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Resident Life Policies O - W

Below you will find Central Michigan University's Resident Life Housing Polices.

O | P | R | S | T | W

O

Office of Residence Life housing contract

Residents are required to sign a housing contract for the entire academic year. Academic year is defined both the fall and spring semester. University housing is open for resident occupancy only when the university is in session. Please refer to the Office of Residence Life Housing Contract. 

“Order weeks” 

Order weeks are a time when university housing living spaces need to be put back as they were in August, before you moved in. This means lofts need to be taken down, any personal furniture brought into the space moved out, beds put back together, bed springs put back into correct position, carpet taken up, bathrooms cleaned, desks put back in the original location, and any stickers and wall decorations removed from walls, furniture or doors. When you check out of your living space, it is expected that the bathroom and all rooms are clean. This means the floors have been swept and mopped, drawers wiped out, the closet is free of all belongings and hangers, all trash removed, the sink, counter and shower are clean and free from soap build up and hair dye, the toilet has been cleaned both in the bowl and around the outside of it. In addition, apartment residents are expected to wipe clean the appliances both inside and out. If you fail to properly prepare your living space, you will be charged for custodial costs. Failure to check out properly will result in a $50 improper checkout fee. 

P

Painting

Residents may not paint their rooms. 

Personal property and liability 

All personal property brought to Central Michigan University is at the resident’s risk. The University is not liable for the loss of or damage to money, property or other valuables belonging to the resident or any other person. The University strongly recommends, and the resident is responsible for acquiring, any insurance that the resident may desire for resident’s protection from liability and property damages.  

National Student Services is the largest provider of student personal property insurance for college students. They provide worldwide coverage for students regardless of where they live or travel (on campus, off campus, living at home or studying abroad). Currently, over 800 colleges/universities endorse their program, and CMU has provided their information to students and parents/ supporters for more than fifteen years. 

Pets/animals

Fish are the only type of pet allowed in university housing with a tank size limit of 20 gallons. Residents who require an assistance animal must obtain approval through the Student Disability Services office PRIOR to bringing the animal to campus. 

Unauthorized Animals/Pets - Residents observed or reported to have an unauthorized animal will be assessed an immediate fine of $50 and given 48 hours to remove the animal. If the animal is not removed within 48 hours a $25 fine will be assessed for every day the animal remains on the premises, and they may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. 

Pipes

Nothing may be hung from or attached to any pipes.

Prohibited Items

  1. 3-D printers 
  2. Air conditioners (including evaporative air coolers) (unless approved from the Student Disability Services office) 
  3. Alcohol (if under 21 years of age)  Barbecue grills and fire pits 
  4. >Bidets (students will need to buy a portable standalone unit that does not tie into the toilet) 
  5. Candles, candle warmers, lanterns, incense or other open flame devices 
  6. Contact paper 
  7. Dishwashers (if not provided by the university) 
  8. Electric or kerosene heaters 
  9. Empty alcohol (empties) containers (if under 21 years of age) 
  10. Extension cords, outlet adapters, or multiple plugs - except for power strips with built-in circuit breakers (limit of one power strip per resident) 
  11. Firearms and weapons (including toy guns) 
  12. Halogen bulbs or lamps 
  13. Hoverboards 
  14. Lava lamps 
  15. Live trees and wreaths 
  16. Mattresses (not provided by the university) 
  17. Mercury thermometers 
  18. Micro-mobility devices as defined by Administrative Policy 3-70 
  19. Microwaves (except in Campbell, Celani, Fabiano, Kesseler, Kulhavi and Graduate Housing) 
  20. Nails, screws, push pins and permanent adhesives 
  21. Peel and stick wallpaper 
  22. Personal lofts 
  23. Pets/Animals 
  24. Shower heads 
  25. Stolen Property (street signs, barricades, university signage, etc.) 
  26. Vape pens/e-cigarettes/drug paraphernalia 
  27. Waterbeds or water-filled furniture 

Propping/holding open locked doors and emergency exits

To enhance the safety and security of all community members, exterior doors must never be propped open. Propping doors increases the risk of harm to the community. Anyone observed propping or holding a locked door open for someone else, who enters through a propped or held door or who leaves through an emergency exit when no emergency exists, may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. 

Psychological and medical emergencies

If a resident engages or threatens to engage in self-injurious behavior that negatively impacts or is disruptive to the living and learning environment of others, the resident may be moved to another room, either temporarily or permanently, or be removed entirely from university housing, and possibly from the university. 

In case of medical emergencies, CMU staff will be contacted to determine how seriously ill or injured the resident is and will call Emergency Medical Service (EMS) for medical assistance and transportation of the resident to the local hospital emergency room when necessary. 

