2008-2009 Residence Hall Contract Terms and Conditions

INTRODUCTION

All the material contained herein becomes and shall be an integral and binding part of all residence hall agreements at Illinois State University. It is the student¹s responsibility to become familiar with all provisions of this contract. These contract terms and conditions are not intended to provide the general or specific residence hall information of a noncontractual nature which is contained under ³Rights and Responsibilities² on the University Housing Services Web site at www.housing.ilstu.edu.

University regulations and policies affecting residence hall agreements are subject to changes and additions. Such changes and additions shall be officially announced and/or posted on bulletin board(s) in each hall and this shall constitute actual notice to residents. The changes and additions shall become effective and binding at the date of such posting or official announcement.

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ELIGIBILITY

University admission and enrollment do not guarantee eligibility for on-campus housing. A student must be registered at the University and must be at least 17 years of age at the time of commencement of his/her residence hall occupancy. Requests for exceptions to the minimum age requirement may be submitted to University Housing Services for review by the Director.

University Housing Services reserves the right to deny or cancel a residence hall application-contract to students whose past behavior and/or criminal record indicates a possible risk to the safety, health, or life of any person, and/or to the safety of public or private property, and/or disruption to the residence hall community or living-learning environment. If a decision to deny on-campus housing is made prior to the first day of the contract period, the student will be financially responsible for the nonrefundable application fee if previously charged. If a decision is made on or after the first day of the contract period, the student will be responsible for daily prorated room and base meal plan charges, and used dining dollars through the date he/she vacates the room, any charges for damage to the room, and the application fee (if previously charged).

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GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Purpose
   
   

   The premises will be used by the student solely for residential and educational purposes.

2. Furnishings
   
   

   The University supplies basic furniture, such as desk, chair, dresser, study lamp, closet, bed, draperies, and mattress. Students supply their own sheets, pillow, pillow case, mattress pad, blanket, bedspread, towels, wastebasket (these should be metal) and other personal items. Students must not move furniture from room to room, stack furniture, move furniture from public areas to their rooms, or detach fixed furniture. Halogen lamps are prohibited in the residence halls.

3. Residence Hall Staff
   
   

   In order to assist students to adjust to and derive a maximum of educational benefits from their residence hall experience, each hall has a staff of professionals, graduates, and undergraduates to assist and advise residents.

4. Assignment and Room Change Policy
   
   

   The University reserves the right to make assignment of space, to authorize or deny room and roommate changes, to consolidate vacancies (see Section E), and to require a student to move from one room or residence hall to another. The University further reserves the right to require a student to vacate the residence halls on a temporary or permanent basis for a legitimate reason including but not limited to: failure to meet financial obligations to the University, exhibiting behavior not conducive to the living-learning environment established in the residence halls, or failure to remain in good standing with the University. The charges outlined in Section IV.F will apply. Residents who withdraw from the University are required to vacate the residence halls within three calendar days.

   Room changes are considered after the students involved have made a serious attempt to adjust to the situation. Requests for room changes must be approved by the Residence Hall Coordinator in that area. No room changes may be made after room assignments have been completed in the summer or during the first ten days of classes at the beginning of each semester.

   It is the policy of the University to assign roommates without regard to race, creed, or sexual orientation. Students of the opposite sex will not be assigned to nor may they reside in a room together. The University mails out room assignment notices to advise students of their assigned space within a residence hall.

   University Housing Services will attempt to recognize mutual roommate preferences insofar as regular residence hall space is available.

   Residence hall applications for freshmen and transfer students will not be processed until the applications for admission have been approved by the Office of Admissions and Records.

5. Consolidation of Residence Hall Spaces
   
   

   Students in double occupancy rooms who have not contracted for single occupancy and do not have a roommate will be assigned a roommate by University Housing Services or will be offered the three consolidation options:

   1) pay for a super single room,
   2) obtain a roommate, or
   3) change rooms.

