Dec 08, 2024  
2023-2024 University Catalog 
    
2023-2024 University Catalog

Residential Living


C O N T E N T S

All policies outline the standards and behaviors expected of all University of the Arts students. There are additional standards and policies that apply to students living or signed in as a guest in university housing. The policies below are not meant to serve as a comprehensive list and are subject to review and modification by the senior director for student engagement as deemed necessary for the safety and security of the community. For more information regarding residential living, refer to the website at uarts.edu/students/housing.

Art Projects & Supplies

Residents are expected to exercise caution when completing art projects or collecting materials to complete projects while in the residence halls. Paint should be used in an appropriate manner and in well-ventilated areas, including but not limited to, studios and designated classroom spaces. Students are not permitted to use paint, including spray paint, on any balconies or in stairwells.  Students may not use spray paint in their residence hall room or in lounge space. Students may not store hazardous or unsafe materials in their residence hall room at the discretion of the senior director for student engagement. Drugs or alcohol and/or drug and alcohol paraphernalia used as a prop or as part of an art project is prohibited.

Bag Checks

Residents and guests may be asked to open their bags by Public Safety officers and Campus Life staff if circumstances warrant it.  Residents or guests who are noncompliant with bag check requests may not be permitted to enter the building. 

Bed Bug & Other Pests

The Office of Campus Life and the Facilities department are committed to a timely and effective response to any residents who suspect they may have bed bugs/pests. If pests are found, students should place a maintenance request and contact the resident assistant on duty. Resident assistants can provide traps, and the exterminator visits campus once a week to address any reported pest issues. 
For the safety and health of our campus community, note the following guidelines in suspected bed bug findings.

  1. Contact Campus Life staff, or go to the front desk of your residence hall and ask Public Safety to contact the Facilities staff. If bites have been experienced, visit Health Services as soon as possible for medical attention.
  2. Facilities will contact the exterminator to inspect the apartment in question. Students may not, at any time, deny the Facilities department access to any part of their living space. 
  3. If the exterminator finds evidence of bed bugs in the apartment, the Office of Campus Life, in conjunction with Facilities, will provide the resident(s) in the affected apartment with a list of instructions that must be completed, in addition to the treatment that will be provided by the exterminator. 
  4. The university will not cover the cost of anything a student wishes to dry clean or have laundered by an outside vendor.  UArts is not responsible for personal property that may be damaged due to bed bugs. Only the university’s exterminator can confirm or deny the presence of bed bugs. 
  5. Bed bugs have the potential to cause serious community disruption to health and safety, and all students are expected to comply with all instructions given to them within 24 hours of bed bug confirmation.

Bicycles and Electric Scooters

Outdoor bike racks are located at Furness Hall; students must provide their own locks. Bicycles and electric scooters should not be locked to railings, lamp posts or parked on safety ramps. Students cannot leave bicycles or electric scooters in hallways, stairwells or community rooms within residence halls. Students may store their bicycles or electric scooters in their room/apartment with their roommate’s(s’) approval. Bicycles and electric scooters stored in residence hall rooms cannot block the entrance or exit from the space. Electric scooters must be approved by the Office of Campus Life prior to being stored in the residence halls. To receive approval, students should provide the scooter make and model in an email to reslife@uarts.edu.

Closing/Break

Residence halls close at various times throughout the academic year in accordance with the university calendar, including winter break and the end-of-year closing following the spring semester. Residents will be emailed closing information prior to each closing, and bulletin boards with information about closing will be posted on each residence hall floor. Residents should review and adhere to the closing checklist to avoid charges and policy violations. At the end of the spring semester, residents must vacate the resident hall no later than 24 hours after their last final. If their last final falls on the day the residence halls close, the resident must vacate the residence hall by the advertised closing time. 

The Office of Campus Life understands that unique circumstances may result in students who need housing during scheduled breaks. Students requesting break occupancy must contact Campus Life at least three weeks prior to a winter or end-of-year closing. Additional documentation may be requested. 

