housing access. Students must vacate their housing assignment by their designated check-out date.

The below instances require a College employee to request Extended Stay access through the Office of Residence Life: 

• Students required to be on campus for athletics 
• Students required to be on campus for sanctioned College activities 

Special circumstances should seek approval from the Office of Residence Life for Extended Stay for reasons other than those listed above. Should a student be approved to stay in their assignment after their designated move-out date, the student will be charged a daily housing rate. Students will not be permitted to stay on-campus if they have a Financial Hold. Additionally, students should know that many departments and services on-campus will not be available or operating with limited hours; students may be responsible for paying for their own meals. Westminster College policies are in still in effect during this period and any violation of policies could prevent future break housing access. 

Right of Entry

The Office of Residence Life recognizes and respects an individual’s right to privacy. The College reserves the right to enter any room to perform routine maintenance duties, to inspect any room for reasons for Health and Safety Checks, potential violations of College policies, or to ensure the well-being and/or welfare of a student. Upon entering the room, the College official may confiscate material believed to be associated with an alleged violation of College policy, if the material in question is in plain view. The Residence Life professional staff will communicate with the resident(s) the item that was confiscated, the policy violated, and any referrals to student conduct or administrative fees. The above may take place whether or not the occupant is present. Guided searches of the room, its contents, and personal effects will be conducted pursuant to the policy for searching rooms. See Guided Search policy. 

Room Assignments

The Office of Residence Life makes room and roommate assignments for incoming first year and transfer students. Upper-class residents choose their roommates and assignments through the Housing Selection process, conducted each spring semester. Students living in theme housing conduct their own housing selection process. The housing selection process for upper-class students is structured in a way that gives preference to a student’s class standing. Within the various classes, room selection order is determined by random lottery numbers. Lottery numbers are determined by the class standing for the spring semester as designated by the Registrars’ Office and will be sent to each student through their campus email. A lottery number is required for single, double, or triple room selection process. Roommate pairs/groups should use the lowest lottery number for the pair/group. Room selection for Berlin Village and Thompson House also occurs in the spring semester. Criteria used in the selection process is specific to each location and may include criteria such as semesters lived on campus, GPA, and demonstration of responsible behavior as a member of the Westminster College community and honors’ status (Thompson House only). Information regarding this process will be made available in the fall semester. 

Room Changes

Part of the College’s educational mission is to assist students in developing the skills necessary to maintain respectful and healthy relationships with others. As part of this process, all residents are required to complete Roommate Agreements with their roommate(s). Students experiencing difficulties with their roommate(s) should first contact their RA and are responsible to first work toward reaching a resolution to the conflict. All members of the Residence Life staff are trained to assist students in resolving these problems. The Office of Residence Life will consider room and roommate changes only after the students involved have completed their Roommate Agreement and have made a reasonable effort to explore all alternatives to a change. Room change requests are approved as space permits and during designated periods only

At times it may be necessary for the Office of Residence Life to consolidate residents within the residence halls. Students in non-singles without a roommate(s) will be provided the option to pay for the room as a super single or  be moved to completely fill rooms within the same residence hall. This usually occurs for maximum space utilization, but may also include reasons of discipline, safety, health, irresolvable conflict, or for other situations deemed necessary by the College. The Office of Residence Life will provide students involved at least 48 hours’ notice when a move is required. In emergency situations, this may not be possible, and will be explained at the time of the consolidation. 

Room Vacancies

If a student does not show up for the opening of an academic semester, or later vacates the room, the remaining occupant(s) must ensure a bed, desk, desk chair, dresser and/or closet/wardrobe are free of all belongings and clean at all times in the event another student is assigned to that vacant space. The College reserves the right to fill vacancies in rooms at any time, and to relocate students if circumstances require, unless the student pays for the room as a super single. Students living off-campus while abroad and/or student teaching are guaranteed a residence hall space when they return to campus. The College attempts to accommodate specific requests, but cannot guarantee a specific housing assignment. In limited circumstances, the College may offer students the option to buy-out vacant spaces for an additional cost or deny requests to buy-out spaces to ensure adequate space is available to meet College needs. 

Suites in Eichenauer Hall

Eichenauer Hall’s rooms are arranged so that two double occupancy rooms typically share a common bathroom. All four residents share responsibility for the bathroom, including its contents, cleanliness and damages. If all four residents agree to utilize the suited living arrangement and all three rooms as a collective space, all furniture must be returned to its original room prior to move out or the residents in the room with missing furniture will be billed for it to be moved back to its original room. In this situation, keys may not be shared among residents of the suite. In the event roommates change during the year, all roommates must agree again to keep the collective space or return to separate rooms with a shared bathroom. 

