Residence Life Handbook

Our priority is to ensure you have a great experience while living on campus. As a member of our community, residents and their guests are responsible for all policies and procedures outlined in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures, the Office of Residence Life Housing Contract and the Residence Life Handbook.

Resident’s Rights and Responsibilities

Our office is committed to creating an environment where learning and development opportunities occur in support of the academic and educational mission of the university. As a resident, you have individual rights while engaging with university life. With these rights, you have mutual responsibilities to ensure these same rights for other residents. Our personnel educate residents regarding these rights and responsibilities associated with community living and use them as a guide in making decisions concerning your welfare and behavior.

Residents have the right to:

Have reasonable access to their living accommodations based on a published schedule of occupancy.
Live in a clean and secure environment.
Facilities and programs that support the pursuit of academic success.
Access to Residence Life and CMU rules and regulations, or individual building policies that govern individual and group behavior.
The respect and safety of personal property.
Study without interruption or interference.
Be free from unreasonable noise.
Be free of intimidation or harassment.
Express themselves freely within established guidelines.
Expect enforcement of the housing contract.
Have direct access to staff that provide assistance, guidance and support as needed within their scope of helping.
Host guests, within established guidelines.
Receive equitable treatment.
Enjoy individual freedoms regardless of skin color, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other characteristic outlined in CMU’s Nondiscrimination Statement.
Expect developmental opportunities in their living community.

Residents have the responsibility to:

Adhere to all policies and procedures outlined in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Disciplinary Procedures, the Office of Residence Life Housing Contract and Residence Life Handbook.
Comply with reasonable requests made by staff, university officials or fellow residents.
Meet payment schedules for room, food and other required housing fees.
Monitor and accept responsibility for behavior of guests.
Report violations of rules and regulations to appropriate staff.
Report facilities concerns in a timely manner in our work request system.
Respect the rights of others, as stated above.
Respect the diverse backgrounds and interests of others.
Treat others in a civil manner and manage conflict in a mature manner.
Be serious in their academic pursuits.
Participate actively in self-governance.
Express themselves individually, or by association with groups.
Keep their living unit clean for the health and safety of themselves and others.
Participate in conduct proceedings to determine appropriate standards of behavior.
Contribute positively to the community by participating in educational and developmental activities.

^{*Adapted from ACUHO-I Statement of Resident’s Rights and Responsibilities, Approved 1987, Revised 2002}