All break occupancy requests are subject to approval by Campus Life. Residents who are not approved for a break occupancy will be required to vacate campus housing for the duration of the break. 

Confiscation

The Office of Campus Life reserves the right to remove any item(s) that is either prohibited by university policy or compromises student health or safety from the residential facilities, including students’ apartments. In the event that a confiscation occurs while the resident is absent, a notice will be issued via phone or official university email. 

Damage to Property/Damage Billing

Residents are individually responsible for damage beyond reasonable wear and tear to their residence hall room/apartment or university-owned furniture. Damage that results from excess negligence or an intentional act will be documented as per the UArts Code of Conduct. The resident may not make material alterations or additions to the apartment, residence hall or university-owned furniture. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the use of nails, screws, bolts or permanent adhesives. 

All residents are equally responsible for damage to common areas within the residence halls, including but not limited to; lobbies, lounges, hallway space, laundry facilities or equipment provided for common use. In the event that the person(s) directly responsible are not identified, the Office of Campus Life will notify residents when and if there will be common space charges placed on their account. Advance notification of common space charges will be provided when possible. When a bill is assessed to the community, the area coordinator will notify all impacted residents of the damage, provide the cost to fix the problem (and a brief explanation of how the price is determined, when available), and encourage those responsible to take ownership and/or those students with information to report to Campus Life. Community billing is only reversed if the responsible individual is identified, either through proof (photographic, written, audio or video evidence) or a statement of admission from the responsible person is provided. 

Defenstration

Residents may not defenestrate, which is the act of causing an object to fall out of a window.  This includes, but is not limited to, trash, ashes, cigarette butts and other items or fluids. Students will be responsible for any injury or damage caused to university or private property damaged in the act of defenestrating.  

Early Arrivals

If a student returns to campus prior to the start of the housing contract due to involvement in an official university function (i.e., on-campus employment, student organization leadership or requirements for academic purposes), early-arrival requests must be submitted by the sponsoring faculty or staff member via email to reslife@uarts.edu. Requests and sponsorship must be received by Aug. 1 for the fall semester and Jan. 1 for the spring semester.

Requests for students to arrive early not sponsored by faculty or staff must be submitted to reslife@uarts.edu and will generally not be approved. If approved, students will be subject to a $50 a day fee for early arrival.  

Unauthorized Early Arrival Fee
Students who arrive on campus prior to their scheduled move-in date without prior approval may not be granted access to move in or may be subject to a $100 daily fee. Students who arrive on campus prior to their scheduled move-in date to drop off personal items will be considered early arrivals and may be charged the daily fee. Fees associated with early arrivals will be billed directly to the student’s account. 

Empty Beds/Bedrooms

Residents assigned to a space that has unoccupied beds or bedrooms should expect another student to be assigned to the space(s) at any time. Advance notification of a new roommate will be sent to students via official university email.

The university reserves the right to make room assignment and residence hall changes, which includes consolidating residents who have no roommates. All unoccupied spaces should be kept accessible and clean. Residents should not disassemble university issued furniture or utilize unoccupied beds, furniture or space. If a vacancy is not accessible and clean for an incoming resident, the resident(s) of the assignment may be charged the cost of housekeeping and maintenance work required to prepare the space for new residents(s). The cost will be split among the occupants of the designated assignment.  

Fire Safety

Residents are required to exit residence halls immediately in the event of a fire alarm and may not return to the residence hall until instructed to do so by the university. The resident may not: 

  • Intentionally cause a false fire alarm;
  • Interfere with the proper functioning of the fire safety system;
  • Tamper with the sprinkler, smoke detector or fire hose system; 
  • Misuse the chemical fire extinguishers.
  • Place items on an active heating device. 

The following items and/or acts are prohibited.

