1. Campus Community
  2. Housing And Dining
  3. Guide to Living On Campus
   

    Guide to Living On Campus

     

    Mission

    Residential Life provides living environments which supports Washington College's mission through programming, leadership development, community standards, facilities management, and support of the professional staff. Residential Life's efforts aim to prepare students with foundational living skills for a successful transition to life beyond college. 

    Goals

    Residential Life will utilize programming to teach life skills, promote the value of “fun”, support the arts, local sports and business, and the lifelong value of strong connections to the local community.

    Residential Life will provide training and development for student staff in leadership. Qualities such as moral courage, ethical sensitivity, and integrity are fostered in our student leaders where unhurried conversations and the close connections created are valued. In trainings, supervisory meetings and the course of position duties, critical skills will be taught and reinforced, such as time management, goal setting, budget management, connecting to people, how to challenge themselves by pushing out of their comfort zone and deepen their leadership skills.

    Residential Life will use its management of the residence halls to provide a safe living environment and educate residents in critical skills such as living and working in a diverse, global community, effective communication skills, community transparency, and responsible management of personal and community spaces. Residential Life staff will be advocates for the residence halls with Buildings & Grounds and coordinate between resident and facilities staff when necessary.

    Staff

    Residential Life is staffed with professional and paraprofessional student staff who provide supervision, guidance, and support to individual students and to floor and hall communities.

    • Director of Residential Life: Amy Sine
    • Community Coordinator: Sam Flint

    Resident Assistants (RAs) and Community Assistants (CAs) are assigned to a floor or a residence hall. The student staff help build a community within the residence halls by getting to know residents, upholding policies, and planning floor and hall activities. They understand the College's mission, procedures, policies, and the Honor Code and are instrumental in working with residents to shape community standards and respectful behavior.

     

    Living on Campus  

    All students living in double rooms will be provided with a roommate, so it is essential that you (not your parents) accurately, and completely fill out the lifestyle preferences section of your housing application. All students are required to fill out the Student Housing Preference Form, regardless whether you have a roommate in mind.

    When you receive your housing assignment, you will receive contact information for your roommate. Be sure to contact your roommate and talk early about what items each of you will bring for your room. If you live close to one another, you may want to consider meeting before the beginning of the academic semester so you have an opportunity to get to know one another before the hectic pace of move-in and orientation. Remember, on-line communities like Facebook should never replace personal contact.

    It's All About Communication

    After arriving on campus, you and your roommate will be given a roommate contract to fill out. This is a structured opportunity for you and your roommate to discuss the “rules of the road” for living together. Here are some important tips to consider:

    Tip #1 - Speak Up

    Get to know your roommate. Even if you're not great friends, you'll be able to get along better if you understand each other. Discuss what you expect from each other. Don't be afraid to tell your roommate if his/her actions bother you. Let each other know when important events (tests, papers, competitions, etc.) are coming up.

    Tip #2 - Silence is Golden

    Yeah, we just told you that you shouldn't be afraid to discuss things with your roommate, but you'll probably be better off if you don't tell your roommate about all of her/his little annoying habits. Think long term. You're going to have to live with your roommate for an entire school year, so don't nit-pick or judge her/him on how they act the first week of school. It takes people a while to adjust to college life and living with a stranger, so give your roommate the benefit of the doubt before criticizing his/her actions.

    Tip #3 - Plan Ahead

    Decide how you're going to handle financial obligations (e.g. food) ahead of time so there won't be any misunderstandings when it's time to pay. You should also discuss whether borrowing or using each other's property (e.g. stereo, clothes, toiletries, etc.) is appropriate. Establishing boundaries is fine as long as both roommates are aware of them.

    Tip #4 - Establish Company Policy

    Decide whether it's acceptable to bring a boyfriend/girlfriend back to the room. Figure out how the roommate entertaining a guest will let the other roommate know when they have company.

    Tip #5 - Do Unto Others

    Whether you like your roommate or not, treat him/her with the consideration that you'd like to be treated with. Set an example and with any luck your roommate will catch on.

    Tip #6 - Give a Little

    You don't have to subvert your personality to get along with another person, but be prepared to compromise. If you're naturally a slob, you should learn to be neat to the extent that you don't encroach on your roommate's space. If you're a neat freak, remember that your roommate may not be as offended by mess as you are.

    Tip #7 - Don't Stress

    Most roommates naturally figure out how to get along even if they don't become best friends. In the unlikely event that you find yourself in a living situation that's unbearable, see your Resident Assistant for help.

    Having trouble getting along with your roommate? Need advice on how to resolve issues? Follow these tips on roommate conflicts!  

    Confronting Your Roommate

     If issues arise between roommates, it can sometimes be difficult to communicate with one another. If this is the case, you or your roommate(s) may not know that there is an issue at all. There are ways, however, to know that a roommate has an issue and ways to better deal with those issues that arise.

    How to tell there is an issue
    • Your roommate(s) may not want to talk to you, may leave as soon as you enter the room, or complain to other friends about you.
    • Your roommate(s) may get annoyed with you over little things.
    How to address the issue
    • Approach your roommate(s) in private.
    • Make sure that your roommate(s) have time to talk. If someone in the conversation feels rushed the effectiveness of the conversation may lose its value
    • Be direct. Address behavioral issues rather than personality issues. This will help to make your roommate(s) feel less defensive.
    • Be patient. Hear your roommate's point of view.
    • Make sure that each person gets a chance to express what they feel the problem is.
    • Remember that a solution will most likely involve giving and getting something for each person. While it may not be ideal for you, remember that this solution is helping to make your situation more livable.

