The following policies exist to enhance the safety and comfort of all students living in College housing. Failure to adhere to these policies may result in disciplinary action.
- Alcohol
- Balconies and Roofs
- Basements
- Bicycles
- Card Access and ID Cards
- Checkout Policy
- Cooking Policy
- Damage Policy
- Decorations
- Drugs
- Fire Hazards
- Firearms and Other Weapons
- Furniture
- Holiday Closings
- Liability for Loss
- Lofts
- Noise
- Parties
- Pets
- Repairs/Alterations
- Room Assignments and Changes
- Room Consolidation
- Room Key
- Single Rooms
- Smoke Detectors
- Smoke-Free Policy
- Visitation Policy
Alcohol
Possession of alcohol by anyone under age 21 is prohibited everywhere on campus, including in all residential facilities. Students and guests who are age 21 or older may possess and consume alcohol in residential facilities only in accordance with the Student Conduct Code and any policies established by the Office of Residence Life.
Possession and consumption of alcohol is prohibited in the following residential areas regardless of the possessor’s age:
- In a residential room where all assigned residents are under age 21;
- Montgomery Hall and other facilities designated as alcohol-free;
- Indoor common areas, including lounges, stairwells, and hallways; and
- Outdoor areas around residential facilities, including porches, yards, sidewalks, parking lots, and streets.
Possession of an open container of alcohol in public is prohibited by both Lynchburg College policies and Lynchburg City laws. This prohibition applies to alcohol in any form or container, including but not limited to bottles, cans, cups, and sports bottles.
Residence Life and security staff members may ask to see the contents of backpacks, bags, and other packages suspected to contain alcohol.
Intoxication, public drunkenness, and disorderly conduct are prohibited by Lynchburg College policies and Lynchburg City laws. Disorderly conduct includes but is not limited to cursing profanely in public. Neither presence on campus nor residence in College housing shields a student from obligation to adhere to College alcohol policies and alcohol laws. For more information about policies regarding alcohol, see the Student Conduct Code, including “Alcohol and Other Drugs.”
Balconies and Roofs
Students may not be on any balcony or roof with the exception of Hundley Hall’s second floor balcony located off the lounge.
Basements
Students may not enter or use basements and crawl spaces in College houses for any reason, including storage and gatherings.
Bicycles
Bikes may be stored only in individual rooms or in bike racks provided. Bikes may not be stored in hallways, stairwells, lounges, bathrooms, or other areas so designated by the Office of Residence Life.
Card Access and ID Cards
All residence halls are locked 24 hours a day. Residential students and other authorized individuals gain entrance into the residence halls by using their LC ID cards. Students are responsible for their own ID cards and may not lend them to anyone for any reason. Similarly, students may not use another's ID card. Any student who loses his/her ID or whose ID does not function should report immediately to the Information Desk in Hall Campus Center to receive a new one.
Students should not allow non-residents to gain access to any residence hall. Propping of exterior doors is strictly prohibited. Students aware of trespassers, unsecured doors, or other problems related to security in any College residence should immediately contact an RA or LC Security (emergency number 544-5555).
Checkout Policy
All residents checking out of a College residence at any time must do so through a Residence Life staff member or by using an Express Check-Out envelope, available in the Office of Residence Life and at the Information Desk in Hall Campus Center. Failure to do so will result in substantial fines.
Cooking
Hot pots, coffee makers, popcorn poppers, and approved Microfridge microwave ovens are the only cooking appliances permitted in residence hall rooms. In residence hall kitchens, students may use the appliances provided for simple heating and baking. Due to local fire regulations, frying, grilling, and rotisserie cooking are strictly prohibited in residence hall kitchens.
Gas and charcoal grills may be used and stored outdoors only. When in use, grills must be at least ten feet from all parts of a structure, including decks and porches.