Residential Facility Policies

Care of Facilities & Damages

An important part of living in a community is demonstrating respect for fellow residents by taking responsibility for the community environment. Residents assume a shared responsibility for the proper maintenance of their rooms and the common areas of the residence halls. The College provides daily cleaning service to all public areas of residence halls, and students are expected to help maintain these areas. Berlin Village residents are responsible for all cleaning within the townhouse and on attached porches. All residence hall rooms are subject to regular maintenance and safety inspections. Residents must allow College personnel into rooms for health, fire, safety, and maintenance inspections. Physical Plant personnel and employed contractors will be allowed to enter private rooms to perform their duties. When possible, advance notice of such events will be given. Submission of a work order by a student is considered advance notice for work. Students are not permitted to attempt self-treatment of maintenance issues. All maintenance concerns should be promptly reported to our Physical Plant team for proper handling and resolution.

Students are liable for damage to College or student property caused by unintentional, negligent or willful actions. In specific cases, damages by unidentified persons will be the financial responsibility of the community. All students within that specific community will be notified through campus email of the damages, costs and due date to provide additional information prior the charges being added to the affected students’ accounts.

Residence Life and Physical Plant staffs regularly inspect all rooms and common areas. A Room Condition Form is completed by each student as they move into a residence hall room. The exact condition and contents of the room are noted at that time. When a student checks out of a room, the initial condition of the room will be compared against its current state. Any damage, including cleaning and abandoned property, beyond normal wear and tear will be assessed to the room’s occupants. Residents who wish to check out of their rooms must do so in accordance with Residence Life policies, which may require meeting with their RA or submitting an Express Checkout Form (end of spring semester only) to complete the necessary steps and paperwork involved. A $100 improper check-out fee will be assessed for failing to follow checkout policies.  

Decorations

Decorating community hallways is a long-standing holiday tradition but needs to be done in a way that ensures the safety of all residents and does not cause damage to the building. Hall decorations should be fire-retardant and removed within one week of a holiday or before the residence halls close for a holiday break. To minimize damage to the buildings, we ask that the students use 3M adhesive hooks or tape to hang decorations, and students are allowed to leave these on at the end of the year at no additional cost. However, should students exceed 15 3M adhesives per student, they are subject to charges for excessive removal. Fire code requires that corridors and egress routes remain unimpeded. Therefore, “Exit” signs and fire suppression equipment (extinguishers, sprinkler heads, sensors, etc.) must remain uncovered. Additionally, door decorations should leave at least one inch uncovered around the perimeter and the number plate must remain visible. Doors cannot be wrapped and loose or individual objects may not be left on the floor or in community spaces as they present trip hazards.. Decorative lights should be unplugged when not attended. Finally, decorations should be inclusive, and participating students should be considerate of students not taking part. Remember to be courteous if you are asked to move or remove decorations for any reason. 

Furnishings

The College furnishes bed frames, mattresses, desks and chairs, curtains, closet space, and drawer space. Furnishings provided by the College may not be removed from the room at any time. Students are required to provide their own bedding, towels, rugs, and other personal necessities. All rooms are equipped with loftable/bunkable Twin XL beds (36”X80”). Residents may request bunking bed pins from their RA. A limited number of loft kits are available upon request at the beginning of the year through a Residence Life staff member.  

Heating

To address residents’ comfort while conserving energy, Physical Plant provides heat from October through April. As the need arises, Physical Plant, in consultation with the Office of Residence Life and the National Weather Service, may adjust the established heating “on” and “off” dates. Due to the size and complexity of the College’s heating system, it may take 12-24 hours for the effects to be realized within the halls. Students should contact their Resident Assistant if they experience temperature issues in their room. If it is determined that the temperature is not within acceptable limits the Resident Assistant will make the appropriate contact with Physical Plant. If Physical Plant deems the heat to be malfunctioning, Physical Plant will provide an appropriate temporary solution until the heating issue is resolved. 

Outdoor Areas

Outdoor areas are public spaces and should therefore be free of clutter and storage of students’ belongings. Specifically, Berlin Village residents may decorate the porch of their unit. However, decorations must be tasteful, uncluttered, and must not limit egress from the unit. Items such as bikes, shoes, and furniture may not be stored outside the Berlin Village townhouses.

Windows

Students may display Westminster athletic team items, such as banners, flags or pennants, Greek chapter letters (only) on a flag or display piece, decorative LED lights, a window fan or a potted plant only within windows.

Residence Life Staff

Area Coordinators (ACs) supervise the Residence Life program in the residence halls. They work with students and Resident assistants (RAs) to provide an environment where each student can reach their fullest potential.

Resident Assistants (RAs) are upper-class students who live within each residence hall community. Their goal is to interact with residents, helping to build and maintain a sense of community within the residence halls. They also strive toward bridging the classroom experience with residential living through educational and social programming, and work to nurture a sense of mutual respect and responsibility in the residence halls. They are available to assist with any questions or problems students may have. In addition, they act as an information source and handle assigned administrative responsibilities.