Residential Policies, Information and Services
Topics O thru Z

Open House Hours

As a residential community we are concerned with the comfort and safety needs of each person.  The need for privacy, a feeling of safety and comfort in community living must be balanced with the desire to socialize and provide hospitality to guests.  We encourage open and respectful communication between roommates and apartment living groups concerning guests.  Male guests may visit residence halls and the lower levels of West Apartments during open house hours.  At no time are male guests permitted to stay overnight in any campus residence hall, apartment, or house.  All on-campus residents and male guests are expected to abide by the following open house hours:

Residence Halls and the lower levels of West Apartments:

Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-midnight.  SJU students have card access from 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 a.m.  SJU students have card access from 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

Apartments and Houses:

Open house hours in the apartments are determined by individual apartment and house living groups.  Hours are established based on consent between all roommates.  At no time are male guests permitted to stay overnight in any campus apartment or house.  SJU students have card access to the CSB campus apartments as noted above. 

Guests whose behavior is disruptive to the community will be asked to leave.

Parking

Parking permits can be purchased at the Department of Security (located in Mary Commons).  Students needing a temporary parking permit should contact Security.  Refer to the Department of Security’s Parking and Traffic Management Information found at  http://www.csbsju.edu/csbsecurity/parking/default.htm.  Please respect the designated parking for college employees, service vehicles, and handicapped individuals.

Personal Safety

We encourage everyone to take responsibility for maintaining a safe environment:

• Close and lock windows when not in your living space.
• Lock your doors and carry your keys at all times.
• If you find an exterior door propped open, secure it immediately.
• Do not allow suspicious persons into the buildings or commons areas.
• Contact staff or security if you see a suspicious person.
• Utilize well-lit walkways at night (walk in groups whenever possible).
• Call security at ext. 5000 for an escort when walking (phones available in parking lots).
• Do not share or publish personal information.

Pet Policy

The only pets allowed on campus are fish in tanks with a capacity no larger than 10 gallons.

Postings in Residential Areas

Any on or off campus organization must have all posters/banners stamped and approved.  Please bring your approved posting to the Residential Life Office located on the second floor of Mary Commons.  All postings in residence areas will be hung by the Residential Life staff.

Please see full campus Promotion Policy in the Student Life Policies section of  the Bennie Book. http://www.csbsju.edu/benniebook/student.htm

Recycling

CSB recognizes the role we each play in protecting and appreciating the value of our environment.  Recycling bins are located in the Mary Commons Recycling Room, the recycling shed behind Brian Hall and in the Recycling/Garbage Room in Lottie Hall.  In the apartments receptacles can be found in the Wood Shed by West Apartments and near the parking lots in East Apartments. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the recycling guidelines posted in each area or visit http://www.csbsju.edu/csbfacilitiesmanagement/services/Recycling.htm. Try to keep the areas neat and contact Larry Schug at ext. 5615 if the bins are full.

Residency Requirement

As a residential campus, all first- and second-year students at the college of Saint Benedict are required to live in campus housing provided by the College.

Roller blades

The use of roller blades in hallways or rooms are not permitted as they present safety hazards and cause damage to facilities.

Room Change/Apartment Changes

We recognize that not every living situation is going to work out for residents and that occasionally moving to a new apartment or room is the best option for resolving a conflict.  Before an apartment or room change is requested or approved, talk to your RA, CA, ARD, or RD about helping you resolve the conflict in some other manner.  Room change request forms are available from your RD.  This form must be signed by the RA/CA/ATRD and RD before any move can take place.  This process carries a fee of $25.

Room Selection Process

Room selection takes place during spring semester.  Those who are in the fifth-year seniors cohort select housing first, followed by the senior cohort, junior cohort, etc. (not by class status rather cohort group).  All students who plan to return to CSB and live on campus during fall semester should participate in room selection.  Students must make an advance payment to receive a selection number.  Late payments will be accepted, but please be aware this will have a serious negative impact on the selection number you receive. Information is sent to students in early February with more details about the room selection process.

Students who will study abroad during fall semester should not participate in room selection.  The Residential Life Office contacts these students to gather information regarding their housing preferences.  Housing assignments for fall study abroad students are made late in late November/early December.  Students are notified about their spring semester housing assignment via a letter sent to their campus email account during the Christmas break.

Spring semester students going abroad must give their contract cancellation notice no later than November 1st in order to avoid any financial penalties. Students who study abroad in the spring need to participate in room selection to secure housing for fall semester.  These students should designate a proxy to select their housing at room selection. This can be done via the residential life website at www.csbsju.edu/csbreslife.

Some students are unable to attend room selection at their assigned time as determined by their selection number.  These students may designate someone to represent them at room selection.  Proxy slips are available on the Residential Life website at www.csbsju.edu/csbreslife.

Severe Weather and Shelter Areas

It is critical that building occupants comply to requests to evacuate to shelter. Your prompt response to any notice to evacuate is critical to your safety. Stay in the shelter until the weather warning has expired or someone from the Department of Security notifies you that the weather warning has expired. Do not trust “all clears from the internet” as the weather broadcasted via the internet is often 15 minutes behind even if it says “live”.

Designated Shelter Areas:

• Residence Halls:  Seek shelter in the basement of your building.  Stay clear of entry ways, hallways, and glass.  Laundry rooms and any bathroom in the lower levels are generally the safest locations.
• East Apts:  Seek shelter in the basement of the HAB. If you do not have time to seek shelter in the HAB, the safest place to be is any bathroom on the lowest level of your building.
• West Apts:  Seek shelter in the basement of your building.  Stay clear of entry ways, hallways, and glass.  Laundry rooms and any bathroom in the lower levels of West are generally the safest locations.
• Houses:  Seek shelter in the basement of your house.  Stay clear of entry ways, hallways, and glass.

