Resident Life Policies A - E

Michigan State Law prohibits the possession or consumption of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21. CMU and the Office of Residence Life expect residents and their guests to comply fully with these laws.

Bed rails

The Office of Residence Life recommends that most beds that can be bunked are provided a bed rail. Students may request a bed rail through the online work request system.

Bed risers

Bed risers are permitted. The University provided beds can be raised to ten different positions. The top position provides 30 inches under the bed. 

Bicycles (non-motorized)

Non-motorized bicycles are permitted, although not encouraged, in student rooms if the roommates agree. For safety reasons, non-motorized bicycles may not be left on balconies, porches, hallways, stairs, or any other public areas of the building. Non-motorized bicycles may be impounded upon complaint throughout the year for lack of registration, no current permit affixed, or improper storage. Non-motorized bicycles must be parked and locked at bicycle racks. Non-motorized bicycles attached to meters, signs, trees, posts, or any area other than a bicycle rack will be impounded and fees assessed. Non-motorized bicycles left on University property in an inoperable condition for a period longer than 48 hours may be impounded. Locks cut or damaged during impoundment will not be refunded or replaced. For more information, please visit the CMU Police. 

All bicycles must be registered through Parking services, learn more here. 

Bidets

Students will need to buy a portable standalone unit that does not tie into the toilet. Please contact the Office of Residence Life for further guidance. 

Breaks and move out procedures

Residents must follow provided guidelines for checking out of their living unit. All electrical items must be unplugged during the semester break. Residents are encouraged to take home their more expensive belongings during these periods (computers, jewelry, cash, etc.). Failure to follow checkout procedures may result in a $50 improper check out fee in addition to any damage charges. 

Business

Residents may not conduct business from their residence (I.e.: hair styling, selling cosmetics, tattooing, t-shirt sales, book buy-back, etc.). Students may be referred to The Office of Student Conduct.

Canceling your housing contract 

Please review the cancellation policy under the office of residence life housing contract on the office of residence life website. 

Candles, incense and open flames 

For fire and safety reasons, candles with or without wicks, candle warmers, lanterns, incense, or other open flame devices are not permitted in University housing unless written permission has been given from the resident’s RHD for ceremonial use. In the case of ceremonial use, specific guidelines must be followed. 

Care and cleaning of living units 

Residents are expected to keep their suites/apartments clean and sanitary as determined by university staff. Residents are responsible for taking their trash and recycling outside to the appropriate bins on a regular basis. Residents are expected to clean their living unit to move-in ready before they checkout. Custodians will vacuum floors in common areas such as halls, lobbies and lounges; nonetheless, residents are expected to pick up personal belongings when leaving common areas. 

Students are responsible for cleaning of their bathroom with regular upkeep throughout the year. All hair dye must be fully cleaned up. If hair dye is not cleaned up, there may be charges issued to the student responsible.

Centralcard or Central mobile ID 

Residents are expected to carry their Centralcard or central mobile ID with them at all times. Lending a centralcard to anyone, or attempting to obtain another student’s Centralcard is a security violation and may be referred to the office of student conduct. Lost or damaged cards must be replaced within two business days. 

Communicable diseases 

If a resident is diagnosed (by the staff at CMU health or another health care provider) with a communicable disease that poses a threat to others residing in university housing, they may need to leave the residence Hall or apartment until no longer able to spread the illness to others, as determined by the staff at CMU health. All students living on campus and their guardian should be familiar with information about meningococcal meningitis, a rare but rapidly progressive and potentially fatal illness, and meningitis vaccine and consider immunization against the disease. 

For additional information, contact CMU health at (989) 774-6591 or via email at healthservices@cmich.Edu. 

Controlled substances 

Students shall not possess, use, manufacture, produce, or distribute, or aid in the use, manufacture, production, or distribution of, any controlled substance except as expressively permitted by law and university policy on university properties. Possession’ use, manufacture, production, or distribution of marijuana is strictly prohibited by federal law and university policy on university properties or at any university related event, regardless of state law. Federal law, including the drug free schools and communities act, prohibits marijuana on university properties or at any university related event. 

Anyone present in a room where a controlled substances infraction has occurred will be considered in violation of the controlled substances policy. 

See code of student rights 3.2.12 for more information. 

Cooking in a student room 

Cooking in residence hall suites is prohibited for fire safety, damage, and ventilation reasons. Coffee makers are allowed. 