  • Items that involve or could involve an open flame, including but not limited to candles, incense, sterno lamps and kerosene lamps
  • Any electrical device the university deems a fire hazard including but not limited to electrical outlet powered string/rope lights, halogen lamps, hoverboards, extension cords and live Christmas trees; students may use surge protector power strips in lieu of extension cords and battery operated string/rope lights in lieu of electric outlet–powered string/rope lights. 
  • Wall tapestries, flags or other wall hangings unless made from fabrics that are compliant with NFPA 701 flammability standards
    • Compliance may be established by a label on the fabric item, or by treating the fabric with an approved product. Following the treatment of fabrics, students must send notification to reslife@uarts.edu, attesting to this treatment along with the receipt for purchase of the product and the product label. 
    • The fire marshal or the university may cut and test a piece of these fabrics, and students must accept that as a condition of having fabric hangings in university housing.
    • Tapestries may not be hung from the ceiling and should instead be hung flush to a wall.
  • Smoking, polluting or lingering on the fire escapes or stairwells, as they provide an egress to the ground level in case of fire
  • An obstructed path from the bed to the front door

Furniture (University Provided)

All the furniture and appliances provided by the university remain the property of the university throughout the resident’s occupancy. The resident may not remove or disassemble any university-owned furniture or appliances in the apartment. Furniture cannot be taken outside the residence or used as lawn furniture. The resident may not remove any university-owned items from the common spaces in the residence hall. Construction such as, but not limited to, panels, dividers, lofts, shelves and bunks, are not permitted. Beds may not be placed on top of other furniture. Dressers may not be stacked. Residents are not permitted to move university furniture into an unsafe position.  

Students will be charged for damaged and missing furniture. Requests for repairs or replacement can be done by submitting a work request.

University of the Arts maintains a strict outside furniture policy to ensure fire safety and protect the cleanliness of the rooms. Additionally, outside furniture can contribute to pest problems. All rooms are furnished appropriately for its occupants with a desk, dresser, and bed.
Outside furniture is prohibited in the residence halls except for the following items:

  • Lamps (only non‐halogen bulbs)
  • Media stand, book case, or night stand 

Please keep in mind the following:

  • Do not bring in items noted above which have been discarded (such as furniture left on the street). Such items may have pests such as bedbugs and will not be allowed in the residence hall even if it meets guidelines.
  • No upholstered furniture or furniture that requires cushions are allowed for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to dish/butterfly chairs, couches, futons, etc. 

Residents are responsible to remove outside furniture from their room when they move out of the building or they will be charged for its removal. Residents will be charged for any outside furniture that causes pest problems. The Office of Campus Life may amend these guidelines at any time and reserves the right to require the immediate removal of any outside furniture for any reason.

Guest/Visitation

A guest is defined as any individual who is visiting a living space to which they are not assigned. Resident hosts may have no more than three guests in their assigned apartment at any given time. Resident hosts must sign in their guest(s), following proper procedure at the front desk of their residence hall if their guest does not reside in the same residence hall building.  Each guest who does not live in the same building is required to leave a photo identification card at the front desk while in the building. The guest(s) ID card(s) must remain at the desk until the guest(s) vacate the building. Acceptable forms of photo ID include a current valid driver’s license, a non-driver’s ID, a school ID, or a passport. No other forms of ID will be accepted. Guests without ID will not be permitted access into the residence hall, except in emergencies. Guests without ID, seeking access in the event of an emergency, must fill out a Guest Application and have approval from Campus Life staff to access the residence halls and will be administered a temporary guest ID card. Students may not sign in or sign out guest(s) for other residential students.  

Overnight guests are defined as any guest signed in or visiting between the hours of 2:00 am to 8:00 am. Overnight guests are not to exceed two consecutive nights and not more than three nights in a seven-day period on a rolling calendar basis.