Damage Policy
In any community living environment, materials in a building break or must be replaced periodically due to normal wear and tear. Lynchburg College’s housing fees are designed to cover such routine maintenance expenses. However, damages are caused sometimes by accident, horseplay, or misuse of facilities. If an individual causes accidental damage, he/she should report it to a Residence Life staff member within 24 hours after the damage occurred. In such cases, the individual is held accountable for the cost of the needed repair(s). Multiple or repeated incidents of damages may result in disciplinary sanctions.
When damage occurs but no one takes responsibility, an investigation is conducted to identify the responsible individual(s). If the responsible individual is identified, he/she is subject to replacement costs, fines, and other sanctions as deemed appropriate. If the responsible individual(s) cannot be identified, the residents of the wing, floor, or building may be assessed common area damage charges. Any appeal of damage charges or common area damage charges must be submitted in writing to the Office of Residence Life within 30 days of the billing date.
Decorations
Students are permitted to hang personal belongings in their assigned rooms. However, decorations may not impede fire safety, entrance or egress, ventilation, or view of the room. Street signs of any kind are prohibited.
To decrease fire hazards, decorations may not be placed over lights or fire safety equipment. Holiday and other decorative lights must be U.L. approved. Only artificial trees are allowed in residential facilities. All holiday decorations must be removed in a timely manner and prior to departure for scheduled holiday breaks.
Students are not permitted to paint walls in individual rooms or in common areas. Proposals for wall murals for residence hall common areas may be submitted to the Office of Residence Life for approval. Subsequent approval by three-fourths of all floor residents must follow.
Drugs
Possession, use, and distribution of illegal drugs, as well as distribution and abuse of prescription medication, are prohibited. Possession or use of drug paraphernalia is also prohibited. For more information about policies regarding illegal drugs, see the Student Conduct Code, including “Alcohol and Other Drugs.”
Fire Hazards
The following items are not permitted in any College residential facility: candles (unlit or lit), halogen lamps (and other lamps deemed unsafe by the Office of Residence Life), incense, hookahs, space heaters, and any appliances that make an open flame or have exposed heating elements other than stoves provided by the College. Fireworks may not be possessed or used anywhere on campus.
Hot pots, coffee makers, popcorn poppers, and approved Microfridge microwave ovens are the only cooking appliances permitted in residence hall rooms. All other cooking appliances, including other microwave ovens, toaster ovens, hot plates, toasters, and grilling machines, are prohibited in residence hall rooms.
Gas and charcoal grills may be used and stored outdoors only. When in use, grills must be at least ten feet from all parts of a structure, including decks and porches.
Firearms and Other Weapons
Firearms and weapons of any type are strictly prohibited in residential facilities and on campus, including concealed weapons for which the carrier has a legal permit. Possession and/or use of a weapon will result in immediate disciplinary action that may include separation from Lynchburg College. Weapons include but are not limited to firearms, pellet guns, air guns, BB guns, knives, bows and arrows, and martial arts weapons.
Furniture
Possession of any type of College property in a campus residence other than the standard room furniture provided is prohibited. Likewise, College furniture may not be removed from individual rooms in any College housing. In residence halls, lounge furniture may not be taken to an individual’s room for any purpose.
Upholstered furniture is not permitted on porches, decks, and other areas outside Court apartments, College houses, and townhouses. All furniture outside a residence must be manufactured for outdoor use.
Holiday Closings
All residential facilities close for Thanksgiving, winter break (between semesters), and spring break vacations. Students must vacate during these breaks and may not be in residential facilities without advance permission from the Office of Residence Life or Security. Specific dates and times of closings and openings are listed in The Hornet and posted on campus. During exam periods, all students must vacate campus housing within 24 hours after their last exam, with the exception of graduating seniors in May. Students who arrive early or stay late during a time when residential facilities are closed will either be instructed to leave or assessed a fine of $75 per night.
Liability for Loss
Generally, each individual is responsible for his/her personal belongings. Students are encouraged to purchase insurance that will cover losses and/or theft. Some homeowners’ insurance policies cover losses at school.