    Communicating With Your Roommate

    Communication is key in a healthy roommate situation. Most roommate issues are the result of minimal, or in some cases a complete lack of communication.

    Tips on communicating with your roommate
    • Talk directly to your roommate(s) when something is bothering you. Don't talk about them behind their back as this can cause a breakdown in trust.
    • Be clear about what is bothering you. Your roommate(s) needs to know that there is a problem in order to try and fix it.
    • Communication has two parts: talking and listening. Utilizing one without the other will achieve little.
    • Evaluate all sides before coming to a solution.
    • Get to know each other. Everyone is different and understanding your roommate(s) can make all of the difference.

      • Roommate Mediations

        If you and your roommate(s) cannot come to a solution together, you can always seek the help of your RA. RA's are trained mediators and can help to see both sides of the story and think of solutions.

    Residential Life staff will commonly use them as a tool to help teach residents the basics of living in a community and with another person. They are often, but not always, used when disagreements arise and residents do not have conflict resolution skills. The purpose of the roommate agreement is not that of a binding contract but rather to give residents sharing a bedroom, likely for the first time in their lives, the opportunity to understand each other's living styles and preferences, while respecting individual rights.  These agreements are handed out at the beginning the school year.

     

    Students seeking medical accommodations for housing must register with, and be approved by, the Disability Access Coordinator, located in the Office of Academic Skills.

    Rates:
    If a student's medical accommodation (not requiring a single) can be accommodated in base rate housing double, the student is assigned a base rate double and charged the base double rate. If the student requests a higher rate double, they pay the higher rate double price. 

     If a medical accommodation requires a single and can be accommodated in a standard rate single, they are charged the base double rate. If a student requests a higher rate single, they pay the higher rate single price. 

     If a student's medical accommodation can only be accommodated in a higher rate housing, they are charged the base rate double price.

    Base rate housing is the lowest cost housing Washington College offers.

    Room Furnishings:
    Students wishing to bring in non-College issued furniture as part of a medical accommodation must have be approved by the Disability Access Coordinator. Any approved furnishing (mattress, bed, etc.) is required to meet fire code and TB 117-2013 standard. The standards set forth in TB 117-2013 for flammability for furniture in public spaces include smolder tests for fabric, filling, decking and barriers.

    Pets are not allowed in any residence hall. Students violating this policy, either by having a pet or where there is evidence of a pet, may be subject to the Student Code of Conduct in addition to necessary repair, cleaning and/or fumigating charges where applicable. Exceptions are made for aquarium fish (in tanks of 5 gallons or less) and approved service or therapy animals.  If a non-approved animal is discovered, the animal needs to be removed immediately by the student or staff will remove it to the Kent County Humane Society. 

    Service Animals
    Although service animals do not need to be approved by the Office of Disability Services and Academic Skills, students with service animals living in on-campus housing need to notify the Residential Life Office. The Residential Life office will provide the handler the residential policies for service animals in order to maintain the safety of the handler and animal while residing on-campus.   For the safety of all residents and staff, students approved to have a service animal must provide proof of Maryland required vaccinations prior to arrival. A photo of the animal is also required for identification and is attached to the student's housing record, with the animal listed as the student's dependent. 

    Please note: Residential Life provides a list of service animals and their service to Public Safety for their use when responding to emergencies, and to Buildings and Grounds so they are aware of any potential issues before entering a room.

    Emotional Support Animals
    Students seeking to bring emotional support animals must go through the Residential Accommodations process PRIOR to coming to campus or risk immediate removal. Information can be found on our Disability Resources webpage.  

    For the safety of all residents and staff, students approved to have an emotional support animal must provide proof of Maryland required vaccinations pertinent to the type of emotional support animal prior to arrival.  Failure to provide documentation and vaccinations will result in immediate removal of the animal until documentation of current vaccinations is provided to Residential Life.  

    Students approved for an emotional support animal must comply with all provisions of the animal agreement, published university policies, and the terms of the housing contract. 

     Washington College is located on Maryland's Eastern Shore and has a significant impact on the regional environment. The Chesapeake Bay region is a national treasure and every resident is expected to engage in sustainable practices to help protect it.

    Donations

    The primary goal of donation collection is to prevent as much as possible from entering the trash stream and instead, connecting goods with people who need them. Donations of lightly used goods and books are collected at the end of each semester and re-distributed to either local charities or meet needs on campus. Unwanted textbooks are placed into The Book Pantry in Sassafras Hall and  are available for free to any student in need of that textbook. Clothing is offered to anyone in the community for free on a day after closing in May in the Free Tag “Sale” event. Donated cookbooks are placed into common kitchens while donated games and art supplies are placed into lounges for students to use. 

    Energy Usage

    Simple energy conservation practices have a significant impact in a location of concentrated use and occupancy, such as a college.

    Turn off lights when exiting a room

    Plug electronics into easily reachable power strips to allow turning them off quickly and easily. If items plugged in won't be used anymore that day, turn the strip off and eliminate the power drain.

    When leaving for vacations or the weekend, unplug unnecessary items. Using a power strip as indicated above makes this simple.

    For week long or longer vacations, fridges should be emptied and unplugged.

    When leaving for vacations or the weekend, adjust the room temperature (where possible) to a medium range, i.e. don't leave the heat blasting on full nor the AC on the coldest temp possible.

    Recycling

    Washington College expects all its community members, particularly residents, to engage in recycling. Metals, plastics, glass, and paper are all recycled by the College and bins are in every waste management room in the residence halls. It is expected that every resident will do as much as they can to minimize what is placed into the trash bins.