   If one vacancy occurs in a triple occupancy room or if two vacancies occur in a quad, each of the remaining students must pay half the single room charge, obtain a roommate, or change rooms. If two vacancies occur in a triple or if three vacancies occur in a quad, the remaining resident must move to another room or obtain new roommates to fill all beds, or obtain roommates to fill some beds and pay the additional charge for a single, in which case the resident and the roommate equally split the single room charge. Residents of triples and quads are not given the option of keeping their room as a single. Any room change must be approved in writing by the Residence Hall Coordinator and be completed within five days after notification to consolidate. If the consolidation has not occurred within this five day period, the student will automatically be charged and legally obligated to pay for his/her room on a prorated basis at the single room rate. The student may only contract for a double occupancy room as a single for the remainder of the current semester. The consolidation policy goes into effect after the point each semester when the halls are not filled to 100% capacity. It remains in effect until October 15 in the fall and March 15 in the spring. After those dates, residents are not given the consolidation options and University Housing Services may assign empty spaces as needed.

6. Cancellation Policy
   
   

   Residence hall contracts are for the entire Academic Year (August 14 to May 9) or balance remaining at the time of assignment. However, residence hall contracts may be cancelled by students who have withdrawn from the University or fulfilled the requirements of the University On Campus Housing Policy according to the following provisions, dates, and charges:

   1. Requests for cancellation must be in writing and signed by the student.
   
   2. All requests for cancellation must be addressed to
   Illinois State University
   University Housing Services
   Campus Box 2600
   Normal, IL 61790-2600

   Notification of cancellation to other University offices or departments will NOT terminate the contract.

   3. A freshman or sophomore student may not cancel the residence hall contract unless he/she is withdrawing from the University or has had an exemption to the University On Campus Housing Policy approved, in writing, by University Housing Services.

   4. University Housing Services will acknowledge, by mail, receipt of a student¹s written request for cancellation of the contract. If the cancellation request is not acknowledged within ten (10) days, it is the student¹s responsibility to contact University Housing Services to ascertain that the request was received.

   5. The student will be held responsible for cancellation charges as outlined below. (Note: these charges are in addition to the nonrefundable $50 application fee.) The cancellation date is the date the written request for cancellation is received in University Housing Services or, if after August 13, the date the student officially checks out of the residence hall with the Residence Hall Coordinator.

   Cancellation Date	Charges
   Prior to & including May 1, 2008	No cancellation charge. (Full refund of deposit except application fee.)
   May 2 thru July 1, 2008	$150 cancellation charge.
   July 2 thru August 13, 2008	$250 cancellation charge.
   August 14 thru December 1, 2008	$250 cancellation charge, plus daily room and base meal plan charges through the date of cancellation, plus half the room charge for the remainder of the semester
   For the spring semester through the remainder of the contract period:
   Prior to & including December 1, 2008	$250 cancellation charge in addition to fall semester charges
   December 2, 2008 thru January 8, 2008	Half the room charge* for spring semester in addition to fall semester charges
   January 9, 2009, thru end of semester	$250 cancellation charges plus daily room and base meal plan charges through the date of cancellation, plus half the room charge* for the remainder of the semester

   
   * The full room charge for a multiple occupancy room (double, triple or quad) ranged from $1733 to $2948 per semester for the 2007-2008 academic year. The room charges for 2008-2009 had not been determined when the Contract Terms and Conditions went to print.

   6. No reduction for current semester charges will be made for cancellations occurring during the last three weeks of the semester.
   
   7. Residents who withdraw from the University are required to cancel the residence hall contract and vacate the residence halls within three calendar days. Cancellation charges will be assessed as outlined in the Cancellation Date and Charges table above.

   8. Residents must be registered for classes by the tenth day of the semester or their contract will be canceled and they will be assessed cancellation charges in accordance with charges outlined in these Terms and Conditions.

   9. Residence hall students graduating at the end of the first semester who wish to be released from the contract and have their security deposit refunded must give written notification to University Housing Services no later than December 1, 2008. After this date, the security deposit will be forfeited.

