Residence Life Policies

Room Assignments

Students choose their room according to their class standing (as determined by the Registrar) and are randomly assigned a room draw number.

1. Continuing students draw into their room each spring for the following academic year. Random numbers are assigned each spring according to class standing (i.e., seniors, third-year students, and second-year students). In order to participate, a student’s account may not be delinquent, and a $200 advance tuition deposit must be paid to the Office of the Treasurer. Deposits may not be paid at room draw. Updated residence life/housing procedures are available on the Residence Life website beginning in February. These procedures are established by the Residence Life Committee. Students who cannot be present at room draw need to notify Student Affairs staff members and make arrangements for their room to be drawn by a Student Affairs staff member or another student.
2. First-year student rooms are reserved in each residence hall before the campus room draw occurs, and are assigned during the summer months. Individual requests are honored when possible.
3. A student contracts space in College housing, not a specific room. The Department of Residence Life and Orientation reserves the right to assign or reassign students. If during any term, circumstances result in a student being left in a less-than-fully-occupied room, the students are encouraged to find a roommate. If a roommate is not found within an adequate amount of time, the Department of Residence Life and Orientation may: a.) move the student to another room, or b.) move someone into the open space.

Room Changes

Room changes are the last option in resolving conflict regarding student’s living situation, barring any exceptional circumstances such as health reasons.

1. Prior to consideration of a room change, the students are required to work through conflict resolution using their Residence Life Coordinator. Students requesting a room change must discuss issues with their current roommate(s).
2. The Residence Life Coordinator notifies the Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life and Orientation of her/his/hir support or lack of support for a room change.
3. The Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life and Orientation and/or Dean of Students makes the final decision regarding a room change.
4. Room changes are not to be made during the first two weeks of each semester unless exceptional circumstances exist. The Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence and Orientation and/or Dean of Students must authorize room changes.

Room Vacancies

When space is needed, Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life and Orientation and/or Dean of Students may require a student living alone (in a room other than a single) to find a roommate from among other students in the same circumstance or move into another room. The Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life and Orientation and/or Dean of Students will work with students to best resolve vacancy situations for the overall housing of Grinnell College students. 

Check In and Check Out Procedures

Check-in and inventory

• Each residence hall room is inventoried for furnishings and physical condition.
• A completed copy of the inventory form is left in the room for occupants.
• The original form is maintained by the Residence Life Coordinator.
• Students are required to review the inventory form, note discrepancies, sign it and return it to the Residence Life Coordinator during the first week of classes.

Check out 

• Upon departure from the room, students should leave their rooms locked, clean, and orderly.
• At the end of each semester, notices are posted with procedures for vacating rooms and returning keys.
• Check out with your Residence Life Coordinator. Students who fail to check-out without the Residence Life Coordinator forfeit their right to appeal furnishing and condition charges.
• Students leaving campus who want mail forwarded to an address other than that in the campus directory should contact Crady Mail Services.
• Pay outstanding fines and bills to the Cashier.

Room Inventories and Condition Policy

Completed room inventory forms are placed in each student room by Residence Life staff. Please review the form and note discrepancies. Ask the Residence Life Coordinator to review discrepancies with you. Return form to the Residence Life Coordinator. Your room is inventoried when you move out of the room. You are financially responsible for the furnishings and physical condition of your room. Occupants are equally responsible for damaged or missing furniture unless otherwise agreed upon by roommates. 

Room Keys, Pioneer One-Cards

At the beginning of each school year Residence Life staff members distribute keys for residence hall rooms. Pioneer One-Card (or P-Cards) are distributed by Dining Services. The cards are activated for access to the residence halls by Campus Safety and Security. Lost Keys - Immediately report any lost residence hall key to your Residence Life Coordinator. The Residence Life Coordinator will then order new keys. Students may pick up their keys from Campus Safety and Security. There is a $50 charge for replacement of lost residence hall keys. Lost Pioneer One-Cards or P-Cards are replaced by Dining Services for a $25 fee. Opening Student Rooms for those who have Forgotten their Keys - Student rooms are unlocked for students who lock themselves out within the following guidelines:

1. From 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. students may contact their Residence Life Coordinator to unlock their door, provided that their RLC is available and not busy. If their Residence Life Coordinator is not available, students should contact Campus Safety and Security. The student may be charged $10 for unlocking a student’s room by Campus Safety and Security staff.
2. After 10:00 p.m., students should contact Campus Safety and Security to have their room doors unlocked. The student’s account may be charged $10 for unlocking student rooms by Campus Safety and Security staff. Campus Safety and Security officers are usually busy, and it may take them some time to get to a student’s room.
3. A student must present his/ her/hir student ID (Pioneer One-Card or P-Card) to the person from whom assistance is requested.

Furnishings Policy

1. Students are prohibited from moving College-owned furniture from one room to another.
2. Upon a report to the Dean of Students and/or the Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life and Orientation that there is unassigned College-owned property in a student room, a notice that the furniture must be returned to the designated location is given. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action (such as referral to Judicial Council) and/or a monetary/community restitution fine.
3. Room furnishings should never be placed in hallways, stairwells, or other common areas. Policy violations may result in disciplinary action(such as referral to Judicial Council). 

Personal Property Liability

The College assumes no liability for loss or damage to a student’s personal property. Students are encouraged to insure their personal property on their own or through family insurance plans. 

Advance Tuition Deposit

The advance tuition deposit of $200.00 must be paid by April 1st of each year. The number of paid advance tuition deposits determines the number of spaces reserved for returning students in the fall semester. From this information, the number of new students to be admitted is determined. 

Damage Deposit

A damage deposit of $100.00 must be brought current annually by July 15th. Residence hall damage charges and fines are charged against this deposit.