     

    All students living in the residence halls accept the housing contract with the College. Any student who has checked into a room in the residence halls without signing the contract will be considered to have agreed to the housing contract. Students requesting accommodations in the College residence halls assume the responsibility to abide by all College regulations. Students whose relationship with the College is terminated by withdrawal, suspension, or expulsion shall vacate the residence hall within 48 hours.

     All students residing on campus must select a residential meal plan option. Dining Services offers numerous meal plans to meet individual needs and should be contacted for any meal plan accommodation requests.

     Students must select a meal plan when completing their individual housing contracts. Any returning student who has not done so by June 1 will automatically be assigned the Gold meal plan.  First year students are required to have the Platinum meal plan their first semester. Students may change their meal plan until the end of the second week of each semester via the housing portal (THD).

     

    Students who live in college housing are expected to remain actively engaged in activities that lead to satisfactory academic progress. Such activities may include but are not limited to, regular class attendance and the completion of assigned work. Satisfactory engagement and academic progress is determined by faculty and academic deans and may be evaluated at any time. If Student does not attend class, does not complete assignments or otherwise disengages from academic activities and after intervention from faculty and academic personnel the student remains disengaged, the Director of Residence Life, in consultation with faculty and academic personnel, reserves the right to remove the student from campus housing.

     

    Many areas of campus are equipped with surveillance equipment. Residence hall lobbies, exterior exit areas and other locations are equipped with surveillance equipment at all times. Footage from surveillance is used by Public Safety and Residential Life to address incidents.

    The State of Maryland does not allow audio or video recording without the express consent of the person(s) being recorded. Residents, by agreeing to the housing contract, have consented to the surveillance features on campus to be used by the College.

    All matriculating, full-time students are required to live on campus during their enrollment. Fourth-year students with senior credit standing, a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, and good social and academic standing, both on and off campus, are eligible to apply for an exemption to this requirement. Students with probation or more severe judicial sanctions are not considered in good social standing. The number of students exempted from the requirement will be dependent upon projected occupancy levels of the residence halls. Permanent local resident students and students over the age of 22 will receive priority if they request an exemption to the residency requirement. Requests to waive the residency requirement will be reviewed by the Off-Campus Review Committee and the decisions of that committee are final.

     Students requesting an exemption from the residency requirement should do so by the deadlines as detailed on the Residential Life website and follow the instructions on the Housing Requirement Exemption Form. Once the deadline for such requests has passed, only current students with exceptional and unexpected circumstances occurring after the deadline will be considered for off-campus residency. Exemptions to any of these deadlines will be reviewed at the discretion of the Chair of the Off-Campus Review Committee.

     Students who live off campus without an approved exemption will be billed for on-campus housing and a meal plan. Local resident students must live in a permanent or family-owned residence. If it is determined that they are living elsewhere, the student will be billed for on campus housing and a meal plan. Once the academic year has started, the housing contract is in effect for the academic year. Students wishing to cancel a current housing contract due to exceptional, unforeseeable circumstances during the academic year must apply to break the housing contract in a separate application available from Residential Life.

     Students approved to live off campus are required to provide the Office of Residential Life with current information about their residence, including local street address, phone number, and landlord contact information. Students who have previously lived off campus may apply to return to on-campus housing through the Office of Residential Life. Space may be limited, and housing will be offered to students based upon availability.

     Students are allowed to move in only if their bill is paid or a payment plan is in place with the Business Office. The Business Office has final determination on whether or not a student's account is in good standing, therefore determining if a student is allowed to move into the residence halls. If a student arrives to move in and has not been approved by the Business Office, the student cannot move in any items nor claim a key. Students may bring payment if move in occurs on a business day (Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm). Once the payment has been made, the Business Office will notify Residential Life that the student is cleared to move in.

    Resident students are responsible for their bedroom and the common areas of their residence hall and any shared common areas in suites or apartments. The repair or replacement cost of any items of room, suite, or residence hall furnishings that are removed, damaged, or lost will be charged to the assigned occupants.

     Room and common area damages, including cleaning charges, will be assessed to the responsible student whenever possible; however, when the responsible person or persons are not identified, the cost for repair or cleaning will be divided among all occupants of the suite, floor or building (whichever is appropriate). Students should report damage to their RA or Public Safety immediately.  Students reporting all damages that they or others have been involved in helps with prompt replacement or repairs and appropriate billing. Students may not make their own repairs.

     

     

    The walls, doors, and ceilings of the rooms are not to be damaged. Nails, tacks, and adhesives (tape, glue, etc.) may not be used on walls, and students may not paint walls or furnishings.

    *Do not attach lights around the room, they will damage the walls when you take them down

     All visitors to a residence hall are the responsibility of the host resident who invited and/or admitted that visitor into the building, suite, or room (visitors are those not directly affiliated with Washington College or Washington College students who are not residents of the building, suite, or room). This means that students are responsible for the behavior of their guests under the campus conduct process. Visitors must be escorted at all times by the host resident. Unescorted visitors may be asked to leave, and both the host resident and the visitor may be subject to the student conduct process.

     
    Residents who allow non-residents into the building put themselves and others at risk. Allowing non-residents into the building means that person becomes the resident's visitor and the resident's responsibility. This includes a resident holding the door open for a non-resident behind them, allowing them to follow him or her into the building.

    Overnight Guests

     Overnight guests (students and non-students) are permitted in the residence halls within reason. Guests may only stay for two consecutive nights or four non-consecutive nights per month and only with the permission of the other roommate(s) or suitemate(s). Exceptions to this may only be granted by a professional staff member of Residential Life. Under no circumstances should a residence hall room or suite become the primary residence of anyone other than the assigned students.