Minor guests are defined as any guest who is under the age of 18. To host a minor guest, the minor’s parent or guardian must complete the Guest Application at least two (2) business days prior to the date of the visit and wait for approval from Campus Life before the guest is permitted on campus. No minor under the age of 13 will be permitted to stay on campus overnight. 
All guests must be signed in every 24 hours. Resident hosts must escort their guest(s) at all times in the building, including when they exit the building. Resident hosts are responsible for their guest’s actions and all university policies apply to any guest visiting a residential hall. Guests may not occupy a resident host’s room when the host is not present. A resident may not pressure a roommate to tolerate the presence of any guest. All non-residents are subject to the agreement of all room residents. The presence of non-residents must not restrict free access for assigned residents to all common spaces and any private space they may have, or create any situation that infringes on the need of roommates to remain undisturbed.  Guests of University of the Arts agree to release, relieve, discharge, and hold harmless the University of the Arts, its trustees, faculty, administrators, staff, employees, representatives, and volunteer leaders from any and all liability or claim of liability in accordance with the Universal Waiver policy found in Section 3 of the Student Handbook.

Health & Safety Inspections

Residents are responsible for keeping their apartments in a safe and healthy condition. The Office of Campus Life performs regular inspections of the resident’s apartment to ensure compliance with university standards of health and safe living practices. The dates and approximate times of these inspections will be scheduled with residents at least 48 hours in advance and conducted by two (2) residential staff members from Campus Life. Residents who do not pass inspection will be subject to additional inspection appointments. 

Health and Safety inspections consist of: 

  • Checking-in with residents and following up on reported maintenance issues. 
  • Assessment of food storage and waste cleanliness. 
  • Visual checks for prohibited items or behaviors that pose a risk to residents and the larger community (e.g., candles, cooking appliances in non-kitchen areas, non-surge extension cords).

If an apartment or room condition is deemed unacceptable, the Campus Life staff will notify the resident(s) by issuing a warning. The resident(s) will have two business days, or a deadline otherwise specified by Campus Life staff, to correct/clean the areas of concern. If the apartment or room remains unacceptable, the residents will be reported to the senior director for student engagement and may go through the conduct process. 

In addition, Campus Life staff will inspect apartments, suites, and bedrooms during move out for winter break. Campus Life staff provides information to residents to prepare their rooms for winter break. Students who do not follow closing procedures may be subject to fines at the end of the academic year. Students will be notified of charges via email prior to their return to campus for the spring semester. 

Campus Life staff will not conduct a room search that infringes on residents’ privacy, but they may open cabinets or closets to find fire equipment and/or locate safety hazards. If, in the course of doing so, items that are prohibited are located, Public Safety will confiscate the item(s). See the Confiscation policy for more information.

Housing Agreement

Students sign an electronic Housing Agreement for the current academic year and are provided with an assignment for a space on campus, not a particular apartment or room. Students who leave the university due to withdrawal, a leave of absence (medical or general), dismissal or termination of the housing agreement must contact the Office of Campus Life at reslife@uarts.edu within 48 hours of notification of leave, and are responsible for scheduling an official check out from their housing assignment with a resident advisor. 

Students who are notified during winter break that they are being academically dismissed or who choose not to return to the university for the spring semester must contact the Office of Campus Life to make arrangements to check out of their assignment. The checkout process occurs no later than 72 hours prior to the spring semester opening of the residence halls.  

If a student is mandated by the Office of Campus Life and/or Student Affairs to relocate to a new apartment or out of the residence halls, they must do so according to the timeline outlined by university administration. Upon departure, items that remain in an apartment more than 48 hours after the student has been reassigned or removed from the  residence will be disposed of, and students may be charged a cleaning fee for removal of personal items.  

Cancellation: University-approved cancellation of the Housing Agreement will result in refunds in accordance with the tuition refund policy as listed on the UArts website and will be subject to a cancellation fee.

Cancellation Occurring Housing Cost Charged Housing Cost Refunded
Prior to First Day of Classes 0% 100%
Before the End of the Second Week of Classes 20% 80%
Before the End of the Third Week of Classes 60% 40%
After the End of the Third Week of Classes 100% 0%

All cancellations will also be subject to a cancellation fee based on the schedule below:

  • Before May 15: No cancellation fee applied
  • May 16 - July 1: $250 cancellation fee
  • After July 2: $500.00 cancellation fee

Residents who wish to apply for cancellation of their Housing Agreement must complete a contract cancellation form, available upon request from reslife@uarts.edu. This form also allows students to apply to cancel their meal plan. Commuter students who wish to enroll, cancel or change their meal plan should contact Campus Life at reslife@uarts.edu. 