R

Recreation in hallways and public areas

For the safety of all residents, and to protect the facilities from unnecessary damage, playing sporting activities within any living area is prohibited. Such activities must be confined to the outdoor areas, away from all buildings.  

Recycling

Keeping our environment clean is the responsibility of each member of the community. Each community has trash and recycling containers located in designated areas as well as small recycling containers in each living unit. The entire campus takes part in the annual Campus Race to Zero Waste competition and on-campus students contribute greatly to this campaign.  

Removal of food or utensils from the dining units

No food or beverage may be taken from the dining units. Students may only take a meal with them in the provided carryout containers. Utensils and plates/dishware may not be removed from the dining units.  

Removal of furnishings from a public area

Residents may not remove furnishings from a public area. Removal of public area furnishings will result in a $25 fine per item.  

Removal of screen from window

Residents may not enter or vacate a room through the window. Screens in all rooms must remain on the windows at all times, except in cases of emergency. Removal of screens will result in a $25 fine.  

Non-motorized rollerblades, scooters, and skateboards 

For the safety of all residents, the use of non-motorized rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, or other sports equipment are prohibited inside of all buildings on campus.  

Residents wishing to rollerblade must put on and remove their skates outside of the buildings. Such equipment harms floor surfacing and damages will be charged to the resident.  

Rooftops, tunnels and maintenance areas

Access to rooftops, tunnels or maintenance areas is prohibited. Residents should not access these areas or throw items on rooftops. Students found in these restricted areas will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. In addition, students are not permitted to climb on campus buildings. 

“Room” definition

Any student is responsible for the behavior and objects in a room or common space where a policy violation has occurred if they are in the space, regardless of their level of participation. A residence hall room and/ or university apartment is considered the entire living space once you cross the threshold from the hallway into the dwelling. 

Room repairs and pest control

Residents are expected to report maintenance or pest control problems in their room or apartment immediately. There are multiple ways: 

  1. For non-emergency issues, the resident can self-report using the online work request system. Instructions are on the back of every main room door.
  2. For emergency issues that need immediate attention, the procedure varies based on your location.
                     a. Residence Halls: Contact the front desk operation 
                     b. Graduate Housing: Contact your Apartment Supervisor  

WHEN CALLING IN EMERGENCY ISSUES, PLEASE BE SURE TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING: 

  1. Resident name, building, and room/apartment number
  2. Resident telephone number
  3. Resident request-please be specific 
To keep pests out of the room, residents should take precautions to store food properly and practice reasonable housekeeping chores. All foods should be kept in a refrigerator or in airtight containers. All trash, including empty boxes, should be discarded promptly. Failure to report maintenance issues in a timely manner which then results in further damage may result in the resident incurring charges. 

S

Smoke detectors

Misuse of smoke detectors, including covering or removing the smoke detector and/or battery, is prohibited. Residents found tampering with smoke detectors will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. 

Solicitation 

Solicitation is not allowed within CMU residential areas without prior approval in accordance with university policy. Please reach out to the Office of Residence Life for more information.

Space changes

The Residence Hall Director must approve room changes within each residential area. The responsibility for working out the details of a resident-initiated change rests with the residents requesting the change. Requests to move to another building must be approved by the Residence Hall Director of the building to which the resident wishes to move. No moves will be approved within the first two weeks or the last two weeks of each semester.

Storage of dangerous equipment in a student room

All guns including shotguns, rifles, and handguns brought to campus must be checked and stored with the CMU Police Department. State law requires that all handguns be registered, and University regulation requires that all firearms be registered with the CMU Police. Hunting knives, bows and arrows, or other types of dangerous equipment must be checked for storage. Fireworks, gasoline and other combustible materials are prohibited. The possession or use of other pyrotechnics is forbidden by law in Michigan. Please refer to the University Weapons Policy.

String lights

String lights must be in working condition, not modified from the manufacturer ’s original design and must be UL-certified. Incandescent string lights are prohibited. Only LED string lights may be used. String lights are prohibited on the exterior of the living space, inclusive of the door frame and may not be wrapped around pipes or sprinklers. 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.

T

Tobacco 

Tobacco use or possession of any kind is not permitted on campus. This includes traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes, cigars, hookahs, vape pens, waterpipes, snus, snuff, or any other forms of tobacco.

Toilets

The following items may not be flushed: 

  • cleaning towels
  • feminine products
  • flushable bathroom wipes
  • food items
  • paper towels
  • pharmaceuticals 

W

Windows

At no time shall anyone discard any items through a window.