     

    Noise: Quiet Hours/Courtesy Hours

    Residence Hall quiet hours are 11 p.m.–10 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m.–10 a.m. Friday and Saturday. “Courtesy hours” are in effect at all times. A student should expect to be asked to reduce noise that is audible beyond their room (especially if it can be heard in rooms two or three doors away).

     Students expected to comply with any such request from either staff or other residents. Excessive noise is unacceptable at all times. Residents are responsible for ensuring noise levels do not disturb other students. A student who fails to respond to reasonable requests to lower or eliminate noise may face the student conduct process. During exam week, quiet hours are extended to 24 hours per day.

    Students who need to practice their music are encouraged to use the Gibson Center for the Performing Arts. However, playing live music together is an excellent community builder and some residence hall lounges structurally allow for the playing of live music with minimal disruption depending on the time, location, and instrument(s). Students wanting to play live music solo or with others need to talk with Residential Life to determine good locations and time frames and be approved.

    Noise: Quiet Hours for Finals Week

    24 hour quiet hours are in effect the days preceding and of finals week. Students who are disruptive during finals week may be asked to vacate the premises for the remainder of the term

    Nothing can be hung or posted on fire exit doors, emergency doors, or inside stairwells except approved required emergency signs. This includes the main doors of each buildings

    Retaliation against staff for documenting and/or adjudicating incidents or against students reporting incidents to College staff is unacceptable. Students who engage in retaliation will be referred through the student conduct process. Sanctions may include re-location, ban from location(s), and/or no-contact orders.

    Students and/or guests are prohibited from entering into marked restricted areas and areas such as, but not limited to, roofs, mechanical rooms, computer equipment rooms, bell towers, porch roofs or overhangs, etc.

    Any items that are not allowed by the College will be removed and disposed of, if necessary, at the student's expense.  This list is not all encompassing, if you have a question on whether  something is allowed; please do not hesitate to ask

    • Halogen lamps and multi-arm lamps with plastic shades
    • Toaster ovens, toasters, grills, sandwich makers, air fryers,open coil appliances are prohibited in all bedrooms. The following items are only allowed in Western Shore kitchen areas or designated hall kitchens: toaster ovens, air fryers, toasters, and sandwich makers.
    • Air Conditioners, portable heaters
    • Extension cords (only surge protectors please! Power strips must have GFI overload protection. Cords/plug units must be in good condition, and not bent, stripped, frayed, altered, or burnt/scorched. )
    • Personal furniture
    • Candles, incense, or potpourri/scent pots utilizing a candle or flame
    • Permanent adhesives, nails, duct tape cannot be used
    • All weapons including firearms, knives, bb guns, swords, fake guns, bows, etc.
    • Fireworks or explosives
    • Sand, inflatable pools, liquid filled furniture.
    • Nothing with an engine or classified as a motor vehicle can be stored inside any residence halls
    • Charcoal, briquettes, propane tanks for grills, lighter fluid or any substance that aids in starting a fire is not allowed in the residence halls. Personal lighters for smoking are allowed however, since smoking is not allowed in the residence halls, lighters can only be used outdoors. 
    • Live-cut Christmas trees.
    • Traffic, construction or other public street signs.

    Due to health risks and fire hazards caused by smoking or the passive inhalation of tobacco and other smoke or vapors, ALL college buildings are designated as “smoke-free.”

    Smoking/Vaping/Juuling of any substance is prohibited in College buildings and outdoors within 25 feet of entrances and exits of campus buildings. Smoking is allowed in designated areas located around campus.  Violations of this policy will result in a fine and/or disciplinary action. Smoking includes but is not limited to use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, juuls, and personal vaporizers or other devices associated with “vaping.” 

     The act of using any tobacco or inhalation product in any college facility or outdoor sporting area is prohibited, including but not limited to the following products:

    • Cigarettes (e.g. cloves, bidis, kreteks)
    • Cigars
    • Cigarillos
    • Hookah smoked tobacco products
    • Marijuana
    • Pipes and oral tobacco (e.g. spit, spitless, smokeless, chew, snus, snuff)
    • Nasal tobacco
    • Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)
      Vapes, Juuls, vaping devices

    Any other product that contains tobacco flavoring or is intended to mimic tobacco products or deliver nicotine for any purpose other than that of cessation by nicotine patches or nicotine gum.

     All residence halls, including entryways, are always smoke-free. Students who smoke any substance in their residence hall rooms can expect to be charged for cleaning or replacement of all furnishings, floor tiles, and paint in addition to facing student conduct action. Hookahs—single- or multi-stemmed water pipes used for smoking tobacco—are allowed to be used on campus grounds but, in accordance with the Smoking Policy, cannot be used with tobacco or other forbidden substance, nor can they be used inside residence halls or any other campus building. Furthermore, in accordance with the College's drug laws and policies, hookahs should not be used to smoke marijuana or other illegal drugs.

     “Smoking” is defined as the burning of tobacco or any other substance including, but not limited to, marijuana in any type of smoking equipment, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Vaping is defined as the act of inhaling and exhaling vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or an analogous device.

    Students and guests are not permitted to engage in any kind of sport in the residence halls (e.g., dribbling basketballs, lacrosse, etc.). These activities can cause safety, noise, and damage concerns for all residents. Individual or group behavior that causes damage, harassment, accident, or injury to an individual or group or to College or personal property is not permitted. Students responsible for behavior that causes damage, harassment, etc. will face student conduct action. Damage caused in common areas will be charged to the students of that unit unless the person(s) responsible are identified to pay for the damage.