Refunds of meal plans are issued in accordance with the tuition refund policy, as listed above and on the UArts website.

Residents wishing to cancel their meal plan for medical exemption should contact the Office of Educational Accessibility by emailing access@uarts.edu.

If a resident’s cancellation is not approved, they are financially obligated for the entire costs of the academic year’s housing and meal plan.

This Housing Agreement may be terminated by the university under the following conditions.

  • The resident fails to maintain a healthy and safe living environment, as determined by the senior director for student engagement (or a designee).
  • The resident receives a sanction that includes suspension/expulsion from university housing.
  • The resident ceases to be eligible for university housing under the terms of the agreement.
  • The resident experiences a medical emergency or an unforeseen financial hardship. (A contract cancellation form is required for review.)

ID Cards

All residents must display a valid, university-issued ID card with the appropriate residential building sticker and Student Financial Services semester verification to gain access to the residence halls. Residents must enter and exit residence halls through the main entrance at which the Public Safety front desk is located. Residents may not intentionally provide another person with their ID card for the purpose of the other individual gaining access to the residence hall. If a student loses their ID card, they should report it to Public Safety immediately so access is shut off, and visit Student Financial Services in Hamilton Hall, Room 270, to obtain a new ID card. The cost for a new ID card is $35 and can be charged to your student account.

Keys/Lockouts

In the case that the resident is no longer in possession of the apartment key, the lock mechanism for the apartment door will be replaced for security reasons. The resident will be charged $65.00 for this replacement. A $10.00 charge will be assessed for replacing the mail key. 

Failure to return the apartment key upon checkout will require the lock mechanism for the apartment door to be replaced for security reasons. When a resident vacates an apartment, they must return their old key within 72 hours. A $65.00 charge will be assessed for replacement keys or lock replacement. 

In the event of a lockout, a $10.00 fee will be charged to the account of any resident student who requires a member of the university staff to open the door to that resident’s apartment.  

Lounges

Juniper Hall Lounge is open to commuter and residential students. All other residence hall lounges are only for residential students and their guests. Students are not permitted to sleep in the lounges and are expected to abide by all community policies and standards while in the communal space. 

Maintenance/Repairs

Residents are responsible for submitting online maintenance requests for repairs needed to their apartment through the UArts portal or UArts app. In emergency situations, residents should notify the RA on duty or ask the Public Safety officer at their residence hall’s front desk to contact Facilities on their behalf. Residents are also responsible for reporting pest concerns or sightings. Pest control services are onsite once a week to address reported concerns. Most routine requests will be addressed in 24 to 72 hours. See the Bed Bug/Pest policy for more information.

Noise

All noise must be kept at a moderate level. Use of musical instruments, especially amplified musical instruments or particularly loud instruments (e.g., brass instruments or drums), are not permitted in residence halls. Courtesy Hours are in effect at all times, when a resident must lower the level of noise being created upon another resident’s request. Quiet Hours are in effect 24 hours per day during final examination, critiques and juries weeks. Outside  those weeks, quiet hours are in effect Sunday–Thursday, 11 p.m.–7 a.m., and Friday-Saturday, 12 a.m.–7 a.m. All residents are expected to act in a conscientious fashion regarding noise levels.

Occupancy

If a resident’s eligibility status changes during the length of the Housing Agreement, the resident is expected to move out of the residence halls within forty-eight (48) hours. If an extension is required, the resident must submit the request in writing to the Office of Campus Life. Students participating in the university’s Commencement are permitted to remain in their assigned residence hall space until 3 p.m. the day after Commencement.  