   10. Residence hall contract cancellation charges for first-time Illinois State University students receiving Title IV financial aid are in compliance with Public Act 102-325, the Higher Education Amendments. Examples of the residence hall cancellation charges for Title IV recipients are available upon request from
   University Housing Services
   Illinois State University
   Campus Box 2600
   Normal, IL 61790-2600

   11. Students who are academically dismissed and not reinstated will be charged prorated room and base meal plan charges, and used dining dollars through the date they officially check out of the residence halls. Students who are academically dismissed, apply for and are granted reinstatement but do not return to Illinois State or the residence halls will be charged according to section III. F. 5.

   12. Failure to claim the assigned housing space by 4:30 p.m. on the fifth day of classes will result in cancellation of the contract unless prior notification is received by University Housing Services. The student will be held responsible for a $250 cancellation charge, room and meal plan charges through the fifth day of classes, and half the room charge for the remainder of the semester, plus the $50 application fee.

   13. Upon the nonpayment of any portion of rental herein, the University may cancel the contract and may refuse new registration to the student.

7. Contract Release Request

   A contract release request is a formal written petition to obtain a release from the contract cancellation charges outlined in the Cancellation Policy (refer to Section III. F). The Contract Release Request process is for students who experience significant changes in circumstances beyond their control which prevent them from fulfilling the terms of the contract and which cannot be resolved within the residence halls system. A Contract Release Request Form may be obtained from University Housing Services. Contract Release Requests should be sent to
   Illinois State University
   University Housing Services
   ATTN: Associate Director of Operations
   Campus Box 2600
   Normal, IL 61790-2600

   The request will be reviewed and a decision will be communicated to the student in writing.
   

8. Security Deposit
   
   

   The security deposit is a damage fee and a guarantee of contract fulfillment. It is not applied toward room and meal plan payments. Residents will be held responsible for damage to residence hall property and will pay all charges upon receiving a bill for the damage. The security deposit must be maintained at all times, and damage charges may be deducted only at the end of the final period of occupancy.

   The security deposit is refundable if the proper period of occupancy is completed and the terms and conditions of the contract are fulfilled, including completing proper check-out procedures, and providing all damage charges are satisfied. Any amount remaining after all University Housing charges are satisfied will first be applied to any other valid University debt and then returned to the student via the Centralized Accounts Receivable System.
   

9. Room Key
   
   

   A room key shall be issued to each resident. The key shall remain University property loaned or licensed to the student only so long as the student may rightfully occupy the residence hall room to which said key provides access. The resident shall not deliver, surrender or otherwise relinquish possession of the room key to any unauthorized individual or permit the key to be duplicated or modified. Unauthorized possession, duplication, or modification of said key may be grounds for criminal prosecution. The student shall deliver possession of said key to an authorized University official immediately upon termination of the student¹s right to occupy the residence hall room to which said key provides access, or otherwise immediately upon demand of such official. Violation of any provision in this paragraph may be grounds for declaring the student in breach of the contract or other action by the University. Loss of the room key will result in a core change for which the student will be billed.

10. Policy on Student Teaching and Professional Practice
    
    

    In order to prevent room and meal plan or cancellation charges during a student teaching or professional practice assignment (for University credit) which would require residence elsewhere, the student must complete a Block-Of-Time Notification form at University Housing Services. No charges will be assessed if the student removes all belongings from the residence hall room, turns in the room key, and signs the room condition report. Student teaching and professional practice assignments do not release the student from the balance of the contract period remaining after the assignment is completed. Reassignment to another room or residence hall may be necessary.

11. Liability
    
    

    The University assumes no responsibility or liability for the personal property of students. This includes damage, loss, fire, water damage, theft, flooding, etc. Students desiring this kind of protection must make their own arrangements for insurance.

12. Solicitation
    
    

    The University prohibits any sales or solicitation in the residence halls without written consent of University Housing Services. Refer to the University¹s Solicitation Policy 6.1.14 for additional information.