    The possession, storage, or use of fireworks, firearms, ammunition, explosives, weapon replicas, or other weapons, including any dangerous article or substance with the potential to injure or discomfort a person, including knives with blades of three inches or longer, is prohibited at any time for any purpose at any place on the campus or other property of Washington College. This includes weapons for display or religious purposes, such as swords or bows.

    • Per fire code, students are not permitted to store their bicycles or any personal property in building stairwells. Bicycles need to be stored outside of the residence halls. This prohibition includes the stairwells in Western Shore.
    • Devices utilizing batteries known to cause fire safety issues are not allowed in the residence halls.
    • Pedestrians on campus walkways have the right of way. Any use of a transportation device that is reckless, endangers pedestrians, creates a hostile environment for pedestrians, or is damaging to College property is prohibited.
    • Non-College vehicles (such as cars, motorcycles, mopeds, scooters) are prohibited on pedestrian walkways. For move out and move in, it is permissible for vehicles such as cars/trucks to temporarily use the Cater walk for residents of East, Middle, and West. 

    Delivery persons are not allowed to enter into residence halls. Students who order a delivery of food must wait for the delivery at the agreed upon entrance.`

    Items, such as banned appliances, candles, substances, and paraphernalia, which represent a policy, health, or safety violation will be immediately removed, and either destroyed or discarded by staff. Students can request a confiscated item not be discarded only on condition that it is immediately removed from campus. Confiscated paraphernalia will not be returned. Should a confiscated item (same or new) re-appear, it will be discarded or destroyed with no option to remove it from campus. Any unclaimed items at hall closing will be discarded or destroyed.

    While Washington College recognizes and respects student's privacy, the College reserves the right to enter rooms for inspection, cleaning, security or safety concerns, reasonable belief that an unapproved animal is in the room, or maintenance at reasonable times. Residential Life staff and public safety may enter rooms for health and safety inspections before breaks to ensure the room is prepared for the break: ex. appliances are unplugged, windows closed, etc. Due to concerns for personal protection and privacy of students, College staff will not grant entry to friends, family, guests, or other students without express permission from the student and only in emergency situations.

    Health and Safety Inspections

    • Health and safety inspections of student rooms will occur throughout the year with students held accountable for unsafe or unsanitary conditions of rooms and/or suites. During the inspection, staff check for compliance with health codes, fire safety regulations, housing policies, and maintenance issues. Although residents are alerted 24 hours in advance that inspections will take place, an exact time is not given. Inspections will occur regardless of the residents' presence. If a room is found to be in violation of health or safety due to the lack cleanliness, residents are given 24 hours to rectify the situation or be held accountable under the code of conduct. Prohibited items will be removed and disposed of per the Prohibited Items policy.

    Room Searches

    • Residential Life or Public Safety may search a student's room if there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation has occurred or is occurring and the student is in violation of College policies, and/or federal, state, or local laws. Prior to the search, professional staff will gain approval from the Student Affairs on call staff member.  Students are expected to comply with the directives of professional staff during a room search and  must remain immediately outside of the location until the search is completed. Failure to comply with directives of professional staff will be documented. Residential Life staff and public safety have the authority to search all personal belongings that are contained within the residence hall. Residents or their guests may be asked to empty their pockets and are not permitted to use electronic devices during the search.

      Items found while conducting a search may be used in student conduct proceedings. During a search, all items confiscated by  will be turned over to Public Safety and may be used later by law enforcement agencies in the prosecution of criminal behavior. Safes and other locked containers must be unlocked upon request or the entire unit will be confiscated. Residential Life staff and public safety  reserve the right to cut any lock that may be an obstruction. At the conclusion of a room search, all students not assigned to that room will be asked to leave. Non-student guests must remove themselves from College premises and cannot return to College property until determined in student conduct proceedings.

    Washington College cooperates fully with local, county, state police or FBI.  Since the College and its residence halls are not sanctuaries, there may be an occasion when outside agencies (police, FBI, etc.) will require searching a room. When the agency is operating under a legal warrant, the College staff will cooperate fully. All searches will be treated as confidential.

     

    Move In
    Residents must check in to their room on the designated date and time. Residents are required to complete a Room Condition Report (RCR) with their RA upon checking into their room or suite. Students should check the RCR carefully to ensure accuracy. Any discrepancies should be brought to the attention of a staff member before accepting the RCR. This same information will be used at check out to determine any change in condition to the rooms'/suites' furnishings and/or condition. Students are allowed to move in only if their bill is paid or a payment plan is in place with the Business Office and all requirements from the Health Center have been met. Please see “Unpaid Bills” section of the Guide for more information.  

    Move out
    When residents move out of a room or leave at the conclusion of the year, they must check out with a Residential Life staff member. Residents are responsible for cleaning their room, returning all furniture to the way it was at check-in, and removing and placing trash
     in designated locations.  Based on the Room Condition Report, the room will be assessed for damages above and beyond normal use and students will be assessed a charge for damages to the room. If any damage occurs during the course of occupancy, the resident should submit an online work order to Buildings & Grounds.
    Additional charges may be assessed for reassembling furniture, removal of a resident's belongings or trash, and cleaning.  All keys must be turned in to the area RA office.  Any keys that are NOT turned in to the RA office will be documented as a lost key and the student charged accordingly.  This includes any key left behind in the room or suite.

    Early Arrival
    Due to specific program commitments and facility preparation constraints, residents are not allowed to check in earlier than the date and time scheduled. Only in season athletes required to be on campus, international students, and other students required to work for the campus to help prepare for opening are allowed to move in prior to the designated check in date.  Students wishing to arrive in town early therefore must utilize local hotels and make reservations in advance. Any student found in violation, attempting to move in prior to the designated date, will be charged a nightly fee and charged with failure to comply. 