Lofts
Only Lynchburg College lofts are permitted in campus housing. Only one loft kit may be used per bed, and total height may not exceed one added loft kit.
Noise
Living in a College residence in close proximity to many other students can create noise disturbances. Because noise travels easily, all residents must be considerate of neighbors when playing stereos, TVs, or simply talking. Generally, quiet hours should be observed from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and midnight to 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Courtesy hours are in effect 24 hours per day. Repeated disruptions by individuals at any hour will result in loss of privileges and/or specific sanctions. Each semester, 24-hour quiet hours are in effect from the last day of classes through the closing of College housing.
Parties
Students living in College-owned houses, townhouses, courts, and apartments may host parties in their assigned residences in accordance with College policies. Event occupancy in the residence is limited to six times the number of students assigned to live in the residence. Alcohol may be consumed only by students age 21 or older and only in accordance with all College alcohol policies.
Residents who host parties are held directly responsible for conduct occurring at their residence, including outside areas, and for their visitors’ behavior.
Failure to adhere to this policy may result in administrative action by the Office of Residence Life and/or judicial sanctions. These responses may include suspension of party privileges, and/or removal from the residence.
Pets
Due to health issues, animals may not be in any College housing at any time or for any reason. No pets other than fish may be kept in College housing. Individuals with animals other than fish will be subject to adjudication and instructed to remove the animals immediately (within twenty-four hours); failure to do so within the allotted time will result in additional disciplinary action.
A student residing in a townhouse, apartment, or College house with a pet other than fish will immediately be relocated to a residence hall. Similarily, a student living in a residence hall with a pet other than fish forfeits eligibility to live in a townhouse, apartment, or College house during the following year.
Repairs/Alterations
If a repair is needed in a residential facility, it should be reported to a Resident Assistant or to the Office of Residence Life (544-8320). Repairs may not be made by anyone other than authorized College personnel. Similarly, alterations such as adding air conditioning units or adding or removing doors or other structures may not be made.
Room Assignments and Changes
All room assignments are final unless the Office of Residence Life authorizes a room change. If a student wishes to make a room change, he/she should contact the Office of Residence Life to ensure adherence to proper room change procedures.
Students may request a room change any time after the first three weeks of each semester. Residents must fully complete a room change request form, including all applicable signatures, and submit the completed form to the Office of Residence Life by 11 a.m. on the Friday before the weekend they desire to move. If a room change request is granted, students receive a Permission to Move Form outlining instructions for completing the move and specifying the time period during which the move must be made. Room changes generally take place 3 p.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Students should discuss roommate concerns with their RA and/or staff in the Office of Residence Life prior to making a room change. If a resident makes a room change without first attempting a roommate mediation, the resident is subject to a room change fine.
A resident who makes a room change without authorization from the Office of Residence Life or declines a requested room change after it has been processed may be assessed a $75 fee. Students who move without permission may also be required to move back to their assigned rooms. Students who make more than one unauthorized move are subject to a $100 fee per subsequent violation.
Students who are eligible to commute from home or to reside off campus but elect to reside in College housing may not move off campus during the academic year in which their Residence Hall Agreement applies unless they have prior approval from the Office of Residence Life and pay a $250 fee.
Due to limited space, the Office of Residence Life is unable to hold a specific housing assignment for a student who is not residing in campus facilities for a semester due to study abroad, a leave of absence, or any other reason. While efforts will be made to match roommates when students return to campus housing, a specific assignment cannot be held.
Room Consolidation
To use residential space effectively and in a fair, consistent manner, the College conducts Room Consolidation each semester. For the 2009-10 academic year, consolidation will occur during the following times:
- October 5-16, 2008
- February 8-19, 2009
Consolidation affects only those students who do not have a roommate or an approved single room. A resident whose roommate leaves LC (e.g., withdraws, studies abroad, or does not return after a holiday break) is encouraged to notify the Office of Residence Life and to participate in the consolidation process.
