Terms of Occupancy
UAS expects residents to follow terms of occupancy that help to preserve the security of the campus housing community. For this reason, residents are screened and visitors are closely monitored to ensure that the community is safe and not disturbed, within all means possible.
Unauthorized Tenants
The university must know who physically resides on campus at all times for security and emergency response reasons. If a resident vacates mid-semester, or if a family resident makes changes to his or her household, the Residence Life Manager should be notified immediately. Each suite or apartment is only approved four residents except in cases where the department provides temporary housing to approved residents at the start of the year when all units are full. Unapproved residents or extended visitors will not be permitted to stay in campus housing. See the Visitors and Guests section of this handbook for more information.
Squatters will be considered any non-paying individual who has taken up residence in a student housing unit. Apartment storage rooms may not be used as bedrooms, and residents should not consider vacant beds in their apartments or suite as an invitation to provide a friend with a place to sleep. Squatters may be served notice of criminal trespass, and their hosts may have their housing agreements terminated.
Subletting is considered an arrangement between a student resident and a third party, in which the resident leases out his or her unit (already leased from the university) while the approved student resident is not present. Subletting is not permitted. Family residents may allow non-relatives to reside in their unit if the individuals are approved by the Residence Life Manager, demonstrate some relationship to the family resident, and formally added to the household roster. Any student found to be subletting will have his or her agreement terminated.
Eviction and Notice to Quit
In instances when the university has terminated a student’s housing agreement, whether for conduct infractions or policy violations, non-payment, health and safety issues, or other reasons, residents will be notified by the Residence Life Manager in writing, in the form of an eviction letter. The university need only to provide 24 hours notice of an eviction deadline, but in cases where the student is not perceived as an immediate threat or disturbance, he or she may be granted 48 hours or longer to vacate the premises.
As stipulated in the housing agreement, residents who are evicted are still responsible for full semester charges and forfeit their security deposit. Any eviction appeals must be addressed to the Director in writing prior to the eviction deadline. A pending appeal response does not entitle the evicted student an extension on their vacate deadline. Residents who cooperate and meet their eviction deadline without incident may reapply for student housing in future semesters, but are not guaranteed acceptance. If a resident does not respond properly to the initial eviction notice, he/she will be served a formal notice to quit, which serves as official notice to be used in legal proceedings to forcefully remove the tenant from student housing. Residents will be charged all legal fees and court costs if the matter is brought to court.
Physical and Mental Health
The university reserves the right to make stipulations of mandatory assessment and/or treatment for residents demonstrating behavior that is a threat to their physical or mental health. It is the goal of the institution and the department to ensure that all residents are healthy and safe. If a student is perceived to require any clinical assessment or treatment to remain healthy and safe while living on campus, then the university will expect the individuals to comply with requests to obtain assessment, treatment, and provide proof of release or indication from a clinician that the individual is safe to return to the student housing environment. Those who refuse to comply, who do not complete recommended treatment, or who a clinician feels is inadvisable to return to student housing may have their housing agreement terminated by the university.
Additionally, as permitted by FERPA stipulations, parents or guardians of students thought to have imminent health or safety threats can be contacted by university administrators and notified of such concerns. See the Communication With Parents.
Residents who express suicidal thoughts or gestures, or those who attempt suicide while registered as a student housing resident, will be mandated to complete a series of at least three sessions with the campus counselor, and then to follow any recommended course of treatment or referrals made by this clinician.
Residents who are hospitalized for any reason may contact the Office of Residence Life to assist in notifying professors, roommates, or others of their absence. Hospitalized students may be accommodated by having assignments and textbooks gathered and delivered to them in the hospital so that they can make an effort to keep up with their coursework.
Residency Verification and Housing References
Residents may request that the Residence Life Manger verify their physical residence in student housing. This is sometimes required by private or corporate funding sources before financial aid is released. Residents needing this service should direct agencies to fax documents directly to the Residence Life Manager’s office at (907) 796-6350.
Additionally, current or former residents may request that the Residence Life Manager provide housing references as the student seeks off-campus housing. These requests should be made in advance to the Residence Life Manager. Students can expect that the RLM will comment on dates of residency, payment history, conduct and community engagement, and condition of the rental unit after the student had vacated.
Charges and Fees
Most fees and incidental charges incurred while in residence will automatically be posted to student accounts. Fees are assessed for reasons such as vehicle registration, vehicle towing, nightly housing charges, lock-out charges, improper closeout fees, damages, or disciplinary fines. Disciplinary fines appear as “miscellaneous housing charge” on student accounts. Students should always be made aware of charges before they are posted, but any questions regarding billing or charges posted by the department should be addressed to the Housing Office.
Meal Plans and Dining Services
UAS Dining Services is now operated by NANA-Sodexho. All single student residents are required to purchase a meal plan. Meal plans operate on a declining balance system, and any balance remaining on meal plans at the end of each semester is forfeited. The 2007-08 meal plan costs are $1250 per semester for Banfield Hall residents (and any first-year students that may be placed in apartments), and $200 per semester for single students in the apartments. Any student may also purchase a prepaid declining meal plan for any dollar amount from Dining Services. Balance on this account, or “Whale bucks,” can be used at any UAS Dining Services location.