Personal Property (Loss)

The university is not responsible for loss or damage of personal property in the residence halls. The university does not insure the student’s personal property against loss or damage resulting from any cause including, though not limited to, fire, water, vandalism and/or theft. Students are encouraged to purchase private insurance and/or obtain personal lockboxes. In addition, students should refrain from keeping cash and/or expensive items in their residence hall apartments. Students should keep their apartment doors locked whenever they are not present. It is each individual’s responsibility to obtain renter’s insurance for their personal property. Students may have coverage under a family homeowner policy, so it is advisable students check with them to determine if coverage is available. Students may also look into obtaining coverage through National Student Services, Inc. College Student Property Insurance.

Pets

Pets of any kind are not permitted in the residence halls, except fish and hermit crabs. Residents are limited to one hermit crab. The maximum size for an aquarium is 10 gallons and fish must be non-carnivorous. Fish tanks will be limited to one per resident, and room occupants will assume all damages related to the use or malfunction of the aquarium. Failure to abide by the above restriction will result in a $25.00 fine for each day the pet remains in the residence hall. 

Live or dead animals may not be used in pranks or for amusement or ceremony. Use of animal materials, by-products or bodily fluids is prohibited in the residence halls.

Students requesting exceptions to this policy under the auspices of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must do so through the Office of Educational Accessibility. The university is committed to providing reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified students with disabilities.  The university complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). UArts permits support animals (often referred to as emotional support animals) in campus residential housing as a reasonable accommodation once the student has met the guidelines under which approval of a support animal is determined, and the procedure for requesting housing accommodations has been completed and approved. Note: If you are found responsible for having an animal on campus without approval, you are no longer eligible for accommodation. Anticipated or current roommates of a student applying for an emotional support animal (ESA), must sign off on the animal as part of the intake process. Residents are responsible for their emotional support animal’s actions. If a roommate is experiencing an issue with a support animal, they should contact Campus Life at reslife@uarts.edu to file a grievance.

Physical Activities

Students may not participate in any physical activity or recreation inside the residence halls that poses a threat to the safety of other students or to the facility itself. These activities include, but are not limited to, riding hoverboards, skateboarding, rollerblading, roller-skating, bike riding and throwing objects.  

Posting 

Bulletin boards are designated for posting residence hall information, community activities board notices and other similar items. All postings on bulletin boards or common areas of residence halls must receive approval from Campus Life. All signage must be submitted in person to the Office of Campus Life to receive approval. Once approved, all signs, posters, and advertisements will be hung by Office of Campus Life staff members, or designees. Unauthorized removal of postings or vandalism of bulletin boards is prohibited.

Prohibited Areas

For safety and security reasons, residents may not access the following areas of any residence hall.

  • Roof and/or terraces
  • Balconies
  • Storage basements
  • Fire escapes, except for exit due to fire or other emergency

Prohibited Items

The following are prohibited for use and/or possession in the residence halls. Any other item that is deemed unsafe or inappropriate for residential living may be considered prohibited, at the discretion of the senior director for student engagement.

  • Air conditioners not provided by the university
  • Alcohol containers (empty or not) and alcohol paraphernalia
  • Body modification equipment (including branding, tattooing, piercing guns or other body modification equipment)
  • Candles/incense/wax burners (open flame, hot plate with exposed heating element or lit ember)
  • Drugs and drug paraphernalia
  • Electric blankets
  • Extension cords 
  • Fireworks 
  • Halogen lamps
  • Hot tubs/pools/slip ‘n’ slides
  • Hookahs 
  • Hoverboards
  • Microwave ovens not provided by the university
  • Refrigerators not provided by the university
  • Space heaters
  • String lights, rope lights, holiday lights (limited to three (3) strands per apartment, must be solar or battery powered)
  • Weapons
  • Wall tapestries, flags or other wall hangings 
    • Permitted when made from fabrics that are compliant with NFPA 701 flammability standard 
    • Compliance may be established by a label on the fabric item or by treating the fabric with an approved product; following treatment of fabrics, students must send notification to reslife@uarts.edu attesting to this treatment, along with the receipt for purchase of the product and the product label. 
    • The Fire Marshal or university may cut and test a piece of these fabrics, and students must accept this as a condition of having fabric hangings in university housing.
    • Tapestries may not be hung from the ceiling or used as room dividers and should instead be hung flush to a wall.