All residents without roommates or approved singles are expected to take an active role in the consolidation process, assisting in the identification of suitable roommates. Through active participation, students increase the likelihood of satisfaction with their new roommate assignments. Students who must participate in the consolidation process are given a list of all other students needing roommates. Using this list, residents can identify a roommate with whom they are compatible and then notify the Office of Residence Life about the roommate selection, enabling the room change process to begin. Students who do not select a roommate from those participating in the consolidation process will be consolidated with a new roommate through administrative assignment. Students who delay the process or otherwise prevent consolidation may be assessed a fee.
Room Keys
Keys will be issued to students at the time of check-in. Once a key has been assigned, it becomes the responsibility of the student. If it is lost, the following procedures must be followed:
- Immediately report the loss of a room key to the Office of Residence Life (544-8320).
- A lost key report will be made by the Office of Residence Life and sent to Campus Safety and Security for proper action.
- The student is responsible for payment of a $50 lock change fee, which includes two keys. An additional fee of $5 per key is charged for residences with more than two occupants. All lock-change fees are assessed to the student's account.
- Failure to report lost or stolen keys or possession of a duplicate or unauthorized key will result in appropriate disciplinary action.
Students should secure their rooms at all times and are responsible and liable for any actions of non-assigned students or guests in their rooms. Furthermore, students failing to secure their rooms or to obtain or carry room keys will assume all responsibility for theft or damage of any personal belongings in their room.
No student may be in possession of any key to any College building or office unless that specific key has been issued to the student directly in connection with a work assignment. No duplication may be made of any key issued by Lynchburg College.
Single Rooms
Typically, single rooms are not available. However, if a resident has a medical condition that warrants special consideration, an Application for Special Medical Housing Accommodations may be obtained from the Office of Residence Life. A completed form and supporting medical documentation are reviewed by a staff committee that makes a housing recommendation. If a single room is approved for medical reasons, the student is assessed an additional fee (between $500 and $750 per semester). Medical singles are provided only on a space-available basis.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are provided in each residence hall room and in all other College housing for the safety of all residents in the facility. Students may not remove or disable a detector for any reason. Tampering with a smoke detector constitutes a violation of the Student Conduct Code and will result in disciplinary action.
If a smoke detector does not function properly, students should immediately contact Security (emergency number 544-5555) so proper repair can be made.
Smoke-Free Policy
All residence halls and Peaksview Apartments are smoke-free buildings; therefore, smoking may not occur within any part of these facilities or within 50 feet of the buildings, including exterior steps and entranceways. Outside areas surrounding Hundley Hall and on the front sides of Freer, McWane, and Shackelford Halls are also smoke-free zones.
Possession of or use of a hookah is prohibited on campus and in all residential facilities.
Visitation Policy
Students may be visited in their College residence by LC students and other visitors in accordance with visitation and guest registration requirements. Visitation on campus is a privilege, not a right, and must be respected to maintain order in the community. It is critical that the privilege of visitation in College housing not supersede a roommate’s/housemate’s right to sleep and study. Both the right to sleep and study and the safety and security of the campus community are absolute and fundamental principles of the Visitation Policy.
A student residing in College housing may be visited in his/her assigned residence at any time in accordance with the following requirements:
- A roommate/housemate will not be deprived of the right to privacy, study time, or sleep due to the presence of a guest (student or non-student).
- All non-LC student visitors staying on campus after midnight on any day must be registered by their host at the Information Desk (first floor, Hall Campus Center) before midnight of that day.
- All residence halls are locked 24 hours per day. From 10 a.m. to midnight, residential students and other authorized individuals may gain entrance to the residence halls by using their College ID cards. After midnight, only residents of a particular building may access that building using their ID cards. A visitor who is not a resident of the building must be admitted and escorted by a building resident.
- All guests are expected to abide by Lynchburg College policies at all times. Students are held directly responsible for conduct occurring in their rooms and for their visitors’ behavior.
- Guests who are not LC students must be escorted at all times.
- Cohabitation is strictly prohibited.