With these opportunities, you are expected to:
- treat others with respect
- communicate concerns to others
- ensure your actions do not infringe on others
- keep your floor/suite/hall clean
During one of your first floor meetings, your floor will complete a Community Agreement (pdf). Your RA will facilitate the discussion needed to start the year on the right track. The role you play in your new community will contribute to its success.
The Roommate Bill of Rights (pdf) is a practical application of Thomas Gordon's philosophy (in the box on the right). If used appropriately, it can serve as an effective tool to guide you and your roommate(s) in establishing a mutually satisfying relationship with one another. While utilizing the formal document included, carefully choose important issues for conversation, be sure to fill it out and get it back to your RA. Remember, you are your roommate's roommate too!
Roommate Conflicts
University Housing Services strongly urges roommates to resolve conflicts themselves. Roommates can use the Bill of Rights (pdf) and hall staff as means to help resolve conflicts.
In situations where roommates are unable or unwilling to resolve conflicts, it is the prerogative of the Residence Hall Coordinator to relocate both residents to other available residence hall spaces. This alternative is considered when it appears that one of the roommates is an aggressive party AND the person(s) being harassed refuses to pursue a referral to Community Rights and Responsibilities or when both roommates are violating each other's rights.
Should any of the parties involved in such a move subsequently be involved in a similar situation, the Residence Hall Coordinator will refer them to Community Rights and Responsibilities.
Visitation Conflicts
Roommate conflicts may occur because roommates have differing opinions on whether guests should be in the room. To help residents avoid such conflicts, staff will provide every resident with a copy of the Roommate Bill of Rights. It is intended to serve as an agreement between roommates as to if and when guests may be in their room. The Roommate Bill of Rights (pdf) must be completed and returned to the Resident Assistant within seven days (one week) of the first floor meeting.
University Housing Services does not condone, nor will it allow, cohabitation in the residence halls. Furthermore, a resident may only have a guest(s) in the room--overnight or otherwise-if the roommate(s) is in complete voluntary agreement. Under no circumstances should a resident ever feel pressured into leaving her/his room because of a roommate(s) having a guest(s).
Residents are strongly encouraged to immediately contact the RA on duty if there is a conflict. It will be the RA's responsibility to resolve the matter by instructing/directing the guest(s) to leave. Professional Staff will be contacted if the individuals refuse to comply with the request. The host and guest(s) may be referred to Community Rights and Responsibilities for violation of the policy or mediation.
If visitation conflicts persist, any roommate may request that the room be designated as "off-limits" to guests. For more information, contact your Residence Hall Coordinator.
Finally, if a roommate change occurs, all residents involved must complete and return a new Roommate Bill of Rights within seven days (one week) of the move. All roommates are encouraged to involve their RA if a problem arises.