Cooperation and compliance with staff 

Residents and guests are required to comply and cooperate with any university staff member’s reasonable request. Failure to comply or cooperate will be viewed as a violation and result in disciplinary action. Failure for guests to comply or cooperate may lead to their immediate removal from university housing.

Damages, vandalism, and group billing

Damages in public areas that can be directly attributed to an individual are charged directly to that individual. When it is impossible to determine who caused the damage in any area considered a “public area,” the damage charges are divided among the residents of that area. A public area may be a hallway, lounge, lobby, or any other area not contained 

in a specific living space. Public area damages will be divided up by the floor residents or by the entire community depending upon its location. Room damages will be equally divided among room residents unless an individual assumes responsibility. 

Decorations/wall hanging

Residents are welcome to make their living unit comfortable. However, due to facility restrictions and health and safety issues, there are guidelines. 

Drilling, sawing, or attaching items to walls, floors, or ceilings with screws, push pins, nails, glue, or other devices is not allowed. Residents may not permanently alter walls, ceilings, or floors. Posters and other combustible decorations cannot cover more than one third of a wall. Students are NOT permitted to hang anything from the ceiling piping or sprinkler heads. No paper may be taped to lights at any time in rooms or public areas. LED light strips are not permitted to be adhered directly to any university wall, furniture or surface (i.e. peel and stick LED lights). LED lights are only allowed to be used as decoration if they are mounted using 3M Command hooks or similar devices. 

Disruptive behavior/noise

A student or their guest shall not engage in behavior that negatively impacts or is disruptive of the living and/or learning environment of others. 

Quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. in all residential communities Sunday through Thursday. Quiet hours are between midnight and 8 a.m. in all residential communities Friday and Saturday. All residents should be conscious of the impact their noise levels have on others 24 hours a day. The use of sound equipment, including, but not limited to, musical instruments, radios, stereos, subwoofers, televisions, and other sound amplification devices must not infringe upon the rights of others. Such equipment should never be played so loudly as to disturb other residents. 

At no time should amplified sound be directed out windows or room doors. Should disruption(s) occur, students may be required to remove the equipment. Remember that while residents have a right to play/listen to the auditory entertainment of their choice, other residents have a right to play/listen to their choice of auditory entertainment without disturbance. Headphones are highly recommended. 

Dumpsters

Large hopper-type containers are placed in central locations in the areas to be served. For proper use of the containers, all garbage must be wrapped. When not in use, the container doors must be kept closed for sanitation reasons. If bags or garbage are left in the hallway or outside the building, residents will be charged for their removal. Residents are prohibited from entering the dumpster.

Electronics/electrical appliances (including refrigerators and microwaves) 

Coffee pots are allowed. Popcorn poppers, electric grills, toaster ovens, and other heating and cooking devices may not be used in resident rooms. Such devices may be used in the kitchenettes available on every floor. Combination (microwave/refrigerator) are permitted and available through Bedloft. The University has an agreement with Bedloft.  

Bedloft.com rents approved lofts combination units to interested students. Central Michigan University is not responsible or liable for the services and/ or actions of Bedloft.com. Other microwaves are only allowed in Campbell, Celani, Fabiano, Kesseler and Kulhavi Halls. They are prohibited in the other halls because of safety concerns and energy usage limits. All electrical appliances must be UL approved. The UL seal must appear on both the appliance and the cord. Refrigerators are permitted in student suites. 

Refrigerators must not exceed 4.3 cubic feet.

“Daisy-chaining” circuited power strips is prohibited. Only one circuited power strip may be used to extend an outlet for direct use with another electrical device. To prevent fire hazards, appliances should be properly plugged into an outlet (or approved circuited power strip). Nothing (including LED string lights or circuited power strips) should be plugged in to another appliance or circuited power strip.

Elevators 

Individuals may not tamper with or vandalize the elevator in any way, including jumping.

Entering rooms and apartments 

The University reserves the right to make periodic inspections of resident rooms/apartments. Residence Life staff members may enter rooms/ apartments whether or not resident occupants are present. Residence Life staff members will do health and safety inspections on a regular basis during break closings. Facilities Management personnel may also enter rooms to make needed repairs. The University also reserves the right to inspect a particular room/apartment when staff members have a reasonable cause to believe that established health, safety, or university policies are being violated. Please see the Office of Residence Life Housing Contract for more information.