Additional Weather Information:

• Campus Security will issue severe weather warnings based on information received from the National Weather Service.
• It is important that people follow all instructions via the radio or authorities during a severe weather warning and that they be patient waiting for the warning to expire.
• Listen to the radio for updated weather information. Two local and reliable stations with regular weather updates are WJON (AM 1240) and WWJO (98.1 FM). 
• Be aware of the location of your shelter areas.
• If you hear Civil Defense Sirens sounding do not “wait out the storm” move to your shelter area!

Sexual Assault Policy (CSB/SJU)

The College of Saint Benedict and the Order of Saint Benedict, Inc., Collegeville, are committed to maintaining an environment which is free from the physical and emotional threat of sexual assault.  For purposes of this policy, sexual assault is defined as sexual contact or penetration without consent.  These institutions will investigate and promptly seek the equitable resolution of all allegations of sexual assault.

In institutions such as ours, which espouse Catholic and Benedictine values, every community member’s awareness of and respect for the rights and human dignity of every other member undergirds community life.  These values demand that we strive to create an environment where the sacredness of each person is honored.  Sexual assaulting conduct violates the sacredness of the person, weakens the health of the community, and is antithetical to the mission of these institutions.  Therefore, we will not tolerate sexual assault in any form.

The complete Joint Sexual Assault Policy can be found online in the Bennie Book by accessing www.csbsju.edu/studenthr/.  For more information or to file complaint, please contact Jody Terhaar, Dean of Students at ext. 5601 or jterhaar@csbsju.edu.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside of the apartments, houses, or residential halls.  Those who smoke are expected to stay at least 25 feet away from entrances to individual apartments and residence areas.  Smoking is permitted in the courtyards of the East and West apartments, but individuals may be asked to cease smoking or move from the courtyard if there is a complaint.

Please note: Cigarette butts found outside the apartments, houses, and residence halls (balconies, walkouts, entries) are both environmentally dangerous and unattractive.  Smokers are responsible for keeping the grounds clean and may be asked to assist the cleaning crews in removing these from common areas if a problem is noted.  Please dispose of your cigarette butts properly.

Storage

Limited on campus storage is available during the summer months for students. Students may store up to five (5) boxes (trunks, lockers, suitcases) each which are no larger than 21" x 17" x 17". Each box must be closed and clearly labeled. The college does not store furniture, carpets, computers, electronics, bikes, or refrigerators. To make arrangements for storage or to access items you have stored please call Custodial Maintenance at ext. 5585

Solicitation in Residential Areas

Sales are absolutely prohibited in the residence areas (this includes private rooms, lounges and common areas). Any variation must be approved by the Director of Residential Life. CSB/SJU student organizations with permission from the Director of Residential Life, may conduct solicitation in residential areas as a means of raising funds for their organizations.  Use of proceeds from solicitation are to be clearly described in all printed materials. Please refer to the full solicitation policy found in the Bennie Book at http://www.csbsju.edu/benniebook/student.htm for further details regarding solicitation on campus and in the residence halls/apartments. No solicitation is permitted during  First Year Orientation, Prospective Student Visit Days or during finals.

Telephones

Standard phone service including voicemail for each resident is provided with each room, apartment, and house.  Refer to www.csbsju.edu/telecom for detailed information.  Telecommunications can be reached at ext. 5566.

Trash

There are bins outside of each building for personal garbage disposal. Bathroom and lounge waste containers are not to be used for disposing of personal trash. Custodial Maintenance is not responsible for disposing of personal trash.  Trash is not permitted on balconies, walkouts, or in public areas (hallways, lounges, etc.) because of potential problems with pests and insects. 

Vending Machines

There are vending machines located in the residence areas across campus.  If you need a refund, fill out a refund request envelope located on the machine.  The vendors will process your request when they come to campus.

Vacancies

Should a vacancy occur at any time during the academic year, you have three choices:

1. Find a new roommate of your choosing to fill the vacancy;
2. Accept a new roommate as assigned by the Residential Life Office; or
3. Maintain the vacancy by paying for the cost of the open space for the period of the contract remaining. This option is only permitted if the space is not need by another student.

In accordance with the terms of the Campus Housing Agreement, the Residential Life Office reserves the right to assign students to open spaces.  Refusal to accept a roommate or forcing a roommate out of a shared premise may result in financial and/or disciplinary consequences.  It is expected that all residents practice the Benedictine value of Hospitality when welcoming a new person into their living group.

Vacuums

Vacuums are provided for student use. Please clean your room and vacuum on a regular basis. Please do not use powder carpet fresheners or commercial cleaners as they leave residue that interferes with the cleaning process each year.  If you have a major spill that needs attention please contact your custodian for assistance using the work order system. Please note that after each use, the vacuum roller should be cleaned and if the vacuum is full it should be emptied.  If you are unsure of how to do this please put in a work order for custodial maintenance to service the vacuum.

• Residence Halls: One vacuum is provided for each floor in the residence hall.  If the vacuum is lost or stolen the cost will be divided among all of the residents in the area.
• Apartments: One vacuum is provided for each apartment.  Your apartment is responsible for the cost if the vacuum is not present at time of checkout.

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