    Late Departure
    Due to closely scheduled program, conference commitments and facility projects, late departures are not permitted. Residents must completely vacate their rooms/suites by the designated hall closing dates.

    Break Periods
    Residents are permitted to remain on campus in their assigned rooms during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Spring Break. However services are limited during those times, including dining. During Winter Break (between Fall and Spring semesters), although students cannot remain on campus, they do not need to move all of their items out. Residents typically take home essential items for the winter break.

    All rooms are inspected prior to breaks to ensure lights and electronics are turned off, windows closed, heating/cooling set to an appropriate temperature, and health or safety concerns. Any animal left behind will result in documentation and possible loss of animal accommodation privileges. If unapproved, the animal will be turned over to the Humane Society. 

    Abandoned Property

    All personal belongings must be removed when a student checks out of the residence halls either for mid-semester withdrawals or the end of academic year. December transfers and graduates must remove all personal belongings as well. The College is not responsible for any personal property left in the residence halls. If a student leaves personal items in the room after halls close or mid-semester check out, the student will be assessed a fine for property removal and the items disposed of or donated within 24 hours of move out.

     

    The phone number for buildings and grounds 410 778 7210. Use this link to submit a work order/maintenance request with B&G. Work Order Requests 

     Residents are asked to keep their rooms reasonably clean and orderly and are responsible for the care and cleaning of their bedrooms in traditional style housing. In suite style housing, residents are responsible for maintaining the entire suite, including the bathrooms. Students are expected to perform weekly cleaning in the bedrooms to maintain it in a sanitary manner. Students are solely responsible for removing all trash and recycling from all areas of the room/suite including the bathroom.

    If a student sees a pest that can be handled by an exterminator (cockroach, mice, bedbugs, ants, bee nests), they should report it to Buildings and Grounds.  They will connect with the exterminator. It is critical that a student follow all instructions to eradicate pests, especially bed bugs.

     There are bugs that an exterminator can do little about, including stink bugs, spiders, ladybugs. Students are expected to have basic home skills in addressing bugs such as those listed, in addition to cleaning and room hygiene protocols to prevent insects such as ants.

    Residents can report maintenance issues  directly in the maintenance request system. A link is located on the Buildings and Grounds website, at the bottom of the page.

     Reporting a maintenance issue will result in a Buildings and Grounds staff person responding and entering the room according to the Buildings and Grounds schedule. Students cannot schedule times.

    Students should report toilet stoppages immediately to the on call staff (if after hours) or to buildings and grounds. Stoppages in suites are a higher priority since there is no alternative unlike in common bathrooms. If the stoppage is caused by vandalism, the residents of the suite are held accountable through suite damage charges and if in a common bathroom, the cost is split and a share of that charge billed to each resident assigned to that common bathroom.

     Any item found in the toilet other than human waste and an appropriate amount of toilet paper is considered vandalism. Feminine products, “flushable” wipes, paper towels, clothing, etc. need to be thrown in trash receptacles.

     

    • Students are asked to keep their rooms reasonably clean and orderly. Rooms are expected to be cleaned weekly and any issues reported to either staff or via the work order system quickly. Students need to provide their own blankets, pillows, desk lamps, towels, sheets, etc. The College reserves the right to make announced periodic room inspections in order to assess safety and damage. 

    Elevators

    Elevators are located only in Morris, Chester, Corsica, and Sassafras residence halls. Most are equipped with cameras. Residents found to be misusing the elevator resulting in damage will be charged for the cost of repairs. If a specific responsible person is unidentifiable, the charge will be common area damage charge and the cost split among the residents of that hall. Misuse includes overcrowding, jumping, playing, and vandalism.

    Furniture/Fixtures/Equipment

    Rooms contain beds, desks, chairs, dressers, closets, window blinds, and screens on the windows. Students may not move furniture from lounges or floor common areas to their rooms. Students may not remove furniture from their rooms, and the College is unable to store room furniture.

    Kitchens

    There are common kitchens located in Minta, Reid, Caroline, Kent, Cullen, Middle, West, Chester, Sassafras, and Corsica for the residents assigned to those halls. Residents who use them must clean up after every use. Personal cooking items cannot be left in the kitchen. Some kitchens may be unavailable for a semester or two due to a medical accommodation requiring an allergen free space.

    Laundry

    • Laundry machines are available in each residence hall.
    • The cost of laundry is included in the room rate. Students do not need coins nor a laundry card to utilize the machines.
    • If a machine is not working, students should alert Buildings and Grounds. If students are not accustomed to measuring for the correct amount of laundry detergent, it is recommended they use laundry pods.
    • Clothing left unattended at the end of a cycle can be removed by someone waiting for a machine. No resident can block others from using a machine by leaving their laundry in there after the cycle has finished. Students are expected to return to the machine when the cycle is finished and remove items promptly.
    • If clothing is left in the laundry room for more than 48 hours, it will be considered abandoned property and disposed of in the trash.
    • Residents are expected to respect other's property by not damaging or taking items belonging to another.
    • Laundry machines are for residents of the hall only.

    Personal Property Insurance

    • The College is not liable for damage or loss of personal property, failure or interruption of utilities, or injury to persons. Students are encouraged to provide their own personal property loss insurance.

    Windows, Window Screens

    • Windows are not to be used for entrance or egress, removal of furniture or other items. Windows cannot be blocked by furniture, flammable objects, or made otherwise impassable in case of emergency.

