Residence Life housing procedures are located on the Student Affairs website. Students are responsible for meeting residence life deadlines to be eligible for on- and off-campus housing.

Students with special housing requests need to submit appropriate documentation stating reasons for accommodations and the necessary accommodation to the Dean of Students by February 15th. Accommodations are limited by the constraints of the residential nature of the College.

Students are involved in the residence life/housing process through the Residence Life Sub-Committee, a student committee that works closely with the Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life and/or the Dean of Students. Students interested in becoming Residence Life Committee members should contact the Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life.

All students are required to room and board in college residences. Exceptions to this policy are made only for students who are 22 years or older, students with children, students who live with their families residing in the Grinnell area, and a limited number of seniors and third-year students. Permission to live in non-college housing must be obtained from the Office of Residence Life each year. Anyone meeting the above criteria must request permission by the date stated in the Residence Life Procedures packet and advertised in the Campus Memo. Students should not sign a lease until written permission to live in non-college housing has been obtained. Students who move out of the residence halls without written permission from the Division of Student Affairs are held financially responsible for room and board.

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 Sub-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 Office of Residence Life 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 Office of Residence Life 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 Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life of her/his/hir support or lack of support for a room change.
• 3. The Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life 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 Associate Dean and Director of Residence and/or Dean of Students must authorize room changes.

When space is needed, Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life 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 Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life 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

• 1. Check-in and inventory -
• a. Each residence hall room is inventoried for furnishings and physical condition.
• b. A completed copy of the inventory form is left in the room for occupants.
• c. The original form is maintained by the Residence Life Coordinator.
• d. 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.
• 2. Check out -
• a. Upon departure from the room, students should leave their rooms locked, clean, and orderly.
• b. At the end of each semester, notices are posted with procedures for vacating rooms and returning keys.
• c. 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.
• d. Students leaving campus who want mail forwarded to an address other than that in the campus directory should contact Crady Mail Services.
• e. Pay outstanding fines and bills to the Cashier.

Room Inventories and Condition Policy

Completed room inventory forms are placed in each student room by Facilities Management and/or Residence Life staff. Please review the form and note discrepancies. Ask the Residence Life Coordinator to review discrepancies with you and sign your form. 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, per key, 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 or her student ID (Pioneer One-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 Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life that there is unassigned college-owned property in a student room, notice that furniture must be returned to the designated location is given. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action (such as referral to Judicial Council) or a monetary/community restitution fine. The College does not have authority to search the rooms of students who live in off-campus housing that is not owned by the College. But students should be aware that, with proper evidence, the College may turn over theft reports to the local police department.
• 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.



Fine Policy

The SGA Vice-President is required to file charges with the Judicial Council against individuals who accumulate three or more damage/fine situations or accrue $100 or more in damages/fines or are involved in one of the following:

• 1. Willful or negligent actions that endanger the health and safety of persons on campus;
• 2. Possession or use of fireworks, explosives, or firearms (including air rifles) on campus property;
• 3. Misuse of or tampering with fire extinguishers, fire alarm systems, smoke and/or heat detectors, sprinkler systems, or other security equipment ;
• 4. Arson or attempted arson;
• 5. Aggravated criminal damage to property.

Sanctions are imposed on students found in violation of College policy. Also, hall council members, floor members, or members of the campus community may file charges against individuals believed to have committed damage or violated a college policy regardless of the number of damages/fines, the total amount of damages/fines, or the type of damages/fines. In the event that the SGA Vice-President is accused of damaging a common area or violating a college policy, another SGA cabinet member may then file charges against the SGA Vice-President with the Judicial Council.

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, limited storage is available. All residence hall trunk rooms are contracted to C and K Transfer, a local storage and moving company. C and K will post storage times and storage prices during the last two weeks of classes. The Residence Life Coordinator does not have access to the trunk rooms during this time. Students with large items, such as furniture or bicycles, which need to be stored during the summer, may contact C and K Transfer at 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 and 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 and 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 and during Spring Recess. In some occasions, international and US global nomad students may be granted special permission to remain in the residence halls between semesters and during Spring Recess. 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 cleans 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 is located in each residence hall and may be checked out from the appropriate person (i.e., either a student staff member or a Residence Life Coordinator). Other cleaning materials are located in the student cleaning closet in each residence hall.

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. See the "Card System" section for details on setting up a P-Card cash account.

Pets
Pet 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 the SGA Vice-President, who keeps copies of the disposition of the case in his/her/hir files.

Dog Policy -

• 1. Dogs are not permitted in college-owned housing. Infractions of this policy are determined by the SGA Vice-President and can result in fines to dog owners or caretakers of $5 per day for one week or until the owner or caretaker provides proof that the pet is not living in college-owned student housing. All fines collected accrue to SGA. If, after one week, the owner or caretaker has not provided proof of the removal of the pet (e.g., a written notice stating the address and phone number of the new pet owner, the signatures of the old and new owners, and the date) the SGA Vice-President must charge the dog owner or caretaker before the Judicial Council. Appeals to the above infractions can be made to the Judicial Council.
• 2. Dogs brought to campus (defined as an area bordered by Sixth Avenue, Park Street, East Street, and Tenth Avenue) must be on a leash (maximum six feet) and attached to a person. When a dog is not on a leash and not attached to a person, the owner or caretaker may be fined $50. All fines collected accrue to SGA. In addition, if a second incident of a dog not on a leash and not attached to a person occurs, SGA is informed. The SGA Vice-President may bring a person before the Judicial Council.
• 3. Any dog on-campus must have current and appropriate vaccinations.

Cat Policy - Cats are not allowed in the residence halls. If cats are found in a residence hall they will be removed without notification. Cats that are found on-campus will be removed from campus. Removed cats are turned over to the Grinnell Police Department. Cats are allowed in college-owned houses under the following conditions:

1. A confidential house vote is to be conducted by the Residence Life Coordinator. One "no" vote prohibits the house from having a cat. 2. Cats living in college-owned houses must be registered with the Office of Residence Life. 3. The person who registers the cat is responsible for its care. Neglect or abandonment of a cat is prohibited. 4. Cats must have current and appropriate vaccinations. Owners or caretakers must submit proof of vaccinations to staff from the Office of Residence Life. 5. Cats must be neutered. 6. Only one cat per house is permitted.

Three complaints may result in removal of the cat from the house. Violation of this policy results in a $50 fine.
Other Pets - Nonpoisonous birds, rodents (except ferrets), reptiles, amphibians, fish, or invertebrates that are properly housed are permitted in student rooms. With the exception of fish, animals should be fully enclosed in metal, glass, or wood cages according to the following minimum guidelines: a.) each cage has a locking device; b.) cages with solid sides also have at least four square inches of ventilation space covered in screening; c.) hinged top cages for reptiles have top weights ten times the animal's weight or positive locks every 20 inches opposite the hinged side; and d.) the openings on all other cages must have positive locks for every 20 inches of door. Irresponsible pet ownership may lead to Judicial Council action.

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 judicial action. Official quiet hours and penalties for violation are determined through a hall or floor majority vote. When quiet hours are not in effect, courtesy hours remain in place.