The following items are permitted, but must display a manufacturer’s label that shows the electrical ratings and listing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (e.g., ETL, UL, etc.).

  • Electric skillets
  • Hot plates (heating element must have a cover)
  • Induction cooktop (heating element must have a cover)
  • Panini makers/George Foreman grills

Roommate Conflicts

To support students experiencing roommate conflict, the Campus Life staff hosts mediations. Mediation is a guided conversation which allows the parties to respectfully voice their concerns and reach a mutually beneficial solution. Campus Life staff members are trained to facilitate mediation, and students are encouraged to take advantage of their skillset. Though there are some situations where mediation is not appropriate, most problems can be effectively mediated, and mediation is often the first required course of action. Refer to the following steps to resolve a conflict with a roommate.

  1. Students should attempt to solve problems on their own first. Conflict resolution skills are vital for harmonious living and being a successful professional in your career field.
  2. Address the problem, how you perceive it and why it is of concern to you. Avoid profanity or disrespectful language. Do not assume that others know how you feel about an issue. Be willing to work toward a compromise. It may be helpful to talk it through with your resident assistant first to prepare for the conversation.
  3. If the situation is not resolved, the student should notify their resident assistant. The resident assistant will then facilitate a conversation among the students and draft an updated roommate agreement to be signed by all parties.
  4. If the problem persists, the resident assistant will notify the area coordinator. All residents involved will discuss the problem with the area coordinator.

Room Entry & Search

The university respects each student’s right to privacy and is committed to protecting this right. However, university officials (such as Campus Life, Public Safety and Facilities staff) may enter a student room when there is reason to believe that the health or safety of residents and/or a residential space is in jeopardy or a university policy is being violated. Maintenance may also enter rooms to perform necessary repairs as needed. 

A room search will only be conducted when authorized by one of the following people.

  • Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Senior Director for Student Engagement
  • Director for Residence Life and Housing
  • Community Standards Coordinator
  • Administrator On Call

Students do not have to be present for the search, but university personnel will make a good faith effort to contact the student and provide them with written documentation of search authorization, either at the time of the search or the next business day. During a search, the student may be required to open any locked trunks, suitcases, etc. If the student is not present, any item in the room, including purses, trunks, etc., may be searched. The university will take due care to ensure proper handling of the student’s belongings, but it is not liable for damage or clean up as a result of a room search. 

Smoking

The University of the Arts maintains a smoke-free environment. Smoking is prohibited on all university property, including apartments, hallways, roofs, balconies, catwalks, stairwells, outdoor building courtyards and steps. Smoking is, in part, defined as carrying or holding of any lit or ignited pipe, cigar, cigarette, electronic cigarette, vaping device, or any other lit or battery operated smoking equipment or device. Smoking is permitted only outdoors and 20 feet from building entrances and exits. Smoking is therefore prohibited in all areas of the residence halls. Any used cigarettes, ashtrays, smoking paraphernalia  and/or ashes will be considered a violation of the smoking policy. Students seeking support in smoking cessation should contact Student Health Services at healthservices@uarts.edu for assistance. 

Solicitation

Residents are not permitted to use their room, suite or apartment for any commercial purpose. Solicitation by residents or guests is prohibited in the residence halls. Door-to-door advertising by outside vendors is not allowed.

Accommodation Requests

Students who wish to request housing accommodations or adjustments due to a disability must contact the Office of Educational Accessibility at 215-717-6616 or access@uarts.edu. For more information, refer to the UArts website: uarts.edu/accessibility.

Weapons

Students are not permitted to have weapons on campus including, but not limited to, firearms of any kind, tasers. nunchucks, shuriken, knives (other than eating utensils), cap guns, ammunition and explosives (or explosive chemicals), among other dangerous weapons or substances. Weapons used as props, whether real or otherwise, are not permitted in the residence halls.