       Room window screens are not to be removed. Removing window screens or changing or altering a screen or window in any way may be considered vandalism and result in student conduct action.

    Wireless

    • All residence halls are wireless. Abuse of this service through harassing messages, or any other violation of College policy, may result in disciplinary action through the conduct process. Please note that wireless access points are not permitted in the halls nor is it permitted to utilize 3rd party vendors existing access points. Students can contact the Help Desk for assistance with computer related issues.

     Dehumidifiers/Humidifiers/Air Purifiers

    • The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a very humid environment in the warmer months. Students are welcome to bring de-humidifiers but be mindful that a normal “house sized” one takes up a lot of space. A small space dehumidifier is better suited. Dehumidifiers only work if emptied out daily. In winter, students find having a small humidifier to balance out the dry air in their bedroom can be helpful. Students with allergies or sensitivities to dust, pollen, etc. are encouraged to use an air purifier. It's common for students to have difficulty adjusting to the pollen levels in this area and many may experience allergies for the first time.

    Storage

    • The College does not provide storage for any student property. Students must utilize the various commercial storage opportunities both locally and companies that utilize pick up/shipping.  We have a company called Ship my Room that can store student items over the break at a cost.  www.shipmyroom.com

    Door Alarms

    • Some residence halls have alarms on their exit doors for fire safety purposes. Fire safety concerns are a priority over all other concerns, including convenience. Doors will alarm either immediately upon opening or will sound after a brief delay of the door being held open. Any tampering of the door alarms are a violation of fire safety code and may result in expulsion from the residence halls with no refund of housing in addition to any sanctions from the Honor Board, possibly including the recommended sanction of suspension.

    Mail and packages to On-Campus students should be addressed exactly as follows: 

    Washington College
    Student First and Last Name (no nicknames please)
    300 Washington Avenue
    Chestertown, MD 21620-1197  

    Mail and packages for on-campus students, is sorted in house by the WC Central Services staff as soon as it arrives on campus.  Students will receive an email from: 

    [email protected] 

    once their mail or package is checked and ready to be picked up from Central Services.  Please do not come to Central Services until you receive this email, even if the vendor you placed the order with says the items has arrived in Chestertown. 

    During the Academic Year, Central Services is open for student pickup: 

    Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

    * Get more information about Central Services * 

    Deliveries persons are not allowed in residence halls, including flowers, fruit or food baskets. Flowers, fruit or food baskets are delivered to Student Affairs in Hodson Hall. Students will then be notified to pick up the item. If a student does not pick up flowers, fruit or food baskets in time before Friday closing, the next available time for pick up is Monday morning. It is recommended therefore to schedule flower, fruit or food basket deliveries only for Monday through Thursday morning to ensure pick up. Fruit or food baskets cannot be kept refrigerated while waiting for pick up and are not recommended. 

     

    Many residence halls have vending machines located in lobby areas. Issues with the vending machine need to be reported to Residential Life who will contact the vending company or the vending contract manager (if a persistent problem).

    All vehicles on campus must be registered with the Department of Public Safety. Student and Guest passes are available. If you wish to park on campus for any amount of time, at any time of day, you must register your vehicle. Failure to register a vehicle could result in a ticket and fines and possible loss of motor vehicle parking privileges on campus.

     Students should not expect to be able to park next to their residence hall nor should they use their vehicle to commute short distances on campus to classes or the JFC/Cain.

    The College Student Health Services provides care for full-time students  during the regular academic year. Dial ext. 7261 on campus or 410-778-7261, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - Noon & 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Please note that the Health Center is closed from noon-1pm. If it is an emergency,  contact public safety at 410-778-7810 or 911*

    For after hours emergencies, contact Public Safety at 410-778-7810 or 911. If you contact 911, they will also contact Public Safety because our officers are needed to help responders to locations and in many cases, will be able to respond more quickly to a scene.

    There is the emergency room at the University of Maryland, Chester River Hospital. It is located right behind Minta Martin/Queen Anne Halls.  There is also an Urgent Care Facility over the Chester River Bridge.

    The College provides health services to students who are not feeling well. Since students live in a community with a high degree of interaction, students need to protect themselves and others from communicable diseases or illnesses. Residents are required to have certain vaccines in order to move onto campus. Students who arrive for move in but do not have clearance from Health Services due to vaccinations will not be allowed to check in, enter into the residence halls, or participate in any orientation activity. Diseases such as measles, mumps, mono, etc. can spread quickly in a college environment.

    Evacuations

    Members of the college community should become familiar with at least two evacuation routes from each building in which they study, work or reside as well as the location of fire alarm stations, emergency exits, and fire extinguishers in the area. In the event that a building needs to be evacuated for any reason, a fire alarm will be activated. All residents must leave the building when the alarm sounds.

    Discovery of Fire

    • If you have been trained and it is safe to do so, attempt to extinguish the fire with a portable fire extinguisher only if fire is small. If you have not been trained, you must evacuate the area immediately.
    • Keep yourself between the fire and an exit.
    • As you vacate fire area, close all doors behind you and activate the nearest fire alarm pull station.
    • Warn people in the vicinity. (Although an alarm will alert Public Safety automatically for most major campus facilities, that is not the case for a small number of buildings. Please call Public Safety at 410-778-7810 or local authorities at 911 from a campus phone to let them know the alarm has been activated and the nature of the emergency.)
    • Evacuate the building via the nearest safe exit.
    • Elevators are not to be used as a means of exit during a fire emergency.
    • Once outside, stay clear of the building. Do not re-enter the building until authorized by the Fire Department or Public Safety.