Storage

Storage during the academic year - Limited storage is available in a nearby residence hall trunk room during the academic year. Trunk room hours are posted by the Residence Life Coordinator. Space for boxes, trunks, and suitcases is limited. If there are questions regarding trunk room access, please contact your Residence Life Coordinator. End of the year storage - At the end of the academic year, all items must be removed from the trunk room by the Monday of final exams week. All items left in the trunk room after this time will be considered abandoned. The Residence Life Coordinator will post limited trunk room access times. Summer storage - During the summer months, storage is only available off campus through a local storage firm, C & K Storage. C & K Storage will post storage pick-up times and storage prices during the last two weeks of classes. Students may contact C & K Storage directly by calling 641-236-3418. Storage for leaves of absence - Students taking a leave of absence during the academic year need to remove all items from the trunk rooms. These students should contact C & K Transfer directly to arrange off-campus storage. Students taking a leave of absence during the summer who have items stored the trunk rooms should contact C & K Transfer directly at 641-236-3418 to make further arrangements for the storage of belongings. Packing and Shipping Student Belongings - Total Choice Shipping is available to pack and ship student belongings. They are located at 812 Commercial St., Grinnell, Iowa 50112. They can be reached at 1-800-284-2564. 

Vacating Rooms During College Breaks

Students are required to leave their rooms between semesters. In some occasions, international and US global nomad students may be granted special permission to remain in the residence halls between semesters. During the winter and spring breaks, the residence halls and other College-owned housing (e.g., language and project houses) become substance-free. Policy violation may result in disciplinary action. Students may not return early from breaks to the residence halls or College-owned houses. 

Custodial Service

The custodial staff clean the lounges, corridors, and bathrooms of each residence hall. Students are expected to keep their rooms clean and in order during the semester. A vacuum cleaner and other cleaning materials are available in a student cleaning closet(s) in each residence hall and may be used at any time. 

Laundry Facilities

Student laundry facilities are located in Dibble, Younker, Loose, Main and each of the East Campus residence halls. Students living in College-owned housing have access to residence hall laundry facilities. The machines are operated with the Grinnell College Pioneer One-Card (P-Card). See the “Card System” section for details on setting up a P-Card cash account.   

Pets

Amphibians, birds, fish, invertebrates, rodents (except ferrets), or reptiles that are non-poisonous and non-dangerous are permitted in student rooms.  Conditions that must be met for pet ownership on campus include:

• the permission of the roommate;
• registration with the RLC (see below for more information);
• proper care of the pet, including feeding and cleaning;
• proper housing (i.e. cage/container) for the pet (see below for more information)

Please note that any food or accessories for the pet MUST be kept in the student room (and not in kitchen refrigerators, for example).  Registration:  For the safety of your pet, you are now required to “register” your pet with your RLC.  If any problems were to arise, or if your animal got out of its cage, or in case of fire or evacuation, the RLC would be able to contact you.  Through registration, you will be asked to share the plans for your pet over College breaks.  You and your roommate should complete the brief but important form (available from your RLC) to register your pet.  Unauthorized Pets: Cats are not allowed in the residence halls, and dogs are not permitted in ANY College-owned housing.  Please be aware of the following response steps:

• Cats and dogs are not allowed.  Do not bring an unauthorized pet into the residence halls.
• If unauthorized pets are found, the RLC will meet with the student and create a timeline for the student to remove the pet.
• If that timeline (created by the student and RLC) is not met, the student will meet with the Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life and Orientation, and another timeline will be created for the student to remove their pet. 
• If the second timeline for pet removal is not met, the student’s participation in Room Draw for the upcoming academic year will be affected (i.e. the student will lose their Room Draw number and will choose a room at the end of their class).  Additionally, the College will partner with Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS) – and, if necessary, the Grinnell Police Department – to remove the pet from College housing in order to find the pet a new home.
• Please note that any requests to live off-campus due to pet ownership will not be granted. 

Cages/containers:   With the exception of fish, animals should be fully enclosed in six-sided metal, glass, or wood cages according to the following minimum guidelines:

• each cage has a locking device;
• cages with solid sides also have at least four square inches of ventilation space covered in screening;
• hinged top cages have top weights ten times the animal’s weight, or locks every 20 inches opposite the hinged side;
• the openings on all other cages must have locks for every 20 inches of door. 

Cats in College-owned Houses:  Cats are ONLY allowed in College-owned houses (i.e. Language Houses and Project Houses) under the following conditions:

• A confidential house vote is to be conducted by the Residence Life Coordinator. One “no” vote prohibits the house from having a cat.  Results are reported to the Residence Life and Orienataion Office.
• Cats living in College-owned houses must be registered with the RLC and Residence Life and Orientation Office.
• The person who registers the cat is responsible for its care. Neglect or abandonment of a cat is prohibited.
• Cats must have current and appropriate vaccinations. Owners or caretakers must submit proof of vaccinations to the Department of Residence Life and Orientation.
• Cats must be spayed/neutered and litter trained.
• Only one cat per house is permitted.
• Any complaints about the cat may result in its removal from the house.

  Complaints:  Any College community member may file a complaint about unauthorized pets in College-owned student housing, or pets that are causing a disturbance or being abused on campus. Complaints should be filed with the Dean of Students and/or the Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Residence Life and Orientation.

Quiet/Courtesy Hours

Excessive noise infringes on a student’s right to study, sleep, or reside in peace. Failure to cooperate with the quiet/courtesy hours policy may result in student conduct action. When necessary, official quiet hours and penalties for violation are determined through a hall or floor majority vote. Even when quiet hours are not in effect, courtesy hours remain in place for the entire residential community.