13. Appliance, Cooking, and Food Storage
    
    All electrical appliances in residence halls must be Underwriter Laboratory approved. Refrigerators are permitted in student rooms providing they do not exceed 4.3 cubic feet and draw more than 1.5 running amps. All electrical heat-producing and cooking appliances, with the exception of hair appliances, are prohibited from possession and/or usage in the residence halls. Irons may be used only in designated areas of each hall. A microwave oven is provided on each student living floor or every two suites in Watterson. Food permitted in student rooms must be stored in such a way as to prevent health and sanitation problems from developing.

14. Items Not Permitted in University Residence Halls
    
    Items not permitted to be used or stored in the student rooms or any other area of the residence halls include but are not limited to: any internal combustion engine, any acids, automobile batteries, halogen lamps, gasoline, firearms or other weapons, fireworks, water beds or other water filled furniture, microwave ovens, and/or other heat producing appliances, i.e. coffee pots, popcorn makers. Due to health standards and possible inconvenience to other residents, no animals (except for guide dogs for residents who are blind), birds, or pets of any kind other than fish are to be housed or kept in the residence halls. Weight lifting equipment and devices, musical instruments equipped with amplifying devices, and instruments which disturb other residents may be used only in those areas of the residence halls so designated. They may not be used in student rooms.

15. Residence Hall and Dining Service Opening and Closing Dates
    
    During official University vacation periods, the residence halls (with the exception of Atkin-Colby and Hamilton-Whitten halls) are closed, meals are not served, and students must vacate the premises. Atkin-Colby and Hamilton-Whitten halls open the Monday before the official opening of all other residence halls and remain open during University break periods throughout the academic year. Atkin-Colby and Hamilton-Whitten residents do not have to vacate the premises during any break periods; however, meals are not served during those times. A $75 per semester mandatory nonrefundable charge, above and beyond the room and meal plan rate, is assessed to all students assigned to Atkin-Colby and Hamilton-Whitten halls. Wilkins hall remains open and residents do not have to vacate the premises during the Thanksgiving break period. Meals are not served during this time. A mandatory $30 nonrefundable charge, above and beyond the room and meal plan rate, is assessed to all students living in Wilkins hall in the fall semester. Refer to the University Housing Services web site at www.housing.ilstu.edu for detailed opening and closing information.

16. Meal Plans and Dining Services
    
    The University requires all residence hall students to select a meal plan. The 2008-2009 meal plans and rates were not established when this contract terms and conditions brochure went to print. Meal plans and meal plan rates are sent under separate cover from this document. Dining service hours in some dining centers may be modified. Meal service is not provided during official University vacation periods.

17. Telephone Service
    
    Each student¹s room is equipped with local phone service. Phone instruments are provided in Hamilton-Whitten, Atkin-Colby and Watterson Towers. Students in other residence halls should bring their own telephone if they wish to utilize the local phone service. Students are not to place, or attempt to place, long distance calls by fraudulent means. Students shall observe all telephone company regulations and all Federal and State laws concerning telephone equipment and telephonic communications. Any misuse or damage of the telephone equipment will result in prosecution by the telephone company and/or disciplinary action by the University. At no time may collect calls be accepted on a University telephone. Students may make long-distance calls by using operator assistance, a personal calling card, or a prepaid calling card. All calling cards must have a toll-free access number.

18. Subletting and Unauthorized Use of Rooms
    
    The student shall not allow anyone to live in his/her room who is not assigned to it by University Housing Services, or assign this contract to any other person. Residents who allow their room to be used in violation of this provision are subject to a penalty charge not to exceed the full room charge for each violation, and possible disciplinary action.

19. University Policy Convering Room Inspection, Entry, and Search
    
    The failure of the University to insist upon strict performance of any of the covenants or conditions of this agreement or to avail itself of any rights or privileges enumerated herein, in any one or more instances with regard to any one or more students shall not constitute a waiver or relinquishment for the future of such covenant, condition, right, or privilege, but the same shall remain in full force and effect. The receipt, by the University, of any payment with the knowledge of the breach of any covenant or condition hereof, shall not constitute a waiver of such breach, and no waiver by the University of any provision hereof shall be effective unless expressed in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the University.

UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL STATUTES