    Any fires that were quickly extinguished or any evidence of recent fires must be reported immediately to a member of the Public Safety Department at 410-778-7810. They will then document the incident as required. Public Safety personnel will assist fire department personnel and the Fire Marshal (as warranted) in the investigation of each fire incident.

    Fire Drills

    Each semester, Public Safety will hold unannounced fire drills for all residence hall students. Students are expected to vacate their residence hall when they hear a fire alarm or are directed to do so by appropriate College staff. Failure to do so may be considered a violation of College policy.

    Fire Pits, Grills, Fuel Sources and Storage 

    Any student or group wishing to use the  campus fire pit near the stadium needs to register first with Student Engagement, if a student organization activity, or, if non-organization, request permission via Public Safety. Only fire wood is allowed. Students cannot use wood that has been purposed into something else such as crates, furniture, etc. All fuel sources must be stored outside of residence halls, including liquids for fire starting, charcoal, wood, etc. All fuels sources stored outside need to be at least 20 feet from any building. Excess fuel sources (such as wood) can be left at the fire pit.

    West/Middle  have temporarily been approved for outdoor grills.  A future patio is anticipated to be built to accommodate the fraternities grills.  Only 1 grill per patio is approved and  All grills must be the furthest point away from the building while remaining on the patio. Overhanging branches above the patio require the grill to be moved. Any grill using a propane tank is not allowed. All grills must use charcoal or wood. No grill is allowed to be stored inside any residence hall.

     Students may use the built in grills between Western Shore/Morris and the baseball field without registering.

    Stairwells

    Per state code, students are not permitted to store their bicycles or any personal property in building stairwells. Bicycles or property left in stairwells may be removed. Bicycle racks are provided outside most residence halls.

    Tampering

    Tampering with fire extinguishers or detectors is a violation of College policy that may result in suspension

    For detailed information regarding sexual misconduct, please refer to the Student Handbook.

    For more information, please refer to the Student Handbook.

    Incidents can be reported by any of the following:

    • Contact Public Safety at 410-778-7810
    • Submit an anonymous tip online on the Public Safety website, Anonymous Tips.

    Students receive a Washington College Student ID Card that employs multiple technologies, one of which allows the ID to be used to access certain residence halls and other facilities (when requested by members of the faculty or staff). A resident's id card allows access to their assigned residence hall and several Residential Life community spaces, Sassafras, Corsica, and Caroline main lobby areas. When cared for properly, the ID card should last for the entire period that an individual attends Washington College. The ID card should not be folded, bent, or punctured in any fashion. Replacement of a lost or broken ID card will be charged to the student.

     When accepting an ID card, students will comply with the following rules and regulations:

    • ID/Access Cards issued by the College are the property of Washington College.
    • When an ID card is lost or stolen, it must be reported to the Department of Public Safety immediately.
    • ID cards are assigned to students individually and are not to be given or loaned to anyone else.
    • College keys and ID cards must be surrendered to Public Safety officials upon request.

    The Department of Public Safety is responsible for issuing ID/access cards. Students should contact the Department of Public Safety with questions or concerns regarding obtaining a new ID card or replacing a lost ID card.

    Keys

    Residents are assigned keys for their bedrooms and, if applicable, suites. If a student has lost a key, it should be reported immediately to Residential Life.  Keys are not permitted to be replicated by any non-Washington College entity.  One room key will be issued to each student residing on campus.  Residents should safeguard residence hall keys at all times.  Keys should never be loaned to another individual for any reason.  

    It is the student's responsibility to turn in a key at the end of occupancy.  When a student moves out for either a room change or upon leaving the campus, all keys must be turned in to the area RA office.  Any keys that are NOT turned in to the area RA office will be documented as a lost key and the student charged accordingly.  This includes any key left behind in the room or suite.

     Keys lost or not returned in accordance with this policy will result in a replacement charge for a room key. When necessary, they key core may need to be changed at the student's expense.  This charge is in addition to the charges for replacing the key and/or lock.

    Lockouts

    Students who are locked out need to contact the RA office phone for their areas.  If you do not get a response during the day, please reach out to your RA to see if they can assist you. All lockouts are recorded.  It is the responsibility of the student to carry their key and ID card at all times.  If locked out, students should be prepared to wait until an RA becomes available.  For emergency situations only, students may call the Department of Public Safety.  Students with multiple lockouts may be assessed a fine and/or be referred through the conduct process as a safety, facilities or other violation.

    Sassafras Office: serves Western Shore, Morris Sassafras, Chester, Corsica, Cullen, Middle, West
    Phone:410-778 -5820

     Caroline Office: serves Minta Martin, Reid, Caroline, Queen Anne's, Kent
    Phone: 410-810-5709

     

    Should a student or employee require an escort at any time, please contact Public Safety at 410-778-7810 and an Officer will assist you. Students can also contact Safe Ride at 410-810-7433 when they are operating

    Students need to practice basic personal safety measures on campus:

    • Always lock your bedroom and/or suite door when you exit. Even if you are just going down the hall, lock your door.
    • Always have your key and id card with you. They should never be loaned to anyone or left on a table in any public space such as the dining hall, library or classroom.
    • Record identification numbers of valuable items and equipment.
    • Ensure your property is covered either by your family's homeowner/renter's insurance or purchase renter's insurance.
    • Do not keep valuables in your room. There should never be more than a $100 cash in your room. Anything valuable or precious should not be brought to college.
    • Vehicles need to be locked at all times and valuable items kept out of sight.
    • Bikes need strong locks and should be locked up in a bike rack when not in use.